Chapter 1683: One Qi Transforms Into Three Demons

“Oh right, these are some of the intel I collected regarding Xi Huang. I hope they’ll be useful to you.”

A short while later, Xiahou Zun retrieved a jade tablet and handed it to the duo. “There is plenty of information regarding Xi Huang, and the place itself is very easy to find. You simply need to pass through the countries of the Western Regions and continue traveling south toward the direction of the sunset. When you arrive at a barren realm, you know you have arrived at Xi Huang.”

“Unfortunately, there is very little information regarding what is inside Xi Huang. It’s because almost no one has ever left that place alive.”

“Some rumors claim that Xi Huang is a land overflowing with Strangers, Anomalies, and disasters. They say that no one has ever returned from the place alive. Some rumors claim that Xi Huang is the land of the celestials, and there is a mysterious great array that kills any outsider who dares to enter their land. Some rumors claim that Xi Huang is a land of darkness, and those who enter it will lose their way, never to leave. Some rumors claim that Xi Huang is the land of the descendants of the ancient gods and demons. They hate all outsiders and will kill anyone they see. Some rumors—”

“What a load of horseshit.”

Xiahou Zun was in the middle of talking when suddenly, a voice interrupted him.

“Who is it?”

Xiahou Zun, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were all caught by surprise. As it turned out, there was a fourth person in the room, and not a single one of them had noticed his presence until he revealed himself.

“Greetings, Preceptor...”

“Greetings, senior...”

When they saw who the newcomer was, the trio immediately got to their feet and saluted him respectfully.

It was because the newcomer was none other than Ancestor Black Robe.

Black robes were a common attire in the jianghu. There were plenty of jianghu warriors out there with the words “Black Robe” in their moniker as well. However, there was only one Black Robe in the entire jianghu that Xiahou Zun would address as senior and garner such reservation and respect from them, and that person was the master and ancestor of the Demonic Mountain, Ancestor Black Robe.

“I did not know that you are coming today, Preceptor. This junior apologizes for failing to welcome you in person.” Xiahou Zun took two steps forward.

The reason Xiahou Zun was addressing Ancestor Black Robe as preceptor was because the latter once defeated four Sages of Yan and Chu and repelled an army of hundreds of thousands singlehandedly. He had also secured a young emperor his throne and saved Wei from the brink of destruction. His merits to the state was undeniable, which was why Wei made the Demonic Mountain their state religion and conferred Ancestor Black Robe the title and position of Preceptor of Wei.

Although the preceptor rarely fulfilled his obligations or even left the Demonic Mountain, and Ancestor Black Robe himself had never cared for his status and reputation, there was no questioning the authenticity of his status.

As the master of the Martial Garrison of Wei, Xiahou Zun saw no harm in addressing him as preceptor.

“I am here for them,” Ancestor Black Robe said while looking at Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou.

“Us?” The duo were a little surprised, to be honest. After all, they had never had any interaction with... actually scratch that, there was the incident at the Kunlun Ruins. Ye Qing was one of the culprits behind the fiasco, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Ancestor Black Robe had come to settle the score with him.

Ye Qing could not help but feel nervous. He knew full well that Ancestor Black Robe was a man on par with the Chief Libationist in terms of power. In fact, he was even more legendary and mysterious than the Chief Libationist. To date, two Sages of the East Kunlun were still guarding the Kunlun Ruins like obedient servants because of his order.

If Ancestor Black Robe really had come to settle scores, he wasn’t sure about his chances of escaping at all.

The thought of defeating Ancestor Black Robe never even crossed his mind. At his current level, that was plainly impossible.

“Relax. I’m not here to settle accounts with you.”

Ancestor Black Robe seemingly guessed Ye Qing’s thoughts and declared, “If I wanted to deal with you, you could not have left the Kunlun Ruins back then, much less Wei.”

Ye Qing allowed himself a sigh of relief. “Thank you for showing mercy back then, senior.”

“Have you come today for the matter of Xi Huang, senior?” Feng Qingyou asked.

“You’re a smart girl.” Ancestor Black Robe gave Feng Qingyou an approving look. “That pedantic scholar requested me to provide you with some information regarding Xi Huang.”

“Pedantic scholar?” Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou exchanged glances with each other. He could only be referring to the Chief Libationist. They immediately saluted him and said, “We will happily accept any information you can provide, senior.”

“Xiahou is right about the way to Xi Huang. Simply do as he says, and you will reach your destination eventually.”

Ancestor Black Robe said, “However, those rumors regarding the interior of Xi Huang are complete horseshit.”

“Please enlighten us, senior,” Ye Qing replied.

“There are no celestials, Buddhas, gods or demons inside Xi Huang. There are no Strangers or restrictions either. It is a barren wasteland where no life can survive, much less thrive.”

Ancestor Black Robe began his explanation, “Xi Huang is boundlessly vast and does not have an end. The sun hangs eternally in the east, never to set, and the moon hangs eternally in the west, never to fade. They shine together in the same sky and look pretty impressive.”

“That isn’t to say that Xi Huang is not dangerous, however. On the contrary, it is exceedingly dangerous. For one, Xi Huang is exceedingly vast. Trying to find one specific object in Xi Huang is no different from trying to fish a needle in the sea. It would be most difficult. Two, you cannot enter Xi Huang for more than nine days. If you do not leave Xi Huang in nine days, then you will be lost in Xi Huang, never to leave until your dying breath.”

“The way to leave Xi Huang is very simple. Disregard the cardinal directions and travel toward the center—and by that, I mean the space between the sun and the moon—for five thousand kilometers, and you’ll be able to leave Xi Huang.”

“Nine days? Why would someone be lost in Xi Huang forever after nine days?” Ye Qing lifted his eyebrows.

“I do not know why either,” Ancestor Black Robe said. “That’s just how it is. Even I have nearly lost my way in Xi Huang once.”

Xiahou Zun exclaimed in astonishment, “You went to Xi Huang before, Preceptor?”

“Yes, I once traveled there out of curiosity.”

Ancestor Black Robe said indifferently, “It was when I first became a Sage. I grew curious after listening to all the ludicrous rumors and legends regarding Xi Huang and decided to check it out myself.”

“Everything was normal during the first nine days. I neither encountered any danger nor experienced any unusual anomalies. I did my own thing just like the sun and the moon hang eternally in the sky. But on the tenth day, the sun and the moon faded into nothing, and the world plunged into darkness. Without the sun and moon to guide the way, the usual way to leave Xi Huang became useless as well.”

Feng Qingyou asked, “In that case, how were you able to leave Xi Huang?”

“I didn’t. I ultimately died in Xi Huang,” Ancestor Black Robe replied indifferently.

No one was expecting such an answer from Ancestor Black Robe as a matter of course. If what he said was true, then who was the man standing in front of them? A ghost?

“T-then... Preceptor... are you...” Xiahou Zun was so stunned that he couldn’t form a coherent sentence.

“The one who died in Xi Huang is me. The one who is standing in front of you is also me.”

Ancestor Black Robe said calmly, “The Demonic Mountain possesses a Magia called One Qi Transforms Into Three Demons. Once mastered, the practitioner can create two body doubles. The one who died in Xi Huang is my body double.”

“One Qi Transforms Into Three Demons?”

Ye QIng, Feng Qingyou, and Xiahou Zun exchanged glances with each other. In fact, they had heard of the Magia before. Legend had it that Taozu possessed a Magia called One Qi Transforms Into Three Purities, and Rahu, the Progenitor Demon, also possessed a Magia called One Qi Transforms Into Three Demons. As Ancestor Black Robe stated, One Qi Transforms Into Three Demons allowed the practitioner to create two body doubles that shared the exact same cultivation level, Magia, and strength as the original. The body doubles possessed their own independent mind and consciousness as well. They were essentially copies of the same person.

The trio were as one, but they were also independent. Even if one of them was lost, the other two body doubles would suffer no damage. It was an indescribably profound, potent, and enigmatic Magia.

However, neither One Qi Transforms Into Three Purities nor One Qi Transforms Into Three Demons could be practiced by ordinary people. Rumors had it that the Magia had died out as well. However, not only did Ancestor Black Robe know the Magia, he had mastered it right as he became a Sage. This was unbelievable.

Did this mean that the man standing in front of them right now was a body double?