No Tribulation

Could these visions be the inner demons? Qin Sang grew vigilant. Attaining immortality was his lifelong pursuit and his greatest obsession. The inner demon tribulation did not always evoke a cultivator's deepest fears or most agonizing memories; striking at one's obsessions was just as likely. It would wait until he let down his guard before delivering a fatal blow, turning supreme joy into tragedy. The fact that the inner demon tribulation followed the lightning tribulation showed just how perilous it was—once lost within it, extricating oneself was nearly impossible. "Martial Uncle!" "Young Master Qin!" ... The group flew onto the island and saw Qin Sang sitting cross-legged. Though charred black from head to toe and looking rather comical, he was still very much alive. Unexpectedly, the moment they landed beside him, Qin Sang's figure flashed as he retreated dozens of feet. He watched them with utter vigilance, treating them as formidable enemies, sword light gleaming in his palm. "Master, don't you recognize me? I'm your Little Fat Chicken!" With Qin Sang's successful breakthrough, Fat Chicken's attitude had changed completely. Looking eager to curry favor, he scampered forward to fawn over him, only to be yanked back by Bai. "Brother Qin, do you think you are still trapped in the inner demon tribulation and haven't emerged yet?" Bai guessed the reason. Only an instant might pass in the real world, but for someone undergoing the inner demon tribulation, they might have spent countless years within the illusion. Waking abruptly, it was difficult to tell reality from illusion. Bai gestured for the others to step back, giving Qin Sang plenty of time. Qin Sang looked at the group, then looked down at his disheveled self. His eyes flickered with uncertainty before he finally confirmed that he was not inside an inner demon tribulation—this was real. He had successfully overcome the tribulation! There truly was no inner demon tribulation! There was only one explanation for this outcome: the jade Buddha! Qin Sang was astounded by the jade Buddha's extraordinary power. He had anticipated that under the jade Buddha's protection, the inner demons' potency might be weakened, reducing the difficulty of passing the tribulation. Incredibly, the jade Buddha had directly erased the inner demon tribulation—the very trial immortal cultivators feared the most! *Just what caliber of treasure is the jade Buddha?* Qin Sang was dazed. If word of this got out, the entire cultivation world would go mad. Even the most precious, peerless heavenly treasures recorded in ancient texts could, at best, stabilize one's mind and slightly increase a cultivator's chances of success; none had ever been heard to completely wipe away the inner demon tribulation. He had already held the jade Buddha in high regard, but it seemed he had still underestimated it. "I'm already in the Nascent Soul stage?" Qin Sang muttered to himself. Directing his inner vision toward the Nascent Soul inside his body, clarity gradually returned to his eyes. Spiritual light rippled across him, healing his external wounds, and he changed into a fresh Daoist robe. "Congratulations to Brother Qin on shattering the core to form the Nascent Soul and transcending mortality into the realm of the sages!" Bai cupped his hands in congratulations. "Congratulations, Martial Uncle!" "Congratulations, Young Master Qin!" "Congratulations, Master!" ... Li Yufu and the three demons bowed together, each offering their own form of address, their faces brimming with joy and envy. Qin Sang smiled and nodded, looking around. The world felt completely refreshed. The lake waters and spiritual island, the flying birds and swimming fish. Everything in the vicinity was under his complete control! Qin Sang felt boundless exhilaration in his heart. Suddenly, he threw his head back and let out a long cry that shook the clouds. ... An incense stick's time later. The group sped through the Yuncang Great Marsh, returning toward the cave abode. Having newly entered the Nascent Soul stage, Qin Sang still needed to enter secluded cultivation to stabilize his realm. "Martial Uncle, should we hold a Nascent Soul celebration and establish a sect?" Li Yufu took the initiative to ask. Qin Sang shook his head and said placidly, "I still have unsettled grievances. If I hold a Nascent Soul celebration now, how can I give that person the biggest surprise when the time comes? Furthermore, my disguise as Demon King Mingyue must continue. As for establishing a sect..." After a brief pause, Qin Sang said, "The Sin Abyss is not yet pacified, and the cultivation world remains turbulent. Now is not the best time. When you travel abroad and encounter promising seeds, you may take them under your wing and guide their cultivation, but do not recruit disciples openly for now. In the future, the sect shall be named Qingyang Temple!" Qin Sang had no obsession with establishing a sect. His original intention was merely to take a few disciples who could handle mundane chores so he wouldn't have to do everything personally. Since Yunyouzi held the dying wish of re-establishing Qingyang Temple, and Qin Sang had received much benevolence from three generations of Qingyang Temple disciples, he decided the future sect would carry on that name. "This disciple thanks Martial Uncle on Grandmaster's behalf!" Li Yufu's eyes brimmed with tears. He carried his grandmaster's dying wish, yet possessed only Core Formation cultivation. The weight of such responsibility was as heavy as a thousand jin. By doing this, Qin Sang was effectively lifting that heavy burden from his shoulders. "No need for formalities." Qin Sang helped Li Yufu up and encouraged him, "You are Senior's true successor. From what I see, you should be able to break through to the mid Core Formation stage soon. With your natural talent, attaining the Nascent Soul stage holds great promise. Going forward, do not let external affairs distract you. Concentrate on your cultivation and form your Nascent Soul early so that I can rest easy leaving Qingyang Temple in your hands and travel abroad." With that, Qin Sang turned to the three demons and said to Xiaobai, "There is no need for you all to return with me either. Head back to the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea now and share the good news with Fellow Daoist Liu. I will remain at Yuanshen Sect for quiet cultivation for the time being. If anything significant happens, send me word." "Understood!" Reluctant to part, the three demons took their leave from Qin Sang and returned to the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea. Shortly afterward, Qin Sang's group of three arrived near Yuanshen Sect. Li Yufu parted ways with them, returning to his cave abode alone. That cave abode was suitable for Core Formation cultivators, but appeared rather meager for a Nascent Soul Patriarch. Fortunately, Qin Sang held a Yuanshen Sect elder medallion, allowing him to enter and exit Yuanshen Sect freely, so there was no rush to seek out a new cave abode. It would be even better if he could see Senior Sister Qingjun. Li Yufu returned and shared the good news with Tan Yi'en and the other disciple; there was no need to describe how ecstatic the three of them were. Yuanshen Sect. Concealing his cultivation to disguise himself as a Core Formation cultivator, Qin Sang arrived before the mountain gate, finding the sect's guard far tighter than in the past. "Who goes there!" A squad of disciples flew out from the mountain gate, calling out to stop Qin Sang. Sensing the fluctuations emanating from Qin Sang, the disciples froze. When they clearly saw the medallion in his hand, panic instantly overtook them. They hurriedly opened the grand formation and stepped forward to bow. "Greetings, Elder Qin! These disciples failed to recognize you. Please punish us, Elder Qin!" "You were merely guarding the sect. What crime have you committed? Rise." Qin Sang was in an excellent mood and naturally would not make things difficult for these disciples. Stepping into Yuanshen Sect, Qin Sang paused and asked, "Is the Patriarch present within the sect?" "To report to Elder Qin, so far as this disciple knows, the Patriarch and the elders departed for the front line and have not yet returned," the lead disciple replied. Qin Sang nodded and flickered away, flying toward Yuanshen Sect's forbidden grounds. Once Qin Sang's figure vanished into the forbidden grounds, the other disciples gathered around with a flurry of chatter. "Is that the legendary, most enigmatic Elder Qin?" "So young! And remarkably approachable!" "That's called having an extraordinary presence!" "I heard Elder Qin seemed to appear out of nowhere, revealing himself as a late Core Formation expert right from the start. He enjoys the Patriarch's deepest trust, to the point of being permitted to cultivate in the forbidden grounds. Do you think the Patriarch might be grooming him as the next sect master?" "Quite possible! So many elders were sent out for this major war, yet an elder with such high cultivation as Elder Qin was left behind. It must be to protect him!"