A Meeting

"Fellow Daoist, do you already have a clue on how to break through to Corpse King?" Qin Sang asked with a hint of delight upon hearing this. Bai shook his head. "Without resolving the issue of my origin vitality, I wouldn't even dare attempt a breakthrough, let alone speak of a clue. As for other corpse dao secret arts, I've found little of use to draw upon as well." ... The two had a long, private conversation in the cave dwelling before slipping out of the cultivation market in secret and flying toward the mountain gate of the Tiandao Sect. Amidst a spread of verdant greens and ochre reds, a faint pale path wound its way upward. This inconspicuous mountain path led straight to the mountain gate of the Tiandao Sect. At that moment, a figure walked along the mountain trail. Qin Sang had come here alone. His pace seemed leisurely yet was deceptively swift. A single gentle step carried him dozens of paces, and he soon arrived near the summit, where he saw an ancient stone stele engraved with two characters: *Tiandao*. To all appearances, this seemed to be the mountain gate of the Tiandao Sect. It felt rather shabby. Yet the ancient Tiandao Stele brimmed with dao intent, revealing its extraordinary nature. Qin Sang glanced back down the mountain, then stepped forward. The scenery shifted abruptly, and before Qin Sang stood two youths, a man and a woman, their cultivations only at the Foundation Establishment stage. "Junior Zhang Yi and Xia You have been ordered to guard the mountain gate. May we ask Senior's daoist name and the purpose of your visit?" The pair clasped their fists in salute, their demeanor respectful. Qin Sang had made no deliberate effort to conceal his cultivation, which was plain for all to see, so neither dared show the slightest negligence. "This poor daoist's surname is Qin. I have come to your noble sect today to visit an old friend," Qin Sang said amiably. Visiting openly made deceit inappropriate, so Qin Sang appeared in his true guise. Under this identity, he had offended the Black Snake Mountain of the Witch Clan. Later, Qin Sang had made inquiries from various quarters and learned that the Landou Sect had not widely issued a warrant for him. Evidently, the upheaval back then had not reached him, meaning there was little cause for concern in human territory. The pair visibly relaxed upon hearing this. The woman named Xia You spoke up. "May I ask which martial uncle is Senior's old friend? Junior will send a message right away." Qin Sang feigned hesitation and said, "This poor daoist does not know that old friend very well either. We had the fortune to meet once many years ago, but after that, all word was lost. Passing by the Tiandao Sect by chance today, I was reminded of this old acquaintance and came specially to pay a visit. All I know is that his surname is Ning, and he claimed to follow the lineage of sword cultivators..." He offered deliberately ambiguous information. The two showed troubled expressions upon hearing this and asked, "May we ask what cultivation Senior's old friend possessed?" "That is hard to say. Many years ago, he was already at the Core Formation stage. Given his natural aptitude, he likely had great hope of reaching the Nascent Soul stage..." Qin Sang said after a moment's contemplation. The two were immediately filled with awe and dared not tarry. After conferring briefly via divine sense, Xia You said respectfully, "Junior cannot be certain of your old friend's identity either. If Senior has no pressing business, why not accompany Junior to the Guest-Welcoming Peak to rest for a moment? Junior will report to our martial uncle at once to help look for your old friend." "Very well..." Qin Sang readily agreed and followed Xia You as she flew deeper into the Tiandao Sect. Singular peaks towered, and rivers crisscrossed below. The Tiandao Sect truly lived up to its name as the foremost righteous sect of the Canglang Sea. What Qin Sang saw was merely the tip of the iceberg, yet its magnificent scenery was already in no way inferior to Shaohua Mountain. On second thought, that was only natural. Shaohua Mountain had only a single Nascent Soul Patriarch, Dongyang Bo; in the Canglang Sea, sects of comparable stature were far from few. Compared to the Canglang Sea, the Xiaohan Realm seemed even smaller—inferior even to the Witch God Continent, to say nothing of the entire boundless ocean. The two soon arrived at the Guest-Welcoming Peak. Xia You settled Qin Sang into an elegant reception pavilion, had fine tea and spiritual fruits brought forth, and then hastily took her leave. Qin Sang was in no mood to savor the tea. Gazing at the scenery outside, his mind drifted with endless thoughts. Comparing the Chunyang Sect to the Tiandao Sect was almost certainly right. Senior Qingzhu had sent him here to find someone for a profound reason, perhaps having made arrangements long ago. It was just that Qin Sang still did not know that person's identity. Before long, footsteps suddenly echoed from downstairs. Qin Sang turned to look. Xia You had returned, following behind a young man. Upon seeing the young man, Qin Sang's heart stirred. The person's cultivation was unfathomable, seemingly not a whit weaker than his own. "Martial Uncle, this is the senior looking for an old friend surnamed Ning." Xia You introduced them. "Senior Qin, this is Martial Uncle Pei..." The young man surnamed Pei spoke in a low voice, "You may withdraw. I will receive Fellow Daoist Qin personally." "Yes!" Xia You bowed and retreated. Under Qin Sang's watchful eye, the young man surnamed Pei calmly sat across from him and poured tea himself. "Xia You's words just now were rather vague. Could you describe your old friend's characteristics in more detail, Fellow Daoist?" With that, the young man offered the jade cup with both hands. Qin Sang stared at the jade cup. Steam billowed from the tea, shifting into countless shapes with an indefinable sharpness, exuding a faint, refreshing fragrance. At that moment, the life spirit sword within his body actually stirred. Qin Sang's expression tightened slightly. He reached out with both hands to accept the jade cup, and the instant his fingers made contact, his fingertips trembled inaudibly. In that split second, Qin Sang's fingers seemed to turn into spirit swords as sword qi burst forth. The sword qi was formless. The billowing steam morphed even more rapidly—at first into flowers, birds, fish, and insects, then into green lotuses, divine beasts, and all manner of wondrous images, and finally into awe-inspiring panoramas of starlight and thunder. Within the space of inches. Sword intent erupted, coming swiftly and departing even faster. *Whoosh!* In an instant, the tea mist vanished without a trace. The young man's expression shifted slightly, and he released his hold on the jade cup. Everything in the small room was ordinary, yet aside from the gentle ripples on the tea's surface, nothing had been disturbed. The jade cup remained completely intact. Qin Sang drained the cup in one gulp. The tea was warm, leaving a lingering fragrance between his teeth. *Clack!* Qin Sang set down the jade cup and looked straight at the young man. "Should I address you as Fellow Daoist Pei, or Fellow Daoist Ning?" A brief clash, confined entirely to the mist above a cup of tea. Victory and defeat mattered little. Qin Sang could clearly sense that the young man's sword technique was remarkably familiar, cut from the very same cloth as Senior Qingzhu's insights. "The *Origin Soul Sword Nurturing Chapter*—to think you have cultivated this technique to such a realm, Fellow Daoist!" The young man marveled repeatedly, then clasped his hands in a salute. "Pei is fine, and Ning is fine too. When no one else is around, you had best address me as Fellow Daoist Ning. I am Ning Wuhui!" Qin Sang's eyes flashed at those words. Since this man knew of the *Origin Soul Sword Nurturing Chapter*, he undoubtedly shared a deep connection with Senior Qingzhu. He had finally found the right person. He had not expected it to be so easy. The man was right here on the Guest-Welcoming Peak in charge of such affairs, just as had been arranged long ago. No wonder Senior Qingzhu had been so certain. "There are too many eyes and ears here. Why not come with me to my cave dwelling for a chat, Fellow Daoist?" Ning Wuhui stood up and offered. Qin Sang saw no reason to refuse, rising immediately and following Ning Wuhui out of the reception pavilion. Ning Wuhui's cave dwelling lay behind the Guest-Welcoming Peak. As they stepped into a bamboo grove, Ning Wuhui transmitted his voice: "For you to have cultivated this technique to the late Core Formation stage, there can be no mistake about your identity. Yet, I have never seen you before, Fellow Daoist Qin." "I do not know what agreement Senior Qingzhu had with you, Fellow Daoist Ning. I had no prior acquaintance with Senior Qingzhu, meeting only by chance. After receiving Senior Qingzhu's guidance, I came specially to pay you a visit," Qin Sang answered after careful consideration.