Chapter 398: Approaching

Meanwhile.

Above the churning waves of another part of the Black Wind Sea, a dozen or so figures stood in midair, their robes rustling in the wind.

All were clad in gray robes, and from their appearance, they were clearly members of the Fuling Sect, which was as renowned as the Candao Sect and the Cangliu Palace.

At the head were two men: one was the corpse-like Feng Tiandu, and the other, a one-eyed man, was the sect master of the Fuling Sect.

Besides Feng Tiandu and this junior brother of his, among the others present, there were three more whose bearing set them apart from the rest, and they were unmistakably Golden Immortal existences.

One of them had a broad face and large ears, with a tall, obese build, looking from afar like a mountain of flesh.

The other two were of ordinary build, but their skin color was quite peculiar, unlike ordinary people.

One had skin as black as ink, with a face like a kitchen god; in dim light, his features might be hard to discern. The other had skin as white as paper, without a trace of blood, and even his hair and eyebrows were pure white.

The remaining individuals were naturally True Immortal cultivators, with cultivation levels not weak, roughly at the mid to late stage.

“...Your subordinate went to Black Wind Island to investigate. Not only were the people of the North Cold Immortal Palace missing, but the island lord Lu Jun and his key subordinates were also absent. I interrogated a steward through soul search and learned that those people had suddenly disappeared days ago, whereabouts unknown,” the broad-faced, large-eared Golden Immortal said respectfully.

“As my senior brother expected, it’s likely that Xiao Jinhan has tampered with the entrance to the immortal mansion,” the one-eyed man said, his expression grim upon hearing this.

“It seems we were careless. This trip to the immortal mansion is different from previous ones in significance. I should have known that with Xiao Jinhan’s narrow-mindedness, he would never easily let others have a share,” Feng Tiandu said with a light sigh.

“Reporting to the Grand Elder and Sect Master, I also discovered that besides our Fuling Sect, other forces are also searching for the people of the North Cold Immortal Palace,” the broad-faced Golden Immortal continued.

“Oh? How many factions? Have you identified their origins?” Feng Tiandu’s eyes flickered as he spoke.

“Two or three. They are also very alert, and I dared not approach too closely, so I didn’t investigate thoroughly. However... among them should be people from the Cangliu Palace, specifically Cui Can, the Western Pole Palace Master of the Five Pole Palace Masters,” the broad-faced Golden Immortal said.

“Since we can figure out that the disappearance of the entrance is the work of the North Cold Immortal Palace, other forces will naturally realize it too. Since Xiao Jinhan has gone this far, the other forces will certainly not let it go... Let’s not worry about this for now.” Feng Tiandu waved his hand.

“Xiao Jinhan claims to be the palace master of the North Cold Immortal Palace, yet he acts so despicably, completely cutting off everyone’s path into the immortal mansion! Senior brother, what should we do now?” the one-eyed man looked at Feng Tiandu and said bitterly.

“There is still some time before the immortal mansion emerges. We must find the entrance no matter what. Otherwise, it’s a small matter that we came for nothing. But if Xiao Jinhan gets his hands on that thing, the Fuling Sect will truly be in danger. The Candao Sect is a precedent,” Feng Tiandu said coldly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

...

Black Wind City.

In a rather elegant private room of an inn in the city center, sat two guests, a man and a woman.

The man appeared to be in his thirties, wearing a green robe.

The woman was a white-robed matron, plain in appearance but with a rather graceful figure.

Before them was a lavish feast, but they showed no intention of eating or drinking, both looking somewhat anxious.

“I never expected Xiao Jinhan to resort to such a desperate measure. Now the deadline is drawing near. Huyan, what do you think we should do?” the white-robed matron asked anxiously.

These two were none other than Huyan Daoist and Yun Ni, who had changed their appearances.

“Staying in Black Wind City waiting for luck is useless. Let’s search elsewhere. This matter is of great importance; we must find the entrance to the immortal mansion no matter what!” Huyan Daoist’s eyes flickered as he spoke.

“But there are only two of us, and the Black Wind Sea is so vast. How can we search it all? Why not call that Li Feiyu to help too, as a last resort?” Yun Ni suggested.

“No need. This area is not peaceful now; it’s best to avoid him coming into contact with people from other factions. As for finding the location, I have my own plans.” Huyan Daoist shook his head, then stood up and walked outside.

Yun Ni watched Huyan Daoist’s back, knowing his unyielding nature. She sighed softly and followed with light steps.

...

On a seemingly desolate island somewhere in the Black Wind Sea, a group of white-robed cultivators had gathered.

There were eleven or twelve of them, both men and women, all with a snow-swallow pattern embroidered on their sleeves. Some stood, some sat, in small groups, but none spoke.

From their positions, the leader was the broad-faced old man standing in the center, whose aura was thick and solid, unmistakably a Golden Immortal of no mean cultivation.

The others were all True Immortals.

Judging by their expressions and occasional glances around, they seemed to be waiting for someone.

After an unknown amount of time, a silver light appeared on the distant horizon, shooting toward them at a visible speed, arriving in an instant.

Only then did the people on the island see clearly that the newcomer was a woman in a silver robe.

"Friend Qu, you've come." The square-faced old man immediately stepped forward, a somewhat ingratiating smile spreading across his face.

"Any gains?" The silver-robed woman asked, a faint smile appearing on her face.

"Not yet, but although our Xue family moved out of the Black Wind Sea Region long ago, we still have many hidden agents planted here. I have sent people to contact them to help with the search, and I believe we will have some results soon." The square-faced old man said.

"There is little time left before the Immortal Mansion opens. Spare no effort in finding its entrance, or all our painstaking efforts to come here will be in vain." The silver-robed woman frowned slightly, then immediately relaxed her brow and said gently.

"Rest assured, Friend Qu. We will certainly do our utmost." The square-faced old man immediately replied.

The silver-robed woman nodded, exchanged a few more words with the old man, then flickered and transformed into a streak of silver light, flying away.

"Ancestor, this Qu Ling's cultivation is far superior to ours. She sought out our Xue family, claiming to join forces to explore the Minghan Immortal Mansion, but is she truly sincere in allying with us? I see a hidden ferocity in her eyes; she is no benevolent person." A long-faced man waved his hands, forming a white barrier that enveloped everyone, then stepped forward and said to the square-faced old man.

"Probably not. Although her cultivation is high, she is alone and outnumbered. The forces coming to the Black Wind Sea Region to seize treasures are all large and powerful, so she needs some help." The square-faced old man said after a slight pause.

The long-faced man said nothing, but the look of doubt on his face did not diminish.

"Rest assured. Although this woman is powerful, with the ten of you joining forces to set up the Snow Silkworm Grand Formation, plus myself, we have more than enough to defend ourselves. Even if she tries to use us for something, once we enter the Immortal Mansion, can she really interfere with what we want to do?" The square-faced old man said with a smug smile.

"The Ancestor is indeed thorough in his considerations." The long-faced man's expression finally relaxed, and he smiled.

At that moment, the silver-robed woman was swiftly flying over the sea surface.

On her shoulder perched a small white insect, shaped like a longhorn beetle, its entire body as white as jade, as if carved.

The white longhorn beetle opened and closed its mouth, emitting a voice: "...once we enter the Immortal Mansion, can she really interfere with what we want to do?"

It was precisely the voice of the square-faced old man.

"A few little pests. Never mind, I still need you for now."

The silver-robed woman sneered, flipped her hand to put away the white longhorn beetle, and began waving her hands continuously.

With each wave, a wisp of faint white mist shot out from her sleeve.

The mist quickly dispersed, revealing that its essence consisted of countless tiny, rice-grain-sized, semi-transparent white bugs, scattering in all directions.

In the seabed, a Core Formation stage eel demon beast swam swiftly by, its body brushing against a few of the small white bugs.

Like drops of water hitting cotton, the small white bugs instantly sank into the eel's body.

The eel demon beast, completely unaware, continued swimming swiftly forward.

This scenario was happening constantly throughout the nearby sea area. These small white bugs attached themselves to various sea beasts, even ordinary fish, spreading rapidly in all directions.

...

On a calm sea surface, over a dozen cultivators sat cross-legged, forming a circular formation.

Three bald men hovered before the group, all at the Golden Immortal level, appearing to be the leaders, while the rest seemed to be True Immortals.

Before each of these cultivators floated a small blue flag, crystal clear, with dense runes clearly visible on its surface.

Each small flag emitted a fluctuation of Water Law, all at the Immortal Artifact level, and they appeared to be a set.

The cultivators chanted incantations and continuously formed hand seals.

Dazzling blue light radiated from the small blue flags, converging in midair into a massive blue light screen that resembled a giant mirror.

The three bald Golden Immortals chanted incantations, and from each of their palms shot a blue beam of light, plunging into the giant mirror.

With a crack, the giant mirror shattered, splitting into dozens of smaller water mirrors.

Each water mirror displayed a scene: some underwater, some in the sky, some on islands.

Blue light flickered on the water mirrors, and various landscapes continuously shifted.

The cultivators present stared intently at these water mirrors, surveying the conditions in various places.

...

As time drew near, the major powers that had come to the Black Wind Sea Region were unable to confirm the location of the Immortal Mansion's entrance, and naturally grew anxious, frantically searching everywhere.

At first, they tried to conceal their tracks as much as possible. But as time grew shorter, they could no longer afford to be cautious, revealing themselves and making a great show of force.

With so many foreign cultivators suddenly appearing in the Black Wind Sea Region, the local powers became terrified. More and more islands sealed themselves off, and hardly any native cultivators were to be seen.