Xiaoxiangzi

"I haven't fully comprehended the first seal, the Auspicious Seal, but it's already usable in battle. With the insights gained from it, comprehending the Lotus Seal has gone smoother than anticipated. Each seal of the Seven Master Buddhist Seals is distinct, yet their intrinsic connections are extraordinarily tight, with each preceding one serving as the foundation for the next. Among the Daoist arts I've encountered before, there were some with similar branchings of techniques, but none compared to this in cohesion. I wonder if this is a characteristic unique to body cultivator divine abilities..." Qin Sang withdrew his mind from the divine ability, struck by a moment of clarity. He put away the jade slip and dispelled the restrictions before flying out of the carriage alongside Tong Lingyu. Looking toward the east, he saw a black line emerge on the ocean surface, running north to south and extending all the way to the edge of his vision. The Hidden Sun Realm, one of the Four Realms of the North Sea! Tong Lingyu put away the carriage and the fish whistle, then fed the Abyss Whale several spirit pills as a reward. Smiling, she patted the creature. "Go on back!" Whether due to consuming the spirit pills or not, the whale's intelligence seemed to have grown, its eyes noticeably livelier and more spirited. It gazed at Tong Lingyu for a moment before slowly swimming toward the deep sea. Splash! Jets of water receded into the distance. A whale song echoed long and low. Reluctant to part, the Abyss Whale bid farewell with its calls. Tong Lingyu turned around, and seeing Qin Sang still gazing at the Hidden Sun Realm, she said, "We are currently at the southern edge of the Hidden Sun Realm. Once we make landfall here and head straight east, we will reach Xuantian Palace. Xuantian Palace is situated atop Lingxiao Peak. Around this mountain, nature has arranged seventy-two cold springs that form seventy-two lakes scattered like stars amidst the peaks. Chilly mist lingers over them year-round, appearing faint and ethereal from afar. Among them, the Ageless Spring beneath Lingxiao Peak is the most miraculous; no matter how bitter the cold, it has never frozen over. The other seventy-one cold springs each have their own wonders as well..." Tong Lingyu invited Qin Sang to set off, introducing Xuantian Palace to him as they flew. Qin Sang had already made numerous inquiries beforehand, so he now possessed a fairly clear impression of both the Hidden Sun Realm and Xuantian Palace. The environment here was starkly different from the rest of the North Sea. Bitter cold gripped the realm year-round. Snow fell during three-quarters of the year, forcing mortals to race against time to plant and harvest; a moment's delay, and a blizzard would destroy everything. Consequently, though the Hidden Sun Realm had flat terrain and was rather vast, it was sparsely populated. Originally, like the Crescent Moon Realm, the Hidden Sun Realm was home to many cultivation sects. Later, Xuantian Palace unified the realm, and the other sects either vanished or were absorbed into it. Today, Xuantian Palace was divided into four main lineages: Xuantian, Tianshan, Zixia Pavilion, and Tingxue Tower. It was said that only the Xuantian lineage was the direct, ancestral line of Xuantian Palace. However, across the long river of time, past events had become impossible to verify, and rumors were often rife with inaccuracies. Whether estrangements or hidden perils existed within Xuantian Palace remained unknown to outsiders. After listening intently to Tong Lingyu, Qin Sang asked, "Are all four lineages on Lingxiao Peak?" "No." Tong Lingyu cast some unknown Daoist art. Just as they reached the shore, two clear cries sounded from the depths of the snow-covered mountains. Two remarkably majestic spirit birds flew out from the white snow, their bodies completely pure white with feathers resembling strands of ice silk, dancing and circling around Tong Lingyu. The carriage was hitched to the spirit birds, and it sped eastward through the air. "Lingxiao Peak is a forbidden ground of Xuantian Palace. Only the Palace Master cultivates there normally. The elders and the various halls of Xuantian Palace occupy the seventy-two springs. Among the four lineages, only the Xuantian lineage resides at the seventy-two springs. Tianshan, Zixia Pavilion, and Tingxue Tower are located elsewhere in the Hidden Sun Realm, with Tingxue Tower situated in the north. Only during major events like the opening of the sacred ground do the lineages gather at Lingxiao Peak." At this point, Tong Lingyu sighed softly. "The demon race has produced two Great Sages and grown increasingly rampant, repeatedly infiltrating the Hidden Sun Realm and committing great slaughter. In recent years, our sect's experts have taken turns garrisoning the border, so the seventy-two springs are no longer as lively as they once were." ... It was currently the cold season of the Hidden Sun Realm. Not long after they took flight, the sky abruptly darkened, and a blizzard swept in with piercing, bone-chilling winds. However, the external weather could not affect the carriage, whose interior remained as warm as spring. Qin Sang looked down. The land below was cloaked in silver, completely devoid of human presence. Occasionally, a few cities came into view during their flight, appearing desolate and solitary amidst the boundless sea of snow. The scenery was monotonous. After a few glances, Qin Sang lost interest and returned to meditating on the Seven Master Buddhist Seals. He had no idea how much time passed before the cries of the spirit birds roused him. Feeling the carriage beneath him slow slightly, he looked outside to find the scenery completely transformed. Stretched out before him was a snow-and-ice landscape spanning thousands of li. Snowy mountain ranges undulated like crouching dragons. Countless cold lakes lay at the base of the mountains. In the depths of winter, the lakes were all frozen over. Under the daylight, they resembled mirrors embedded into the earth, crystal clear and sparkling, or perhaps the scales of a mighty dragon. The scene was majestic, stretching beyond the horizon. At the furthest edge of sight, the imposing silhouette of a towering peak reached into the clouds. A light, chilly mist drifted around the snowy mountains and cold lakes, sparse enough not to obstruct vision. Yet Qin Sang could sense that this mist was far from ordinary; it contained the power of a spirit array. For Xuantian Palace's sect-protecting grand array to encompass such a vast expanse truly proved its status as the number one sect of the North Sea! Just then, the spirit birds broke free of their harnesses, turned back to chirp toward Tong Lingyu, and flew off into the snow-capped mountains, disappearing from view. "That is Lingxiao Peak," Tong Lingyu said, pointing toward the mountain silhouette. "The treasury is located at Qingbai Spring, one of the seventy-two springs. We will first go to the treasury to select your treasures. Once that is done, I will properly play host. I hope Fellow Daoist Qin will not mind if our hospitality feels rushed." Qin Sang had not gone back on his word along the way. With the sacred relic soon to be recovered, Tong Lingyu's expression had relaxed considerably. Now that he was about to obtain treasures, how could Qin Sang possibly mind? He followed Tong Lingyu into the grand array and flew straight toward Lingxiao Peak. The mist grew thicker, allowing only indistinct glimpses of the peak's scenery. The mountain was lush and verdant, still brimming with the vigor of spring even in the dead of winter. Dotted throughout were pavilions and terraces, all crystal clear and built from mystic ice, presenting a truly extraordinary sight. As they drew near Lingxiao Peak, Tong Lingyu halted above a lake. The cold lake was frozen over, its waters half-green and half-white. Tong Lingyu produced a token, channeled true essence into it, and gave a light wave. The token emitted a phantom image that transformed into a streak of light and sank beneath the ice. A moment later, the ice silently melted to form an opening, and a flight of ice steps extended down to the lake bed. "Fellow Daoist, after you!" Tong Lingyu slipped into the ice hole, with Qin Sang following close behind. Before long, their field of vision suddenly opened up as the ice steps led into a grand hall of mystic ice. "Greetings, Grand Elder." A figure emerged from the depths of the hall and bowed to Tong Lingyu. The man had a hunched posture, snow-white hair, and an appearance weathered by extreme old age. Tong Lingyu hurried forward to support him, calling out, "Uncle Lu..." Her lips parted slightly without making a sound as she communicated secretly with this Uncle Lu. Qin Sang stood at the entrance with his hands clasped behind his back, surveying the hall while quietly observing the old man. A cold chill ran through his heart—the elder was also a middle Nascent Soul expert, whose cultivation was likely not much inferior to Tong Lingyu's. The elder's breath lacked vigor and his primordial qi was declining, perhaps due to lingering injuries. Qin Sang surmised that he had likely barely survived his last heavenly tribulation, escaping death only to be left with hidden ailments. With his longevity nearing its end, he would not dare take action lightly. Even so, once such a cultivator was forced to fight for their life, they were by no means to be underestimated. They were the true foundation of Xuantian Palace. He did not know what Tong Lingyu said to the man. The old man lifted his withered eyelids, cast a glance at Qin Sang, raised a finger to point toward the ice wall at the back of the hall, and promptly turned to leave, his voice raspy. "Grand Elder, please help yourself." "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Lu." After watching the old man's retreating back disappear, Tong Lingyu gestured for Qin Sang to follow her toward the ice wall. By then, the ice wall had turned transparent, revealing itself as the treasury's entrance. Qin Sang stepped through unobstructed. All he saw were rows of shelves packing the treasury to the brim, lined with countless rare and wondrous treasures that glittered and reflected against one another. Qin Sang could not help but recall the fitting verse: dazzling blossoms almost confuse the eyes. Tong Lingyu turned around, and seeing Qin Sang rooted to the spot, looking all around, she smiled with a touch of pride. "Fellow Daoist, you may choose any three items from among these treasures." Jadeite Essence, Cloud Soul Crystal, Earth Rot Bone... Red Dragon Saliva, Azure Spirit Ginseng, Shaman Fruit... Bottles of spirit pills. Pieces of magic tools and magic treasures. Row upon row of jade slips. ... Rare and wondrous treasures seldom seen in the outside world were arranged together here like ordinary goods. Although these were not exceptionally precious treasures to Qin Sang, seeing such a vast quantity displayed before him was still breathtaking. Moreover, this was merely the treasury's entrance. Qin Sang only looked without touching anything, slowly walking forward as he browsed. Tong Lingyu followed quietly behind with immense patience. She knew these items would never catch Qin Sang's eye. The deeper they went into the treasury, the higher the value of the treasures and the rarer they became. "If I brought all of this back, Qingyang Temple would surely become the number one sect in the Beichen Realm. Once I break through to late Nascent Soul, I might even be able to unify the Beichen Realm." The thought suddenly popped into Qin Sang's head, and he smiled wryly to himself. His ambitions did not lie there. Soon, they reached the deepest part of the treasury. Qin Sang had taken nothing. Seeing an arched mystic ice door blocking the path ahead, he turned back to glance questioningly at Tong Lingyu. Tong Lingyu stepped forward to open the archway and reminded him, "This is the inner treasury. If even the treasures here cannot satisfy you, no one else will be able to offer better terms." "I am not a greedy man," Qin Sang said mildly as he stepped into the inner treasury. The inner treasury was far smaller than the outer hall, but its contents were vastly more precious. Sweeping his gaze across the room, Qin Sang caught sight of a jade bottle. His expression shifted slightly, and he walked over, examining it through the restriction. The jade bottle contained a spiritual liquid as transparent as water. At the center of the liquid was a tiny whirlpool spinning endlessly, releasing wisps of aura that clung to the bottle's interior, forming a snowflake-like frost layer. "Do you recognize this item? We tried using it for artifact refining to no avail, nor do we know which pill recipe requires it. Seeing its remarkable phenomenon, we placed it here..." Tong Lingyu walked over, seeking Qin Sang's insight. "This is Primordial Yin Water," Qin Sang offered as an excuse. "I once read of it in an ancient text..." Primordial Yin Water was one of the three primary spirit items needed for the Spirit Ascension Rite. Valley Master Mu had described its traits in great detail: whether a single drop or more, a tiny, ceaselessly spinning whirlpool would always form at the center of Primordial Yin Water, making it very easy to identify. There were roughly four drops in the jade bottle. Qin Sang had not originally intended to use this opportunity to trade for spirit items for the Spirit Ascension Rite, but looking at so much Primordial Yin Water, he felt conflicted. The item was exceedingly rare; Hundred Flowers Valley probably couldn't provide much in trade. After a moment's hesitation, Qin Sang refrained from claiming the Primordial Yin Water right away, deciding to look around first. Tong Lingyu, on the other hand, rather hoped Qin Sang would pick it. She knew he had not been entirely truthful, but Xuantian Palace had no idea how to make use of the liquid; leaving it here was no different from keeping scrap. Turning around, Qin Sang walked over to the section housing jade slips. Tong Lingyu immediately pointed out the *Cold Nether Returning Yin Jade Chapter*. As it turned out, its true name was simply *Cold Nether Returning Yin*. Because it was recorded on a palm-sized jade screen, the disciples of Xuantian Palace had added the words "Jade Chapter" on their own. The jade screen was slightly curved, its surface inscribed with hundreds of tiny characters detailing the secret art's general outline. Qin Sang scanned it quickly; it aligned completely with what Liuli had previously described. Having read it, Qin Sang was already inclined toward choosing this external incarnation secret art, but he still turned his gaze to examine the other jade slips. When it came to seeking cultivation methods and secret arts, Qin Sang had his own philosophy: it was best to find ones where he could rely on the jade Buddha to evade risks and exploit loopholes, thereby achieving results far beyond what others could hope for. Unfortunately, across hundreds of years on the immortal path, Qin Sang had only managed to obtain a scant few like the *Origin Soul Sword Nurturing Chapter*. There were quite a few jade slips here, more than half of which pertained to the cold-ice path. After a cursory review, Qin Sang found none that met his criteria. Using the token Tong Lingyu had given him, he reached out and touched the restriction on the surface of the jade screen. "I'll take *Cold Nether Returning Yin*." Whoosh! A streak of light shot into Qin Sang's glabella, deeply imprinting the entire secret art into his mind. Once he confirmed the secret art was complete, Qin Sang withdrew his awareness and proceeded to choose his second item. There were several spirit materials here capable of further upgrading the Jinchen Sword, but they held little meaning for him. If he couldn't find what he needed, he planned to use the remaining two choices for the Primordial Yin Water and the Kan Mirage Pearl. His mind turning, Qin Sang soon finished browsing more than half the treasury. Just as he was about to head to the other side, he suddenly noticed a familiar object resting on a shelf in the center of the room. His gaze froze, and deep astonishment flashed in his eyes. It was a crystal-clear, seven-story pagoda! Its design and size were roughly identical to the seven-story stupa he had obtained from the Jinghai Sect's main hall, with only one difference: his stupa radiated vibrant colors akin to Buddhist light, whereas this seven-story pagoda was completely pure and transparent, as though sculpted from mystic ice. *Could they be parts of a scattered set that need to be reunited before they can be activated?* Qin Sang intuitively felt that a connection must exist between the two pagodas. Keeping his composure, he let his gaze sweep across other treasures as he slowly drew near the seven-story pagoda. Right at that moment, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a slightly yellowed portrait hanging on the innermost wall of the treasury. The person depicted possessed the air of an immortal, graceful and extraordinary. It was the very same person as the statue worshipped in the Buddhist hall of the Jinghai Sect! *This...* Qin Sang's mind reeled. What connection could there be between the Jinghai Sect and Xuantian Palace for them to venerate the exact same person? The emergence of the Buddhist sect in the Boundless Sea had surely reached Tong Lingyu's ears by now, so why had she remained indifferent? Too many questions flooded his thoughts. Turning to Tong Lingyu, he pointed at the portrait and asked curiously, "Fellow Daoist Tong, this scroll does not appear to be a magic treasure. Might I ask who the senior depicted in the painting is?" Tong Lingyu stepped forward, glanced at the portrait, and replied, "That is Senior Xiaoxiangzi."