The Central Plains

Inside the Qingxu Illusory Realm. Qin Sang sat cross-legged, his breathing gradually steadying. He had sustained no injuries, merely exhausting his true essence. After regulating his breathing, he soon returned to his peak state. Opening his eyes, Qin Sang glanced sidelong at the Heavenly Eye Butterfly perched on his shoulder. Her wings were spread slightly, faint glimmers of lightning flashing within her heavenly eyes. Right when the heavenly tribulation ended, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had shone with brilliance, enveloped by threads of lightning into what almost looked like a ball of thunder—resembling a lightning butterfly born amidst thunderbolts. As the thunderous glow gradually subsided, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly finally absorbed the devoured tribulation lightning into her body. She transmitted an impression of weariness to Qin Sang, nuzzled against him gently, and then dove into his sea of qi to fall into a deep slumber. Qin Sang had a premonition that once the butterfly thoroughly digested the power of the tribulation lightning, she would reap considerable benefits, likely greater than what a century of cultivation had previously brought her. "This is a path as well..." He rubbed his chin. Lacking the Witch Clan's legacy, Qin Sang had been forced to grope in the dark on his own. Because all his energy over the past century had been poured into his own cultivation, he had inevitably neglected the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to some degree. As a result, the butterfly's cultivation lagged far behind his own. The same was true of the Heavenly Demon Refining Form, which remained stuck at the early stage of the fourth layer. After forming his Nascent Soul, Qin Sang had practically abandoned body refinement. His luck had been exceptionally good. In the early Nascent Soul stage, he had obtained the corpse flower blood amber and the Nascent Soul talisman puppet; in the mid stage, he had advanced his cultivation at the Body Cleansing Pool and obtained a Buddhist bone relic. Not only was his cultivation speed swift, but more importantly, both of his breakthroughs could be considered remarkably smooth. Even so, Qin Sang had no choice but to devote all his energy to raising his realm and cultivating the Fire Seed Golden Lotus, deferring everything else. It was no wonder that spell cultivators made up the vast majority of present-day cultivators; there was simply no spare time to pursue side paths. Allowing the butterfly to absorb tribulation lightning to advance seemed like a path, but it required waiting for his Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation every three hundred years and his eventual Deity Transformation tribulation—the wait was far too long. Having the Heavenly Eye Butterfly absorb someone else's tribulation lightning was out of the question. First, Qin Sang had no intention of exposing her abilities; second, no cultivator enduring a tribulation would ever permit an outsider to approach. Afterward, his true body and incarnation jointly comprehended the Ice Soul Divine Light. Several months later, his true body quietly left the Qingxu Illusory Realm and returned to Yanshui Market to continue cultivating the secret technique. With the heavenly tribulation passed, the pressure of Heavenly Dao was gone. Qin Sang had shed a layer of constraint and was finally free to move about at will, no longer needing to fear mishaps that might trigger accidents during a heavenly tribulation. In the years that followed, Qin Sang broke from his usual habits, actively inviting Jiang Mu to his cave dwelling to converse and debate the Dao, forging some rapport. Just as Jiang Mu had anticipated, as the Ullambana Assembly drew nearer, auctions and treasure exchange meets in Zhongzhou steadily grew in number. Prior to the tribulation, Jiang Mu had sent word to him several times, but Qin Sang had paid it no mind then. However, the top-tier treasure exchanges that truly interested Qin Sang had yet to appear. Qin Sang joined in the fun by attending an auction and a treasure exchange. A few so-called treasures appeared that drew a second glance from him, but nothing more; afterward, his interest waned, unwilling to squander any more time. Worth mentioning was that Qin Sang successfully bid on a fire jujube at one auction. When the fire jujube was presented, the Fire Jade Centipede grew restless inside its spirit beast bag, transmitting eager desires. Speaking of the Fire Jade Centipede, Qin Sang felt a touch of helplessness. The centipede had already been subdued, making its condition far easier for Qin Sang to monitor than the fat silkworm's. Though the Spirit Ascension in the North Sea had failed, it had brought the centipede substantial benefits and greatly elevated its potential. Later, with constant feeding of Fire Melting Pills and various spirit herbs gathered by his incarnation, Qin Sang had assumed the Fire Jade Centipede would advance before the fat silkworm. To his surprise, even after more than a century in Zhongzhou, the Fire Jade Centipede remained firmly stuck before the bottleneck of its fourth transformation, unable to advance an inch. The sheer difficulty of spirit insect advancement was readily apparent. With a spirit herb appearing that the Fire Jade Centipede so urgently craved, Qin Sang had bid on it without hesitation. The fire jujube also offered marked benefits to cultivators who practiced fire-attribute techniques, attracting numerous competitors, including two Nascent Soul cultivators. Fortunately, armed with Concubine Yue's legacy, Qin Sang had successfully claimed it. After consuming the fire jujube, the Fire Jade Centipede reverted to its old habit, curling into a ball. It fell into a deep sleep without forming a cocoon, showing no sign of an impending breakthrough. Uncertain what to make of it, Qin Sang could only leave it be. Beyond this, Qin Sang was also able to monitor the world's shifting currents through the Six Prefectures Hall. Currently, the topic most enthusiastically discussed across the cultivation world was undoubtedly the emergence of the Heir of Luye! Qin Sang and Su Zinan had never met, yet grievances had already arisen between them indirectly: Concubine Yue had "died" at the hands of Qin Sang's incarnation, and Elder Wu had retreated in defeat before his true body. A clash between them would likely happen sooner or later. Learning that Su Zinan had appeared in the Central Plains, Qin Sang paid close attention to the matter. Robed in white, Su Zinan had crossed south in an exceptionally conspicuous manner. The moment he entered Zhongzhou, the Dark Moon Guards were recognized, and the news swiftly spread across the entire province, drawing the gaze of countless cultivators and powers onto him. Fitting for an adopted son of a Deity Transformation cultivator, Su Zinan possessed immense cultivation as a late Nascent Soul great cultivator, and his entourage was staggering. Two Nascent Soul stage Dark Moon Guards followed behind him at all times, ready to carry out his bidding, along with an unfamiliar man of imposing bearing who stayed by his side like a shadow. Upon later inquiry, it was revealed that this man was none other than Mo Xingdao, renowned across the Northern Barrens for his terrifying demonic reputation and hailed as its foremost rogue cultivator. Such a formidable figure acted like a mere bodyguard beside Su Zinan! No one knew how vast Su Zinan's divine abilities were, for no fool dared provoke them. There was no need for Su Zinan to lift a finger; opponents could not even get past Mo Xingdao and the Dark Moon Guards. Upon entering the Central Plains, Su Zinan had first vanished for a time, his movements secretive and elusive, seemingly searching for something. Then, living up to expectations, he paid visits to the Ganlu Zen Monastery and the Eight Views Abbey. His stays at both sects were exceedingly brief. Witnesses saw that each time he emerged, his expression was dreadful, as though arguments had erupted, leading him to storm down the mountains in anger. Next, Su Zinan's actions sent an even greater shockwave through Zhongzhou. He actually put out word that he wished to gather helpers to venture into the Eastern Sea in search of the Hall of No Falsehood. When the ruins of the Hall of No Falsehood had emerged last time, numerous witnesses had been present, yet all had returned in defeat at the outer perimeter. The Eight Views Abbey and Ganlu Zen Monastery suffered heavy losses, and Master Purple Thunder was wounded. Since then, the ruins of the Hall of No Falsehood had vanished completely, never to be found again. Compounded by the perilous nature of the ruins, even fewer people took an interest. As time passed, the stir caused by the Hall of No Falsehood had gradually died down, yet none of the factions had forgotten the events surrounding its appearance. Long ago, people had suspected that Deity Transformation cultivators might be trapped within the hall. Su Zinan's actions only deepened everyone's suspicions. He spread word declaring that whoever could aid him in reaching the depths of the Hall of No Falsehood would not only be permitted to take every treasure found in the ruins without him claiming a single one, but would also receive valuable treasures from him as a reward! He produced several treasures, two of which tempted even Qin Sang. Setting aside whether Su Zinan's promises were credible, his intentions were thought-provoking. If not for treasure, why would he spare no effort or cost to force his way into the Hall of No Falsehood? Once Su Zinan's appearance in the Chinan Island Chain was confirmed, no small number of curious observers rushed toward the Eastern Sea. Upon learning of this, Qin Sang also entertained the thought of meeting Su Zinan. He soon resolved to leave his incarnation cultivating on Mount Pu while his true body personally journeyed to the Eastern Sea. First, he wanted to see the Hall of No Falsehood for himself. Second, with the whereabouts of the Deity Transformation cultivators shrouded in mystery, Qin Sang wished to verify the truth as soon as possible. If the Deity Transformation cultivators were indeed missing or trapped somewhere, he would have far less reason to fear the Ganlu Zen Monastery and the Eight Views Abbey when investigating the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. He retraced the path his incarnation had taken last time, first boarding a vessel to head south along the Feiyun River. The river waters surged. Qin Sang stood at the bow of the treasure ship, listening to the sound of waves parting against the hull. Looking left and right, his vision held only boundless river waters, the banks far out of sight. By this point, he had already left Zhuo Prefecture and entered the heartland of the Central Plains—the Six Prefectures of Jiangzuo. Silently calculating the distance, he looked up toward the sky. Before long, water mist began to rise across the open river surface. The mist was exceedingly strange; invisible from afar, it abruptly entered one's sight only upon drawing close, clearly the handiwork of a spiritual array. The mist blanketed thousands of li of the river surface without obscuring one's vision. "It's the Longju Pier!" a low-tier cultivator cried softly from inside the cabin. With a rustle, a crowd of cultivators rushed out to pack the bow, gazing ahead in excitement. As the name implied, the Longju Pier was connected to the Longju Grotto-Heaven, a top-tier sect of the Central Plains. In truth, the pier had no official name; because the Longju Grotto-Heaven controlled it, outsiders referred to it as Longju Pier. The mountain gate of the Longju Grotto-Heaven lay less than three thousand li south of Zhuo Prefecture, not far from Mount Bunian, facing each other across the east and west banks of the Feiyun River. Leaving Zhuo Prefecture, one had to pass by the Longju Grotto-Heaven first. Longju Pier was the second-largest dock on the Feiyun River, surpassed only by the Feiyun Crossing at the confluence of the Feiyun and Fu rivers! Moreover, Longju Pier did not merely dock ferry boats. Large flying artifacts operated throughout Zhongzhou, and the largest merchant firm behind them was none other than the Longju Grotto-Heaven. The mist hung hazy. Across the river's surface, giant white pillars rose at regular intervals, piercing tens of thousands of feet into the high heavens and vanishing into a sea of clouds. Looking closely, one could see that these were actually columns formed of river water. Streams of river water were drawn upward by an unseen force, coiling like flood dragons to form thick water pillars that flowed against gravity, supporting the sea of clouds above. Numerous ferries were moored around each water pillar. Just then, a collective gasp rose from the ship once more. A group of cultivators was seen disembarking in the distance. A white shadow flashed at the base of a water pillar, and a water dragon rose from the river surface, majestic and imposing. Shrouded in clouds and mist, it bore the cultivators aloft into the clouds. The instant the water dragon entered the clouds, a channel parted in the mist, and the outline of a colossal flying artifact flashed past. At that moment, the vessel vibrated slightly, mooring beside one of the water pillars. The impatient cultivators hurriedly disembarked, riding water dragons into the sky. The boatmen took on new passengers and continued south. In the Central Plains, everything was orderly and regulated, which was undoubtedly a boon to low-tier cultivators. By spending a certain amount of spirit stones, they could travel far without worrying about perils along the journey. Back then, before forming his core, Qin Sang had not even known what lay south of the Yuncang Great Marsh. "How much longer can such peace endure?" Qin Sang sighed silently and turned back into the cabin. After passing Longju Pier, the treasure ship arrived at the Feiyun Crossing. Qin Sang changed to a merchant vessel and turned eastward. Calling the Feiyun Crossing a ferry crossing was a misnomer; it was more like an immense lake. The Feiyun River and Fu River, the two most vital water systems in the Central Plains, converged here. The relentless clash of their waters over millennia had carved out the largest lake in the Central Plains—indeed, on the entire continent. Cities and markets crowded around the Feiyun Crossing, fostering thriving trade routes. The Eight Views Abbey and Ganlu Zen Monastery were situated to the east and west of the Feiyun Crossing respectively, on the southern bank of the Fu River. Their gates were both some distance from the crossing, and by tacit understanding, neither interfered with this place. The Feiyun Crossing was like the pearl of the Central Plains, prosperity amidst prosperity! Qin Sang did not go ashore. Although this was his true body's first visit, his incarnation had passed through several times, so the place was not unfamiliar to him. There were cultivators lost in drunken dreams, and mortals diligently seeking the Dao... All manner of living beings, in endless variety, could be seen at the Feiyun Crossing. As the ship sailed eastward, Qin Sang turned to look to the west. West of the Ganlu Zen Monastery lay the foremost demonic sect, Tianhao Tower. Tianhao Tower, together with the Fiend Transformation Sect of Ze Prefecture in the north and Subduing Heaven Valley of the Seven Prefectures of the Western Route, were known as the Three Great Demonic Sects of the Central Plains. Demonic overlords occasionally attained the Deity Transformation stage among them. The Three Great Demonic Sects stood together in mutual alliance and maintained ties with the demonic sects of the Northern Barrens, securing a solid standing. What was more, Tianhao Tower's allies were not limited to these. Continuing eastward along the Fu River, past the Eight Views Abbey and nearing the Eastern Sea, lay the Qiongying Sect, the last of the super sects in the Six Prefectures of Jiangzuo. It was said that the Qiongying Sect shared countless ties with the immortal mountains of the Eastern Sea, commanding influence on par with Tianhao Tower. The five great sects of the Six Prefectures of Jiangzuo were not strictly divided by provincial boundaries. Neither the Longju Grotto-Heaven nor the Qiongying Sect belonged to the demonic path, and the Eastern Sea immortal mountains were predominantly Daoist in heritage. Yet they colluded covertly with Tianhao Tower; the three sects formed a triangular formation, encircling the Eight Views Abbey and Ganlu Zen Monastery. Once established, this balance of power had endured steadily to this day. Of course, no matter how the three sects allied, they could never suppress or constrain lineages backed by Deity Transformation legacies. The fact that the Western Desert was essentially dominated by the Buddhist and Daoist sects was clear proof. Buddhism and Daoism in the Seven Prefectures of the Western Route had begun to merge long ago, giving rise to the Silent Zen Mountain Villa, which was wedged like an iron spike firmly between the Three Great Demonic Sects, causing them immense discomfort. The ship sailed out into the Eastern Sea. Qin Sang chose an island at random to disembark, took to the air via an escape light, and flew toward the Chinan Island Chain along familiar routes. Upon arriving at the Chinan Island Chain, Qin Sang found the place even more bustling than when his incarnation had visited. Cultivators arrived in droves, and rumors flew thick and fast. Without the slightest effort, he learned Su Zinan's whereabouts. After a brief stay, Qin Sang flew out from the island chain. His incarnation had passed through by ship back then, so Qin Sang still retained some memory of the way. Deliberately suppressing his cultivation and altering his appearance, he flew swiftly over the sea for a while until he reached the spot where the ruins of the Hall of No Falsehood had emerged previously. Hovering in midair, Qin Sang looked at the empty expanse of sea, feeling secretly surprised. If he remembered correctly, a large island had once stood here, now vanished without a trace. He flew in a circle around the maritime area, confirming his memory was not mistaken. The mere aftershocks escaping from the ruins of the Hall of No Falsehood had leveled such an immense island. Qin Sang awakened the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, employing her heavenly eye divine ability to inspect both the sky and the sea, but found nothing. After pondering briefly, he turned southwest and flew a certain distance. He sensed chaotic auras ahead—at least several hundred cultivators gathered together, ranging in cultivation from low to high, with no shortage of Nascent Soul cultivators among them. Qin Sang approached discreetly and quietly blended into the crowd without drawing notice. Discussions drifted into his ears: "Su Zinan has led people searching here for seven days without result. It looks like another futile endeavor." "Who could say otherwise? Back then, so many searched for years, only to give up in the end." ... Qin Sang narrowed his eyes and gazed into the far distance, seeing gleams of treasure light shimmering over the sea, amidst a multitude of figures.