Rules

Yunyouzi's tone merely grew somewhat subdued before quickly returning to his calm, detached demeanor—just as it had been back in the ancient cultivator's abandoned abode when speaking of the Fire-Averting Green Lotus. Qin Sang could not help but admire his mindset. "Did the Xuanwen Heyun Pill truly have no effect at all?" Hearing Yunyouzi ask, Qin Sang told him everything that had occurred after taking the Xuanwen Heyun Pill, detailing every change with meticulous care, not daring to omit the slightest detail. He then looked expectantly at Yunyouzi, waiting for his analysis. Yunyouzi sank into deep thought. Only after a long while did he say, "Brother Qin, one thing is certain: the Xuanwen Heyun Pill and other pills that mend one's foundation are effective for you. If the Xuanwen Heyun Pill were not the right remedy, it could not have healed even half a tenth of your injuries. That leaves only one possibility—the Xuanwen Heyun Pill's quality is not high enough!" Qin Sang nodded. He had considered this as well, and hurriedly pressed, "Does Senior know of any elixir of higher quality than the Xuanwen Heyun Pill?" Yunyouzi pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Difficult! "The Taiyi Dan Sect does not lack pill recipes, and the Martial Uncles at the Core Formation stage possess profound mastery in the Dao of Alchemy. "However, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice—without assembling all the spiritual herbs, good intentions are powerless. "Furthermore, the quality of the Xuanwen Heyun Pill is already a cut above the Heyun Pill, the Five Ganoderma Divine Paste, and similar medicines, ranking among the top grade of such pills. Not to mention, Brother Qin's pill was concocted using thousand-year Xuanwen Huangjing. "The only things that can consistently surpass the Xuanwen Heyun Pill are those rare natural treasures, or perhaps the emergence of a divine elixir from some abandoned abode or secret realm. "Even if one occasionally appears, it is a priceless treasure beyond the open market, impossible to buy with spirit stones." Seeing Qin Sang's disappointment, Yunyouzi softened his tone and consoled him, "Brother Qin, do not lose heart. It is far from time to despair. Heaven never seals off all paths—at least the Xuanwen Heyun Pill was effective for you. There is another method: consume several more of such spirit medicines. Perhaps a change in quantity will lead to a change in quality, curing your injury." This method Yunyouzi mentioned was also the only one Qin Sang could think of. However, Heyun Pills were not easy to come by either. The first Xuanwen Heyun Pill had only healed half a tenth of the damage, and there was no telling how many more would be needed. Qin Sang took a deep breath. Before coming, he had already anticipated this outcome, so he quickly adjusted his state of mind. Yunyouzi was right; it was far from time to despair. One had to persevere through hardship and search high and low! "Senior, have you heard any news about natural treasures such as Dao Scripture Grass or Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit?" Qin Sang asked. One path was to gather elixirs. The other was to seek natural treasures. Qin Sang intended to pursue both paths simultaneously. Perhaps an opportunity would arise along one of them. "Natural treasures..." Yunyouzi pondered for a moment, but rather than answering directly, he shifted the topic and asked, "Brother Qin, you also attended the auction half a month ago. Did you see the Ziwei Secret Talisman with your own eyes?" Qin Sang was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Senior came for the Ziwei Secret Talisman? Do you intend to buy it?" He had been wondering why Yunyouzi had suddenly ended his secluded cultivation and traveled thousands of li to Yinshan Pass. That mysterious Core Formation cultivator who possessed the Ziwei Secret Talisman had demanded a magic treasure right from the start. Could Yunyouzi be prepared to meet that demand? Yunyouzi gave a self-deprecating smile and waved his hand. "Brother Qin, you may not know, but this Ziwei Secret Talisman is likely the first to appear in the open since the onset of this spirit tide. Once the news spread, it caused a massive uproar. "The number of Ziwei Secret Talismans is limited. Who knows how many Core Formation cultivators will be drawn to the next auction? One can imagine how fierce the competition will be. "I heard the person holding the Ziwei Secret Talisman wants to trade it for a magic treasure. Even if they cannot get their wish, the final price will hardly be low. "This old Daoist lacks the strength to join that contest; I merely came to see the commotion. "Of course, if the opportunity presents itself, I truly would like to buy one." Qin Sang let out a soft exclamation. "Junior has heard that Ziwei Palace is perilously dangerous, where even Core Formation cultivators cannot guarantee their safety, and entering as a Foundation Establishment cultivator means nine deaths to one life. Senior, you intend to enter as well?" Yunyouzi nodded. "Did Brother Qin not just ask where natural treasures can be found? "The place most likely to harbor natural treasures is Ziwei Palace! "The other abandoned abodes and secret realms of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield cannot compare to Ziwei Palace in the slightest! "Legend has it that Ziwei Palace was once a genuine immortal's abode that plummeted from the heavens during the ancient war of immortals, sinking into dormancy in the deepest reaches of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, only to emerge whenever a spirit tide arises. "Not only does it contain countless supreme treasures, but legends say it also holds the profound secrets to breaking through to Deity Transformation and even higher realms! "The Grand Dao of Deity Transformation, tribulation-transcendence secret treasures, immortal elixirs, divine techniques—these can only be found in Ziwei Palace. "Precisely because of this, whenever Ziwei Palace appears, not only do Core Formation cultivators flock to it like ducks to water, but even Nascent Soul Patriarchs rarely miss the occasion. "Over countless years, countless cultivators have explored only a small fraction of Ziwei Palace. "Though this old Daoist knows a few potential methods and ended my seclusion this time to prepare for seeking spirit medicines later on, I am still not certain whether my soul's hidden injury can be healed. If it cannot, then even if it means nine deaths to one life, I will risk my life to make the journey." Qin Sang was secretly stunned. He had guessed that Ziwei Palace was extraordinary and unlike other secret realms, but he had never imagined it held tribulation-transcendence secret treasures and the profound secrets of Deity Transformation. No wonder it caused such a massive stir. "So the Ziwei Secret Talisman is the key to Ziwei Palace? Senior must also possess one, with no other way around it?" Qin Sang asked. "None," Yunyouzi shook his head. "The Ziwei Secret Talisman cannot truly be considered a key. It is actually a qualification, unrelated to Ziwei Palace itself, but rather an established rule. "Ziwei Palace lies in the core region of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, which is riddled with spatial rifts, not to mention that Ziwei Palace emerges when the spirit tide is at its most violent. "Originally, only Nascent Soul cultivators and their Core Formation disciples could enter Ziwei Palace. "Later, some Nascent Soul cultivators worried that after they perished, their descendants would be unable to break through to the Nascent Soul stage and would never have another chance to enter Ziwei Palace. Thus, everyone established the rule of the Ziwei Secret Talisman, and only then did the situation change. "The Ziwei Secret Talisman is a glimmer of opportunity left for rogue cultivators and sects without a Nascent Soul cultivator presiding over them. "It is said that a formidable immortal formation seals off the exterior of Ziwei Palace, requiring a grand formation to be laid beforehand to breach it. After establishing the rule of the Ziwei Secret Talisman, whoever holds one, regardless of cultivation realm, can enter Ziwei Palace under the protection of the grand formation. "Of course, those who dare venture into Ziwei Palace before the Core Formation stage are exceedingly few." Qin Sang came to an understanding. "So that's how it is! In that case... a single Ziwei Secret Talisman can only grant qualification to one person?" "That is correct." Yunyouzi nodded. "If Brother Qin wishes to search for natural treasures and dares to take risks, you might as well try to find a Ziwei Secret Talisman. Then, consult the records and ancient texts of the major sects. Perhaps there are all kinds of records regarding Ziwei Palace from which you can glean some clues."