Tong Lingyu walked up to the portrait, gazed at it for a long while, and said, "Legend has it that Senior Xiaoxiangzi was a Deity Transformation cultivator!"
Deity Transformation!
A peculiar glint appeared in Qin Sang's eyes as he stared straight at the portrait, examining it even more closely.
Knowing the cultivation realm of the person depicted brought a very different feeling than before.
Xiaoxiangzi in the portrait possessed an ethereal demeanor, like an immortal banished to the mortal realm.
He was the second human Deity Transformation cultivator Qin Sang had learned of after the founding patriarch of the Four Sages Palace, yet for both, he had only seen statues of them, and everything he knew came solely from legends.
"Was Senior Xiaoxiangzi the founder of Xuantian Palace?"
Qin Sang had long suspected that back when Xuantian Palace managed to unify the Hidden Sun Realm, subjugate the other sects, and absorb them all, there had to have been a peerless figure behind it.
The environment of the Hidden Sun Realm was harsh and sparsely populated, but it was an entire realm after all. The sects within, large and small, were certainly not few, and likely only a Deity Transformation cultivator could have quelled all those cultivators.
Whether it was the status of a Deity Transformation cultivator or the monumental achievement of unifying the Hidden Sun Realm and founding Xuantian Palace, either one alone was enough to shake the entire cultivation world.
Yet what surprised Qin Sang was that Xiaoxiangzi's name had never spread to the outside world.
He had always taken care to gather various legends across the North Sea, yet before hearing the name Xiaoxiangzi from Tong Lingyu, he had never once encountered it.
Unless Xiaoxiangzi had used a pseudonym while traveling abroad.
Qin Sang arrived at this deduction by measuring others against himself.
At this thought, Qin Sang's heart stirred. Only then did he realize an odd fact: in the North Sea cultivation world, legends concerning the founder of Xuantian Palace were exceedingly scarce, consisting mostly of baseless rumors.
The identity and origins of Xuantian Palace's founding patriarch had always remained an enigma, as if deliberately concealed. This was somewhat similar to Jinghai Sect, though Jinghai Sect was even more extreme—a completely secluded sect barely known to anyone.
Jinghai Sect enshrined a statue of Xiaoxiangzi in their Buddhist hall.
Xuantian Palace hung a portrait of Xiaoxiangzi in their treasury.
He wondered what connection existed between these two great sects, one Buddhist and one Daoist.
"When Xuantian Palace was first established, Senior Xiaoxiangzi may have played a significant role," Tong Lingyu said, deliberately emphasizing the word "may."
"May?"
Qin Sang looked at her in confusion. Could the esteemed Grand Elder of Xuantian Palace truly know nothing of her own sect's and founder's history?
That seemed utterly absurd.
Tong Lingyu saw through Qin Sang's thoughts and smiled nonchalantly. "Does Fellow Daoist Qin know how many main branches Xuantian Palace had at its founding?"
Without waiting for Qin Sang to answer, she supplied it herself: "A total of twelve main branches!"
Hearing this, Qin Sang's eyes flashed, his gaze shifting back to the portrait as he vaguely guessed something.
"And today, only four main branches remain in Xuantian Palace."
Tong Lingyu sighed softly. "To outsiders, how glorious does Xuantian Palace look, reigning supreme over an entire realm? Only those inside know our internal hardships. Once you become a guest elder of Tingxue Tower, Fellow Daoist, with your intellect, it won't take long before you discern a few clues. There is really no need to hide anything from you."
Turning her gaze back to the portrait, she continued faintly, "Over countless years, hidden perils have run rampant within Xuantian Palace. For various reasons, civil strife erupted multiple times. The branches schemed and clashed against one another, rapidly engulfing the entirety of Xuantian Palace in rivers of blood. In the most tragic conflict, Lingxiao Peak was nearly shattered, almost severing the Everlasting Spring. It was only when each branch realized that none could monopolize the sacred land—and that further fighting would only bring mutual ruin and benefit external foes—that they assembled once more atop Lingxiao Peak to establish the current, relatively stable order."
As Qin Sang listened to Tong Lingyu, he reflected on his own circumstances.
Even a lineage left behind by a Deity Transformation cultivator was this unstable.
After he was gone, would the future Qingyang Temple reenact the tale of Xuantian Palace?
However, that was not something Qin Sang could decide.
Qin Sang's original intention in founding Qingyang Temple had been to fulfill Yunyouzi's dying wish; everything that followed was done out of his responsibility as a sect's founding patriarch, doing what lay within his power.
At most, he could draw upon Xuantian Palace's lessons to make a few improvements upon his return. No sect could flourish forever without decline; even now, Xuantian Palace faced both internal strife and external threats.
If the immortal path was severed, Qin Sang would ultimately perish.
If he was fortunate enough to find a way forward, Qingyang Temple would still struggle to keep pace with him, and a day would come when he had to let go.
Only oneself endured.
Only proving the immortal path was eternal!
Tong Lingyu could not have guessed that Qin Sang was thinking of so much in such a brief moment. In a subdued tone, she continued, "Xuantian Palace did eventually find stability, but the wounds left by successive civil wars could not be erased for ages. Of the twelve main branches, eight were severed, declined, or swallowed up, leaving only four. The Seventy-Two Springs, originally the premier spectacle of the North Sea, suffered grave destruction in the process and have yet to fully recover. The sect's ancient texts were scattered and thrown into disarray; what remains is scarce and altered beyond recognition. Fortunately, this portrait was preserved, or else what Senior Xiaoxiangzi left behind would be nothing more than a faint trace."
She spoke from genuine emotion, not entirely for Qin Sang's benefit.
It was sorrow over the mutual slaughter among the sect's predecessors, as if repenting before Xiaoxiangzi on behalf of unworthy descendants.
Qin Sang remained silent until Tong Lingyu composed herself.
He glanced back at the treasury. "Did Senior leave nothing else behind?"
Tong Lingyu raised an eyebrow and chuckled helplessly. "What do you think the twelve main branches were fighting over? Back then, the sect's treasury was the first thing plundered. It would have been fine if the branches had merely carved up the spoils, but the vast majority of fragile items were destroyed in the great battles, and many cultivation methods and secret arts were lost as a result. During the internal strife, it was even looted by demons and demonic overlords. Under the baptism of repeated catastrophes, even if there had been relevant records, they were destroyed long ago. Otherwise, how could I know so little about Senior Xiaoxiangzi?"
Qin Sang surveyed the surrounding treasures and said with considerable anticipation, "In that case, could there be relics of a Deity Transformation cultivator among these?"
Tong Lingyu chuckled. "Then it depends on Fellow Daoist Qin's discernment, whether you can pick out a true treasure."
"Aside from the portrait, did Senior truly leave nothing at all behind?"
Qin Sang felt Tong Lingyu was definitely holding something back and couldn't resist pressing further.
Jinghai Sect had vanished. He wondered whether the treasures looted at the final moment by those cultivators included relics of Senior Xiaoxiangzi. Regrettably, it was difficult to ascertain who had been present at the time and what they had seized.
Tong Lingyu pondered for a moment, her expression shifting slightly. "There is a phrase! Well, more like a maxim. Although it cannot be verified, it shouldn't be a false rumor."
"What maxim?"
Qin Sang's spirits rose, and he pressed immediately.
The corner of Tong Lingyu's mouth curved slightly as she looked at Qin Sang with deep meaning, countering, "What is Fellow Daoist willing to offer in exchange? Or will you use your remaining two opportunities?"
Qin Sang frowned slightly.
A maxim from a Deity Transformation cultivator was of incalculable value.
"Is it related to cultivation or bottlenecks?"
If it was guidance from a senior for a junior's cultivation, every word would be worth a thousand pieces of gold, and Qin Sang would truly be tempted.
"Unrelated," Tong Lingyu said with certainty, revealing a sliver of information. "It is merely eight characters."
Qin Sang showed a suspicious look as he watched Tong Lingyu, wondering if she was bluffing to swindle him. Two opportunities might only yield a useless truism.
He had already set his sights on the seven-story pagoda and definitely intended to take this opportunity to walk away with it. As for the treasures on his person, he was reluctant to trade any of them.
Informing Tong Lingyu of the Jinghai Sect matter might work.
However, that would have to wait until he uncovered the secret of the seven-story pagoda.
Seeing Qin Sang waver, Tong Lingyu stopped teasing him and said leisurely, "Fellow Daoist, there is no need to fret. Only when a late Nascent Soul cultivator hears this maxim might it serve some slight purpose. When the time comes, so long as you are not an enemy of Xuantian Palace, I shall offer it to you for free."
"It seems Qin must perform his role as guest elder diligently, then."
Qin Sang smoothed his brow, no longer dwelling on it.
If it had nothing to do with cultivation, it was not an urgent matter. Qin Sang had no idea how long it would take him to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage anyway; he would wait and see what game Tong Lingyu was playing.
With that, Qin Sang turned back to continue inspecting the treasures, seemingly casting the matter to the back of his mind.
Seeing him so detached and unbothered, a flicker of surprise crossed Tong Lingyu's eyes. She said no more and followed along behind him.
Next, Qin Sang examined the rest of the treasures. He put on a deliberate display, showing an obvious, keener curiosity toward the few items whose origins and uses were unknown—including the seven-story pagoda—appearing as though he were truly searching for relics of a Deity Transformation cultivator.
He did not overact, which would only arouse greater suspicion.
In the end, Qin Sang settled on his choices: he wanted the Primordial Yin Water and the seven-story pagoda.
Using Tong Lingyu's token, Qin Sang first retrieved the Primordial Yin Water, then walked over near the seven-story pagoda. His gaze wandered among those few treasures before he reached out to grasp the pagoda.
The moment he drew the seven-story pagoda into his palm, Qin Sang keenly caught a peculiar look in Tong Lingyu's eyes.
He knew full well that this bit of pretense could not completely dispel Tong Lingyu's doubts, but there would never be a better opportunity than now to obtain the seven-story pagoda with so little disturbance.
This treasure was stored in a vault located in the heart of Xuantian Palace.
On the surface, there was only one mid Nascent Soul cultivator, but Qin Sang could sense that from the moment they entered the Seventy-Two Springs, grim, lethal auras were hidden in the dark; the place was heavily guarded.
Forceful seizure or theft was out of the question.
Taking it away like this was ideal. Even if Tong Lingyu had concealed something earlier and suddenly went back on her word now, Qin Sang was not afraid.
The other seven-story stupa was in his hands. Whatever Xuantian Palace planned to do, they could never cast him aside; one way or another, they would have to give him a share of the pie.
Xuantian Palace possessed vast resources; cooperation would benefit both sides, and there was no need to monopolize everything.
"Hehe, Fellow Daoist's choices are always so unexpected."
Tong Lingyu stepped forward, glancing at the Primordial Yin Water and the seven-story pagoda.
She had assumed Qin Sang would pick those spiritual herbs or exotic magic treasures, never imagining he would choose two items that had sat in the vault for who knew how long, drawing no interest from anyone.
"Out of curiosity, I once tested this small pagoda with the divine abilities of our various branches in turn, but it showed no reaction whatsoever. Could it be that Fellow Daoist Qin knows its secret?" Tong Lingyu could not help asking.
"The unknown represents greater possibilities. I feel it looks more like a Deity Transformation relic than those others," Qin Sang said nonchalantly, turning the small seven-story pagoda in his hand while secretly staying on guard.
Tong Lingyu gave Qin Sang a profound look, hesitated slightly, but did not go back on her promise. "It seems the treasures in the vault aren't valuable enough to catch Fellow Daoist's eye. In that case, I wish Fellow Daoist Qin every success, and hope you truly can discover something and unravel more of Senior Xiaoxiangzi's secrets."
Qin Sang put away both items. Seeing Tong Lingyu staring fixedly at him, he smiled inwardly, brought out the sacred relic, and handed it over.
The sacred relic had finally returned.
Tong Lingyu took the ice chest without avoiding Qin Sang. Supporting it with one hand, she laid the other over the top of the ice chest. Spiritual light surged from her palm, and countless runes flashed.
In an instant, the seal on the ice chest loosened, though it did not open completely; Qin Sang still could not see the ice demon crystal.
Moments later, Tong Lingyu's brow suddenly furrowed, and she looked up at Qin Sang.
Qin Sang knew she had noticed the loss of power in the ice demon crystal, yet he met her gaze with complete composure, wearing an expression of a clear conscience that proclaimed it had nothing to do with him.
Tong Lingyu's expression soon returned to normal. Stowing the sacred relic, she led Qin Sang out of the vault, flew out from Qingbai Spring, and turned south, saying, "I have already had a quiet lodge prepared by Coral Spring. After such a long journey, please rest there for a few days, Fellow Daoist."
"Thank you for your trouble, Fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang cupped his hands. "I plan to leave Xuantian Palace tomorrow morning and head to Ditong Island to meet with Liuli. Their speed cannot match ours, so they should be arriving at Ditong Island soon."
Before departing, Qin Sang had inquired about Liuli's itinerary and knew they were going to Ditong Island to request Ditong fruits.
Tong Lingyu dropped further courtesies. "Very well. You will soon become a guest elder of Tingxue Tower, Fellow Daoist, so there will be plenty of time in the days ahead."
Before long, the two arrived beside Coral Spring.
The water of this spring was a vivid crimson, and as it flowed, countless coral-like scenes manifested within, which was how it earned its name.
After escorting Qin Sang to the quiet lodge, Tong Lingyu left in haste to return the sacred relic to the Unfrozen Spring.
Qin Sang dismissed the attendants and rested in the lodge for the night. That night, he did not take out the seven-story stupa, only holding the seven-story pagoda and turning it over in his hands repeatedly.
Early the next morning.
Qin Sang did not wait for Tong Lingyu, leaving behind a letter before departing lightly.
With the token Tong Lingyu had given him, no one hindered him along the way, and he left Xuantian Palace without incident.
With his vigilance easing slightly, Qin Sang immediately spurred his thunder wings until he was far away from Xuantian Palace. Arriving at an unnamed snow-capped mountain, he lowered his escape light and slipped into the forest.
He casually carved out a cave dwelling, laid down restrictions, and took out the two small pagodas.
Set side by side, aside from their colors, virtually no difference could be seen between them; even the miniature gourd carved atop each roof was identical.
The bodies of both towers were translucent, clear to the eye at a glance, with no impurities inside, equally pure.
Held in his hands, one felt warm and smooth, while the other was icy cold.
Qin Sang first observed them with the naked eye for a while, then picked up the seven-story pagoda and tried channeling true essence and divine consciousness into it.
The next moment, Qin Sang abruptly shifted his gaze, looking in surprise at the seven-story stupa beside it.
At the very moment he activated the seven-story pagoda, the luster on the seven-story stupa shifted for the first time, becoming more vibrant and dazzling than ever, lighting up the cave dwelling.
If this had happened out in the open, anyone who saw this glow would surely believe that an extraordinary treasure was being unearthed.
Seeing this, Qin Sang hurried to continue pouring in true essence, but the change in the seven-story stupa went no further.
After thinking it over, Qin Sang switched to the seven-story stupa, only to find that when he channeled power into this treasure, the small seven-story pagoda also produced a similar anomaly, flickering with a deep, tranquil blue glow.
Qin Sang exhausted every method, yet no matter what he did, the two towers revealed no extraordinary might whatsoever; there was only this single reaction.
Leaving the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to watch over it, Qin Sang took one of the small towers far away, yet it showed the exact same reaction; the distance over which the two towers could sense each other seemed to be immense.
He returned to the cave dwelling. Holding both small towers, he pondered for a long time before a deflating thought suddenly crossed his mind:
"Could these... merely be two communication magic treasures?"
Chapter 1464