At the Xuling Sect.
When Qin Sang stepped out of the Scripture Pavilion, dusk was just beginning to settle.
Counting on his fingers, he realized that over two months had slipped by unnoticed.
Qin Sang gazed at the setting sun, still immersed in the scrolls and wanting more.
The guardian of the Scripture Pavilion was an elderly man in the Core Formation stage. Advanced in years and with no hope of condensing a Nascent Soul, he was spending his twilight years peacefully in the sect. Though considerably older than Qin Sang, he stood respectfully at his side, awaiting Qin Sang's instructions.
"I have caused you much trouble over these years. Thank you for your care, Fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang turned and offered his thanks to the old man.
The old man repeatedly demurred. "Senior Qin speaks too kindly. This junior was only carrying out my duties under the Sect Master's orders."
Qin Sang nodded. "I wish to thank Fellow Daoist Bing Han in person. I wonder if she is at leisure?"
"Reporting to Senior, the Sect Master is in quiet cultivation within her cave dwelling," the old man replied.
Qin Sang took to his escape light and flew toward Bing Han's cave dwelling. Having stayed at the Xuling Sect for many years, his passage was unimpeded.
Along the way, the disciples of the Xuling Sect—now accustomed to this visiting Nascent Soul Patriarch and no longer afraid of him—paused one after another to bow in greeting.
As soon as Qin Sang arrived before the dwelling, the ward flashed, and Bing Han came out in person to welcome him.
"Has Fellow Daoist Qin already comprehended all the texts?"
Bing Han invited Qin Sang inside. Guessing his reason for coming, she opened the conversation with a smile.
"I would not dare claim to have mastered them. At best, I have committed all the classics to memory. As for the deeper mysteries within, I still understand only half of them and will need hands-on practice to truly grasp their essence. I fear I will still have to visit often in the future to seek your guidance and disturb you, Fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang was here to bid Bing Han farewell.
The Beichen Realm was peaceful across all four seas, and no major incidents had occurred.
Knowing his own foundation was weak, he had treated himself as a beginner, patiently taking the time to patch up the basics. He spent ten whole years alternating between comprehending the texts and practicing with his hands before he finally read through all of the Xuling Sect's cherished collections!
Of course, to master them thoroughly and achieve complete integration, he would still need to train hard.
Bing Han said with a smile, "If Fellow Daoist Qin comes knocking, this palace master could ask for nothing better. The disciples all say that with you watching over our sect all these years, they have felt safer than ever before. My only worry is that your extraordinary natural talent and rapid progress will leave me with nothing left to teach before long."
After exchanging pleasantries, Bing Han asked, "Now that you are leaving, Fellow Daoist, are you heading to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield?"
Qin Sang nodded. "Indeed. Not long ago, I received a transmission from Daoist Priest Zhenyi. The spiritual tide in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield is growing increasingly violent, so it is time to probe the immortal formation of the Ziwei Palace once again. This trip should allow us to determine the approximate time when the palace will emerge. Besides, it will soon be my turn to take charge of the Seven Waters Sky-Baffling Formation."
"Since the time can be determined, that means the emergence of the Ziwei Palace is not far off. It matches our prior assessment—this interval should be within a hundred years..."
As Bing Han spoke, a flicker of worry crossed her eyes. "Old Demon Ye fled into the Sin God Palace and hasn't emerged for ten years. Who knows what plot he is brewing? There are far too many variables in exploring the Ziwei Palace this time!"
"When soldiers come, the generals block them; when waters surge, the earth dams them!"
Qin Sang showed no fear.
He had long since ordered Fat Chick and the others to locate a refuge overseas.
If all the forces of the Beichen Realm combined were still no match for Old Demon Ye, he could simply flee far beyond the realm to avoid the brunt of his power.
After bidding farewell to Bing Han, Qin Sang flew north, arrived at Hanging Skull Pass, rendezvoused with Daoist Priest Zhenyi and the others, and entered the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.
Right now was when the spiritual tide raged most fiercely. However, those present this time were all top experts from various regions; they maintained composed expressions as they sped through the spiritual tide.
Upon reaching the location of the Ziwei Palace, Daoist Priest Zhenyi took out a set of formation implements. Joining forces, the group probed the fluctuations emitted by the Ziwei Palace's immortal formation.
After a full day and night, they finally made a discovery.
"Let's go!"
Daoist Priest Zhenyi packed away the formation implements and dashed outward. "Barring any accidents, the opening of the Ziwei Palace this time will be ten years from now."
"Calculating by this timeline, this interval is nearly seventy years—shortened by half again compared to the last time. Will the next one take only thirty-some years?" Demon Monarch Tongyou mused.
A look of anticipation surfaced on Daoist Priest Zhenyi's face. "It is possible! Perhaps the Ziwei Palace will eventually open completely, accessible at any time, laying bare all its secrets to the world. The cultivation world might finally welcome a golden age!"
Canghong was guarding the immortal gate at the Abyss Ruins, so Fairy Qiuzhi had come in his stead.
Her expression remained calm as she remarked faintly, "Whether the emergence of the Ziwei Palace brings fortune or calamity is hard to tell! If cultivators beyond the Beichen Realm learn of this news, how could they not be tempted?"
At these words, some of the joy on everyone's faces faded, replaced by palpable pressure.
"For mid Nascent Soul cultivators, traversing the storm belt still carries some danger, so there is no need to worry about a massive invasion into the Beichen Realm. However, the Fairy's concern is not unfounded. Relying on the strength of our single Beichen Realm to contend with experts from three other realms would indeed be an uphill battle. We must take precautions early and seal the news as tightly as possible," Cultivator Lu said gravely.
Feather King shook his head. "No wall is completely windproof; information cannot remain perfectly concealed forever! From what this King knows, there are several secret realms within the Ziwei Palace where time was too short in the past to crack the ancient restrictions. Now that we have set aside our past grievances, let us share intelligence fully and join forces to break those restrictions! In the first few years, our gains will surely surpass imagination. We must never give outsiders a chance to intervene."
Qin Sang and the others all understood Feather King's concern—he feared the demon clan would be marginalized by the humans.
The opening of the Ziwei Palace promised enormous benefits that the human race could never monopolize alone, not to mention the hostile eyes watching from beyond the realm.
None present were fools. Knowing that internal strife at this juncture would bring only harm and play right into the hands of outsiders, they voiced their agreement one after another to put the demon race at ease.
Naturally, the prerequisite was that they first resolve the trouble posed by Old Demon Ye.
Returning from the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, Qin Sang traveled in haste. He first went to Peach Blossom Valley, only to learn that his senior sister was in closed-door cultivation. Then he visited Sunken Earth Cave to confirm that Bai was safe before flying on toward Ten Thousand Nights Mountain.
The disciples of Qingyang Temple were all gathered at Ten Thousand Nights Mountain.
Before founding the sect and establishing the mountain gate of Qingyang Temple, Li Yufu had treated this place as a temporary base, painstakingly rebuilding it. By now, Ten Thousand Nights Mountain had regained its past prosperity.
Over the past ten years, Qingyang Temple and its disciples had also undergone tremendous changes.
After several failed attempts at Core Formation, Tan Yi'en had ultimately taken a Fiend Demon Pill and successfully broken through.
Possessing great social tact, he managed both internal and external affairs with an equal measure of benevolence and authority. Handling the sect's business with effortless skill and keeping everything in impeccable order, he had essentially become the chief steward of Qingyang Temple. Both Li Yufu and Meigu praised him endlessly and gave him their full support.
Bai Hanqiu had made a similar choice.
After a grueling breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, she realized that her aptitude would make it difficult to achieve great heights. Having met a male cultivator she was fond of, she became his Dao companion, assisting Tan Yi'en while living a blissful life together.
Li Yufu, Meigu, Shangguan Lifeng, and several newly joined Core Formation cultivators of Qingyang Temple each had their own fortunate encounters.
Meanwhile, the demons of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea had switched to cultivating the Heavenly Demon Refining Form. Under Jingyu's meticulous guidance, their progress was equally swift.
Qin Sang alighted on the summit of Ten Thousand Nights Mountain, slipped into his cave dwelling, and shot a beam of light outward to summon Tan Yi'en.
Chapter 1323