Opportunity

Qin Sang and Jingyu, Elder Ji of the Celestial Alliance, and Zangqing, a confidant of Demon Monarch Tongyou—only the four of them had set out on this journey. The yields of these mineral veins were exceedingly precious, and the Two Domains Alliance placed great importance upon them. Qingjun had Qin Sang undertake this mission in person precisely so he would have a chance to claim a share, which would benefit the future establishment of his sect. The southern foothills of the Tianxing Plateau had been recovered through the combined efforts of the Celestial Alliance and the Xiaohan Realm. Qin Sang had always remained aligned with Qingjun, and their interests were something that Daoist Zhenyi and Demon Monarch Tongyou had to take into account. As the saying went, creation follows destruction; the spoils of war could not simply be returned to their original owners, but had to be negotiated and distributed according to merit. This was precisely the opportunity for Qin Sang and Qingyang Temple. Qingjun had little personal interest in such matters, but knowing that Qin Sang wished to establish his own sect, she was doing everything she could to help him secure a share. "The fragrance of green grass... It has been a long time since I inhaled the refreshing scent of these plains." Elder Ji took a deep breath, a wistful look appearing on his face. Zangqing laughed. "Those old Nascent Soul devils are crafty, every last one treasuring their own lives. But in their flight, the low-level cultivators of Sin Abyss lacked such means of escape; their dead and wounded are beyond count. After this campaign, Sin Abyss's foundation has been shaken. Their losses are nothing short of catastrophic, their vitality severely damaged. For the next century, they will likely be forced to hole up in their lair, powerless to stir up trouble. During these hundred years, Fellow Daoist Ji, you can roam the wilderness to your heart's content." "I am not ashamed to admit to you, Fellow Daoist, that there was a time I thought we would never hold Tianxing City, and that I would end up like a stray dog driven from home." Elder Ji sighed with deep emotion, gazing at the surrounding scenery, which felt both strange and familiar. The war, raging on and off for two hundred years, had altered far too much. "Fellow Daoist Qin," Elder Ji collected himself and suddenly turned his head to ask Qin Sang, "I have heard that the disciples under your banner are all talented young individuals, yet they call themselves disciples of Qingyang Temple. You must intend to establish your own sect, do you not? Have you decided where to locate Qingyang Temple?" Surprised by the abrupt question, Qin Sang was taken aback for a moment before understanding dawned. With a faint smile, he said, "The top-tier spirit veins in the Beichen Realm all have masters. Though I may wish to establish a sect, my desire exceeds my power." "What difficulty is there in that!" Elder Ji's eyes lit up. "Fellow Daoist Qin, you personally took part in recovering the southern foothills of the Tianxing Plateau, so you must have noticed that there are several top-tier spirit veins there. Of the sects originally founded upon those veins, some were driven away by Sin Abyss, and most heartbreakingly, others were slaughtered by Sin Abyss until their lineages were virtually wiped out. If you are interested, Fellow Daoist, I will report this to Daoist Zhenyi at once. You have achieved illustrious merits in battle; compared to your contributions, what does a mere spirit vein amount to? Should any surviving descendants of those sects remain, I can mediate on your behalf. The cultivators of our Celestial Alliance are all reasonable and see the greater good. As long as you agree to look after them in the future or take them in as disciples, they will surely be more than delighted." As he spoke, Elder Ji's peripheral vision quietly darted toward Jingyu. The Two Domains Alliance already knew Jingyu's origins. This demon king's strength was equally unfathomable, and even while living in seclusion in Wuya Valley, she had possessed quite the fearsome reputation. What shocked them was that from the battle of Mount Shuangjing to the present, Jingyu had remained by Qin Sang's side almost without parting, behaving as though she took his lead in everything. After all, once the Two Domains Alliance launched their counteroffensive, the Feather King had ordered the forces of Tianyao Mound to withdraw and watch from the sidelines. Even with promises of immense rewards, the Two Domains Alliance had failed to recruit a single demon king. This led everyone to speculate endlessly about the relationship between them. It was common knowledge that Qin Sang was close to Qingjun. Dongyang Bo had even revealed publicly that Chen Yan, the mysterious beauty who had appeared like an ephemeral bloom years ago, seemed to share deep entanglements with Qin Sang as well. Because of this, meddlesome individuals envied Qin Sang's charm, whispering that it was great enough to captivate even female demons. Those with wilder imaginations suspected that Jingyu had already been subdued by Qin Sang as a spirit beast. Those more grounded in reality recalled the battle at the Blood Lake and surmised that Jingyu's aim was simply to repay a debt of gratitude. Regardless, their bond was undeniably profound. If they could persuade Qin Sang to establish his sect on the Tianxing Plateau, the ally they won over would not just be Qin Sang alone. "All of our fellow Daoists in the Celestial Alliance would welcome you with open arms, Fellow Daoist Qin," Elder Ji said with pointed implication. Seeing Elder Ji woo Qin Sang right in front of him, Zangqing's expression stiffened with suppressed annoyance. Yet Dongyang Bo and Qin Sang were like fire and water, their enmity irreconcilable, leaving an opening for others to exploit. Zangqing gave a cold snort. "Sin Abyss harbors wild ambitions and will surely stage a comeback one day. The Tianxing Plateau is hardly a wise choice, fraught as it is with the risk of being engulfed in future warfare. Though the Xiaohan Realm is somewhat smaller, accommodating Qingyang Temple would be child's play, and Qingyang Temple could look out for each other alongside the Yuanshen Sect. Certain sects coast on their ancestral legacy while their interiors have long since rotted beneath a gilded facade, contributing nothing to the war. Natural treasures belong to the virtuous, and spirit veins are no different!" Qin Sang appeared intent on waiting for the best offer. He took no stance and deftly brushed the matter aside with a few words. Seeing how slippery Qin Sang was, Elder Ji shifted his tone. Turning to the menacing Zangqing, he asked mildly, "I wonder how Fellow Daoist Zangqing views the future situation? Is there really still any need for the Xiaohan Realm and the Celestial Alliance to keep drawing such distinct lines between us?" Zangqing paused, lost in thought. Qin Sang was secretly surprised. "Is this Daoist Zhenyi's idea?" Neither confirming nor denying it, Elder Ji continued of his own accord, "The Xiaohan Realm and the Celestial Alliance were originally one. Later, due to various reasons, they split, fostering estrangement and even mutual hostility. Over these years, standing together against Sin Abyss with shared enmity, the cultivators of both lands have cooperated closely and grown familiar with one another. This is the prime opportunity to resolve our past grudges. I have harbored this thought for some time, but with the fighting so urgent before, I kept it buried in my chest." Qin Sang remained silent. The matter had vast implications; it was not his place to voice an opinion before discussing it with his Senior Sister. Nevertheless, if the two domains merged and set aside their divisions, their strength would increase considerably, allowing them to face Sin Abyss with greater composure. His Senior Sister would likely be glad to see such an outcome. At that moment, Zangqing let out a cold laugh. "Old Ghost Ji, you make it sound easy. If the two domains become one, your Celestial Alliance can claim a share in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield without lifting a finger, but what benefits do we get? Furthermore, who answers to whom in the future? Will the Celestial Alliance obey the Xiaohan Realm, or the Xiaohan Realm obey the Celestial Alliance?" Faced with this challenge, Elder Ji remained calm and unhurried. "All of that can be negotiated! I believe that as long as everyone is willing, we can certainly hammer out an arrangement that satisfies all parties." After that, Zangqing fell silent, and Elder Ji stopped pressing the issue, letting the matter rest there. As they spoke, the group had flown thousands of li across the wilderness. The white cloud suddenly halted midair. Elder Ji brought out a topographical map, compared it to their surroundings, and pointed toward the northeast. "Not far ahead lies the secret glow stone mine, second in value only to the largest spirit stone mine. The Sin Abyss Nascent Soul cultivator guarding the mine is well versed in keeping multiple retreats like a cunning hare; even our inside operative could not locate his cave dwelling. Everyone, prepare yourselves. With any luck, we might have an opportunity to intercept and kill him right here!" "Understood!" The group summoned their magic treasures and quietly departed the cloud, their silhouettes flickering before vanishing into the shadows.