Do you Want One

What exactly is the relationship between the Hengduan Mountains and the Land of Immortal Legacy?

First of all, the reason why it is called the Land of Immortal Legacy is that a cultivator had died here in the past. After the cultivator's death, his corpse, spiritual powers, and magic influenced a large area. This eerie and ominous area was thus called the Land of Immortal Legacy.

So how did the Hengduan Mountains come about?

When the cultivator's magic spread outwards to areas not affected by the eeriness and ominousness, it nourished the local plants, animals and demonic beasts. Myriad things were revived and myriad lives flourished, thus becoming the Hengduan Mountains.

We can thus conclude that the Hengduan Mountains are the outer regions of the Land of Immortal Legacy, while the Land of Immortal Legacy is the core region within the Hengduan Mountains.

If we draw a circle with the cultivator’s corpse at the center, that would be the Land of Immortal Legacy. If we draw an even larger circle around it, the ring formed between the two circles would be the Hengduan Mountains.

Cultivators from the Lingnan Immortal Sect like Su Changqing feel that this whole area came about because of that cultivator. Their impression of this place is that of the Land of Immortal Legacy, so they habitually refer to the Hengduan Mountains as such.

As for people living near the Hengduan Mountains like Qin Ran, many don’t even know about the Land of Immortal Legacy. Those who do know think that it is just a region within the mountains. They are familiar with the Hengduan Mountains, so they habitually refer to the Land of Immortal Legacy as the Hengduan Mountains instead.

Of course, for the six explorers currently standing right outside the core region of the Land of Immortal Legacy, it would be more accurate to call this place the Land of Immortal Legacy.

Anyone would shudder in fear knowing that a cultivator had died here.

"It is said that the Land of Immortal Legacy is filled with all kinds of anomalies..." Su Changqing said. "Everyone, please be careful."

Looking at the misty Land of Immortal Legacy, Qin Ran snapped his fingers and conjured six transparent bubbles. "I don't know what that mist is made of. Wearing these helmets can reduce unnecessary trouble."

As he spoke, he made one of the bubbles float onto his head like an astronaut's helmet.

After putting it on, he looked towards the other five, his eyes asking if they needed one too.

"Brother Qin is indeed prudent in his preparations," Su Changqing laughed. "Please help us too."

Qin Ran then placed a bubble over Su Changqing's head.

"No wonder you are useless in battle. Turns out you cultivate these weird mystic arts instead," Bai Ruoxi said, pointing at her head to indicate she wanted one too.

Qin Ran put a head bubble on her as well.

"Thank you, Junior Brother," Qi Yun said with a smile.

Qin Ran gave him one too.

Three of them now had the bubbles on. The two left were Jian Yuanjie, an administrator from the Dao Sword Sect, and Chu Batian, a disciple from the Lingnan Immortal Sect.

Qin Ran glanced at Chu Batian, then ignored him and turned to Jian Yuanjie instead.

As a guide, Jian Yuanjie was in charge of pills and medicines in the Dao Sword Sect, so he had good knowledge of herbs and the like. He was quite familiar with the Hengduan Mountains.

Qin Ran and Jian Yuanjie's relationship was rather subtle...

Qin Ran knew that Jian Yuanjie was a traitor hiding within the Dao Sword Sect. Jian Yuanjie felt that Qin Ran might have discovered something, but outwardly, they were fellow sect members and even close friends who associated with each other often.

The two looked at each other. Jian Yuanjie smiled slightly. After some time, he nodded at Qin Ran and said, "Thank you, Junior Brother!"

Only then did Qin Ran place a bubble over his head too.

That left one last person.

Given Chu Batian's temperament, he really disliked these flashy things. And due to his first impression, his opinion of Qin Ran wasn't too good either. He reeeeally didn't want to wear this weird bubble.

But glancing around, he saw everyone else with transparent covers over their heads. It would be somewhat inappropriate if he was the only one without.

So reluctantly, he pointed at his head for Qin Ran.

After covering Chu Batian's head with a bubble too, Qin Ran said, "This is just a small safeguard in case the mist is poisonous or contains gu creatures, swamp worms or the like. It can provide some protection."

"It may affect everyone's breathing, but as Golden Core cultivators, we don't even need to breathe anyway. Just bear with it for a while."

Everyone nodded. Su Changqing praised, "Brother Qin's experience is indeed extensive. The ingenious application of your mystic arts is truly amazing. It's fortunate we brought you along."

Upon hearing this, Jian Yuanjie looked towards Qin Ran and smiled, "Junior Brother, when did you form your core? Why didn't you let your Senior Brother know in advance? I could have provided assistance, that would have been for the best."

"It was an accidental breakthrough," Qin Ran replied politely. "You know I was stuck at the late Foundation Establishment stage for many years. A breakthrough could happen anytime... Even I don't know what exactly happened during this breakthrough."

An accidental breakthrough was indeed possible.

Jian Yuanjie accepted his explanation with a nod. "Then allow me to congratulate Junior Brother here on forming your Golden Core."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

As they spoke, they observed their surroundings. Although the lush greenery was pleasing to the eye, oddly enough, there wasn't a single animal around. There were no insect chirps, bird calls or beast roars. An eerie silence pervaded.

"Is it always like this deep inside the Hengduan Mountains, or is it only so now?" Su Changqing asked.

"According to records, the deeper one goes into the Hengduan Mountains, the higher the bloodline level of the demonic beasts there. High level beasts tend to have strong territorial awareness. So it is understandable for this place to be so quiet," Qin Ran said.

"But at the same time, beasts are beasts and animals are animals. There should be more ordinary animals the deeper you go. So it shouldn't be this quiet here."

"What are you trying to say?!" the irritable Chu Batian barked.

Qin Ran glanced at him but did not reply. Instead, he asked Su Changqing, "Were you attacked by any beasts on the way here?"

Flying over the heads of beasts was easy to provoke their wrath.

Everyone knew this, but Su Changqing still rode his cloud vessel here. Not because he was dumb, only because his cloud vessel's grade was high enough to not fear beast attacks.

"No," Su Changqing shook his head, his expression turning grave.

No beast attacks meant there were no high-ranking beasts in this forest. And there were no small animals here either...

Something was off!

"Then it's out of the ordinary," Qin Ran said, gazing up at the sky. "The last time I came to the Hengduan Mountains, I saw white willow fluff everywhere. Strangely though, it's gone now."

"With the Devouring Demon Willow nearing ascension, there should be more and more fluff. But now there's not a speck left. There's only one possibility..."

He looked towards everyone, "It is gathering power for its ascension, making final preparations!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts shook. That meant the Devouring Demon Willow could erupt with fluff at any time. They could become nutrients for it at any moment!

"Time is of the essence..." Chu Batian urged. "Let's go in now!"

"We still don't know what's inside. Since Qin Ran made the head bubbles, I have a treasure here so we don't get separated..." Su Changqing took out a jade pendant and six beads. "This Subu Heart Link lets the six beads connect as one with the pendant. No matter when or where, as long as you hold a bead, you can communicate with whoever has the pendant."

As he spoke, he gave out the beads and kept one bead and the pendant for himself.

"This should help somewhat." Su Changqing added. "Let us make haste!"

Saying so, he walked straight towards the interior of the Land of Immortal Legacy. After a few steps, his figure disappeared into the dense fog!