Qinghua Mountain Sect

Qinghua Mountain Sect...

Xie Yu, a chosen one from the Ecliptic Sect, exuded strength and arrogance, but he wasn't foolish. When Ji Xue invited Qin Wentian to join them, it became clear that Qin Wentian possessed considerable combat prowess. In light of the rumors he had heard about Qin Wentian, Xie Yu had no intention of turning down an ally with such strength.

As for the ongoing grudge between Qin Wentian and Princess Shang Yu, it could wait until after their current mission was completed. In this world, there were no eternal enemies or allies.

"Now that we're all in agreement, let's set out," Xie Yu declared before leading the way. The group moved swiftly, and Ji Xue flew alongside Qin Wentian, engaging in light conversation. "Brother Qin, which sect or clan do you hail from? Your name doesn't ring a bell."

"I've been out adventuring, and I only arrived in Xuan King City recently," Qin Wentian replied.

"I see," Ji Xue nodded with a smile. "Senior and I are both external disciples of the Qinghua Mountain Sect. Unfortunately, we've been striving to become true disciples without success. Brother Qin, your talent is exceptional. Perhaps, if you were to attempt the test, you might be selected as a true disciple of the Qinghua Mountain."

"Qinghua Mountain," Qin Wentian mused, somewhat surprised. Xie Yu had entered the hidden realm because he was a chosen one from a major Xuan King City power, and yet he treated Ji Xue and Xu Feng with great respect, considering them equals. However, Ji Xue's words revealed that they were only external disciples of the Qinghua Mountain. This raised questions about the sect's status and power.

"How does the strength of the Qinghua Mountain Sect compare to that of Xuan King City?" Qin Wentian inquired casually, not dwelling on it too much.

His question elicited surprise from Ji Xue, and even Xie Yu cast a puzzled glance in his direction. Had this person never heard of Qinghua Mountain before?

Ji Xue chuckled and explained, "The Qinghua Mountain Sect isn't considered a major power within Xuan King City. It's a sect that extends beyond the Seven King Cities, with external disciples scattered throughout Grand Shang. The true disciples can be found in the Royal Capital of Grand Shang."

"The actual Qinghua Mountain is situated in the Royal Sacred Region and is one of the nine sects under the Sacred Royal Sect. They have the authority to recommend individuals to join the Sacred Royal Sect, and those recommended through this channel typically enjoy higher status."

Ji Xue patiently provided this information, prompting a look of surprise to cross Qin Wentian's face. He continued, "So, what is the status of the Qinghua Mountain Sect throughout all of Grand Shang?"

Recalling his time in Grand Xia, Qin Wentian thought of Jun Yu's status as the personal disciple of a Sacred Royal Sect elder, who, in turn, was one of Grand Shang's Kings. Qin Wentian understood the significance of this. The Royal Sacred Sect was an ultimate transcendent power, and many of Grand Shang's demon-level geniuses aspired to join it.

Qinghua Mountain seemed to hold a similar position in the Grand Shang Empire.

"That's correct. Qinghua Mountain is a supreme power in Grand Shang, far surpassing the major powers in the Seven King Cities," Ji Xue affirmed with a laugh.

Qin Wentian nodded, his heart racing as he contemplated the information he had just received.

The Royal Sacred Sect's recruitment criteria for geniuses were nothing short of terrifying. In this vast world, with three royal empires, there were undoubtedly powers comparable to Qinghua Mountain. Over the years, these supreme powers had continuously infused fresh talent, meticulously nurtured them, and handpicked the very best through rigorous selection processes. These chosen ones were then recommended into the Royal Sacred Sect, turning it into a gathering place for the most exceptional demon-level geniuses.

One could only imagine the sheer might of such an institution. This was a genuine transcendent power, far beyond the reach of those so-called transcendent powers in Grand Xia.

Moreover, the competition among these supreme powers for recommendation spots was cutthroat. They all strove to groom their top disciples, hoping that one day, they would earn a place as important disciples within the Sacred Royal Sect. This cycle continued through generations, and Qin Wentian could hardly fathom just how formidable the Sacred Royal Sect had become. The internal competition within the sect must have reached unimaginable levels, given that most of its disciples belonged to different factions.

"Brother Qin, I also come from a humble background, but upon becoming an external disciple of Qinghua Mountain, my status was elevated significantly. If you can pass the test to become a true disciple of Qinghua Mountain, you'll have the freedom to do as you please in Xuan King City, and no one would dare to challenge you," Ji Xue remarked with a chuckle. Qin Wentian could sense the truth in her words. Even as an external disciple, she already commanded a great deal of respect from the chosen ones of the major powers in Xuan King City.

"Thank you for the advice," Qin Wentian replied, taking note of her words. However, he wasn't in a hurry to join any power. With a Sacred Royal Medallion in his possession, he had the means to join any sect if he so desired. Therefore, he had to weigh his options carefully.

Ji Xue nodded casually and continued their conversation. After some time, they reached a flat piece of land. The cold wind that buffeted them felt like icy blades against their skin. Qin Wentian gazed ahead, where a massive mine stretched out before him. However, as Xie Yu had described, this meteor stone mine no longer emitted any astral energy. Everything had been absorbed by something, and layers of dust had solidified into stone, transforming the entire mine into a petrified stone mountain.

Their group advanced cautiously. Xu Feng retrieved his spear, and with a swift flicker, he shot forward like a lightning bolt, slamming his weapon into the stone mountain. The impact caused destructive shockwaves to ripple through the area.

Xu Feng withdrew his spear and stood upright. His expression remained calm, even though his powerful attack had only managed to shatter a small portion of the outermost layer of the stone mountain.

"It's as resilient as ever," Xu Feng mused silently. He returned to his original position and directed his gaze toward the cavern within the stone mountain. Inside, a unique energy fluctuation and a palpable sense of danger could be detected.

Before this, Ji Xue had been injured due to powerful demonic beast attacks when they entered the cavern. She was genuinely curious about what kind of treasure lay within.

Xie Yu stepped forward, his body suddenly bathed in astral light as an astral bow materialized in his hands. He loosed an arrow into the cavern entrance. The arrow zipped through the air with a piercing, thunderous sound.

"Stay alert, everyone," Xie Yu warned. For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then, a violent earthquake shook the ground beneath them, causing their hearts to skip a beat.

"BOOM!" The tremors grew even more intense. Xie Yu and his companions wore grave expressions. Suddenly, the sound of numerous figures rushing through the air reached their ears, as another group of people raced towards them. Their eyes gleamed with anticipation upon seeing Xie Yu and his group.

"Is Brother Xie planning to explore this place?" the leader of the newcomers asked, exuding a sinister air.

"Does the Blood Cloud Sect wish to join us in exploring the interior?" Xie Yu inquired, locking eyes with the Blood Cloud members. The leader nodded, "Since Brother Xie has invited us, we'll gladly accept."

"Let's move." Xie Yu paid no mind to the tremors and continued toward the cavern. The rest followed, extending their senses.

"Boom!" The tremors intensified. Even Qin Wentian felt his heart racing and his blood surging. Little Rascal had tucked its head into its chest, as if sensing that this place's aura was far from ordinary.

"I sense no demonic presence," Xu Feng remarked, perplexed. They were already deep within the cavern, surrounded by inky darkness and numerous tunnels resembling a maze.

"What place is this, Brother Xie?" a Blood Cloud Sect member inquired.

"I'm not sure," Xie Yu admitted, causing the Blood Cloud Sect leader to curse himself silently for venturing into this unknown territory unprepared.

Time seemed to crawl inside the cavern. An hour had passed, yet due to the eerie nature of the place, it felt like an eternity. They had encountered nothing so far, but their hearts continued to pound relentlessly.

"Something's amiss," Qin Wentian declared, coming to a halt. A frown creased his brow as he faintly sensed a looming danger in the air.

Qin Wentian's normally keen perception couldn't pinpoint the exact source of danger in this bewildering situation.

"BOOM!" Another powerful tremor rocked the surroundings, deepening Qin Wentian's frown.

"Yiyiyaya!" Little Rascal suddenly erupted into furious barking. Its body expanded and transformed into a golden demon king, exuding a terrifying aura. Its eyes gleamed with the baleful presence of the Purgatory Vermilion Bird.

"RAWRRR!"

With a fierce charge, Little Rascal lunged toward the person beside Xie Yu.

The person turned to face the attack, emitting an unimaginable fury as a dark crimson light flared in his eyes. It was as though he had completely lost his sanity and become a true beast.

Not only him, the two individuals with him also displayed dark crimson glows in their eyes and emitted a wild beastly aura.

The person raised his fists and struck out at Little Rascal. Instantly, the sky was filled with a flurry of fist shadows. Little Rascal barked sharply, opening its mouth wide to swallow the entire attack's might.

Simultaneously, Qin Wentian turned his attention. A terrifying figure materialized before them. This figure was entirely blood-red, with crimson eyes that matched those of the possessed cultivators. As it stepped forward, others' blood and heartbeats surged and pounded frantically. Even Qin Wentian's demonic aura spiraled out of control as the power of his bloodline was forcefully stirred by the unknown figure.

"What kind of demonic beast is this? It can even activate the demon qi within my bloodline. It feels like it's trying to forcibly corrupt my blood. Could it be that those from the Ecliptic Sect are unknowingly controlled by this creature?" Qin Wentian contemplated, puzzled by the identity of this fearsome demonic beast.

At the two side exits, two more demonic beasts emerged. Upon closer inspection, these beasts had human-like appearances.

"It's them!" Ji Xue's expression turned extremely grim as she recognized them. Her injuries had been inflicted by these very same demonic creatures.

"Demonizing bloodlines, inducing humans to undergo demonic transformation? This thing isn't just a mere demonic beast; it's a demonic spirit that has been born after countless years, absorbing the pure will of the Mandate of Demons.

In this ancient mountain, the Great Terra Fruit Tree was born from absorbing the boundless essence of the earth, and now, there's another existence like this. What kind of place have we stumbled into?" Ji Xue wondered aloud, echoing the concerns of the entire group.