After entering Prince Dongyang's estate, Qin Sang was placed in a small courtyard. Three meals were brought to him each day, but he was forbidden from wandering outside.
For several days running, Qin Sang saw neither Princess Dongyang nor received an audience with Prince Dongyang. During that time, only Bai Jianglan paid him a single visit.
Having come in search of immortals, he waited with great patience.
Moreover, an environment like this suited cultivation quite well. Settling his mind, Qin Sang threw himself entirely into cultivating the Nether Scripture.
With the aid of the Soul Pills, Qin Sang felt his cultivation progressing even faster than it had during the first layer. If he had an endless supply of Soul Pills, he estimated he could break through to the third layer of the Nether Scripture within a year.
Of course, that was an ideal scenario.
Under his frantic cultivation, a single Soul Pill was exhausted in half a month at most. Qin Sang drew two Soul Pills in succession, and when he drew the third, Yanwang's body had grown extremely faint, flickering like a candle guttering in the wind.
In such a state, drawing even one more pill would likely make Yanwang collapse altogether.
Qin Sang was uncertain whether Yanwang could recover once fully drained, and he had no intention of doing something as foolish as draining the pond to catch all the fish. What troubled him was how to secure a continuous supply of Soul Pills.
As for what yin baleful qi actually was, he could hardly figure that out in short order.
Human souls were indeed inexhaustible, but he would probably have to slaughter village after village to satisfy his cultivation needs.
Leaving aside the moral barrier against butchering the innocent, being so reckless would likely get him hunted down and slain as a devil by other Immortal Masters before his cultivation had even risen much. The gruesome sight of the black-robed devil severed in two was still fresh in Qin Sang's mind.
A faint twinge of pain came from his meridians. Qin Sang ceased his cultivation and opened his eyes to find the sky outside growing light. Though he had cultivated through the night, his spirits remained high. Still, he was accustomed to taking a brief rest, sometimes even sleeping away an entire day, feeling that only then was he truly rested.
Just as he was about to lie down fully clothed, a knock came at the courtyard gate.
"Brother Bai, you've come."
Qin Sang opened the door to find Bai Jianglan standing outside. A fine drizzle fell from the sky, and Bai Jianglan wore a bamboo hat and a coir raincoat, a precious sword strapped to his back, looking travel-worn like an itinerant martial artist roaming the jianghu.
Bai Jianglan entered the room, took off his raincoat, retrieved several books from his robes, and handed them to Qin Sang. "Brother Qin, these are a few superior martial arts the Princess instructed me to select from the prince's armory. Over the past month or so, many major events have unfolded outside. I accompanied the Princess traveling to and fro, and only managed to return today."
No wonder no one had disturbed him for so long.
He had cultivated diligently in this courtyard for more than a month without taking a single step outside. Apart from the maidservant who delivered his meals, he had not seen a single unfamiliar face, living almost in total seclusion from the world. What sort of major events had happened outside?
Pondering this in secret, Qin Sang took the manuals and flipped through them. There were three in total.
One was the *Soul-Snatching Spear*, which suited him perfectly. While the Tiger-Subduing Long Fist could be adapted for use with a staff or club, it was after all the shallowest of techniques and not a pure spear art.
Once he learned this *Soul-Snatching Spear*, it would be much easier for Qin Sang to conceal his use of the Yanluo Banner from prying eyes.
The second was the *Bright King Art*, an internal cultivation method. Qin Sang could not discern its depth at a glance, intending to study it closely later to see how it differed from the Nether Scripture.
Turning to the third manual, Qin Sang's eyes suddenly lit up. It was a lightness skill technique called *Shadowless Steps*.
Light as a swallow, walking across roofs and leaping over walls, leaving no trace upon the snow, crossing a river on a single reed...
He had long yearned for the legendary lightness skills, but unfortunately, none of the martial arts schools or escort agencies in Sanwu City taught true lightness arts, offering only a few practical combat footworks at best.
Seeing Qin Sang's delighted expression, Bai Jianglan smiled as well. "Seeing that Brother Qin is skilled with spears and staffs, I selected this *Soul-Snatching Spear* for you. This spear art was created by a renowned senior spear master of the martial world; it seizes the soul and captures the spirit, crafted with extraordinary subtlety. The *Bright King Art* is a top-notch internal cultivation method in the jianghu, though internal arts rarely show swift results. Brother Qin, do not be impatient. Keep your mind calm and cultivate patiently; if you can truly nurture a wisp of true qi within your dantian, your martial arts will surely rise to the next level. As for these *Shadowless Steps*, since Brother Qin possesses no internal force, I chose it specifically for you. Not only is the footwork ingenious, but it also carries the ability to conceal one's breath and hide one's shadow, forming a distinct school of its own. Once mastered to a profound degree, it is no weaker than premier lightness skills... Is Brother Qin satisfied?"
Qin Sang cupped his hands in gratitude. "I am favored by the Princess's generosity, and I have troubled Brother Bai to go to such pains. Qin Sang cannot thank you enough."
The two sat across from each other, sipping fragrant tea as they spoke. Bai Jianglan guided Qin Sang through the key points of the three secret manuals, which Qin Sang memorized carefully, though true understanding would only come after practical cultivation.
When speaking of Water Monkey's condition, Bai Jianglan's tone was no longer so sorrowful. "Zhou Ning is a cheerful lad by nature and can take things in stride. His wounds have improved now, and he can already get out of bed to practice the sword, far more diligent than in days past. Having survived this great ordeal, shedding his lazy habits, his martial arts might not be unable to reach a higher level."
Qin Sang nodded in agreement, though he did not take such comforting words seriously. For martial artists, losing an arm was a devastating blow to one's skills.
Bai Jianglan took a sip of tea, looked at Qin Sang, and asked, "Brother Qin, do you still hold to your earlier thought?"
Qin Sang set down his teacup, straightened his posture, and replied solemnly, "Brother Bai, I have admired the immortal path since youth. This heart of mine has never wavered!"
A month ago, Bai Jianglan had come to the courtyard to meet with Qin Sang, sounding him out indirectly about his plans for the future.
Qin Sang had known Bai Jianglan was probing him on behalf of Princess Dongyang.
In Great Sui, Prince Dongyang's standing was second only to the Emperor, making him one of the people most likely to come into contact with Immortal Masters.
Qin Sang had saved Princess Dongyang's life twice, and on the boat ride back to Dongyang Commandery, he could clearly sense that she held him in high regard. His mind agile, Qin Sang had simply laid bare his desire to seek an immortal destiny.
Not knowing what answer Bai Jianglan would bring him, Qin Sang felt a prick of nervous tension in his heart.
In truth, Bai Jianglan had seen through Qin Sang's thoughts back on the boat last year, yet he had not expected him to be so resolute. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "According to the ancestral statutes of Great Sui, whenever a new emperor ascends the throne and succeeds to the imperial realm, an enthronement ceremony must be held at Mount Chaosheng in the imperial capital, offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth to signify the divine right of kings and mandate of Heaven. At that time, celestial clouds fill the entire sky, divine music sounds in wave after wave, and Heaven dispatches an immortal crane carrying the Imperial Seal in its beak. Only then is one recognized as a true sovereign of men."
Qin Sang had learned of these things before. This world differed in many ways from the ancient times of his past life, yet certain things remained the same—for instance, the methods of duping the populace were practically identical.
However, because martial arts and immortals genuinely existed, the methods here were made far more convincing than in his previous life.
"Little does anyone know..."
Bai Jianglan paused before continuing, "I only learned recently that the so-called mandate of Heaven is merely an illusion, but the crane delivering the seal is real. Yet the Imperial Seal does not come from Heaven; it comes from an Immortal Master."
Qin Sang felt a jolt in his heart and asked in astonishment, "Brother Bai, does becoming emperor require the acknowledgment of an Immortal Master?"
Bai Jianglan nodded.
Qin Sang frowned. "Then wouldn't whoever becomes emperor simply be decided by the Immortal Master's appointment? Why bother fighting over it at all?"
Chapter 28