"Fellow Daoist, what courage!"
Master Feng could not help but exclaim in admiration upon learning that Qin Sang had crossed over directly through the nearby storm belt.
Qin Sang demurred humbly, "I only dared to make the attempt because I obtained an elixir capable of rapidly replenishing true essence. Crossing the storm belt was sheer luck. Thinking back on it now, the act was far too reckless!"
Qin Sang had realized that the Moon-Gazing Rhinoceros horn was even more valuable than he had anticipated, especially for Nascent Soul cultivators. Core Formation cultivators were limited by their cultivation and could not travel very far, but a Nascent Soul cultivator had vastly more places they could reach.
Not wishing to reveal the Moon-Gazing Rhinoceros horn, he credited the feat to a nonexistent elixir.
Suspecting nothing, Master Feng shifted the conversation to inquire about Qin Sang's injuries.
"I was fortunate; my foundation was unharmed... It was you who frightened away Bi Fang back then, was it not, Fellow Daoist Feng?" Qin Sang asked.
He had already investigated and learned that the one-legged divine bird pursuing him was known as Bi Fang. Commanding countless demon soldiers, it occupied the territory between the Star Sand Islands and the Crescent Moon Realm.
The little fox was named Jiaohu. Inseparable from Bi Fang and exceptionally cunning, it had long been a thorn in Master Feng's side.
As for the other beast, the frog-fish, Qin Sang had been unable to discover its origins; it was likely an ally Bi Fang had recruited from elsewhere.
Master Feng smiled and nodded. "Indeed. Daoist Shen and I happened to be nearby and were alerted by the commotion of your flight. Ah, right! Daoist Shen is the master of Beyond-Heaven Island. Though his cultivation is one sub-tier below ours, his strength is extraordinary, far surpassing others of the same realm. You will understand once you see him in action in the future."
The island master of Beyond-Heaven Island.
Qin Sang's thoughts turned as he recalled the name. He was also a renowned Nascent Soul cultivator who held sole dominion over Beyond-Heaven Island, commanding immense prestige.
Knowing that Qin Sang had only recently arrived, Master Feng took the trouble to give him a detailed introduction to Island Master Shen and the other two Nascent Soul cultivators.
The woman in the phoenix coronet was Lady Yue, sect master of the Yinyue Sect. Her strength was equally formidable—a woman who yielded nothing to men.
The swordsman in the black robe went by the moniker Laiquke and served as a guest elder of Mount Fengyang.
"With demon kings stirring up trouble everywhere and all of you coming out of seclusion, has some major event occurred recently?" Qin Sang asked in turn.
According to the information he had gathered, Mount Fengyang's massing of forces seemed solely intended to counter the encroaching demon race.
Master Feng replied, "The demons have already swallowed more than half of the Star Sand Islands, yet remain unsatisfied and continue to stir restlessly. Over the years, they have launched military incursions many times, so we should be used to it. However, this time is different from the past. Our communications with the Star Sand Islands were severed first, which is why we are being so cautious."
Understanding dawned upon Qin Sang, and he pondered inwardly.
The situation in the nearby seas had always been exceedingly complex, marked by deep-seated blood feuds between the two races and countless past wars. Yet for them to mobilize on such a scale suggested that this coming conflict would far surpass previous ones.
If a major war was imminent, it would be best for him to leave as soon as possible and travel elsewhere.
Since he could not visit the Star Sand Islands for the time being, he could head south along the Crescent Moon Realm.
While Qin Sang was lost in thought, Master Feng glanced at him and smiled. "Is Fellow Daoist Mingyue interested in displaying your prowess? With your strength, if the two of us join forces and employ a clever stratagem, there is a great chance of slaying that villain Bi Fang! That would give vent to your anger!"
Qin Sang took a sip of tea and remarked with puzzlement, "It was thanks to you two that I escaped danger, so by all rights, I ought to stay and lend a hand. However, in a war between two races, what one man can achieve alone is limited. Why don't you send word as soon as possible, Fellow Daoist Feng, to alert other fellow daoists? Surely they wouldn't leave you to shoulder the enmity of two races alone?"
In the cultivation world, wars were not measured merely in years.
Just look at the tripartite war in the Beichen Realm, which had dragged on for two hundred years.
Traveling alone as an itinerant cultivator, Qin Sang ought to be free and unburdened; he had no desire to be tied down in a single corner, risking his life for people who had nothing to do with him.
Master Feng explained, "If matters escalate to the point of a full-scale racial war, the other daoists will naturally not sit by and watch. Before then, I must assess the situation clearly, lest an alarm be sounded only for the demon race's actions to prove mere bluster. Rest assured, Daoist Shen and the others are working on contacting our fellows in the Star Sand Islands. It won't take long to decipher the demons' intentions and arrange our deployments accordingly. In the meantime, we must guard against their schemes. I worry that our numbers are insufficient and our defensive perimeter has gaps that the demons might exploit."
Qin Sang showed a hesitant look.
After wavering for a moment, he said, "Since you have asked, Fellow Daoist Feng, and I have no pressing matters, it would do no harm to hold a defensive post for a time. However... although I was pursued, I suffered no substantial loss. Slaying my foe would certainly be fine, but even if there is no chance for revenge, I will not dwell on it."
Master Feng understood Qin Sang's meaning: he would only lend a hand within the limits of his strength.
Cultivators who had risen all the way to this realm were all entangled in countless grievances. If they held onto every grudge, their Dao hearts would have collapsed long ago.
Tapping his fingers lightly on the table, Master Feng pondered for a moment before saying, "I heard Fellow Daoist Mingyue is searching for insect-taming secret arts and is quite interested in the *Insect and Flower Classic* of Hundred Flowers Valley?"
Qin Sang nodded, looking at Master Feng.
"Only a minority of cultivators specialize in the art of insect-taming, and Hundred Flowers Valley stands second to none. If you practice this art and can receive guidance from the valley master of Hundred Flowers Valley, your attainments will surely advance by leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, Hundred Flowers Valley has always been mysterious and eccentric, rarely interacting with the outside world. If you wish to befriend its valley master, it will undoubtedly require great effort."
Master Feng sighed with regret on Qin Sang's behalf.
Qin Sang caught the underlying hint. "Does Fellow Daoist Feng have a way?"
Master Feng smiled. "Indeed. While traveling in the past, I struck up a slight acquaintance with the valley master of Hundred Flowers Valley. With me acting as an intermediary, as long as your request is not excessive, the valley master should show me some face. If you doubt my word, I can swear an oath upon my inner demons."
Hearing this, Qin Sang felt a stir of excitement.
Regardless of whether Hundred Flowers Valley was as eccentric as Master Feng claimed, he was a total stranger; paying a visit out of the blue would hardly put them at ease.
If he could enlist Master Feng's help, things would become much easier.
"What if the situation turns perilous..."
Before Qin Sang could finish, Master Feng waved his hand. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. If the situation becomes untenable, I have no intention of throwing my own life away here!"
"In that case, I would be rude to decline!"
Qin Sang gave a slight nod and agreed.
Delighted, Master Feng voluntarily swore an oath that regardless of victory or defeat in this affair, once the matter concluded, he would honor his word and provide the introduction for Qin Sang.
In just a few words, an agreement was reached.
Master Feng and Qin Sang immediately departed Mount Fengyang and flew toward the nameless islet.
Upon landing on the island, Qin Sang exchanged formal greetings with the other three cultivators.
The five Nascent Soul cultivators produced a map and conferred together, deciding to station Qin Sang at a location called Shouchen Island.
Shouchen Island lay to the northwest of the Crescent Moon Realm's tip, nestled between several defensive lines, making it a critical chokepoint.
Taking his identity token and communication treasures, Qin Sang set off ahead of the others, making his way toward Shouchen Island.
Watching Qin Sang's figure vanish into the horizon, the expressions of Master Feng and the others grew solemn as they exchanged glances.
The woman in the phoenix coronet asked in a low voice, "Daoist Feng, you didn't tell him about the traitor from the Xuantian Palace?"
Chapter 1380