Good News

The flying-horned fish-dragons were still gathered in the secluded pool, swimming about. Qin Sang wondered if Yunyouzi would find it strange that this peaceful pool had suddenly expanded several times over. He quietly dispensed a few drops of Demon-Intoxicating Saliva, slipping past the creatures' senses, and retraced his steps. Failing to cross paths with Yunyouzi along the way, Qin Sang had no choice but to depart on his own, making it smoothly to the plain before the barrier of the inner valley. The star venom frog habitat nestled in the mountain hollow was Qin Sang's sole worry. He feared the Wuji Sect Master and his companion had already turned back and might run into him there. Yet remaining in the inner valley would only be more dangerous. Hardening his resolve, Qin Sang ventured into the mountain. Fortunately, there were not so many coincidences, and Qin Sang exited the inner valley unharmed. Stopping and resting along the way, it took Qin Sang a full dozen days to leave Wuya Valley behind. From there, he headed straight for Qingyang Market. Yunyouzi had not yet arrived. They had agreed to rendezvous here after leaving Wuya Valley. Since Yunyouzi had already successfully harvested the Nightbloom Lily, Qin Sang was not worried. He surmised that Yunyouzi had likely refined the spirit medicine right inside Wuya Valley. After all, it was a heavenly treasure he had yearned for day and night. Now that the dawn of curing his hidden injury was finally in sight, the old Daoist would undoubtedly be eager to act. Thus, Qin Sang settled in and waited patiently at Qingyang Market. During those few days, he did not remain confined to his dwelling to cultivate. Instead, he went out frequently, gathering intelligence on the Qingyang Demonic Sect—especially the Qingyang astral essence within its domain! Nine days later. Qin Sang returned from outside. Just as he was about to open his cave dwelling, his eyes snapped sharp, followed by an expression of delight. Pushing the door open, he saw Yunyouzi sitting calmly inside. At this moment, Yunyouzi was glowing with vitality, looking far healthier than before, with not a trace of his former decrepitude. Even more astonishing was his cultivation realm: he had reached the middle Foundation Establishment stage, on par with Qin Sang. He had finally crossed that threshold! "Congratulations on healing your hidden wound, Senior!" Qin Sang was genuinely pleased for him, offering repeated congratulations. Because of that hidden injury, Yunyouzi had never been able to break through to the middle Foundation Establishment stage despite his deep cultivation. He had been forced to halt his progress, wandering far and wide in search of pills and remedies. Qin Sang had not expected that in less than a month, Yunyouzi would not only refine the Nightbloom Lily, but its effects would be so immediate as to shatter his bottleneck directly. "It is all thanks to you, Brother Qin!" With his greatest affliction resolved, Yunyouzi could not hide the joy in his eyes. He rose and clasped his hands toward Qin Sang. "Though the injury isn't completely eradicated, at least until the Core Formation stage, this old Daoist won't have to worry about it holding back my cultivation. I can return to my sect and cultivate in peace for a time!" Hearing this, Qin Sang's smile faded, his brow furrowing slightly. "Senior took the spirit medicine, yet it still failed to completely heal the injury?" Yunyouzi shook his head. "The Nightbloom Lily I consumed, though a heavenly treasure, was not the exact remedy tailored to my condition. Fortunately, its potency was immense, and it still worked wonders to resolve the immediate crisis. This old Daoist is already more than satisfied. "Besides, though my origin soul is injured, it may not necessarily hinder my Core Formation. I won't know the exact situation until I reach the False Core stage. "By then, however, this old Daoist will no longer be trapped in the shallow pond. Even if it truly affects my Core Formation, seeking out other healing spirit medicines might not be effortless, but it will be vastly easier than before." Yunyouzi stood tall, his expression and tone brimming with confidence and determination, devoid of any hesitation. Infected by Yunyouzi's spirit, Qin Sang gave a slight nod. He too believed that with the old Daoist's disposition and capability, he would surely fulfill his wish and eliminate the hidden danger for good! "Brother Qin, this old Daoist is pressed by age, struggling against heaven for life, and dares not delay my cultivation. Now that the hidden trouble is temporarily resolved, I must return to my sect to cultivate first. Would Brother Qin grant me some time? Once I stabilize my realm, I will set out to seek the Heyun Pill on your behalf," Yunyouzi said, looking somewhat sheepish. Qin Sang waved a hand. "There is no need to rush, Senior. My injuries do not impede my cultivation. So long as you can help me obtain a Heyun Pill before I prepare for Core Formation, that will be plenty. Senior should prioritize your own cultivation. In the future, should I face any difficulties, I might very well need to rely on your help." Yunyouzi breathed a sigh of relief. With a solemn expression, he said, "Many thanks, brother! Rest assured, if you ever face hardship down the road, simply send word to the Taiyi Dan Sect, and this old Daoist will not shirk his duty! On my way back, I will visit Mount Cuiming to see Li Yufu and take him as my disciple. I only hope the boy can endure the loneliness of the immortal path and live up to your expectations!" Afterward, the two chatted about various mundane matters, and Qin Sang seized the opportunity to ask Yunyouzi many questions regarding cultivation. Although Yunyouzi had only just broken through to the middle Foundation Establishment stage and his cultivation was slightly below Qin Sang's, he possessed a penetrating clarity on many subjects. Guiding Qin Sang was well within his means, benefiting the young cultivator immensely. "You are interested in Qiantian astral essence, brother?" Yunyouzi found it somewhat curious when Qin Sang inquired about it, but did not press further. After a moment of thought, he said, "Though Qiantian astral qi is as renowned as earth fiend qi, the Qiantian astral essence formed when it falls into the mortal realm is far rarer than Earth Fiend yin veins. As far as this old Daoist knows, in the entire Lesser Cold Domain, there are only two places where Qiantian astral essence can be found! One of them is the Qingyang Demonic Sect." Yunyouzi pointed north, toward the mountain gate of the Qingyang Demonic Sect. Qin Sang felt a surge of joy. After these past few days of inquiring, he had realized that Qiantian astral essence was far rarer than he had imagined; all his investigating had yielded not a single useful clue. "Where is the other place?" Qin Sang pressed. Yunyouzi gave him a meaningful glance and shook his head. "Brother Qin, this old Daoist doesn't know why you are searching for Qiantian astral essence. But take my advice: unless you are in desperate need, you had better not cast your eyes on either of these two places. "The Qingyang Demonic Sect goes without saying. Qingyang astral essence is tied to the Qingyang Demonic Fire; it is the very foundation of their sect, located in their most heavily guarded grounds. "As for the other place where Qiantian astral essence exists, while not a demonic sect, it is even more dangerous than one—it lies within the cave dwelling of the foremost figure in today's Lesser Cold Domain, the Chunyang Sect Master!" "The Chunyang Sect Master?" Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly, shock gripping his heart. The Chunyang Sect stood preeminent among the Eight Righteous Sects, precisely due to its sect master's formidable strength. Rumor had it that he was the foremost cultivator in the Lesser Cold Domain, the strongest Nascent Soul! Even with a hundred times his courage, Qin Sang would never dare target the Chunyang Sect Master! "Why would a Nascent Soul cave dwelling be built atop Qiantian astral essence?" Qin Sang felt deeply unwilling. He had intended to secure the Qiantian astral essence in advance as a precaution for a rainy day. In his parting letter, Wu Shang had mentioned that Qiantian astral essence was hard to find, but who could have guessed that only two deposits existed in the entire Lesser Cold Domain—and both were claimed by terrifying figures! Yunyouzi said, "It is rumored that the Chunyang Sect Master cultivates a peculiar art requiring Qiantian astral qi. Some suspect that it is precisely because of this technique that he became the foremost figure in the Lesser Cold Domain. If that is true, I'm afraid it would be nearly impossible to persuade him to part with any. However... if you could persuade your sect's Nascent Soul Patriarch to step forward and request some Qiantian astral essence, he likely wouldn't dismiss Dongyang Bo's face." "Senior, please do not joke. How could I possibly have that kind of clout...?" Qin Sang let out a long sigh of self-deprecating laughter.