Chapter 1106: Clue

Passing through Yinshan Pass, Qin Sang recalled the Tan brothers and Shi Hong. Years ago, Qin Sang had given Tan Hao the Heavenly Corpse Talisman and the ice coffin to help save Tan Jie's life. Who would have thought that years later, in the Canglang Sea, he would find himself in a similar predicament to Tan Hao's?

A century had passed, and he wondered how many of his old acquaintances were still alive. Shi Hong had dispersed her cultivation to re-cultivate, and even with her dual-spirit root talent, it would be difficult for her to achieve much. Qin Sang was mentally prepared for the likelihood of finding only a tomb. As for Tan Hao, if he failed to form his core, his lifespan would have likely reached its limit. The difficulty for rogue cultivators to gather cultivation resources was unimaginable for sect disciples. Qin Sang wondered if Tan Hao was still here.

The cave abode was located deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, on a desolate snowy peak, in a secluded spot. Qin Sang found the location he remembered. The cave abode was still well-hidden, protected by a formidable spirit array. His interest was piqued, and he sent a stream of true essence towards the array.

“Who’s there!”

The spirit array rippled. Moments later, a cautious voice called out from within the cave abode. Qin Sang's brow furrowed slightly. The voice didn't sound like Tan Hao's. After a moment's thought, he called out, “This was originally the cave abode of an old friend of mine, Fellow Daoist Tan Hao. I wonder if Fellow Daoist is still in residence?”

“You know my father?” the cultivator inside the cave abode asked, sounding surprised.

Qin Sang could feel a faint gaze secretly assessing him. He wasn't offended and instead asked, “Are you Fellow Daoist Tan's descendant?”

“I am Tan Yi'en, this junior. Since you know the location of this cave abode and specifically asked for my father, I assume you have a deep connection with him. However, I've accompanied my father to visit most of his old friends, and I've never heard him mention you, Senior...” Tan Yi'en said, hesitating. He didn't recognize Qin Sang and dared not invite him in rashly. At this time, Qin Sang was not wearing a mask, but he had used a secret technique to alter his appearance.

“Tan Yi'en...” Qin Sang quietly repeated the name of Tan Hao's descendant, feeling a surge of emotion. He said, “My surname is Qin. Your father and I were once fellow disciples, both having joined the Kuiyin Sect...”

“Qin... You're Senior Uncle Qin!” Before Qin Sang could finish, Tan Yi'en exclaimed in surprise. Immediately after, a path opened in the spirit array, and a figure hastily emerged. It was a burly man, built similarly to Tan Hao.

Qin Sang observed the man. Tan Yi'en was in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. His features somewhat resembled Tan Hao's, but his face was more refined, which reminded Qin Sang of another old acquaintance—Shi Hong.

“Senior Uncle Qin, your kindness to my family is immense, like giving us a second chance at life! My father and mother often reminded me never to forget your generosity! This junior was impolite to keep you outside, Senior Uncle Qin. Please forgive me!” Tan Yi'en spoke with excitement, bowing deeply to Qin Sang.

With a sweep of his sleeve, Qin Sang stopped Tan Yi'en from prostrating himself. “No need for such formality!” he said. “So, your mother was Senior Sister Shi Hong?”

Tan Yi'en nodded repeatedly, inviting Qin Sang into the cave abode with exceptionally respectful manners. Shi Hong had chosen not to return to her hometown, preferring to stay and continue cultivating under Tan Hao's care. Unexpectedly, this had inadvertently led to their marriage.

Qin Sang nodded slightly and stepped inside. He found that the cave abode had changed significantly; its furnishings were now more suitable for living and cultivation. He looked around but didn't sense anyone else's presence. Frowning, he asked, “Are you the only one here? The last time I saw your parents was a century ago. Are they still alive?”

Tan Yi'en's eyes darkened. “My mother passed away a century ago...” He led Qin Sang into an inner chamber, where a memorial tablet for Shi Hong stood.

Tan Yi'en recounted Shi Hong's life story, which was largely as Qin Sang had anticipated. After dispersing her cultivation, Shi Hong had never given up. However, human effort was no match for fate. Even with Tan Hao's help, after years of arduous cultivation, she only managed to return to the eighth layer of the Qi Condensation stage and could make no further progress, with no hope of Foundation Establishment. Tan Hao and Shi Hong had relied on each other, and over time, affection grew between them. They eventually married and had Tan Yi'en.

“Is Brother Tan still alive?” Qin Sang saw neither Tan Hao's memorial tablet nor the ice coffin.

Tan Yi'en hesitated. “My father was determined to awaken my uncle. He reportedly found some clues and, after helping me achieve Foundation Establishment, he left with my uncle. Shortly after, he sent a letter back through a merchant guild, but there has been no news of him since, and he has not returned.”

“Clues? What kind of clues?” Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly as he pressed for more details.

Before leaving, Qin Sang had mentioned the connection between the Heavenly Corpse Talisman and the Heavenly Corpse Sect to Tan Hao. Back then, Qin Sang had spent years undercover in Qingyang Market City, also investigating the Heavenly Corpse Sect, but he had never found anything. Could Tan Hao have uncovered clues about the Heavenly Corpse Sect?

“My father often said that awakening my uncle was his sole responsibility and he couldn't burden his descendants with it. He rarely mentioned these matters to me, only bits and pieces...” Tan Yi'en frowned, trying hard to recall. At Qin Sang's prompting, he began to recount Tan Hao's experiences.

Tan Hao had actually succeeded in forming his core! “After the war began, my father actively joined the battlefield, fighting tooth and nail, escaping death many times. He desperately earned military merits in exchange for rewards from the Two-Realm Alliance. Before he left, my father was only in the False Core stage, but in his letter, he mentioned that he had finally formed his golden core...” Tan Yi'en recounted softly. Tan Hao had never mentioned his experiences on the battlefield to him, and Tan Yi'en didn't know the details. But Qin Sang could imagine the near-death experiences Tan Hao must have endured.

Years ago, Qin Sang had participated in the conflict between the Minor Cold Domain and the Heavenly Path Alliance. Its scale and ferocity were incomparable to the current war, yet he had still faced danger multiple times. As a rogue cultivator, with no one to look out for him, Tan Hao had forged his own path through mountains of corpses and seas of blood! Only he knew the hardships he had endured.

While some rejoiced, others grieved. War brought disaster, but it also presented opportunities for some cultivators. Among the most widely circulated legends was none other than the current Sect Master of the Qingyang Demonic Sect. Years ago, when Qin Sang infiltrated the Qingyang Demonic Sect to steal the Qingyang Divine Qi, its Sect Master was only at the late Core Formation stage, and the sect was in decline. It was said that his chances of forming a Nascent Soul were slim. However, when the war broke out, the Qingyang Demonic Sect Master, having somehow acquired a fortuitous opportunity, quickly distinguished himself, earning great military merits, and breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage in one go. Subsequently, he led the Qingyang Demonic Sect to become a major demonic sect, reclaiming its former glory. Tan Hao was no different. He had always been a rogue cultivator, without the protection of a sect. The only thing he could do was risk his life to earn military merits in exchange for resources to form his core. Qin Sang hadn't seen Aunt Mei yet, but he presumed she had experienced something similar.

“In his letter, my father said he would leave the Minor Cold Domain and infiltrate the Sinister Abyss territory to search for clues. He also admonished me to cultivate diligently and not to be distracted by this...” Tan Yi'en said, offering Tan Hao's letter with both hands.

After reading it, Qin Sang fell into deep thought. Does this mean the main headquarters of the Heavenly Corpse Sect isn't in the Minor Cold Domain? No wonder he couldn't find anything back then! Qin Sang had only operated within the Minor Cold Domain and had never even visited the Heavenly Path Alliance. Tan Hao, having encountered cultivators from the Heavenly Path Alliance and the Sinister Abyss on the battlefield, might truly have discovered something. It was unexpected that he would get a clue about the Heavenly Corpse Sect from Tan Hao.

Qin Sang asked Tan Yi'en to carefully recall every word Tan Hao had ever said.