"Qin Sang greets Senior Brother Yu."
With the matter of the voice transmission talismans in mind, Qin Sang stood up and cupped his hands in salute.
Yu Daiyue walked over and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Qin is truly elusive, showing your head but never your tail. Over the past two years, I left quite a few voice transmission talismans and even made a personal trip to Huilong Temple, yet I never managed to catch a single glimpse of you. If I hadn't happened to hear from the disciples at Jianmen Pass that you had just returned to the mountain, I'm afraid I would have missed you once again."
Hearing this, astonishment crossed Qin Sang's face, and he asked dubiously, "Those voice transmission talismans were left by you, Senior Brother Yu?"
Yu Daiyue's brow furrowed as he realized something was amiss. "Junior Brother Qin doesn't know me?"
Qin Sang looked awkward and turned his head to glance at Senior Brother Wen.
Senior Brother Wen had already caught on from the side. Seeing Qin Sang's embarrassment, he chuckled, shook his head, and pointed at Yu Daiyue. "Junior Brother Yu, I told you to come to Daomen Peak more often to preach the Dao, but you disdained the meager spirit stones and refused. Junior Brother Qin really might not know you. He only entered the sect near the ninth layer of the Qi Refinement stage bearing a Sword Intent decree, and after joining, he spent all his time in bitter cultivation at Dichen Cave, only returning to the mountain when a few junior brothers came to Daomen Peak to preach. If I weren't the steward of Daomen Peak, I wouldn't have seen him even once a year. After he broke through to Foundation Establishment five years ago, it became even more outrageous—he spent all five years in bitter seclusion at his cave abode, never returning to the sect gates even once. The Cloudmist tea I set aside for him has practically grown moldy."
"So that's how it is. It must be precisely because he can endure solitude and devoted himself single-mindedly to bitter cultivation that Junior Brother Qin was able to pass the trial of the Red Dust Gourd while still in the Qi Refinement stage. Possessing such temperament, Junior Brother Qin's future prospects are truly boundless!"
With an expression of admiration, Yu Daiyue cupped his hands toward Qin Sang. Recalling the name he had deliberately signed in the voice transmission talismans, he could not help but chuckle wryly. "Not knowing each other before doesn't matter; it is not too late to get acquainted now. You already know my name, Junior Brother Qin. My purpose in seeking you out today is precisely regarding the matter mentioned in those talismans. I wonder if Junior Brother Qin has some leisure time to come to my cave abode for a cup of tea, so I may fulfill my duties as a host?"
The man had come straight to his door, and was a fellow senior martial brother besides; it would hardly do to brush him off to his face.
Qin Sang did not refuse outright. Taking his leave of Senior Brother Wen, he followed Yu Daiyue, flying toward his cave abode.
On the way, Qin Sang recalled the talismans Yu Daiyue had left behind. Their contents were largely identical: inviting him to explore ancient cultivator ruins in the Yuncang Great Marsh together. Two years had already passed; had they still not set out?
He wondered why this Senior Brother Yu had chosen him, and why he was so persistent.
Although Yu Daiyue's cultivation level was likewise only the early Foundation Establishment stage, he had managed to pass the Treasure Gourd Illusory Realm through his own abilities, and he seemed to have wide connections. His strength was likely not lacking.
If even someone like him needed to invite helpers, had prepared for so long, and still hesitated to make a move, those ancient cultivator ruins were probably far from simple.
Qin Sang considered himself to possess a few life-preserving methods, but his cultivation fell far short of seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivators. Once danger struck within the ruins, the one in greatest peril would be him.
Furthermore, even if treasures could truly be found in the ancient ruins, they might not fall to him.
His current task was very clear. Five years was already long enough; the proper path was to inscribe the first killing talisman and begin cultivation as soon as possible. Everything else could stand aside.
Having made up his mind to decline Yu Daiyue, Qin Sang relaxed and took in Yu Daiyue's cave abode.
Yu Daiyue's cave abode was located on an inconspicuous peak within the sect, but it was very close to Shaohua Mountain. From the front of his cave abode, the archway on Shaohua Mountain could faintly be seen.
There was no spirit eye inside the cave abode; while inferior to the white cat's abode, it was nonetheless no worse than an abode with a spirit eye out in the mortal realm, showing just how astonishing the spirit vein beneath Shaohua Mountain was.
"My abode is crude, so pardon its shabbiness, Junior Brother Qin."
Yu Daiyue opened the cave abode and led Qin Sang inside.
Qin Sang's own cave abode was as rudimentary as a natural cave, whereas the furnishings in Yu Daiyue's abode were far more refined: tables, chairs, an incense table, folding screens, calligraphy, and paintings—it was exceptionally elegant.
Yu Daiyue brought out fragrant tea and brewed it. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yu Daiyue got down to business.
"Regarding the matter mentioned in the voice transmission talismans, I wonder what Junior Brother Qin's specific thoughts are?"
Qin Sang set down his teacup and asked quizzically, "Senior Brother Yu, it is not that I belittle myself. After the Red Dust Gourd's illusion that day, you were present as well, so you surely know my foundation was damaged, and my strength is far inferior to yours. Foundation Establishment cultivators in Shaohua Mountain are hardly few, and every one of them far surpasses me in prowess. Why did Senior Brother single me out?"
"Inviting you, Junior Brother Qin, is naturally because you possess extraordinary qualities."
Yu Daiyue tapped his forehead, indicating his consciousness sea. "You were able to pass the trial of the Red Dust Gourd, Junior Brother Qin; what I value is precisely this fortitude of yours. What you do not know is that the periphery of those ancient ruins is enclosed by a barrier of yin wind, within which demonic sounds constantly batter the mind. Demonic sounds of this kind are exceptionally bizarre, seeming to ring directly within the sea of consciousness to assault the origin soul. Ordinary magic tools have no effect on them whatsoever. For this very reason, anyone lacking firm willpower could never pass through that barrier."
There was such a strange barrier?
Qin Sang thought to himself that it was no wonder Yu had sought him out. "I recall that on that day there were also Senior Brother Gong, Senior Brother Zhao, and another senior brother. May I ask why Senior Brother Yu didn't approach them? And there are many more fellow disciples who never took part in the Red Dust Gourd's illusion."
"I've approached them all."
Yu Daiyue gave a bitter smile. "Beyond that barrier of demonic sound, those ancient ruins also possess a formation restriction that is exceptionally durable—not something a single person can crack. Not just you, Junior Brother Qin; Senior Sister Qingting and I reached out to the others as well. Junior Brother Zhang was conscripted by the sect and has already gone to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. Senior Brother Gong claimed to be advanced in years and had abandoned the immortal path, decisively turning down my invitation. As for Senior Brother Zhao, he hung up his armor and returned to the fields, going back to his hometown to be a wealthy gentleman, completely out of reach. There are plenty of Foundation Establishment cultivators among our peers, but most are like you, elusive and keeping to themselves. For people we don't know well, there is no telling what their temperament is truly like. We have already invited Junior Brother Wu Yuesheng, but we are still short on numbers."
"Senior Sister Qingting is going too?"
Hearing this name, Qin Sang's expression shifted; he knew of this person.
When he had been in the Qi Refinement stage listening to Dao lectures on Daomen Peak, the most...
Chapter 142