Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 847: True Devilish Qi

"Daoist Yue, by heading straight north, are we not already close to Senior Wu’s dojo? This is the northernmost great island once under the domain of immortal cultivators, and only with Senior Wu’s great cultivation could it be held. Now that even he has withdrawn to Desolate Island, beyond this point lies wilderness rarely touched by cultivators. It is said powerful demon clans dwell there. Is your old friend trapped within?"

The group sped swiftly across the sea. Kong Yun gazed toward the vast northern waters, his expression grave as he questioned Granny Yue. Since their departure, they had traveled day and night without rest.

Granny Yue had led them further and further north. Soon they would leave the lands once held by humans, yet she showed no sign of stopping, clearly intending to plunge into demon race's territory.

"That’s right." Granny Yue nodded without hesitation. "My old friend’s cultivation method is unusual and requires a special environment. Without it, her progress is painfully slow. After searching for many years, she was fortunate enough to find a suitable place in the Demonic Sea. She established her cave dwelling there and has been cultivating ever since. We agreed that once her art was perfected, I would fetch her. Who would have thought the Demonic Sea would fall into chaos and grow perilous? I'm afraid that I can't protect her alone. Were it not so, why would I spend so many treasures to invite you all?"

Hearing this, Qin Sang and the others could not object. After all, Granny Yue was offering rewards of great value, worth the risk of such a journey.

"Granny Yue would part with so many treasures only to hire strong protectors for this one person. That person must mean a great deal to her..."

Qin Sang glanced at Granny Yue’s snow-white temples, silently wondering if the one she sought was a junior of hers, or perhaps a disciple upon whom she placed all her hopes.

The journey continued without further words. Three days later, they passed Senior Wu’s dojo, which, like the other islands, had fallen to beasts and lay in ruins.

They moved cautiously, careful not to disturb the beasts.

With their combined strength, none dragged the others down, and their cooperation was seamless. When they met demonic beasts, they either slew them swiftly with thunderous force or covered for each other and deceived the beasts’ senses. Not once did they make a misstep.

From Senior Wu’s dojo northward, the land belonged to the demon race. Beasts appeared frequently. The group was forced to slow their pace, taking more than a month to reach their destination.

"My old friend’s cave dwelling lies on an island just a few dozen li ahead. The island is vast, once home to several great demons. Whether those demonic beasts have been summoned away to Desolate Island, I cannot say. Protecting her will depend on you all."

Granny Yue’s expression turned solemn. She cupped her fists toward the three, then looked at Qin Sang.

Qin Sang indicated that he would give his utmost. Then, they found a reef nearby to rest and ready themselves.

Heaven favored them. That night the sky was dark, without moon or stars. Concealing their auras with various methods, the four slipped away in silence.

Qin Sang awakened the Sky-Eyed Butterfly and opened the Sky Eyes. Even in the pitch-black night, he could clearly see the surroundings. Before long, a massive shadow loomed ahead.

The island stretched so wide that its edges could not be seen at a glance. Its size rivaled that of Desolate Island, a rare giant island.

Before they even landed, they heard cries of birds and roars of beasts. The four halted briefly, then flew onto the island and quickly hid within a dense forest.

Granny Yue produced a map and pointed to a location. "Our target is here."

Qin Sang looked closely. The spot she indicated was not at the island’s center. At their current pace, they would reach it by dawn. With their direction confirmed, they pressed on without delay.

As they raced through the forest, they sensed beasts’ auras at regular intervals. Deeper within, a powerful demonic qi lingered.

If so many beasts prowled the outer edges, the interior certainly contained great demons' lairs.

But since their purpose was rescue, they spared the beasts and pushed forward.

Over mountains and through rugged terrain they went, the land growing harsher, yet unable to hinder them.

As the eastern sky began to brighten, they arrived at a deep valley. Their target’s cave dwelling lay hidden there.

Thick mist shrouded the valley floor, rising slowly upward. The surrounding peaks hemmed it in, trapping the mist in dense banks. But strangely, the fog was not white but tinged with faint black, giving it a gray hue and a chilling air.

Even cultivators of their level were forced to circulate spiritual power to ward off the cold.

Seeing this, the smile that had just appeared on Granny Yue’s face at their smooth arrival vanished. Alarmed, she cried, "Have we come too late? The valley’s barrier... Fellow Daoists, guard the top. I will go down and see if she is still here!"

With a tap of her foot, her robed figure vanished before their eyes.

The mist rippled briefly, then stilled.

Qin Sang and the other two exchanged glances, then spread out to watch different directions.

At the valley's entrance, the chill of the mist was bone-deep.

Qin Sang scooped up a handful of the fog and infused spiritual power to purify it, leaving behind a wisp of black smoke, as fine as a strand of hair.

He gave a soft sound of surprise and was about to examine it further when Elder Zhushan spoke, "Daoist Master noticed as well? This mist seems to contain devilish qi!"

"It's really devilish qi?"

Qin Sang looked up, doubtful. "I have crossed paths with devilish cultivators before, but this feels different."

Elder Zhushan nodded. "It's indeed different, because this may be true devilish qi from ancient times!"

Kong Yun interjected. "Correct. I have a few acquaintances in the devilish path and have seen some of their texts. This black smoke closely resembles descriptions of ancient true devilish qi. In today’s cultivation world, places containing true devilish qi are exceedingly rare, only formed under special circumstances. The devilish qi cultivated by devilish cultivators now is far inferior. The valley below is clearly a place saturated with true devilish qi. For Granny Yue’s friend to cultivate using such a force, she is definitely not an ordinary figure."

Elder Zhushan frowned in puzzlement. "I’ve never heard of Granny Yue having any ties to the devilish path."

Kong Yun chuckled. "Nor have I. Perhaps you should ask her yourself."

Elder Zhushan only smiled without replying.

After this brief exchange, silence fell once more over the valley’s edge.

Qin Sang lowered his gaze to the black smoke and could not help recalling one event.

After meeting Madam Liu, he had questioned her closely about Xiang Yi’s use of the ancient divine platform in Seven-Kill Hall, hoping to uncover the secrets between the Dongji Alliance and the Xiyou Alliance.

After killing the young man from the Xiyou Alliance, he obtained a strange talisman. To this day, he could not decipher it or understand its use.

According to Madam Liu, when the ancient platform was activated, Xiang Yi had used a secret talisman to suppress the lightning chains. Within the talisman was sealed a Black Jiao, seemingly composed entirely of the purest ancient true devilish qi.

The three great merchant alliances stood apart from both righteous and devilish paths. Yet the Dongji Alliance had two late-stage Core Formation experts, and both were linked in some way to true devilish qi.