Chapter 2433: North Sea Dragon Palace

The Mortal World

The Mortal World

White Jade Capital.

Supervisorate of Astronomy.

The main hall had high walls on all four sides but no roof. The biting cold wind poured directly in from above, offering a clear view of the starry sky overhead.

Inside the hall were various complex mechanisms and gears. In the center stood an armillary sphere, which, along with the surrounding machinery, formed a vast and intricate machine. However, some parts were damaged and, for unknown reasons, had not been repaired.

As the cold wind swept through these components, it wailed like ghosts.

These mechanisms occupied most of the hall, with a few figures huddled in its corners.

No lamps were lit inside the hall, and there was no moonlight that night. Relying only on the faint starlight, the hall appeared even more eerie and dim.

These people were silent, each in a different posture.

Some paced back and forth, muttering to themselves.

Others were hunched over desks, writing furiously.

Still others simply knelt or lay prostrate on the ground, disheveled and with their hair unbound, like madmen.

The floor was stained black with ink, and crumpled pieces of discarded paper lay scattered everywhere. Even some Xuan paper sheets covered in writing were carelessly strewn about.

It was unclear what they were calculating and recording. Only faint murmurs and the scratching of pens could be heard, swallowed by the cold wind.

The hall had only one door, a narrow opening that allowed only one person to pass at a time; anyone slightly taller would hit their head.

Thump… thump… thump…

The sound of a wooden staff tapping the ground echoed from outside the door, and an old man with white hair, dressed in a white robe, entered.

He walked slowly, his back bent, leaning on his staff.

Upon entering the hall, the old man slowly raised his head, revealing an exceptionally aged face. His cloudy eyes were somewhat yellowed, and deep wrinkles were filled with age spots, as if he were in his final years.

“Director, you’ve emerged from seclusion,” a middle-aged man with a goatee said, stepping forward to support the old man, as the others, startled by the voice, looked up.

A flurry of activity swept through the hall.

Others quickly gathered the scattered papers from the floor. With a sweep of a sleeve, the writing on the papers floated up automatically, like living things, drifting towards the armillary sphere.

The Director raised his head again, looking at the starry sky framed by the high walls, and asked, “This time… where is it?”

“To answer you, Master, this time it’s in the extreme north. You were in seclusion, so the Vice-Director didn’t disturb you…”

The middle-aged man spoke, gesturing to his colleagues, and someone immediately walked towards the armillary sphere.

Click! Click! Click!Whoosh!

Accompanied by the grinding of gears and the gush of water, the armillary sphere slowly began to operate.

At that moment, the sound of the wind seemed to vanish.

As the armillary sphere rotated, everyone looked up at the sky. The stars above transformed into meteor-like trails of light, leaving arcs across the heavens, as if time itself had accelerated.

“It’s the north, then,” the Director murmured, gazing at the starry sky. He lightly tapped his staff, letting out a barely audible sigh, and spoke with some effort, “Let’s see… Xūwēi in Kanzhou…”

The middle-aged man gently patted the old man’s back, quickly signaling to the others. Then the mechanisms rotated, and the starlight in the sky began to reverse. “Master, everything is normal in Xūwēi City.”

The old man nodded and turned as if to leave, but then stopped. “Has anything major happened in court recently?”

The middle-aged man paused, then everyone looked at a young man in the corner of the hall.

The young man, somewhat nervous, respectfully said, “Reporting to Director, nothing significant has happened. I only heard that a feudal state in Kanzhou has declared itself a kingdom…”

Whoosh!

The sea breeze whipped up waves, crashing them against the coastal reefs. Water splashed, and droplets fell into the mist, causing ripples.

The morning mist had not yet dispersed, shrouding a barren rocky islet. Formation flags were planted on all four sides of the island. Qin Sang sat cross-legged on a reef, surrounded by the resonant hum of swords. His Grand Yin Spirit Sword occasionally materialized, then transformed into tiny sword-stars.

The mist concealed all unusual phenomena, as Qin Sang focused on comprehending the sword formation.

Comprehending Chenxing, one of the Nine Luminaries, from the Return Ruin had been a tremendous enhancement to the Four Symbols Nine Luminaries Sword Formation. Only now could Qin Sang fully immerse himself in understanding the new sword formation, discovering that the gap between Chenxing and the sword formation was not as severe as he had imagined.

This meant he wouldn't need to expend too much time and effort to fully control Chenxing. Furthermore, with Chenxing, comprehending the true meaning of Grand Yin became easier.

In the future, with Chenxing and the Grand Yin Star laying the foundation, the Nine Luminaries shining together would be just around the corner!

Swords transformed into a sea of stars.

Among the four stellar regions, the Northern Black Tortoise Constellation shone most brightly. With a thought from Qin Sang, the Four Spirit Star Fiends subtly emerged, and the Black Tortoise in the north was clearly more imposing than the other three star fiends!

Qin Sang’s gaze shifted to Chenxing and the Grand Yin Star. After a moment of contemplation, his consciousness sank into the Grand Yin Spirit Sword, and he quietly began to comprehend its true meaning.

Days passed, and the mist over the island remained. Then, one morning, a point of crimson light suddenly shot out from the dawn glow on the horizon, swiftly flew above the island, and plunged into the mist.

“Found anything?”

Qin Sang was startled awake, seeing the dust-covered Vermilion Bird. While he had been in seclusion here, assimilating his previous gains, the Vermilion Bird had volunteered to scout ahead.

The Vermilion Bird landed on Qin Sang’s shoulder, preened its feathers with its beak, then lifted its head and calmly stated, “When this Vermilion Bird takes action, how could I not find anything? We are indeed in the Northern Sea, near Ice Dew Island, one of the Seventy-Two Islands.”

“Seventy-Two Islands?”

Qin Sang was puzzled.

“The Seventy-Two Islands of the Northern Sea are the cultivation sites of seventy-two great demons, spread throughout the Northern Sea. However, they are merely regional overlords and cannot be considered the masters of the Northern Sea,” the Vermilion Bird said, deliberately building suspense. Unfortunately, Qin Sang knew its temperament.

After waiting for a moment and seeing that Qin Sang didn't press further, the Vermilion Bird grudgingly added, “The Northern Sea Dragon Palace is the true master of the Northern Sea!”

“There’s a Dragon Palace in the Northern Sea too?”

Qin Sang recalled his experiences in the Mist Sea, where the aquatic creatures of the Eastern Sea revered the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace. He hadn’t expected a Dragon Palace in the Northern Sea as well. Were there similar ones in the Southern and Western Seas?

Qingyuan once said that Dragon Island and Phoenix Pavilion were the two great sacred lands of the demon race in the current era, with equal status.

Since they are sacred lands, Dragon Island’s status should be higher than the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas. If the Four Sea Dragon Palaces guard the four seas and govern aquatic creatures, then are terrestrial birds and beasts under the jurisdiction of the Phoenix Clan?

It now seemed that he might have underestimated the demon realm before; the Savage Demon Realm was only half of it!

The Spirit Realm was vast and boundless, and humanity was just one of countless races. The Great Zhou and its surrounding areas were ultimately only a small part of the Spirit Realm, yet they were also the most fertile.

However, with the land and sea already divided, where was the new Demon Court?

“What are the cultivation levels of the Seventy-Two Island Masters?” Qin Sang asked.

“Who knows! You didn't let me go,” the Vermilion Bird complained.

Qin Sang, worried that the Vermilion Bird would stir up trouble, had only allowed it to scout, strictly forbidding it from rashly interacting with any nearby masters or major forces.

“Some of the demon cultivators on Ice Dew Island that I saw called their island master ‘Great King’,” the Vermilion Bird said.

Among the demon races Qin Sang had previously encountered, “Great King” was typically an honorific for demon kings in the Void Refinement stage.

The Vermilion Bird’s tone shifted, and it confidently declared, “It’s said that Ice Dew Island is one of the most remote of the Seventy-Two Islands, so it’s normal for its master to be a demon king. I believe there must be demon saints among the Seventy-Two Island Masters!”

Qin Sang nodded.

The situation in the Eastern Sea was far more complex than in the Northern Sea. The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace could stand as one of the three pillars alongside the Otherworlders and the Great Zhou. Given that the Northern Sea Dragon Palace was equally renowned, Qin Sang wasn’t surprised that there might be Heavenly Demons at the Mahayana stage.

“What is the relationship between the Seventy-Two Island Masters and the Northern Sea Dragon Palace?” Qin Sang pondered. Their journey south would take them through the territories between the Seventy-Two Island Masters and the Northern Sea Dragon Palace, so understanding the Northern Sea’s situation was crucial.

Even if the Seventy-Two Islands were nominally under the Northern Sea Dragon Palace’s jurisdiction, they might not be completely obedient.

Moreover, the Spirit Realm’s situation was delicate, with internal debates between the Mahayana and Hinayana paths, and external threats from demonic calamities. The great powers had no time to concern themselves with such minor matters.

“How would those small demons know such things? It's all because of you…”

The Vermilion Bird grumbled at Qin Sang again.

These things weren't difficult to ascertain, but Qin Sang didn't immediately set off. Instead, he entered his Lesser Grotto-Heaven.

Inside the Lesser Grotto-Heaven was a “fish pond.”

The pond “housed” the school of fish gifted to him by Qingyuan and Moyan. After leaving the Return Ruin, these fish continued to swim about carefree, as always.

Although they were transformed from Star Spirits, Qin Sang dared not directly refine them, unsure if there were any hidden dangers.

After waiting for some time, the fish showed noticeable changes compared to when they first appeared; they were gradually transforming into humanoids.

Qin Sang stood by the lake, observing every subtle change in the fish. After waiting for a few more days, he reached out and grabbed one of the Star Spirits. It was no different from the Star Spirits he had obtained before, seemingly having returned to its original simplicity.

Hesitating for a moment, Qin Sang circulated his cultivation technique, enveloped the Star Spirit, and attempted to refine it. He found that, just like before, it proceeded very smoothly.

Feeling his cultivation advance without any hidden dangers in his body, Qin Sang was completely relieved. Moving forward, he would refine these Star Spirits while traveling; they should be enough to support him in cultivating the *Heavenly Demon Body Forging Art* to the peak of its sixth level!

“I didn’t expect the *Heavenly Demon Body Forging Art* to be the first to reach completion,” Qin Sang mused silently.

He had chosen the *Purple Micro Sword Scripture* as his primary cultivation technique, but unexpectedly, due to unforeseen circumstances, the *Heavenly Demon Body Forging Art* had surpassed it.

When the time came, which cultivation technique should he choose to attempt breaking through to the Integration Stage?

Did the emergence of a new Demon Court for the demon race mean that the flaws in ancient demon techniques had been resolved?

As for the Mahayana path and the Hinayana path, Qin Sang had no prejudice; as long as he could attain longevity, either was fine by him.

Pondering these thoughts, Qin Sang ascended the steps to the mountaintop. On the peak stood a parasol tree, where the Vermilion Bird had built its nest.

“What are you standing there for? Trying to scare me to death!”

The Vermilion Bird was startled awake from its sweet dream, and looking at Qin Sang below the tree, its tone was unfriendly.

“Where did you hide the Sky-Climbing Vine?” Qin Sang asked curiously.

Ever since leaving the Return Ruin and the Vermilion Bird’s awakening, he hadn’t seen it take out the Sky-Climbing Vine.

Logically, this kind of spiritual plant should be planted as early as possible to mature sooner.

The Sky-Climbing Vine had immense utility: it could not only guard the Beacon Gate but also help the Vermilion Bird disguise its demon saint aura. Such a treasure naturally needed to be put to good use.

“What do you want?!”

The Vermilion Bird immediately wrapped its wings around itself, glaring at Qin Sang. “Qin, I knew you had ill intentions!”

Qin Sang smiled faintly, pointing to his Lesser Grotto-Heaven: “Didn’t you say before that the Sky-Climbing Vine must be planted in a minor realm, taking root in an earthly spiritual vein, to grow? Isn’t this a ready-made minor realm?”

“Do you think I don’t know what schemes you’re plotting?! No way!” the Vermilion Bird shrieked, practically curling into a ball.

Qin Sang retorted, “Do you have another minor realm? And do you want to be trapped in some minor realm, guarding the Sky-Climbing Vine until it matures?”

“I, I, I… it’s none of your business! It’s mine, anyway, and if you dare try to snatch it, I’ll fight you!” the Vermilion Bird began to act like a rogue.

“When did I ever say I’d snatch it?” Qin Sang said helplessly. “Let’s make a deal. Until you have your own minor realm, plant the Sky-Climbing Vine here. It will help me guard the Lesser Grotto-Heaven, and if we encounter a powerful enemy, you can summon the vine to assist me. When you find your own cultivation site, you can move it at any time. How about that?”

“Are you serious?” the Vermilion Bird asked, its face full of suspicion.

The terms were too lenient. Given their shared prosperity and peril, even if Qin Sang didn’t explicitly ask, it would still help in times of danger.

“You’re so clever, how could I possibly deceive you?”

Qin Sang spread his hands, but other thoughts were turning in his mind.

He had always suspected that an anomaly like the Sky-Climbing Vine, which hadn't yet gained sentience, could truly recognize a master. If the Sky-Climbing Vine rooted itself in the Lesser Grotto-Heaven and remained there for a long time, perhaps it would become inseparable.

“You said it yourself!”

The Vermilion Bird’s tone suddenly became excited, giving Qin Sang the feeling he had been tricked.

Whoosh!

From within the Southern Bright Vermilion Fire, a hint of green emerged.

It was unclear what secret art the Vermilion Bird had performed, but the Sky-Climbing Vine separated from its body and floated in mid-air. After repeated expenditures, the vine was now only palm-sized, with a few delicate green leaves gently swaying on its slender tendrils.

The Vermilion Bird glanced at Qin Sang, then nudged the Sky-Climbing Vine with its wing, sending it wobbling towards the ground.

Then Qin Sang watched as the Sky-Climbing Vine passed through the rocks and entered a mountain.

“Truly extraordinary!”

Qin Sang exclaimed.

As the master of the Lesser Grotto-Heaven, he could now sense that the Sky-Climbing Vine had caused no damage to the mountain, but was moving within the Lesser Grotto-Heaven in a very mysterious way.

During its movement, the Sky-Climbing Vine passed through several areas Qin Sang had specifically opened up, completely ignoring the restrictions there.

When it found an earthly spiritual vein and rooted itself there, a look of surprise flashed in Qin Sang’s eyes. He swiftly exited the Lesser Grotto-Heaven and looked at the Thousand Jun Ring on his hand.

On the dark ring surface, a faint shadow of a green vine subtly appeared. The Sky-Climbing Vine seemed to have rooted itself directly onto the Thousand Jun Ring!

“So that’s it!”

Qin Sang finally understood: what had been refined into the ring was not the Beacon Gate of the minor realm, but the earthly spiritual vein itself! An earthly spiritual vein was the foundation of a realm, and by refining it into an artifact, one could carry the Lesser Grotto-Heaven with them!

However, even knowing the principle, Qin Sang had no idea how it was actually accomplished; this far exceeded his comprehension.

He gently stroked the Thousand Jun Ring with his finger. A flash of light passed, and the ring surface returned to its original state. Qin Sang, worried about being recognized, concealed the shadow of the green vine.

Inside the Lesser Grotto-Heaven.

The Sky-Climbing Vine had just taken root and needed time to grow. It was still a small green vine, unable to support the Beacon Gate yet. Qin Sang observed for a while and noticed that after the vine took root, it didn't significantly reduce the spiritual energy in the Lesser Grotto-Heaven. Instead, as the green vine emitted faint green halos, the Lesser Grotto-Heaven seemed to become even more stable than before.

Qin Sang looked at the Vermilion Bird.

The Vermilion Bird grumbled, “I told you long ago, the Sky-Climbing Vine is a treasure for minor realms too!”