Upon entering the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea, the white cat visibly relaxed, leaping and weaving through the bamboo grove. Knowing the region intimately, she guided Qin Sang around the other demon beasts.
As they drew near the center of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea, the white cat led Qin Sang to a cave and said, "Young Master Qin, we left the city in such haste that Grandpa Liu does not know we have returned yet. Please wait here a moment. I will head back first and ask Grandpa Liu how to arrange things."
Qin Sang readily agreed.
With so much at stake, he understood her caution.
The white cat nodded to Qin Sang, turned, and leaped out of the cave, vanishing into the vast expanse of the bamboo sea.
Qin Sang concealed his presence and stood at the cave entrance, a contemplative expression on his face.
Infiltrating the Demon Realm and establishing contact with the demon beasts of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea was merely the first successful step. If he wanted them to help him inquire about the Qianji Demon King and the mysterious stone slab, he still needed to win their approval.
He gazed into the distance.
Ever since entering the bamboo sea, he had sensed traces of demon beasts, including no shortage of vegetation spirits. The demon beasts of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea possessed gentle temperaments; in all the time he had been here, he had not encountered a single conflict.
The sun sank in the west.
A crimson glow stretched across the horizon.
Night fell, yet there was still no sign of the white cat.
Qin Sang knew that the news of Yunyouzi's demise brought back by the white cat would surely catch the old willow off guard, and that he would also need to consider what attitude to adopt toward him, so Qin Sang was in no hurry.
He walked deeper into the cave, sat down cross-legged, fed the Heavenly Eye Butterfly once, and then quietly worked on perfecting his sword formation.
Before he knew it, midnight had arrived.
The night was overcast, devoid of stars or moon, so pitch-black that one could not see one's own hand before one's face.
Having sat in stillness for half the night, Qin Sang's eyelids suddenly twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Immediately after, a faint sound of cutting through the air came from outside, and a white shadow darted into the cave.
The white cat had returned. Seeing Qin Sang still waiting obediently inside, she could not help letting out a breath of relief and said apologetically, "Young Master Qin, forgive me for keeping you waiting so long."
Qin Sang nodded nonchalantly and cast a glance outside the cave; there was no trace of any other demon beasts.
"Grandpa Liu instructed me to bring Young Master Qin. He remained in his cave dwelling to manage the spirit formation and secretly reassigned the guards so we could bypass other eyes and ears, preventing Young Master Qin's identity from leaking..." the white cat explained.
Setting out under cover of night, they crossed several mountain ridges without alerting a single demon beast and arrived at the old willow tree's cave dwelling.
In the dead of night, it was difficult to tell just how scenic this place was.
Qin Sang had maintained a measure of vigilance all along, silently taking in their surroundings. The white cat led him through a mountain canyon, after which the terrain suddenly opened up before them into a basin.
A hazy white mist drifted over the basin, within which stood orderly wooden palaces.
Upon entering the basin, the white cat guided Qin Sang toward one of the palaces.
Qin Sang suddenly stopped, turning his head toward a row of willow trees beside the palace. His gaze swept rapidly across them before settling firmly on one of the ancient willows.
"Young Master Qin's strength is extraordinary indeed, to see through this old man's true body at a single glance."
The next instant, a green radiance flared across the willow tree, coalescing into a slightly illusory figure that slowly stepped down.
The Willow Tree Spirit had taken the form of an elderly man leaning on a walking stick.
A strange luminescence flickered in his eyes as he assessed Qin Sang, praising him before cupping his hands. "Pardon this old man for failing to welcome you from afar, Young Master Qin."
"Grandpa Liu!" The white cat bowed obediently.
"Fellow Daoist Liu's concealment methods are exceptional. I merely happened to catch a faint trace by sheer luck," Qin Sang replied modestly.
Little did the spirit know that the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had already advanced to the late stage of its third transformation. Before her, even a Nascent Soul Patriarch would find it difficult to evade her Heavenly Eye divine ability unless adept in specialized concealment techniques.
What chance did a mere tree demon have?
"Young Master Qin need not be so humble. My King entrusted the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea to you, so there must surely be a reason. This old man trusts the King's judgment."
The Willow Tree Spirit expressed goodwill. Seeing that his demeanor appeared genuine, Qin Sang relaxed slightly.
They entered the grand hall.
The Willow Tree Spirit invited Qin Sang to take a seat and bade the white cat serve tea, observing courtesies that were not inferior to the human race in the slightest. Qin Sang had previously worried that demon beasts might possess erratic or perverse temperaments, but now it seemed his concerns had been unfounded.
"Xiao Bai has likely already informed Young Master Qin of the predicament facing the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea. Ever since the King went missing, the bamboo sea has been tossed about like a boat in a storm, drawing covetous eyes from outside. We finally held out hope for the King's return to stabilize the situation, only to encounter a great upheaval in the immortal cultivation world, followed by the heartbreaking news of his passing..."
The Willow Tree Spirit spoke in a low voice, deep sorrow and bewilderment surfacing in his eyes.
Infected by his emotion, Qin Sang could not help but feel somber as well.
The Willow Tree Spirit rallied his spirits and said, "Now that the King has passed away, this old man's cultivation is shallow, leaving me powerless to protect the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea. Even so, we cannot let the demon spirits here be slaughtered like fish and meat, ruining the foundation left behind by the King. Xiao Bai mentioned earlier that Young Master Qin possesses a disguise technique..."
Qin Sang nodded. Without playing coy, he simultaneously activated the Heavenly Demon Transformation and his aura disguise technique.
"It truly is an aura rivaling a Transformation stage great demon! Young Master Qin can pose as the King's successor..." The Willow Tree Spirit was overjoyed.
Soon after, however, as if recalling something, his delight receded. A trace of hidden worry showed in his eyes, and he asked tentatively, "May I ask how long Young Master Qin intends to remain in the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea?"
Qin Sang understood perfectly what he was worried about. After a moment of thought, he said, "At present, the most important matter for me is to polish my cultivation and await my attempt at forming a Nascent Soul. I belong to no sect and walk this path alone; before making my breakthrough, it makes no difference where I cultivate. However..."
Qin Sang's tone suddenly shifted, causing the smile that had just begun to form on the Willow Tree Spirit's face to freeze.
"I also have a favor to ask on this trip. It concerns something that will aid me in forming a Nascent Soul. If I can break through to the Nascent Soul realm, sheltering the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea will be an effortless task."
Noticing the change in the Willow Tree Spirit's expression, Qin Sang realized the spirit likely assumed he was seizing the opportunity to make demands. He quickly added, "Please do not misunderstand, Fellow Daoist Liu. Senior Yunyouzi was both a mentor and a friend to me. Regardless of whether this matter succeeds, I will do everything in my power to carry out what he entrusted to me."
The Willow Tree Spirit's expression softened slightly, and he said hesitantly, "If it pertains to forming a Nascent Soul, it is surely no small matter. What can we do for Young Master Qin?"
"I would like to ask Fellow Daoist Liu to help me inquire about some information..." Qin Sang leaned forward slightly and explained his objective.
"The Qianji Demon King! The mysterious stone slab!"
The Willow Tree Spirit stood up, pacing back and forth with furrowed brows, lost in thought.
Seeing that he had not refused outright, a flicker of joy flashed through the depths of Qin Sang's eyes.
A moment later, the Willow Tree Spirit said in a heavy voice, "Though we vegetation spirits cannot match other demon kinds in combat prowess, most of us possess our own life-preserving divine abilities. Even so, our cultivation is modest, so it will be impossible for us to approach a demon king's cave dwelling at will to steal the slab. If the Qianji Demon King values that stone slab so highly, I fear it may be very difficult to uncover anything useful."
Hearing this, Qin Sang was overjoyed. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Liu! It will be enough just to learn the details regarding the Qianji Demon King and the location of his cave dwelling. If it truly comes to confronting the Demon King directly, I flatter myself that I possess some means of my own, so there will be no need to involve others."
A look of astonishment crossed the Willow Tree Spirit's eyes, and he finally gave his promise: "If the stone slab can truly aid Young Master Qin in forming a Nascent Soul, it will also be an immense blessing for all the demons of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea. This old man will certainly spare no effort."
Chapter 1136