"What if the treasure is no longer where it was? How am I supposed to find it?"
Qin Sang briefly skimmed the contents of the jade slip.
Unsurprisingly, the restrictions around the perimeter of the Body Cleansing Pool were not set in stone. Each lineage jealously guarded its own knowledge, making it impossible to map out all the patterns governing the barriers. More often than not, he would simply have to adapt on the fly.
He was concerned that the restrictions deep inside the Body Cleansing Pool had shifted as well, causing the treasure to drift elsewhere.
Moreover, forcing his way to the bottom might trigger unpredictable disturbances.
Bing Yao had lacked sufficient strength back then and knew very little about the conditions at the bottom of the pool. Relying solely on the information in the jade slip, Qin Sang could not form an accurate assessment.
His cultivation technique differed from that of Liuli and her master, so he could not sense the faint fluctuations of the treasure.
Furthermore, the Ice Soul Divine Light sealed within the talisman Liuli provided was an inanimate force, capable only of dislodging the treasure once found.
The space at the bottom of the Body Cleansing Pool was not particularly large, but it was riddled with ancient restrictions.
Once the allotted time expired, the pool would shut automatically and exert a powerful repulsive force. Even with the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's aid, it would be impossible for Qin Sang to search every inch of the place.
"There shouldn't be anything else at the bottom of the pool..."
Liuli's brow furrowed slightly. After a moment of thought, she disclosed another secret.
"At the bottom of the pool, Master once sensed a familiar resonance remarkably similar to Taotie Lake, another restricted area in the sacred grounds. She suspected the restrictions in both places might be connected.
"However, even if the two areas are linked, one would need tremendous cultivation to exert any influence on the Body Cleansing Pool from the outside.
"Master originally planned to wait until she was strong enough, then coordinate with an entering disciple to stage a concerted effort from both inside and outside to secure the treasure. Regrettably, not long after emerging from the sacred grounds that time, Master left Xuantian Palace and never had the opportunity to return.
"When the time comes, I will enter Taotie Lake at the same time and trigger the restrictions on the lakebed. But my cultivation is limited, so I doubt I can be of much help to you."
Speaking of her master brought a flicker of sorrow to Liuli's face. She offered a brief explanation: "Master once said that with this treasure's aid, the Ice Soul Divine Light—even at great completion—can be further refined, producing wondrous transformations. Originally, it was meant to help save Master, but now that is no longer possible. For me, what matters more is seizing the chance while refining the treasure to make another push at my bottleneck."
Liuli had not ignored the possibility of failing her breakthrough; she had prepared a backup plan long ago. She had been confident that the opportunity to enter the Body Cleansing Pool would persuade Qin Sang.
So long as she could cross this hurdle, she could slowly deal with the brand of the sinister art later.
Understanding dawned on Qin Sang. *So that's how it is.*
Looking at Liuli, he could not help but think of himself.
At this moment, Qin Sang finally found a trace of common ground between them.
Though their convictions differed and their choices were distinct, their experiences were surprisingly similar.
Qin Sang, too, had been plagued by the hidden perils of a sinister art, relentlessly searching for a remedy and never giving up, progressing step-by-step until he reached where he stood today.
Now, Liuli was walking the same path.
Only by taking one step at a time and braving countless hardships and obstacles could one eventually see the clouds part and the sun shine through.
"Regardless of whether it works, an extra layer of preparation never hurts," Qin Sang said, immediately discussing the operational details with her.
Before long.
Qin Sang and Liuli emerged from the dwelling side by side and flew toward the main peak.
Inside the lineage head's grand hall, Shi Xue was absently tending to routine affairs. Catching sight of the pair at the doorway, she set down her jade slip at once, rose, and asked repeatedly, "Have you two reached an agreement?"
Qin Sang and Liuli nodded in unison.
Shi Xue looked them over from head to toe, a faint smile touching the corners of her lips. "A match made in heaven indeed! All right, jokes aside, I shall draft the notices now and have them sent to Lingxiao Peak and the other lineages. With the demon race pressing our borders in these turbulent times, there is no need to be bound by tedious mundane formalities. We will ask Hall Master Jiang to select an auspicious day, and when the wedding day arrives, we can simply invite all lineages to witness the ceremony..."
She understood that Qin Sang and Liuli were merely putting on an act rather than truly becoming Dao companions.
Formal proposals, betrothal gifts, and the like could all be omitted to keep matters simple.
Even so, a few essential rituals were unavoidable.
Liuli was the last disciple of the previous lineage head of Snow Listening Tower and the junior sister of the current lineage head. The grand ceremony had to be carried out with dignity and splendor, lest it diminish the reputation of Snow Listening Tower.
At their core, immortal cultivators were not so different from mortals.
Shi Xue had already formed a plan for this. Snow Listening Tower's disciples would naturally shoulder the labor, sparing Qin Sang and Liuli any trouble.
Listening to Shi Xue ramble on, Qin Sang felt a fleeting sense of unreality. Since devoting his life to the immortal path, he had never imagined a day would come when he would have a grand wedding—let alone one so elaborate.
With his temperament, even if he were genuinely taking a fellow Daoist as his companion, he would never make such a huge fuss. At most, he would set up ancestral tablets in his cave dwelling and pay respects to his parents from his past life to bring himself a measure of comfort.
Shi Xue was remarkably enthusiastic, growing more animated as she listed each detail, until she suddenly remembered something. "I nearly forgot! Before the ceremony, you two must visit Lingxiao Peak to pay your respects to the Palace Master and the Grand Elder. In particular, since the Daoist was not originally a disciple of Xuantian Palace, this custom cannot be neglected. The sooner, the better."
A trace of worry crossed her face. "The Palace Master has piercing insight. Are you certain you can deceive him?"
When immortal cultivators became Dao companions, they were bound by shared purpose and harmonized Dao resonance, which could not easily be faked—unlike mortals, who became husband and wife merely by staging a wedding.
Qin Sang and Liuli exchanged a glance. "It should not be a problem."
"That is good, then."
Shi Xue did not pry, choosing to trust them. "Wait a moment. I will write a personal letter for you to take to Yuanji Hall and hand to Hall Master Jiang. It is high time the Daoist met Martial Senior Jiang as well."
Next, Shi Xue struck the ancient bell, summoning the disciples of each peak to prepare to publicly announce Qin Sang's status as a guest elder alongside the joyous news.
As the chimes rang out, figures soared from the various peaks.
The members of Snow Listening Tower, including two Nascent Soul cultivators resting in the mountains after returning from the battlefield, gathered at the main peak one after another.
While Qin Sang and Liuli waited in the hall, Liuli gazed toward Lingxiao Peak. After a moment's hesitation, she sent a voice transmission: "Beware of the Palace Master."
"Hm?"
Qin Sang's expression instantly froze. He stared at Liuli with a searching gaze.
Remaining quiet for a beat, Liuli explained, "Before my departure, Master warned me of this. She said that every time she faced the Palace Master, she felt an inexplicable sense of dread. Years ago, not long after emerging from the sacred grounds, Master left Xuantian Palace alone. During her travels, she encountered a great opportunity and discovered Ice Soul Stellar Essence, breaking through to the late Nascent Soul stage in a very short time. Yet rather than return to Xuantian Palace, she crossed the Storm Belt to Beichen Realm. Even when trapped in Ziwei Palace, Master forbade me from seeking help from the Palace Master."
"The reason?" Qin Sang demanded in a low voice.
A look of perplexity appeared in Liuli's eyes. "Perhaps Master was not entirely sure either; it was merely an intuition. Cultivating the Ice Soul Divine Light makes one's spiritual sense sharper and clearer than ordinary people's. She only said that if I returned to the sect and the Palace Master had not yet fallen, I should stay as far from him as possible, and avoid being alone with him at all costs."
Qin Sang's brow knit tightly. After pondering for a long time, he looked up and asked, "I heard that Yin Changsheng belongs to an era preceding Old Man Hunmo's."
"Yes," Liuli nodded.
Chapter 1475