Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation Chapter 53
“Send the Firefly Gu down to investigate.”
“Yes, sir.”
The team came to a temporary halt. Only then did Liu Jinxian find time to turn to Wang Yu and ask, “Junior Brother Wang, what are your thoughts about the underground of this Blackbone Mountain?”
“I am not worthy, far inferior to Senior Sister Liu in ability. It's better I remain silent.”
“Oh? At least you have some self-awareness. A mere fifth-stage Qi Refining…”
“Enough.”
Liu Jinxian frowned and gave a cold glare at that disciple, who instantly fell silent, not daring to speak again.
Wang Yu, however, remained indifferent. His defection from Gu Zhengshun to Liu Jinxian had already become common knowledge during the five months they waited for the Bonewood Forest to bloom.
With the truth undisclosed, many fellow disciples who envied him for securing two levels of top tier Bonewood resources gossiped behind his back. But such minor quarrels hardly stirred his interest.
Brushing aside the brief conflict, the disciple spoke up as the firefly-like Insect Gu returned, its rear glowing.
“Senior Sister Liu, below is a tunnel similar to a mining shaft. Its destination is unclear, but it seems to lead northward, deep beneath the Endless Icefield.”
“Alright. We’re going down.”
Upon the command, everyone leapt into the bottomless dark pit. While descending, Wang Yu silently counted the seconds and judged the pit's depth upon landing.
Approximately 1,300 meters. If using a flying magic artifact, it would only take five breaths to shoot back up. The underground was cold, and the wind piercing, but for him, it was home turf.
His dim, emerald-black eyes shimmered faintly like a beast’s, capable of seeing in the dark. This unusual trait made those secretly observing him somewhat uneasy.
“Ma, Xu, and Fang Er, the three of you stay behind to secure the escape route.
“Su Qingshan, Wang Qiu, Qiu Qing… the five of you will form the vanguard. Release your magic artifacts, stay alert, and do not conserve spiritual power.”
“Yes.”
Liu Jinxian quickly arranged the formation, clearly experienced in commanding. She had eighteen late-stage Qi Refining cultivators at her disposal. Three were left to guard the rear, five served as the forward unit. These five were not from Gu Poison Peak.
They were elite disciples selected before departing for Blackbone Mountain, chosen from scattered holders of the Blackbone Token. Their closeness or distance to her was obvious at a glance.
Including Wang Yu and Liu Jinxian, the central group had twelve members.
In their previous battle, though Liu Jinxian hadn’t revealed all her methods, she had witnessed the power of the second-rank Divine Strength Corpse Arm. That led to a form of cooperation between them—
Namely: to eliminate Gu Zhengshun.
This decision hadn’t originated from Wang Yu. He simply went with the flow. After all, he was outnumbered and had no choice but to submit.
The real reason he was included was likely to cut off his escape.
After submitting his pledge of allegiance, he had no choice but to walk down her chosen path in darkness. This woman was cunning and calculating. One must stay vigilant around her.
“Let’s move.”
As the team advanced through the cave tunnel, the magic artifacts wielded by Su Qingshan and the others—blades, spears, swords, halberds—glowed under the enhancement of spiritual power, pushing back the darkness.
On both sides, the irregular stone walls bore claw marks scratched by sharp talons. The air was not only freezing cold but also carried a faint stench of decay. Wang Yu quietly took a top-grade Clarity Dispelling Pill and obediently followed the group.
Nearly an hour passed.
Someone muttered, “The deeper we go, the colder it gets. Are we really heading toward the Endless Icefield? Could this be the opposite direction from where Gu Zhengshun’s secret lies?”
Another added, “I agree. Since both the Bone-Lion Beasts and the Swarm of Insects came from underground, why haven’t we encountered a single one after so long… Senior Sister Liu?”
At this point, many had strands of frost on their hair and brows. Thick white breaths puffed out with each word, proving the biting temperature.
The questioning made Liu Jinxian displeased. She preferred decisive, independent action. But while traveling in the wild, the will of the masses still had to be heard.
“Wait a moment.” After speaking, she formed a strange Insect Mark with her hand.
From her sleeves, collar, skirt seams… and the thick black hair around her neck, countless centipede-like multi-legged insects poured out, resembling a living human insect nest.
These Gu insects moved rapidly and vanished into the darkness in an instant.
Moments later—
Liu Jinxian suddenly opened her eyes, joy spreading across her face.
“Everyone, keep moving forward. In about ten more li, we will reach our destination.”
With that, no one said anything unnecessary, and they quickened their pace.
They encountered no danger along the way and soon arrived at the previously mentioned location.
At the end of the tunnel was a vast underground space, broad and level, with old jade tiles laid across the floor. On those jade bricks, the spirit-gathering patterns had become faint and unclear.
A sprawling complex of underground palaces came into view, with no less than forty or fifty structures. At the center stood a tall stairway leading directly to the central hall.
Upon seeing this scene, someone blurted out.
“This is... the ruins of an ancient sect. We must already be beneath the Endless Icefield, right?”
“This...”
The dangers of the Endless Icefield were known far and wide.
Even Nascent Soul patriarchs found it difficult to travel through. To the north, the path was blocked by the Taihu Spiritual Region and the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain. These regions were surrounded on three sides by the sea, also called the Ancient Chaotic Sea. The sea beasts were ferocious, and natural dangers abounded. There had been no news from any other regions for a long time.
To build a sect’s original site beneath the Endless Icefield was something even these well-born inner sect disciples had never heard of. Upon seeing it suddenly, they were all shocked.
Wang Yu quietly observed Liu Jinxian and noticed that her gaze showed delight at first, followed by disappointment, then shifting into a calm sense of joy.
Clearly, her emotions were far from as calm as her appearance suggested.
“Judging by the scale, this was at most a sect founded by a Core Formation cultivator in ancient times. All of you, stay alert and do not touch anything.”
With that, the group continued forward.
Su Qingshan and the others were equally astonished by this underground palace. Their excitement left them with little attention to spare for Wang Yu.
No matter how you looked at it, this was a rare opportunity for them as Qi Refining cultivators. They could not afford to miss it.
In comparison, Wang Yu became thoughtful.
Liu Jinxian might know some hidden secrets about the area around Blackbone Mountain, just like Gu Zhengshun did, and possibly even Situ Hong, although the truth may have fallen short of their expectations.
Earlier, upon discovering the effects and yield of the Xuan Essence Flower, Wang Yu had already begun to question why such a valuable location—surrounded even by a second-rank high-grade spiritual vein—had no Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed there.
For a demonic sect, for a powerful force, this made no sense.
But if it had been jointly concealed by multiple parties and left as a training ground for mid-level disciples, with the rewards left behind as prizes, then it would be reasonable.
No matter how good the Xuan Essence Flower was, it remained a low-tier resource. For a bit of profit exchange, someone like Liu Jinxian, with her background, could easily control it.
As for the underground ruins, Wang Yu leaned toward the idea that it had only been discovered recently.
It was even possible that they were the very first group to enter. That was not out of the question. A detailed investigation later would reveal the truth. He was also deeply interested, especially in whether there might be a recipe for a supreme-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.
As they arrived before the elevated stairway, the tops of the towering coiled dragon pillars on either side lit up with octagonal palace lanterns, glowing with a faint blue flame.
The entire underground space was illuminated slightly.