"Pindao recalls that this young friend Qin Sang was only at the False Core stage back then, brought into Ziwei Palace by Fellow Daoist Dongyang and Lady Chen Yan. He was originally a disciple of Shaohua Mountain—when did he switch allegiances?"
Daoist Chongyi narrowed his eyes slightly, looking Qin Sang up and down before glancing at Dongyang Bo, asking out of the blue.
Quite a few of the Nascent Soul Patriarchs in the grand hall had been present back then. Recalling the entanglement between the two, and seeing Qin Sang walk casually behind Qingjun while acting completely cold toward his former patriarch Dongyang Bo, they all looked toward Dongyang Bo with amused expressions.
At this point, few truly paid much attention to Qin Sang himself.
Clicking his tongue, Daoist Chongyi remarked, "When he entered Ziwei Palace back then, this lad was merely at the False Core stage. His current cultivation would rank among the best of the Core Formation juniors across both realms. With a disciple of such talent, how could Fellow Daoist Dongyang bear to let him go?"
"Surely he couldn't be a traitor who betrayed his sect and ancestors, could he? Otherwise, Fellow Daoist Leng wouldn't have accepted him into the Yuanshen Sect, let alone made him an elder."
A Tianxing Alliance cultivator, purely in the mood to watch the spectacle, shifted his gaze back and forth between Dongyang Bo and Qingjun.
The mountain gates of Shaohua Mountain and the Yuanshen Sect were both on the northern shore of the Yuncang Great Marsh, one to the east and the other to the west. Could it be that, aside from being close neighbors, they even shared disciples back and forth?
Wearing a mask to attend the alliance conference, Qingjun was still disguised as Leng Yuntian. The Nascent Soul cultivators present, though vaguely aware of the inside story, all tacitly accepted it; no one exposed her.
His smile unchanging, Dongyang Bo said in a faint, seemingly sighed tone, "Man climbs high, water flows low—what is wrong with that? No wonder Lady Chen Yan searched for Qin Sang for years to no avail. It turns out Sect Master Leng was hiding him away."
"Lady Chen Yan searched for him?"
"Wasn't this kid only at the False Core stage back then? Lady Chen Yan is a dignified Nascent Soul Patriarch—what connection could she possibly have with him?"
...
The Nascent Soul cultivators were clearly all very familiar with Chen Yan, having seen her peerless beauty with their own eyes, and most of them understood her origins. Hearing this, they were all greatly surprised, intensely curious whether Qin Sang had done something to anger Chen Yan, or if there was another reason.
Yet Dongyang Bo abruptly fell silent, thoroughly whetting their curiosity.
*This kid is blessed with good fortune with women...*
Someone sighed inwardly, but in front of Qingjun, no one dared to say it out loud.
Qin Sang looked at Dongyang Bo coldly.
A cunning old fox and a shameless scoundrel indeed. Without uttering a single word about the origins of their enmity, with just a few airy remarks laced with innuendo, he had diverted everyone's attention.
Qin Sang did not know how much of Dongyang Bo's words were true and how much was false. Had Chen Yan really looked for him, and if so, for what?
Could it be that Chen Yan was truly trapped by the backlash of the Mystic Female Jade Tripod True Scripture and had to cultivate the Stone Bridge Chan to resolve the danger, and thus continued collaborating with Dongyang Bo to find him?
In Ziwei Palace, Chen Yan helping him escape had merely been an expedient measure forced by Dongyang Bo. If that were truly the case, he had gained another adversary out of nowhere—and an enemy with an immense background at that.
Qin Sang felt a surge of silent resentment. Dongyang Bo had spoken ambiguously on purpose, clearly having no intention of speaking the truth.
Were it anyone else—whether harboring improper ambitions or feeling terror under the pressure of facing two formidable Nascent Soul enemies at once—hearing those words would likely make them waver with anxiety and obsession. If one's Dao heart showed even the slightest flaw, Dongyang Bo would have succeeded.
Qin Sang endured in silence, offering no argument. Right now, the most important thing was entering Pointing Sky Peak; he did not wish to stir up extra trouble. To seek justice, he would at least have to wait until he had sufficient strength.
Seeing both involved parties, Qin Sang and Dongyang Bo, acting tight-lipped, everyone turned their eyes to Qingjun. Could there be some grievance between her and Chen Yan?
Qingjun cut straight to the point. "Regardless of which sect Qin Sang belongs to, the meritorious deeds he performed are undeniable. When this matter was decided back then, most of you fellow daoists were present. Surely you haven't forgotten?"
Before her voice had faded, a rather youthful-looking cultivator on the Tianxing Alliance's side chimed in, "Indeed. Thanks to those two juniors, this old man only lost his physical body while my Nascent Soul escaped in time."
As he spoke, he gave Qin Sang a friendly nod.
Qin Sang was gladdened inwardly and hurriedly bowed in thanks to the man.
Old Daoist Zhenyi nodded gently. "The other junior has long since received his reward; it would indeed be unfair to favor one over the other. Pindao understands Fellow Daoist Leng's intention. Young Friend Qin wishes to enter Pointing Sky Peak to borrow its abundant astral essence to cultivate a secret technique? Such secret techniques are extraordinarily rare in this era. May I ask what sort of art it is, and whether the cultivation process will affect Pointing Sky Peak's fragile space?"
Demon Monarch Tongyou also spoke up: "Whether the power of Ziwei Palace's immortal formation will continue to weaken remains uncertain. Before that, the astral essence stones and the Minor Beichen Astral Essence Array must not be compromised."
Qin Sang hesitated. If the Heavenly Demon Transformation were exposed, and these people learned that his body refinement attainment surpassed even his cultivation base, trouble would certainly follow.
Fortunately, Senior Sister was there to shield him.
Qingjun beat him to it, saying, "I will take him there and open the restriction myself, and before he enters, I will personally seal the true essence within his body. I guarantee he will not damage Pointing Sky Peak."
Old Daoist Zhenyi and Demon Monarch Tongyou exchanged a glance.
Demon Monarch Tongyou nodded. "With Fellow Daoist Leng personally vouching for him, there should be no issue."
To Qin Sang's surprise, Dongyang Bo did not make trouble either. "I trust that Fellow Daoist Leng would not deliberately damage Pointing Sky Peak."
The leaders of both the righteous and demonic paths of the Xiaohan Realm had spoken in turn.
Seeing this, Old Daoist Zhenyi pondered for a moment, then looked toward an armored warrior general at his side. "Jiugu, accompany Fellow Daoist Leng on this trip in a moment."
...
"Go down first and wait for me at the bamboo lodge," Qingjun sent via voice transmission.
"Yes! This junior takes his leave!"
Qin Sang turned and left, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief. He had not expected it to go so smoothly; without wasting much breath, he had obtained permission to enter Pointing Sky Peak.
As he walked out of the grand hall, Qin Sang could hear the Nascent Soul cultivators discussing the war. He vaguely felt an elusive gaze following him the entire time. He paused slightly, then quickened his pace outward. Right now, he needed to concentrate on refining the Heavenly Demon Transformation; he had no time for distractions.
Returning to the bamboo lodge, Qin Sang waited for two whole double-hours.
As twilight gathered on all sides, Qingjun finally returned.
The Tianxing Alliance Nascent Soul cultivator named Jiugu, along with a Xiaohan Realm demonic path Nascent Soul, arrived together. Bringing Qin Sang along, they flew non-stop toward the depths of the Yuncang Great Marsh.
Pointing Sky Peak constantly drifted through the Yuncang Great Marsh. To pinpoint its location, the talismans of the Tianxing Alliance and the Xiaohan Realm had to be combined to sense the location of the peak's restrictions.
After flying an unknown distance, the four came to a stop over an expanse of open water. They took out the complete talisman, activated it with true essence, and after sensing for a moment, adjusted their direction and flew northeast.
After flying at top speed for a while longer, from afar, Qin Sang saw a familiar sight.
In the night, a beam of light plunged from the heavens, reaching upward to connect with the river of stars and descending into the marsh below. A peculiar power surged within the pillar of light, and the water's surface gleamed with a mercurial sheen like a mirror. That was the entrance to Pointing Sky Peak.
Chapter 1129