"That's right, this is indeed the door." Marquis Nanlong gazed at the rather small stone door, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. After a long moment he let out a deep breath and spoke.
"The demonic energy in the blood qi on this door seems almost too potent. There won't be any trouble, will there?" Lu Weiying studied it for a moment, then asked uneasily.
"This door was sealed by an ancient cultivator using all of his vital blood. Naturally it differs from ordinary restrictions — that's perfectly normal. What's this, Brother Lu — having second thoughts?" Marquis Nanlong's gaze shifted, and he said flatly.
"Second thoughts? We've come all this way — would I do something so foolish? But just as a precaution, shouldn't we be a bit more careful?" The old man shook his head and said gravely.
"Brother Lu, you make a fair point. This door does give one an unpleasant feeling. How about this — we'll set up several layers of restrictions outside the door first. That way, if anything goes wrong, we won't have to worry about our retreat." Marquis Nanlong considered for a moment, then said with a softened expression.
"Good, that would be best. I'll do as Fellow Daoist suggests." Lu Weiying nodded without hesitation, agreeing readily.
And so Marquis Nanlong and the old man took out several sets of formation equipment and began setting up spell formations at the bottom of the pool.
…
But just as the two of them were preparing to unseal the Blood Curse Gate, in another part of the inner valley, a group of several people was slowly making its way toward the summit of a massive mountain covered in dark black rocks.
At their head was a middle-aged cultivator with a dark, severe face, and beside him walked an old man in blue robes — none other than the Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect and Wei Wuya. Wang Tiangu trailed roughly ten feet behind the pair. Behind the three of them, four Ghost Spirit Sect disciples at the Core Formation stage followed close behind.
"This damned place is truly bizarre — in such a remote area, they've actually set up flight restrictions spanning hundreds of li. We can't even fly a few zhang above the ground." Wang Tiangu glanced up at the blood-red clouds hanging not far overhead and suddenly muttered under his breath.
"The more like this it is, the more it proves we've found the right place. If I were an ancient cultivator, I too would have placed something important in a location like this. After all, with restrictions like these in place, very few cultivators would be willing to walk one or two days on foot to reach it." The Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect's expression remained unchanged as he replied calmly.
"After all the effort we've put in, let's hope we haven't come to the wrong place this time. We've already lost three disciples along the way." Wang Tiangu's face showed a trace of helplessness.
The Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect heard this, let out a chuckle, but made no reply.
At that moment, Wei Wuya glanced toward the peak and said expressionlessly:
"It's been three days and two nights since we entered the inner valley. We should be just about there. Don't tell me we still have to walk for several more days!"
"Fellow Daoist Wei, rest easy. Once we cross this mountain, we'll reach the destination. No need to be too impatient! If this succeeds, our Ghost Spirit Sect will naturally become the foremost sect of the Demonic path, and your breakthrough to the Deity Transformation stage will be just around the corner." The Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect didn't dare show Wei Wuya any lack of respect. His expression softened as he spoke.
"Hmph! To be honest, I don't believe the legend of the Ethereal Garden. It's most likely nothing more than a rumor passed down and distorted by those ancient cultivators. If there really were such a space at the boundary between the Spirit Realm and our Human Realm, it would have been discovered by other cultivators long ago — it couldn't have remained hidden until now." Wei Wuya was silent for a moment before uttering these words with a touch of mockery.
"If Brother Wei doesn't believe it, then why did you accept our sect's invitation without hesitation?" The Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect showed no surprise at this; instead, he asked with apparent interest.
"Fellow Daoist Wang, you've been so solemn about this — bringing nearly half your sect's elite force along. Naturally you must have real certainty about this trip to the Devilfall Valley. What you're searching for, even if it isn't the Ethereal Garden, must at least be some ancient cultivator's secret realm. Since this old man has learned of it, naturally I must stick my nose in. You use my reputation to keep the other valley-entering cultivators in check, and I get a share of the treasures — that's surely not too much to ask." Wei Wuya said bluntly, without a moment's thought.
"Haha! Brother Wei, you certainly speak your mind. However, Fellow Daoist Wei, there's one thing you've gotten wrong. The enormous effort our sect has invested is aimed precisely at the Ethereal Garden. It is no phantom — it truly exists. The entirety of Devilfall Valley was actually constructed by ancient cultivators specifically to guard the Ethereal Garden. Once we cross this mountain, in just a few hours we'll be able to see it with our own eyes. When the time comes to open this space, we'll need Fellow Daoist Wei to lend your strength." The Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect burst into hearty laughter, a trace of wild ambition showing on his face.
Wei Wuya was somewhat taken aback by this, and a flicker of genuine emotion crossed his face.
"From what Sect Master Wang is saying, it seems you already hold proof of the Ethereal Garden's existence."
"That's right — our sect does indeed have seventy to eighty percent certainty in confirming the Ethereal Garden's existence. As for what the evidence is, once we arrive, Fellow Daoist Wei will naturally find out." The moment the black-robed middle-aged man finished speaking, a mysterious expression appeared on his face.
This man was a true schemer at heart. Despite being only at the early Nascent Soul stage himself, he showed no trace of unease when facing Wei Wuya, a late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator.