Inside the room, Shi Xue sat by the ice sculpture, restless and on edge.
She worried that ungrateful brute would turn cold and ruthless, failing to appreciate good intentions and striking down a defenseless flower. Then she fretted that her junior sister was walking straight into the wolf's den, unable to resist his sweet words and being led astray.
As her mind ran wild with worries, a faint silhouette finally materialized at the door.
"Junior Sister!"
Shi Xue sprang up and rushed forward, looking her junior sister up and down to make sure she hadn't suffered any harm.
Liuli's expression was unchanged from when she had left. Seemingly oblivious to Shi Xue's strange look, she asked softly, "When will the Grand Elder return?"
"You convinced that scoundrel to return the sacred relic?" Shi Xue asked skeptically.
That man was obstinate and utterly unprincipled; how could a few words possibly sway him?
Liuli said, "He wants to speak with the Grand Elder in detail."
"I knew it!" Shi Xue huffed. "Elder Mei has already sent a message to the Grand Elder. It will take at least ten days for her to arrive."
Liuli nodded, waved a hand to dispel the ice sculpture, and returned to the futon to sit cross-legged.
Shi Xue's gaze followed Liuli. Her lips parted slightly, but whatever question she had remained unspoken.
***
Mingzhu Island.
The fire room.
Qin Sang sat beside the furnace, having lost track of time, without shifting an inch.
At this moment, the fire room was no longer filled with searing heat, nor was it blazing bright with vivid crimson light as it had been at the start.
Inside the furnace before him burned a black flame, resembling a dormant black dragon—the Nine Nether Demonic Fire.
Using demonic fire to refine a top-grade magic treasure drained him tremendously, even though Qin Sang had already mastered the first layer of the Fire Seed Golden Lotus; beads of sweat glistened on his brow.
At the center of the demonic fire, a sphere of golden liquid hovered in a perfect orb.
The surface of the sphere was mottled with crimson clouds—the transformed Fallen Phoenix Jade.
Amid the red clouds, specks like blue stars sparkled—the blue-speckled gold.
Weaving between the blue stars were threads of silver—the Heavenly Crown Heavy Liquid.
All three spiritual materials had been cast into the furnace by Qin Sang, melting together and fusing into the spirit sword. As time passed, the sphere elongated, gradually taking the shape of a blade. The crimson clouds, blue stars, and silver threads slowly coalesced into the spirit sword, their brilliant radiance softening.
And how did it appear:
The blade shone with golden brilliance, dotted with azure stars.
Red jade carved the guard, traced with silver threads.
Immediately after, Qin Sang cast the second drop of Heavenly Crown Heavy Liquid into the furnace and clenched his fist. A layer of silver lacquer coated the spirit sword's surface and sank completely within. Truly, the golden glow submerged as silver light emerged.
Then the hilt and guard melted away, leaving behind a handleless, three-inch-long sword gleaming with silver light.
Its form was now entirely different from when he had fought Old Man Hunmo, bearing not the slightest resemblance to the former Jinchen Sword.
Qin Sang suddenly opened his eyes and beckoned. The Jinchen Sword darted into his palm like a swimming fish. Having wielded it for years, and having refined it with his own hands, he could attune to it effortlessly and command it at will.
"Finally, a top-grade magic treasure!"
Exhaling a long breath, Qin Sang smiled as a sense of blood-linked kinship resonated from the spirit sword.
Only then did weariness wash over him. Leaving the fire room, he returned to his cave dwelling, sat in meditation until he was fully restored, and then summoned the Jinchen Sword to dedicate himself to mastering its refinement.
Once the Grand Elder learned the news, she would surely come to demand the sacred relic immediately. Qin Sang pressed on with haste, wishing to avoid any unfamiliarity that might hinder his deployment of the sword array, which would weaken his combat strength instead of elevating it.
Just as Qin Sang expected, within two days, the renewed Jinchen Sword obeyed his every thought as smoothly as his own limbs.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
The spirit sword darted around him with elusive speed, leaving behind streaks of afterimages that wove into a net of sword light.
Qin Sang tested the activation of the Seven Po Killing Array for a brief drill. Though there was no opponent, he could sense that its power was incomparably greater than before, and he nodded to himself in satisfaction.
Having finished testing, he put away the spirit sword and retrieved a jade slip.
Recorded within was the Seven Masters Buddha Seal. Just as Qin Sang was about to study and comprehend this body-cultivation divine ability, he suddenly felt an unusual pulse from a voice transmission talisman inside his Qianjun Ring.
"The Grand Elder of Xuantian Palace has arrived."
His heart stirred. Crushing the talisman, he left his cave dwelling and flew away from Mingzhu Island.
Having long since chosen a location and laid down his preparations, he flew southward for a while until he reached a deserted, uninhabited island. Landing on the shore, he looked east and waited patiently.
Before long, two figures glided across the horizon like two fairies descending to the mortal realm.
One of them was Liuli.
The other was a beautiful woman in palace attire, likewise clad in pure white and crowned with a phoenix crown. Her bearing was poised and regal, clearly that of someone accustomed to holding high authority for a long time.
Qin Sang looked behind them but saw no other figures; only the two of them had come.
The newcomers noticed Qin Sang as well.
Liuli's lips moved as she said something silently. The Grand Elder opened her eyes wide and looked over, her gaze dazzling and piercing, bearing a natural, commanding pressure.
Hands clasped behind his back, Qin Sang calmly met the Grand Elder's gaze.
From that single glance alone, a trace of wary respect arose within him, and he dared not underestimate her in the slightest.
Nothing unusual was apparent from her exterior.
The Grand Elder's aura was full and vibrant; her injuries seemed to have completely healed.
As for the spirit treasure, it was naturally impossible for her to keep it displayed at all times.
In the blink of an eye, the two women flew over. The Grand Elder swept a quick glance across the small island before landing directly on the shore.
"This place is desolate, and I have no fine tea prepared. Please forgive the lack of hospitality, Grand Elder."
Qin Sang smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Fellow Daoist Qin is too polite."
The Grand Elder's voice was as crisp as a young maiden's. Returning the bow, she spoke warmly, though an inadvertent authority still tinged her tone. "Grand Elder is merely a nominal title within my sect; I wouldn't presume to flaunt it abroad. My surname is Tong, given name Lingyu. I have already heard of Fellow Daoist Qin's deeds from Elder Mei and Liuli, and have long looked forward to meeting you."
"Fellow Daoist Tong is far too generous. Rumors tend to exaggerate; I hardly deserve such praise."
Qin Sang smoothly followed her lead and then turned his gaze toward Liuli, wondering how much she had revealed. Nodding slightly, he said, "I have troubled you these past few days, Fairy."
Liuli shook her head without a word.
Tong Lingyu's eyes swept across the two of them. After a brief pleasantry, instead of bringing up the sacred relic, she turned to another matter. "That traitor was presumably slain by Fellow Daoist Qin's own hands. On behalf of the Palace Master and all of Xuantian Palace, I offer my thanks."
With that, Tong Lingyu bowed formally. "I have already learned what transpired that day at the Myriad Demons Assembly. Elders Mei and Lan acted thoughtlessly, even striking at you in their haste to uncover the truth. I originally intended for them to apologize to you in person, but feared it might seem rash and cause misunderstandings. Once we return to the sect..."
Qin Sang clicked his tongue inwardly. He had no wish to be showered with flattering praise or bound by empty gratitude, so he promptly cut Tong Lingyu off: "Before the Myriad Demons Assembly, I knew nothing of that person's connection to Xuantian Palace, nor did I hold any grudge against him. Furthermore, I was merely hunting a Rainbow Rat demon king that day. That a human cultivator's spiritual body was dwelling inside the demon king's shell was purely coincidental."
"The Rainbow Rat?"
Tong Lingyu and Liuli exchanged a glance, realization dawning upon them.
The Rainbow Rat's cave abode lay in the eastern region of the Demon Realm, a creature Xuantian Palace knew well. When their pursuit of the traitor entered the Demon Realm, it happened to pass near that demon king's domain. Even without Qin Sang detailing every step, they could easily piece together part of the truth.
The traitor had likely lingered near the border of the Demon Realm and become entangled with the Rainbow Rat.
Tong Lingyu looked visibly relieved. "Fortunately, the sacred relic did not fall into the hands of the demon race."
Seeing that Qin Sang was not someone who could be swayed or cornered by mere rhetoric, she stopped dancing around the subject and addressed the sacred relic directly. "Forgive my bluntness, but Liuli mentioned that you are willing to return our sacred relic. Surely, you haven't changed your mind over these past few days?"
Qin Sang chuckled unconcernedly. "If I had changed my mind, neither of you would be seeing me today! Fortunately, Fairy Liuli earnestly persuaded me, making me realize the significance of this item. Xuantian Palace upholds the righteous path, suppressing the great sages of the demon race in the north so they dare not act rashly, and holding back Old Man Hunmo in the south to curb the demonic flames. Only thus can the cultivation world maintain stability and rogue cultivators like us be spared from slaughter. If I were to hoard Xuantian Palace's sacred relic, wouldn't that cause grief to friends and joy to foes?"
He delivered these words with ringing righteousness.
Liuli could not help but shoot him a sideways look.
Tong Lingyu's expression froze for a moment. After a brief silence, she conceded, "Fellow Daoist Qin speaks quite truly. Still, that traitor possessed considerable abilities. In slaying him, you undoubtedly took great risks, and we cannot allow your efforts to go unrewarded."
Qin Sang did not reply, merely looking at Tong Lingyu with an expectant gaze.
Tong Lingyu glanced at Liuli beside her before continuing, "I hear Fellow Daoist Qin is quite interested in our Sacred Ground and wishes to observe the ceremony. I can give my word on that."
Before Qin Sang could show any joy, Tong Lingyu's tone abruptly shifted. "However, a roundabout approach will be required."
Qin Sang frowned. He knew it wouldn't be that simple.
On the surface, this condition cost Xuantian Palace nothing and seemed the easiest to grant, but Qin Sang knew full well that it was actually the hardest to accept.
"Why is that?" Qin Sang asked warily.
Tong Lingyu replied frankly, "There is no need for me to explain how vital a sacred ground is to a sect. In particular, Xuantian Palace's Sacred Ground concerns the foundational arts of our various branches, and nothing can be allowed to go wrong. Fellow Daoist Qin should understand how fiercely each branch guards it. On the day the Sacred Ground opens, if an expert of your caliber were watching from the sidelines, how could the other branches not become suspicious? Moreover, this place is far from the Yinri Realm. If we were to return to the mountain, convene every branch, and deliberate on an arrangement, you would likely have lost your patience long before."
Qin Sang pondered her words in silence.
Earlier, he had pried into the matter with Liuli and gained a general understanding of Xuantian Palace.
For a colossus that dominated an entire realm, it was impossible to be free of factions and internal friction. Even the Palace Master and Grand Elder could not simply ignore the will of the different branches, and checks and balances existed between them as well.
He did not agree hastily, asking, "What kind of roundabout method do you propose, Fellow Daoist Tong?"
"Very simple!" Tong Lingyu pointed at Liuli. "If Fellow Daoist Qin does not mind, you can become a guest elder of Tingxue Tower. You only need to put on a reasonable act. Before the Sacred Ground opens, I will find a pretext to grant you an opportunity to observe the ceremony, which will avoid drawing unwanted attention. Of course, during this period, you will need to adopt another identity and keep your true strength concealed."
Her only goal was to retrieve the sacred relic as swiftly as possible to prevent further complications.
With the sacred relic lost for so long, despite their best efforts to suppress the news, unrest had already begun brewing within Xuantian Palace. Some were starting to make restless moves, placing immense pressure on her shoulders.
Tong Lingyu was not worried that Qin Sang would cause trouble at the Sacred Ground.
For one, she could tell he shared a deep connection with Liuli, and she would have him swear an oath upon his heart demon before the Sacred Ground opened.
Second, he would not actually be permitted to step inside the Sacred Ground, and the Palace Master would also be present that day.
"A guest elder of Tingxue Tower?"
Qin Sang had no aversion to serving as a guest elder. After all, it was merely an empty title; he could enjoy certain perks in advance, and whether he lifted a finger in the future would depend entirely on his mood.
Yet he astutely caught the nuance in Tong Lingyu's words. "How does that differ from being a guest elder of Xuantian Palace?"
Tong Lingyu explained, "You may not be aware, Fellow Daoist Qin, but the various branches within Xuantian Palace were once independent sects of the Yinri Realm before uniting under our banner. Though we now belong to a single entity, each branch retains a degree of autonomy and may recruit guest elders independently. If you join only Tingxue Tower, it will not draw much scrutiny."
Liuli chimed in at the right moment to explain the benefits of being a guest elder for Tingxue Tower.
As it was part of their transaction, the perks would be provided as promised without demanding any actual responsibilities from Qin Sang toward Tingxue Tower—making him even freer than an ordinary guest elder.
At the end, Tong Lingyu added, "The divine abilities you displayed previously left a deep impression on Elder Mei and the others, and they still speak of them with relish, heheh... During this time, it would be best if you held back and refrained from taking action."
Qin Sang considered this silently.
Disguising his identity would not be difficult. Within Xuantian Palace, only the divine senses of the Grand Elder and the Palace Master could rival his own; unless someone possessed a unique divine ability, seeing through his disguise would be nearly impossible.
His Thunder Escape, sword array, lightning manipulation art, and demonic fire were already exposed.
Yet his repertoire did not end there.
The sword techniques at his disposal went beyond a single art; the Green Bamboo Sword Scripture was also a supreme sword scripture. The portions comprehended by Master Qingzhu differed greatly from the Origin Soul Sword Nurturing Chapter, perfectly capable of misleading observers.
The only opponents who could force him to deploy the Seven Po Killing Array were the Grand Elder and the Palace Master, and if things ever escalated to that point, concealment would no longer matter.
Furthermore, he had recently obtained the Seven Masters Buddha Seal, which would allow him to pass as a body cultivator.
And if the Nascent Soul talisman puppet could be refined into an external incarnation using the Jade Chapter of Nine Nether Returning to Yin, he could even pose as a cultivator who relied heavily on an incarnation.
At worst, he would simply keep a low profile.
Thinking of the Nascent Soul talisman puppet, Qin Sang couldn't help recalling the various pieces of news he had gathered through the Danding Association over the past few days.
Following the Myriad Demons Assembly, Old Man Hunmo had pursued a mysterious expert across three thousand li, only to be shaken off.
This matter had swept across the Boundless Ocean and become the stuff of legends.
Curiously, no further details had leaked out. Neither the intricacies of the chase nor Qin Sang's demonic fire and Nascent Soul talisman puppet had been spoken of outside.
It made sense for Xuantian Palace to keep quiet to avoid complications.
As for Old Man Hunmo, whether he felt it was a blow to his prestige or had some other scheme in mind, he had not publicized it either.
"Very well,"
Qin Sang nodded. As long as he achieved his goal, the process mattered little.
Tong Lingyu's face brightened. "Thank you for your understanding, Fellow Daoist Qin. Aside from this minor matter, you may also enter our treasury and select three treasures!"
Tong Lingyu was undeniably bold and decisive.
Qin Sang was also taken aback, not expecting the Grand Elder to be so forthright. He asked hesitantly, "Any treasure at all?"
The corner of Tong Lingyu's mouth curved slightly. "Liuli mentioned that you intend to refine an external incarnation. Provided you swear an oath never to impart it to others, I will transmit the Jade Chapter of Nine Nether Returning to Yin to you right now. However, the Kan Mirage Pearls in our treasury have been exhausted; you must wait until new ones are harvested from the Sacred Ground before I can deliver them to you. Of course, those will count as two of the treasures!"
Qin Sang knew it was impossible for the treasury to hold Xuantian Palace's pinnacle treasures, but items on the level of the Kan Mirage Pearl and the Jade Chapter of Nine Nether Returning to Yin were enticing enough.
"Fellow Daoist Tong has brought such a pleasant surprise that I can hardly make up my mind right away!"
Qin Sang knew his limits and refrained from driving the price higher on the spot.
Yet the thing he desired most had not been mentioned by Tong Lingyu. "There is one more matter..."
Before Qin Sang could finish, Tong Lingyu already understood. In a grave tone, she said, "I must disappoint you. Both the Palace Master and I have heard of Zhongzhou, but our palace possesses no sea chart leading there."
Chapter 1460