Chapter 1109: Old Friends

Cui Ming Mountain.

Recalling those early days, newly arrived. It was at Qingyang Temple on Cui Ming Mountain that Qin Sang first felt a sense of belonging to this world. This period of time remains unforgettable. Who would have thought that the small Qingyang Temple would produce so many cultivators?

At this moment, Qin Sang arrived at the mountain front and found that Qingyang Temple had built a new Taoist temple, inhabited by mortal Taoists. The old site was concealed by a hidden spirit formation, likely left by Yun Youzi or Li Yufu.

Wu Chuanzong was buried on Cui Ming Mountain after his death. Qin Sang found the grave, offered respects to Wu Chuanzong, and walked to the spirit formation. Just as he was about to forcefully break it, his heart suddenly stirred, a look of joy appeared, and he merely sent a single stream of true essence into it.

Then, he stood with his hands behind his back, motionless, as if waiting for someone. Not long after, a streak of light suddenly appeared in the sky, swift as a meteor, rushing towards them. In an instant, the streak of light arrived. Before it even landed, a startled cry came from within: "Martial Uncle!"

'Swoosh!'

The newcomer descended before Qin Sang, revealing their figure. It was Li Yufu!

"Martial Uncle! You're still alive!"

Li Yufu's face was filled with surprise and excitement, unable to believe his eyes. After more than a hundred years of absence, there had been no news. Li Yufu and Yun Youzi had both believed Qin Sang had long since perished.

"Yufu, long time no see. You've already reached Core Formation, and your cultivation is almost catching up to mine." Qin Sang observed Li Yufu. Meeting an old acquaintance again, his joy was evident. Li Yufu possessed a dual spirit root talent and had received meticulous guidance from Yun Youzi. Qin Sang was not surprised by his Core Formation.

"Martial Uncle, Grand Martial Ancestor and I have been looking for you for a long time! Where exactly did you go?" Li Yufu's tone barely concealed his excitement. In the Little Cold Domain, there were still people who cared about him.

Qin Sang felt a surge of emotion. "This is a long story. Open the spirit formation, and we can talk inside..."

The two entered Qingyang Temple.

"I went to Taiyi Pill Sect first, but neither of you were there. Where have you been cultivating? Is your Grand Martial Ancestor with you too?" Qin Sang pressed him with a series of questions.

"We found an excellent spiritual vein downstream of the Wuling River and established a cultivation cave there. I sensed an opportunity for Core Formation and remained there to cultivate. After fortunately achieving Core Formation, I've been in seclusion, rarely venturing out. Grand Martial Ancestor isn't in the cave; he went to the Demonic Realm several years ago. Unfortunately, I don't know how to contact him. Grand Martial Ancestor will surely be overjoyed to know that Martial Uncle has returned safely..." Li Yufu answered everything he knew.

"He went to the Demonic Realm again?" Qin Sang was surprised. "Why is your Grand Martial Ancestor so fond of the Demonic Realm?"

"Grand Martial Ancestor has never mentioned anything about the Demonic Realm to me." Li Yufu shook his head.

Qin Sang pondered for a moment, finding no clue. He could only wait until he saw Yun Youzi to learn the reason.

"Back then, I was threatened by Marquis Dongyang and forced to flee. Fearing I would implicate you, I dared not contact your Grand Martial Ancestor. Unexpectedly, the journey back was arduous, and only recently did I find an opportunity to return..." Qin Sang stated casually.

"No wonder! After returning from Ziwei Palace, Shaohua Mountain kept your whereabouts a strict secret. So, Marquis Dongyang wanted to harm you. Grand Martial Ancestor infiltrated the vicinity of Shaohua Mountain, investigating for a long time without finding any news about you. Later, he even wanted to set a trap to kidnap Marquis Dongyang's disciple, Qiu Mubei, and interrogate him!" Li Yufu said indignantly.

Qin Sang was stunned to hear this. He hadn't expected Yun Youzi to almost kidnap Qiu Mubei just to find him. Qiu Mubei was Marquis Dongyang's most valued disciple; one could imagine the immense risk involved in such an act.

"It caused Senior trouble. Senior didn't act recklessly, did he?"

Li Yufu shook his head. "Later, Grand Martial Ancestor seemed to have accidentally encountered a fellow disciple of yours named Mu Yifeng, learned something, and then gave up the plan."

"How is Mu Yifeng doing?" Qin Sang was delighted to hear this. The two people he most wanted to see upon his return were Yun Youzi and Mu Yifeng. On that day, Mu Yifeng let him go. Although they put on a show in the end, it was likely difficult to deceive a Nascent Soul Patriarch's discerning eye. He was very worried that Mu Yifeng might incur Marquis Dongyang's wrath.

Li Yufu thought for a moment and said, "I remember Grand Martial Ancestor mentioning that Mu Yifeng had already reached Core Formation at that time. But since then, that person has rarely appeared, and we haven't heard any news of him."

Qin Sang's brows furrowed slightly, but his mind eased somewhat. Senior Azure Bamboo had once said that Marquis Dongyang highly valued the sect. Since he didn't take out his anger on Mu Yifeng at Ziwei Palace, and Mu Yifeng had successfully broken through to become a rare Core Formation combatant, there was no reason to settle old scores now.

"Taiyi Pill Sect made a fortune during the war, becoming increasingly prosperous. Their internal spiritual veins must be much stronger than what you found yourselves. Why do you remain cultivating in this wilderness instead of returning to the sect? Is there some conflict with the sect?" Qin Sang's tone shifted as he asked curiously.

Li Yufu shook his head and said, "Grand Martial Ancestor deliberately kept his distance from Taiyi Pill Sect. I've always been a registered disciple of Taiyi Pill Sect, never formally inducted. After the invasion of the Sinister Abyss, Grand Martial Ancestor proactively entered the battlefield, achieving remarkable military feats to repay the sect. Afterwards, he brought me here, and we rarely returned. I heard Grand Martial Ancestor once say that he wanted me to focus on arduous cultivation, and once my cultivation was successful, to continue the lineage of Qingyang Temple."

Qin Sang was somewhat surprised; Yun Youzi also wanted to establish a sect, which was exactly what he had in mind.

"What is Senior's current cultivation realm?"

Li Yufu's face was filled with admiration and reverence. "Grand Martial Ancestor achieved Core Formation in Ziwei Palace. After returning, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. He broke through to the peak of the Core Formation stage many years ago and has been refining his cultivation since then. I presume reaching Nascent Soul won't be difficult for him."

"This..." Qin Sang truly didn't know what to say; Yun Youzi had indeed not disappointed him. He had thought his own cultivation speed was not slow, but he hadn't expected Yun Youzi to be even more astonishing. In just over a hundred years, he was only a step away from Nascent Soul Formation. This was good. The sooner Yun Youzi achieved Nascent Soul Formation, the sooner he could help him refine the Calamity-Averting Pill.

As they were speaking, a streak of escaping light flew towards Cui Ming Mountain. Li Yufu was about to reprimand them. Qin Sang stopped him, saying, "These two are descendants of an old acquaintance of mine, accompanying me. Since I don't have a place to settle down yet, have them cultivate with you for now."

"Yes!" Li Yufu happily agreed.

"Martial Uncle!"

"Master!"

Tan Yien and Bai Hanqiu entered the temple. Qin Sang introduced them, feeling a bit amused and helpless. With a Core Formation cultivator, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and a Qi Refining cultivator by his side, their cultivation levels varied greatly. According to some sect rules, seniority is determined by cultivation realm. But now, because of his relationship with them, they could only interact as peers.

"Martial Uncle, the situation in Great Sui is stable now. The current emperor voluntarily abdicated the throne to the Qin family, and the rogue cultivators are willing to remain in the imperial capital to assist the new emperor. Unfortunately, I've checked the direct descendants of the Qin family and other clans one by one, but found no young descendants with spiritual roots." Tan Yien reported meticulously.

Bai Hanqiu glanced sideways at Tan Yien, seeming to want to speak but held back.

Qin Sang offered no comment, simply stating, "Alright, you have entered the path of cultivation. Do not get too entangled with the mortal world, especially Hanqiu. I still have important matters to attend to. You two will remain here for now; Yufu is more than capable of guiding you."