Shen He promptly described his interactions with Night Senior in broad strokes, of course blurring specifics on cultivation and details, only mentioning the avian demon’s foul temper and picky nature.
“…It might have been stressed. You’re not its master, just a temporary caretaker. Perhaps you could find items carrying your Shizun’s scent…”
Xie Linlang stopped paying attention after listening for a bit.
As the Purple Radiance Mountain Secret Realm neared opening, the ten cultivators gathered around the key-holding team leader, chatting while they waited.
When the moon reached its zenith, the key before them emitted a purple glow that enveloped the ten. In the next instant, they all vanished.
According to the secret realm information Shen He had gathered, no matter how cultivators entered or with whom, everyone would be scattered upon arrival.
“…It’s not complete, but I copied about fifty percent of the secret realm map.”
After landing in the secret realm, Shen He found himself in a lush forest. Spiritual energy mingled with Demonic Qi in the air, so thick it seemed ready to condense into droplets. The Demonic Qi flowed sluggishly.
“The purity and turbidity inside the secret realm differ greatly from outside.”
Xie Linlang perked up. “Really? That means there’s a source of Demonic Qi here. Let’s go—head east as planned to search.”
Explorers had mapped a cluster of abandoned buildings on the eastern side of the Purple Radiance Mountain Secret Realm, where high-quality materials and demon beast egg remnants occasionally appeared.
However, the buildings housed intact formations and mechanisms, and even Nascent Soul or Soul Transformation Cultivator-level Puppet Armored Soldiers sometimes emerged.
Since only those below Foundation Establishment could enter the Purple Radiance Mountain Secret Realm, over half the map remained blank, awaiting further exploration.
But Shen He had brought Xie Linlang along. With Soul Transformation-level Divine Sense, Xie Linlang could help Shen He evade potential traps and formations, allowing deeper penetration into the ruins.
Sects typically had facilities like Pill Rooms with Spiritual Fire or arrays to gather Demonic Qi or spiritual energy. Once they found such a spot and placed the Nine Revolutions Return to Truth Pill—now fused with Xie Linlang’s remnant soul and Divine Soul—into the array, Shen He’s task would be complete.
“…By the way, what was that ancient sect called? Did they figure it out?”
As Shen He pressed eastward, crossing forests and rivers while harvesting some Demonic Plants and spiritual herbs, Xie Linlang felt an inexplicable pull, as if something in the far east called to him.
“Seems like Derivation Spirit Sect,” Shen He replied. “They say it was a renowned beast-taming great sect from ancient times. Zhang Daoyou hopes to find drugs or materials from its ruins to nurture spirit beasts.”
Out of the blue, Xie Linlang asked, “…Have you heard of Nine Spirits Sect?”
Shen He blinked in confusion. “Nine Spirits Sect? What’s that?”
“It’s normal you don’t know. It was destroyed before you became a cultivator—no, before you were even born.”
Xie Linlang’s voice carried a faint chill, as if echoing from afar.
“Legend has it Nine Spirits Sect possessed an ancient formula to tame demon beasts for their use, even extracting bloodline inheritances from demon beast Divine Souls or refining them into Nine Spirits Totems. It was a decent mid-tier sect.”
His tone grew grave. “Immortal Sect scholars verified that Nine Spirits Sect’s founder obtained Derivation Spirit Sect’s true inheritance from some ruins, reestablishing the lineage to found Nine Spirits Sect…”
Shen He frowned slightly. “…Why bring up Nine Spirits Sect all of a sudden, Shizun?”
Xie Linlang fell silent for a moment before saying, “Nine Spirits Sect was destroyed by the Silent Night Demon Lord. Supposedly, he uprooted their entire sect grounds without a trace, sparking widespread debate among Immortal Sects at the time—one reason most Immortal Sect cultivators despised and feared the Silent Night Demon Lord.”
Shen He sucked in a breath and swallowed hard.
“The Purple Radiance Mountain Secret Realm formed over thirty years ago…”
If it was Derivation Spirit Sect’s secret realm, why appear so recently?
Shen He thought of Senior Sister Le’s sudden appearance, a chill creeping down his spine.
“Shizun, when exactly was Nine Spirits Sect destroyed?”
Xie Linlang calculated the timeline, his heart sinking as his tone turned icy.
“About the same period.”
Before the Dao Companion Ceremony, Pei Ji had said friends from Nine Spirits Sect helped procure a unique gift he wanted to present to Xie Linlang.
Though annoyed at Pei Ji’s sudden departure before the ceremony, Xie Linlang had watched his back vanish beyond the Sect Grand Array with full anticipation.
But in the end, only emptiness awaited.
Xie Linlang had regretted countless times not accompanying him.
Even though Pei Ji insisted on a surprise and kept the gift secret, had Xie Linlang insisted, perhaps nothing would have happened.
Nine Spirits Sect claimed Pei Ji had taken the item and left. Xie Linlang enlisted many friends to track him, confirming only that Pei Ji had indeed departed Nine Spirits Sect before vanishing en route.
At first, Xie Linlang staunchly believed Pei Ji had merely gone missing and refused to cancel the Dao Companion Ceremony.
Pei Ji never broke promises; he would surely return.
Yet half a month later, Xie Linlang suddenly clutched his heart in agony, vomited blood, and fell unconscious.
When he awoke, he knew Pei Ji was dead.
