Karma

"Martial Uncle, the men have been brought." Tan Yi'en returned and said in a low voice, "Disciple has just investigated the matter. Of the two warring sides, one is the nobility of Great Sui, primarily the Qin, Wu, and Bai families, while the other is an invading foreign foe. Signs of defeat have already begun to show for Great Sui..." As he spoke, Tan Yi'en stole a glance at Qin Sang. Being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it had been child's play for him to seize the immortal cultivators backing both sides and halt the battle. Upon hearing of Great Sui's Qin clan and learning that these families had possessed a blood restriction jade pendant left behind by an ancestor, Tan Yi'en had immediately realized that Qin Sang's deliberate stop in Great Sui and his ascent to pay respects on the mountain had not been without reason. When intervening, he had intentionally shown favor, treating the Great Sui side leniently and questioning them thoroughly before coming up to report. "The Qin, Wu, and Bai families?" Qin Sang was somewhat surprised. "Where is the imperial royal house of Great Sui?" "It is said that Great Sui's turmoil began with the fall of the Red-Haired Ancestor. The Chunyang Sect was thrown into upheaval and had no leisure to attend to mortal affairs. Without oversight, cultivators strode into the mortal world and threw their weight around. "Not just Great Sui, but all the nations within the territory of Chunyang Sect suffered endlessly from their disruption. "Those cultivators still harbored some misgivings, fearing retribution down the line, so they propped up mortal puppets to wage wars on their behalf. But because they were not of one mind, it plunged the mortal realm into chaos, resulting in countless civilian casualties. "Until one day, the Qin and other families inadvertently revealed a blood restriction jade pendant. When those rogue cultivators discovered that the pendant had been left by an immortal cultivator and learned that the Qin family had an ancestor who walked the immortal path, they hesitated to act rashly and began to exercise restraint. "Afterward, as the situation in Chunyang Sect stabilized, cultivators no longer dared to act so unscrupulously, and that state of affairs endured. "The cultivators hid behind the scenes, enjoying offerings and leaving the administration of Great Sui to the Qin family and the others. These families enjoyed close ties across generations. The imperial royal house gradually lost its voice, yet the nation's strength grew ever more prosperous. "A few years ago, infighting broke out within Chunyang Sect for reasons unknown—likely because no figure could command broad respect after the Red-Haired Ancestor's demise. Upon hearing the news, these rogue cultivators began to stir once more. And since the ancestor of the Qin family had sent no word for many years, today's turmoil came to pass..." Tan Yi'en briefly recounted what he had uncovered. "Through an accidental turn of fortune, the Qin family managed to flourish to such heights?" Qin Sang chuckled softly in spite of himself. If it were only the Qin family, he might still have harbored doubts. But the Wu and Bai families were surely the descendants of Wu Chuanzong and Bai Jianglan. Together with those two families, it was practically certain that this Qin family was the ancestral clan of this mortal vessel. Back then, they had been mere farmers, but now they were only a step away from ruling the entire realm. While Qin Sang and Tan Yi'en conversed, several figures stood off in the distance, divided into two distinct groups—none other than the cultivators backing the two warring sides. Dripping with jewels and pearls, clad in resplendent silks, they had thoroughly enjoyed mortal glory and riches. Now, how could they still have any mind to fight? The side backing Great Sui fared slightly better, while those on the opposing side were fraught with unease, wearing mournful expressions as if facing an impending catastrophe. Tan Yi'en's Foundation Establishment cultivation alone was more than enough to give them a severe headache. Though a few of these rogue cultivators had some background and could claim distant ties with Foundation Establishment cultivators, no Foundation Establishment cultivator would antagonize a peer over them. Even more terrifyingly, Tan Yi'en, whom they feared so deeply, was showing absolute deference to another person. That person's identity was obvious. All the cultivators were seized with immense terror. *Had I known Great Sui had a Core Formation master backing it, I would rather have died of old age in the deep mountains than taken half a step into Great Sui!* The exact same thought crossed every cultivator's mind, accompanied by boundless regret. Just then, Qin Sang raised his eyes and looked over. Meeting Qin Sang's gaze, the crowd reflexively shivered, a ripple of commotion running through them. Qin Sang strode over and asked, "If I recall correctly, nations such as Great Sui were once overseen by Han Family Fort. When you stirred up trouble in the mortal realm, weren't you afraid Han Family Fort would come looking for you?" After a moment of silence, an elder on Great Sui's side plucked up his courage, stepped forward, bowed deferentially, and replied, "Reporting to Senior: after the invasion of Sin Abyss, the experts of the Han clan were all recalled to the sect by the Chunyang Sect. Those left behind sealed off the mountain and have not stepped out to this day, remaining aloof from worldly affairs for a long time." *So that was why.* Qin Sang could not help thinking of an old friend, the master of the Han clan. "Your name is Bai Hanqiu?" Qin Sang's gaze fell on a young girl behind the elder. "What relation is Bai Jianglan to you?" Bai Hanqiu had not expected this mysterious figure to notice her. Jolted and gripped by nervous dread, she bowed respectfully. "Reporting to Senior, Bai Jianglan was Junior's ancestor." Stormy waves surged in her heart. Her ancestor had clearly been a mortal—how could this Core Formation senior know him?! *As expected, she carries Bai Jianglan's bloodline.* Qin Sang nodded, swept his gaze over the elder and the others, and continued, "I did not expect the Bai family to produce a descendant possessing spiritual roots. Who is your master?" Before the girl could speak, the elder hastily bowed and said, "Senior, Hanqiu has not taken a master. Junior receives offerings from Great Sui, and once made an agreement with several of the princes: should any descendant possess spiritual roots, Junior would bestow cultivation manuals and lead them onto the immortal path. In all these years, of the Qin and other clans, Bai Hanqiu alone possessed talent for immortal cultivation." Hearing this, Bai Hanqiu froze, noticing the elder signaling her frantically with his eyes. "Four spiritual roots..." Qin Sang pondered briefly, then said to Bai Hanqiu, "Since you have no master, and given my ties to your ancestor—having once received his grace—would you be willing to take me as your master and follow me beyond the mortal realm to cultivate?" Bai Jianglan's lifesaving grace was to be repaid now. Back then, Qin Sang had entertained this very thought, but none of the descendants of those families had possessed talent. With only four spiritual roots, Bai Hanqiu would likely struggle to accomplish great things in the future. However, she would be a seed. Bai Hanqiu was dumbstruck. When she had first begun cultivation, the elder had warned her that her chances of Foundation Establishment were minuscule, advising her not to waste too much time on cultivation or squander the prime of her life. Never had she imagined that, thanks to the blessings left by her ancestor, she would have the opportunity in this life to enter the tutelage of a Core Formation master. As soon as these words were spoken, every cultivator looked on with utter envy. Seeing Bai Hanqiu standing frozen, the elder grew frantic with anxiety, wishing desperately he could take her place. Tan Yi'en also felt a touch of envy. Stepping forward, he produced a short-sword magic tool and handed it to Bai Hanqiu. "Congratulations, Junior Sister. Your senior brother possesses little of worth, so take this sword as a meeting gift. May Junior Sister achieve great success in your cultivation hereafter... Why have you not yet kowtowed in gratitude for Master's benevolence?" Only then did Bai Hanqiu come to her senses. Tears welled up and spilled over as she dropped to her knees, kowtowing repeatedly. "Disciple kowtows to thank Master!" "Rise! Since your senior brother has been so generous, it seems as your master I must also show some token. This bottle of elixir pills can aid your breakthrough. Remember to cultivate diligently in the future; you may not be entirely without a chance at Foundation Establishment..." Qin Sang retrieved a jade bottle and flicked it toward Bai Hanqiu, offering a few words of encouragement. Then, handing a sword pendant to Tan Yi'en, he transmitted his voice: "Take Hanqiu down the mountain and settle all mortal affairs. Hang this pendant in the imperial palace. I will go on ahead and wait for you at Mount Cuiming." Sealed within the sword pendant was a strand of sword qi; any cultivator drawing near would immediately sense the aura of a Core Formation cultivator. While not a magic treasure, it was more than enough to deter petty schemers. "Disciple understands!" Tan Yi'en and Bai Hanqiu received their orders and took their leave. Ignoring the rest, Qin Sang flashed into motion, vanishing into the vast night.