After explaining how they would stay in contact, Mo Xingdao continued, "Hongyuzi's injuries are quite severe this time. Pills can only temporarily stabilize them. He will have to return to the Daoist Court to recuperate for a period of time, so he likely won't return here anytime soon, and I have no way of acting on my own. Once he has healed, I will send you a message before we take action. Fellow Daoist Qin, where will you be staying?"
Qin Sang thought for a moment and said, "Send the message to Huzhong City. I will make arrangements there."
The two agreed upon a specific talisman seal to serve as their secret mark.
When Mo Xingdao and Hongyuzi returned to this place in the future and ventured into the depths of the diocese altar, Qin Sang would follow behind them, while Mo Xingdao would leave hidden markers along the way so they could act when the opportunity arose.
This was merely a broad framework of a plan.
After all, Mo Xingdao was under Hongyuzi's control and had no freedom; there was very little he could do.
Times change, and circumstances shift. No one could predict how the situation would unfold, so they could only ensure their line of communication remained intact and adapt as events developed.
When the time came, whether Qin Sang would agree to take part would depend on his own circumstances.
Undercurrents were surging between the Guifang Kingdom and the Daoist Court, which might also present opportunities they could exploit.
Lost in thought, Qin Sang asked, "Venturing deep into the altar this time, did you two discover anything?"
Mo Xingdao had mentioned earlier that he and Hongyuzi had two objectives in entering the Jushan Diocese altar. One was to investigate the plots of the demons from the Guifang Kingdom, and the other was to delve into the depths of the altar to find a place that matched Mo Xingdao's memories.
"Nothing," Mo Xingdao replied. "The deeper one goes, the more complex and perilous it becomes. Had Hongyuzi been alone, it might have been manageable, but he had to protect me at all times, and my old injuries have not yet healed. Even without this unexpected crisis, it was already exceedingly difficult."
After a pause, Mo Xingdao continued, "I will now impart to you some of the scenes from my memory. If you have time, Fellow Daoist, you might as well search for them yourself and take the initiative."
Qin Sang was somewhat surprised. Was Mo Xingdao not afraid that once Qin Sang found an exit, he would ascend alone?
Yet on second thought, even if there was an exit in the depths of the altar, it would certainly connect to Guixu, and it might not lead directly back to the ascension path. Falling into the chaotic regions deep within Guixu would be perilous in the extreme.
Qin Sang had never set foot in Guixu, so joining forces with Mo Xingdao remained the wisest choice.
Little did he know, Mo Xingdao also had no other option.
The Nine Heavens Golden Palace Imperial Censor and the Daoist Court standing behind him loomed like a towering mountain, leaving Mo Xingdao unable to act rashly.
Qin Sang was the only outside aid he could turn to.
Back in the Storm Realm, Mo Xingdao had dealt with Qin Sang several times and had heard Saint Huiguang and others speak of him, giving him some understanding of Qin Sang's character. Mo Xingdao was also well aware of how Qin Sang, with only a late Nascent Soul cultivation, had maneuvered between two Deity Transformation figures, and he harbored considerable admiration for him.
Mo Xingdao then began projecting fragments of his memories.
Scenes unfolded across Qin Sang's mind one after another, the vast majority chaotic and fragmented. Looking upon them, Qin Sang's own memories were stirred as well.
He recalled his own plight when he had tumbled into the spatial turbulence, and a profound sense of helplessness and despair welled up within him once more.
Even the clearest memory fragments were extremely hazy. Nevertheless, Qin Sang could sense something extraordinary within those scenes—they bore a striking resemblance to the illusory visions conjured by the various divine powers inside the diocese altar. It was no wonder Hongyuzi had suspected this place.
"There is also what we experienced during this excursion," Mo Xingdao said, sending another stream of information over before Qin Sang could reply.
He and Hongyuzi had not been conducting a simple exploration; they were searching for the ascension path. After advancing a certain distance, they would first find a foothold and carve out a relatively safe route.
Hongyuzi had made preparations before coming, so their pace had been swift at first, only to slow progressively as they pressed forward.
At the deepest reaches, auspicious clouds were practically nowhere to be seen. There were no gaps between the various illusions and lingering divine powers, forcing them to rely on sheer strength to push through.
"The last area Hongyuzi entered was an expanse of pure white light. Originally, it wasn't particularly dangerous. But when the golden light erupted, it triggered a tide of radiance. Not long after the radiance appeared, Hongyuzi retreated severely wounded. I escaped catastrophe only because I was lagging behind," Mo Xingdao said, lingering fear evident in his voice as he recounted the scene.
Qin Sang nodded, committing the place to memory.
He did not necessarily have to retrace the route Hongyuzi had taken. It was an aimless search to begin with; as long as he could keep advancing inward, approaching from another direction would make no difference, allowing him to choose based on his own abilities.
For instance, he could easily traverse illusory visions of divine powers that attacked the primordial spirit or affected the soul.
Just as Mo Xingdao was about to say more, his tone abruptly shifted, turning low and urgent. "Hongyuzi is awake! Fellow Daoist Qin, until we meet again!"
With that, the facial features upon the stone dissolved.
Qin Sang reached out to grasp the stone. The moment it landed in his palm, its shape changed drastically, turning into a cold stone man.
This object was Mo Xingdao's token.
Qin Sang put it into his Qianjun Ring. Just then, he felt a sweep of divine consciousness pass over. Maintaining a composed expression, he rose and flew back toward the stone pavilion.
Mo Xingdao stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves in a corner of the pavilion. Their gazes met for an instant and parted, revealing nothing amiss.
Having refined the elixir, Hongyuzi's aura had stabilized, showing hardly any sign of injury aside from a faint pallor on his face.
Soon after, Real Person Zhijian and the others arrived one by one.
Hongyuzi looked over the crowd, gave his wrist a flick, and sent a spiritual talisman flying toward Qin Sang. "Real Person Wan and I have laid a talisman array here. We ask Real Person Qingfeng to take charge of this talisman and receive our fellow Daoists."
"It shall be done!"
Qin Sang cupped his hands, took the talisman, and cautioned the Real Persons beside him to take care.
The others wore grave expressions, but Real Person Zhijian smiled serenely, saying it was of no concern.
Qin Sang knew that Real Person Zhijian's strength was by no means as simple as it appeared on the surface. That single sword strike, comparable to the Void Refining stage, was ample proof.
It was a pity they were forced to separate, depriving him of the chance to witness the splendor of superior sword arts with his own eyes.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
The Real Persons transformed into streaks of escaping light and vanished in an instant.
Qin Sang walked into the stone pavilion, sat down cross-legged, and rested the talisman on his lap. Sensing outward slightly, he detected the presence of the talisman array.
The array clung to the gray curtain, exceptionally intricate and difficult to notice before activation.
Through the array, Qin Sang could sense conditions beyond the gray curtain. Should someone pursue them to this spot, he would be able to detect it in advance.
With the others gone, the stone pavilion fell into utter silence.
Reflecting on the encounters of this journey, Qin Sang felt a spark of curiosity regarding the source of the golden light and the demons' designs. Yet he swiftly warned himself not to delve too deeply, for it was best not to get dragged into the conflict.
Putting away his stray thoughts, he smoothed out the lingering effects of the wood spirit qi within his body while keeping a watchful eye on the altar's depths.
Time slipped by.
More than half an hour soon passed.
The golden light had receded, and the disturbances affecting the entire diocese altar were gradually settling, leaving the surroundings even quieter.
No anomalies appeared from deep within the altar for a long time, nor did any of the Real Persons return.
With nothing to do, Qin Sang's thoughts drifted, one matter after another flowing through his mind.
Running into Mo Xingdao had disrupted his previous plans. Going forward, he needed to sort through the threads and organize them thoroughly, balancing his cultivation with the search for the ascension path.
As he was pondering, a sudden flash of light caught his eye along a slender path of auspicious clouds winding between the illusions before the gray curtain.
Qin Sang's gaze sharpened. Looking closely, he confirmed it was an escaping light flying in this direction. Its aura was faint, and its speed was slow, comparable only to the Nascent Soul stage.
At this moment, the cultivators within the Jushan Diocese altar were at least at the Deity Transformation stage.
*Could someone be severely injured?*
Qin Sang's heart sank.
For someone to return gravely wounded so quickly, could the demons have gained the upper hand?
Qin Sang rose abruptly, his expression shifting. But as the light drew nearer, he noticed something strange.
*Why is it him?*
Having seen the figure clearly, Qin Sang let out a soft exclamation of surprise.
The newcomer was a tall, lean Daoist with a very familiar face—it was none other than Real Person Yun Wei of Lugou Mountain!
Back when they had competed for the talisman decree to gather the Four Seasons Dream-Transforming Flower, Qin Sang had fought against him for the qualification.
Yun Wei was cradling a Daoist nun in his arms. Her face was deathly pale, and her breath was as faint as gossamer. She lay motionless against his chest, clearly gravely wounded.
As he flew, Yun Wei looked down repeatedly to check her condition, his face full of anxiety.
*Why is he here?*
Qin Sang was bewildered.
Judging by Yun Wei's cultivation, he was still at the late Nascent Soul stage.
If a Nascent Soul cultivator was bold enough and made ample preparations, they could cross the Ninefold Star River and wander the outermost perimeter to broaden their experience.
Yet to venture this far inward was something even Deity Transformation cultivators had to do with utmost caution.
Yun Wei was coming from the depths of the altar. For a mere Nascent Soul cultivator to travel so deep into the interior, he was recklessly daring.
Qin Sang looked closely at the Daoist nun and found that she too was a Nascent Soul cultivator, which struck him as even more peculiar.
He stood inside the pavilion, watching the two of them without moving.
"Senior, please open the talisman array!"
Arriving before the gray curtain, a glimmer of hope flared in Yun Wei's eyes as he shouted loudly and cast forth a divine talisman.
Seeing the talisman, Qin Sang hesitated briefly before opening the array.
This was the secret signal agreed upon with Hongyuzi. That Yun Wei possessed this talisman meant he had been directed here by Hongyuzi.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Overjoyed, Yun Wei clutched the nun and dashed through the layers of gray curtains without pausing until he reached the pavilion. Still wearing a frantic expression, he bowed deeply. "Please, Senior, save my junior sister!"
Qin Sang glanced at the nun and asked placidly, "Who sent you here?"
"It was the two seniors, Hongyuzi and Real Person Wan! My master and I encountered them on the way. At their invitation, Master set off in haste to confront the demons, only managing to temporarily suppress my junior sister's injuries. However, the condition will only worsen over time. Real Person Wan directed me here, hoping Senior could lend a helping hand..."
Yun Wei spoke in a rush. His urgency was well justified, as the nun's breathing was growing fainter by the second, an abnormal flush spreading across her cheeks.
*So the Deity Transformation patriarch of Lugou Mountain has arrived. Why would he take the risk of bringing his disciples here?*
Qin Sang recalled the conversation between the Wandering Inspector and Yun Wei back then.
Could the patriarch of Lugou Mountain have discovered some treasure in the Jushan Diocese altar and spared no risk to obtain it?
"Senior need only suppress the strange force inside her body. When Master returns, he can heal her properly," Yun Wei pleaded repeatedly, terrified that Qin Sang might refuse.
Suppressing the strange force would not consume much true essence, but the energy was exceedingly bizarre. It had dispersed into her internal organs, requiring time to seal away bit by bit before it could be fully contained.
With the Daoist Court's affairs pressing, the patriarch of Lugou Mountain had not wanted to displease two fourth-rank immortal officials, so he had had no choice but to agree, ordering Yun Wei to rush the nun here at once.
Lugou Mountain was adept in poison dao and talisman curses.
Qin Sang had long entertained the thought of making contact with Lugou Mountain; he had simply not expected to meet them here.
Even without Real Person Wan's instructions, he would have stepped in to save her.
Directing Yun Wei to lay the nun on the ground, Qin Sang pressed two fingers against her brow to examine her carefully.
The stone weighing on Yun Wei's heart finally lifted. Only then did he take a proper look at Qin Sang. The more he looked, the more familiar the man seemed, and surprise crept onto his face.
When he had heard the Daoist title 'Real Person Qingfeng' from Real Person Wan, Yun Wei had not thought much of it. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine it would be him!
They had once fought on the arena stage.
Meeting again today, the other had already taken that step forward, while he was still floundering in the Nascent Soul stage.
Yun Wei wore a complex expression. Seeing Qin Sang open his eyes, he asked with concern, "Senior, my junior sister..."
"Fellow Daoist Yun Wei, our acquaintance began with a fight. After all these years, do you no longer recognize me?" Qin Sang said with a faint smile.
Yun Wei's lips moved, and he gave a wry smile. "Senior is no longer of my standing; how could I neglect proper courtesy?"
Qin Sang shook his head, pressing the matter no further, and cast his gaze back down to the nun. "Suppressing the strange force shouldn't be difficult. I only wonder where it came from?"
"This..."
Yun Wei's relief turned to hesitation.
Seeing his dilemma, Qin Sang rephrased the question: "May I ask if this strange force is a type of poison?"
When probing her body and contacting the energy, he had immediately noticed something odd. It felt like poison yet not quite poison, truly peculiar.
"My knowledge is shallow, so I cannot confirm whether it is poison, but it is certainly related to it. This strange force appeared suddenly when the golden light erupted. There was no prior warning, and Junior Sister failed to evade it in time..."
As he spoke, Yun Wei's eyes lit up. Only then did he recall that Qin Sang was also skilled in the way of poison, to the point where his sect's treasured Primordial Dissolving Filth Curse had proven utterly ineffective against him.
"Could Senior perhaps eradicate the strange force?" Yun Wei asked with a sliver of hope, his tone uneasy for fear of offending Qin Sang.
Even before breaking through, Qin Sang had easily resisted the Primordial Dissolving Filth Curse. Now that his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, his poison arts had surely improved as well.
If the strange force lingered within her body for long, it might leave behind unknown dangers. The sooner it was eradicated, the better.
"I can try," Qin Sang said calmly. A curious light radiated from his fingertips and sank into the nun's body.
At the same time, Qin Sang operated the poison bead, allowing its power to seep in quietly. Upon contacting the strange force, it successfully drew out a wisp of it.
There was not much of the strange force within her body, but it was exceptionally bizarre, deeply rooted, and unheard of—so much so that even the patriarch of Lugou Mountain had found it troublesome.
Yet Qin Sang discovered that eradicating all of it using the poison bead would not be difficult. Not wishing to make it look too effortless, however, he assumed an expression of deep, strained contemplation.
After a short while.
Seeing signs of recovery begin to appear on his junior sister's face, Yun Wei was overjoyed, his respect for Qin Sang deepening even further.
With the crisis averted, Yun Wei's tense nerves finally relaxed, allowing him room to think of other matters. Something seemed to cross his mind, and a flicker of delight flashed in his eyes.
Before long, Qin Sang drew out the last of the strange force and slowly withdrew his power.
The nun's complexion had grown ruddy, though her breathing remained weak. It was merely the depletion that followed a severe injury, bearing no grave consequences.
"Thank you, Senior, for saving my junior sister's life! All of Lugou Mountain will be endlessly grateful to you!"
Yun Wei bowed deeply, full of praise. "Senior's poison arts far surpass those of earlier years; few in this world can compare!"
"You flatter me. I merely possess a modest understanding of detoxification. I have heard that Lugou Mountain's poison curses are peerless in this era, and I have long admired your esteemed master."
Qin Sang spoke in a level tone.
"Knowing there is a fellow Daoist of Senior's caliber, Master will surely be overjoyed as well," Yun Wei said, sparing no praise.
His eyes darted as though he wanted to say more, but in the end, he swallowed his words.
With his master present, he could not make decisions on his own and could only wait for his master to return before deciding how to proceed.
Chapter 1796