Having advanced to the fourth metamorphosis, an echelon equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator, the fat silkworm seemed not to have comprehended any new divine abilities; it still possessed only its poison-warding ability.
Qin Sang had originally assumed it would at least be able to manipulate poison against enemies, gaining a measure of combat strength.
Even something akin to the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's Heavenly Eye Divine Light could play a crucial role during battles.
Yet the fat silkworm could only show its worth in unique environments like the Three Great Poison Lands of the Hall of Seven Kills, or when encountering poison-wielding adversaries such as the frog-fish.
How could such a spirit insect survive on its own in the treacherous cultivation world?
Under Qin Sang's coercion, the fat silkworm coughed up several masses of rainbow halo, so exhausted that its tongue lolled out and its eyes went glassy, yet it had merely thickened the poison-warding armor.
Helpless, Qin Sang gave up and turned to examine Yagu's condition instead.
With just a single glance, Qin Sang had a feeling that Yagu was different from before.
Yet this change was not apparent on the surface.
As before, her cheeks were rosy, her eyelids tightly shut, and her breathing steady—still a sleeping beauty.
The transformation originated within her divine soul.
Qin Sang could clearly sense that Yagu's divine soul had grown much more stable.
This was evidently linked to the fat silkworm. With the silkworm's advancement, the "anchor" had grown firmer; even amidst the raging winds and turbulent waves of darkness, Yagu could tightly grasp the lifeline connecting her to the light.
Perhaps there were other reasons unknown to Qin Sang as well.
The connection between Yagu and the fat silkworm was far closer than he had imagined.
Though Yagu still could not respond, her condition had notably improved. Were it not for the catastrophe in the Hall of Seven Kills, she would certainly be doing even better now, perhaps even awake.
At long last, hope was in sight.
Qin Sang rubbed the fat silkworm's head. If it could wake Yagu, then even if it possessed no offensive abilities at all, raising it would not have been in vain.
*Whoosh!*
Finally granted freedom, the fat silkworm could not wait to burrow into Yagu's glabella, curling up to sleep soundly.
Qin Sang remained standing where he was, in no hurry to flee.
He had not strayed far from the site of the tribulation, intending to wait and see if any cultivators had been alerted by the heavenly tribulation and come to investigate.
The fat silkworm's tribulation had been an accident, too sudden to easily conceal from watchful eyes.
A fourth-metamorphosis spirit insect was an exceedingly rare existence in the cultivation world. Once word got out, it would very likely attract Nascent Soul cultivators seeking to capture it, or even draw the attention of major sects.
Sure enough, Qin Sang's prediction proved true.
Before long, two streaks of escape light flew over from the distance. They were two male cultivators, an old man and a youth, looking like grandfather and grandson, but both possessed solid cultivation.
Moreover, the younger man's cultivation was actually higher, already at the mid-Core Formation stage, while the elder was only one step behind.
'Attracting two Core Formation cultivators just like that... It seems the sect forces in Fudu Commandery are not negligible either...'
Watching their movements, Qin Sang mused internally.
The pair headed straight for the site of the tribulation.
By now, though the tribulation clouds had dispersed, the worldly might carried by the tribulation lightning had not completely vanished, and Qin Sang could not entirely erase such celestial majesty either.
The two were fairly knowledgeable and experienced; before even drawing close, they sensed this aura and recognized it immediately.
"A heavenly tribulation!"
Both gasped in shock, exchanging looks of utter horror.
They had been occupied with another matter earlier and had not witnessed the lightning bolt with their own eyes. Only sensing an abnormal fluctuation of qi from afar, they had decided on a whim to investigate, never imagining someone was actually undergoing tribulation here.
Only a Nascent Soul cultivator had the qualifications to trigger a heavenly tribulation—this was common knowledge.
In an instant, chills ran down their spines. Regretting their rashness, they instinctively prepared to turn and flee.
However, they had already caught sight of the scene at the tribulation grounds.
Scorched blackness stretched everywhere; the mountain peak had been nearly sheared flat by the tribulation lightning, and the entire mountain was in ruins—partly due to the lightning, and partly due to Qin Sang's tampering.
The destruction wrought by the heavenly tribulation was clearly visible, but there was no sign of the person who had undergone it.
Recalling that the thunderous rumbling earlier had not lasted long...
Had that mysterious Nascent Soul failed their tribulation?
The two looked at each other. Unable to resist the immense temptation, they summoned their courage, drew closer, and searched the area thoroughly. Yet, finding no relics left behind by a Nascent Soul expert, they were intensely disappointed.
"Let us hurry back and report to Senior Martial Brother Sect Master. Who knows which Nascent Soul senior happened to pass by and underwent tribulation here? If our senior martial brother reports this to the Liuxu Sect, perhaps they can uncover some clues," the younger cultivator said.
Stroking his goatee, the old man agreed, "True. Whatever that senior's origin, it has nothing to do with us. What a pity, though—under the heavenly tribulation, not a scrap remained!"
"That senior might not have actually failed the tribulation. Has either of us ever seen a real heavenly tribulation before?"
The younger cultivator shook his head, sealed the perimeter of the peak with a formation, called out to the old man, and flew off on their escape lights.
Qin Sang was standing not far from them.
The two had not noticed in the slightest that every word of their exchange had fallen into someone else's ears.
Having confirmed they had not witnessed the silver tribulation lightning in person and were indeed misled into believing a cultivator had undergone tribulation, Qin Sang had no intention of doing anything to them, letting them leave.
A piece of news about a Nascent Soul tribulation would stir up the situation in Fudu Commandery, but without spiraling out of control, which was not necessarily a bad thing.
"Liuxu Sect..."
Murmuring the words, Qin Sang's figure flickered and vanished.
Afterward, Qin Sang returned to Fudu Commandery and selected an elegant chamber at Liuzhou Hall, waiting for Zhou Jin to arrive.
Two months later, Zhou Jin arrived as expected.
Seeing Qin Sang, Zhou Jin was overjoyed and bowed deeply. "Greetings, Senior Qin."
Qin Sang nodded. "I did not expect that leaving would take nearly ten years. You have remained in Fudu Commandery all these years—did you discover anything?"
Zhou Jin had been worried about Ruan Yu's illness. Having heard nothing from Qin Sang for nearly a decade, he had feared this senior might have met with an accident or forgotten the matter, living in constant anxiety every day, yet never daring to slacken.
Fortunately, his worst fears had not come to pass.
Suppressing his excitement, Zhou Jin spoke rapidly. "Following Senior's instructions, after leaving Zezhou back then, Junior rushed to this area to investigate news of Mount Pu and the Xie Clan..."
Mount Pu, the Xie Clan.
They were connected to the superior training sanctuary recorded by Xiaoxiangzi.
The sanctuary was named the Qingxu Illusory Realm, located precisely on Mount Pu.
Back then, the Xie Clan boasted two Nascent Soul cultivators within a single lineage, commanding a place even in Zhongzhou where masters were legion. The Qingxu Illusory Realm was exceptionally concealed, kept under the Xie Clan's control without outsiders ever knowing.
The Qingxu Illusory Realm was not merely suitable as a cave estate; it harbored other secrets as well.
Several generations of Xie Clan successors had painstakingly studied it, yet could never unlock the secret, until one of the Xie Clan Nascent Soul cultivators met Xiaoxiangzi. Seeing his unique divine abilities, he invited him into the Qingxu Illusory Realm, finally unraveling the secret.
What benefits the three obtained in the Qingxu Illusory Realm was not recorded in detail in the jade slip.
Tragically, just as the secret was unraveled and they were preparing to divide the treasures equally, the ancestor of the Xie Clan was blinded by greed, attempting to slaughter Xiaoxiangzi and claim the treasures for himself.
Xiaoxiangzi certainly had not yet broken through to the Deity Transformation stage back then, or the Xie Clan ancestor would never have courted death so foolishly.
Even so, both Xie Clan Nascent Soul cultivators were slain by Xiaoxiangzi in retaliation.
Xiaoxiangzi had not wiped out the entire Xie Clan. In his fury, however, he had no intention of letting the Xie Clan off so lightly either; he personally sealed the Qingxu Illusory Realm, barring subsequent Xie Clan descendants from ever entering again.
Cooperation and betrayal occurred at every moment in the cultivation world.
Qin Sang was hardly surprised by such things.
Nor had Xiaoxiangzi felt anything amiss with his own actions.
This betrayal had ignited Xiaoxiangzi's killing intent, nearly driving him to slaughter the entire Xie Clan, placing him on the brink of falling into demonic obsession. It was precisely this incident that jolted him awake, making him realize the inner demon at work.
Only after traveling far and wide to refine the Spirit-Calming Incense and resolve the latent peril in time did he secure the chance to advance to the Deity Transformation stage.
Yet when he later reflected upon his past path, he realized that the other Xie Clan Nascent Soul cultivator had initially harbored no desire to betray him, having been coerced by the Xie Clan ancestor with no other choice.
Since that person had chosen to make a move against him, sincere or not, Xiaoxiangzi could not possibly have stayed his hand.
However, the fury wrought by the betrayal had dissipated considerably.
Xiaoxiangzi recorded the incident so that whoever obtained the jade slip could journey to Zhongzhou, seek out the Xie Clan, and if the restrictions on the Qingxu Illusory Realm remained, open them and return the realm to the Xie Clan, bringing an end to this karmic grudge.
Qin Sang had sent Zhou Jin here to locate the Xie Clan.
One reason was to fulfill Xiaoxiangzi's entrustment; the second was that he could cultivate in seclusion within the Qingxu Illusory Realm.
With the vicissitudes of time, places changed names and powers rose and fell, just like the destroyed cave estate in Sky Rift Valley and the renamed Zhulan Temple. Even if the Xie Clan no longer existed and the Qingxu Illusory Realm had a new master, Qin Sang would not have been surprised.
"After arriving here, Junior searched all across Fudu Commandery and three neighboring commanderies, but failed to find Mount Pu. Later, I learned that after Zhuozhou was incorporated into the Nineteen Misty Rain Provinces, Mount Bunian presided over a large-scale land survey, dividing Zhuozhou into various commanderies and changing many place names. Junior then found ways to gather ancient texts..."
Zhou Jin's tone was brisk, clearly indicating he had made discoveries. "Three years ago, Junior finally spotted the name 'Mount Pu' in an ancient text. After verifying through multiple sources, I confirmed that Mount Pu lies within Fudu Commandery, and is none other than today's Mount Luoyan! However, the master of Mount Luoyan is no longer the Xie Clan, but the Luoyan Sect."
"Luoyan Sect?"
Qin Sang's heart stirred. "Do the cultivators of this sect wear jade pendants carved with the character 'Luo' at their waists?"
The two men drawn by the fat silkworm's tribulation had been wearing such jade plaques.
Mount Pu had indeed changed hands. It remained to be seen, however, whether the Luoyan Sect had discovered the Qingxu Illusory Realm.
"Senior has seen Luoyan Sect disciples?"
Zhou Jin nodded. "The Luoyan Sect has many experts, so Junior did not dare act brazenly and could only secretly investigate the relationship between the Luoyan Sect and the Xie Clan. Later, I discovered that Mount Luoyan was forcibly seized from the Xie Clan by the Luoyan Sect. The Xie Clan was forced to relocate from Mount Pu, and their family declined."
With the fall of two Nascent Soul patriarchs and the loss of the Qingxu Illusory Realm, the Xie Clan had lost the foundation of its prosperity, declining from its peak.
That its bloodline could endure until now without dying out was exceptionally difficult, largely thanks to the stability of the Central Plains.
Having learned the Xie Clan's whereabouts, Zhou Jin had promptly sought them out.
By now, the Xie Clan had degenerated into an ordinary clan in the cultivation world, with its contemporary clan head merely at the Foundation Establishment stage. Even with their ancestral land on Mount Pu forcibly taken and renamed, they did not dare utter a single complaint.
"Junior intentionally approached the Xie Clan and learned of one matter," Zhou Jin paused. "Back then, when the Xie Clan yielded Mount Pu, they made a deal with the Luoyan Sect. By now, the agreed time has long passed, yet the Luoyan Sect shows no intention whatsoever of returning it. If Senior wishes to help the Xie Clan reclaim Mount Pu, this could be an angle of approach."
Zhou Jin now mistakenly assumed Qin Sang was an exiled bloodline descendant of the Xie Clan returning to his ancestral land to seek justice for his family.
"Is the Luoyan Sect very strong?" Qin Sang asked in return.
Judging by Zhou Jin's tone, it sounded as though Qin Sang could not simply use his cultivation to force the Luoyan Sect to yield and return Mount Pu to the Xie Clan.
Zhou Jin said respectfully, "The Sect Master of the Luoyan Sect is merely at the late Core Formation stage; Senior could eliminate him with a wave of your hand. However, there is another matter to guard against: behind the Luoyan Sect stands the Liuxu Sect. The transaction between the Luoyan Sect and the Xie Clan was witnessed by someone sent by the Liuxu Sect. Junior has been investigating their connection during this time and found that the Luoyan Sect Master has deep ties with the Liuxu Sect. Within the Liuxu Sect, there are three Nascent Soul elders, possessing immense power. They are the overlords of the neighboring commanderies; even Mount Bunian struggles to intervene, and the prefect of Fudu Commandery cannot control matters outside the commandery seat."
Zhou Jin was conscientious and thorough, having even investigated the difficulties Qin Sang might face.
"You have done well."
Qin Sang was quite pleased with Zhou Jin. Praising him, he honored his promise and produced a jade slip containing the pill recipe and a jade box.
Overjoyed, Zhou Jin hurriedly took them with both hands. Opening the jade box, he was stunned to find a spirit herb inside, looking up in disbelief.
"This stalk of Black Essence Grass is the primary herb of the pill recipe, discovered by me by chance in the Western Desert. This herb is precious; searching for it yourself would take at least a decade or more, which would likely worsen the illness."
Pausing briefly, Qin Sang looked at Zhou Jin. "I happen to be short of hands. If you are willing, you may bring Ruan Yu along when you return and cultivate at Mount Pu."
"Thank you, Senior!"
Zhou Jin fell to his knees and kowtowed, deeply grateful from the bottom of his heart.
Next, Qin Sang questioned Zhou Jin closely about the details, pondering his subsequent plans.
If it were only the Luoyan Sect, he could simply show up and drive them off the mountain, keeping the fallout to a minimum. Now that the Liuxu Sect was involved, careful planning was required.
Of the Liuxu Sect's three Nascent Soul elders, only one was at the mid-Nascent Soul stage.
Bringing his incarnation to assault their gates might be satisfying, but he had to consider the subsequent ramifications.
In Zhongzhou, no matter how high one's cultivation, one could not act with total impunity.
Moreover, it was still unclear whether the Qingxu Illusory Realm had been exposed; once a dispute over a sanctuary arose, things would become far more troublesome.
After some contemplation, Qin Sang instructed Zhou Jin to take him to the Xie Clan first.
……
Driven off Mount Pu by the Luoyan Sect, the Xie Clan lacked the strength to seize a good spirit vein and could only settle upon an inferior one.
Consequently, the Xie Clan's decline accelerated even further, and the ancestral foundation accumulated over the years was nearly exhausted. By now, even their dignified clan head had failed to break through to the Core Formation stage, trapped in the False Core realm.
Nevertheless, with their former heritage, the Xie Clan's mountain-protecting grand array was not weak.
"Clan Head Xie, an old friend has come to visit."
Arriving before the Xie Clan's fortified settlement, Zhou Jin stirred his true essence and called out in a loud voice.
His voice carried into the Xie Clan.
Before long, the mist parted to either side, and a figure emerged. It was the Xie Clan's master, Xie An, whose bearing was rather dignified.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, what a rare guest!" Xie An stepped forward briskly with great warmth. Seeing Qin Sang beside Zhou Jin and unable to gauge his cultivation, Xie An's heart tightened. "And this fellow daoist is...?"
Zhou Jin gave a light cough and said, "This is Senior Qin."
"Senior!"
Xie An was stunned.
Zhou Jin was a Core Formation cultivator. The person he called "Senior" could only be...
Chapter 1542