"I never thought I would have the chance to see you again, Daoist!"
Shangguan Lifeng's expression was complicated, bearing both the joy of reuniting with an old acquaintance and a sense of restraint. Recalling something, he hastily asked, "May I ask where the other Daoist is now?"
Qin Sang sighed. "Senior Yunyouzi ascended to the heavens many years ago."
Shangguan Lifeng fell silent. The sense of inferiority in his heart actually diminished slightly—at least he was still alive.
*Rumble!*
A burst of thunder roared in the distance, shaking the earth and mountains.
Deep within the dark clouds, serpents of lightning danced wildly. The thunderous brilliance erupted like a blazing sun, nearly tearing the clouds completely apart in earth-shattering peals of thunder.
Amidst the lightning, the phantom of a giant falcon vaguely loomed, its wings like hanging clouds across the sky. Resembling a divine bird commanding thunderbolts, it raised its head and soared toward the firmament, letting out a sharp, piercing cry.
Anyone who saw it would blanch; anyone who heard it would tremble with fear.
Qin Sang focused his gaze and saw that it was Jingyu unleashing her divine ability. Displaying such astounding momentum meant she had undoubtedly encountered a powerful enemy. His expression shifted slightly, and he said in a grave voice, "Now is not the time to reminisce. In the future, you may seek me out with this medallion... Be careful, Fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang tossed a medallion toward Shangguan Lifeng, flapped the thunder wings behind his back, and transformed into a streak of lightning, shooting straight toward the dark clouds.
Shangguan Lifeng parted his lips, hesitating, but by the time he thought to speak, Qin Sang had already vanished from sight. Only then did he remember that he had forgotten to ask Daoist Priest Qingfeng's true identity.
"Daoist Priest Qingfeng" had to be an alias; otherwise, there was no way he had never heard of him.
He hastily turned the medallion in his hand and saw the character "Qin."
Then he recalled the ethereal, breathtakingly beautiful phoenix wings behind Qin Sang's back.
Suddenly, a certain person leaped into Shangguan Lifeng's mind, and his eyes widened.
"It's him!"
...
Sin Abyss had plotted for a long time, laying down a lethal formation here to lure their prey into the trap.
The Two Domains Alliance had fallen into the ambush, and signs of defeat were already showing.
Unexpectedly, Qin Sang and his companions joined the battlefield by chance. With this variable introduced, the tide quickly turned. After a fierce battle, the Sin Abyss Nascent Soul cultivators saw that they could gain no further advantage and had no choice but to hastily withdraw their forces.
After the battle, Qin Sang's trio was adjusting their breathing and meditating.
"Many thanks to the three of you. Otherwise, not only would our forces have suffered heavy casualties, but the two of us would likely have been in grave peril as well."
There were two Nascent Soul cultivators commanding this army division. After rallying the surviving troops, one of them approached Qin Sang and the others, cupping his hands in gratitude.
This man was an elder of the Celestial Alliance, surnamed Zuo.
Elder Zuo was filled with lingering dread.
Sin Abyss's ambition this time had been immense: not only did they want to swallow this entire army, but they had also intended to eliminate both Nascent Soul commanders.
"Things were going too smoothly before, and we almost forgot that Sin Abyss was once a man-eating tiger. The moment we slacked off, they found an opening," Elder Zuo explained in shame.
Qin Sang stood up and said in a low voice, "It seems Old Demon Ye is still unwilling to accept defeat. This was likely a premeditated counterattack, and Fellow Daoist Zuo certainly isn't the only one ambushed. However, the overall trend cannot be stopped. Thinking they can halt our advance with this is pure delusion!"
Before his words faded, the other Nascent Soul cultivator flew over in haste. "I just received a transmission from the Daoist Master. Several other army routes suffered sneak attacks just like us. The Daoist Master ordered us to stand our ground and not retreat; reinforcements will arrive shortly..."
The crowd exchanged glances.
Old Daoist Zhenyi's judgment aligned with Qin Sang's: this was Sin Abyss's final flare of dying embers. As long as this offensive was crushed, Sin Abyss would never have the strength to counterattack again!
The big picture took precedence.
There was no time to meet Shangguan Lifeng.
Upon receiving the news, Qin Sang and the others left Elder Zuo behind to clean up the aftermath while the rest set off immediately to reinforce other sectors.
Qin Sang and Jingyu scarcely rested for a moment, hurrying across multiple battlefields.
The Two Domains Alliance advanced with irresistible momentum and towering morale. Even when suffering temporary setbacks, they were not so easily routed; most units managed to hold out until reinforcements arrived and then organized counterattacks, preventing any collapse of the front line.
This was a massive campaign that raged for two days and two nights.
Torrential rain poured after the battle.
The downpour washed away two days of bloodshed.
Sin Abyss's final wave of assault was repelled. Seeing that all opportunity was lost, they finally ceased all hostilities and withdrew.
The losses suffered by the Two Domains Alliance in this battle were the heaviest since the counteroffensive began, but this also ignited their ferocity, prompting them to quickly strike back at Sin Abyss with even greater ruthlessness.
...
Two months later.
Since that massive campaign, the war had seen few major upheavals.
Before Sin Abyss launched its invasion, the central region of the Great Plains had been a buffer zone between Sin Abyss and the Celestial Alliance, a perpetually disputed territory. Now, the armies of the Two Domains Alliance had crossed beyond this region and were advancing toward Sin Abyss's heartland.
Everywhere the armies passed, cities, spirit stone mines, and other assets originally belonging to Sin Abyss changed hands one after another. Having tasted the spoils, the Two Domains Alliance was naturally unwilling to stop there.
After deliberations among the Nascent Soul cultivators, they judged that Sin Abyss intended to retreat entirely into its old lair. Consequently, they decided to pursue relentlessly and drive Sin Abyss completely out of the plains.
As for invading Sin Abyss's homeland lair, everyone knew the chances were slim; doing so would inevitably drive Sin Abyss's cultivators to fight to the death. Even if the Two Domains Alliance could win, the price would be devastatingly high.
The hatred between the Celestial Alliance and Sin Abyss ran deep, and some among them were eager to try. However, the cultivators of the Xiaohan Realm remained levelheaded; lacking any enthusiasm for such a gamble, they had no intention of joining their madness.
The greatest winner of this war was undoubtedly the Xiaohan Realm.
Leaving aside other benefits, the Xiaohan Realm originally had no claim to the resources on the plains, but now they directly secured half of them, while also opening a pathway into the desert. Furthermore, the homeland of the Xiaohan Realm had never suffered the flames of war—Sin Abyss had been held off at the Tianxing Plateau the entire time, so the Xiaohan Realm had only contributed personnel and effort.
In an unnamed small city.
An army division had stormed in, driven out the Sin Abyss cultivators, and was currently resting and reorganizing in the city.
In the City Lord's Mansion.
Holding a medallion in his hand, Li Yufu hurried into the most secluded courtyard in the compound.
After his last seclusion, Li Yufu had successfully broken through to the middle Core Formation stage.
Despite the continuous battles in recent days, Li Yufu did not feel the slightest exhaustion. During this period, a smile would grace his lips even while meditating.
Li Yufu recalled his Grandmaster's evaluation of his Martial Uncle back then and felt boundless admiration. When both of them were merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, his Grandmaster had already foreseen his Martial Uncle's immense potential.
After this war, Qin Sang's share of the Two Domains Alliance's spoils would certainly be substantial. Securing just a few mineral veins on the plains would be enough to sustain the development of a sect.
Under Qin Sang's instructions, he and Meigu had also been searching for disciples for Qingyang Temple among rogue cultivators. Invoking Qin Sang's name, few could resist the offer, and they had genuinely found several promising seeds.
It was easy to imagine that once Qin Sang announced the founding of the sect, Qingyang Temple would instantly become a power that no one could overlook!
And this was all forged single-handedly by his Martial Uncle!
"I never imagined Grandmaster's dying wish could be fulfilled so soon..."
With his long-cherished wish realized, Li Yufu no longer worried about gains and losses, focusing entirely on cultivation.
He understood in his heart that this was only a beginning.
In the long river of time, how many sects had bloomed only to wither like night-blooming cereus?
Qingyang Temple's foundation was still shallow, and foundation was not something that could be built overnight. Even with his Martial Uncle's heaven-defying abilities, it could not be rushed—the responsibility rested upon the shoulders of their younger generation!
Tightly gripping the medallion with a resolute expression, Li Yufu arrived before the courtyard, lightly touched the restriction, and said softly, "Martial Uncle, that old acquaintance you mentioned is currently outside the City Lord's Mansion, requesting an audience."
Qin Sang's voice came from within. "Oh? He's finally here. Bring him in..."
"Yes!"
...
Qin Sang stepped out of the meditation chamber, condensing earth into stone to fashion a table and stools.
This was Shangguan Lifeng's first visit since their last encounter.
Qin Sang had not sent anyone to seek him out, acting as though he had forgotten the man, but he had secretly ordered an investigation and had already gained a good understanding of Shangguan Lifeng's character.
A moment later, Li Yufu led Shangguan Lifeng inside, bowed, and silently withdrew.
"Senior... Qin."
Shangguan Lifeng hesitated for a moment and bent over to bow, only to feel a gentle force supporting him.
"We met back when we were nobodies; why be so distant? In the future, Fellow Daoist had better still call me Daoist Priest Qingfeng—it sounds more natural..."
Qin Sang smiled and pointed to the stone stool opposite him. "Sit!"
"Thank you for granting me a seat, Daoist Priest."
Shangguan Lifeng sat down as told, though his demeanor remained exceedingly stiff.
Qin Sang sighed inwardly. With the gap in cultivation realms before them, their relationship could never return to what it once was. Even if he sought to be approachable, Shangguan Lifeng would not dare to accept it.
He appraised this old acquaintance.
Shangguan Lifeng sat bolt upright. His attire did not resemble that of a Core Formation cultivator, but rather a mundane bladesman.
Dressed in tight-fitting martial robes, his precious saber was not retracted into his body, but slung diagonally across his back. Though sheathed, the blade subtly radiated an intensely sharp saber intent, as though eager to drink blood the moment it was unsheathed!
This was Shangguan Lifeng's unique secret art: nurturing saber intent.
"Has something happened, Fellow Daoist?"
Noticing the hesitation in Shangguan Lifeng's eyes, Qin Sang spoke up.
As if his inner thoughts had been laid bare, Shangguan Lifeng stiffened, caught off guard.
Ever since deciding to visit Qin Sang, Shangguan Lifeng had wavered, unsure of how to broach the subject once they met. Although they were old acquaintances, they had only fought side by side once.
Having not seen each other for two hundred years, how different was that from strangers?
Shangguan Lifeng did not believe that such meager ties would make a Nascent Soul Patriarch look upon him favorably, especially after the Patriarch had just saved his life not long ago.
If the other party turned out to be mercurial and he pushed his luck, one could easily imagine the consequences.
Hardening his resolve, Shangguan Lifeng rose abruptly to his feet and said, "Please forgive my insolence, Daoist Priest. I wish to beg for your guidance once more."
Qin Sang appeared thoughtful; he had long seen through Shangguan Lifeng's thoughts.
Without waiting for Qin Sang to ask, Shangguan Lifeng took the initiative to recount his experiences: "When we parted back then, you demonstrated your swordplay in person, Daoist Priest. The slaughter intent contained within captivated me. From then on, I etched it into my heart and could never forget it. Later, when a major war broke out, I voluntarily entered the battlefield to fight and kill, pursuing that realm for a century before finally grasping a fraction of it. Were it not for this, I probably wouldn't have met with so many setbacks or formed my core so late. But I do not regret it! However, after breaking through to the Core Formation stage, I can no longer see the road ahead..."
Shangguan Lifeng summoned the precious saber into his palm and caressed it gently, a look of bewilderment appearing in his eyes.
Having listened to this, Qin Sang nodded slightly. Looking at Shangguan Lifeng, then at the saber in his hand, Qin Sang suddenly asked, "You say you have pursued this for a century, but are you infatuated with the Dao of Slaughter, or are you devoted to the blade?"
Hearing this question, Shangguan Lifeng's face abruptly froze. He parted his lips but could not utter a word. In an instant, cold sweat broke out across his forehead, streaming down his cheeks as his lips trembled.
"I..."
*Clang!*
Without warning, a sword cried out sharply.
Shangguan Lifeng was startled. All scenery between heaven and earth vanished, including Qin Sang, leaving only a single flying sword in his vision!
The flying sword was so flawless, every curve just right—slender, translucent, like glazed glass.
That was his very first thought.
Then, to his horror, he realized that the sword had appeared right before him at an unknown moment, hovering mere inches away! Before he could even discern its trajectory, the sword tip was already pressed against the center of his forehead.
This time, the experience was completely different from the last.
There was no sword qi sweeping across all directions, nor could he sense the slightest fluctuation of killing intent.
Returning to simplicity and truth!
Yet Shangguan Lifeng felt as if he had been severed from everything in existence. No matter how he struggled, he could never escape this sword strike—nor, of course, did he possess the power to flee.
The bones throughout his body popped and groaned, his hands felt as heavy as a thousand jin, his eyes were bloodshot, and his face flushed crimson; he could not move an inch.
Facing impending death, the terrifying pressure failed to crush Shangguan Lifeng's Dao heart. Crying out wildly in his heart, his eyes widened, staring fixedly at the flying sword right before him.
"Ahhh!"
Veins bulged across Shangguan Lifeng's body, his expression twisting into ferocity as he finally let out an exceptionally hoarse roar.
Summoning every ounce of strength, the true essence throughout his body surged madly into the precious saber as he struck out with all his might!
*Slash!*
Amid his enraged roar, a blade light tore through the void like a startling rainbow, striking squarely against the flying sword without an inch of deviation.
In the next instant, both the blade light and the flying sword silently vanished.
Vanishing along with them was the crushing pressure bearing down on Shangguan Lifeng.
"Pant... pant..."
Propping his saber against the ground, Shangguan Lifeng gasped for air. He felt completely drained, as though all the true essence in his body had been sucked dry by that single strike.
*Chirp, chirp...*
Birdsong echoed from the sky.
A few birds fluttered merrily across the courtyard, entirely unaware of the anomaly that had just transpired below.
Shangguan Lifeng felt as though he had awoken from a dream, returning to reality. Sheathing his saber, he bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Priest."
This strike had not cleared away all his confusion, but it had carved a slit through the endless fog, allowing him to glimpse a different landscape.
However, this experience seemed somewhat different from the last time, though he could hardly articulate where the difference lay.
Shangguan Lifeng attributed it to the change in their respective cultivation realms.
Nevertheless, Shangguan Lifeng loved this sensation; it seemed to be precisely what he had been searching for so bitterly.
"An old acquaintance of Pindao cultivated the same method as I do. Based on that cultivation method, he created a sword scripture of his own. That was the first form of the scripture," Qin Sang said calmly.
Shangguan Lifeng froze.
Qin Sang rose and walked toward the meditation chamber. "Once you have figured out that question from earlier, come find me again."
Seeing that Qin Sang was seeing him off, Shangguan Lifeng cupped his hands slightly and withdrew from the courtyard.
Li Yufu was waiting outside. Seeing him emerge, he gestured with an outstretched hand, "Martial Uncle instructed me to prepare a meditation chamber for you, Fellow Daoist. Please follow me."
"Thank you for the trouble, Fellow Daoist," Shangguan Lifeng offered an absentminded word of thanks.
Noticing his unusual state, Li Yufu wondered what his Martial Uncle had done to him.
Would this man join Qingyang Temple in the future?
If so, Qingyang Temple would boast three Core Formation cultivators. Moreover, this man possessed a certain reputation, and Martial Uncle seemed to regard him highly; he might even possess the potential to reach the Nascent Soul stage.
After that day, Shangguan Lifeng did not seek out Qin Sang again.
Qin Sang did not urge him either, granting him time.
Since ancient times, the saber and the sword had been spoken of together. Among low-level cultivators, the difference between saber and sword was negligible; both were instruments of slaughter. But the higher one's realm grew, the more like heaven and earth the distinction became.
If Shangguan Lifeng was unwilling to abandon the saber and switch to the sword, imparting the *Green Bamboo Sword Scripture* to him would bear little fruit, unless he possessed Senior Qingzhu's astonishing talent to study a sword scripture and comprehend saber techniques from it.
However, Qin Sang felt the chances were slim. Constrained by his lifespan, Shangguan Lifeng had little time left. With only two hundred-odd years remaining, having to cultivate bitterly toward the Nascent Soul stage while also pioneering his own saber art would be exceedingly difficult!
Shangguan Lifeng's strength lay in his singular focus, which was itself a form of talent.
If he could walk the sword path forged by Senior Qingzhu, he might very well accomplish something. That was why Qin Sang was willing to give him a chance.
Yet, the hardest thing in the world was knowing what to take and what to abandon, especially when it concerned one's own path of cultivation.
...
The Two Domains Alliance captured city after fortress along the way, pressing forward step by step.
During this period, news arrived incessantly, and the Two Domains Alliance had largely deduced Sin Abyss's intentions: they prepared to completely abandon the plains, retreating all the way back to their lair to hold Yucheng.
Late at night.
Inside the grand hall.
Before Qingjun lay a magical sand table spanning the three domains, and she was studying it intently.
Just then, the restrictions outside the hall were touched, after which Qin Sang pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Qingjun's absorbed look, he smiled. "Senior Sister, are you still troubling your mind over the war situation?"
Not long ago, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Two Domains Alliance had held a meeting to discuss what to do after driving Sin Abyss back to Yucheng.
Qin Sang walked over to Qingjun's side, located their current position, and estimated, "If all goes smoothly, we will reach the walls of Yucheng in another ten-odd days. It's said that Old Demon Ye has fortified the vicinity of Yucheng into an iron bastion. Whether attacking it head-on or bypassing Yucheng to strike into Sin Abyss's heartland, neither is realistic. We do not yet possess the strength to overwhelm Sin Abyss completely."
Qingjun nodded in agreement with Qin Sang's words. Parting her vermilion lips, she shared another piece of intelligence: "Sin Abyss proposed a truce, and the desert faction has already agreed to peace talks. Sin Abyss can now deploy all their forces to the north."
"As expected!"
Qin Sang sneered. Looking at the sand table, he traced a line north of Yucheng with his finger. "It seems we will be garrisoning troops here for a prolonged standoff. That is fine as well; it keeps the younger generations from becoming too complacent and forgetting danger."
"You seem dead set on becoming a founding ancestor. Where do you plan to establish your sect's headquarters?"
Qingjun cast him a glance, then continued, "The Yuanshen Sect is quite good. It borders Sky Demon Hill and is not far from the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea, both of which are under your influence, allowing them to support one another. I can play the villain and hand the Yuanshen Sect over to you; with your reputation, no one would dare question it. As for the internal affairs of the Yuanshen Sect, I've already made arrangements. Among the newly inducted disciples, the talented ones recognize me rather than Leng Yuntian. You can take them into Qingyang Temple without worrying about any hidden dangers. As for the other Core Formation cultivators, they know how to read the wind and will be at your disposal. Though they are descendants of my enemies, they have obeyed my every word over the years; give them a place to settle."
Qin Sang was startled to hear this and hurried to ask, "Where are you going, Senior Sister?"
Qingjun said calmly, "I disguised myself as Leng Yuntian purely to use the Yuanshen Sect to run errands for me. I never wanted them to become my burden. Now, the Yuanshen Sect can hardly be of help to me, and since the great war is about to end, I can return to quiet cultivation without distractions. Since you have this ambition, handing it to you works out perfectly."
"I am also doing this to fulfill a close friend's dying wish... There is no rush on this matter; we can discuss it once the situation stabilizes. Ziwei Palace is about to open, and you might need an extra hand, Senior Sister."
Qin Sang thought to himself that Qingyang Temple was certainly going to be bustling.
In the future, the sect would not only have the Qingyang Temple lineage, but also branches from the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea, the Demon Flame Sect, and the Yuanshen Sect, as well as the successors of Qingzhu and Qingjun.
However, as good as the Yuanshen Sect was, it would not be easy to swallow. He would need to vet them carefully; otherwise, if he were ever away and there was no one to keep them in check, dissidents might arise, becoming too entrenched to manage.
Qingjun said no more; to her, these were all trivial matters.
"The reason I called you here is that I've made some headway with the talisman puppet."
With a wave of her hand, Qingjun closed the hall's restrictions and led Qin Sang into a meditation room. The Nascent Soul talisman puppet was no longer in the form of a miniature figurine, having restored its original appearance, standing there silently.
During this past period, the Nascent Soul talisman puppet had remained in Qingjun's possession.
Qingjun raised her hand and tapped the puppet's glabella, a glint of dark light flashing at her fingertip.
The Nascent Soul talisman puppet abruptly opened its eyes. Its gaze remained frenzied, glaring fiercely at Qingjun. If it were released, rather than killing enemies, it would likely turn upon its master first!
"That senior from the Shangyuan Qingjing Palace was wonderfully ingenious. By drawing upon the Dao of Talismans, he condensed talisman seals inside its body, refining it into an entity akin to a talisman soldier to control the puppet. I possess a secret puppet seal art, and one of the puppet seals within it is quite similar to the talisman seal. One only needs to spend some time converting the talisman seals inside the puppet into this type of puppet seal to control it just as the Shangyuan Qingjing Palace did."
Qingjun struck a palm toward the puppet's chest from across the air, causing dense clusters of talisman shadows to flicker across its body.
Qin Sang was delighted upon hearing this.
Although he had obtained the Nascent Soul talisman puppet, he lacked the method to control it. If he attempted to seize Shangyuan Qingjing Palace's secret technique, Count Dongyang would certainly interfere and cause complications.
His Senior Sister possessed profound attainments in the Dao of Puppetry; she had indeed devised a solution.
"However..."
Qingjun's tone suddenly shifted. "Even if converted into puppet seals, it cannot alter its vicious nature. That is precisely why successive patriarchs of Shangyuan Qingjing Palace were helpless against it. With your cultivation, Junior Brother, controlling it remains extremely perilous. You had best find a secret treasure capable of protecting your primordial spirit."
Qin Sang nodded and frowned. "Can even you not resolve the chaotic soul shadows inside the talisman puppet, Senior Sister? If all those soul shadows could be refined and fused into one with the puppet, its power should increase even further, shouldn't it?"
"What you say is true, Junior Brother, but it is virtually impossible. Unless we can fathom why this puppet is so peculiar—capable of locking soul shadows away and enduring to this day."
Qingjun scrutinized the puppet for a long while before saying helplessly, "I have studied it for a long time without spotting any clues. In my view, the reason most likely lies not in the restrictions within the talisman puppet, but in the puppet itself!"
This thought coincided with Qin Sang's; he had felt something similar.
The world of cultivation harbored countless wondrous objects, far more treasures than they had ever laid eyes on. Moreover, the puppet was layered with countless restrictions, long altered beyond recognition, making it exceedingly difficult to uncover its origins.
Qingjun formed an incantation gesture, and the talisman puppet shrank abruptly, flying into Qin Sang's hand.
"I have already used the secret technique to complete part of the transformation. Now I will impart this puppet seal to you; all it requires is some time to methodically convert the talisman seals into puppet seals. Take it back and refine it yourself; these soul shadows offer no help to me. However, if you sense as many of these soul shadows as possible, Junior Brother, it will certainly assist you in crossing your bottleneck. Perhaps you will break through to the middle stage soon."
"May your auspicious words ring true, Senior Sister."
Qin Sang looked at the talisman puppet in his palm. Whether things would go as smoothly as she said depended on this talisman puppet and the Corpse Flower Blood Amber.
Next, Qingjun taught the puppet seal to Qin Sang.
The Dao of Puppetry, like the Dao of the Sword or Alchemy, was intricate and profound; without devoting immense energy to comprehending it, achieving greatness was difficult.
Fortunately, his Senior Sister had already laid the groundwork. What Qin Sang needed to learn was not the full secret technique, but merely memorizing that puppet seal and keeping a few key precautions in mind.
Having learned the puppet seal, Qin Sang was about to stand and take his leave when his expression shifted slightly. Sensing something, he suddenly stood up, astonished. "Brother Bai is here!"
The Heavenly Corpse Talisman in Bai's body had come from Qin Sang's hands, so a connection had always existed between the two; once in close proximity, they could sense one another.
Qin Sang was filled with surprise and uncertainty.
For Bai to come out of seclusion at this time and suddenly appear on the battlefield—had he run into some difficulty?
Or could it be that he had successfully broken through to become a corpse king?
Qin Sang hastily bid farewell to Qingjun, flashed out of the hall, and sped toward the outside of the city.
The army was stationed in the city under heavy security. Bai did not dare sneak inside; he had deliberately triggered the restrictions outside the city, allowing Qin Sang to sense him.
Qingjun saw him off outside the hall, watching Qin Sang's receding figure with slightly furrowed brows, seemingly contemplating something. She cast a glance toward the direction of Sin Abyss, then returned to the meditation chamber to enter seated meditation.
"Senior Qin!"
"Greetings, Senior Qin!"
...
Not wanting to break the rules he himself had set, Qin Sang did not fly straight out of the city from the air, but skimmed low along the city streets. The cultivators he encountered along the way gave way one after another, bowing in greeting.
With thoughts weighing on his mind, Qin Sang soon reached the city gates. Looking at the soldiers on either side, he produced his medallion and waved it. "Deactivate the gate's restriction!"
"Understood!"
The gate guards dared not delay and obeyed immediately.
It was the dead of night.
Overcast clouds blanketed the sky, obscuring every speck of starlight.
Qin Sang flew out of the city, cast his gaze across the surroundings, and rode his escape light several dozen li out. Unexpectedly, an anomaly occurred: he suddenly lost his sense of Bai.
Immediately afterward, a sudden change erupted.
*Boom!*
The grasslands below abruptly exploded, blasting open a massive crater. Earth, stones, and grass clippings flew in all directions.
From amidst the swirling debris, a dark shadow lunged silently toward Qin Sang.
Qin Sang was startled at first, then overjoyed. He burst into hearty laughter. "Brother Bai, Qin is no longer who he once was! Did you really think you could ambush me with petty tricks like this?"
Before his voice died away, eighteen demonic banners shot out from his sleeves. Circling in midair, they swelled with the wind, after which demonic fire surged forth furiously, instantly forming an ocean of flames.
Caught off guard, the dark shadow plunged headlong into the demonic fire, instantly crying out in alarm, "Since when could you manipulate all the demonic banners?!"
Qin Sang did not answer, only laughing heartily as he teased, "How dare you ambush this old man? Taste the power of my demonic fire!"
With that, he formed an incantation gesture, and all the demonic fire swarmed toward Bai, condensing into a fireball around him in the blink of an eye.
"What kind of hero relies on external treasures! If you have the guts, come down and brawl with me hand to hand!"
Trapped within the demonic fire, Bai showed no sign of weakness, hollering loudly.
"I wouldn't necessarily fear you in hand-to-hand combat either!"
Qin Sang scoffed, yet a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.
Amidst the demonic fire, Bai wore a Daoist robe. His appearance was no different from an ordinary person's, save for his pale complexion.
Sensing the true power of the demonic fire, he had utilized some unknown secret art to unleash a surging tide of corpse qi. His physique remained unchanged; unlike the corpse king in the immortal's tomb, he did not turn hideous with green fangs, lengthened nails, and coarse black fur all over.
Only his eyes turned into blood-red orbs brimming with bloodthirst.
For a time, the demonic fire was actually held at bay. Even when wisps of flame approached, they inflicted no harm upon him.
An ordinary corpse king could never face this demonic fire with such ease. It seemed Bai had reaped substantial benefits from the Corpse Soul Pearl and the Bone Curse.
"Stop fighting! These banners of yours are just cheating!" Bai yelled.
Qin Sang reeled in the demonic banners, and both men flashed down to the ground.
"Congratulations to Brother Bai on advancing to corpse king!" Qin Sang cupped his hands in congratulation.
Bai waved his hand dismissively, looked around, and sighed. "I broke through too late; who knows how many good things I missed out on."
Qin Sang found this amusing. "Since returning from the Abyss Ruins until now, we've fought through countless battles, even facing Old Demon Ye directly at the Blood Lake in grave peril. How can you call that a good thing?"
"Exploring secret realms is always a good thing! Tell me all about your encounter at the Blood Lake," Bai urged impatiently.
"Follow me back to the city; we will talk in detail inside."
The two flew toward the city.
Qin Sang said happily, "I had intended to protect you while you underwent your heavenly tribulation, but you were bold enough to undergo it in complete silence. Did any anomalies occur?"
"It wasn't easy to perceive that opportunity, so I didn't dare wait for your return and had to find a place to force through the tribulation. It was indeed different from yours; I nearly fell victim to the heart demon tribulation, but in the end, it was a close shave without disaster," Bai grinned, though a trace of lingering fear showed on his face.
"Your strength clearly surpasses ordinary corpse kings by quite a bit, so you must have had confidence in weathering the heavenly tribulation." Qin Sang nodded. Recalling the strange sensation from earlier, he asked hastily, "Now that you've advanced to corpse king, have you resolved the Heavenly Corpse Talisman in your body? Why was my perception of you flickering on and off earlier?"
"It counts as resolved! Because the Heavenly Corpse Talisman had already merged into one with my primordial spirit, it wasn't advisable to shatter it, but it no longer has any hold over me. The reason I remained in seclusion for so long was precisely to settle the trouble of the Heavenly Corpse Talisman."
Bai spread one palm, and his flesh gradually became translucent, revealing the bones within, which were etched with bizarre patterns.
"The Bone Curse!" Qin Sang recognized it at a glance.
Bai nodded. "I studied the Bone Curse and discovered that although the Bone Curse and the Heavenly Corpse Talisman are two entirely different things, there is a faint connection between them, as though they share a common origin. So I used the Bone Curse to guide the power of the Heavenly Corpse Talisman. After failing countless times, I finally succeeded."
"The Heavenly Corpse Talisman was merely a treasure at the Foundation Establishment level; I never expected it to be so troublesome!" Qin Sang sighed with emotion. The Heavenly Corpse Talisman was far more intractable than imagined.
"The Heavenly Corpse Talisman can at most refine a Flying Yaksha, but that doesn't mean it's an item limited to that level. The power displayed by the Heavenly Corpse Talisman and the Bone Curse is only the tip of the iceberg, and their mechanics are exceedingly bizarre. None of the corpse dao secret arts you gathered corresponded to them. I racked my brains just to piece together a few threads. To learn their true origins, we will have to find that mysterious person in the water dungeon. These two secret arts certainly possess an extraordinary background!"
Seeing the joy on Qin Sang's face, Bai understood his thoughts and suddenly shifted his tone. "Don't rejoice too soon. This method of mine can only be used on myself. Yagu's cultivation is too low; she cannot endure a complete Bone Curse."
Qin Sang's smile froze.
He had assumed that Bai could help Yagu dissolve the Heavenly Corpse Talisman, thus setting his mind at ease.
"However, there is no need to worry either. I came up with a method to address the pressing urgency. Although it cannot wake her, it can alleviate her condition, at least pulling her out from the darkness and restoring her to her state prior to overexertion—perhaps even better. Exactly how much she can recover, I cannot say for certain; that fat silkworm is a variable and might be able to help us. Of course, to truly wake Yagu, we still need to find the mysterious person and obtain the complete secret arts," Bai explained.
Qin Sang breathed a sigh of relief. "That still counts as good news. Once the war concludes, I will send people to track Tan Hao's whereabouts. We are almost at the city gates; you shouldn't make a public appearance for now, Fellow Daoist. Please enter the corpse puppet bag first."
Chapter 1293