Nether Blood Sea

A streak of azure light flashed past, and a Taoist in an azure robe appeared before everyone. His face was identical to Yuanshi Tianzun's, and pure Jade Clarity Immortal Light radiated from his entire body.

"Yuqing Daoist!" Xuanqing's heart jolted, and he hurried forward to bow. "Disciple Xuanqing pays respects to Master's incarnation!"

When Luyao, Song Xuan, Zimo, and Lingyunzi saw Yuanshi Tianzun's incarnation descend, they all froze instantly. Before taking human form, they had heard far too many legends about the Three Pure Ones Sages. They were the most supreme beings in Honghuang, totems they could only look up to.

At this moment, an incarnation of a Sage had actually appeared before them. The four hurriedly dropped to their knees and kowtowed reverently. "This disciple pays respects to the Sage!"

Yuqing Daoist nodded slightly, his gaze falling upon Xuanqing with a trace of scrutiny.

"You, my disciple, have stirred up quite a commotion." Yuqing Daoist's tone was calm, yet carried a hint of majesty.

Xuanqing was somewhat puzzled. "Wasn't Master's incarnation at Mount Buzhou? Why have you suddenly descended upon He Mountain?"

Yuqing Daoist explained, "My true body is currently in seclusion, comprehending the Heavenly Dao. However, this does not restrict an incarnation. Just now, from Kunlun Mountain, I sensed intense fluctuations in the spiritual energy here, so I came to take a look."

Xuanqing understood. So Master's true body was in seclusion, seeking a breakthrough—no wonder he had sent an incarnation out to roam. Yet this incarnation had been able to sense the disturbance at He Mountain from Kunlun Mountain. Such perception was truly extraordinary.

Yuqing Daoist's gaze swept over the three plantain fans whose auras were restrained, and a flicker of approval appeared on his calm face.

"Not bad. These three spiritual treasures are all high-grade innate objects. For you to have initially refined them in such a short time shows that your comprehension is exceptional."

Xuanqing was secretly delighted, though he modestly said, "It is all thanks to Master's excellent guidance."

Unexpectedly, Yuqing Daoist changed the subject and looked toward the four disciples behind him, who were like quails and scarcely dared breathe.

As Luyao, Song Xuan, Zimo, and Lingyunzi felt the Sage's gaze settle upon them, their bodies stiffened. They did not even dare raise their heads, their hearts full of unease.

This was a Sage's incarnation! A legendary great figure!

Looking at them, Yuqing Daoist's voice remained calm. "Since you have entered Xuanqing's sect, you may also be counted as third-generation disciples of my Jade Void Palace."

The moment he said this, monstrous waves surged in the four's hearts.

Third-generation disciples of the Jade Void Palace! That title alone would be enough to make ninety-nine percent of the living beings in Honghuang envy them until their eyes turned red!

"Since this is our first meeting, I, as your grandmaster, cannot come empty-handed."

Yuqing Daoist lightly waved his sleeve robe.

Four streams of light appeared out of thin air, hovering before Luyao and the others.

They were an emerald-green jade hairpin, a short sword patterned with green pines, a purple inkstone, and a cloud-shaped protective treasure.

Every treasure gleamed with spiritual light and possessed an extraordinary aura. Though they were not innate, they were still fine specimens among Postnatal Spiritual Treasures.

"Th-These... are for us?" Lingyunzi stammered, his eyes wide and round.

"Hurry and thank your grandmaster!" Xuanqing reminded them from the side.

He was also sighing inwardly. His own Master was truly generous—just an incarnation could give gifts so lavishly. These few Postnatal Spiritual Treasures would be enough to spark quite a struggle if placed outside.

Luyao and the other three snapped out of their daze and hurriedly knelt again, kowtowing excitedly.

"This disciple thanks Grandmaster for bestowing these treasures!"

"This disciple thanks Grandmaster!"

Their voices trembled. This happiness had come far too suddenly.

Yuqing Daoist nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

He looked at Xuanqing again and cautioned, "You intend to travel to the Western Lands. The karma of this journey is immense, so remember to be cautious in all things. My true body is at a critical juncture in seclusion. Unless it is a matter of life and death, do not lightly disturb Kunlun Mountain's fortune."

"This disciple understands." Xuanqing answered respectfully.

Yuqing Daoist said no more. His figure turned into a streak of clear light and shot into the sky, vanishing beyond the horizon in an instant as he returned to Kunlun Mountain.

Only after the Sage's pressure had completely vanished did Luyao and the others dare rise. Each of them held their treasure, their faces flushed red with excitement.

"Master, I'm not dreaming, am I? Our Sage Grandmaster... bestowed treasures upon us!" Zimo caressed the purple inkstone, unable to put it down.

Seeing their uncultured appearance, Xuanqing smiled. "All right, put them away and refine them properly. From now on, you are legitimate third-generation disciples of the Jade Void Palace. Do not tarnish Grandmaster's name."

"Yes, Master!" the four answered in unison, looking entirely renewed.

After dismissing his excited disciples, Xuanqing returned to his cave abode, his expression turning solemn as well.

Master's incarnation had come specially. It had been both an investigation and a silent warning.

The journey to the Western Lands would likely be even more complicated than he had imagined.

"I must make more preparations."

Xuanqing sat cross-legged and began cultivating the Purification True Art.

Previously, he had remained at the second level. Its primary ability was to purify the Sha Qi within himself and around him.

The third level, however, would give birth to an entirely new divine ability.

Xuanqing closed his eyes. Within his Consciousness Sea, the scripture of the Purification True Art lit up word by word.

His body seemed to transform into a bottomless vortex, madly devouring the spiritual energy of He Mountain.

Time flowed slowly. No one knew how long had passed.

Wisps of azure airflow, pure to the extreme, began to spill from Xuanqing's body.

It had another name—Xuan Qi!

BOOM!

A muffled blast rang out from within Xuanqing's body, as though some barrier had been shattered.

He abruptly opened his eyes, a streak of azure light flashing through them before vanishing.

The third level of the Purification True Art—success!

He spread open his palm, and with a thought, the dense spiritual energy of heaven and earth around him swiftly gathered toward his hand. After being transformed through his body, that spiritual energy became strands of pure Xuan Qi.

The Xuan Qi condensed into a sphere in his palm, radiating a pulse that made one's heart tremble.

This was the divine ability brought by the third level—Xuan Qi Transformation.

It could transform the spiritual energy around him into indestructible attacking Xuan Qi. In theory, so long as he stood somewhere rich in spiritual energy, his attacks would be inexhaustible.

Moreover, the more Xuan Qi he gathered, the more terrifying its power would become!

"Now I have even more confidence heading to the Western Lands."

A smile curved across Xuanqing's lips.

Across the land of Honghuang, the Wu and Yao clans were constantly clashing, with warfires burning everywhere. If he wanted to travel safely from the Kunlun Mountain range in the east to Mount Sumeru in the Extreme West, he would have to avoid these places of turmoil.

Using spiritual energy, Xuanqing constructed a simple map of Honghuang and ran his finger across it.

At last, his finger came to rest on a place that all living beings of Honghuang spoke of only in hushed tones.

The Nether Blood Sea!

This place had been formed from the filthy blood of Pangu's navel. Sha Qi, resentment, and foul vapors intertwined here, making the environment vile beyond compare. Neither the Wu nor the Yao clans had any interest in this place, making it the perfect route for him to take.

Having made up his mind, Xuanqing headed south, concealing every trace of his aura as he flew toward the Nether Blood Sea.

Several years later.

Beneath a dark crimson sky, the earth was an eerie purplish-red, while the air was thick with the stench of blood and rot.