Rendezvous

Great Zou Island. On the island was an immortal cultivation family surnamed Zou. It was said that a Nascent Soul Patriarch had emerged from among their ancestors, which was how the island had come to bear its name down through the generations. After that Nascent Soul Patriarch passed away, the Zou clan gradually declined. Yet even an emaciated camel is bigger than a horse. Ordinary small sects could hardly compare to the Zou clan, and in the cultivation world of the surrounding seas, the family had always enjoyed a modest reputation. The previous family head of the Zou clan had been a top expert second only to Nascent Soul cultivators. Yet for reasons unknown, the previous head had abruptly abdicated his position, passing it on to a junior before journeying far away on his own. Following that, the Zou clan had flourished all the more. Its younger generation spent money lavishly, as though they had struck an unexpected fortune from some unknown source. Surprisingly, twenty years ago, the Zou clan had suddenly announced the sealing of the island. Only two years ago had the disciples of the Zou clan ventured out once more, conducting themselves with utmost discretion. To outsiders ignorant of the insider details, the underlying reasons were impossible to deduce. Great Zou Island was home not only to the Zou clan, but also to a vast mortal population. Living under the clan's aegis, their lives were quite peaceful. In one of the large mortal cities on the island. An ordinary-looking man entered the city. After strolling around aimlessly for a time, he exited beyond the city walls. Once in an isolated spot, his appearance shifted. It was none other than Qin Sang. "To think the Zou clan had such a background. The grounds where the clan's core family cultivates are bound to be sealed by a grand formation. It seems slipping in quietly to pay respects before Old Zou's tomb and return the jade pendant is out of the question..." Qin Sang's thoughts stirred, and he quietly flew toward the depths of Great Zou Island. Before long, Qin Sang appeared within a patch of forest. Gazing at the cloud-shrouded silhouette of the mountains ahead, he silently remarked that it was just as he had expected. After a brief contemplation, Qin Sang quietly retreated. The largest mortal city on the island. Within the city stood a magnificent palace, rumored to be the dwelling of immortals. Mortals dared not approach, able only to gaze upon its splendor from afar. This palace was in fact the temporary residence of Zou clan members whose prospects on the immortal path were bleak, and who had been assigned to oversee mortal affairs. Inside the palace, an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard crouched on the ground, meticulously tending to a garden of plants and flowers like an ordinary farmer. Surprisingly, the old man was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Remarkably, not a single spirit flower grew in the garden; every blossom and blade of grass was a common mortal variety. Yet the old man tended them with absolute earnestness and gentle movements, thoroughly immersed in his labor. After a long while. The old man stood up, looked at the fruits of his labor, nodded with satisfaction, and turned to walk toward his room. *Creak!* He pushed the door open. The smile on the old man's face froze abruptly. Upon the tabletop that had originally been bare sat a jade pendant out of nowhere. Someone had actually slipped in right under his nose without his awareness. A cold sweat broke out across the old man's back. He swept his divine sense across the surroundings, but detected not a soul. Right then, he noticed characters carved into the table. "An old friend has passed on; what was theirs is returned to its rightful owner." The old man froze. Mustering his courage, he stepped forward, picked up the jade pendant, and inspected it. When realization struck him, his expression shifted drastically. In great haste, he hurried out of the city and flew toward his clan's grounds. Regardless of how the Zou clan reacted, having returned Old Zou's relic, Qin Sang departed directly. *** The flying carriage sped across the boundless sea. The white crane served as the coachman. Qin Sang leaned against the railing, gazing out. Before long, the outline of a colossal island appeared at the edge of his vision. Qin Sang recalled the white crane, and with a flicker of movement, landed upon the island. Entering the city, Qin Sang headed straight for the cave dwelling, only to find it completely empty. Bai had not yet returned, nor was there any sign of Ning Wuhui. "There's still more than a month until the appointed meeting..." After pondering for a moment, Qin Sang refrained from taking any rash actions. Before leaving, Ning Wuhui had mentioned that he might not stay in the Tiandao Sect the entire time, but would likely travel elsewhere. Thus, Qin Sang settled into quiet cultivation inside the cave dwelling. A dozen days passed in the blink of an eye. While Qin Sang was in meditation, he suddenly felt the cave dwelling's restrictions being disturbed. Sweeping his divine sense outwards, he saw that the person standing outside was Ning Wuhui. "Fellow Daoist Ning!" A surge of joy rose in Qin Sang's heart, and he walked briskly outside to welcome him. "Fellow Daoist Qin!" Ning Wuhui cupped his hands in greeting. "Were you able to find anything out, Fellow Daoist Ning? Has the timing of the Hall of Seven Kills' emergence been determined?" The moment they stepped into the cave dwelling, Qin Sang pressed eagerly. Ning Wuhui nodded. "No need to be anxious, Fellow Daoist Qin. Several seniors from the Tiandao Sect have been stationed in the Storm Belt all along, monitoring the changes in the immortal formation of the Hall of Seven Kills. According to reports, it should happen within two years." "Two years... It seems I can only continue quietly meditating and waiting..." Qin Sang murmured in acknowledgment, then suddenly recalled something and asked hastily, "Legends say that each time the Hall of Seven Kills emerges, cultivators who enter the Inner Hall have a chance to obtain benefits. Is that true?" Previously, Qin Sang's sole focus had been returning to the Xiaohan Realm, so his inquiries had mostly centered around the Outer Hall of the Hall of Seven Kills. Now that he had confirmed he was going into the Inner Hall, Qin Sang had naturally made thorough inquiries on Tianxing Island. Most rumors circulating about the Inner Hall were ambiguous and questionable. Fortunately, Qin Sang's cultivation was vastly different from before, and the cultivators he came into contact with were of higher standing. After paying a certain price, he had managed to gather quite a bit of useful information. However, it was difficult to tell truth from falsehood, so he could only consult Ning Wuhui. As expected, Ning Wuhui was in the know. He said, "Indeed. It is said that after entering the Inner Hall of the Hall of Seven Kills, one must pass through a trial ground. Anyone who completes the trial will receive a treasure as a reward. I've heard this trial was left behind by seniors so that our human race could flourish and endure indefinitely. However, passing the trial is no easy feat—it is extremely dangerous..." "Rumors suggest the Hall of Seven Kills may have been first discovered by the Four Sages. Could the seniors who left behind the trial be the Four Sages?" Qin Sang recalled the Four Sacred Mountains on Tianxing Island. "Perhaps!" Ning Wuhui was not entirely certain either. "The era of the Four Sages is far too distant from today. Many secrets have been lost to time, leaving only numerous legends surrounding them." Qin Sang was quite curious about the Four Sages and remarked with emotion, "If it was indeed they who discovered the Hall of Seven Kills, they must have obtained many supreme treasures to turn the tide and drive back the Witch Clan! Yet I wonder what cultivation realm the Four Sages ultimately reached, and whether they ever crossed the Storm Belt to reach other immortal cultivation realms." In the Xiaohan Realm, there were no legends of the Four Sages. Perhaps the Four Sages had never gone there, or perhaps they had conducted themselves with extreme discretion. Qin Sang judged that the likelihood of the Four Sages never having gone was greater; otherwise, inside the Ziwei Palace, they would certainly have clashed with cultivators of the Xiaohan Realm, and it would be impossible for not a shred of evidence to remain. Even the Four Sages had not known of the ancient teleportation formation's existence, showing just how covertly hidden the formation was. Without Senior Qingzhu's help, it would have been virtually impossible for him to find it on his own. Qin Sang and Ning Wuhui held a long, confidential conversation inside the cave dwelling. After seeing Ning Wuhui off, Qin Sang stood before his cave dwelling, looking outside with furrowed brows. The appointed time was fast approaching, yet there had still been no word from Bai. Only on the day before the appointed date did Bai hurry back. Seeing that Bai was unharmed, Qin Sang felt a wave of relief, but then noticed that Bai's aura was far weaker than when they had parted. He asked in rapid succession, "Did you run into a formidable enemy, Fellow Daoist?" Bai sighed. "Not a formidable enemy, but I was unexpectedly trapped in a place for several months, which nearly ruined our great undertaking. A pity I didn't find anything useful."