Chapter 269: Arrival

The Qiong Hua Sect was still too weak; they couldn’t guarantee the safety of the newly established route.

Foundation Establishment cultivators who traversed this path were practically gambling with their lives. No wonder none of the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Sword Pool Peak in the Far West Territory had applied to return. Such hastily constructed routes to temporary outposts offered no security whatsoever. Even with Core Formation cultivators stationed along the way, the outcome would be the same.

The Flying Boat shuddered as it entered Gu Insect Ridge, and the surrounding light shifted once more.

Buzz… buzz…

A low-frequency insect hum filled the air. The Flying Boat’s protective Restrictions automatically activated, crushing swarms of Gu Insects that plastered themselves onto its hull, forming a dense shroud of corpses.

These Gu Insects were native to Gu Insect Ridge, distinct from the Spirit-Devouring Gu.

Individually, these insects were weak enough for even Qi Refining realm cultivators to slay, let alone a third-rank Sect Magic Artifact like an Inter-Territory Flying Boat. But Gu Insects never acted alone; they moved in massive, relentless swarms.

Crackling sounds echoed incessantly as the Giant Whale Flying Boat carved through the sea of insects.

Moments later, the light brightened as the Giant Whale Flying Boat emerged from the swarm of Gu Insects, revealing the landscape beyond. Chen Luo dispersed his Divine Sense, taking in a vibrant mountain valley filled with lush greenery and emerald pools, completely devoid of any trace of Gu Insects. The scenery resembled a secluded paradise, utterly unlike the toxic lands infested with Gu Insects they had just left behind.

Splash!

A fish leaped from one of the pools, flicking its tail in mid-air and scattering crystal-clear droplets.

A breeze swept through, carrying a few fallen leaves into the valley.

Countless minute particles, resembling pollen, drifted toward the fish. The instant they made contact, the fish’s vibrant colors faded rapidly, and its flesh visibly disintegrated. Before it could fall back into the water, the once-living creature had been reduced to a skeleton. By the time it touched the surface, even the bones had vanished, leaving only a faint wisp of dust that rippled across the pool.

Another gust of wind shook the trees, releasing a dense cloud of green “pollen” that transformed the air into a swirling emerald sea.

It was all Gu Insects!

As if drawn by some scent, the swarm of insects circled below before surging straight toward the Flying Boat. Zhao Long’s face turned green at the sight.

“We’re doomed,” he muttered.

This was Gu Insect Ridge. Falling here meant instant consumption, leaving not even a shred of remains.

Chen Luo also spotted the swarming Gu insects. Reaching into his Pest Control Pouch, he retrieved two Strange Gu. Grabbing the still-dozing Soul-Parasitic Gu, he tossed it overboard.

“Go now,” he commanded. “Bring back some Spirit-Devouring Gu.”

Obeying Chen Luo’s command, the Soul-Parasitic Gu instantly dispersed, transforming into a cloud of quicksand that drifted outward. Unlike true Gu insects, the Soul-Parasitic Gu was a composite entity, a fusion of countless individual Soul-Parasitic Gu.

Smaller than the “pollen”-like Spirit-Devouring Gu below, the Soul-Parasitic Gu quickly infested a large area. The leading Spirit-Devouring Gu abruptly reversed course, turning on its own kind with savage bites.

The swarm’s originally menacing formation dissolved into chaos as the insects turned against each other. Within moments, they were locked in a frenzied, biting melee.

Zhao Long and Mei Qin stared dumbfounded, utterly clueless as to what had just transpired. Insect Cultivator techniques were beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Chen Luo ignored the pair and walked onto the back of the Giant Whale Flying Boat, gazing down at the Gu Insects battling below.

The swarm controlled by the Soul-Parasitic Gu was quickly devoured, but moments later, new Soul-Parasitic Gu emerged from the corpses, parasitizing fresh swarms. The Spirit-Devouring Gu, initially victorious, betrayed their masters again, initiating a fresh cycle of carnage.

The Giant Whale Flying Boat silently glided overhead, yet not a single Spirit-Devouring Gu rose to attack.

This cycle of parasitism and replacement continued endlessly.

Gradually, the Spirit-Devouring Gu sensed something amiss and began to retreat. By the end, only a small patch of green cloud, completely controlled by the Soul-Parasitic Gu, remained suspended in the air.

With a flick of his sleeve, Chen Luo drew the green cloud to the Flying Boat’s surface and stored it within his sleeve.

No more Spirit-Devouring Gu rose from below. The Flying Boat passed through the perilous area without incident, and it wasn’t until sunlight streamed in that Zhao Long and Mei Qin finally regained their composure. Earlier, they had both been prepared to self-destruct, knowing that falling into Gu Insect Ridge would be a fate far worse than falling onto the Bridge of Helplessness.

Before either of them could react, they had inexplicably passed through Gu Insect Ridge.

“We’re through already?” Zhao Long swallowed hard, sensing that something was amiss, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“Let’s head back and rest,” Chen Luo said. “If all goes well, we should reach the Sect Stronghold by tomorrow.”

Having just captured a batch of Spirit-Devouring Gu, Chen Luo planned to refine them thoroughly. Until the refinement was complete, the Soul-Parasitic Gu couldn’t be used. If it detached now, the Spirit-Devouring Gu would inevitably turn against him, targeting their former “master” first.

Two perilous zones had been traversed.

With the Life-Stealing Mite and Soul-Parasitic Gu satiated and no longer stirring up trouble, the Flying Boat passed through Wild Monkey Valley—the third dangerous area—with surprising tranquility. Chen Luo didn’t even catch a glimpse of the monkeys inside. Zhao Long breathed a sigh of relief; this was how the Flying Boat should have behaved all along. Something must have gone wrong earlier.

Several days later, the Flying Boat shuddered and emitted a long, soaring cry into the sky, its voice piercing the clouds. Familiar spiritual energy surged around them as sunlight streamed down, signaling their successful crossing of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain and arrival in the Southern Heaven Domain.

Boom!

The Giant Whale Flying Boat, its spirit essence completely depleted, plummeted from the sky, its belly slamming into the ground with a bone-jarring crash. A shockwave rippled outward, sending shattered stones flying in all directions. At the edge of the distant Sect Stronghold, onlookers watched with curiosity, witnessing for the first time a Flying Boat with its spirit essence completely exhausted.

Buzz.

The Restriction’s light faded. The Giant Whale’s pectoral fins retracted, and layers of wooden structures shifted, revealing a gaping hole. Eight colossal mechanical arms extended from within, plunging deep into the muddy earth to stabilize the vessel.

Chen Luo, Zhao Long, and their companion leaped from the Flying Boat.

Sunlight streamed down, and the crisp air compelled them to take deep, refreshing breaths.

“The spiritual energy is indeed denser than in the Southwest Territory, but not overwhelmingly so,” Chen Luo observed, sensing the subtle difference. Perhaps their location near the domain’s border accounted for the muted spiritual energy.

“Senior Brother Chen, here’s my contact information. Please reach out once you arrive at the Sect.”

“Senior Brother, this is my Communication Talisman.”

Arriving at the Sect Stronghold, the trio finally relaxed their tense spirits. The remaining journey could be completed using an Inter-Territory Teleportation Array, marking the end of their shared travels. Having witnessed Chen Luo’s capabilities firsthand, Zhao Long and Mei Qin both left a Communication Talisman imprint with him.

A second-rank Communication Talisman could use this imprint to transmit messages, but its range was limited. Only a third-rank spirit talisman or the divine art of a powerful cultivator—such as animating paper cranes to carry messages—could overcome such distances, matters far beyond the comprehension of Foundation Establishment cultivators like them.

“May we meet again by fate.”

Chen Luo accepted their imprints without hesitation. With a leap, he soared into the sky, heading toward the Qiong Hua Sect’s stronghold.

After enduring countless hardships, he had finally reached the Southern Heaven Domain, hoping to find the opportunity to condense a First-Grade Golden Core.

The afternoon sun beat down with relentless intensity.

Unlike the temporary mountain villages he had encountered before, the Qiong Hua Sect’s stronghold was a sprawling complex of buildings. At its heart stood a colossal sword—the sect’s Taisu Divine Sword—a symbol that the cultivators stationed here were experts from the sect’s Taisu Peak.

Unlike the God Lake Immortal Sect, the Qiong Hua Sect was primarily a sword cultivation sect. While it also housed many Magic and Body Cultivators, Sword Cultivators held the highest status within the sect.

The sect’s most revered cultivation technique was the Jade Splendor Sword Canon, a Fourth-Tier manual capable of guiding practitioners to the Nascent Soul realm!

Stepping into the Qiong Hua Sect’s stronghold, Chen Luo was greeted by a scene utterly different from the landscapes of the Southwest Territory.