Chapter 325

Chapter 325: Entering Shadowmist Ravine

[Who is behind the System? How are they linked to the Heretic Cultivators, the Devil Cultivators, and their plot?] Shen fell into deep thought.

When thinking brought no answer, she decided to set out for Shadowmist Ravine.

Right now, she knew at least this much: the System had contacted Devil Cultivators in Shadowmist Ravine.

Her original goal was to find clues about the Heretic Cultivators’ plot. Now she had one more goal: find which Devil Cultivator had met with the System and learn their purpose.

[I have a feeling these two goals might be linked.]

Without delay, she and Immortal Maiden Azure Luan left the Hall of Myriad Spirits and headed to Shadowmist Ravine.

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan led her to the northwest edge of the Cultivation World. In the endless mountains, they stopped before a gap about ten meters wide.

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan explained: “This is the entrance to Shadowmist Ravine. Since I am bringing you in, those Devil Cultivators should not dare to say much.”

Shadowmist Ravine belonged to Devil Cultivators, but a normal cultivator showing up now and then would not cause big waves.

Besides, she was with Immortal Maiden Azure Luan. In simple terms, she had connections.

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan said: “Pretend you are here to join Shadowmist Ravine. Since I bring you in, I will be the one to teach you devil cultivation.”

She added: “After we enter, do not act yet. Wait for them to lower their guard, then search slowly. During that time, I will do the investigating.”

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan could move more freely inside Shadowmist Ravine.

She asked: “The Devil Qi in Shadowmist Ravine is thick. Can you handle it?”

Devil Qi had an evil nature. If the heart was not steady, a person would lose reason under its sway.

Shen had a firm mind and strong will, but staying too long in heavy Devil Qi could still taint the Spiritual Qi in her body.

She answered with ease: “No problem. With Little Black helping, the Devil Qi should not affect me much.”

Little Black was the name she gave the black mist.

On this mission, it would again act like a purifier.

It could break down even the more aggressive, modified Devil Qi, so ordinary Devil Qi would be even easier.

They might even collect another batch of energy orbs.

At that moment the half dead black mist drifting behind her suddenly felt a chill on its back. [Why do I have a bad feeling?]

They had agreed on their plan beforehand, and after confirming it again, they stepped into the gap and entered Shadowmist Ravine.

Shadowmist Ravine covered a huge area. It took up a whole region by itself, separate from the rest of the Cultivation World.

Otherwise the Devil Cultivators would not have agreed to stay there.

Of course, many Devil Cultivators in the Radical Faction still disliked being here. They wanted to claim the whole Cultivation World as their land.

The sights inside Shadowmist Ravine were much the same as outside.

The difference was the faint black Devil Qi spreading in the air, which made everything look darker and more oppressive.

Even the trees and flowers were mostly deep in color.

Sensing Devil Qi, Little Black grew excited and started working, the purifier running on its own.

Shen did not rush to take away the energy orbs it made. She treated them as a reward for Little Black, since it had helped unlock the System and find the clue. You could not make it work for free. She should give it a treat.

[Let the kid have fun for a while.]

Before they came, Immortal Maiden Azure Luan had told her the current situation inside Shadowmist Ravine.

The Devil Cultivators were split into the Conservative Faction and the Radical Faction. Everyone knew this.

The Radicals thought the Conservatives were useless and weak. To them, Devil Cultivators should fight.

The Conservatives thought the Radicals made too much trouble. They only wanted to cultivate quietly in Shadowmist Ravine, since with a high enough realm they could also reach Ascension.

The two sides disliked each other. The Radicals began to attack the Conservatives and seize their land.

Either they killed the Conservative Devil Cultivators and left only Radicals, or they pushed the Conservatives into a corner so they would have to join the Radicals or look outside Shadowmist Ravine.

In short, they wanted to force the Conservatives to strike the Cultivation World.

The Conservatives did not like stirring trouble, but that did not mean they would be bullied.

They were all Devil Cultivators who used Devil Qi. Were the Radicals really stronger?

Yes, they were a bit stronger.

Besides Devil Qi training, the Radicals used some crooked methods and were drifting toward the way of Heretic Cultivators.

The Conservatives were the upright side among Devil Cultivators.

Luckily, the Conservatives had more people. The Radicals had only half their number.

This kept a balance, with each side holding half of Shadowmist Ravine.

But Immortal Maiden Azure Luan said that the last time she came back, the Radicals seemed to gain some new support, and the balance was now shaky.

Not long after they stepped into Shadowmist Ravine, several Devil Cultivators surrounded them.

Judging by their strength, none of them were weak.

The one who spoke was the black robed man with the gentler manner, named Shang Qing. He said with a smile: “Azure Luan, I knew you would come back.”

Shi Yi, the hot tempered black robed man, curled his lip and said with scorn: “Hmph, and you still came back. Looks like those wings are not that hard.”

Years ago, they had picked Immortal Maiden Azure Luan up and brought her to Shadowmist Ravine. They were the people she hated most.

Yet they often acted like her foster fathers, claiming she had their blood and that they had raised her.

Before Immortal Maiden Azure Luan could speak, another Devil Cultivator opened his mouth.

His rank was not low. Several subordinates stood behind him, and he seemed to be a leader.

With a mocking look and a yin yang tone, he said: “Oh my, if it is not our Azure Luan. If you want to come back to Shadowmist Ravine, just come back. Why bring such a gift?”

His eyes fell on Shen Sang Ruo as he asked: “Did you bring her as an offering to us?”

The next instant, his face turned cold, and a cruel light flashed in his eyes as he barked: “Do you not know this is Shadowmist Ravine? How dare you bring someone from the Cultivation World here. You are brave indeed.”

Shang Qing and Shi Yi both changed expressions and were about to speak, but Immortal Maiden Azure Luan spoke first.

Lifting her eyelids without the slightest fear and meeting Wan Quan’s gaze, she said: “And what does that have to do with you, Wan Quan?”

Shen had heard of him. He was one of the Chiefs of the Radical Faction.

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan said with open disdain: “I am no longer part of you Radicals. Do you plan to stretch your hand into the Conservative Faction, Wan Quan?”

Wan Quan laughed in anger and snapped as he turned on Shang Qing and Shi Yi: “Good. Very good. So this is your so-called Conservative Faction. You are just traitors. You two as well.”

He said: “You followed Devil Lord Ya Lan ten thousand years ago, and now you turned around and joined the Conservatives. You are the shame of the Radical Faction.”

Wan Quan was not a subordinate of Devil Lord Ya Lan. He had lived only a thousand years, yet he had already become one of the Chiefs of the Radical Faction.