Starting at the Nascent Soul stage, a rogue cultivator is incredibly poor.

After March.

The unease in Qingyouzi's heart grew stronger. The trace of demonic energy he had sensed earlier was like a lock, tightly binding his heart.

He repeatedly used the communication jade slip to inquire about news from several elders in Tianxian City, but either there was no response for a long time, or the replies were vague and unclear.

"Nothing's wrong at the front," "Everything's normal," "Fellow Daoist, rest assured and guard the front lines"...

He'd heard those platitudes far too many times.

"What happened now?"

Qingyouzi put down the jade slip, his brows furrowed.

"Could it be that all the elders from the immortal cities went to the location of the impending birth in Demon Zhou Mountain to guard it?"

"Hmph! They've been keeping a close watch on us rogue cultivators all along, relegating us to remote garrisons while they hoard the treasures. With a formidable enemy at hand, they're still thinking about getting rich. Could they be plotting something else entirely?"

He frowned slightly as he paced back and forth in the courtyard.

The sea breeze drifted through the courtyard gate, carrying the sounds of distant monks chatting and waves crashing on the shore.

The entire sea seemed to be brewing something.

"That's enough."

Qingyouzi stopped and made a decision.

"Instead of guessing here, we should go and see for ourselves how things are progressing in Cangming. The situation in the Boundless Sea is currently unpredictable, with constant friction between the two continents. We need to plan our escape route as soon as possible."

"I might as well stop by Tianxian City to check things out. I've accumulated some battle merits over the past two years, and it's time to exchange them for a few auxiliary pills."

He returned to the quiet room and took the black straw hat.

Ancient Azure Demon Flame surged from his fingertips, condensing into a swaying azure curtain of fire that draped down from the edge of his hat, obscuring his face. In the hazy firelight, his figure transformed into an azure rainbow, soaring into the sky.

The deep sea, ancient ruins.

Qingyouzi silently slipped in and stepped through the stone door once more.

Divine senses spread out like a net, instantly covering the entire ruins. The eight stone pillars remained, and the golden barrier above the sinkhole shimmered with light, before which...

Cangming sat cross-legged.

His demonic power surged like a tide, his dark blue scale armor robe fluttered without wind, his scarlet eyes were tightly closed, and his hands were held in front of his chest.

In his palm was the forbidden cone.

The Breaking Restriction Cone is completely different now than it was two years ago. The originally dull bronze cone now gleams with a dark, eerie luster, and dark red demonic power flows and permeates the fine cracks on its surface like blood vessels, slowly repairing the damaged restriction patterns.

Qingyouzi felt a slight tremor in his heart.

This demon race... is actually repairing an ancient magical artifact?

Without making a sound to disturb him, he quietly retreated into the shadow of a stone pillar. A blue silk thread silently emerged from his sleeve, coiling around him like a slender snake, emitting a faint blue light.

Observe quietly.

Time flows silently in the deep sea.

Three days have passed.

Cangming's demonic power gradually receded, and the light from the Forbidden-Breaking Cone in his palm slowly subsided. He opened his eyes, his scarlet pupils shining like two blood lamps in the dim ruins.

"I've kept you waiting, fellow Daoist."

He did not turn around, but his voice echoed in the ruins.

Qingyouzi emerged from the shadows and bowed slightly:

"I apologize for my intrusion and for disturbing Brother Cang's cultivation."

Cangming stood up, put the Forbidden-Breaking Cone into his storage bag, and turned to look at Qingyouzi.

Behind the fire curtain of the straw hat, Qingyouzi's face was blurred, only her eyes shone calmly through the blue light.

"Fellow Daoist, have you come here to inquire about the progress of the teleportation array?" Cangming asked.

Not entirely.

Qingyouzi's voice came through the fire curtain, sounding slightly low.

"The situation in the Boundless Sea has become increasingly tense recently, with the demon race making frequent moves and spies from Beiting operating in the shadows... The next few years will likely be anything but peaceful. I am simply looking for a way out as soon as possible, and it is because of this concern that I have come to visit you."

He paused, then looked at the storage bag at Cangming's waist.

"I never expected to see such an amazing sight upon arrival. Brother Cang's ability to repair ancient magic treasures has truly shattered many of my prejudices against the demon race."

Upon hearing this, Cangming chuckled.

He approached slowly, the scales rubbing together with a soft sound.

"Back then, in order to make the demon race stronger, I also studied the human race's methods of weapon crafting and alchemy."

Cangming's tone was calm, yet there was a hint of self-mockery in it.

"Unfortunately, it's ultimately impossible to truly understand it. The repair of this Forbidden Cone... is merely a clumsy imitation of human weapon-forging techniques, with slight modifications, and nurtured by my demonic power."

He patted the storage bag.

"This method is clumsy and requires a lot of demonic power. Even after several months of effort, it can only repair a tiny crack... It's really not up to standard."

Qingyouzi's eyes flickered slightly.

"Being able to repair ancient magical artifacts is already an astonishing ability."

"It's a pity." Cangming shook his head. "This item is too badly damaged. I tried my best, but I could only increase its power slightly. And... it can only be used once in the end."

The scarlet eyes suddenly turned to Qingyouzi, staring intently at the pair of eyes behind the curtain of fire.

"By the way, we've known each other for so long, yet I still don't know your name, brother."

Qingyouzi remained silent for a moment.

"I have cultivated for hundreds of years, and my name has changed countless times." He said slowly, "I can't even remember my original name. I only have one Daoist name left, Qingyou. Brother Cang, you can just call me Qingyou."

"Qingyou".

Cangming repeated it, then burst out laughing.

"Never mind, whether it's true or false doesn't matter." He waved his hand. "After another month or two of nurturing, I can try to break the seal. At that time, I will teleport away directly."

He stared at Qingyouzi, then suddenly changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, Brother Qingyou, I'm afraid your visit this time wasn't just about the teleportation array, was it?"

Qingyouzi chuckled softly.

"Brother Cang has keen insight. I do indeed have another matter to discuss, and I hope Brother Cang will inform me."

"So you want to know who the traitor among your human race is?" Cangming sneered. "Now that you've come to find me, if it weren't for the teleportation array, this would be the only reason you've made this trip."

"Brother Cang is wise. I was too cautious before and dared not ask, but for several years Brother Cang has been hiding here trying to break this ancient divine restriction. I admire you and have gradually come to trust you. That is why I dared to come and risk my life to ask."

Cangming stretched its neck, the sound of its scales rubbing together being particularly clear in the silent ruins.

He paced back and forth a few steps, as if recalling something.

"Actually... I don't know much either," Cangming said slowly. "At the time, the Grand Elder only told me that someone would secretly let me pass so that I could infiltrate the near sea to attack Nanxuan's reinforcements. I only know that the person's surname seems to be Gu."

Qingyouzi's pupils suddenly contracted.

He involuntarily took half a step forward, lowering his voice: "Gu Canglan?"

"I don't know." Cangming shrugged indifferently. "Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. I didn't ask in detail at the time, as long as I could get in."

He turned and walked deeper into the ruins, waving his hand behind Qingyouzi's back.

"I've been resting for over a year and I'm exhausted. I'll go and rest first. Brother Qingyou, please make yourself at home."

The figure disappeared into the darkness.

Qingyouzi stood still, staring in the direction where Cangming had disappeared, the blue silk thread in her sleeve silently retracting.

Three breaths later, he turned around and transformed into a blue rainbow, speeding away.

Above the sea, Qingyouzi hovered in mid-air.

The waves were surging, the sky was overcast, and distant thunder rumbled faintly.

He took out a communication jade slip, gathered magical power at his fingertips, but hesitated to place it.

"no……"

He muttered to himself.

"We can't be rash. If the news is false, reporting it hastily will only arouse suspicion. If it is true... alerting the enemy might lead to us being bitten in return."

The sea breeze stirred the firelight from the straw hats, causing the blue light to flicker.

A variety of possibilities flashed through Qingyouzi's mind.

Was Cangming's revelation of this matter true or false? Was it unintentional, or was it deliberate provocation? If Gu Canglan is truly a traitor, then what about Wen Tao? What about the other cultivators on the island?

And that demonic aura...

"The path of a wandering cultivator is fraught with peril."

He put away the jade slip and looked towards the distant horizon.

The direction of Zhenhaiguan.

"The fact that Tianxian City has dominated the Southern Xuan Continent for so long must mean they have their own reasons. Everything is still under their control. No, I can't alert them and cause any problems. I should go back to Zhenhaiguan and proceed step by step."

Qingyouzi made a decision.

"If things go wrong... I can always just run away."

A blue rainbow rose again, breaking through the gloomy sky, and sped towards the mainland.

Beneath the deep sea, deep within the ruins.

Cangming leaned against the stone wall, his scarlet eyes gazing upwards, as if they could pierce through layers of seawater to see the distant blue rainbow.

A barely perceptible smile curved the corners of his lips.

"Azure Night..."

He murmured the name to himself, then closed his eyes.

The ruins have returned to deathly silence.

Only the golden barrier above the sinkhole still shimmered with a faint light.

It seems to be waiting for the day it will shatter.