What is this fragment, and why is it on Yitian Peak? What connection does the gray qi have with it? Qin Sang was filled with doubt.

He didn’t even know how the gray qi had appeared within his dantian in the first place. When he had used his spiritual power to touch the fragment earlier, not only had he not been repelled, but he had even sensed a faint resonance. Coupled with the ancient character "Kill" engraved on it, a series of thoughts had begun to form in his mind.

Both he and Qingzhu cultivated the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment. Judging from the first seven levels of Sky Tower, the lingering sword will here was deeply connected to that same art.

Did Senior Qingzhu uncover an astonishing secret? Qin Sang pondered, running through countless possibilities, yet none led to a clear conclusion.

The fragment was clearly of utmost importance to Senior Qingzhu. Ning Wuhui would never hand it over so easily, and Qin Sang couldn’t study it on his own.

With the situation unclear, he dared not expose the existence of the gray qi within his dantian either. He would have to wait until he met Senior Qingzhu to get an answer.

Casting a glance at Ning Wuhui, Qin Sang walked to the edge of the platform and gazed down into Nether Valley.

If he had a chance to return alone in the future, he wanted to descend and see for himself what lay below. But he knew all too well that if even an External Spiritual Infant had struggled that much, his own chances were slim.

Soon, Ning Wuhui finished refining the medicinal energy.

Qin Sang thought he would retrace their steps to another location, but instead, Ning Wuhui turned toward the stone wall at the far end of Nether Valley. After probing it briefly, he summoned his crimson-gold spiritual sword, slashing lightly toward the wall. A strand of sword qi entered the stone.

Moments later, the spiritual sword flared with dazzling sword light, enveloping them both before flashing once and sinking straight into the wall. In the next instant, the two of them appeared inside a grand hall.

Qin Sang turned around in astonishment. Behind them, there was no sign of a stone wall at all, just a solid wall without any openings, nor could he sense the fluctuation of any barrier. It was very strange.

Suddenly, the spiritual qi in the air went wild. Without warning, thunder roared, and countless streams of light flared to life. They were brilliant as shooting stars, each one containing terrifying sword qi, filling the entire hall and locking onto the two of them.

An overwhelming sword force crashed down like a tidal wave. Qin Sang’s scalp tingled, his body tensing instinctively. Before he could react—

Clang! A clear, ringing sword hum echoed through the hall.

Ning Wuhui tossed his crimson-gold spiritual sword upward. It hovered above them, spinning as threads of sword light and sword qi burst out like raindrops, merging into the void.

The hum of the sword seemed to resonate with the void itself. Gradually, the radiance and sword qi fused together, the anomaly fading until silence returned.

Qin Sang was drenched in cold sweat. A look of awe crossed his face.

Those lights from the void were most likely remnants of ancient barriers or the sword will left behind by ancient sword cultivators, triggered by their intrusion and unleashed in full fury.

In the instant those sword qi had appeared, Qin Sang had sensed something stirring in his heart. The sword will within them shared the same origin as the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment.

It was just like the ancient hall before the teleportation array in Ziwei Palace, but far more potent. If the sword qi here had been allowed to erupt completely, even a Spiritual Infant grandmaster might not have survived. At best, they would have been riddled with swords and reduced to a blood-soaked husk.

Qin Sang had been about to summon his ebony sword to try to earn the sword qi’s recognition, but Ning Wuhui had acted faster and dispelled the danger. The sword qi dissipated, and the hall returned to its stillness.

Qin Sang dared not move around recklessly and stayed where he was, observing. Ning Wuhui, however, seemed entirely calm, as if he had foreseen this, and after sheathing his sword, he headed toward the main doors.

What a magnificent ruin of a hall. Qin Sang thought.

From inside, he could see the vast chamber was empty and decrepit. The roof beams were fractured, the pillars supporting the structure covered in cracks, and the ceiling tiles hung askew, with sunlight streaming faintly through the gaps. It must have looked utterly dilapidated from the outside.

The wooden doors of the hall were missing one side; the remaining one hung loosely, rotting with age. Once crafted from some form of spiritual wood, it had now decayed into useless lumber.

"Don’t step outside. Once you cross the threshold, you’ll be subjected to the suppression of Spirit-Suppressing Domain."

As Qin Sang approached the entrance, Ning Wuhui stopped him with an outstretched hand. This was indeed Yitian Peak.

Qin Sang dared not take another step. Looking down, he saw that the ancient hall stood at the very summit of Yitian Peak, right beside the radiant celestial barrier. Beyond the threshold lay only a few stone steps, and below that stretched open emptiness. Apart from faint wisps of mist, nothing obstructed the view.

Yitian Peak soared thousands of zhang high. From here, he could only glimpse part of the mountain itself; the base lay hidden from sight, and no one below could possibly perceive what transpired at its peak.

Looking farther down, he saw vast stretches of stone forests, scattered temples and pavilions, clusters of ancient structures, and several hidden valleys glowing with strange light, each one a forbidden ground of some kind.

It was easy to imagine how glorious Yitian Peak must have been in its prime, teeming with cultivators and brilliance.

Due to the suppression of Spirit-Suppressing Domain, few cultivators had the power to climb this high. Though Qin Sang saw no trace of others, both he and Ning Wuhui remained cautious, suppressing their presence and concealing their aura.

"Senior Qingzhu wants us to wait for him here?" Qin Sang withdrew his gaze and asked.

Ning Wuhui nodded, taking out the fragment. "He instructed me to wait here. Even if he doesn’t return to this exact place, he will certainly appear nearby."

"Nearby?" Qin Sang glanced over the numerous forbidden grounds below, puzzled. "Senior Qingzhu cannot control his body. If he’s too far away, how will you reach him to help?"

The suppression of Spirit-Suppressing Domain was absolute. Without sufficient cultivation, one couldn’t even step beyond this peak. The External Spiritual Infant alone would not suffice.

Ning Wuhui flicked the fragment lightly with his fingertip. "This treasure can protect me."

As he spoke, he cautiously stepped beyond the hall’s threshold. Just as he said, the fluctuations of Spirit-Suppressing Domain did not react. It was as if an invisible shield surrounded him, guarding him safely.

Seeing this, Qin Sang’s heart stirred. Does the gray qi within my dantian, which seems so closely linked to the fragment, also grant me protection within Spirit-Suppressing Domain?

But with Ning Wuhui standing nearby, Qin Sang suppressed the thought and refrained from testing it.

After exploring briefly, Ning Wuhui returned to the doorway, sat cross-legged, and began refining the fragment with his true essence. Qin Sang also sat down beside him, quietly contemplating for a while before entering meditation, waiting patiently for Qingzhu to arrive.

***

The three alliance leaders escorted Su Nu, quietly passing through Spirit-Suppressing Domain until they arrived at the foot of Yitian Peak.

There were almost never any immortal cultivators on Yitian Peak, and if there were, they would undoubtedly be among the most powerful. Because of this, the three dared not relax in the slightest. They fully suppressed their aura, concealing every trace of their presence to avoid being detected.

Fortunately, all three were renowned experts with deep cultivation. Their movements were swift and light, yet perfectly hidden.

The mountain road was long and winding. They sped directly toward the summit, passing several hidden realms along the way without slowing down in the least.

At last, when they were near the shimmering glow of the celestial barrier, they stopped at the entrance of a secluded col[1].

The three alliance leaders exchanged glances, faint tension flickering in their eyes. Su Nu’s face was ashen. She could not even bring herself to take her own life, powerless to resist, awaiting whatever fate would soon befall her.

1. A col in geomorphology is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks. ☜