We need output exact paras. Count huge. Need preserve. Translate. Title plus 129 paragraphs apparently input paras. Must carefully each. Panels none. Need maintain paragraphs.This Has to Be an Evil Formation That Steals the Surrounding Life Force!

Gui Xi Sect.

The location of its mountain gate.

There was none of the fresh, grassy scent one would expect in the wilderness. The area around it was completely barren.

As far as the eye could see, there wasn't even a single blade of lowly grass, let alone any rare flowers or plants.

It was as if something had forcibly drained all the life from the entire mountain.

The mountain gate stood wide open, its two enormous stone doors thrown back.

The interior was so dark and deep that it was impossible to see clearly. It looked like a demonic sect, with none of the bearing of an immortal sect.

At that moment, someone was crouched behind a drab boulder half her height. Only half her head peeked out, her eyes full of wariness.

The Sect Master had said that recently, the disciples of a certain sect had been acting strangely.

Now that she was seeing it for herself, wasn't this a little too blatant?

The land for a hundred li around was barren, and the two shadowy gates looked as if they led to an endless abyss.

With a sight like this, weren't they afraid of being discovered by the Immortal Sects of the Righteous Path?

The image of the Sect Master surfaced in Su Ling'er's mind once more.

It had been in an unremarkable secret chamber in Qing Xu Temple.

The usually aloof Sect Master of Qing Xu Temple was a Core Formation Realm cultivator whose Daoist title was Xuan Yuan.

He had dismissed all the disciples, leaving only Su Ling'er behind.

"You've been in my sect for quite some time. Do you know of Gui Xi Sect, which has settled three hundred li to the east?"

Su Ling'er nodded.

"This disciple has heard of it."

It was a new sect that had risen to fame in recent years.

They said its members acted strangely, and the speed at which its disciples advanced in cultivation was unbelievable. Even the nearby cultivation markets were full of rumors about the place.

But strangely, none of them seemed to have seen that sect with their own eyes. Those stories appeared out of nowhere, and no one knew who had spread them.

Perhaps they had started the rumors themselves to give their sect some renown?

But surely a demonic sect wouldn't do something like that.

The Sect Master of Qing Xu Temple said, "I suspect they may well be the inheritors of some long-lost ancient Evil Cultivator tradition, one that has reappeared in the world.

"Their cultivation methods, their aims, everything about them is a mystery.

"They are a blade hanging over the heads of our Righteous Path sects."

Su Ling'er kept silent. She knew the Sect Master's words had an ulterior motive; he must have wanted her to do something.

Sure enough, the Sect Master's gaze fell on Su Ling'er once more.

"Su Ling'er, your talent and constitution are both among the worst. You even have a four-element pseudo spiritual root of metal, wood, water, and earth.

"You joined my sect and have cultivated diligently for three years, yet you've only reached Qi Refining Level 3.

"And the Origin Dust you condensed is the lowest-grade Dust Seal. You'll likely never have any hope of Foundation Establishment in this life."

Dust Seal.

It was a mark that even ordinary people in mortal kingdoms could potentially condense after cultivating a fragmentary copy of the Primal Dao Canon that had been altered countless times.

It was the lowest mark on the path of cultivation, a byword for mediocrity and despair.

As an outer-sect disciple, she couldn't even enter the inner sect. Most days, all she did was menial work for the sect.

Things like chopping wood and carrying water were all assigned to the outer-sect disciples.

In exchange for this labor, they received Qing Xu Temple's outer-sect cultivation method.

That method, too, had been derived by the Sect Master of Qing Xu Temple from a fragment of the Primal Dao Canon bestowed by their superior sect.

It was only the first edition, so it was used to recruit outer-sect disciples. As for which edition the inner sect practiced, she had no idea.

The Sect Master of Qing Xu Temple spoke again. "But now, you have an opportunity."

Here it comes!

Su Ling'er held her breath.

Even though her knowledge of demonic Evil Cultivators came only from storybooks, the Sect Master had still entrusted this important task to her!

"An opportunity to rise to the top in a single step,"

the Sect Master continued,

"infiltrate Gui Xi Sect and become one of its disciples.

"Use whatever means you can to uncover the truth behind their cultivation methods, find evidence that they are Evil Cultivators, and report everything you learn to me."

"Once you succeed, I'll not only make an exception and accept you as my personal disciple, I'll also personally perform Bone Cleansing Marrow Washing for you and reshape your constitution!

"Your master can even swallow his pride and beg our superior sect on your behalf.

"That way, there may even be a way to resolve your spiritual root.

"I know you've wanted Blood Condensing Grass for a long time. Now you have your chance. Once you succeed, I can personally refine not only Blood Condensing Grass, but also Blood Condensing Pills and Dragon Tiger Pills for you.

"And you'll be free to study the copy of the Primal Dao Canon bestowed upon Qing Xu Temple by our superior sect. I can even help you understand it, so you can derive a cultivation method suited to you.

"You may not reach the False Core Realm, but Foundation Establishment will surely be within your grasp!"

Then, the Sect Master of Qing Xu Temple pulled a small bronze bell-shaped insect gu out of his robes.

"Take good care of this insect gu.

"If you can't send word back to the sect using a message jade slip while you're in the Demonic Sect, you can use this insect gu to deliver a message.

"Remember.

"After being fed blood essence, the flying insect can survive for no more than fourteen shichen.

"There should be enough insects for you to use, but remember: once you feed one, you must send it out of the Demonic Sect and get the message back to Qing Xu Temple within fourteen shichen.

"Your master has high hopes for you. You must be extremely careful."

Su Ling'er carefully accepted the insect gu.

She thought of the Sect Master's perpetually furrowed brow of late, and of the rumors that their superior sect, the Heavenly Furnace Sect, was coming to collect its "tithe" again.

Was it because they hadn't provided enough spirit stones this year?

Or did he hope to trade information about the Evil Sect to their superior sect for a moment's respite?

Or did he want to uncover the secrets of the Evil Sect's cultivation methods and use them to advance quickly?

She didn't know, and she didn't want to know too much.

Knowing too much might not do her any good.

And this was perhaps the only chance she'd ever have to climb higher.

It was her only chance to keep pursuing the immortal path and reach Foundation Establishment—or even a higher realm.

She had to do it, even if it meant facing certain death!

Then she clasped her fists. "Thank you, Sect Master. This disciple is willing!"

After the Sect Master carefully gave her a few more instructions, Su Ling'er rose and left.

But as she walked out of the room, another outer-sect disciple like her was summoned inside.

She didn't know what he was being asked to do.

All she wanted was to complete her mission as quickly as possible and continue pursuing the immortal path she sought.

Her memories suddenly faded, and the terrifying mountain gate before her came back into focus.

Su Ling'er took a deep breath, suppressing every stirring emotion within her.

She was doing this to uphold the Righteous Path!

And to reach Foundation Establishment and advance further along the immortal path!

She hesitated no longer. Slipping out from behind the boulder, she headed toward the terrifying mountain gate.

The closer she got, the heavier the oppressive feeling of all life being extinguished became.

At last, she stepped through the mountain gate.

Suddenly!

The scenery around her changed!

With just one step, she seemed to have entered another world.

A rich breath of life washed over her, and its fragrance was so overwhelming that she staggered back half a step, almost coughing aloud.

What had happened?

The interior was nothing like the gloomy Demon Den she had imagined.

Compared to the outside, it was practically an immortal paradise!

The grass formed a green carpet, dewdrops clung to the tips of the leaves, and the flowers by the entrance lent the air a hint of warmth.

How was this possible?

The mountain outside was nearly dead; there wasn't even a blade of grass. Yet just one step inside, and everything was completely different!

Compared to the outside, the interior truly could be called an immortal paradise.

Su Ling'er's mind went blank, and an idea occurred to her.

Could she have fallen under some kind of illusion and entered a phantom realm?

It was possible!

She let out a hiss and, almost as if possessed, took another step backward.

The immortal paradise vanished, and her surroundings once again became the same desolate wasteland.

Su Ling'er froze. She blinked, then cautiously extended one foot inside again.

The instant her foot crossed the threshold, it was as if life once more enveloped it, while her other foot and the rest of her body remained in the desolate world outside.

The jarring feeling of being half in paradise and half in a dead land made her head spin.

Then she began doing something very strange.

She extended her left foot, stepped in, then pulled it back;

her right foot went in, then came out;

left foot in, right foot in, left foot out, right foot out...

It was as if the threshold had bewitched her. She kept moving back and forth, in and out.

After all, this was a sight she had never even seen at Qing Xu Temple.

And as she moved, the scenery before her kept switching between an immortal paradise and a dead land.

What kind of terrifying formation was this?

Could it be the legendary Sumeru Mustard Seed Technique?

No.

Su Ling'er stopped her foolish movements and stood frozen before the gate.

A thought that chilled her to the bone rose in her mind.

This had to be an Evil Cultivator technique!

This was an evil grand formation that siphoned life from the outside world!

Gui Xi Sect had used an evil art she had never seen before to seize every last bit of life from the mountain outside its gate, then hoard it inside the sect!

They had turned the outside world into a barren wasteland just to nourish their own immortal gardens!

So that was it!

What an evil and vicious thing to do!

The storybooks had told the truth after all!

Those wicked demonic heretics deserved to be killed by everyone!

As she was shaken to the core by her discovery, a voice came from up ahead.

"You're here?"

Su Ling'er stiffened. She jerked her head up and saw a tall, black-robed young man walking toward her with a smile. It was Lin Qingfeng.

Looking at the new junior sister, his heart was already bursting with joy.

Our sect finally has its first local NPC!!!