I Walk My Own Path

By the river stood a grand noble estate. Exceedingly luxurious, it spanned over a thousand mu. It was the residence of the Gongsun clan. Yet few knew that the Gongsun clan was divided into inner and outer branches. The outer branch consisted entirely of common mortals, while the inner branch was the true Gongsun family—a clan of immortal cultivators attached to Shaohua Mountain, governing this region on the sect's behalf. The Gongsun family was rather weak. Their current patriarch, Gongsun Li, was two hundred and fifty-three years old, and his cultivation had reached only the middle Foundation Establishment stage. Today, the Gongsun estate was draped entirely in plain mourning white. Dressed in burial garments, Gongsun Li sat in an armchair, awaiting the end of his lifespan. Before him, a youth clad in white knelt upon the floor. They were the only two in the room. With an inscrutable expression, Gongsun Li stared blankly at the clear blue sky beyond the doorway, murmuring softly: "I once possessed the potential for Core Formation, yet in my youth I craved the mortal world, idling away my days in pleasure. I squandered my finest years, barely managing to reach Foundation Establishment at the age of fifty-eight. "After that, with another hundred years added to my lifespan, I indulged even more recklessly. The manor was filled with wives and concubines, exquisite delicacies, and fine wine. By the time I turned one hundred and fifty, my cultivation had hardly progressed at all. "Only then did I suddenly realize my days were numbered, breaking out in a cold sweat. "I wished to mend my ways, but it was already too late. Straining with all my might, I barely broke through to the middle stage at age two hundred, only for my vital essence to wither with age, closing off any possibility of further progress. "Now that the end has arrived, I see that the past was nothing more than an illusory dream. "Looking back, I am filled with endless regret! Endless regret!" The youth listened with a look of bewildered innocence. Seeing Gongsun Li wave him over, he quickly scrambled closer. "Dong'er!" Gongsun Li gripped the youth's hand tightly. Suddenly gasping for breath, his eyes widened as he struggled to force out his final words. "Your talent is no worse than mine. Once you enter Shaohua Mountain, you must devote yourself wholly to cultivation! Do not let external distractions erode your Dao heart and lead you down my path!" With that, Gongsun Li's head slumped to the side, and he breathed his last. In a corner of the room, an illusory shadow flashed and vanished, unnoticed by anyone in the estate. *** Leaving the Gongsun clan behind, Qin Sang rose upon a cloud. Getting his bearings, he steered the cloud and flew swiftly toward the small island. A full month had passed since he had walked down from Xianglong Mountain. Over the course of this month, Qin Sang had not secluded himself in his cave dwelling to cultivate as usual. Instead, sometimes disguised as a mortal, sometimes hidden in the shadows, he had traveled through the various kingdoms around Shaohua Mountain, observing the ways of the world. He had seen many people. Among them were beggars, commoners, nobles and princes, seekers of immortality, rogue cultivators among the immortals, and cultivation clans like the Gongsun family... Qin Sang had indeed followed Qi Yuanshou's advice to immerse himself in the mortal world. Yet what he had observed, sought out deliberately by his own choice, were all scenes of mortal parting and death. He wondered if Qi Yuanshou would cough up blood in fury if he ever found out. Qin Sang's Dao heart was steadfast; he had long determined how he must walk his path and would not be swayed by external things. Thus, he only observed—watching how mortals clung to their attachments before death, unwilling to let go, and how cultivators were consumed by remorse when their lifespans drew to a close. Returning to the island, he found Yunyouzi already waiting there. Qin Sang's expression relaxed, and he lowered his cloud. "Forgive me for keeping you waiting, Senior." Yunyouzi shook his head. Looking Qin Sang over, he asked, "Brother, you have spent a month immersed in the mortal world, observing all manner of worldly affairs. What insights have you gained?" Qin Sang shook his head. "Others' paths are not mine. I am merely a spectator; I walk my own path." "Clarifying one's heart amidst the myriad spectacles of human life is a harvest in itself." Yunyouzi stroked his beard with a smile, pursuing the matter no further. Shifting his tone, he asked, "Brother, you mentioned that you needed my help with something. May I ask what it is?" Qin Sang hesitated briefly before saying, "I would like to ask Senior to help me steal the Qingyang astral essence from the Qingyang Demonic Sect." At these words, even Yunyouzi gave a start. He said in a deep voice, "I recall that back when you asked me where Qiantian astral essence had fallen, I advised you not to act recklessly. Did you not take that to heart?" "Every word Senior said is etched into my heart, and I would never dare forget," Qin Sang replied calmly. "Yet I have a reason that leaves me no choice. Qiantian astral essence is tied to my path of Core Formation. The Qiantian astral essence in the Chunyang Sect Master's cave dwelling is entirely out of reach, so I can only set my sights on the Qingyang Demonic Sect." "Tied to your path of Core Formation?" Yunyouzi's expression grew solemn. As an immortal cultivator wholly devoted to the Dao, he naturally understood what the path of Core Formation meant. Were it him, he too would press forward despite a thousand hardships and perils. "Do you know what the Qingyang astral essence means to the Qingyang Demonic Sect? They would never let you take it away." Qin Sang nodded. "I understand that the Qingyang Demonic Sect would never agree. With no other way, I can only steal it." The Qingyang astral essence was the very foundation of the Qingyang Demonic Sect. The sect's fundamental cultivation technique relied on the Qingyang astral essence to birth demonic fire. Back then, the founding ancestor of the Qingyang Demonic Sect had discovered the Qingyang astral essence on Divine Astral Peak, rising to fame and expanding the sect until it became a major demonic sect renowned throughout the Lesser Cold Domain. However, the amount of Qingyang astral essence was limited. Countless years ago, Qiantian astral qi descended from the heavens onto Divine Astral Peak, undergoing myriad transformations before coalescing into astral essence. Afterward, even if Qiantian astral qi fell again, it could never strike Divine Astral Peak by such sheer coincidence; and even if it did, it might not necessarily evolve into astral essence once more. Since the sect's founding, the Qingyang astral essence had only been consumed, with no way to replenish it. Once the Qingyang astral essence was exhausted and no alternative could be found, the Qingyang Demonic Sect's foundation would crumble, leaving it existing in name only. During the years Qin Sang had lain low in Qingyang Market, making inquiries both openly and secretly, he had uncovered a great deal, learning that the remaining Qingyang astral essence on Divine Astral Peak was far from reassuring. Under such circumstances, the Qingyang Demonic Sect would never permit anyone else to lay a finger on the Qingyang astral essence; even trading magic treasures for it would be out of the question. Moreover, with the legacy left by their forebears, the Qingyang Demonic Sect was hardly lacking in magic treasures. Thus, Qin Sang had said that bartering for it was impossible, leaving theft as the only option. Yunyouzi no longer tried to dissuade Qin Sang, turning instead to consider the feasibility of the plan. "Steal the Qingyang astral essence? Although the Qingyang Demonic Sect has declined, they still have four Golden Core Masters within their ranks. The sect master of the Qingyang Demonic Sect is an expert at the late Golden Core stage. Although his lifespan is drawing to a close and he remains far from Nascent Soul formation, with the legacy of his ancestors, his power is bound to be terrifying... Aside from myself, how many helpers have you enlisted? How many Core Formation experts?" "Not a single one." Qin Sang shook his head sheepishly. "Senior is the only helper I have sought. "However, the Qingyang Demonic Sect's four Golden Cores are not all currently within the sect. From what I know, one has been dispatched by the demonic sects to Luandao Waters to battle the Heaven-Traversing Alliance, and cannot possibly withdraw before the fighting concludes. "Another is stationed in Qingyang City on behalf of the sect to defend the city and resist the spirit tide, and will not be recalled until the tide subsides. "Right now, only their sect master and a newly advanced Golden Core remain in the sect. Furthermore, Ziwei Palace is about to open, an opportunity the sect master will surely not pass up. As long as he shows himself in Qingyang City, only a single Golden Core will be left in the sect! "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once he returns from Ziwei Palace, I may never find such a chance again."