Invitation

Hearing Qin Sang's question, Yu Daiyue hesitated for a moment before saying, "To tell you the truth, Junior Brother Qin, this is my first time going to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield as well, so it is difficult to decide. But I am here to seek opportunities, so I certainly cannot stay inside the city forever. Being a city guard is out of the question for me. If you have similar plans, Junior Brother Qin, why don't we travel together?" Receiving Yu Daiyue's invitation, Qin Sang did not rush to answer, instead pondering silently. After their expedition to the subterranean cavern, a certain foundation of trust indeed existed between Yu Daiyue and Qin Sang, making him a good companion. However, Yu Daiyue was seeking an opportunity for a breakthrough. His age was fast approaching the limit. If he could not break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage soon, he would have no hope of achieving Core Formation. Thus, he was undertaking this journey with the desperate resolve of a gambler staking everything on one throw. The outer reaches of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield were unlikely to satisfy his needs; he would inevitably have to venture in and out of perilous secret realms to search for elixirs and treasures. If Qin Sang traveled with Yu Daiyue, he too would be forced into those dangers. Qin Sang, on the other hand, had only recently broken through to Foundation Establishment and was still young. With the two-hundred-year lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator before vital essence began to fail, he had at least one hundred and sixty years left to strive for Core Formation, including thirty to forty years to spend in the early Foundation Establishment stage. There was no need at all for such urgency. Of course, that did not mean Qin Sang would slacken. Naturally, the faster one cultivated, the better. The sooner one reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, the more time one would have to attempt Core Formation, and the higher the chances of success. Qin Sang had come to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield for the sake of his cultivation. All he needed was to find a stable cave dwelling in the battlefield and an environment where he could hunt cloud beasts at any time, then cultivate step by step. There was no need to plunge into life-or-death peril to force a breakthrough. As for finding spirit herbs to restore his foundation, searching for news of Senior Qingzhu, and collecting spirit wood to upgrade the ebony sword—those three matters were indeed important, but none was an immediate emergency. For now, the damage to his foundation seemed to affect only combat prowess. After breaking through to Foundation Establishment, Qin Sang had felt no major hindrance to his cultivation. He did not know whether it would obstruct him when breaking through bottlenecks, but he could test that when he attempted to advance to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Finding traces of Senior Qingzhu was likewise not an urgent matter; Core Formation was still far too distant for Qin Sang. The ebony sword itself was made of magic treasure material. Even if it could not bear the second killing talisman, the gap would not be vast. Qin Sang could take his time, familiarizing himself with the environment of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield while cultivating, and slowly investigate and search. If something was easily obtained, he naturally would not pass it up; but if it came with danger, he would obediently stick to cultivation. It would not be too late to pursue such things once his strength had grown. With these thoughts, Qin Sang quietly resolved not to travel with Yu Daiyue and tactfully replied, "Senior Brother Yu, the Ancient Immortal Battlefield is full of countless dangers, and my strength is meager. I fear I would only hold you back..." Qin Sang's words were also the truth. Others might not know his capabilities well, but Yu Daiyue knew them clearly. Understanding Qin Sang's implication, Yu Daiyue urged him no further. The two chatted idly for a while longer, then each sat cross-legged in peace, quietly waiting. Qin Sang inconspicuously withdrew his gaze. He had noticed a persistent look of melancholy etched between Yu Daiyue's brows that refused to clear. Earlier, Qin Sang had intentionally steered the conversation toward the aftermath of the cavern incident, but Yu Daiyue had deliberately avoided the topic. Even so, Qin Sang had keenly sensed the resentment in Yu Daiyue's tone. Had Yu Daiyue taken the fall for Li Zai's death? Considering this, Qin Sang felt the likelihood was high. The only reason he himself had been let off so lightly was that, just like Li Zai, he had merely been invited by the organizers to lend a hand. If Li Zai's master, Martial Uncle Fengming, had insisted on pursuing the matter, the organizers would certainly have suffered severe repercussions. With Senior Sister Qingting dead, all the pressure fell on Yu Daiyue alone. Yu Daiyue was not favored by his master either, so there was no one to mediate on his behalf. Who knew what price he had paid to get through the ordeal, and his circumstances during this period must have been exceptionally difficult. Going all-in by entering the Ancient Immortal Battlefield was likely an act of helpless resignation. Qin Sang sighed inwardly. In the cultivation world, strength was the only true authority! His own path ahead was uncertain, and he could do nothing to help Yu Daiyue. He could only cast these thoughts to the back of his mind, act as though he had noticed nothing, and close his eyes in meditation. ... "This disciple pays respects to Martial Uncle Che..." "Greetings, Martial Ancestor..." A chorus of loud salutations jolted Qin Sang awake. Emerging from meditation and opening his eyes, he saw that the small square before Sect Master Hall was already bustling with people. Earlier, Sect Master Yu had arrived to take attendance and announce several important matters regarding entering Xuanlu Pass. Now, however, an unfamiliar cultivator had appeared before Sect Master Hall at some point, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, while Sect Master Yu could only stand respectfully at his side. The man appeared quite young, around thirty years of age, with an archaic, striking appearance, a high nose, and deep-set eyes. He wore a moon-white Daoist robe, and at his waist hung a palm-sized red gourd. Standing there, he exuded an ethereal, transcendent aura, accompanied by a faint, awe-inspiring pressure that gripped the soul and compelled people to bow down in reverence. From him, Qin Sang could not sense the slightest ripple of power; to the naked eye, he looked just like a mortal. Yet the crowd before Qin Sang had already fallen to their knees in a dense mass, Foundation Establishment cultivators included. *Martial Uncle Che!* Qin Sang's heart skipped a beat. Glancing over, his eyes locked onto that red gourd. No wonder it looked so familiar—was that not the Red Dust Gourd? He had even traversed its interior once before. This man was Shaohua Mountain's Golden Core Master, Che Yutao. *To actually hang a magic treasure at his waist...* Qin Sang grumbled inwardly for a moment, but did not hesitate to pay his respects to Che Yutao as well, addressing him as Martial Uncle. Defending Xuanlu Pass was something their group of Foundation Establishment cultivators could not achieve alone. It was said that the Golden Core Masters of Shaohua Mountain took turns stationing themselves there as well. It seemed it was Che Yutao's turn this time. With a Golden Core Master leading the way, this journey was bound to be safe. Faced with the crowd's bows, Che Yutao's expression did not waver. He swept a casual glance over them and said indifferently, "The hour has arrived. Those among you who are heading to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, board the treasure ship now. This old man shall escort you to Shangyuan Qingjing Palace." Before his voice had fully faded, without Che Yutao making any visible movement, a massive shadow suddenly engulfed the crowd. Looking up in astonishment, they saw a colossal treasure ship hovering in the air above, having appeared who knew when. The treasure ship resembled a mortal tower boat, with both ends curving upward and a dragon's head carved at its prow, radiating majestic grandeur. Pendants swayed upon the ship amidst thousands of auspicious glows, extraordinarily exquisite—it was actually a magic treasure! Even an ordinary vessel for traveling was a magic treasure; was this the caliber of a Golden Core Master? Qin Sang looked up, his heart brimming with envy, his conviction to pursue higher realms growing even more longing and resolute. After Che Yutao finished speaking, several flights of cloud stairs descended from the tower boat. A stir ran through the crowd as people flew up the cloud stairs into the treasure ship one after another. Not daring to tarry, Qin Sang followed behind and went inside as well. Once everyone had boarded, Che Yutao's figure suddenly blurred, vanishing without a trace a moment later. The treasure ship trembled slightly, abruptly shrinking until it was no larger than a flying shuttle, and silently sped away. It left behind only a light breeze that ruffled the treetops, while Sect Master Yu stood bowed respectfully for a long time before finally straightening his back.