Translator: CinderTL
A dense, inky Primordial Qi filled the heavens and earth, plunging the surroundings into deep twilight even at midday.
Song Wen landed on the rocky island.
Suddenly, a black fox shadow darted out.
"Master, you've arrived?" The Nether Fox's tone dripped with obsequiousness. "Did you come specifically to dissolve the Spirit Beast Contract?"
Song Wen frowned, his gaze fixed on the Nether Fox. "Why are you still stuck at Third-Tier Peak? There's not even a hint of advancement."
"Fourth-Tier breakthroughs aren't easy, Master," the Nether Fox retorted, rolling its eyes. "Didn't you come to terminate the contract?"
"Our hundred-year agreement still has a few years left," Song Wen replied. "We'll discuss it when the time comes."
The Nether Fox bristled with impatience. After sizing Song Wen up, it spoke. "Master, are you looking to contract a Fourth-Tier Nether Fox? I know where to find one. Just dissolve this contract, and I'll lead you there."
Ignoring the Nether Fox, Song Wen turned and flew toward the Teleportation Array.
Reaching the array's center, he retrieved his Array Disk and carefully placed seventy-two High-Grade Spirit Stones into the activation slots.
As Song Wen prepared to activate the array, the Nether Fox hastily sent a telepathic message. "Master, speak! Do you want to contract a Fourth-Tier Nether Fox or not?"
Song Wen's expression darkened. "If you continue this incessant yammering, I'll confine you to the Spirit Beast Pouch."
The Nether Fox immediately fell silent, not daring to utter another word.
Song Wen focused on the Array Disk before him, rapidly forming magic seals.
A cyan light erupted from the Teleportation Array, gradually enveloping Song Wen's figure.
The Nether Fox glared at the glowing cyan light, baring its fangs in a ferocious display.
But in the next instant, its vicious expression vanished, replaced by its usual tail-wagging, obsequious demeanor.
The cyan light had abruptly vanished without a trace, and that detestable human hadn't been teleported away. He remained standing at the center of the Teleportation Array.
A flicker of astonishment crossed Song Wen's face.
The teleportation had failed!
His gaze turned icy as he glared at the Nether Fox. "Did you sabotage the Teleportation Array?"
Terror flooded the Nether Fox's eyes as it frantically denied the accusation. "No! How dare I sabotage the Teleportation Array?"
Though furious, Song Wen knew the Nether Fox wouldn't have the courage to tamper with the array.
After a careful inspection, he found no signs of damage.
"The Teleportation Array is clearly intact. Why did the teleportation fail? And it activated successfully just now... Could it be..."
Realization struck him like lightning.
Xue Mei must be responsible! She had sabotaged the Teleportation Array on the other end.
Song Wen's face darkened like a stormy sea as he slowly stepped out of the array.
With the Teleportation Array gone, the only way back to the Tianyuan Continent was through the Endless Desert.
The Endless Desert was fraught with peril, making its traverse as difficult as scaling the heavens.
Song Wen clenched his fists tightly, his heart churning like a storm-tossed sea, overflowing with resentment and frustration.
Failing to return to the Tianyuan Continent meant he couldn't exact revenge on Xue Mei, Yang Yu, and Gui Ni.
And then there was Blood Sui of the Beastmaster Sect to contend with.
Though Xue Mei had claimed that cultivators of the Corpse King Rebirth Art could advance to the Divine Transformation realm without Fallen Immortal Blood, it was merely her speculation, not necessarily the truth.
Besides, Xue Mei's words had always been unreliable.
Inwardly, Song Wen cursed his own negligence.
He should have anticipated Xue Mei's sabotage of the Teleportation Array in the Endless Desert.
Now that the situation was dire, Song Wen refused to wallow in self-pity. He had to find another way.
Suddenly, he turned to face the Nether Fox.
The Nether Fox recoiled like a frightened animal, backing away hastily.
"Master, please don't kill me! I swear I didn't destroy the Teleportation Array, nor do I wish to break our contract. I willingly remain your Spirit Beast forever!"
Song Wen replied calmly, "Relax. This matter has nothing to do with you. I won't vent my anger on you. You've resided in this Misty Ghost Realm for centuries. Have you ever encountered other Teleportation Arrays or ancient relics left behind by the Divine Blood Gate?"
"No," the Nether Fox replied. "There are no other ancient Human Race ruins within my territory."
Song Wen sighed softly.
He realized he was grasping at straws, foolishly hoping a Nether Fox could lead him to another Teleportation Array. If such arrays were easily found, there wouldn't have been millennia of isolation between the Tianyuan Continent and the Chaotic Sea.
No contact for millennia?
Song Wen's eyes suddenly lit up.
He realized he might not be the only one to have crossed the divide between the Tianyuan Continent and the Chaotic Sea.
The Steady Light Buddha of the Sun Moon Temple.
His origins were highly suspicious!
The Buddhist traditions of the Chaotic Sea had long decayed. The sudden emergence of a Nascent Soul realm Buddhist cultivator was bound to raise eyebrows.
He's likely Xu Geng of Mi Hai, who seized another's body! He must know of another Teleportation Array, Song Wen mused inwardly.
Song Wen held the Array Disk for the island's Teleportation Array. If Xu Geng wanted to travel to the Chaotic Sea, he would have to use another array.
With renewed hope of returning, the chill that had gripped Song Wen's body vanished.
Seeing this, the Nether Fox breathed a sigh of relief, while inwardly grumbling, Humans are so fickle, so dramatic. One moment they're as cold as frost, the next they're calm as still water.
When it saw Song Wen suddenly soar into the sky, flying towards the Chaotic Sea, it exhaled deeply.
That damned human is finally gone. Another day survived!
Qingbao Island, spanning thousands of miles, is a gently sloping land inhabited by countless mortals who have established over a hundred cities of varying sizes.
One of these major cities is Guanling City.
Six miles east of Guanling City's eastern gate rises the majestic Xidong Mountain.
Perched atop Xidong Mountain is the Sun Moon Temple, renowned throughout Qingbao Island for its resident high monks, whose reputation attracts countless pilgrims seeking blessings.
However, an invisible barrier shrouds Xidong Mountain, preventing ordinary devotees from ascending. Yet this obstacle does nothing to dampen their fervor.
Between Guanling City's eastern gate and Xidong Mountain stretches a grand avenue, over three hundred feet wide, perpetually thronged with pilgrims on their sacred journey.
From the moment they leave the city gate, these pilgrims begin their arduous pilgrimage with three prostrations and nine deep bows, continuing this ritual until they reach the mountain's base.
Hailing from every corner of Qingbao Island, they arrive travel-worn, their clothes tattered and faces weathered by the elements. Even on days following torrential rain, when the avenue is mired in mud, their devotion remains unshaken. They shuffle forward, kneeling at intervals, their bodies caked in mud, caring only to glimpse the sacred sanctuary they revere.
At the end of the pilgrimage route, several rugged mountain paths lead returning pilgrims down the mountain.
As they descend, these pilgrims frequently pause, turning back to gaze at Xidong Mountain with lingering reverence.
Song Wen, having concealed all traces of his cultivation aura, stood on a distant mountaintop, his brow furrowed slightly.
The transparent barrier enveloping Xidong Mountain was a Formation. While Spirit Sense could penetrate it, the Formation distorted the perception of its interior, rendering the true conditions within undetectable.
(End of the Chapter)
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