Inquiry about immortality

Chapter 2632 The Underworld Lord

The boundary between the inside and outside of Lei Yuan is clear.

After the Thunder Abyss returned to calm, the treasure-hunting cultivators gradually returned. However, even without the beast tide, the ever-present threat of Nether Lightning and the ubiquitous Thunder Beasts posed a significant threat to the cultivators.

They either came in groups or had various protective measures, and they were very careful when entering and leaving Thunder Abyss.

At that moment, a figure emerged leisurely from the lightning, as if taking a stroll. He glanced back, surveyed his surroundings, determined his direction, and then vanished in a flash of light.

With the Thunder Beast Guardian successfully advancing to the next level and possessing combat power comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator, Qin Sang felt even more confident.

Originally intending to continue his seclusion in the Abyss of Nether Thunder to help his Yang God merge with the Dao, Qin Sang was disturbed by the Demon Lord Luo Luo, so he simply came out and sought another place.

Thinking of Indigo Ghost and Nightmare Demon, Qin Sang decided to head directly to the Underworld Ancestor Mountain.

During this time, Qin Sang also met several cultivators and gained a general understanding of the surrounding terrain.

If you broaden your perspective, the land he is on is actually just an island called Yuantian Island.

Beyond the original Tianhai Island, there are countless other islands scattered across this boundless sea, like stars in the sky, with numerous forces and cultivators scattered throughout.

Although Yuantian Island is just an island, its territory is extremely vast, ranking among the top in the surrounding islands. However, most of the area is as barren as a wasteland. Although another part is rich in true demonic energy, it is ravaged by the beast tides of the Nether Thunder Abyss every few hundred years, so cultivators dare not stay there for long.

Therefore, in this vast territory, only a core area is suitable for cultivators to reside in permanently. Several powerful immortal cultivation sects have emerged from there. This is the place that the old woman who was parasitized by the God-Stealing Lice once visited.

Fortunately, the Thunder Abyss beast tides never last long. Once the Thunder Abyss returns to calm, the Thunder Beasts immediately return. They usually don't actively rush outside to harass cultivators; otherwise, no one would dare to establish a training ground here.

The original Tianhai Island is very famous in the surrounding seas, firstly because of its vast territory, and secondly because it is related to the Abyss of Nether Thunder.

The Abyss of Nether Lightning produces many rare and precious materials. Although most of them are tainted with the aura of Nether Lightning and cannot be directly refined by cultivators, over the years, cultivators have gradually discovered some ways to utilize them, making them increasingly valuable.

Since there is profit to be made, it will naturally attract cultivators to come and search for treasure, especially after the beast tide and during the period of peace in Leiyuan, when cultivators come from islands all around.

Qin Sang then noticed that there were several times more cultivators here than before the beast tide. Some places even spontaneously formed markets, bustling with people coming and going. Some people who obtained treasures in the Thunder Abyss could trade them on the spot.

He descended from the sky and strolled through the market, finding it in complete chaos. The cultivators didn't care about status or etiquette, setting up small stalls by the roadside and loudly hawking their wares everywhere.

Ignoring true demonic energy, this place is not much different from the spirit world.

Of course, upon closer observation, there are still some. The proportion of cultivators practicing evil arts and demonic techniques is much larger than in the spirit world, which may also be related to the region.

These cultivators are often more ferocious and irritable, and will fight at the slightest disagreement. Only when they start fighting will someone rush to the scene, but they can only drive both sides out of the market and leave them to fend for themselves. From this, it can be seen that there is probably no powerful force controlling things behind the scenes, otherwise, maintaining order would be in their interest, which is somewhat different from what Qin Sang had expected.

"Isn't that Demon Lord Luo Luo also a landlord?"

Qin Sang thought to himself, based on the information he had gathered, there was indeed no super power ruling over Yuantian Island.

At this moment, Qin Sang walked up to a stall.

The stall owner was an unkempt man, leaning lazily against a stone, with jade slips piled up haphazardly in front of him.

"Do you have any nautical charts for the area?" Qin Sang asked.

The stall owner raised his eyelids slightly and said weakly, "Do you want one from a hundred years ago, thirty years ago, ten years ago, or one year ago?"

Qin Sang smiled gently, "How credible are those from a hundred years ago? Naturally, we need the most up-to-date ones."

"Have!"

The stall owner sat up, carefully examined Qin Sang, and licked his lips. "Not only do I have a sea chart, but I also have a list of recent major events and the rise and fall of surrounding forces. It comes from Hundred Aperture Island and is absolutely reliable! But... you have to exchange it for spiritual materials produced in the Nether Thunder Abyss."

Qin Sang tossed him a piece of withered wood. The stall owner's eyes lit up, as if afraid that Qin Sang might change her mind. He hurriedly took out a jade slip from his pocket and stuffed it into Qin Sang's hand.

With a sweep of his divine sense, Qin Sang saw that the Netherworld Ancestor Mountain was prominently listed. He nodded in satisfaction, picked out a few more jade slips, bought them with magic stones, and then left the market.

……

'Whoosh!'

The deep blue seawater lapped against the rocks, and beyond these rocky reefs, which resembled a stone forest, lay an endless continent.

This land is not only vast and boundless, far surpassing any other island, but also incredibly rich in spiritual energy. It's easy to imagine that it must be teeming with sacred cultivation grounds. Logically, such a place would be a gathering place for cultivators, a blessed land coveted by all.

However, there were hardly any sails to be seen in this sea area, and hardly any people to be seen on land, giving it a quiet and desolate feel.

A point of light suddenly appeared between the sea and the sky, and a moment later a person came riding on the waves and stopped outside the reef.

The person who arrived was Qin Sang.

It was now six months after he left the Abyss of Dark Thunder. During these six months, he traveled and observed the customs and culture of the Demon Realm, while also resolving many of his previous questions.

For example, why do demon cultivators call themselves Demon King, Demon Lord, and Demon Venerable?

It turns out that the full names of these three titles are actually the Demon King of Ignorance, the Demon Lord of Six Desires, and the Demon Lord of Freedom!

The origin of these titles can be traced back to extraterrestrial demons!

In Qin Sang's imagination, the Demon Realm must have been coveting the vibrant Spirit Realm, and had long been preparing for war, waiting for the boundary wall to break so that it could raise a large army to invade the Spirit Realm and seize this bountiful territory.

In fact, the demon cultivators have always had a formidable enemy—the extraterrestrial demons!

Even in the northern part of the Demon Realm, in the endless region, it has been corrupted by the extraterrestrial demons and transformed into a boundless demon realm, where all living beings have become slaves of the demons.

The demonic tide surged, and the extraterrestrial demons eyed the demon cultivators with covetous intent, attempting to completely corrupt the demon realm and turn it into a paradise for demons.

The demonic insects and creatures such as the God-Snatching Lice are the henchmen sent by the extraterrestrial demons, and are the vanguard of the demonic tide.

Cultivators above the Refinement Void Realm are well aware of the terror of the extraterrestrial demons. Fortunately, these demons are blocked in the void outside the realm by the Earth Membrane and cannot directly invade. They can only enter when the realm is shaken during the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. Otherwise, with sentient beings and rampant desires, who can resist the corruption of the demons' desires?

One of the signs that the Great Thousand Worlds is entering a state of decay is the disorder of the Earth's membrane, with more and more cultivators being corrupted by the Heavenly Demon.

If things had progressed normally, the Great Thousand Worlds wouldn't have fallen so quickly. The fact that half of the Demon Realm had been corrupted by extraterrestrial demons indicates that the Demon Realm's protective barrier had been severely damaged, allowing extraterrestrial demons to directly invade the realm.

Legend has it that a natural disaster struck the Demon Realm, exacerbating the already rampant evil and causing the northern part of the region to fall. The islands in this sea area, which were originally a single continent, were also torn apart at that time.

Based on the intensity and timing of the natural disaster, it roughly coincides with the time of the first demonic calamity in the spirit realm. In other words, the demon realm suffered more severe damage than the spirit realm in that collision.

This makes sense; the spirit world is like the rising sun, while the demon world is already in decline. It's obvious which one is more resilient.

Qin Sang couldn't help but think of the 'Wheel Lord' who had his eye on him. Was he the Six Desires Demon Lord, or a Free Demon Lord?

He was very fortunate that he had not fallen directly into the Northern Demon Realm, and that the sea area he was in, called the Star Sand Sea, was not on the front line of the Demon Tide.

The name 'Star Sand Sea' refers to the fact that the islands here are as numerous as stars in the sky.

Qin Sang landed on a reef and gazed ahead. Above the land, auspicious clouds and mist rose like waves, like a vast celestial river, with ever-changing and boundless scenery. This was one of the most famous islands in the Star Sand Sea, where the gate of the Netherworld Ancestor Mountain was located!

When Qin Sang learned about the origins of the Underworld Ancestor Mountain, she was also taken aback.

The founder of the Mingzu Mountain sect was none other than the Mingzun, one of the legendary Ten Heavenly Venerables.

In other words, the story of the Ten Celestial Venerables saving the world is not just a legend, but there are still aspects that Qin Sang has not yet figured out.

Regarding this legend, the demon realm cultivators have differing accounts, and Qin Sang is also unsure of the exact time when the Ten Heavenly Venerables saved the world—whether it occurred before or after the collision of the two realms.

Qin Sang suspected that it was most likely the latter.

The Underworld Lord was one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables, but it is said that he has already perished, and the cause of his death is subject to various theories. Underworld Ancestral Mountain has also gradually declined. Nevertheless, he remains the undisputed overlord of this sea area.

The continent ahead is visibly vast and fertile, sparsely populated, yet no one dares to venture there to establish a cave, and the surrounding treasure ships all avoid it, which speaks volumes.

There are several satellite islands surrounding Mount Mingzu, which are quite lively and can be said to be the center of the surrounding sea area. They should be managed by the disciples of Mount Mingzu, but the mountain gate of Mount Mingzu is so quiet.

Qin Sang knew there must be surveillance on the island, so he did not rush to land. He took out the token given to him by the Indigo Ghost and activated the hidden energy within it.

Then, he stood there, admiring the magnificent scenery of the Underworld Ancestor Mountain. After waiting for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he suddenly sensed two familiar auras and knew that it was Indigo Ghost and Nightmare Luo who had come to greet him.

Surprisingly, they did not come from the gate of the Netherworld Ancestor Mountain, but from outside the gate, and judging from their direction, they should be from a satellite island.

"Fellow Daoist Qingfeng!"

The two moved with lightning speed, landing in front of Qin Sang in the blink of an eye.

Although they had been separated for many years, the two fellow disciples still remembered Qin Sang vividly, and they were overjoyed to see him come to keep their appointment.

Qin Sang smiled slightly, looked at the two of them, and said, "I observe that your auras are even stronger than before, indicating that you have achieved great success in your supernatural powers. Congratulations! Congratulations!"

"We have to thank Fellow Daoist Qingfeng for this..."

The Indigo Demon was quite enthusiastic, "Fellow Daoist, please come to my residence so that my brother and I can show you the hospitality of a host."

Qin Sang readily agreed, nodded, and leaped after them. Seeing the direction they had fled in, she asked in surprise, "Your cave dwellings aren't inside the mountain gate, fellow Daoists?"

"Uh...we have already moved out of the mountain gate with our master."

Indigo and Nightmare seemed somewhat embarrassed.

Qin Sang didn't press the matter further, wondering to herself if they had a master who was a demon lord.

The two led Qin Sang around the gate of the Netherworld Ancestor Mountain and walked along the coastline for a while. As they got further and further away from the gate, they suddenly saw a mist covering the sky ahead and disappeared into the mist without hesitation.

Upon entering the mist, Qin Sang immediately sensed the fluctuations of the formation. This formation was perfectly hidden in the mist, not directly blocking people from the outside, but concealing deadly intent. If a cultivator were to inadvertently enter, it would be almost impossible for them to leave alive. It was clear that the owner of this place was no benevolent person.

Qin Sang frowned secretly.

Cultivators all say they should break free from constraints and be unrestrained, but Qin Sang prefers places where order exists, where she won't be inexplicably dragged into battle and can cultivate peacefully.

Although the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty were largely ineffective, they remained like a string in the hearts of the cultivators of the Great Zhou Dynasty, maintaining that fragile balance.

The demon cultivators gave him the impression that they revered the law of the jungle, and that the cultivation world there was even more cruel than the spirit world.

Of course, Qin Sang could sense that Indigo Ghost and Nightmare were not heartless people, and genuinely welcomed his arrival.

"Woooo..."

The sound of ghostly wails reached my ears, and green light drifted through the mist ahead.

The Indigo Demon used a secret technique, and the strange phenomenon disappeared, but Qin Sang could see clearly that they were skulls with ghostly fire emanating from their eye sockets, which was very sinister.

Before long, they flew to the end of the fog, where a clear view suddenly appeared ahead.

Unlike the eerie mist, the small island was actually a beautiful place with clear waters and vibrant life, which made Qin Sang exclaim that it was a paradise.

"Fellow Daoist, please!"

The two siblings were quite proud of their own dojo, and Yanluo smiled and extended his hand to invite them.

Unexpectedly, Qin Sang did not move, but stared straight at the mountaintop.

Just as the two were wondering, a familiar voice rang in their ears, "When did you invite these distinguished guests? Why didn't you tell your master?"

Yanluo exclaimed, "Master, you've emerged from seclusion!"

Indigo Ghost hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Reporting to Master, when my junior sister and I went to search for the Nether Thunder Ancient Jade last time, we were unfortunately caught in a beast tide. Thanks to Fellow Daoist Qingfeng for saving us, we were able to escape danger..."

Before the words were finished, a soft laugh rang out from the mountaintop, "You dare to presume to call yourselves fellow Daoists?"

Laughter drifted by, and suddenly auspicious clouds rose from the ground. A female cultivator in flowing robes appeared, descending the mountain on the clouds. She looked at Qin Sang and said, "These juniors are blind and have offended you. I hope you will not hold it against them."

Upon hearing this, the brother and sister looked at each other in astonishment.

My master actually addresses me as a fellow Daoist. Could this 'Fellow Daoist Qingfeng' be a demon lord?

Qin Sang smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "It is fate that I have met you two fellow Daoists. I concealed my cultivation to avoid trouble, and had no other intention. I came here at your invitation, but I did not expect to disturb your cultivation. I should apologize."

At the same time, Qin Sang saw the demon lord's face clearly and was secretly surprised.

I initially thought she was an unparalleled fairy. If you only look at half of her face, she is indeed stunningly beautiful, but the other half is truly terrifying.

That half of her face was devoid of any flesh or blood; a deathly white skull was exposed, with empty eye sockets and gleaming white teeth. Though she was smiling, she looked like a ghost. The white bones extended from her neck into her feathered robe, suggesting that half of her body must have been like that.

Judging from this person's cultivation level, they either don't care about their appearance at all, or they've cultivated some kind of evil technique! (End of Chapter)