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nGray fog permeated the air.

nThe White Bone Swamp was utterly silent.

nBut strange departed spirits were emerging all around the black-robed man and the youth accompanying him. All of them emanated a terrifying air of death.

nTheir eyes were blood-red, and all of them were looking at the black-robed elder and youth.

n“Fuck!” The black-robed old man’s eyes widened, and his scalp went numb.

nThe youth accompanying him quivered from head to toe with fright. What’s going on?

nWhen Tang Lingqi’s group crossed White Bone Swamp, nothing unexpected happened at all, so why… have so many departed spirits appeared now?

nThe black-robed old man was completely dumbstruck. He’d attacked twice, striking the swamp with a bronze spear in an attempt to lure these strange departed souls into attacking Tang Lingqi.

nYet for some reason, nothing happened. Not until it was their turn to cross the swamp!

nWhen the black-robed elder saw the spirits gathering throughout the surrounding area, he couldn’t help but gulp with great difficulty, and his heart clenched.

nWe’re in for big trouble this time!

n“Retreat——!”

nThe old man bellowed, then turned and led the youth away.

nBut they were one step too late.

nThe dense army of departed souls displayed utterly terrifying strength. They surrounded the two of them, killing them both within just a few breaths of time.

nEven their flesh and souls were torn to shreds and devoured!

n……

n“My heavens!”

nOff in the distance, the girl’s eyes widened as she took in this strange and terrifying scene.

nHer grand uncle, Tang Lingqi, couldn’t help but gasp too. Chills coursed down his spine.

nAnd here he’d been planning to wait here to seek revenge on those who’d ambushed them. Who’d have thought over a hundred spirits would appear and destroy the culprits before he got the chance?

nTang Lingqi was unwittingly stunned. What’s going on?

n“Grand Uncle, don’t tell me those spirits play favorites?” the girl murmured.

nTang Lingqi’s expression was uncertain; he didn’t get it either. “They say those vicious creatures are the terrifying monsters and heretics who perished at the hands of the Eternal Night Immortal Sovereign long ago. After they died, the Laws of this stretch of heaven and earth corroded the fragments of their souls, making them into the monsters they are today. They’re neither human nor ghost; all that remains of them is instinct. They have no intelligence to speak of, so how could they play favorites? All I can say is, there’s got to be a reason for all of this!”

nWhen something strange happened, there was always an explanation. As an experienced Immortal Lord, Tang Lingqi was convinced that this was no coincidence!

nCould it have something to do with that young man? Tang Lingqi glanced imperceptibly at Su Yi.

nThe young man in blue was staring intently into the distance, as if he hadn’t noticed any of this, or as if there were no one else around.

nNo, that’s most likely not the case. Tang Lingqi shook his head and rejected the idea. A Universe Realm Immortal, nothing more. How could Su Yi possibly have been behind this?

nBesides, they’d traveled together since entering the swamp, but Tang Lingqi didn’t notice him making any unusual movements.

n“Grand Uncle, I’m sure we just got incredibly lucky. We’re blessed with such good fortune that those spirits even helped us kill those despicable bastards!” The girl waved her crystalline fists about.

nTang Lingqi couldn’t help but suspect that she might be right. Were we… really just lucky?

n“What do you think, Handsome?” The girl looked at Su Yi.

nSu Yi nodded distractedly, then said, “Just call me ‘fellow Daoist. ‘Handsome’ is grating to the ears.”

nThe girl giggled. “Fellow Daoist is too old-fashioned. ‘Handsome’ sounds better.”

n“….”

nAfter traversing White Bone Swamp, they arrived in a barren stretch out mountainous wilderness. Here, the dome of heaven was shrouded in dark, leaden clouds.

nRampaging lightning flashed throughout the layers of cloud, and the deafening rumble of thunder reverberated throughout the landscape.

nDazzling lightning made the landscape flicker in and out of view, giving it an unsettling, mysterious feel.

nThey were distant and indistinct, but deep within the barren stretch of mountains, there lay the ruins of ancient buildings. Some were mere rubble strewn across the ground, while others stood tall amidst the wilderness.

nIt was like the ruins of a massive ancient city. The dense ruins stretched out as far as the eye could see.

nThese were the ruins of the Academy of Eternal Night!

nImages of its glory days floated to the forefront of Su Yi’s sea of consciousness.

nBack then, this place had brimmed with auspicious light. All manner of ancient buildings had stood here, from arenas capable of holding a hundred thousand spectators, to medicine gardens growing all manner of immortal herbs, and blessed ground for the academy’s disciples to cultivate in….

nBack then, this place had seemed sacred. Every morning at dawn, numerous disciples traversed these mountains. Everywhere you looked, this place was full of life and vitality.

nBack then, the Academy of Eternal Night had been a sacred ground in the eyes of the world’s immortal cultivators. It was the greatest academy in the Immortal Realm, and it housed countless canons and legacies.

nEven just the Immortal Lords working as teachers to transmit the Dao numbered over a hundred!

nAnd the academy’s nine elders were all Immortal Kings!

nEven Wang Ye himself sometimes visited to clear up the disciples’ confusions, and explain the subtleties of the Grand Dao!

nBut now…

nThat flourishing prosperity and vitality had given way to rubble and desolation!

nThis was what they meant when they said that time changed everything it touched. For a moment, Su Yi couldn’t help but be rueful.

n“Those are the ruins of the Academy of Eternal Night up ahead. It might look like unassuming rubble, but in truth, it’s home to endless danger. Over the years, numerous Immortal Lords have slipped up and died here,” said Tang Lingqi, his expression grave. “We’re going to Cloudscrape Peak to meet with our fellows.”

nHere, he looked at Su Yi. “My young friend, if you’re interested, you’re welcome to join us.”

n“Cloudscrape Peak….” murmured Su Yi. He seemed to realize something. “So you’re here to explore the Palace of Scriptures?”

nTang Lingqi exclaimed, “You know about those ruins?”

nSu Yi nodded. The Palace of Scriptures was located halfway up Cloudscrape Peak. It was one of the foremost forbidden grounds in the Academy of Eternal Night.

nIt collected nearly ninety thousand Daoist canons Wang Ye had gathered from all across the Immortal Realm, including countless unique tomes and secret legacies. It housed tomes related to Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Demonism, the sword, and numerous other schools of thought.

nBack in the day, the Palace of Scriptures was famous throughout the Immortal Realm. Countless cultivators saw it as one of the four greatest collections of texts beneath the heavens!

nEven Immortal Kings came here on account of its reputation, offering generous gifts and paying high prices for an opportunity to enter the Palace of Scriptures and flip through its ancient texts!

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n“Come with us, Handsome,” chirped the girl. “After all, we’re all here for legacies and good fortune.”

nSu Yi agreed, and the group promptly set off. Tang Lingqi led the way through the rubble.

nHeaven and earth were overcast and shrouded in thunderclouds. Deafening thunder reverberated throughout the surrounding area, shaking the heart and soul.

nFrom time to time, lightning streaked through the sky, so bright it was like midday. However, each time, the deep darkness quickly returned, making the barren ruins flicker in and out of view. The atmosphere was mysterious and unsettling.

nAlong the way, Tang Lingqi proceeded cautiously, treasures at the ready. He dared not lower his guard.

nThe girl, Tang Bao’er, was unprecedentedly nervous too. Her grand uncle had told her that the ruins of the Academy of Eternal Night held danger sufficient to kill even Immortal Lords with ease!

n“Croak——!”

nSuddenly, the soul-stirring cry of a toad filled the air, like a demonic invocation.

nTang Lingqi shuddered, visibly stricken.

nIt just so happened that a streak of radiant lightning cleaved through the darkness at that very moment, granting them a clear glimpse of a distant, massive figure enveloped in thunderclouds.

nIt was an enormous black toad. It sat there, its body like a hill. Its eyes were an unearthly shade of gold, and each was about the size of a lake.

nChills coursed down Tang Lingqi’s spine, and his hair stood on end.

nThe strange black toad emanated an utterly terrifying aura. Even from a distance, a single glance was enough to make Tang Lingqi’s heart quiver with fright. He could clearly sense an impending, lethal threat! Tang Bao’er was dumbstruck. The toad is just too enormous! It’s like a hundred thousand feet tall!

nAlthough neither of them noticed, the hands hidden within Su Yi’s sleeves gently tapped the black jade pendant hanging from his waist.

nThe massive black toad instantly disappeared into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

n“Grand Uncle, was that a hallucination?” Tang Bao’er couldn’t help but ask.

nTang Lingqi took a deep breath and forced himself to stay calm. He said gravely, “It wasn’t. To the best of my knowledge, others who’ve entered his place have seen that massive toad before too. They say it’s the manifestation of a departed Immortal King-level yao. It hides deep within the ruins of the Palace of Eternal Night year-round, killing all who draw near, no exceptions!”

nThe departed soul of an Immortal King-level yao?

nTang Bao’er couldn’t help but shrink back. This place really is far too terrifying.

nBut when Su Yi heard Tang Lingqi’s description, he couldn’t help but laugh. What mighty toad yao? That’s nothing but a wisp of an Immortal King true spirit sealed within that stone stele. Fortunately, the little toad is still around. That means the secret tunnel to the Underground Palace of Seeking the Profound still exists.

nAs they conversed, Tang Lingqi set off once more. On the road ahead, there were a few scares, but no real danger. Before long, they’d reached Cloudscrape Peak.

nThe mountain was enormously tall, with steep, barren slopes covered in strangely shaped rocks. Its peak was shrouded in dense black thunderclouds. The battered ruins of a grand palace lay halfway up its slopes, its halls lamplit and eye-catching amidst the darkness.

n“It seems our fellows have already arrived.” Tang Lingqi sighed in relief; he felt as if a massive weight had lifted from his shoulders.

nHe’d figured he’d run into thorny problems along the way, and he’d even readied some of his trump cards for battle.

nWho’d have thought they wouldn’t run into anything between the palace and White Bone Swamp? Tang Lingqi was bewildered that everything had gone so smoothly.

n“Don’t tell me the heavens have really blessed us on this expedition… Is that why we’ve been so fortunate?” Tang Lingqi muttered.

nMeanwhile, Su Yi’s eyebrows rose, and his heart was full of confusion.

nThey’d only just arrived on Cloudscrape Peak, yet he sensed a hint of a familiar presence!

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