Fengcang Cultivation Market.
Tan Hao waited anxiously in a courtyard, but he did not dare act rashly for fear of disrupting Qin Sang's plan.
Suddenly, the front door was pushed open.
Tan Hao sprang to his feet. Seeing Qin Sang walk in, the heart that had been in his throat finally settled. He asked urgently, "Brother Qin, how did it go?"
Qin Sang nodded. "Liang Yan has been slain by my hand. Let us go quickly and rescue Senior Sister Shi Hong."
He had already extracted the restrictions protecting Liang Yan's cave dwelling.
The two of them immediately headed up the mountain. After entering the small courtyard, they dispelled the restriction on Shi Hong's room.
"Who is there!"
Startled awake and sensing something was wrong, Shi Hong hastily brought out a magic tool for defense, only to see Tan Hao appear in the doorway. She was caught completely off guard, her face flooded with astonishment.
"Junior Brother Tan, how are you here? Liang Yan, he..."
"Senior Sister Shi Hong, Liang Yan is dead!"
Tan Hao dropped the shocking news without preamble.
Shi Hong's mouth opened and closed, utterly incredulous.
Liang Yan had been alive and well just a moment ago. He had been gone for less than two shichen, and now Tan Hao suddenly appeared to tell her the villain was dead. How could that be?
"It is all thanks to Brother Qin!"
Tan Hao stepped aside.
Qin Sang walked in, gazing at Shi Hong with profound emotion.
The youthful, radiant, and immensely proud Senior Sister Shi Hong of his memories had changed beyond recognition. Between her brows lingered an indelible sorrow and exhaustion.
Time flowed like water, but how much beauty had it worn away?
"Senior Sister Shi Hong, it has been a long time..."
***
Outside Yinshan Pass.
Inside Tan Hao's cave dwelling.
Shi Hong sat cross-legged on the stone bed, still feeling as though none of this were real.
The devil who had held her under his thumb had been slain, and the greatest hidden danger within her body had also been neutralized.
Her expression carried a hint of relief, yet it was far from joyous—it was exceptionally complex.
Gradually, the rims of her eyes reddened. Two streams of tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the stone bed.
Her tears flowed faster and faster. Shi Hong suddenly covered her mouth, but the welling emotions could no longer be suppressed, and she broke into wails of weeping...
Now, Shi Hong's aura was even weaker than before; her cultivation was only at the second layer of the Qi Refinement stage!
After leaving Fengcang Cultivation Market and explaining the full sequence of events to Shi Hong, Qin Sang had also laid bare the truth behind the Yanluo Banner. He asked for her opinion: did she wish to retain her current cultivation, or disperse her cultivation and start anew?
Cultivating to the tenth layer would inevitably lead to being devoured by the Yanwang. Only by dispersing her cultivation, completely ridding herself of the Yanluo Banner, and starting over from scratch could Shi Hong ever advance to a higher realm.
Yet given Shi Hong's age, no matter how great her talent was, she had virtually no hope of achieving Foundation Establishment in this lifetime.
It would even be difficult for her to cultivate back up to the eighth layer of Qi Refinement. Throughout the process, Shi Hong would have to endure tremendous hardship, and even when her lifespan ran out, she might not reach her former cultivation level.
Yunyouzi was an anomaly; not everyone could be compared to him.
If she retained her cultivation, she would remain under the threat of the Yanluo Banner, unable to make further progress and trapped where she was. However, if she returned to her homeland, whether she enjoyed worldly riches or married and had children, she would at least live out the rest of her days in peace and comfort, far wealthier than any mortal.
Shi Hong had hardly hesitated before saying resolutely to Qin Sang, "I want to disperse my cultivation and start anew! What would I do if I went back? Aside from cultivation, I know nothing. Besides, my parents and kin passed away long ago, leaving me with no family in this world... I would rather die on the path of cultivation, with no regrets even in death!"
Faced with Shi Hong's resolute gaze, Qin Sang could only sigh with deep emotion.
Shi Hong was the most talented among the four disciples. Had she not mistakenly entered the demonic sect, she might have already touched the fringes of the False Core stage by now. Yet through twists of fate, she had ended up like this.
At Shi Hong's insistence, Qin Sang stood guard and aided her in dispersing her cultivation, finally breaking free of the Yanluo Banner.
The moment the dispersal concluded, Qin Sang poured out his full strength to gather Shi Hong's near-collapsing sea of qi, but even then, he could only help her stabilize at this level.
The second layer of the Qi Refinement stage!
Barely stronger than someone who had just stepped onto the immortal path. Countless years of painstaking effort had vanished in an instant.
"I am about to head south... Where does Senior Sister intend to cultivate? If you wish to go near your hometown, I can escort you along the way," Qin Sang asked.
Shi Hong came back to herself and wiped away her tears, hesitating.
Her current cultivation was far too weak. In the perilous Ancient Immortal Battlefield, she could lose her life at any moment, whereas the heartland of the Lesser Cold Domain would be much safer.
Yet only the Ancient Immortal Battlefield held abundant cultivation resources; remaining here offered her a sliver of hope.
Tan Hao spoke up from the side. "If not for Senior Sister's selfless help, Tan Jie and I could never have held out until now and met Brother Qin. If Senior Sister is willing, why not stay? This cave dwelling is concealed enough; no one will disturb you while you cultivate here. Now Tan Jie no longer needs a constant supply of spirit medicine, and I have a measure of self-protection. As long as I am around, Senior Sister will not need to worry about cultivation resources, and it gives me a chance to repay your kindness."
Qin Sang nodded inwardly. Out of regard for past ties, he had stepped in to save them, but he could not keep them by his side indefinitely, nor did he have the capacity to do so.
Tan Hao's willingness to repay Shi Hong was the best possible outcome.
Shi Hong's realm was still low. Even if she required pills and resources, they would not be particularly costly; with Tan Hao's current cultivation, he could easily shoulder the resources needed for both himself and Shi Hong.
Under Tan Hao's earnest persuasion, Shi Hong hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.
"In that case, it is time for me to depart as well..."
Qin Sang chuckled and spoke in an easy tone. This was all he could do; as for what the future held for the Tan brothers and Shi Hong, that would depend on their own fortunes.
He had already stayed at Yinshan Pass for over a month. After returning to his sect, he might need to remain for a while to handle sect affairs. To avoid missing his appointed time with Yunyouzi, it was best to set out as soon as possible.
Needless to say, Tan Hao and Shi Hong offered their deep gratitude and urged him to stay.
The three walked out of the cave dwelling together. Qin Sang turned and cupped his hands toward them. "Senior Sister, Brother Tan, green hills never change and clear waters keep flowing—until destiny brings us together again!"
Qin Sang summoned the Nether Silk Cloud and was about to rise into the sky when Shi Hong suddenly called out to him.
He turned back to look at her.
"Junior Brother Qin..."
Shi Hong stared at Qin Sang, her lips trembling slightly before she spoke just four words:
"May you achieve immortality!"
Short, yet powerful.
Qin Sang was slightly taken aback. He gave a silent nod, turned, and stepped onto the Nether Silk Cloud. Ascending straight into the firmament, he merged into the sea of clouds and shot away through the sky.
Tan Hao and Shi Hong watched him go until the light of his flight had completely vanished.
***
Soaring through the air atop the Nether Silk Cloud, Qin Sang still seemed somewhat lost in thought.
For immortal cultivators, wishing a fellow daoist to achieve immortality was perhaps the greatest blessing of all.
Yet, was immortality truly so easily attained?
Qin Sang urged the Nether Silk Cloud to fly above the peak of the clouds. He looked up at the boundless vault of heaven, silent for a long time.
The Nether Silk Cloud was extremely fast, soon carrying him past the sea of clouds. Qin Sang withdrew his gaze and, mindful of avoiding unnecessary trouble, concealed the light of his flight, continuing forward in secret.
Just then, as if suddenly remembering something, Qin Sang looked down at his mustard seed bag.
Chapter 349