"Tomorrow is the grand sect-founding ceremony of Qingyang Temple, and ten thousand cultivators will surely come to offer their congratulations."
Mu Yifeng took out a mustard seed bag. "I had our people pack and bring all the immortal peaches, spiritual fruits, fine wine, and jade nectar from Shaohua Mountain. You should be able to put them to good use. We can discuss the other congratulatory gifts tomorrow—Junior Brother, please don't look down on them."
"Senior Brother Mu, you truly provide charcoal in the snow!"
Qin Sang accepted it without standing on ceremony. "If you run into any difficulties in the future, don't hesitate to come to me. And once you reach the peak of the Golden Core stage, be sure to make a trip to Qingyang Temple—I have a great surprise waiting for you!"
Mu Yifeng was also qualified to comprehend the Mind Light Futon.
This was the greatest repayment Qin Sang could offer him.
An expression of anticipation surfaced on Mu Yifeng's face, but then he recalled something and said, "There is someone else who wishes to pay respects to you, Junior Brother: Huang Shengzi, the palace master of Shangyuan Pure Tranquility Palace. Shaohua Mountain can barely look after itself, and Shangyuan Pure Tranquility Palace is also looking for a new backer. If you aren't interested, Junior Brother Qin, just send him away."
Gongliang Yu had died mysteriously at Blood Lake.
With their palace master's whereabouts unknown, the soul lamp left behind in the sect had extinguished.
What terrified Shangyuan Pure Tranquility Palace even more was that their most vital Nascent Soul talisman puppet had vanished along with Gongliang Yu.
Those within Shangyuan Pure Tranquility Palace who knew the truth had kept strictly silent out of dread. After the initial panic, they had hurriedly elected Huang Shengzi as the new palace master just to stabilize the situation.
"Junior Huang Shengzi greets Senior Qin."
Huang Shengzi stepped into the grand hall and bowed deeply.
He had the appearance of a composed, middle-aged man. Being well-acquainted with Mu Yifeng, he cast a covert, questioning glance at him, trying to gauge Qin Sang's attitude.
"Daoist Huang, no need for such ceremony."
Qin Sang's tone was mild.
Huang Shengzi felt slightly relieved. Reminded by Mu Yifeng, he dared not dally and retrieved a jade slip from within his robe, speaking respectfully, "These are several secret realms controlled by our Shangyuan Pure Tranquility Palace, rich in spiritual herbs and immortal fruits..."
Before he could finish, Qin Sang beckoned the jade slip into his hand. He casually leafed through it, looking rather indifferent.
Observing his expression, Huang Shengzi grew anxious in secret. Just as he was about to speak again, he heard Qin Sang suddenly remark, "I have long heard of the great renown of Shangyuan Pure Tranquility Palace's Four Secret Talismans, said to be extraordinarily profound."
"This..."
Huang Shengzi groaned inwardly. He had never expected this man to have such an enormous appetite, actually setting his sights on the sect's Four Secret Talismans of true inheritance.
Qin Sang tossed the jade slip lightly in his hand and returned it to Huang Shengzi, saying with profound meaning, "I am rather interested in the Neijing Origin Talisman. I wonder if Daoist Huang might grant me some pointers?"
The Neijing Origin Talisman protected the primal spirit; having it would make meditating on the Mind Light Futon the safest.
Qin Sang had originally planned to find a time to visit Shangyuan Pure Tranquility Palace and exchange treasures for the crafting method of the Neijing Origin Talisman. Having lost their Nascent Soul talisman puppet, Shangyuan Pure Tranquility Palace likely would not have dared to refuse.
Now that the other party had delivered himself to his doorstep, Qin Sang had no reason to hold back.
Huang Shengzi was momentarily stunned.
Of the Four Secret Talismans, the Nascent Soul talisman puppet was already lost.
The Tiangang Saber Talisman and the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman were meant for combat and escape respectively.
By comparison, the Neijing Origin Talisman was the most difficult to cultivate and possessed the narrowest utility—especially after the Nascent Soul talisman puppet went missing, as it had lost its greatest purpose.
Weighing the matter, Huang Shengzi spoke with a solemn tone, "Junior would not dare claim to offer pointers. If Senior Qin is interested, this junior will certainly teach everything without reservation!"
...
Early the next morning.
The Yuanshen Sect—now Qingyang Temple.
The mountain gates stood wide open!
Ready to welcome guests from all directions!
The news of Qin Sang establishing a sect had spread across the entire Beichen Realm. Rumors had even circulated among rogue cultivators that Qingyang Temple would recruit disciples on this day of celebration.
Rogue cultivators from the Beichen Great Desert had traveled tens of thousands of li just to attend the ceremony.
As dawn first broke in the east, silhouetted figures were already thronging outside Qingyang Temple.
Among the surrounding mountain ranges, birds, beasts, fish, and insects were jolted awake from their slumber. Gazing up at streak after streak of rainbow-like escape lights across the sky and feeling the terrifying auras radiating from these figures, they were plunged into dread.
Guest-Welcoming Peak of Qingyang Temple.
Led by Li Yufu, numerous disciples were all beaming with joy and full of vigor.
After preparing for so many years, they had finally arrived at the day of their sect's founding.
Moreover, their temple master was Qin Sang, an elder of the Beichen Alliance and one of the Beichen Realm's few top powerhouses—a fact that filled every disciple with pride.
The grand ceremony had yet to begin, and the renowned, prominent sects had not yet arrived.
Yet seeing the spectacle already unfolding, some disciples began to worry whether their sect could even accommodate so many visiting cultivators.
Over the past few decades, Qingyang Temple had accepted many new disciples. Except for Shangguan Lifeng, who was currently accompanying Qin Sang, everyone had gathered on Guest-Welcoming Peak, awaiting instructions.
The demons of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea were also present.
Having served as the head manager for years, Tan Yi'en was exceptionally adept at handling such affairs. Amid the hustle and bustle, he remained composed, organizing every matter methodically and in flawless order.
Li Yufu and the others followed Tan Yi'en's directions without hesitation.
*Grandmaster, do you see this?*
Li Yufu raised his head and looked toward the forbidden area.
Qin Sang had relocated the entirety of Qingyang Temple here, enshrining the spirit tablets of Yunyouzi, Daoist Priest Jixin, and Mingyue to receive veneration.
Furthermore, Qingyang Temple's mortal lineage had never been broken.
When Jing Tian passed away at the age of eighty-two, he left behind dozens of disciples.
Those disciples had widely propagated their teachings throughout the mortal kingdoms under Qingyang Temple's purview. Today, Qingyang Temple had over a thousand temples in the mortal realm, with countless believers and thriving incense offerings.
"Fellow Daoist Chi Lei, Senior Brother Li, Senior Sister Mei, please welcome guests here. The prominent sects of the Beichen Alliance will definitely send representatives, along with the Nascent Soul patriarchs and demon kings who are on good terms with Martial Uncle. We must not be negligent in our etiquette."
Tan Yi'en's words pulled Li Yufu's thoughts back to the present.
Li Yufu nodded. Glancing at Elder Xun of the Yuanshen Sect nearby, he said, "Elder Xun, please join us as well."
Although the Yuanshen Sect had not formally merged into Qingyang Temple, it still followed Qin Sang's lead in all matters and maintained intimate ties with Qingyang Temple.
Within Qingyang Temple, several disciples had originated from the Yuanshen Sect.
These were individuals whom Qingjun had recruited later on. They felt no loyalty toward the Leng father and son, and were effectively Qingjun's successors. At Qingjun's suggestion, Qin Sang had absorbed them into Qingyang Temple.
Presently, within Qingyang Temple:
Led by Li Yufu, as the successors to Yunyouzi, this was the orthodox lineage of Qingyang Temple.
Led by Meigu, the remnant branch of the Demon Flame Sect had been renamed Demon Flame Peak.
Shangguan Lifeng had brought back several disciples from the outside, establishing the foundation of the sword cultivator lineage.
Qingjun was the daughter of Qingzhu, but her puppet dao had no successor, and her heritage was entirely unrelated to Qingzhu. Led by a female Golden Core disciple named Zhao Ying, most of her disciples cultivated the array dao of the Yuanshen Sect, forming a distinct lineage of their own.
In addition, the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea would also station a number of demon beasts at Qingyang Temple.
Qin Sang had also placed miscellaneous cultivation methods—such as the *All Heavens Demonic Voice*—into the sect's repository for disciples to select and cultivate.
Although several lineages had been established, Qin Sang did not wish to create unnecessary barriers within Qingyang Temple. Thus, the boundaries between lineages were not set in stone; as long as disciples were not worried about hampering their own cultivation path, they were free to switch to other methods.
As for the internal organization of Qingyang Temple, it would be divided into an inner and an outer gate. Bai Hanqiu was responsible for outer gate affairs. Once outer gate disciples attained Foundation Establishment, they could enter the inner gate. Seniority would not be determined by cultivation realm, but by the time of entrance into the inner gate.
For example, Li Yufu, Meigu, Tan Yi'en, and the others were all second-generation disciples of Qingyang Temple!
Tan Yi'en gave rapid commands, and group after group of disciples flew out from Guest-Welcoming Peak, receiving the incoming guests in an orderly manner.
Before long, the morning sun rose.
Purple mist drifted from the east.
From within the forbidden area, the toll of a bell suddenly rang out.
Its resounding chime shook the firmament!
Chapter 1357