Arrangements

One could only imagine the trials and tribulations she had endured for the dignified leader of a sect to weep like rain. Qin Sang sighed with emotion. "This disciple made a fool of herself. Please forgive me, Sect Master Zhenren." Meigu wiped away her tears. The momentary display of vulnerability vanished in a flash, and her expression quickly returned to normal. Qin Sang nodded. "I recall that before I departed, you four had only just established your foundations not long prior. I did nothing more than set up a skeleton framework. That you were able to lead the Demon Flame Sect to this point has truly exceeded my expectations." "This is not my credit alone. Even Junior Brother Lu, before his betrayal, aided me with all his might. Junior Brother Zhao has poured no less blood and sweat into the sect than I have. We pulled together as one, and by good fortune encountered a few opportunities, which made today possible..." Meigu remained modest, claiming no solitary credit and placing special emphasis on Zhao Shanran. She recounted several events. Seeing that Qin Sang showed keen interest and did not stop her, she briefly summarized their experiences over the past century. Seeing through Meigu's intentions, Qin Sang spoke plainly: "Those who have rendered meritorious service shall naturally be rewarded. Although Zhao Shanran is getting on in years, from what I see, his cultivation has been tempered well. It is not impossible for him to form a core." Meigu was overjoyed upon hearing this. "This disciple thanks Sect Master Zhenren on behalf of Junior Brother Zhao!" Qin Sang waved his hand to stop her from kowtowing, his tone shifting as he asked, "Setting others aside for now, what are your own plans for the future? That you managed to form a core in such circumstances shows that you not only possess talent for leadership and governance, but your cultivation aptitude and fortune are also of the highest order." "This disciple dares to plead that Sect Master Zhenren, in consideration of my dedicated devotion to the sect, might guide my cultivation so that I may take another step forward along the Immortal Path! This disciple is willing to give up everything, and hopes Sect Master Zhenren will grant this!" Meigu seemed to have planned this long beforehand. Decisive and without the slightest hesitation, she fell to her knees. In the past, she had not dared harbor extravagant hopes of advancing far on the Immortal Path, intending to pour all her effort into developing the sect. Qin Sang's appearance had offered her a glimmer of dawn. The sect now possessed the sturdiest backing. More importantly, Sect Master Zhenren was actually a Nascent Soul Patriarch. Meigu knew that this would be the greatest opportunity of her lifetime, one she had to seize no matter what. "Very well. I shall take you as my disciple." Qin Sang did not beat around the bush and nodded in agreement. He had a favorable impression of Meigu. When the Demon Flame Sect merged into Qingyang Temple in the future, Meigu and the others would serve as pillars of strength. Meigu had not expected things to go so smoothly and thought she had misheard. After a momentary daze, she finally recovered her senses. "Disciple greets Master!" Suppressing the wild joy in her heart, Meigu meticulously performed the rites of apprenticeship. With a slight lift of his hand, Qin Sang gestured for Meigu to rise, saying solemnly, "From this day forth, you are the second disciple I have taken. You also have fellow disciples elsewhere. However, I cannot arrange for you to meet them just yet." Meigu looked puzzled. Qin Sang paused before continuing, "Back then, I provoked an enemy and was forced to flee far away. That enemy commands great power, so it is inconvenient for me to appear openly right now. For the time being, I am assuming another identity, and I need you to continue leading the Demon Flame Sect. As for my cultivation level, keep it strictly to yourself and do not disclose it to anyone else." Meigu felt a jolt of shock. No wonder Sect Master Zhenren had disappeared for so long! What alarmed her even more was the terrifying might of this enemy—even though Sect Master Zhenren was already a Nascent Soul Patriarch, he still had to tread with such caution. "Disciple understands!" Meigu refrained from asking further questions. Grievances between Nascent Soul Patriarchs were far beyond anything she could involve herself in. Qin Sang nodded and handed Meigu a jade slip. "After you lead the disciples to the frontline, deliver this to the Sect Master of the Yuanshen Sect. He and I share some acquaintance. Though the Yuanshen Sect belongs to the righteous path, they can still watch over you to some extent." Meigu took the jade slip and put it away with great care, feeling vastly reassured. Although the righteous and demonic paths of the Lesser Cold Domain had their differences, they had always presented a united front against external foes. The current war against the Sin Abyss was no exception; both sides worked together, so the Yuanshen Sect Master would be in a position to look out for them. With a Nascent Soul Patriarch speaking on their behalf, their safety was largely assured. Then Qin Sang gifted Meigu a mid-grade magic treasure as a reward, and after personally offering her guidance, he once more suppressed his cultivation to the Core Formation stage and instructed Meigu to bring Zhao Shanran and the others inside. "Disciple greets Sect Master Zhenren..." Zhao Shanran and the others bowed and kowtowed. Qin Sang singled out Zhao Shanran, speaking in a solemn voice, "Meigu mentioned just now that you have devoted yourself tirelessly to the sect all these years. Even without considering the achievements, the painstaking effort alone warrants recognition. These two medicinal pills possess the efficacy to aid Core Formation, and I grant them as your reward. If you refine these pills and cultivate diligently, you will still have a chance at forming a core." With that, Qin Sang flicked his finger. A jade bottle containing two Fiend Demon Pills flew toward Zhao Shanran. After Qin Sang returned, he had not sold a single Fiend Demon Pill, keeping all of them in hand. Zhao Shanran hastily caught the jade bottle, his face flushed with excitement. Kowtowing to the floor, he cried, "This disciple, Zhao Shanran, kowtows in gratitude to Sect Master Zhenren! I will gladly lay down my life to repay Sect Master Zhenren's immense grace!" "Rise. It is enough that you keep it in mind. In the future, do not dare betray your sect, or Lu Xing will serve as your cautionary tale!" Qin Sang's tone turned chillingly cold. The disciples shuddered and hastened to profess that they would never dare. "The rest of you may also exchange meritorious service for them," Qin Sang said, turning to the other disciples. "With the great war impending, as an expedient measure, those at the False Core stage may receive one first. However, let me state beforehand: it is best for you to first attempt Core Formation on your own. Only if that proves impossible should you take the pill. This medicine can improve the odds of Core Formation, but the price is becoming entangled in fiend qi, which will not only affect your combat strength, but also greatly increase the difficulty of breaking through when encountering bottlenecks in future cultivation." Hearing this, different expressions flickered across their faces. Zhao Shanran, on the other hand, did not care in the slightest; his only desire now was to form a core, and he paid no heed to any cost. "This fiend qi is not without a cure. Consuming certain tailored spirit medicines can purge it. I shall not intervene; whether you can find those spirit medicines will depend on your own abilities." Qin Sang handed Meigu a jade slip containing records of the various spirit medicines. These spirit herbs had nearly been exhausted in the Canglang Sea, but in the Lesser Cold Domain they were not yet difficult to find, though their cost would not be low either. It could serve as a test for them. *** Afterward, Qin Sang remained at the Demon Flame Sect for a time, leaving behind some resources for the sect and formulating development plans together with Meigu to prepare for its future merger into Qingyang Temple and joining the righteous path. Once Meigu learned the background, she harbored no resistance whatsoever, instead rejoicing at the prospect of leaving the demonic path. Soon arrived the day of departure. According to the prior arrangement, Zhao Shanran remained behind while Meigu led the other disciples to rush to the frontline. Before their departure, Qin Sang called Meigu over and imparted several life-preserving methods to her. "This time, you have another mission." Only now did Qin Sang reveal his true objective. "Approach the Qingyang Demonic Sect discreetly. Ideally, forge ties with that old monster's personal disciples, and probe into the old monster's temperament and news regarding the Ancestral Holy Fire..." A flicker of shock darted through Meigu's eyes. Qin Sang consoled her, "Do not overthink it; my enemy is not that old monster. The Ancestral Holy Fire is of some use to me, and if possible, I hope to strike a deal with him. Since I cannot be in two places at once, you shall scout the matter on my behalf first." Meigu's heart relaxed. "Disciple obeys your command!"