Chapter 1107: Pilgrimage Mountain

"While cultivating here, have you ever taken a master?"

Qin Sang put away the letter, looked at Tan Yien, and asked.

Hearing this, Tan Yien realized something and suppressed his excitement. "My father guided me before. Because of my dull aptitude, and fearing that I would be sent to the battlefield as cannon fodder if I joined other sects without any foundation, I have been hiding in Yinshan Pass, cultivating alone..."

"Your talent is decent; you might still have a chance to form a Core. I am currently short of hands. Are you willing to follow me?" Qin Sang stood with his hands behind his back and said lightly.

Firstly, as he stated, Qin Sang had just returned to the Minor Cold Domain and lacked assistants to handle various chores. Since he had the idea of forming a force, taking on a few disciples was a natural progression. He had been observing Tan Yien; his temperament and talent were both good. As a descendant of an old acquaintance, with no ties to other forces and a clear background, he was a suitable candidate.

Secondly, Tan Yien was Tan Hao's son. If Tan Hao were to return one day, they could meet directly.

"This junior would be delighted!" Tan Yien was overjoyed and immediately prostrated himself, saying, "Disciple Tan Yien pays his respects to Uncle-Master Qin!"

Qin Sang did not explicitly mention taking him as a disciple, so Tan Yien could only address him as Uncle-Master. He wasn't concerned about this. Both his parents held Uncle-Master Qin in high regard, and with his father's connection, his Uncle-Master would surely not mistreat him.

"Get up. I cannot stay in Yinshan Pass for too long. If you have any other matters, handle them quickly and then come with me," Qin Sang said.

"Yes, Master!" Tan Yien was also a decisive person. He immediately tidied up his mother's spirit tablet and other miscellaneous items in the cave dwelling, left a letter for his father explaining his experiences, sealed the cave dwelling, and followed Qin Sang.

Leaving Yinshan Pass, Qin Sang traveled west with Tan Yien. Tan Yien appeared rugged, but was actually meticulous. Although he didn't know where Qin Sang was going, he silently followed without asking many questions. Qin Sang was very pleased and often gave him pointers on cultivation, which filled Tan Yien with immense joy.

After a period of travel, the two arrived at a beautiful area. Ahead, mountains and rivers crisscrossed, majestic and boundless, stretching as far as the eye could see. Clouds swirled around the peaks, presenting a magnificent panorama. The Taiyi Pill Sect's mountain gate was nestled deep within these mountains!

This place was located in the furthest northwest of the righteous path's territory, bordered by the Heavenly Demon Mound to the west and the Extreme North Ice Plains to the north. In autumn and winter, it presented a different kind of beauty: thousands of miles of falling snow transformed it into a world draped in silver.

"Wait for me here. Absorb what I've told you earlier, and your cultivation should advance a bit." Qin Sang left Tan Yien and flew alone towards the Taiyi Pill Sect. He had come to see Daoist Yun Youzi.

The Taiyi Pill Sect's mountain gate was built on both banks of a large river, surrounded by lakes of various sizes resembling scattered stars, and unusual peaks. It was a scene of picturesque lakes and mountains. After the great war in the cultivation world, the Taiyi Pill Sect had not declined but had flourished. Upon arriving, Qin Sang did not dare to act presumptuously. He put on his cloak, descended to the riverbank, and walked up the mountain.

Qin Sang had only walked a few steps when he heard a whooshing sound. A streak of light descended, revealing a young man dressed in the Taiyi Pill Sect's Daoist robes. Qin Sang did not conceal his cultivation, and the young man's tone was quite respectful.

"My humble Daoist name is Qingfeng. I am here to visit an old friend, Daoist Yun Youzi of your esteemed sect. Could you please inform him?" Qin Sang stood still and said lightly.

"Uncle-Master Yun!" the young man exclaimed softly, clearly recognizing Yun Youzi.

Qin Sang's heart stirred. The young man appeared to have just entered the Foundation Establishment stage and referred to Yun Youzi as Uncle-Master, indicating that Yun Youzi was not only alive but had also formed his Golden Core. No wonder he hadn't heard Yun Youzi among the newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivators in recent years. Back then, after Yun Youzi resolved the hidden danger, his cultivation speed had startled Qin Sang. Qin Sang had originally thought that Yun Youzi would be the first to form a Nascent Soul after his rebirth from the ashes.

"Please wait a moment, senior..." The young man hurried back into the mountains and returned shortly, cupping his hands. "Reporting to senior, Uncle-Master Yun is not currently at the sect. He left many years ago to travel..."

Qin Sang frowned. "Is Li Yufu here?"

The young man shook his head again. Qin Sang had no choice but to leave a letter and depart.

Picking up Tan Yien, Qin Sang turned south, heading directly towards the Cloud Sea Great Marsh. Along the way, Qin Sang intentionally changed direction, passing through the territory of the Great Sui. He did not enter the imperial capital. His old acquaintances in the Great Sui had long since turned to dust. The only thing worth remembering was a single stone tablet.

As night fell, at Pilgrimage Mountain, Qin Sang appeared alone before the tablet. Time was unforgiving; the unmarked tablet was still there, but it was heavily weathered and mottled. Qin Sang stood silently before the tablet for a long time. He looked up at the sky, recalling the grand words he had spoken before her back then. Looking back now, how naive and presumptuous he had been. Fortunately, he had stumbled and persevered to this point.

"Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and next, Nascent Soul..." Qin Sang gently caressed the tablet and murmured, "If I can reach this stage, I would likely be considered an immortal by mortals. But that shouldn't be my limit. Otherwise, how could I fulfill those grand words I spoke?"

He poured wine for the person in the tomb. He remained silent for a long while. The chirping of insects around him faded.

Suddenly, a commotion arose at the foot of the mountain. Then, Tan Yien hurried over. "Uncle-Master, there are mortal armies fighting at the foot of the mountain. The leaders on both sides are nobles and princes. There are also signs of cultivators. Your disciple quietly went to investigate just now and found that those cultivators are mostly at the Qi Condensation stage, likely rogue cultivators involved in mortal conflicts..."

"Cultivators?" Qin Sang shifted his gaze and sighed, "No wonder I often found traces of cultivators along the way. When the cultivation world descends into chaos, various petty individuals emerge, forsaking diligent cultivation to stir up trouble in the mortal realm. It seems the Pure Yang Sect has indeed declined, unable to even maintain order in the mortal regions within its territory."

What a pity! The everlasting legacy established by the Empress was destroyed by cultivators after only a short time due to this upheaval. The Great Sui disintegrated, and chaos reigned within its borders.

Tan Yien nodded. "These rogue cultivators have no hope for their cultivation path and have limited lifespans, so mortal wealth and glory hold a great appeal for them. My father once said that righteous path forces used to restrict cultivators from influencing the secular world. Under the pressure from the Sinful Abyss, they can only attend to their own immediate concerns, making it difficult to manage other regions."

"In that case, it's easier for mortals to come into contact with cultivators than before." Qin Sang recalled the difficulties he faced when seeking immortality back then and was filled with emotion.

After a moment's thought, Qin Sang said, "Go down and investigate the identities of the leaders of both mortal armies. Also, apprehend those rogue cultivators."

"Yes, sir!" Tan Yien took the order and departed.

Qin Sang gazed at the unmarked tablet for a moment, then took out several spiritual items and talismans from his Thousand-Jun Ring. Late into the night, a thick mist appeared seemingly out of nowhere around the unmarked tablet. The mist converged, then with a flicker of light, both the mist and the unmarked tablet vanished, leaving the surroundings empty.

Qin Sang could not stay to guard Pilgrimage Mountain, so he had to use means to conceal the Empress's tombstone, to prevent it from being damaged in the ongoing conflict. He hoped that one day, if he became an immortal, he would look down from the heavens and see her again.