Touching one miniature pagoda provoked a reaction from the other.
Qin Sang experimented along this line of thought and found that it could not transmit direct messages. However, the resonance between the twin pagodas experienced no delay whatsoever.
Even if two individuals were separated by tens of thousands of li, the moment one sent a signal, the other would instantly perceive it. Under specific circumstances, this could serve a vital purpose.
Such as sounding an alarm!
No longer confined to his earlier train of thought, Qin Sang boldly ventured a guess.
Xuantian Palace and the Jinghai Sect were both inextricably tied to Xiaoxiangzi.
Suppose Xiaoxiangzi had deliberately left the two pagodas with the two sects.
Countless signs indicated that the downfall of the Jinghai Sect was connected to the ancient devil. They had exhausted the full power of their sect to mend the ancient restriction and reseal him. Could their duty have been to watch over the devil's seal all along?
This responsibility was very likely bestowed by Xiaoxiangzi.
Taking the conjecture one step further: perhaps the Jinghai Sect had been founded by Xiaoxiangzi himself.
If that was truly the case...
Then did Xiaoxiangzi unify the Hidden Sun Realm and establish Xuantian Palace for a similar purpose—as a contingency prepared in advance to guard against the devil breaking through the seal?
Looked at in this light, the existence of the twin pagodas made complete sense.
The moment the seal showed signs of loosening, the Jinghai Sect would immediately use the seven-story stupa to sound the alarm to Xuantian Palace, rallying reinforcements to unite the Buddhist and Daoist factions in suppressing the devil.
Perhaps there were more than just these two pagodas.
Should the devil break the seal, what awaited him was the combined suppression of the entire North Sea cultivation world.
Yet the ways of the world were unpredictable. Over the long span of ages, mortal hearts strayed, and events had diverged from the course Xiaoxiangzi had planned.
The Jinghai Sect had not betrayed their heavy trust.
Xuantian Palace, on the other hand, had succumbed to selfish desires and erupted into civil strife. After undergoing catastrophe after catastrophe, it had long ceased to be the original Xuantian Palace. Records were lost and scattered; they had forgotten the injunction of their patriarch and their own responsibility, failing to arrive as agreed.
Fortunately, the Jinghai Sect had turned the tide by repairing the ancient restriction with Buddhist restrictions, but that had cost them their entire sect in martyrdom—a tragic conclusion.
Qin Sang looked at the miniature pagoda in his hand.
These were merely his conjectures, mostly unsupported by hard evidence.
What kind of temperament Xiaoxiangzi possessed, and whether he held the magnanimity to protect the common people of the world, remained unknown.
Perhaps it was because Qin Sang had witnessed a similar scene in the Hall of Seven Kills—where the Four Sages had fought to the death to seal the Demon Monarch and subsequent generations of the Four Sages Palace guarded the seal for ages—that his thoughts had wandered in this direction.
Once he became a guest elder of the Snow Listening Tower and slowly investigated within Xuantian Palace, he might uncover some clues.
After pondering for a long time and finding no further changes, Qin Sang returned the twin pagodas to the Qianjun Ring.
***
Ditong Island was located in the western reaches of the Hidden Sun Realm.
After leaving the Seventy-Two Springs of Xuantian Palace, Qin Sang needed to head northwest.
When he arrived at Ditong Island, the two women had not yet appeared. Finding the deserted islet they had agreed upon earlier, he slipped into it to comprehend the *Seven Master Buddhist Seals*.
After this period of effort, Qin Sang had finally mastered the first seal, the Auspicious Seal.
At the center of the deserted islet, stone peaks stood tall.
Vegetation was sparse across the peaks, with only faint traces of green peeking from the rocky crevices. These peaks were slender and varied in height, the thinnest among them barely thicker than a pillar.
Qin Sang chose a larger peak at random, tapped his toes, and floated before it.
Hovering midair, he closed his eyes and remained motionless for a long time, seemingly savoring a sensation.
Suddenly, Qin Sang's eyes snapped open, blazing with piercing light. Raising both arms, he brought his hands together and formed a Buddhist seal with thunderous speed.
The Auspicious Seal!
In an instant, Qin Sang felt the blood and vitality within his body surge violently as his bones cracked like popping corn.
Since reaching the Nascent Soul stage, he had rarely confronted an enemy purely with physical might.
During the Core Formation stage, there had been a period when his cultivation stagnated while his *Heavenly Demon Transformation* realm surpassed his spiritual cultivation. He had relied on his physical body then, but mostly through brute force.
Only by cultivating this supreme body cultivation divine ability did Qin Sang truly understand how best to wield the power latent within this vessel.
As the first of the seven seals, the greatest function of the Auspicious Seal was to help the practitioner clearly perceive their own body and mobilize the strength of their entire frame!
At that moment, Buddhist light shone brightly between Qin Sang's palms. Centered around his hands, an illusory image of a colossal Buddha materialized, its hands likewise forming the Auspicious Seal. This was a miraculous phenomenon born of overflowing vitality, coating Qin Sang in a layer of golden brilliance. His skin assumed a bronze luster—bronze skin and iron bones, impervious to blades and swords!
The vitality within him surged ever more fiercely. Meridians and bones resonated together, drumming like thunder and echoing like a solemn chant.
For a moment, Qin Sang resembled an Arhat descended upon the mortal earth.
Surprised that unleashing a body cultivation divine ability would generate such commotion, Qin Sang found himself somewhat displeased.
Examining himself, he sensed that as his mastery deepened, he would be able to conceal these phenomena, preventing enemies from being alerted before he even struck.
Forming hand seals was merely a formality and a conduit. Once he completely mastered this divine ability, he could form seals with his mind and act at will without such fuss.
With a slight shift in thought, the illusory image indeed gradually drew inward, and the vitality within him condensed to the utmost.
Immediately after, Qin Sang turned his gaze to the stone peak ahead. His silhouette flickered, instantly appearing before the peak as his condensed vitality struck fiercely against a boulder.
Without a sound, a deep palm print appeared on the rock face, and cracks spread outward with astonishing speed as though terrifying power was erupting from within.
*Boom!*
The stone peak shattered all at once.
To one's astonishment, no rubble flew outwards; the entire peak had disintegrated into stone powder.
Dust drifted through the air in a hazy gray cloud.
Qin Sang looked at his palm, an extraordinary glint flashing in his eyes. In the past, swinging a punch could easily shatter a stone peak, but it certainly could never produce such an effect.
Having tested the power of the Auspicious Seal, Qin Sang nodded with satisfaction, looking forward to the remaining six seals even more. Dispersing the divine ability, he returned to his cave dwelling.
Instead of continuing to practice the *Seven Master Buddhist Seals*, he brought out the Solar Sacred Tree. The color of the Nanming Primordial Fire upon the flower bud had deepened, and within it, the silhouette of a divine bird was faintly emerging.
Though still very blurred, Qin Sang could barely discern an outline by looking closely.
Yet it was an exhilarating discovery.
Ever since his divine sense had materialized, Qin Sang clearly felt his control strengthen, and the rate at which the Nanming Primordial Fire condensed had grown noticeably faster. Everything was progressing smoothly, developing in the direction he anticipated.
"At this rate, the divine bird will take shape in just a few years, well before the sacred ground opens..."
Qin Sang inspected it carefully, joy showing in his eyes.
He could not precisely estimate the power of the Solar Sacred Tree, but it would certainly be no weaker than the eighteen demonic banners.
Like the eighteen demonic banners, it relied on special methods to seal a high-grade spiritual fire and draw upon a portion of its power. Unless it encountered a peculiar stroke of fortune, it could not develop spirituality on its own. Its strength was determined by the spiritual fire sealed within, making it impossible to evaluate purely through the ranks of standard magic treasures or spirit treasures.
In the cultivation world, such circumstances were not uncommon.
There were even certain specialized magical artifacts possessing capabilities that standard magic treasures lacked, treasured dearly by Nascent Soul cultivators.
***
The sky was clear and boundless.
A gentle sea breeze blew.
Far across the ocean surface, two graceful figures flew forward, one clad in purple and the other in white. Both possessed lovely features, resembling twin lotus blossoms on a single stalk. They were Shixue and Liuli, who had hurried over from Hunmo Island.
Liuli still wore plain white robes, her face veiled.
Shixue had changed into a purple dress, carrying an elegant air.
Shading her eyes with a hand, she peered ahead. "They were riding the Grand Elder's carriage, so they traveled faster than us. If that faithless rogue didn't go back on his word, he ought to have returned the sacred relic already. So long as that rogue has a shred of conscience left, he should be waiting for you near Ditong Island, Junior Sister."
Liuli had heard the phrase "faithless rogue" the entire journey.
Even though Shixue clearly knew his real name, whether out of indignation on her junior sister's behalf or simply venting her displeasure over losing her treasure, she refused to change how she addressed him.
As they neared the rendezvous point, Liuli looked at Shixue and reminded her, "His Daoist name is Qingfeng."
Qin Sang had agreed with Liuli in advance that after becoming a guest elder of the Snow Listening Tower, he would use his alias once more—Daoist Qingfeng.
"I certainly won't curse him to his face. Do you think I'm stupid, Junior Sister?"
Shixue rolled her eyes, ground her teeth, and huffed softly. "It's only because I can't beat that faithless rogue right now! One day, if I ever reach the Palace Master's realm, I'll beat him until he wets his pants and runs away howling, just to vent our anger!"
Although the Grand Elder had compensated her on behalf of the sect, a life-saving treasure that convenient was one of a kind and irreplaceable. On balance, she still felt sorely wronged.
Liuli remained unmoved.
After relishing her fantasy of thrashing Qin Sang, Shixue gave a somewhat embarrassed cough and said, "Junior Sister, the Yinli Pearl bestowed by the Grand Elder is even more suited to you than the spiritual items we initially planned for. If we ask for three more Ditong fruits, your breakthrough should be foolproof, right?"
As she spoke, she sneaked peeks at Liuli, her tone carrying an inquiring edge.
Seeing that Liuli's expression remained neutral without confirming or denying, a trace of worry crept into Shixue's heart. After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Junior Sister, how do you feel about that faithless rogue now?"
Liuli fell silent for a moment before saying, "He is he, and I am I."
Shixue's lips parted slightly as she seemed to weigh her words, speaking somewhat haltingly: "Junior Sister, have you ever considered... that your current thoughts might... not come from your true heart, but are influenced by Freezing Heart with Ice Soul?"
Liuli turned her head, looking at Shixue in silence.
Shixue instantly felt immense pressure.
"I don't know whether saying this will do you good or harm, so just take it as my wild ramblings. Your Dao heart has always been steadfast; a few words from me won't sway you."
Shixue first gave herself an excuse before continuing.
"I don't know what happened between you and that faithless rogue, and I won't pry.
"As the saying goes, the deeper the love, the harsher the reproach.
"The fact that you chose to freeze your feelings with the ice soul only proves that your affection for him was real, that he left a profound, indelible mark upon your heart.
"In all my centuries of cultivation, I've never seen anyone else so devoted. In the past, I always thought romantic love was illusory, and tossing and turning over it was merely the mortal barrier of perception. It was you, Junior Sister, who changed my perspective.
"The fact that he was persuaded by you to return the sacred relic, helped you draw out its power, and asked for the Yinli Pearl shows he still has some conscience.
"If there truly are feelings between the two of you, why torment yourself?
"Unless he committed an unforgivable wrong, if there's any misunderstanding or knot in your hearts, just take the initiative to untie it. Coyness is unfitting for cultivators like us, and no outside force will stop you.
"For those who pursue the Dao, especially us Nascent Soul cultivators, finding a suitable Dao companion is no easy task. You knew each other before reaching the Nascent Soul stage. His age is likely comparable to yours, and to possess his current cultivation, his talent is no less than your own. In the future, he could accompany you as an enviable immortal couple.
"Freezing Heart with Ice Soul is not a requirement for cultivating the Ice Soul Divine Light.
"Don't worry that 'emotion' will hinder your cultivation, Junior Sister.
"The cultivation world has never lacked dual cultivation arts. The union of man and woman, the balance of yin and yang—it is the natural order of heaven. What we cultivators seek is the Heavenly Dao; deliberately avoiding it and suppressing your true heart is merely inviting internal demons.
"Freezing your feelings with the ice soul is the path of detachment from the mortal world.
"Back then, Senior Duzhong of Zixia Pavilion was trapped at a bottleneck for centuries. He simply left seclusion, sealed all his cultivation, forgot his identity as a cultivator, and entered the mortal realm to take a wife, raise children, and experience birth, aging, illness, death, and the samsara of human life. Through this, he saw through illusion and broke through in a single stroke, an event praised far and wide. That was the path of immersion in the mortal world.
"Tempering the heart has always had the distinction between detachment and immersion. Neither is superior to the other!"
Having poured out all the thoughts suppressed in her heart in a single breath, Shixue paused to catch her breath. Fearing she had expressed herself poorly and caused a misunderstanding, she quickly added, "These are merely my personal views, and I don't know what choice is right for you. I only hope you examine your true heart and do not let a cultivation art obscure it, which would only harm your cultivation instead of helping it."
After listening quietly, Liuli looked at Shixue with sincerity. "Senior Sister, I understand. Thank you."
Shixue let out a dry laugh. "I'm merely theorizing on paper. Just take it with a grain of salt, Junior Sister."
A spell of silence fell.
After flying for a while longer, the two spotted the deserted islet. Soon, a streak of light flew out from the islet—it was Qin Sang, who had sensed their arrival.
Shixue pursed her lips, but her expression quickly smoothed over.
"This poor Daoist is Qingfeng. Greetings to both fairies."
Qin Sang flew forward and cupped his hands in greeting.
Liuli nodded in return.
Maintaining the poise of a lineage head, Shixue held her ground with dignity. "You are too polite! Since you have surely returned the sacred relic, Daoist Qingfeng, you are now a guest elder of our Snow Listening Tower. There is no need for formality between us."
Qin Sang smiled freely. "As a newcomer, I must ask Master Shi to look after me. If I caused any offense before, I hope you and Fairy Liuli can forgive me. I have always traveled alone and grown accustomed to wariness and vigilance; only thus have I survived to this day."
He offered a half-true explanation and an apology.
Though Shixue lacked the strength to cause him trouble, he still needed to use the Snow Listening Tower as a conduit to peek into Xuantian Palace's sacred ground in the future. He did not want the lineage head constantly harboring resentment toward him and tying his hands.
*You still have the nerve to bring that up!* Shixue thought with an internal huff.
However, while she had vented her frustration over her damaged treasure on Qin Sang, she also understood that the root cause was Xuantian Palace setting an ambush, and Qin Sang had merely retaliated. Furthermore, given her junior sister's connection to him, she did not genuinely bear a grudge.
Picking up on a clue from Qin Sang's words, Shixue asked in surprise, "You are an itinerant cultivator?"
"I once had places to shelter, but in the end, I remained a drifter."
Qin Sang glanced at Liuli.
Recalling the past, he had thought he could remain a disciple of Mount Shaohua forever, but the world was unpredictable. Though he had now established Qingyang Temple with his own hands, it could no longer serve as a shelter for him.
Surprise deepened in Shixue's eyes. To achieve such heights as a mere itinerant cultivator was extraordinary. She could not help thinking that it was no wonder her junior sister never forgot him.
Conversing as they went, the three flew together toward Ditong Island.
Remembering something, Shixue scrutinized Qin Sang. "Are you really going to show your true face? If news about you reaches Xuantian Palace in the future, someone might recognize you."
Qin Sang was prepared and reached to produce his bamboo hat.
Shixue brushed her storage bag and produced a mask as thin as a cicada's wing. "This is the Thousand Fox Mask. It can alter your facial features within a certain range seamlessly. I'll lend it to you for now. Your divine sense is formidable; once you put on the Thousand Fox Mask, only the Palace Master and the Grand Elder within Xuantian Palace will be able to see through it with the naked eye. You only need to be cautious of a few people possessing specialized magic treasures and Daoist arts, though they generally only use them in battle to avoid causing offense. Just keep your meetings with them to a minimum."
She deliberately emphasized the word "lend."
Qin Sang paid it no mind, voiced his thanks, and took the Thousand Fox Mask to put on, instantly feeling a refreshing coolness.
With the Thousand Fox Mask over his face, Qin Sang shifted his thoughts. His facial features squirmed in a rather eerie fashion before altering completely, his temperament now resembling an itinerant Daoist who had wandered far and wide.
"Truly exquisite!" Qin Sang praised. He did not know how to craft such specialized treasures. With patient study, he might have been able to forge one, but he would not waste time on such pursuits.
The Thousand Fox Mask only required divine sense to maintain. Having attained materialized divine sense, Qin Sang easily bore the negligible drain.
Before long, Ditong Island came into view.
Qin Sang deliberately lagged a step behind the two women.
Ditong Island had a peculiar shape. Its shores were lined with large, jagged rocks, while the interior was filled with towering ancient trees teeming with vitality, resembling an emerald set into the sea.
No figures could be seen on the island, only the chirping of birds, making it exceptionally tranquil.
Around Ditong Island, a faint, eerie blue light drifted through the void, hazily visible under the sunlight—a peculiar sight that was clearly far from ordinary.
Auspicious light drifted like gentle clouds, and mist swirled.
The three halted their flight outside Ditong Island, observing the treasure island.
Shixue let out a soft exclamation. "Could the Ditong Old Man have known we were coming and closed his doors to guests? Why did he activate the island-protecting grand formation in advance?"
Qin Sang awakened the Heavenly Eye Butterfly and looked deep into Ditong Island.
Everything on the island appeared normal, with no signs of battle.
After a brief hesitation, Shixue stepped forward and sent a streak of light into the formation.
Shortly after, the figure of a pretty young girl walked out from within the formation.
Holding a jade platter covered with a red cloth, the girl stopped inside the boundary of the formation and bowed to the outside. "Junior pays respects to the three seniors."
Noticing the girl was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, Shixue asked directly, "Is your patriarch on the island?"
"The patriarch is in seclusion," the girl replied, neither servile nor overbearing. "Have the three seniors come for the Ditong fruit?"
Shixue nodded. "Indeed."
Hearing this, the girl raised the jade platter high. "This is one Ditong fruit. The patriarch instructed that as long as senior offers treasures or spirit stones of equivalent value in exchange, you may take it."
The three exchanged glances, somewhat surprised that the Ditong Old Man was so willing to part with one.
However, a single Ditong fruit was insufficient for their needs.
Just as Shixue was about to speak, Qin Sang stopped her.
"Take this one first."
Realizing his intent, Shixue held her tongue.
Liuli took out a spirit herb prepared for the trade and tossed it into the formation. After inspecting it, the girl promptly lifted the red cloth and presented the spiritual fruit.
The skin of the Ditong fruit was yellow, shaped like an olive. Once the girl removed the restriction, an icy aura immediately gathered around the fruit—it was a yin-attribute fruit.
After Liuli safely stored the fruit away, Shixue gave a light cough and said, "Please inform your patriarch that we would like to purchase two more."
The girl froze, clearly not expecting the visitors to be so insatiable, and was momentarily at a loss for words.
At that moment, a cold snort echoed across the island, rolling like thunder: "Master Shi, this fruit bears only ten every hundred years, yet you ask for a third of the yield the moment you open your mouth! What is more, experts from your sect's Tianshan lineage came by order not long ago and forcibly demanded three under the pretense of uniting against the demon race. Out of respect for your status as a lineage head of Xuantian Palace, this old man endured the pain of offering one. Do not push your luck; the rest have already been refined by this old man!"
Hearing this, Qin Sang asked in a low voice, "Has the situation deteriorated to such an extent?"
He knew the demon race was stirring up trouble in the Star Sand Islands, but he had not expected a two-front conflict, requiring Xuantian Palace to unite nearby forces against them.
"Great Sage Tianpeng is indeed ambitious, but he still has to get past the Grand Elder," Shixue frowned deeply. "Why haven't I heard of uniting against the demon race? Whose orders were they following—could it be Shanglu's? To dare stir up trouble while the Grand Elder is away, forging orders and ruining the sect's reputation!"
Shanglu was the head of the Tianshan lineage.
After offering this low explanation to Qin Sang, she turned back toward Ditong Island and projected her voice: "Fellow Daoist, did you offer three Ditong fruits as a condition to stay out of the matter?"
"Ditong Island will seal its borders for a century. Please return, everyone."
The Ditong Old Man had no wish to elaborate and moved to see his guests off immediately.
Just then, his tone changed sharply, turning into a fierce roar: "Stop! What are you doing?!"
Without anyone noticing, Qin Sang had flown close to the grand formation, his palm pulsing with true essence as he lightly touched the barrier, causing the nearby light to ripple violently.
The young girl's face drained of color, and she hurriedly fled deeper into the island.
Qin Sang looked up and smiled. "Fellow Daoist, this grand formation of yours has quite a few flaws. If the demon race sets its sights on you, I fear it won't hold for long, and you will find no peace."
"Presumptuous! Who are you to be so rude!" the Ditong Old Man bellowed in rage.
Qin Sang sighed softly. "This concerns my friend's Dao path. I can only choose loyalty over fairness."
As he spoke, Qin Sang's figure flickered, and he pointed an illusory finger toward empty space. The spiritual formation flashed with light, revealing a distinct flaw.
Though this flaw did not undermine the overall structure, the fact that Qin Sang had found one so quickly was startling.
Growing increasingly surprised by Qin Sang, Shixue asked in a low whisper, "You understand formation Dao as well?"
"A little," Qin Sang said modestly.
In truth, having inherited the complete legacy of the Yuanshen Sect and possessing the aid of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, his ability to break formations was extraordinary; even a Great Cultivator might not surpass him.
He could tell that the grand formation of Ditong Island was not top-tier. The Ditong Old Man was only in the early Nascent Soul stage; even if he controlled the formation personally, its variations were limited. Qin Sang wondered how the Ditong Old Man had managed to protect this spiritual tree until now.
Little did he know that the Ditong fruit possessed unique yet narrow effects, aiding only specific cultivators, so truly powerful figures never bothered to contest it with him.
Even so, the Ditong Old Man had shifted his Daoist sanctuary several times. Each relocation severely depleted the vitality of the Ditong spiritual tree. It was only after moving from the depths of the Boundless Sea to the vicinity of the Hidden Sun Realm and maintaining good relations with Xuantian Palace that he had finally settled down.
"You dare!" the Ditong Old Man shouted in alarm and fury. "Xuantian Palace prides itself as a righteous sect, yet acts so despicably! Are you not afraid of becoming the laughingstock of the world?!"
Qin Sang put on a look of sudden realization and said with chagrin, "I nearly committed a grave error! I only met these two fairies by chance and was invited as a guest to Xuantian Palace; I am not a disciple of Xuantian Palace. None of my actions have anything to do with Xuantian Palace. Fairies, please step back, lest my wicked deeds implicate you and tarnish Xuantian Palace's reputation."
At these words, both Liuli and Shixue were struck speechless, yet they readily complied and stepped back.
"You!" The Ditong Old Man was choked with fury.
Dropping his roguish demeanor, Qin Sang turned solemn. "Fellow Daoist Ditong, my earlier words were merely in jest; do not take them to heart. However, since this concerns the Dao path, we cannot give up on the Ditong fruit. I trust Master Shi's terms will not leave you at a loss. As compensation, I can help you refine and perfect your island-protecting grand formation free of charge. I urge you to think it over."
Shixue chimed in at the right moment, offering her terms and expressing a willingness to pay above market value.
The Ditong Old Man fell silent.
He was uncertain whether Qin Sang was bluffing. Claiming he could break the island-protecting grand formation that had been painstakingly laid out sounded exceedingly arrogant.
Yet Qin Sang's performance just now was truly shocking, and he had to consider the possibility.
If this solitary man truly broke through the formation, where would his dignity lie?
Furthermore, Shixue seemed determined to obtain three Ditong fruits, brook no refusal.
Had Shixue summoned the forces under the Snow Listening Tower to mount a massive siege against Ditong Island and overwhelm him by force, he would not have feared it. Xuantian Palace was not monolithic, and the grievance could be brought all the way to Lingxiao Peak.
Now, however, the situation was awkward.
While the Ditong Old Man was pondering, Qin Sang did not pause, swiftly locating two more flaws. The Ditong Old Man quickly altered the formation to cover them up, but his eyelids twitched wildly.
Seeing that the Ditong Old Man remained silent, Qin Sang was also muttering internally.
He had talked big just now, but this was a Nascent Soul sanctuary after all. Even if he could break the formation, it would take considerable effort and definitely require him to exert his full strength, exposing his identity.
After a long silence, the Ditong Old Man asked in a raspy voice, "Can you truly perfect this formation?"
"You have two choices. First, I can perfect this formation for you free of charge. Second, I can forge an entirely new defensive grand formation for you with power far surpassing this one, though you will need to gather the spiritual materials yourself," Qin Sang said, standing in place and taking the opportunity to solicit a client.
Having mastered artifact refinement, he ought to have had plenty of income rather than being so financially tight.
Unfortunately, he was always either in bitter cultivation or wandering abroad, leaving no time for such endeavors.
"Hiring you won't be free, will it?" The Ditong Old Man snorted. "Let this old man see your abilities first!"
Before his voice died away, the light of the spiritual formation flickered and parted to both sides, revealing a path.
***
Seven days later.
Three figures flew out from Ditong Island and headed straight east—Qin Sang and the two women.
The light of the spiritual formation over Ditong Island rippled like an eerie blue eggshell covering the sea surface, appearing noticeably denser and sturdier than before, before fading from sight.
Qin Sang had spent seven days helping the Ditong Old Man refine the grand formation. Although its overall power increased by less than ten percent, its most fatal flaws had all been mended.
Unexpectedly, the Ditong Old Man deemed the spiritual formation sufficient for now and was not ready to commission Qin Sang further.
Fortunately, they had obtained the other two Ditong fruits, and the Ditong Old Man had voluntarily lowered his asking price.
"Thank you."
Seeing the faint exhaustion between Qin Sang's brows, Liuli knew he had expended considerable mental energy.
Shixue's attitude toward Qin Sang had also changed considerably. "We owe this success to Elder Qingfeng. Once we return, my sister and I will certainly reward you handsomely."
Qin Sang waved his hand. "There is no need for grand rewards. As a guest elder of the Snow Listening Tower, this was merely my duty. If Master Shi feels I have done my part, I only hope you will do your utmost to secure my eligibility to observe the sacred ground. Additionally, there is one more matter I wish to consult Master Shi about: does a guest elder have the qualification to exchange for a Kanchen Pearl?"
He had given up the Kanchen Pearl for the seven-story pagoda.
That pearl could be refined by his external incarnation to boost its cultivation, so he had to find another way to acquire one.
Before Shixue could answer, Liuli said, "After entering the sacred ground, I will secure one for you."
"I am indebted to you, Fairy. Whatever terms are required, I shall provide!"
Qin Sang cupped his hands in gratitude.
Having gone through this affair together, the three were no longer so distant and had grown considerably more familiar.
Traveling eastward, Shixue introduced the Snow Listening Tower and Xuantian Palace to him in detail.
Though the Snow Listening Tower ranked last among the four lineages, it was still one of the four primary branches. An emaciated camel was still bigger than a horse; it possessed no small number of Nascent Soul cultivators, including a mid-Nascent Soul expert who currently served as Master of Yuanji Hall in Xuantian Palace.
Regrettably, that elder was advanced in age and could hardly carry the branch alone.
Within Xuantian Palace, the Palace Master had to hail from the Xuantian lineage, while the position of Grand Elder had to be occupied by the foremost expert outside the Xuantian lineage, not even restricted to the primary lineages.
The current Grand Elder, Tong Lingyu, hailed from Zixia Pavilion.
Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators could serve as elders or hall masters, but holding those posts precluded them from concurrently serving as lineage heads, which was why Shixue held the position of lineage head for the Snow Listening Tower.
***
Without realizing it, the three entered the Hidden Sun Realm, flying across the vast snowy plains until they finally reached the Snow Listening Tower located in the northern region.
Compared to Lingxiao Peak and the Seventy-Two Springs, the mountain range occupied by the Snow Listening Tower appeared exceptionally refined and delicate.
The snow-capped mountains meandered deep within the snowy plains without any prominent peaks.
Following them into the mountain-protecting grand formation, Qin Sang cast his gaze around and found exquisite pavilions and towers adorning every peak, their design and layout arranged with great care.
Shixue and Liuli brought Qin Sang back quietly, keeping a low profile so as not to alert others.
They planned to announce Qin Sang's appointment as a guest elder in two years; otherwise, the timing would be too close to the appearance of the mysterious expert on Hunmo Island, which could easily invite suspicion.
Leading Qin Sang to the rear mountains, Shixue pointed to a two-story pavilion and said, "I must trouble you to stay here for the time being, Daoist."
Qin Sang opened his eyes to examine it.
The pavilion was built near the mountain summit upon a protruding boulder. The front courtyard was unobstructed, offering an expansive view; standing on the second floor, one could gaze out across the boundless snowscape.
The place was quiet and secluded, free from disturbance, with formations arranged around it.
More importantly, the spiritual energy was dense enough to make it an excellent cave dwelling.
Qin Sang was very pleased. He expressed his thanks, then remembered something and asked hurriedly, "Is there a subterranean yin vein nearby?"
Cultivating the *Cold Nether Returning Yin* required a subterranean yin vein to temper the spiritual vessel of the Nascent Soul talisman puppet.
Shixue had already heard that Qin Sang intended to refine an external incarnation, so she pointed toward the northeast. "Three hundred li in that direction lies a subterranean yin vein. However, it is not continuous—it is broken in places and varies in strength. You will need to seek out a suitable spot yourself, Daoist."
With that, Shixue and Liuli took their leave.
Qin Sang entered the pavilion, activated the formation, and laid down several layers of his own restrictions.
Ascending to the second floor, he watched the snowscape for a while before reflecting upon his own circumstances.
Xuantian Palace's sacred ground would open in ten years.
During this time, he needed to enhance his strength as much as possible.
The Solar Sacred Tree could evolve on its own.
There were actually few matters that required his direct attention.
He planned to remain at the Snow Listening Tower for a period, comprehending the *Seven Master Buddhist Seals* while utilizing the subterranean yin vein to cultivate the *Cold Nether Returning Yin*. Once the external incarnation showed promise, he would set off for Hundred Flowers Valley to trade with Valley Master Mu for the Nether Yin Soil, the final spiritual material needed for the Spirit Ascension Sacrifice.
Time was not pressing.
Thinking of these matters, Qin Sang slowly closed his eyes, the passages of *Cold Nether Returning Yin* surfacing in his mind.
Chapter 1465