There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 124 Qingqiu [Third Update]

Upon hearing this, Xuan Su remained silent for a few breaths before speaking: "According to the secret records of my Taiyin Sect, in ancient times, an ancestor forcibly opened a rift between realms to suppress the abnormal movement of the earth's veins. He intended to use the power of the Nine Netherworlds to stabilize the universe, but he inadvertently... attracted evil spirits from beyond the realm!"

"An extraterrestrial demon?!" Chen Qing's pupils shrank sharply. Although he had suspected it before, hearing Xuan Su confirm it with his own ears still shocked him to his core!

This vaguely coincides with the "extraterrestrial demons descending" recorded in the later inscriptions on the Fragmentary Scroll Pavilion!
“Exactly.” Xuan Su’s voice was even lower. “That black tide of foul air is formed by demons invading the primordial energy of this world! Because the demons originated from beyond the realm, the patriarch called it ‘foul air from beyond the realm,’ but the specifics were not recorded in detail.”

She paused for a moment, then continued, "As for the stone hall you saw, I cannot be certain. Based on ancient records, I can only guess that it is most likely the remains of ancient gods and demons who were banished from this world, or fragments of a Daoist temple!"

"Ancient gods and demons that were banished?!" Chen Qing was taken aback. He hadn't expected it to involve myths and legends, but with the manifestation of supernatural powers in this world, the myths and legends were clearly not false.

“That’s right!” Xuan Su took a deep breath. “Those beings were too ancient and terrifying, and have long been forgotten by the river of time. The so-called gods and demons of later generations are mostly fakes that have stolen some of their legacy.”

Chen Qing recalled the inscription on the stone tablet in the Remnant Scroll Pavilion and immediately asked, "Since your sect's founder attracted evil spirits from beyond the realm, how did you ultimately deal with it?" He vaguely guessed why the Taiyin Sect would take such a cruel action in the end.

Xuan Su hesitated for a moment, about to speak again.

at this time
"call out--"

A piercing whistling sound tore through the wind and snow!
Immediately afterward, a gray, bone-whistle-like object ignored all the concealment barriers set up by the group, pierced through the cracks in the ice-cracked canyon, and shot straight towards where the group was hiding!
"You've been seen through!"

Although everyone was surprised, it was not unexpected. There were all sorts of people among the hundred races, and it was not unbelievable that they could see through their secrets.

"A fierce battle is likely to follow! I wonder if I can protect Fellow Daoist Xuansu until he has investigated the matter thoroughly..."

They instantly went on alert, their magical power surging beneath the surface.

The bone whistle landed with a "snap" on the ice surface about ten feet in front of everyone, still trembling.

"Whoohoo-"

Immediately afterwards, a fierce wind howled, and a person stepped out from the snowstorm.

The newcomer was a burly man, dressed in a thick robe made of animal hides. His face was covered with gray-white paint, obscuring most of his features, leaving only a pair of sharp, weathered eyes.

His gaze swept over the crowd, a look of joy in his eyes. He then cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Greetings, fellow human beings! I've been trapped in this wretched place for over half a year! Finally, I've encountered my fellow human beings again! This is wonderful, as I need your help in a timely manner!"

All eyes were on this person.

"Are you human?" Ling Wan took half a step forward, her Ice Soul Sword humming. Though she asked the question, her eyes were full of vigilance.

Among the hundred races, there are many superior tribes that can transform into human form, and there are even old demons who are skilled in the art of skin-changing and reincarnation, often more human than humans!

The man in the animal skin grinned, about to speak.

A cold light flashed from Master Jiyue's sleeve, and a small ice mirror was already suspended in mid-air. Its clear surface shone like mercury spilling onto the ground, covering the opponent's entire body!
The blue light flowed, pure and clear, without any evil or foul odor.

"The orthodox methods of the Xuanmen, the fifth stage of the Golden Core, and the natal magic weapon are complete." Master Jiyue retrieved the Ice Mirror, her face showing surprise. "How did you, all alone, survive in the depths of the Hundred Clans' lair?"

Master Hanjing and Elder Youchan remained on high alert, their alertness unwavering regardless of who they were dealing with.

The appearance of a Golden Core of unknown origin in the heart of the Hundred Clans' territory could not help but arouse their suspicion.

The man in animal hide sighed, his voice filled with helplessness: "I am Song Qiao, originally a rogue cultivator from the North. Half a year ago, I ventured deep into the Ice Plains in search of a thousand-year-old jade marrow flower, only to run into the elite of the Frost Wolf Tribe. I was severely injured and fled, but fortunately, I was rescued by a... cough, female elder of the Qingqiu Tribe, and have been barely clinging to life ever since."

Seeing that everyone was still wary, he gave an awkward smile, as if he was having some difficulty saying it: "In order to survive, I accepted the request to marry into the Qingqiu tribe and became their son-in-law."

"Qingqiu?" Elder Youchan frowned slightly. This tribe has an ancient bloodline and is skilled in illusion and causality. Although it is not a top-tier clan, few people dare to provoke it easily.

Chen Qing's heart stirred, and he began to pay attention.

In fact, he has some connection with this clan.

Song Qiao nodded, his face unable to hide his embarrassment: "This clan is mostly ruled by women, and its clan rules are peculiar. They often recruit men from other clans to marry into their families. However..." He shook his head with a wry smile, "Living under someone else's roof is not a long-term solution, and my body is weak and cannot withstand hardship. Therefore, I sensed the fluctuations of Xuanmen magic power here just now, and that's why I risked coming to investigate. It turns out they are indeed fellow humans!"

His words revealed his joy: "As long as you are willing to help, we can all return south!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing replied, "This place is more than ten thousand miles away from Beiming. It is surrounded by hundreds of races, and there is a constant threat of killing. Fellow Daoist Song, since you are at the fifth level of the Golden Core stage, you should know that forcibly breaking through is tantamount to suicide. What makes you think that we can help you escape?"

As soon as he spoke, everyone fell silent.

"We can't just force our way out!" A glint flashed in Song Qiao's eyes as he lowered his voice. "I've been in the Qingqiu Clan for over half a year, and I haven't been idle. I've discovered the locations of many treasures, including one that can help us escape! However, we are outnumbered and outmatched, so we need your help."

Chen Qing asked, "What is it?" Although Song Qiao found it strange that the other party had multiple Golden Core cultivators, yet a Yin Spirit was making the decision, he still answered, "The Qingqiu Bewildering Fire!"

Upon hearing this name, everyone except Chen Qing tensed up!
Upon seeing this, Chen Qing immediately inquired about it.

Ling Wan took half a step closer to Chen Qing and whispered, "Legend has it that this fire was forged by a celestial fox ancestor of the Qingqiu clan by fusing his own Dao foundation with the rare Three Lives Stone! It contains the profound mystery of the 'Three Lifetimes of Fate'! It is said that if one can refine this fire, one can connect the cause and effect of past and present lives and transform all laws into one furnace!"

Connecting the causes and effects of past and present lives?
Chen Qing's heart skipped a beat!
He possesses the secrets of two realms, but his insights are like scattered pearls. If he could obtain this fire as a thread to connect and unify them...

Song Qiao caught a fleeting glint of fervor in Chen Qing's eyes, and was secretly delighted, but his expression became even more earnest: "This fire is one of the treasures of the Qingqiu clan! I have been married into the family for half a year and have gone to great lengths to find the source of the fire! As long as you all distract the guards, I will obtain the fire! With the fire's ability to bewitch and change, we can disguise ourselves as a patrol team of the hundred clans, deceive everyone, and head south! What do you say?"

His gaze swept across the crowd, finally settling on Chen Qing, and he emphasized, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Although there are risks, it is a hundred times better than forcibly entering the dens of the hundred races!"

The three Golden Core cultivators, Han Jing, Ji Yue, and You Chan, exchanged glances, all showing signs of attraction.

The reputation of the Qingqiu Mystic Fire is too great; if one could obtain it, it would have extraordinary uses!

Ling Wan also looked at Chen Qing, her expression questioning.

Chen Qing took a deep breath, suppressed the urgency in his heart, and his eyes regained their clarity.

"no need."

Everyone was astonished.

Song Qiao looked astonished: "Fellow Daoist, what do you mean by this? Could it be...?"

"The risks are too great, and there are too many variables." Chen Qing was already on guard as he spoke. "It's hard to tell if your words are true or false. What about the guards of the Qingqiu tribe? How can we ensure that our disguise won't be exposed after we succeed? How long will it take to refine this fire? If anything goes wrong, we will be doomed."

As he spoke, he abruptly changed the subject: "Besides, you came alone, and based on only one side of the story, you expect us to entrust our lives to you and follow you into the lion's den to touch that clan's treasure? Fellow Daoist Song, you've survived in the heart of the Hundred Clans for so long, surely it's not just because you married into the family?"

As the chilling aura emanating from Master Han Jing intensified, Master Ji Yue and Elder You Chan instantly became alert, their magical power surging to block all of Song Qiao's escape routes!
Song Qiao stared intently at Chen Qing, then sighed deeply, "What a pity..."

There was no trace of helplessness or distress in that sigh.

hum!
On the opposite side, Master Han Jing and the others all made their moves!

But Song Qiao simply opened his palm and said, "Please, both of you, activate your treasures!"

"Om-"

A mesmerizing, ever-changing azure light, like fragments of a myriad of dreams, erupted from his palm, sweeping across the sky and instantly filling the entire Ice Crack Canyon!
The ice wall, the snowstorm, their companions... everything before them was like a shattered glass mirror, collapsing and rebuilding!
Countless bizarre and fantastical illusions surged forth: a battlefield engulfed in flames, a beautiful woman weeping in her boudoir, a demonic cave filled with mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and countless twisted and howling demonic figures!
Truth and falsehood, reality and illusion!
Han Jing, Ji Yue, and You Chan groaned, their magical power sinking into a quagmire. Ling Wan and Xuan Su's eyes glazed over, and they swayed precariously.

Only Chen Qing felt a buzzing sound in his Niwan Palace after being brushed by the azure light, and his whole body felt comfortable. He originally planned to use the Samadhi True Fire Talisman to maintain his clarity and release the Nirvana Dharma Wheel, but the azure light not only did not disturb his mind, but was like sweet rain soaking him, making him feel comfortable all over. He almost groaned out loud!
"It's done!" Song Qiao didn't notice anything unusual. He thought that Chen Qing, the Yin God cultivator, had fallen into a beautiful dream. He only paid attention to Han Jing Zhenren and the others. Seeing that the three golden pills were showing signs of breaking the illusion, he immediately threw the green bead in his hand into the air!
"town!"

The azure bead hovered in mid-air, spinning rapidly, its light surging!
Cyan runes surged forth, weaving into a net of light that enveloped the group trapped by the illusion!

Just then, two graceful green figures drifted in from the wind and snow like wisps of smoke and landed beside Song Qiao.

The light faded, revealing two beautiful women dressed in blue gauze palace dresses.

One was plump with captivating eyes; the other was slender with a cold demeanor.

Both women had a faint golden fox mark between their eyebrows.

The plump woman glanced at the scene in the net, her gaze lingering on Han Jing Zhenren and Chen Qing for a moment, then said in a coquettish voice, "Song Jun is truly decisive! My aunt has certainly not spoiled you for nothing! Quickly take those two men with strong physiques! Don't wait until the other Golden Core cultivators awaken, lest further complications arise..."

Before he finished speaking, a sudden change occurred!
The blue light net that enveloped everyone suddenly contracted inward, like rivers flowing into the sea or weary birds returning to their nests, gathering in one place!
The azure light, the flowing runes, and even the azure bead itself condensed into a single mass, transforming into a long azure rainbow that landed in Chen Qing's palm. Its brilliance faded, subtly harmonizing with the aura surrounding him.

"Uh?!"

Song Qiao was about to speak when he saw this and was speechless.

"Qingqiu Yin has been subdued?!" the voluptuous beauty exclaimed in shock.

This Qingqiu Guide is a secret treasure of her clan. Only those with pure Qingqiu blood can barely activate it. This time, Song Qiao is holding it, but he still wants the two of them to travel incognito and activate it from the side in order to achieve success.

I've never heard of this thing being able to be subdued and controlled by an outsider, let alone so easily and casually!
Upon seeing this, the silent, slender, beautiful woman was first startled, then seemed to realize something, took two steps forward, bowed to Chen Qing, and asked, "May I ask your name? Do you have any connection with my Qingqiu clan?"

(End of this chapter)