In the heart of Qingyang Island, a Daoist temple rose from the ground.
Every trace of the Huangtian Sect had been wiped clean.
Hidden amid towering mountains and precipitous ridges, the temple kept a low profile.
This was Qin Sang's intention—after he departed, Qingyang Temple had to remain sufficiently discreet.
Here, Qin Sang had constructed a cold pool to raise snow pythons.
He kept only a single late Demon Core stage Tianshan snow python, captured after slaying the cultivator surnamed Yue in the Sacred Ground, which Qin Sang had claimed for himself.
Combined with the python banner, a late Demon Core stage Tianshan snow python could barely participate in battles between Nascent Souls; leaving it to his external incarnation would enrich the incarnation's combat repertoire.
The rest of the resources had been categorized by Qin Sang and divided between the two Qingyang Temples, allowing Tan Hao and Li Yufu to live within their means and support the sect's development.
Qingyang Temple was gradually getting on track.
Qin Sang did everything he could to pave the way for the sect.
He stood atop a mountain peak, gazing all around.
Qingyang Island was vast.
His gaze swept past precipitous ridges, open wilderness, and flowing rivers. Through the faint morning mist, he could vaguely make out the distant shore where waves rose and fell.
Even farther away, water met the sky in a seamless expanse of azure, blurring the boundary between heaven and earth.
If misfortune should befall him one day and he perished, his Dao extinguished, Qingyang Temple would be the mark he left upon this world. At the very least, there would still be people who remembered him as the founding patriarch of Qingyang Temple.
Qin Sang thought of Daoist Priest Jixin and Mingyue.
During his travels in the Xiaohan Realm, he had personally walked through the lands where this master and disciple had bestowed their benevolence.
Among the shrines that the common folk had erected for them in days gone by, not a few had fallen into disrepair; some were even completely abandoned, swallowed by wild weeds and dense woods, forgotten by the world.
"Rabbits enter through dogholes,
Pheasants fly from the roof beams.
In the courtyard grows wild grain,
Beside the well sprouts wild mallow."
...
Yet there were also places where incense burned vigorously, where the people passed down stories of their deeds by word of mouth, and where monuments and biographies had been erected to honor them with annual sacrifices, revering them almost as gods.
To be remembered by no one was true death.
Of course, that was not the kind of "immortality" Qin Sang sought. His goal had never changed, and he pursued it untiringly!
The rising sun dispelled the morning mist.
Qin Sang withdrew his gaze, strolled down the mountain, and returned to his cave dwelling.
Inside the cave dwelling.
His external incarnation was seated in meditative cultivation.
Had Liu Li and the others seen him, they would surely have been astonished: the external incarnation's aura had changed. Though it still belonged to the Dao of Ice, there was a noticeable difference.
This was because Qin Sang had already made the incarnation switch to cultivating the legacy mantra of the Xuantian lineage, the *Qingwei Record*.
After changing mantras, the external incarnation could no longer maintain the form of a virtual nascent soul and would gradually condense into a solid nascent soul.
In the future, the primary body's degree of control over the incarnation would decrease, and the probability of rebellion would rise. However, the *Qingwei Record* was clearly far more profound than his previous mantra, offering much broader prospects.
None of the divine abilities in the *Qingwei Record* were weak.
Yet what tempted Qin Sang the most was that after switching to the *Qingwei Record*, the incarnation could cultivate the Falling Nether Divine Restriction, or the mysterious great hand ability that Yin Changsheng had once displayed.
That divine ability was called the *Xuantian One Qi Great Capturing Hand*.
Naturally, cultivating such top-tier divine abilities was extraordinarily difficult and mentally exhausting; a person's energy could hardly accommodate both. Qin Sang had not yet decided, as he was waiting for Liu Li's modified Ice Soul Divine Light.
The primary body stepped into the cave dwelling.
Sensing his arrival, the incarnation ceased his cultivation, opened his eyes, and said, "You are back."
The primary body nodded. "Fellow Daoist has worked hard."
"You are me, and I am you."
The incarnation broke into a smile, his expression vivid and indistinguishable from an ordinary person's. "Since it is for immortality, what hardship is there to speak of?"
With that, the incarnation opened his mouth, and a stream of light flew out—it was a nascent soul that had preliminarily condensed into form. The incarnation's expression stiffened, losing its vivacity.
A nascent soul condensed into solid form was equivalent to Qin Sang's second nascent soul.
The second nascent soul paused briefly before sinking into Qin Sang's body.
Qin Sang was using his own body to nurture the second nascent soul, maintaining as close a connection between the incarnation and the primary body as possible to reduce the risk of betrayal.
Having put away the second nascent soul and the incarnation, Qin Sang meditated for only a short while before suddenly sensing the cave dwelling's restriction being touched. Sweeping his divine sense outward, he found that Shi Xue had come looking for him.
"Junior Sister has sensed her heavenly tribulation," Shi Xue said in a grave voice, standing at the entrance.
Qin Sang nodded, rose, and stepped out of the cave dwelling, flying with Shi Xue toward the preselected tribulation site.
Their expressions showed little gravity, and they felt no tension in their hearts.
The odds of a Nascent Soul cultivator surviving their first heavenly tribulation were very high, barring severe injuries or other unusual circumstances. Moreover, Liu Li's strength was far beyond that of ordinary peers of the same realm.
Qin Sang had kept Liu Li on Qingyang Island to undergo her tribulation precisely to deter any petty schemers.
In a short period, two Nascent Soul cultivators on Qingyang Island would have successfully crossed their tribulations. Coupled with Qin Sang's ferocious reputation, this would rank them among top-tier sects anywhere.
Even if he did not show himself for an extended period in the future, anyone harboring designs on Qingyang Temple would have to think twice.
Before reaching the tribulation site, the two already felt the oppressive weight of heavenly might.
Gazing into the distance: despite it being broad daylight, dark clouds had gathered at the horizon at some unknown moment, expanding steadily as rumblings of thunder rolled without cease.
The tribulation site had been chosen in an open wilderness, and all unrelated bystanders in the vicinity had been cleared away.
Tan Hao had arrived ahead of time.
"Brother Qin! Branch Master Shi!"
Spotting Qin Sang, Tan Hao stepped forward to greet them with cupped hands. "The island-protecting grand formation has been activated. I just flew a circuit and noticed several discreet gazes, but no one should dare approach Qingyang Island."
Qin Sang nodded. "Thank you, Brother Tan, for leading the disciples in presiding over the grand formation. Branch Master Shi and I will head over to protect Fellow Daoist Liu Li."
As they spoke, Qin Sang and Shi Xue flew to the mountain nearest to the wilderness, spotting the graceful figure in the distance.
Liu Li still wore no makeup, dressed in plain robes.
With heavenly might looming, dark clouds gathered densely, and howling winds surged.
Her black hair danced in the gale.
Liu Li cast a glance in their direction, then tilted her head upward, fixing her gaze upon the thickening tribulation clouds as she awaited the arrival of the heavenly tribulation.
A flash of sword light gleamed.
The phoenix-shaped sword appeared, transforming into a streak of radiance that circled around Liu Li.
*Rumble, rumble...*
Deafening thunder shook the sky.
The tribulation clouds blotted out the sun. Even from outside, one could see the gloomy clouds hanging above Qingyang Island and feel a trace of heavenly might.
On an outer island of the Cuiming Islands.
Two middle-aged men were playing a game of go. The one holding the black stones was a Nascent Soul cultivator, while the one holding the white stones was only at the Core Formation stage; yet the latter's demeanor showed no restraint, indicating their close relationship.
Both were members of merchant guilds from the Boundless Sea.
Since Qin Sang did not forbid other cultivators from entering the Cuiming Islands, resourceful merchant guilds had begun considering opening branch shops there, and these two were forerunners.
"Eh?"
The one holding black was the first to sense the anomaly. Dropping his piece, his figure flickered, reappearing in midair.
A moment later, the one holding white caught up, following the Nascent Soul cultivator's gaze toward Qingyang Island.
"Is that... someone undergoing a heavenly tribulation?"
The white player hesitated. "Didn't someone just break through to the Nascent Soul realm on Qingyang Island a few years ago? Could Old Demon Qin really have cultivated so many talented disciples?"
"It's not a Nascent Soul tribulation," the black player said, shaking his head after gazing for a long time. "It is the once-in-three-centuries Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. Judging by its aura, it seems to be the first Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation."
"The Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation? It couldn't be Old Demon Qin himself, could it? Rumors from Xuantian Palace say that Old Demon Qin possesses monstrous talent—it hasn't even been three hundred years since he broke through to the Nascent Soul realm, yet his strength already crowns the cultivation world."
The white player's expression was filled with doubt and astonishment; when speaking of Qin Sang, his tone involuntarily carried a hint of dread.
The black player pondered. "Over a month ago, I visited the island and had the fortune of meeting him once. There was no aura of an impending tribulation upon him. It shouldn't be him..."
Before his words had finished, a thunderclap abruptly detonated.
It resounded clearly across the entire Cuiming Islands. Mortals and cultivators alike felt their hearts tremble, gripped by an inexplicable unease and dread—the higher one's cultivation, the more pronounced the sensation.
The wilderness turned blindingly bright, illuminating every detail.
Lightning poured down in torrents.
The thunder of the tribulation was as terrifying as ever, threatening to swallow Liu Li whole.
However, the power of this tribulation lightning was visibly inferior to Yin Changsheng's. Sensing it briefly, Qin Sang nodded inwardly, confident that Liu Li should have little trouble weathering this tribulation.
Moreover, she had a spirit treasure as a safeguard.
The moment the tribulation lightning struck, Liu Li cast several sword incantations in rapid succession.
The phoenix-shaped sword ceased spinning, its blade standing upright and pointing straight at the heavens.
*Whoosh!*
In an instant, sword qi erupted. The naked eye could no longer discern the sword itself, seeing only a pale blue arc of sword light moving swifter than lightning, leaving a fine blue thread in the air.
With sword intent restrained, the thread was thin as a strand of hair. Compared to the tribulation lightning, it seemed especially frail and slender, giving the impression that it would be obliterated in an instant.
A tremendous boom reverberated.
The thread was indeed swallowed by the tribulation lightning, yet far from being destroyed, it burst forth with astonishing momentum as a ball of blue light exploded from within the lightning.
If anyone could peer through the tribulation lightning, they would discover that this blue radiance was actually formed from streaks of sword light, easily extinguishing the first bolt.
At the same time, Liu Li lifted off the ground, ascending gracefully.
Her black hair whipped in disarray, her garments fluttering.
With eyes half-closed and lips murmuring incantations, the phoenix-shaped sword revealed its true form, slashing out one streak of sword qi after another into the sky, their vigor spanning like a brilliant rainbow.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Yielding nothing to any man, Liu Li clashed head-on against the tribulation lightning in unyielding defiance, fierce and exhilarating.
One had to admit that such a spectacle was enough to make anyone's blood boil.
The tribulation clouds spun faster and faster as if provoked by Liu Li. The thunder grew increasingly dreadful, and thick serpent-like bolts of lightning surged forth, hammering down relentlessly.
At the final moment, countless lightning bolts intertwined, coalescing into a single mass.
In midair, all the tribulation lightning fused into one dazzling torrent, diving downward like a river of thunder.
Showing not the slightest fear, Liu Li made a grasping motion toward the phoenix-shaped sword. The blade returned to her hand; gripping it firmly, she twisted her pale wrist and slashed violently upward toward the heavens.
*Boom!*
The earth trembled.
The sword light burst into dazzling radiance before vanishing.
The tribulation lightning shattered in response, releasing countless filaments of lightning—some thick, some thin—that wreaked havoc across the wilderness, the aftershocks laying waste to the scenery.
After a moment, the chaos subsided slightly.
The tribulation clouds showed no sign of dispersing, continuing to brew the next wave of lightning.
Liu Li had landed back on the ground at some point, a deep pit carved beneath her feet where she had been forced down by the lightning. Her hair was disheveled and her complexion slightly pale, but fortunately, she was uninjured.
She swiftly calmed her breathing, remaining on high alert.
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
...
Unleashing magic treasures and divine abilities in succession, Liu Li successfully fended off wave after wave of tribulation lightning.
The expressions of Qin Sang and Shi Xue grew increasingly relaxed.
When the final, most terrifying bolt descended, Liu Li, who had held back all this while, finally unleashed her strongest divine ability—the Ice Soul Divine Light!
The tribulation lightning broke through layers of obstacles and was right before her eyes.
A deep blue gleam flared in Liu Li's pupils. Without any warning, the remnant tribulation lightning suddenly froze, completely encased in ice.
In the next instant, Liu Li vanished from where she stood.
*Bang!*
The lightning shattered the ice shards, yet it could no longer harm Liu Li in the slightest.
The once-triumphant tribulation lightning had finally reached its end. The tribulation clouds in the sky ceased their rotation; stripped of the support of heavenly might, they turned into ordinary dark clouds that scattered in the sea breeze.
"She succeeded!"
Delight lit up Shi Xue's face, and she was about to fly toward Liu Li.
Qin Sang suddenly frowned and stopped Shi Xue. "Wait!"
Shi Xue paused in surprise, not understanding, but she halted nonetheless and followed Qin Sang's gaze, looking at Liu Li in bewilderment.
The wilderness was a mess, covered in charred marks and deep craters everywhere.
Liu Li appeared in an open patch of ground. She did not look at the tribulation clouds overhead, nor did she show any joy over crossing the heavenly tribulation. Instead, she sat cross-legged on the spot, her expression completely placid.
Her actions did not look like she was merely regulating her breathing to recover.
Sensing the shift in Liu Li's aura, Shi Xue was filled with shock and cried out, "Is Junior Sister trying to break through right now?"
Qin Sang's eyes flickered. He said nothing, staring intently at Liu Li. He had not expected Liu Li to be so reckless, attempting a breakthrough immediately after enduring a tribulation.
He was considering sealing off the area around Liu Li to block the view of others, including Shi Xue.
Barring any unexpected turn, Liu Li was going to use the Spirit Calming Incense.
Up to now, only he and Liu Li knew that the Linglong Pagoda contained the Spirit Calming Incense.
The implications of the Spirit Calming Incense were immense.
News of such an extraordinary treasure could never be leaked!
Though Qin Sang had left behind the recipe at Qingyang Temple, he had not mentioned the words "Spirit Calming Incense" and had deliberately added a layer of disguise; only when future generations gathered all the spiritual herbs and concocted the incense would they understand.
Just as Qin Sang was about to take action, he was surprised to see Liu Li take out only a single item—the molt of the Eight-Winged Heart Cicada.
Next, she gently tossed the molt upward. The deep blue light in her pupils grew exceptionally dense, her eyes turning entirely azure as deep blue light radiated outward, enveloping the molt.
At this moment, the molt was also steeped in blue, appearing as though it might come alive at any second, making it impossible to tell whether it was a living Eight-Winged Heart Cicada or a discarded shell.
Silently, the shadow of the molt grew fainter and fainter, gradually melting away.
During the process of assimilating the molt, the deep blue light underwent subtle changes as well, shifting from deep and dense to increasingly faint, until only a pale sheen remained.
Qin Sang was too far away and knew very little about the Ice Soul Divine Light, so he was unsure what benefits the molt would bring to the light itself.
Yet the benefit to Liu Li was strikingly evident.
After refining the molt, the deep blue light receded like a tide back into Liu Li's eyes.
In the next moment, the aura within Liu Li's body climbed step by step, once again assailing the bottleneck!
The scene that followed came as no surprise.
Her expression suddenly rippled with turbulence, and her body began trembling slightly, once more affected by the imprint of the evil cultivation art. Shi Xue clenched her fists in fright, holding her breath.
Yet Liu Li remained unwavering!
Seeing this, Qin Sang came to a sudden realization and finally understood Liu Li's intention.
She was actually using the impact of the tribulation's heavenly might upon her mind to combat the influence of the evil art's imprint, all while drawing upon the transformation of the Ice Soul Divine Light to assail the bottleneck!
Liu Li clearly held two sticks of Spirit Calming Incense in her hands—one would have sufficed to break through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage—yet she chose to take such a perilous risk.
Her ambition... was grand indeed!
Chapter 1522