Otherworldly Desert Dust-Chapter 439 394 Be Careful of Lao Liu

Wu Hen returned to Tongtian City and found the sweet-voiced Senior Sister Qingxi.

Upon seeing him, a smile immediately blossomed on Qingxi's cheeks. With a hint of expectation, she softly asked, "Does the Qilin Girl know about this?"

"She does. To reward you, my sister has allowed you to accompany me to War Song Mountain," Wu Hen said.

Hearing this, Qingxi's smile widened, like a bright white rose in bloom.

Her female disciples also beamed with joy, surrounding Wu Hen like a flock of birds, each one affectionately calling him "Uncle Master," their voices filled with cheer and tenderness.

However, as Qingxi was their Master, how could she let these Little Demons entangle themselves with the junior brother she had just befriended? She gave the female disciples a look, and they promptly returned to the guesthouse.

"Master, can't we go together?" the eldest disciple asked.

"Do you take War Song Mountain for a common trial ground? With your current cultivation, entering would be like courting death. Focus on your cultivation, don't aim too high. Once I'm back from War Song Mountain, if there is not the slightest improvement in your cultivation, don't blame me for being unsympathetic!" Qingxi sternly rebuked.

The female disciples felt helpless, knowing that such a precious opportunity could not possibly fall upon them. They could only watch, with wide eyes, as their Master latched onto the giant tree that was Wu Hen.

...

Wu Hen, upon arriving in this Holy State, had made the acquaintance of only three people.

Second sister Cai Lan, who was one to measure her words carefully—as if asking her about the location of War Song Mountain would somehow signify madness. She treated words as if they were gold, and if not for him providing the Xuantian Saint Technique, she probably wouldn't bother speaking to him for the rest of his life.

Another person was Bear Teng Ming Venerable, who although claimed to be Cai Lan's watchdog, had formidable strength and complex thoughts.

Wu Hen couldn't yet categorize him as benevolent.

Compared to before, Qingxi was somewhat more manageable. Bringing her would mean he need not worry about her becoming suspicious or seeing through his disguise when inquiring about the sect's secrets.

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Wu Hen initially thought War Song Mountain would be located in this vast land or somewhere in the Cloud Sky.

But, unexpectedly, War Song Mountain was within Tongtian City, nestled inside an awe-inspiring temple.

Inside the temple stood an ancient mountain, fitting the grandeur one would expect from a Cultivation Sect - without a secret realm or dungeon, the picture would be incomplete.

Arriving at the temple, Wu Hen noted that it was clearly a branch of the Holy Sect, guarded by sect members who were at least at the Saint Child Realm, each one donned in extremely honorable red robes.

"Who goes there?" a Red Robed Master challenged.

Wu Hen produced the Jade Token given to him by the Cold-blooded Woman and then told the Red Robed Master, "I'm here to Soul Cast at War Song Mountain, please open the gate for us."

Upon seeing the Jade Token, the Red Robed Master immediately dropped his haughty demeanor, his face becoming kind and benevolent.

He also took a special look at Qingxi, who stood beside Wu Hen, and asked in a gentle tone, "Is she accompanying you?"

Wu Hen counter-asked, "Is that a problem?"

"In principle, it's not allowed, since slots to enter War Song Mountain are exceedingly rare. Each time it's opened for someone, it consumes a large amount of Divine Stones. However, brother, could you wait a moment?" the Red Robed Master spoke.

"Sure, if you can handle it, that'd be great," Wu Hen nodded.

The Red Robed Master entered the temple, and it was unclear whether he went to consult with someone at a higher level or was looking for another solution. Regardless, the Jade Token owned by the Cold-blooded Woman indeed carried weight. They had to make accommodations even for an opportunity that the entire Holy Sect's ten thousand members would clamor for.

The Red Robed Master didn't leave Wu Hen waiting for long and emerged soon after, still wearing a benevolent smile, personally inviting Wu Hen and Qingxi inside.

"If This is the younger brother's first time stepping into War Song Mountain, then I must offer a few warnings. Should you encounter our fellow sect members within the mountain, you must be especially careful..." the Red Robed Master said.

"Understood," Wu Hen nodded.

"Then please, follow me."

Seeing that she was also permitted to enter War Song Mountain, Qingxi's excitement was beyond words. She followed behind Wu Hen, demure and sensible, her heart filled with a mix of emotions.

After serving the sect for so many years, achieving merit within the sect, and establishing new branches, all the credit she had painstakingly accumulated couldn't secure her a Soul Casting slot. She hadn't anticipated that a chance encounter with a noble person would effortlessly grant her such an opportunity...

She couldn't help feeling lucky, grateful that she had maintained decorum and respect upon meeting this man, otherwise, he might not have readily offered such a chance to her.

"Junior Brother, in the future, Qingxi will certainly repay your kindness," Qingxi said.

"I'm not very familiar with War Song Mountain. Once we enter, I'll need you to guide me," Wu Hen humbly replied.

"I only stepped in once five years ago," Qingxi opened her heart to Wu Hen, recounting her past. "At that time, I was considered exceptional within the Holy Sect, standing out among the disciples and earning the qualification for soul casting. However, my youthful greed led me to covet a more powerful Totem, which resulted in the failure of the soul casting... Ever since, I've been diligently practicing, running around for the sect, hoping to reenter War Song Mountain and forge that Holy Soul."

"The foundation of our junior sister is solid," the Red Robed Master spoke. "Even without the help of our brother Cai Ting, it's just a matter of time before you ascend to the position of the Bright Venerable."

"Perhaps by that time, I'll already be past my prime," Qingxi heaved a sigh.

Every five years there was one opportunity.

But most of the time, the higher-ups of the Holy Sect reserved these chances for the younger members with greater talent. As for when it would be her turn, she truly had no idea.

"Was the establishment of the Outer Sect branches in remote areas also for the sake of obtaining the qualification for soul casting?" Wu Hen inquired.

"Of course, who would willingly go to those harsh, cold places otherwise?" Qingxi replied.

Wu Hen also noticed that although the competition within the Holy Sect was fierce, they placed great importance on the infusion of new blood. Those who could not break through in the intense competition of the Holy State were given the title of master, charged with teaching disciples and establishing branches outside to continuously recruit talents and disciples for the sect.

The reward and punishment system was also very clear. Those who made meritorious deeds outside would be recalled to the Holy State and given an opportunity to undertake soul casting.

Only those who were successful in soul casting could truly access the Evolution Chain Gate of the Totem Sacred Sect. This system prevented members of the sect from establishing factions on their own, while also ensuring that divine power remained in the hands of a select few.

No wonder Cai Huang was entirely focused on trying to curry favor with Cai Lan and had no interest in competing with Jiao Zhu for power.

...

Stepping into the hall, an ancient stone gate stood erect in the center.

On the other side of the gate were clearly the guards of the Holy Sect standing there, but as the ancient stone gate opened, a completely different scene unfolded inside!

Indeed, embedded within the hall was a miniature universe. From the outside looking in, it resembled an ancient battlefield, with countless ageless bones scattered across numerous ancient Holy Mountains…

"Hurry in," said the Red Robed Master.

Wu Hen and Qingxi stepped through, and as soon as they crossed the stone gate, the world behind them suddenly unfolded into an endless and dim expanse where towering, heavenly ranked ancient mountains rose one after another…

The Sky-reaching Ancient Mountain was divided into several levels; the first level was the area that bordered the ground and rose toward the sky, already exuding a majestic aura upon first glance.

The second level reached into the clouds, both misty and mystical, with a hint of primal wilderness.

The third level completely pierced through the clouds, entering into a magnificent and terrifying black ice sky. At its highest peaks, the ancient mountain range touched the physical black ice sky, where mighty shadows roamed and roared - their sounds like a war song chanted by tens of thousands of Heroic Souls on an ancient battlefield…

One moment they were in the bustling and brilliant Tongtian Holy City; the next moment, they were situated within a barbaric, mystical Sky-reaching Ancient Mountain - the Holy Sect's secret realm was truly a world of its own!

"This time, I will only seek a Totem suitable for my soul casting on the first level of the ancient mountains," Qingxi said.

"The higher the mountain, the more powerful the residing Totem Heroic Souls?" Wu Hen asked.

"Yes. With the Totem Blood flowing through our bodies, in the eyes of these Heroic Souls that once dominated otherworldly realms, we are considered their descendants. To successfully cast a soul, we must overcome them. The higher the level of the Heroic Soul on War Song Mountain, the stronger they are, and the more powerful the Holy Soul they help forge," Qingxi explained.

Wu Hen recalled the guidance of the Cold-blooded Woman.

She instructed him to follow the path she trod, seeking the Heroic Souls.

Among the paths she mentioned was the Black Ice Sky Mountain Range, which could be seen at the highest level by Fourth Rank Spiritual Vision.

"If the junior brother is still only in the Holy Infant Realm, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the environment here first. Look around, temporarily choose a favored Totom Heroic Soul, and only challenge it after breaking through to the Saint Child Realm. After all, the junior brother can come here at any time," Qingxi suggested.

Although Qingxi intended to be kind, her words wounded Wu Hen's pride.

The Holy Infant Realm was for disciple level, and one needed to reach the Saint Child Realm to be called a master.

To be honest, if it weren't for his connection with Cai Lan, he would be of a much lower status than Qingxi - how could he dare call her senior sister?

"I plan to keep walking this path upward, to walk further and see more... If the senior sister finds a Totem Heroic Soul suitable for herself, I can also protect her," Wu Hen said.

"That would be wonderful, after all, there are quite a few Evil Souls and Beasts in War Song Mountain."

"By the way, why did that senior brother earlier tell us to beware of our fellow sect members?" Wu Hen asked, puzzled.

"The soul casting process is a challenge, but there are also opportunistic methods, such as killing others at the moment of their nearly completed soul casting and taking their place. At least outside, the sect rules restrain us, but in War Song Mountain, there's no fellowship among sect members. Junior brother, you must be careful too. Even if you are the brother of the Qilin Girl, if you get killed here, she would find it difficult to seek justice for you," Qingxi said.

Wu Hen stroked his chin, finally understanding.

Here, he had to be especially cautious of Lao Liu!