Before entering seclusion, Qin Sang left Peach Blossom Valley to visit several of the larger market towns nearby. Passing in and out under the identity of a Yuanshen Sect elder, he no longer had to sneak around in secret.
He discreetly offloaded a portion of his demon cores and beast bones, purchasing a few required treasures in return.
For the rest, he commissioned the shops to help gather them, making it clear that price was no object.
Afterward, Qin Sang hurried back to the Great Sui to let Li Yufu know where his cave dwelling was located. He stayed there for some time, guiding the cultivation of Li Yufu and the other two and bestowing a share of resources upon them.
Before forming a Nascent Soul, Qin Sang had no intention of distracting himself with establishing a faction of his own, leaving them to cultivate on their own for now.
Once he entered this seclusion, there was no telling how many years would pass; he had to fulfill his duty as their senior.
Li Yufu was only in the early Golden Core stage, so Qin Sang had more than enough ability to guide him, to say nothing of Tan Yi'en and Bai Hanqiu.
"If your martial grand-ancestor returns, or if you run into any trouble, send word to me immediately. The current situation remains unsettled, and undercurrents are surging through the cultivation world—especially within the Chunyang Sect, where various factions are eyeing the legacy left behind by Old Ancestor Chifa. During this time, minimize your travels for training so you don't get swept up in the fallout..."
Before departing, Qin Sang gave his instructions to the three of them.
"This disciple obeys."
The three bowed in respect and saw Qin Sang off.
On the return journey, Qin Sang took a detour through the territory of Shaohua Mountain.
Disguised as an elder of the Yuanshen Sect, his movements were far more convenient, allowing him to inquire about news of old acquaintances.
Among them was Qi Yuanshou, the Senior Brother Qi of years past.
During the war against the Sin Abyss, he had unfortunately fallen on the battlefield.
Toward Qi Yuanshou, Qin Sang's feelings were complicated.
Before learning the truth, Qin Sang had received Qi Yuanshou's guidance many times. He bore no ill will toward the man, and had even treated him as a pillar of support to maintain ties with.
Granted, Qi Yuanshou had abetted tyranny, keeping watch over him on Dongyang Bo's behalf with ulterior motives.
Yet without Qi Yuanshou's discreet protection, his early journey in Shaohua Mountain would never have gone so smoothly. Neither the factional infighting within the sect nor external disturbances had ever affected him, allowing him to focus entirely on cultivating.
During his few interactions with Qi Yuanshou, Qin Sang had also sensed a thread of goodwill toward him—perhaps guilt, or perhaps something else.
Even so, Qi Yuanshou had not dared to defy Dongyang Bo's commands.
Qin Sang could understand that helplessness firsthand.
Yet that did not mean Qin Sang could simply share a smile with him and wipe the slate clean.
Every debt had its debtor.
The one Qin Sang had his sights set on was Dongyang Bo.
Parting ways and forgetting one another in the wider world might have been the best outcome.
He had not expected to be met with grim news upon his return.
Qi Yuanshou had not been buried on Shaohua Mountain; his grave lay in his hometown.
A century had passed, and the solitary mound was nearly desolate.
When a life ended and the Dao extinguished, it was as if a wild goose had flown by without leaving a trace.
At a moment like this, there was no difference whatsoever between a cultivator and a mortal.
Without knowing what emotion moved him, Qin Sang arrived before Qi Yuanshou's grave. He lingered for a brief moment, let out a sigh, and departed on his flying sword.
Afterward, he went to a mortal kingdom within Shaohua Mountain's borders.
A cultivation clan resided there—the Wen family.
The Wen family possessed modest strength and governed the neighboring mortal state on behalf of Shaohua Mountain. Among their ranks was an external elder named Zhuang Yan.
Zhuang Yan had married his arranged match, and together they explored the great Dao of dual cultivation. In the end, both reached the Foundation Establishment stage, but their subsequent path of cultivation hit a wall, stalling at the mid Foundation Establishment stage.
Realizing their immortal path was hopeless in this life, their ambitions were worn away. They ultimately bid farewell to their sect and returned to the family of Zhuang Yan's master to branch out and raise descendants.
That master was Senior Brother Wen, the very man who had guided Qin Sang into Shaohua Mountain when he first joined.
Senior Brother Wen had long since passed away at the end of his natural lifespan, buried in the back hills of the Wen estate.
A fairly bustling courtyard stood beside a lake at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by exquisite scenery.
At that moment, an elderly man in the twilight of his years sat on a reclining chair, several bamboo rods set before him as he fished by the lakeside. His eyes were half-closed, on the verge of drifting into a deep slumber. It was Zhuang Yan.
*Splash!*
A water dragon suddenly surged out of the lake, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws as it pounced toward the old man. Yet the moment it took shape, it collapsed into scattered droplets of water.
None of it splashed the old man, but it scared all the fish away.
"You little rascal! You dare launch a sneak attack on your grandfather?"
Zhuang Yan opened his eyes and looked at the young girl bounding over, a smile flashing across his gaze.
"Grandfather, it only took me a few days to master the Water Condensation Formula! Am I still not qualified to join Shaohua Mountain?"
The girl pouted, grabbing the old man's arm and rocking it back and forth.
"You? You're still far from ready! Cultivate hard for a few more years, and only then will I send you to Shaohua Mountain. That way, nobody will look down on our Zhuang family."
Zhuang Yan tapped the girl's delicate nose, a trace of worry flickering in his eyes. He was already over two hundred years old, with half a foot in the grave. His lifespan was drawing to an end, and he could not protect his descendants forever.
The shadow of the Sin Abyss continued to hang over the Xiaohan Realm.
There was no telling when the cultivation world would find peace. These younger generations were born into the most turbulent era; even if she joined Shaohua Mountain, her fate would remain unpredictable.
Over the years, no small number of Shaohua Mountain disciples had fallen on the battlefield.
Zhuang Yan was suddenly reminded of an old acquaintance.
"*Sigh!* If only Junior Brother Qin were still alive. With his willpower, he surely would have formed a core... How did he end up leaving before me?"
Whenever Zhuang Yan recalled it, he felt profound regret.
As if sensing something, he abruptly looked up.
"Grandfather, what is it?"
The girl turned to look at the lake.
The surface of the water was empty, with not a soul in sight.
Zhuang Yan shook his head. His spirits suddenly dampened, he gathered his things, and with the girl supporting him, he shuffled toward the courtyard with faltering steps.
...
Qin Sang passed by the Wen family, paying his respects to Senior Brother Wen and gazing at Zhuang Yan from afar.
This was likely the last time they would ever see each other, yet Qin Sang could not show himself.
Zhuang Yan had failed to form a core.
Even so, spending his entire life alongside the one he loved and raising children of his own was perhaps a happiness in its own right.
Qin Sang reined in his thoughts and headed straight back to Peach Blossom Valley.
Qingjun was not in the valley.
Qin Sang returned to his cave dwelling and began preparing for his seclusion.
Bai also emerged from the corpse puppet bag, picked a room, and prepared to enter seclusion alongside Qin Sang, swearing not to come out until he had fully comprehended the Corpse Soul Pearl.
"This Peach Blossom Valley is truly wonderful, and its master is formidable as well. While I was inside the corpse puppet bag earlier, I could still sense a trace of her sharpness. However, I was at a crucial moment of comprehending the Corpse Soul Pearl then, so I didn't have the chance to show myself. Back then, I felt something similar from Qingzhu. Like father, like daughter—truly extraordinary."
Bai held Qingjun in high regard. "Moving in uninvited isn't quite polite. When the opportunity arises, I will pay my respects to the rightful owner in person."
"Take care, Daoist friend. When comprehending the Corpse Soul Pearl, be extremely cautious and do not damage the peach orchard."
Qin Sang gave the reminder; he had no desire to face Qingjun's wrath.
After a brief discussion, the two returned to their respective dwellings.
Qin Sang activated the restrictive formations to seal the cave and summoned the Heavenly Eye Butterfly.
The Heavenly Eye Butterfly's cultivation could not be neglected either; forming a Nascent Soul would require its assistance.
Fortunately, he had managed to purchase several spirit medicines suited for nurturing the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, almost completing the recipe. Its growth rate would be even faster than before.
After consuming the spirit medicines, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly settled onto Qin Sang's shoulder, snuggling close against him before sinking into slumber.
What lay ahead was to restore his former cultivation as quickly as possible.
Rebuilding the Killing Talisman was far easier than cultivating it the first time.
Qin Sang settled his mind into meditation, linking his consciousness with the ebony sword to comprehend the true Killing Talisman, his cultivation advancing at rapid speed.
Chapter 1115