Never Fail You

The river wound past, with villages and settlements clustered along its banks. Compared to other parts of Nanzhou, this region was relatively populous and thriving. In the mortal world, reverence for Daoism and Buddhism was widespread. Though this place was remote, there was a Buddhist convent nearby where nuns practiced, known as Lianxi Nunnery. The name "Lianxi" was derived from the Lianxi River. Lianxi Nunnery was an ordinary mortal convent, its nuns entirely mortal women. It was not known for any miraculous wonders; the locals from neighboring villages burned incense and prayed there merely for peace of mind. Qin Sang landed by the riverbank, came to a halt, and turned his perception inward. Within his dantian, the poison pearl rotated slowly. A prismatic radiance swirled across its surface, though it appeared somewhat dim. Inside the poison pearl lay another, pitch-black bead. Looking closely, one could see it was not solid, but composed of smoky fumes—the venomous power of Myriad Poison Mountain's sacred relic. Qin Sang had promised to give the origin poison of the bloodthirsty miasma spirit to the Poison King in exchange for this toxic vapor. Fusing the power of the Gu King and the sacred relic to recreate the origin poison of the bloodthirsty miasma spirit had only been a theoretical conception conceived by Myriad Poison Mountain's founding patriarch, never proven to this day. Qin Sang did not know Myriad Poison Mountain's true lineage techniques and could not control the sacred relic directly. Yet with the aid of the poison pearl, he had actually succeeded. After less than half a year of contemplation at Myriad Poison Mountain, he had made initial progress, fusing the very first wisp of origin poison and fulfilling his promise by handing it over to the Poison King. Refining the origin poison was no simple task. Even with Qin Sang's cultivation, it could not be accomplished overnight. Thus, he had the Poison King force out a portion of the sacred relic's venomous power, which he sealed within the poison pearl and brought away to slowly refine over time. This had once again overdrawn the sacred relic's foundation. Because its old wounds had yet to heal, its state was even more severe than before; after being returned to the forbidden grounds, it lay motionless like a dead insect corpse, with no telling how long it would take to recover. Having obtained the origin poison of the bloodthirsty miasma spirit, the Poison King could use it to substantiate his techniques and make an attempt at Deity Transformation. Moreover, with his insights, future generations of Myriad Poison Mountain would also benefit. In the past, even if the sacred relic had to slumber for a thousand years, he would have been overjoyed. Qin Sang withdrew his divine consciousness, looked up toward the small temple atop the mountain, and walked up the mountain path. Along the way, he met only two pilgrims ascending the mountain, proof that Lianxi Nunnery's incense offerings were far from flourishing. Behind Lianxi Nunnery was none other than Moon-Veiling Nunnery; this was its secular branch in the mortal world. To visit Moon-Veiling Nunnery, one had to ask the abbess of Lianxi Nunnery to convey the request. Because of its ties to the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, Moon-Veiling Nunnery had been forced to remain hidden from the world. Qin Sang had only learned of the relationship between Lianxi Nunnery and Moon-Veiling Nunnery through Chen Yan's guidance. The abbess of Lianxi Nunnery seemed to know something. Seeing Qin Sang, before he could state his identity or origin, she bowed respectfully, invited him to sit, and went to the back hall. Qin Sang did not spread his divine consciousness, waiting patiently for the time it took an incense stick to burn. Sensing a familiar aura approach, he rose to his feet, just as an elderly nun walked in. Qin Sang already knew that this elderly nun was the current master of Moon-Veiling Nunnery, Master Yunxin. "Greetings, Master Yunxin." Qin Sang took a step forward and bowed deeply. "Back then, I was fortunate to receive your assistance, rescuing me from dire peril. Having been unable to thank you in person until now, I hope you will not take offense." Master Yunxin hastily returned the salute. "True Monarch Qin is too modest. This poor nun did very little; the one who risked everything to rescue True Monarch was my junior sister, and the one who held off the demon king was also my junior sister. True Monarch Qin gifted us all manner of peerless secret manuals, which benefited us tremendously, and I have always felt unworthy of such generosity. Furthermore, I heard that at the grand ceremony, True Monarch cleared the name of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, finally allowing our descendants to see the light of day once more. It is I who should bow and offer thanks to True Monarch Qin..." After an exchange of courtesies and praise, the atmosphere between them grew noticeably closer. Qin Sang glanced behind Master Yunxin, but no one else had accompanied her. Master Yunxin perceptively caught Qin Sang's gaze and immediately invited him to visit Moon-Veiling Nunnery as a guest, adding, "Junior Sister Chen Yan is currently in quiet meditation. I have already sent someone to inform her; she should have emerged from seclusion by now." Moon-Veiling Nunnery was situated in uninhabited deep mountains. Qin Sang flew alongside Master Yunxin for a time. He faintly sensed a shift in the atmospheric energy of the void. His eyes flickered, but he said nothing. Soon, the mountain forms ahead shifted, tree shadows swayed, and several serene temple halls emerged. Arriving at a stone pavilion within the temple to sit down, Qin Sang and Master Yunxin discussed the matter of the Ascension Platform. More than half a year had passed since that grand ceremony. The news Qin Sang had revealed there had long since swept across the entire cultivation realm—from Beihuang to the South Sea, from the Eastern Sea to the Western Desert, shaking the whole of Zhongzhou. Sects large and small, and even rogue cultivators, were searching everywhere for the Ascension Platform. The top clans and sects backed by great cultivators were the most industrious, scouring even their own forbidden grounds countless times. In addition, the search for the Ascension Platform could also begin with ancient demons. Ancient demons whose cultivation had been sealed like the Ghost Mother, sparing them from the impact of the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao, might still be clinging to life somewhere. An ancient demon would surely know the location of the Ascension Platform. First, demon-sealing grounds resembling ancient cultivators' abodes had to be found, and ordinary cultivators were warned not to act rashly lest they release a demon. Master Xingji and others oversaw the Central Plains, gathering intelligence arriving from all directions, and had even established contact with the Dragon Whale Great Sage of the Eastern Sea monster race to exchange the secrets known to both sides. Human and monster races of this realm, sects of every tradition, putting aside their differences to work in such concerted harmony was truly a spectacle unseen since antiquity. From land to the deep seas, the footprints of this realm's cultivators were everywhere. Though no Ascension Platform had yet been found, several unknown secret realms had been discovered by chance, granting immense fortune to those blessed with thick destiny. However, among the descendants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, those who dared to show themselves were still too few. Qin Sang wished to ask Master Yunxin to step forward and contact these people, as Moon-Veiling Nunnery likely maintained ties with some of them. Master Yunxin readily agreed. As they were speaking, Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. A moment later, Master Yunxin sensed it as well. She rose with a smile and said, "This poor nun has just remembered a matter requiring my attention for a moment. Please wait here, True Monarch..." "Please, suit yourself." Qin Sang leaned forward slightly in a small bow. Just as Master Yunxin departed, the figure of a female lay devotee appeared at the end of the stone steps outside the pavilion, walking through the thin mist. She wore a dark lay robe, and a Buddhist cap covered her black hair, yet could not conceal her exquisite beauty. Their eyes met. Qin Sang stood up, quietly watching the woman until she reached the front of the pavilion. In the distance behind the trees, a young nun peeked out. Seeing the scene here, she could not help giggling, only to be muffled by a companion and dragged back, lending a touch of lively charm to the picturesque wilderness. "Congratulations on attaining Deity Transformation, Fellow Daoist," Chen Yan said, gazing deeply at Qin Sang. A rare ripple stirred her tone, as if sighing with wonder. The circumstances of their first meeting were too embarrassing to speak of. Back then, Qin Sang had only just reached Foundation Establishment, and that through spiritual medicine obtained by selling himself into service. Chen Yan, on the other hand, had been merely a step away from Nascent Soul. The disparity between them had been far greater than heaven and earth. Later, Qin Sang had been forced into exile. When they met again, his cultivation had already surpassed hers. And now, that gap had grown wider still. Chen Yan could hardly imagine how someone with the aptitude of five spiritual roots could have reached this stage—what indomitable perseverance had enabled him to walk unwaveringly to this day. "My congratulations as well on your breakthrough to the late Nascent Soul stage, Fairy." Qin Sang hastily returned the courtesy. He had just been pondering how to broach the matter and inform Chen Yan of the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao. Chen Yan's journey had been the exact opposite of his own, and the trials she suffered were no less arduous. Before Nascent Soul, his steps had been fraught with struggle while Chen Yan had sailed with smooth winds. After Nascent Soul, the effects of his cultivation methods and the jade Buddha became apparent, making his path comparatively smooth. Chen Yan, however, had been trapped by the brand of an evil art and suffered endless hardships. Chen Yan possessed an unyielding will, fighting tirelessly against the brand. Heaven rewards the diligent, and she had finally found a way forward in the Buddhist dharma, only to encounter the demonic voice barring the path when the immortal road of this realm was virtually severed. The ways of the world were simply too cruel! The two sat opposite each other in the pavilion. Qin Sang waved his hand to set up a barrier outside the pavilion, shutting out any prying eyes. Looking out from within, everything appeared normal, but those outside could only see a curtain of black. Chen Yan looked up slightly, meeting him with questioning eyes. "Have you forgotten your desire to rescue your master, Fairy?" Qin Sang began with an obvious question. Knowing Chen Yan as he did, saving her master was her lifelong obsession, one for which she had not hesitated to cultivate an evil plucking technique. How could she possibly have forgotten? Sure enough, Chen Yan frowned. But seeing Qin Sang gazing at her with apparent earnestness, awaiting her reply, she answered quietly, "Never." "That is well!" Qin Sang nodded. "I have broken through to the Deity Transformation stage. By convention, after meditating in seclusion for a period, I will be able to cross east. After ascending, I will do everything in my power to investigate your revered master's whereabouts, and if an opportunity arises, I will take action to rescue her." Where her master's safety was concerned, Chen Yan could not refuse. Her vermilion lips parted, but just as she was about to express her thanks, Qin Sang cut her off. "However, I would rather see you rescue your master with your own hands. Only then will your painstaking efforts not have been in vain. Besides, an outsider like me could never be as devoted as you." Qin Sang's words sounded a bit peculiar, as if meant to encourage her. Chen Yan had no need for encouragement, but seeing that Qin Sang meant well, she said, "I will not slacken." "I believe your resolve is steadfast, Fairy, and with your talent, you also have the confidence to strive for Deity Transformation. Yet the world is capricious..." Qin Sang sighed softly and hesitated no longer, recounting the changes in the Heavenly Dao to Chen Yan in full detail. He held nothing back, laying bare the threat of the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao along with all his conjectures regarding the cosmic transformation. The stone pavilion fell dead silent. Qin Sang watched her quietly without uttering a word. Chen Yan kept her head bowed, staring at the stone table between them, her expression hidden. After an unknown span, she finally lifted her gaze, her countenance and tone as aloof and cool as ever. "Because of this heaven-sent calamity, you are looking for an Ascension Platform." Qin Sang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Chen Yan's strength of will was indeed extraordinary; even after suffering such a devastating blow, she had not lost her spirit. "Indeed," Qin Sang nodded. "Yet we must consider: what if there is only a single Ascension Platform left?" Chen Yan's lips parted slightly, but no words came. She knew her own circumstances best. Suppressing the brand of the evil art through Buddhist dharma had yielded results, without which she could never have broken through to late Nascent Soul so smoothly. But the brand had not been eradicated after all, and the hidden danger remained. While others might still retain a glimmer of hope, should the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao, the inner demon tribulation, and the brand all strike at once, she would have no chance of survival. "Do you still remember what Senior Ghost Mother said, Fairy?" Qin Sang suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question. To resolve Chen Yan's dilemma, the Ghost Mother had once offered four words: diversion over containment. Back then, she had not put it so bluntly to Chen Yan, but that meaning had been implied. Chen Yan's eyes flickered. Qin Sang went on, speaking as if in contemplation: "Cultivators constantly speak of transcendence, regarding the seven emotions and six desires as obstacles to cultivation, with some even fearing them like tigers. Yet as I see it, being unbound by emotion, yet equally unbound by emotionlessness—that is true cultivation. Does Fairy agree?" Chen Yan gazed steadily at Qin Sang. Qin Sang did not shy away, meeting her gaze. A light flashed from his Qianjun Ring, and two objects flew out. By coincidence, both were half-formed spiritual embryos. One was a Tianlinglong embryo. The other was a medicinal embryo for superior-grade Spirit Calming Incense. "If the Ascension Platform cannot be found, venturing into Guixu will be inevitable. The Azure Fox Saint King bears a grudge against me, and Saint Huiguang has plotted against me before. Alone, I am weak and isolated, and I must find an ally... Fairy is the only person in this realm whom I can trust implicitly. Helping you is also helping myself." Qin Sang placed the two treasures upon the stone table. Under the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao, an ordinary cultivator facing the inner demon tribulation faced certain death, let alone Chen Yan. To help her reach Deity Transformation, these two treasures were obviously not enough. One would also have to address the brand of the evil art. During this period, Qin Sang had been pondering this matter constantly. But whatever attempt he made, Chen Yan would need to cooperate willingly. Qin Sang did not force her to accept right away. Having laid down the treasures, Qin Sang added, "Do not rush to refuse, Fairy. I intend to unite the cultivators of this realm, and before long I shall journey west and tour every domain, then scout the edges of Guixu. A single cycle of sixty years may well not be enough. These two treasures shall remain here at Moon-Veiling Nunnery. During this time, I hope you will give this careful thought before reaching a decision." Refining the Tianlinglong was still within reach, but gathering all the spiritual medicines required for the superior-grade Spirit Calming Incense was likely beyond Chen Yan's ability alone. Qin Sang would naturally keep an eye out during his travels. Leaving behind these two treasures was a demonstration of his resolve to Chen Yan. In Qin Sang's view, as long as Chen Yan was willing to accept him and they worked together with one heart, there was no trial they could not overcome! To take a step back, even if the brand of the evil art could not be undone and Chen Yan truly became a Mysterious Maiden, so long as she could attain Deity Transformation and ascend, it would all be worth it. In the vast myriad worlds of boundless mystery, seeking a solution then would not be too late. Of course, different people had different convictions; Qin Sang could not force his own ideas upon Chen Yan, and could only let her realize it herself. With that, Qin Sang pressed against the stone table and rose to his feet. Showing no lingering hesitation, he turned and walked outward. Yet as he stepped outside the pavilion, he suddenly stopped. "You should know what kind of man I am, Fairy. If you open your heart and release your knots, then whether that brand can ultimately be undone or not, I have only one thing to say..." With his back to Chen Yan, Qin Sang looked out over the vast lands beyond the mountain. It was early morning; in the east, golden clouds surged, and the morning sun was just on the verge of rising. "Come what may, I will never fail you!" Qin Sang did not bid farewell to Master Yunxin either. Striding down the mountain with his Daoist robe fluttering, a sliver of the morning sun crested the distant peaks at that very moment, casting dazzling golden rays that outlined his departing silhouette and reflected into Chen Yan's eyes. Those words rang out with unyielding resonance, echoing within the pavilion. Inside the pavilion. Two great treasures capable of driving the world mad lay before Chen Yan, yet she did not spare them a single glance. She stared intently after Qin Sang's back until he disappeared amid the mountain mists. A gentle breeze stirred, tree shadows swayed outside the pavilion, and all was quiet. …… Ever since Qin Sang's arrival, the nuns of Moon-Veiling Nunnery had all been watching the stone pavilion. Seeing Qin Sang descend the mountain alone so quickly and take his leave without saying goodbye, all of them felt quite astonished, Master Yunxin included. Back then, Chen Yan had disregarded her own safety to rescue True Monarch Qin, and from True Monarch Qin's demeanor, he was by no means devoid of affection for her. Even more rare was that both possessed peerless talent and were such a well-matched pair; surely they would not repeat the tragedy of the founding ancestor. They had thought they would witness the blossoming of a fine match. "What on earth happened? Quick, go check on Junior Sister..." An anxious nun spoke up and made to rush toward the stone pavilion, only to be stopped by Master Yunxin, who drove everyone back to the convent halls. …… Having departed Moon-Veiling Nunnery, Qin Sang randomly picked a mountain peak to sit cross-legged. Facing the morning sun, he breathed in the purple qi, sat in tranquility for a long time, then rose to set off once more.