"Back when the Temple Master founded Qingyang Temple, the worthies of the Beichen Realm all assembled, and Nascent Soul Patriarchs gathered like clouds. With a single strike of his sword, the Temple Master sheared away the cliff face without causing the mountain to tremble or raising a speck of dust, aweing all the great figures until none dared dispute his prowess. It has long been told as a celebrated tale..."
Tan Yi'en pointed toward the great characters carved into the precipice, extolling Qin Sang's accomplishments at length.
Founding the sect had merely been one part of it.
His words set the young disciples' blood boiling, filling them with the utmost reverence for the mysterious Temple Master.
Taking this in, Tan Yi'en nodded to himself with a smile on his lips, an expectant look on his face.
Qin Sang was entirely hands-off.
Li Yufu, Meigu, Shangguan Lifeng, and the others were all devoted to the Dao; if they were not in secluded cultivation, they were traveling abroad seeking opportunities for breakthrough.
So long as major decisions were not involved, they hardly ever interfered with Tan Yi'en.
Tan Yi'en had a free hand in running the sect.
Turning his gaze away from the disciples, he looked out across the magnificent domain of Qingyang Temple, where everything flourished in vibrant competition.
That Qingyang Temple had achieved what it had today was also thanks to his efforts!
Becoming the premier sect of the Xiaohan Realm, or even the entire Beichen Realm, was only a matter of time.
At the thought, Tan Yi'en felt spirited and invigorated, thoroughly enjoying this feeling.
"Take them to the rear mountain dormitories first..."
Tan Yi'en turned to say to a young man beside him.
Before his voice faded, a crimson cloud flew in from the mountain gate.
It was Bai Hanqiu's flying magic tool, which Qin Sang had personally re-refined for her. Its flight speed rivaled that of a magic treasure, making it unique within Qingyang Temple.
A smile broke across Tan Yi'en's face. "Hanqiu is back... Hm? Who is this?"
The crimson cloud touched down before Tan Yi'en, revealing Bai Hanqiu and an expensively dressed youth.
Bai Hanqiu had long shed her youthful naivety, carrying herself with grace and poise.
The youth had delicate features, dressed in brocade with a jade pendant hanging at his waist. Despite his tender age, he held an air of dignity, clearly a young lord born of nobility.
Facing cultivators of legend, the youth clenched his fists and showed a hint of restraint, yet his eyes did not falter as he gathered his courage to meet Tan Yi'en's appraising gaze.
Of course, this was also because Tan Yi'en had not released the aura of a Core Formation stage cultivator.
Bai Hanqiu was Qin Sang's disciple; though her cultivation was not high, her standing within Qingyang Temple was exceedingly prominent. If she had personally brought him here, this youth's identity was likely...
Tan Yi'en gave Bai Hanqiu an inquiring look.
Bai Hanqiu nodded and said in a solemn voice, "This child is named Qin Niansui, from a collateral branch of the Qin family. His bloodline has already been verified... three spiritual roots!"
As an imperial royal family, the Qin family had branched out and multiplied over the past few centuries into a massive clan with countless collateral lineages.
Qin Niansui was the sole member of the Qin family found to possess spiritual roots.
"The Qin family! Three spiritual roots!"
Tan Yi'en took a deep breath, overjoyed. "The Temple Master finally has a successor from his own kin!"
The two exchanged voice transmissions discussing how to arrange Qin Niansui's placement, even considering whether to disturb Li Yufu and the others to consult on who should accept him as an apprentice.
Right at that moment, a faint ripple stirred near the mountain gate, completely unnoticed by the guarding disciples.
Then, two figures materialized out of thin air beside Tan Yi'en and Bai Hanqiu.
Tan Yi'en was the first to sense something amiss. He paled in shock, but once he saw who had arrived, his alarm turned to joy, and he bent low in homage. "This disciple greets the Temple Master..."
Midway through his bow, Tan Yi'en finally saw the face of the person standing behind Qin Sang.
Tan Hao had not concealed his cultivation, and his eyes were filled with warmth and affection as he looked upon him.
"Father..."
Tan Yi'en froze on the spot, tongue-tied and wide-eyed.
He had known Qin Sang would search for his father on this trip to the North Sea, but he never expected him to find him so quickly—and even less had he anticipated that his father had become a Nascent Soul Patriarch!
Bai Hanqiu did not recognize Tan Hao, but she curtsied gracefully toward Qin Sang, paying homage to her master.
Yet someone was even quicker than her.
Seeing that Qin Sang looked identical to the ancestral master depicted in the portraits, Qin Niansui dropped to his knees without hesitation, his forehead striking the ground as he called out in a crisp voice, "Unworthy descendant Qin Niansui greets the Ancestor!"
"Niansui..."
Gazing at the young member of the Qin clan, Qin Sang was unexpectedly reminded of the time when he had first arrived in this world, searching for the immortal path back in the Great Sui.
Not understanding what was on Qin Sang's mind, Qin Niansui did not dare raise his head and honestly explained, "Your grandson's original name was Qin Yaowu. Before my departure, His Majesty bestowed upon me the name Niansui."
Qin Sang let out a faint chuckle in his heart.
He did not even know how many generations down from Qin Sanwa the current emperor was.
He had virtually no affection for the Qin family's descendants; putting the Qin family on the imperial throne had merely been a way to repay this body.
Now that the Qin family had produced another disciple with talent for cultivation—and one with three spiritual roots at that—it was a fresh start.
His obligations were truly fulfilled.
"Take him to practice together with those disciples and send him to the dormitories," Qin Sang said to the young man waiting at the side.
"This disciple obeys."
The young man glanced at Qin Niansui and led the group away.
A flicker of disappointment flashed in the depths of Qin Niansui's eyes, but assuming this was a test from the Ancestor, he remained full of high ambitions.
Qin Sang signaled Bai Hanqiu to follow him, sparing the father and son any interruption to their reunion.
Bai Hanqiu could not quite gauge Qin Sang's intentions. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Master, what about Niansui's future..."
"There is no need for special treatment. In Qingyang Temple, he is just an ordinary disciple. The various lineages and arts of Qingyang Temple will be more than enough for him to choose from. Let us observe his temperament first and see how he fares," Qin Sang said nonchalantly.
Bai Hanqiu's face flushed with shame. She nodded repeatedly in agreement and swallowed back the words she had been about to say.
"Send word to Li Yufu and the others, as well as every disciple at or above the Foundation Establishment stage, to return to the mountain gate at once. In one month, I have a momentous matter to announce."
Leaving behind this order, Qin Sang departed Qingyang Temple directly and flew slowly toward the Great Sui.
On this journey, he first landed where he had awoken in the prisoner's cart so long ago, then traveled down the Wuling River, reaching the former ferry crossing before ascending Mount Cuiming.
Atop Mount Cuiming, the old Qingyang Temple was preserved in its original state.
Halfway down the mountain stood a magnificent new Daoist temple.
According to legend, more than one immortal had emerged from Mount Cuiming, so incense burned brightly here and pilgrims arrived in an endless stream.
Bai Jianglan, Water Monkey, Daoist Priest Jixin, Mingyue...
Familiar names that now felt somewhat distant when brought to mind.
Cultivators never forgot what they saw, but as time stretched on, less important memories grew faint, rising to the surface only when the heart was stirred.
After pausing briefly on Mount Cuiming, Qin Sang entered Sanwu City, which had now been renamed Qingyang City.
The descendants of the bun shop owner were still there, carrying on the same trade at the same site, yet the flavor was no longer the same.
With a quiet sigh, Qin Sang continued north along the path of his former military march, stopping and moving by turns until he reached the capital.
He did not enter the palace to see the descendants of the Qin family, but climbed Mount Chaosheng alone.
Mount Chaosheng had become a true sacred ground. Tan Yi'en had assigned guards to watch over it, and without permission, not even the Emperor of the Great Sui could set half a foot upon the mountain.
The mountain was serene and secluded.
The perimeter of the Empress's mausoleum had become a forbidden area where no soul was permitted to tread.
Walking up with slow steps, Qin Sang paused slightly, waved his hand to undo the seal he had placed with his own hands, and looked upon the wordless stone stele.
Chapter 1519