Clear Void Temple's familiar mountain gate outline gradually blurred behind, finally hidden in clouds, mist and distant mountains. Xiao Qi resolutely turned, together with Zhao Tiezhu, controlling escape light, rushing toward the south in a completely opposite direction from the return journey. Target: Southern Frontier Black Seed Gu Village!
This journey was different from any before. The mind state was no longer travel and tempering, but carried a clear and urgent sense of purpose—obtaining the "Purifying World Spirit Flame," forging a perfect Golden Core!
Escape light pierced clouds and broke mist, the scenery beneath their feet rapidly changing. The Central Plains' prosperous towns and spiritually beautiful mountains and rivers were gradually left behind, replaced by increasingly dense primitive jungles, undulating hilly terrain, and the atmosphere beginning to permeate with a warm and moist, faintly sweet smell. This was Southern Frontier's unique flavor, indicating they were rapidly approaching that mysterious and ancient land.
Zhao Tiezhu followed at his side. Though somewhat surprised by the sudden change of itinerary, what he felt more was curiosity about that "Purifying World Spirit Flame" and unconditional support for his own Brother Qi. While flying, he stretched his muscles, feeling that Foundation Establishment late stage surging power, saying in a muffled voice: "Brother Qi, can that Southern Frontier spiritual fire really make your Core Formation more powerful?"
Xiao Qi's gaze was fixed on that seemingly boundless green ocean ahead, saying in a deep voice: "Yes. My root lies in purification. This flame is named 'Purifying World,' born from the purified demonic fire core, compatible with my Dao source. If I can integrate it into the Golden Core, perhaps my Golden Core can contain a trace of purification and creation origin laws, with infinite potential."
He didn't explain in detail, but Zhao Tiezhu could also understand that the spiritual fire was very important to Brother Qi. He nodded vigorously: "I understand! Brother Qi, rest assured. When we get to Southern Frontier, whoever dares block you from taking the fire, I'll be the first to hammer them!"
Crouching on Xiao Qi's shoulder, the rabbit spirit also seemed interested in this new journey, its small nose constantly twitching, sniffing that moist grass and wood scent different from desert and ice plains. Its ruby-like eyes flashed with curiosity.
As they continuously went deeper, the environment became more primitive and treacherous. Towering ancient trees blocked out the sky, thick vines like giant pythons winding among them. From the woods, unknown demonic beasts' roars and insects' buzzing sounds occasionally came. Poisonous miasma began pervading the mountain forests, colorful and beautiful to look at, yet containing deadly toxins.
Xiao Qi had to slow down, more carefully identifying direction while propping up a faint purification halo, enveloping the three within, isolating the poisonous miasma's erosion. Zhao Tiezhu also vigilantly observed all around. His powerful body initially tempered by the "Indestructible Diamond Body" had good resistance to these environmental toxins, but he didn't dare be careless either.
According to the approximate location guidance left in that message talisman, plus Xiao Qi's own keen perception of energy fluctuations, they advanced toward Black Seed Gu Village's general area. Along the way, they also encountered some Southern Frontier local cultivators or tribal hunters. These people mostly had dark skin, wore colorful clothing with complex totems, and wore various ornaments made of beast bones and insect shells. Their eyes were vigilant and exclusive.
Xiao Qi didn't actively contact them, only avoiding from afar. Southern Frontier folk customs were fierce, Gu arts were strange—better to do less than more.
Several days later, they finally arrived at the area described in the message talisman—a continuous mountain range shrouded by dense miasma and ancient witch arrays. The mountain terrain here was even more treacherous, vegetation even more strange. Many plants presented unnaturally gorgeous colors, emitting strange odors.
Arriving here, that message talisman's remnant aura already marked by Xiao Qi's divine consciousness seemed to produce some resonance with this land, slightly trembling, pointing toward a specific direction deep in the miasma.
"Should be right inside here." Xiao Qi stopped his escape light, looking at the endlessly rolling, colorful dense miasma ahead, his gaze grave. This miasma was no small matter—not only containing severe poison, but also seemingly mixed with mind-confusing, perception-distorting power. Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators intruding would probably fare poorly. Moreover, he could sense that behind the miasma existed powerful array fluctuations.
"Brother Qi, this miasma looks troublesome. How do we get in?" Zhao Tiezhu looked at the colorful fog, frowning. Though he wasn't afraid of head-on confrontation, this kind of strange stuff was most troublesome.
Xiao Qi pondered for a moment, saying: "Since we were invited, presumably the village already knows we've arrived. Let's wait here for now. If no one guides us, we'll figure something out."
He circulated spiritual power, slowly sending a thread of peaceful aura, mixed with that message talisman's remnant fluctuation, into the miasma ahead, like throwing a stone to test the water.
Sure enough, in just a moment, the miasma ahead surged like a curtain separating to both sides, revealing a narrow passage only wide enough for one person. Inside the passage still lingered faint fog, but the toxicity seemed suppressed by some power.
Immediately after, two warriors wearing black close-fitting attire, with painted faces and agile auras, quickly walked out from the passage. Their sharp gazes swept over Xiao Qi and Zhao Tiezhu—especially when sensing Xiao Qi's unfathomably deep aura and Zhao Tiezhu's majestic qi and blood, their eyes both flashed with surprise and reverence.
One of them stepped forward, speaking in heavily accented yet barely understandable Central Plains official language: "Is the honored guest Tang Xiao Qi, Dao Friend? The village chief ordered us to wait here. Please follow us."
Xiao Qi nodded, cupping his hands: "Many thanks to you two for leading the way."
Led by the two Gu Village warriors, Xiao Qi and Zhao Tiezhu stepped into that separated miasma passage. The rabbit spirit crouched on Xiao Qi's shoulder, curiously sizing up the colorful fog slowly wriggling like living things on both sides of the passage.
The passage wound inward, not knowing where it extended within the mountain range. The new journey had already arrived at its first stop. And that "Purifying World Spirit Flame" concerning Xiao Qi's Golden Core Dao path was right in this mysterious Gu Village's depths, awaiting his arrival.