Hearing Qin Sang's words, Tong Lingyu fell silent for a short while before speaking in a solemn voice. "The Tianshan branch has formidable strength and has never been content with its lot. Arguments arose long ago among them claiming they shouldn't merely enjoy the resources and authority of a single main branch. Several internal conflicts in Xuantian Palace were fueled by their instigations. Only by reaping immense benefits during the decline of the other eight branches could they have flourished to this extent."
It seemed Tong Lingyu was preparing to make an example of the Tianshan branch.
Qin Sang looked thoughtful and nodded. "What do you plan to do, Fellow Daoist?"
"The Tianshan branch has many factions, but those divisions are strictly internal; they have always presented a united front to the outside world. Others within their ranks could hardly have failed to notice Shang Lu's schemes. Even if they didn't assist him in secret, they acquiesced. The Tianshan branch is fiercely ambitious and has grown too large to control. Senior Brother Luo and I are in a weakened state. If we leave them unchecked any longer, they will inevitably become a malignant tumor on the sect. The ringleaders go without saying, but the others cannot escape blame either. They may be spared death, but punishment cannot be avoided. Once merits and faults are sorted out, each will be dealt with accordingly..."
Tong Lingyu had clearly conceived this plan well in advance and weighed it with great care.
Had Old Man Hunmo, Great Sage Tianpeng, and the other fiends not been suppressed beneath the Linglong Treasure Pagoda, this would have been Xuantian Palace's most precarious hour.
Beset by troubles both within and without, even if Tong Lingyu harbored such intentions, she would have had to keep them buried in her chest, doing her utmost to unite every branch of the sect against foreign aggression. It would have been nearly impossible to muster the resolve to sever a limb to purge this deep-seated internal rot.
If that triggered civil strife, the demons and fiends would surely seize the opportunity.
Yet now, the pinnacle figures among the demons had been wiped out in a single sweep.
The demon race could barely look after itself.
Though the Nine-Headed Great Sage remained the sole late-stage expert in the North Sea, the other demon kings had suffered heavy casualties. Fearful that humanity might unite and strike while they were vulnerable, how could they dare provoke Xuantian Palace of their own accord?
The demonic factions of the Boundless Sea were in no better shape. For now, the skies were clear and the world was tranquil.
With no imminent threat pressing from beyond Xuantian Palace, Yin Changsheng's descent into demonic madness served as the perfect pretext to cleanse their ranks and scrape the poison from the bone.
However, Tong Lingyu's prestige fell short of Yin Changsheng's, and having lost her spirit treasure, she would find it difficult to thoroughly cow every faction, leaving her hands tied.
Tong Lingyu knew Qin Sang was a formidable ally. By joining forces with him, every difficulty would be solved with ease. Though his disposition did not lean toward evil, she still harbored immense wariness toward him.
Her all-out effort to heal Luo Yun stemmed partly from their many years of camaraderie, but also so that she would have someone to counter Qin Sang in the future.
Tong Lingyu had interacted little with Qin Sang and could hardly claim to know his true character. One could never be too cautious around others.
Having just had her life saved by him, she could not burn her bridges, and in truth, she had no desire to make an enemy of Qin Sang.
Her earlier attempt to tempt him with the position of Grand Elder had been a test.
Qin Sang had refused decisively. Even if she could not be certain whether that was his genuine sentiment or merely a facade, it allowed Tong Lingyu to rest a little easier.
Thereupon, a tacit understanding formed between the two: they would divide the Tianshan branch and demote it to a subsidiary branch!
Qin Sang was quite pleased. When the Tianshan branch was carved up, he was bound to return with a bountiful harvest.
"What about the Xuantian branch?" Qin Sang asked again.
"The Xuantian branch consists primarily of the Yin and Luo clans. Through generations of intermarriage, the two families have become inextricably entwined. Yin Changsheng possessed unmatched prestige and ruled over the Xuantian branch for years without anyone daring to challenge him."
As she spoke, Tong Lingyu glanced at Qin Sang. Both Yin Changsheng and Hall Master Yin had met their downfall at his hands.
"I will approach the Luo clan first and bring Senior Brother Luo before them to clarify the truth of the matter. If any prove stubbornly obstinate, I will have to trouble Fellow Daoist Qin to step in. Taking Yin Changsheng's past contributions into account, his descendants will be demoted out of the main branch, pending their future conduct..."
Tong Lingyu intended to weaken the Xuantian branch while still preserving its status as a main branch.
In the future, Xuantian Palace would stand upon a tripod of three powers, preventing any direct clash over sect affairs between her and Qin Sang before she broke through to the late Nascent Soul stage.
Qin Sang rarely engaged in power struggles, but that did not mean he was slow-witted. He saw through Tong Lingyu's thoughts with utter clarity.
His heart was set solely on seeking the Dao, devoid of any ambition to control Xuantian Palace. He could not care less about Tong Lingyu's wariness.
As long as he received what he desired.
Qin Sang tapped his fingers lightly against the table. "Unworthy as I am, several decades ago I founded a sect named Qingyang Temple. It is a humble, minor establishment that cannot bear comparison with Xuantian Palace."
Qin Sang spoke of Qingyang Temple and his own origins.
Learning that Qin Sang hailed from the Beichen Realm, Tong Lingyu felt no surprise. Otherwise, how could a figure of his caliber have remained utterly unknown in the North Sea?
Tong Lingyu furrowed her brows slightly. "Fellow Daoist, do you mean to..."
"I wish to find a place in the Boundless Sea to establish a foothold for my heritage in the North Sea as well. When the time comes, I hope Fellow Daoist and Xuantian Palace will offer some care and assistance," Qin Sang said calmly.
Compared to the North Sea, the Beichen Realm felt far too cramped.
With ancient secret realms like the Ziwei Palace and Sin God Palace no longer existing, the Beichen Realm had lost its greatest advantages.
Now that the demon fiends were suppressed, the demonic path in the North Sea was extraordinarily feeble and the Boundless Sea lay empty—making this the prime moment to claim territory.
If he personally took action, seizing a prime island for a sect mountain would cost him little effort.
Qin Sang intended to borrow the Ten Directions Earth-Cleaving Divine Shuttle from Liuli to relocate a batch of disciples.
The Beichen Realm was the land of his rise and could not be abandoned entirely.
When he had leisure, Qin Sang planned to spend some time attempting to search for that path through the storm belt to prevent the two branches of Qingyang Temple from being severed from each other.
Possessing the Moon-Gazing Rhinoceros horn, he had no fear of losing his way, so the danger was minimal.
However, in mentioning this to Tong Lingyu, Qin Sang's purpose was not merely to foster good relations between Qingyang Temple and Xuantian Palace.
The Sacred Ground of Xuantian Palace truly lived up to its name, harboring numerous treasured locations from which low-level cultivators could reap immense benefits.
If he could send a few disciples of Qingyang Temple inside, a steady stream of experts would emerge, ensuring the temple's enduring prosperity!
Qingyang Temple had only him as a Nascent Soul cultivator. Qin Sang was not greedy; he made no designs on treasures or opportunities above the Nascent Soul realm, asking only for several quotas for places akin to the Ice Wind Cave.
With the Tianshan branch ceasing to exist, a good number of slots would surely be freed up.
Tong Lingyu looked solemn, seemingly pondering the matter thoroughly, yet in truth she let out a silent breath of relief. So long as Qin Sang was not asking Qingyang Temple to replace the Tianshan branch as a main branch, everything was open to discussion.
She could sense that Qin Sang acted with great restraint, and she gradually began to believe that his dedication to the Dao was no facade.
The Sacred Ground's location had already been exposed. Sharing a sliver of its benefits with Qingyang Temple to remain on good terms with Qin Sang was something Tong Lingyu was more than willing to do.
"There is no precedent for such an arrangement, but I will do everything in my power!" Tong Lingyu promised in a deep voice.
"I shall likewise assist you with all my strength, Fellow Daoist," Qin Sang replied with a smile and a nod.
His actions appeared a bit hasty, having willingly surrendered a great deal.
Given more time to digest what he had obtained in the Sacred Ground, his strength would surge. With just a little maneuvering in Xuantian Palace, he could secure far greater benefits for both the Snow Listening Tower and Qingyang Temple, and Tong Lingyu would be powerless to stop him.
However, time was precisely what Qin Sang lacked.
He had already resolved that, if at all possible, he would set off for Zhongzhou as soon as he could—the sooner, the better!
After leaving the Sacred Ground, Qin Sang had taken time to carefully peruse the remaining contents of the jade slip.
It contained many accounts of Xiaoxiangzi's experiences in Zhongzhou, which filled Qin Sang with ever-growing yearning the more he read.
According to Xiaoxiangzi's descriptions, Zhongzhou was where myriad wonders and spiritual vitality converged—the true core of this world!
Times had changed, and most of Xiaoxiangzi's notes could only be taken as curiosities.
Unexpectedly, near the end, Qin Sang had spotted an entry that set his heart pounding.
During his travels in Zhongzhou, Xiaoxiangzi had once stumbled upon a Buddha-bone relic left behind by a monk of great virtue.
The monk's successor believed it to be nothing more than an ordinary relic, but Xiaoxiangzi discerned that a profound mystery lay hidden within, one with the potential to aid a Nascent Soul cultivator in achieving a breakthrough!
The relic was useless to Xiaoxiangzi, so he had refrained from taking it without permission, merely recording it as a curious anomaly.
If no one else had uncovered its secret yet, that Buddha-bone relic might still be there!
This was the very first opportunity Qin Sang had encountered to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage. It was well worth making the journey.
The trouble lay in the fact that traveling from the North Sea to Zhongzhou was no simple task.
The road to Zhongzhou was exceedingly distant. The shelters were by no means connected in a straight line; the winding path spanned untold multiples of the direct distance.
Even with the sea chart in hand, perilous hazards dotted the journey, requiring an agonizingly long trek. Only in the late Nascent Soul stage would one have substantial assurance of success.
Yet if he could break through to the late Nascent Soul stage on his own, why would he rack his brains searching for the Buddha-bone relic?
There was another option: relying on external aid.
Immortal cultivators excelled at utilizing magic treasures, and Qin Sang's thoughts turned immediately to Liuli's Ten Directions Earth-Cleaving Divine Shuttle.
Qin Sang could tell that the origins of the divine shuttle were extraordinary; he had no idea where Bing Yao had acquired it. Even if Qin Sang were willing to imitate it, expending immense mental effort and time to forge a similar treasure, he would be unable to balance all its varied powers to match it.
Qin Sang planned to borrow the Ten Directions Earth-Cleaving Divine Shuttle first to confirm whether it could assist him through the storm belt to reach Zhongzhou, before discussing the matter with Liuli.
Since the treasure had been bestowed by her master, Liuli would likely be unwilling to part with it in a trade.
If he could persuade her to journey to Zhongzhou alongside him, that would be even better; in a strange and distant land, the two could watch over each other.
With the passage of countless ages, no one knew where the Buddha-bone relic might have drifted by now. Naturally, setting off sooner was better, allowing him to cultivate while conducting his search.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he would likely not linger in the North Sea for long, making it impossible to personally oversee Qingyang Temple indefinitely.
Leaving some enduring legacy for Qingyang Temple before his departure was the only thing he could do.
Thus, Qin Sang had practiced moderation, securing tangible benefits without causing Xuantian Palace to harbor reservations against Qingyang Temple.
Heading to Zhongzhou, the road ahead was uncertain, and there was no telling when he might return. Having paved the path for Qingyang Temple, how far it could go in the future would depend on the capability and fortune of its descendants.
Sensing Qin Sang's goodwill, Tong Lingyu's mind eased, and she proceeded to discuss the specific details with him.
Once their plans were settled, Tong Lingyu rose and departed, yielding the cave dwelling to Qin Sang so he could seize the moment to recuperate and build up his strength.
Once the group regained their peak power and returned to Xuantian Palace, conflict would be inevitable.
After seeing Tong Lingyu off, Qin Sang sealed the cave dwelling. He sat quietly for a time before turning his attention to sorting through what he had gained from this excursion.
Being dragged into the subterranean cavern by Yin Changsheng had been the greatest crisis he had faced since advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.
Fortunately, he had triumphed in the end, and the harvest from this journey surpassed all expectations!
The Fourfold Tengshe Seal had already been handed over to Liuli; once she comprehended the Treasure Mastery Formula, his incarnation would be able to wield a genuine spirit treasure!
At this thought, Qin Sang glanced at the external incarnation seated cross-legged beside him, amused that his incarnation had obtained a spirit treasure before his true self.
Next, Qin Sang partially closed his eyes, sinking his consciousness into his sea of qi to examine the Earth Killing Sword.
After merging with the two fragments, no new changes had manifested in the Earth Killing Sword, nor had the sword spirit offered any response.
Qin Sang detached a wisp of divine sense to brush against the blade, but after trying for a long while to no avail, he had no choice but to give up.
He sighed internally. Having now gathered four fragments of the Earth Killing Sword, the sword spirit's recovery rate ought to be faster than before; it was just a matter of when it would awaken.
This cultivation technique was clearly bound to the Earth Killing Sword by deep ties. The sword spirit ought to know the technique, right?
Thinking of the amnesiac Bai, Qin Sang felt less certain.
Experience had taught Qin Sang never to pin all his hopes on a single individual.
Xiaoxiangzi likely had not known of the technique's existence; otherwise, why would he fail to mention a single word about it?
The technique Qin Sang had seen back at the bottom of the Nether Valley had been inscribed nearby using sword qi.
The sword qi had formed a terrifying storm that lingered for years without dissipating, veiling the technique until Qingzhu helped him clear a path to view it.
Barring any surprises, the other portions of the technique ought to be near the fragments as well.
Qin Sang suspected that Xiaoxiangzi might not have been the first person to come into contact with the fragments.
Going to Zhongzhou, several immediate tasks awaited him.
First was the Buddha-bone relic.
Second was gathering news regarding the Hall of Tiantong and the Hall of Tianxiang; if the sword qi storms had not yet dispersed, he might still obtain the technique from their original locations.
Third was tracing Xiaoxiangzi's past experiences to investigate who had retrieved the Earth Killing Sword fragments.
Fourth was searching Zhongzhou for a sea chart leading to the Canglang Ocean.
And fifth, locating the Ghost Mother.
Zhongzhou was exceedingly vast. None of these tasks would be easy to accomplish, akin to searching for a needle in the ocean, requiring far more than a single day's labor.
In his experience, ancient secret realms could not open whenever one pleased; missing an opening might mean waiting several centuries, which was precisely why Qin Sang was so eager to set out.
There were many lingering worries as well.
The Hall of Seven Kills and the Ziwei Palace were interconnected, opening and closing at the same time.
What impact would the ascension of the Ziwei Palace have on the Hall of Seven Kills?
What about the Hall of Tiantong and the Hall of Tianxiang?
Did similar grand halls exist in this world as well?
Could they... also have ascended?
Too many matters demanded confirmation.
He was entirely alone in the world. Once Qingyang Temple was settled, the North Sea held nothing to keep him tethered; cultivating anywhere was much the same.
Setting aside his scattered thoughts, Qin Sang silently circulated his profound art, settling into deep meditation to experience the effects of the Body Cleansing Pool.
His current cultivation speed already surpassed that of dual spiritual roots, which was by no means slow.
The moment he circulated his technique, the spiritual energy surrounding Qin Sang churned into motion, swiftly devoured and refined by him. His cultivation speed had increased conspicuously compared to before.
In a single breath, Qin Sang completed eighty-one heavenly cycles. Stirred by a realization, he awakened from meditation, a touch of delight surfacing on his face.
"Even a heavenly spiritual root amounts to little more than this!" Qin Sang marveled repeatedly.
The effects of the Body Cleansing Pool were exceptional; Qin Sang had undergone a true metamorphosis.
He wondered whether there were benefits beyond the mere speed of cultivation.
For now, he could sense no other changes, but he could explore them slowly in the future.
Whenever he thought of the gulf between five spiritual roots and a heavenly spiritual root, Qin Sang felt a pang of sorrow; comparisons truly were odious.
Halting his cultivation, Qin Sang recalled another harvest: two sticks of Spirit-Calming Incense.
While useless for his own cultivation, it was a treasure coveted by other immortal cultivators—even Great Cultivators would be tempted by it—making it the finest bargaining chip.
He would see whether Xuantian Palace possessed any treasures worthy of him trading a stick of Spirit-Calming Incense. If not, he would take them to Zhongzhou.
The cultivators of Zhongzhou would surely be no exception to such desires, and the incense might prove of great use there.
At this thought, Qin Sang retrieved a jade box he had refined for storing treasures and carefully stowed the incense away.
In addition, Xiaoxiangzi had recorded the method for refining Spirit-Calming Incense on the jade slip.
Unlike ordinary medicinal pills, refining the Spirit-Calming Incense was not difficult and could be accomplished without being an alchemy grandmaster. However, the spiritual herbs required—both in sheer quantity and grade—were staggering, virtually impossible for an ordinary person to assemble.
At present, Qin Sang could only produce the Myriad Spirit Fruit.
In the future, he would pay attention to gathering the spiritual herbs needed for the Spirit-Calming Incense, though he truly lacked the confidence that he could ever collect them all.
Chapter 1514