Chapter 1
This Must Be an Evil Array That Plunders Surrounding Life!
Guixi Sect â Mountain Gate
The mountain gate area was devoid of the fresh scent of grass and trees that should be present in the mountains. Every inch around was barren.
As far as the eye could see, not even the lowest weed could be found, let alone any rare flowers or herbs. It was as if the life force of the entire mountain had been forcibly drained by something.
The huge stone doors of the mountain gate were wide open. Inside, it was dark and deep, giving off the aura of a demonic sect rather than a proper immortal cultivation sect.
At this moment, someone was hiding behind a half-human-high gray rock, only half her head peeking out, eyes full of caution.
âThe sect leader said recently a disciple from another sect had been acting strangely.â
Looking at the scene now, wasnât this a bit too blatant?
Within a hundred miles, there was not a blade of grass, and these two deep gates seemed to lead to an endless abyss.
Wouldnât such a scene inevitably draw the attention of righteous immortal sects?
In Su Lingâerâs mind, the face of the sect leader appeared again.
At Qingxu Sect, in a small inconspicuous secret roomâŚ
The usually lofty sect leader of Qingxu Sect, a Foundation Establishment-stage cultivator named Xuan Yuan, had dismissed all disciples except Su Lingâer.
âYou have been a disciple of my sect for some time. Do you know the Guixi Sect, located three hundred miles east?â
Su Lingâer nodded.
âYes, disciple has heard of it.â
It was a newly risen sect in recent years, famous for its strange practices. Its disciplesâ cultivation progressed at an incredible rate, and even the surrounding cultivation markets were filled with rumors about the place.
Oddly, no one seemed to have actually seen the sect themselves. The news seemed to appear from nowhereâwho spread it was unknown. Perhaps the sect wanted to build its reputation? But for a demonic sect, that seemed unlikely.
The Qingxu Sect leader said, âI suspect they may be the inheritors of a lost ancient evil cultivator lineage, resurfacing in the mortal world. Their methods, their goals, everything about them is a mystery. They are a sword hanging over our righteous sectâs head.â
Su Lingâer remained silent, knowing the leader had a purpose behind his words.
Sure enough, the leaderâs gaze fell on her again.
âSu Lingâer, your talent and constitution are among the lowestâyour roots are false spiritual roots in the four elements of gold, wood, water, and earth. Youâve trained hard for three years, yet only reached the third layer of Qi Refinement. Your cultivated âDust Markâ is the lowest grade; it seems your Foundation Establishment is hopeless.â
Dust Mark.
This was a mark that could form when ordinary mortals in the secular world cultivated the fragmented and repeatedly altered Primordial Dao Text. It symbolized mediocrity and despair.
As an outer disciple, she couldnât even enter the inner sect, and usually performed menial tasksâchopping wood, fetching water, and other chores in exchange for the sectâs outer disciple cultivation method.
This method was derived from the sect leaderâs Primordial Dao Text fragment, a beginner version for outer disciples. The inner disciples used more advanced versions.
The sect leader continued: âBut now, you have an opportunity.â
Here it comes!
Su Lingâer held her breath. Even though her understanding of demonic cultivators came only from books, the leader entrusted this important mission to her.
âA chance to leap to the top,â the leader said, âinfiltrate the Guixi Sect and become their disciple. Discover the truth of their methods, find proof of their evil, and report everything to me.â
âUpon success, not only will I accept you as my personal disciple, but I will personally reshape your meridians and roots! I can even appeal to the ancestral sect for your spiritual roots. I know youâve always wanted Blood-Congealing Grass. After this mission, you can have it, along with the Blood-Congealing Pill and Dragon-Tiger Pill, personally refined by me. Even the Primordial Dao Text fragments from the ancestral sect will be available for you to study, and I will assist you in deriving a method suited to your cultivation. Foundation Establishment will definitely be yours!â
Then, the sect leader took out a small bronze insect talisman.
âKeep this carefully. If you cannot use the sectâs jade slip to send messages while in the demonic sect, you can use this talisman. Once fed with vital blood, it can only survive fourteen hours. Make sure to transmit messages back within that time. I place great hope in you, so be extremely careful.â
Su Lingâer took the insect talisman carefully. She recalled the sect leaderâs recent worry, and rumors that the ancestral sect Tianlu Sect would collect the tithe again this year. Perhaps their tribute quota was insufficient, or they hoped to leverage information from the demonic sect to gain a breather, or perhaps to uncover their cultivation secrets for faster advancement.
She didnât know, nor did she want to know too much. Knowing too much might be harmful.
This might be her only chance in life to ascend, to continue pursuing the path of immortality, to achieve Foundation Establishment, and even higher. She had to go, even at the risk of death!
She bowed: âThank you, sect leader. I will go!â
After receiving further instructions, Su Lingâer left. Another outer disciple was called in behind her, but she only wanted to complete her task and continue pursuing the immortal path.
Back to the present, facing the terrifying mountain gateâŚ
Su Lingâer took a deep breath, suppressing her fear. She was doing this for the righteous path and for her cultivation!
She dashed from behind the rock toward the mountain gate. The closer she got, the heavier the oppressive aura of lifelessness became.
Finally, she stepped inside the gate.
Suddenly!
The scenery changed dramatically! In just a single step, it was as if she had entered another world. A rich, vibrant life force assaulted her senses, so strong she stumbled back, nearly coughing.
What had happened? The interior was nothing like the dark demonic cave she had imagined.
Inside was a paradise compared to the dead exteriorâgrass like a green carpet, dewdrops on leaves, flowers adding warmth to the air.
How could this be? The outside mountain was almost dead, yet just one step in, it was completely different!
Was this some illusion? Perhaps a magical formation?
She stepped back instinctively, and the paradise vanished. The interior reverted to its decayed state.
She cautiously placed one foot inside. Life energy enveloped her foot, but her other foot and body remained in the dead world.
This half-paradise, half-death sensation made her dizzy.
Then she began a strange routine: left foot in and out, right foot in and out, repeatedly. She was mesmerized by the threshold.
The scenery constantly shifted between paradise and desolation with her movements.
What kind of terrifying formation was this? Could it be the legendary Sumeru Mustard Seed Technique?
No.
Su Lingâer stopped, shivering at a chilling realization.
This must be a demonic technique!
It was an evil formation that drained life from the outside world. The Guixi Sect used an evil method she had never seen before, plundering all the life outside the mountain gate and channeling it inside their sect!
They turned the outside world into a wasteland just to nurture their own paradise!
How evil and vicious!
She was enraged at these demonic ways and vowed to eradicate them!
Just then, a voice called from ahead:
âYouâre here?â
Su Lingâer froze and looked up. A tall young man in dark robes, Lin Qingfeng, was walking toward her with a smile.
He was delighted to see the new junior sisterâthe sect finally had its first local NPC!
