Old Man Yanshan

Stepping out from Mount Bunian, Qin Sang looked back over his shoulder. Up to this point, Mount Bunian was the only power in Zhongzhou that could possibly become an ally. Several crucial pieces of intelligence had been acquired through them previously, allowing him to stay informed of movements from all factions and maintain an accurate grasp of the world's shifting tides. Losing Mount Bunian as a channel would make things much more difficult going forward. Yet for a sect, preserving its legacy was the utmost priority. Situ Yu's choice was entirely beyond reproach. Qin Sang shook his head, withdrew his gaze, and returned to Mount Pu. His true body focused on stabilizing his cultivation and practicing the Fire Seed Golden Lotus. His incarnation took out the remaining cold crystal to refine it, intending to determine how much assistance the crystal could offer to the Ice Soul Divine Light before deciding whether to pay a visit to Old Man Yanshan. Regardless of how the world's overarching situation shifted, it could not yet disrupt humble Fudu Commandery. Three years later. The incarnation finished refining the cold crystal, and the results were quite pleasing. Qin Sang decided to make a journey to the Northern Barrens, deploying both his true body and incarnation together. He intended to have the incarnation carry the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to visit Old Man Yanshan and handle the search for cold crystals. That way, it would not disrupt the true body's cultivation of the Fire Seed Golden Lotus. However, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly was far too vital to the true body. Uneasy about letting the incarnation take it away alone, Qin Sang had his true body follow from the shadows to guard against any mishaps. Upon Mount Pu. Having received his summons, the couple Zhou and Ruan came to Mount Pu to receive their orders. Receiving them were Xie An and a rising talent named Xie Ruyun. Forty years ago, Xie Qian had reached the end of his lifespan and passed away peacefully of natural causes, his realm forever fixed at the mid Golden Core stage. Before his death, seeing the Xie clan flourish, Xie Qian had died without regret. The Xie clan and Loutai Abbey shared generations of close friendship, and several pairs of Dao companions had formed among the disciples of both houses. Coming to Mount Pu was just like returning home for the Zhou couple; they took seats opposite Xie An with casual ease, waving away the disciples offering tea. "May I ask what orders Senior Qingfeng has for us in summoning us here?" Zhou Jin asked, leaning forward slightly. Xie An and Xie Ruyun both shook their heads, saying they did not know either. After only a few exchanges, the light in the room suddenly dimmed. Qin Sang's incarnation walked in from outside, and they hastily rose to salute him. Qin Sang's eyes swept over the four of them. He noted inwardly that there were still too few capable hands under his command. The most advanced among them was Zhou Jin, who was still some distance from the late Golden Core stage. In times of peace and prosperity, Nascent Soul cultivators were preoccupied with their cultivation and tribulation-crossing, their movements elusive. In the cultivation world, Golden Core cultivators were well worthy of being called masters. Yet with troubled times looming, the cultivation of Zhou Jin and the others would no longer suffice. Having even a single Nascent Soul subordinate would make everything vastly more convenient. Regrettably, forming a Nascent Soul was no easy feat. Qin Sang was suddenly reminded of Qingyang Temple. A single period of secluded cultivation, and a century had slipped away. He wondered how many people back at Qingyang Temple had achieved success in the Great Dao. Bai Hanqiu certainly had no hope. Shangguan Lifeng, Aunt Mei, and Li Yufu—from oldest to youngest, Shangguan Lifeng was close in age to Qin Sang, while the youngest, Li Yufu, was not even fifty years younger than him. If they failed to form their Nascent Souls, they were likely already dry bones in a tomb. A parting between old friends that offered no hope of reunion. Before departing the North Sea, Qin Sang had long foreseen this outcome. Once he reached Zhongzhou, returning in the short term was entirely impossible. Thinking of it now, he still could not help but sigh with deep melancholy. When affairs in Zhongzhou finally drew to a close one day and he returned to the North Sea, how many familiar faces would be left to greet him? Even Liuli, who had traveled with him to Zhongzhou, had been without word for a century. Parting in life and death was something every seeker of the Dao had to grow accustomed to. Qin Sang remained silent, and Zhou Jin and the others dared not utter a sound, waiting respectfully. After offering some guidance on their cultivation, Qin Sang ordered them to make contact with the major trading firms, sparing no spirit stones to gather as much intelligence as possible. They all voiced their assent. Afterward, Qin Sang flew out from Mount Pu alone. His true body was already waiting outside the mountain. After receiving the Second Nascent Soul back into his body to nourish it, he embarked on the northward journey. Old Man Yanshan's cultivation hermitage was simply named Mount Yanshan, located in the northwestern Northern Barrens. Situ Yu had pointed out the general direction. However, the Northern Barrens was vast and sparsely populated; finding a single mountain within it would take considerable effort. Traveling in person after a century in seclusion, gazing upon the world's mountains, rivers, and scenery once more gave Qin Sang a feeling of emerging into another life. He chose to slow his escape technique, gliding gently upon the wind. Departing Zhuo Prefecture to the north, he entered Zhaoyao Prefecture. Qin Sang clearly sensed the tense atmosphere in Zhaoyao Prefecture. Flying for less than an hour, he witnessed several skirmishes. Zhaoyao Prefecture lacked a super sect like Mount Bunian. Three mid-sized sects stood in a three-way standoff, an arrangement that doomed the prefecture to instability. Bordering the Northern Barrens only made matters worse. Along the way, Qin Sang casually dispatched several reckless demonic cultivators. Flying past Mount Zhaoyao, he re-entered the Northern Barrens. Growing weary of the sights, he quickened his pace. *** *Wuuu...* The frigid wind cut like a knife, letting out mournful howls. Snow fell heavily. To call this a blizzard was no longer sufficient. Low-hanging gray clouds pressed heavily against the earth, and snowflakes descended like clumps of raw cotton poured from the heavens, cloaking the earth in the dark night as though it would never cease. Nothing else could be seen within his field of vision besides snow. The environment of the Northern Barrens was truly that harsh. In truth, this was none other than the snow disaster, one of the Nine Disasters of the Northern Barrens that struck dread into all who heard of them. The snow disaster spanned the widest destructive area among the nine. Once a snow disaster struck a region, its duration was routinely measured in years; the most terrifying persisted for decades. It was not merely devastating to mortals; even low-level cultivators suffered severe reductions in strength under such conditions. Fortunately, snow disasters rarely visited the densely populated eastern parts of the Northern Barrens. Amidst the swirling snow, Qin Sang flew low, barely ten feet above the snow's surface. By this point, he had entered the western Northern Barrens, never expecting to run into a snow disaster. The blizzard slammed into his protective true essence, only to bounce off. Qin Sang looked all around. There was no telling how long this snow disaster had raged. The deep snow had filled in every riverbed and ravine. Across his entire view lay an unbroken sheet of white, save for a few lonely mountain crests in the distance. In an environment like this, finding someone to ask for directions was no easy task. *Oh? A living person at last.* Qin Sang paused slightly, released his external incarnation, and ordered the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to conceal itself within the incarnation's dantian. His true body faded into the shadows, disappearing from view. *Whoosh!* The incarnation streaked through the air, carving a white trajectory across the sky. Upon a mountain ahead, three low-level cultivators were busily plucking small blue flowers. Hearing the whistle through the air behind them, they hastily banded together, brandishing their respective magical implements with faces full of vigilance. The next instant, snow blew across their faces. A figure dropped before them with a soft *swish*. A moment later, Qin Sang tossed them several spirit stones and broke through the air once more. In his hand was an additional map, featuring a few landmarks that matched Situ Yu's description. The position of Mount Yanshan was now essentially confirmed. Qin Sang continued north, flying for half an hour. Ahead lay an endless sea of mountains. Because of the snow disaster, only the upper portions of the peaks poked out above the snow, resembling rows of white burial mounds from afar. *Such a place is truly a fine retreat for quiet cultivation.* As the thought crossed his mind, Qin Sang awakened the Heavenly Eye Butterfly and flew at an unhurried pace toward the depths of the range. Mount Yanshan was merely one mountain ridge among the cluster, named by Old Man Yanshan himself. It had not been marked on the three cultivators' map, which showed that Old Man Yanshan held little renown in the vicinity. Just as Situ Yu had said, he was an ascetic cultivator. Back then, Situ Yu had met Old Man Yanshan while wandering through this region. The two shared compatible dispositions and had joined forces to hunt a strange fox. Because Old Man Yanshan loved solitude, while Situ Yu had sect affairs to worry about, their contact grew sparse afterward. After circling the peaks for a good while, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly finally discovered that an ordinary-looking summit concealed a hidden mystery. The snowy scene was likely an illusion cast by a grand array, perfectly blending into the surrounding landscape. Apart from Old Man Yanshan, no one nearby should have been able to lay down such a spirit array. Qin Sang made no effort to conceal his aura, flying straight toward the mountain. Before he drew near, a vigorous voice echoed from within: "Fellow Daoist, you have been circling and lingering near this old man's cave dwelling for quite some time. What is it that you want?" "Your Excellency must be Old Man Yanshan, correct?" To show goodwill, Qin Sang stopped from a distance, clasped his hands toward Mount Yanshan from afar, and said clearly, "I am Qingfeng. Thanks to Sect Master Situ's recommendation, I have come with a request." "Sect Master Situ? Situ Yu?" Old Man Yanshan chuckled. "To think that great Sect Master Situ still remembers this old relic." His tone was not unfriendly. Qin Sang produced a letter inscribed upon a jade slip and flicked his finger, sending it shooting into the mountain. The snowy ground that appeared level with its surroundings was hollow underneath. The jade slip met no resistance, darting into the snow and vanishing. Qin Sang stood leisurely in place. Shortly after, the snow cracked open to reveal lush, green mountain scenery below. "Since it is Sect Master Situ's recommendation, please come in to speak, Daoist." Qin Sang voiced his thanks. His peripheral vision drifted casually toward a low hill at the edge of the range, and he stepped through the opening into Mount Yanshan without batting an eyelid. His true body had opened a temporary cave dwelling on that low hill. Beneath the snow, the scenery felt like spring. Looking outward from within, one could see the swirling snow drifting down incessantly, yet not the slightest chill could be felt here. Qin Sang turned his gaze to a small pavilion nestled in the mountain. A white-robed old man stood there looking out toward him. His expression stirring, Qin Sang vaulted down before the pavilion. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist." This man's cultivation was profound, his aura as deep as an abyss. It was by no means inferior to his incarnation, and likely not behind Venerable Chengyuan. An expert of this caliber was rare even in the Central Plains, yet he had secluded himself in such a remote place. Old Man Yanshan returned the greeting, looking Qin Sang up and down without hesitation before asking frankly, "I already understand your purpose. Sect Master Situ stated in his letter that you are well-versed in the Dao of ice and therefore came seeking cold crystals. Would you permit this old man to witness your divine abilities?" "Naturally!" Qin Sang did not know Old Man Yanshan's motives, but since he was the one asking for help, he had to satisfy the other party's request. After a brief pause, Qin Sang chose to summon the Snow-Treading Divine Saber. At the sight of the saber, Old Man Yanshan's eyes lit up. Pointing toward the void above, he said, "Feel free to strike!" Qin Sang glanced up. The Snow-Treading Divine Saber hummed, its tip tilting slightly upward, and abruptly slashed out a beam of saber qi. *Swish!* As the saber qi unleashed, flurries of snowflakes drifted around the pavilion, creating an exquisite harmony with the snowy scene outside. A path of snow led straight into the heavens, blending seamlessly into the blizzard without disturbing the external environment in the slightest. Qin Sang's control had reached an exquisite degree of mastery. "Good! Good! Good!" Old Man Yanshan exclaimed three times, his eyes shining with the delight of someone discovering a rare treasure. "Inheritances of the Dao of ice are sparse in Zhongzhou, and this old man claims to know seventy to eighty percent of them. For your saber technique to be so refined, it must be of superior lineage, yet I have never heard of it before." "Zhongzhou is vast beyond measure. How could you know everything, Fellow Daoist?" Qin Sang took the initiative to say. "If you are interested, I can exchange insights with you." He was still considering how to persuade Old Man Yanshan to assist him. He had very few treasures on hand that could be traded. Having lived in the Northern Barrens for so long, Old Man Yanshan was unlikely to care about spirit stones. The Soul-Calming Incense would certainly work, but using it here would be overkill. As for Yin-Yang Soul Crystals, they held value only when meeting specific people. Old Man Yanshan nodded repeatedly, saying, "There is no rush on that. Since you have come seeking cold crystals, are you aware of the difficulties involved?" Qin Sang replied, "Sect Master Situ mentioned that he discovered these cold crystals while pursuing a strange snow fox with you back then." "Indeed!" Old Man Yanshan said in a deep voice, "To tell you the truth, after Sect Master Situ departed, I attempted it several more times myself. Each time, the snow fox escaped, and I never obtained another cold crystal. I cannot guarantee whether there are more cold crystals there, but of one thing I am certain: to find them, one must capture the snow fox first." Qin Sang assumed a contemplative look. "Did the snow fox escape using illusion arts? I happen to possess a divine ability that can pierce through illusions." "I am ashamed to say," Old Man Yanshan sighed softly, "that snow fox is exceptionally bizarre. Neither Sect Master Situ nor I could fathom how it vanished right under our noses. Even if it were an illusion art, it must be the world's most supreme one. Ordinary methods cannot possibly work." Hearing Old Man Yanshan describe it so mysteriously, Qin Sang thought to himself that the Northern Barrens was truly full of oddities. Not only was there the mysterious insect king of the Sky-Cleaving Valley, but also this peculiar snow fox that left two top-tier powerhouses completely helpless. "Under normal circumstances, it would do no harm to accompany you on a trip. But right now, I am at a critical juncture in cultivating a divine ability. If you lack complete confidence, you would do better not to waste your effort," Old Man Yanshan said gravely, clearly holding little optimism for Qin Sang. "How can we know without trying? Fellow Daoist, surely you will grant me a chance to prove myself?" Qin Sang said in a relaxed manner. Seeing Qin Sang's confidence, Old Man Yanshan grew intrigued. "Please follow me, Fellow Daoist." Qin Sang followed Old Man Yanshan up to the mountain peak. Old Man Yanshan nodded to Qin Sang, formed hand seals with both palms, and struck toward the sky above, the incantation seal flashing and vanishing. Immediately after, the formation of the mountain-protecting grand array shifted abruptly. Looking down from above now, the snowy scenery in the mountain vanished, revealing the true appearance of the mountain-protecting grand array. Qin Sang clearly sensed the spirit array's power converging around them. Narrowing his eyes, he glanced at Old Man Yanshan and then looked up toward the sky. At that very moment, Old Man Yanshan flickered and abruptly vanished. From every direction came Old Man Yanshan's voice: "This array incorporates the Dao of illusion. By borrowing the spirit array to slip into concealment, I dare say that those in this world capable of seeing through me can be counted on one hand. If you can easily withstand this move of mine, I will personally accompany you on this trip." Qin Sang took a deep breath. "It's a deal!" With that, he summoned the Snow-Treading Divine Saber once more, sweeping his hand across the blade. The Snow-Treading Divine Saber blurred into intangibility, and swirling snowflakes danced around Qin Sang, ringed by saber qi. Once Qin Sang was prepared, Old Man Yanshan called out, "Take care, Fellow Daoist!" *Crash!* Qin Sang heard the sound of waves crashing, finding himself surrounded by surging billows, as though he had stepped into a boundless ocean.