Chapter 1152: Previous Passersby of the Past

A short while later, the great demons arrived one after another.

What caught Qin Sang's attention the most were Fatty Chicken and White Crane. In just a few months, the two had become incredibly close, with their arms around each other's shoulders, looking like a pair of ruffians.

"Master!"

White Crane landed on the ground, flamboyantly ruffled its feathers, and grinned foolishly at Qin Sang.

Qin Sang paused, then glanced at Fatty Chicken.

"My brother!"

Fatty Chicken stretched out a wing, put it around White Crane, and said loyally.

Qin Sang mused internally, 'Sure enough, it was this fellow.'

Yun Youzi's Imperial Nectar had long been destroyed in the heavenly tribulation. Fatty Chicken has a mother at the Transformation stage, so it wasn't surprising for it to possess Imperial Nectar. However, Transformation-stage great demons are reluctant to part with much Imperial Nectar to enlighten smaller demons, yet Fatty Chicken was willing to use it on White Crane, whom it had only recently met. These two birds, greedy and lustful, truly were two peas in a pod!

"In the future, when you look for a dao companion," Qin Sang warned Fatty Chicken earnestly, "never choose a descendant of the Phoenix Clan."

Fatty Chicken was startled, not understanding why.

White Crane's eyes darted around a few times, then it turned and put its wing around Fatty Chicken, declaring righteously, "A brother's wife is not to be bullied!"

Qin Sang didn't have time to bother with the two birds for now, but he resolved that if they dared to cause trouble for him in the future, he would discipline them severely. Now that neither the Primal Chaos Concord Ring nor White Crane were of much use to him, Qin Sang decided to release White Crane from its restraints as well and let it stay in the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, nothing major has happened recently, has it?" Qin Sang looked at the Spirit of the Willow Tree and asked.

The Spirit of the Willow Tree said in a solemn tone, "There have been a few skirmishes on the front line. It's said that the momentum of the Sinister Abyss has slowed down again, a mix of truth and falsehood that makes its true intentions elusive. Old Macaque has personally led his youngsters to meet up with other demon kings' subordinates in Immortal Demon City and head to the battlefield. Other than that, Demon King Yu has issued no new orders."

"They've already left?" Qin Sang frowned, knowing he couldn't stop such things from happening. The best way to reduce casualties was to crush the Sinister Abyss's intentions.

"You don't need to worry," Qin Sang said. "I have already decided to begin my breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage. After successfully breaking through, I will personally go to the battlefield to assess the situation."

As soon as these words were spoken, the demons broke into an uproar.

"This old one will go and activate the grand formation now..."

Before the Spirit of the Willow Tree could finish speaking, Qin Sang stopped it.

"The heavenly tribulations for humans and demons are different," Qin Sang explained. "I cannot undergo my tribulation in the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea. Going to the Cloudmist Great Lake is the best option. Although I have a good deal of confidence, just in case, there are some things I need to instruct you on first."

Qin Sang said in a deep voice. He valued the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea and the demons so much because of Yun Youzi's last wishes. Hearing this, the demons' faces grew solemn. Glancing around, Qin Sang issued a series of orders.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, Little White," he instructed, "if I fail my tribulation and thus betray the senior's trust, you must not remain in the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea. Retreat into the Icy Sea as quickly as possible and hide for as long as you can."

"White Crane," he continued, "I grant you your freedom, but you must assist Fellow Daoist Liu and Little White until they are safe."

"Fatty Chicken, we are old acquaintances," he said. "I know your origins and background. If I die during the heavenly tribulation, the previous conditions will be null and void, and I will not force you to stay. However, you must promise me one condition: if Fellow Daoist Liu and the others encounter danger, you must seek help from your mother and ask her to intervene once to resolve it."

Fatty Chicken chuckled dryly, "Master, you are too cautious. You dared to fight Demon King Qianji just now; a mere heavenly tribulation should be nothing to you, right?"

The Spirit of the Willow Tree and the white cat were far less optimistic. They had witnessed Yun Youzi's two failed tribulations, which had left them with psychological trauma. The white cat's eyes were full of worry, and it timidly asked, "Young Master Qin, may I accompany you to the Cloudmist Great Lake to protect you during your tribulation?"

Qin Sang didn't refuse. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Very well. Fatty Chicken, White Crane, you two come with me as well. I have a few juniors in the human realm; you can get acquainted with them. Fellow Daoist Liu, you stay here..."

After making the arrangements, Qin Sang and Little White set off with the three demons and returned to the human territory. This time, Qin Sang traveled at the fastest possible speed, crossing mountains directly towards the Grand Sui direction.

All three were present. Bai Hanqiu was in secluded cultivation, attempting to break through the Foundation Establishment bottleneck. Li Yufu, after a period of traveling, finally gained some enlightenment and returned to his cave dwelling. Tan Yien's cultivation had also greatly improved. When Qin Sang returned, the three immediately emerged from seclusion to greet him. Qin Sang introduced the three demons to them, checked their cultivation, gave them some guidance, bestowed several treasures upon them, and then revealed his plan.

The three were startled, feeling both joy and worry. Qin Sang stated clearly that if he failed his tribulation, he would entrust Tan Yien and Bai Hanqiu to Li Yufu, for them to join the Azure Goat Temple in the future.

They didn't linger for long. A few days later, the group rushed to the Cloudmist Great Lake, accompanied by Li Yufu. Qin Sang made a trip to Cangheng Island while the others spread out to search, and it didn't take long before they found an island suitable for undergoing tribulation.

Qin Sang and Little White stood side by side on a mountain on the island, and Qin Sang mused, "What an effort! So many people here to protect me during my tribulation."

Little White chuckled, dumbfounded. "Don't I know your true strength, even if others don't?" it said. "You're just too cautious, making everyone else anxious!"

Qin Sang shook his head and said nothing. How could Little White know the secret of his origins? Yun Youzi was an anomaly, and he himself was also unusual. Although Qin Sang believed he wouldn't encounter something like a two-colored lightning tribulation, even with boundless confidence, given his temperament, he still had to make preparations for the worst and be prepared for any eventuality.

"Thank you all for your trouble!" Qin Sang clasped his hands in a salute.

Little White nodded, led the others off the island, and kept watch from the periphery. Qin Sang first set up a defensive spiritual formation around the mountain peak, then took out twelve demonic banners and planted them in the ground around him. The Twelve Demonic Banner Grand Formation was one of Qin Sang's main supports for undergoing his tribulation. Next, bottles of elixirs and various magic treasures were all neatly arranged by Qin Sang, ready for immediate use.

With the external items prepared, Qin Sang took out the Tribulation-Crossing Pill and examined it closely.

"Senior..."

After a long while, Qin Sang lowered his gaze, let out an almost imperceptible sigh, did not rush to take the pill, and slowly closed his eyes.

While in the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea, Qin Sang had successfully sensed a trace of a breakthrough opportunity. He had pondered whether the Four-Transformation Spirit Worm or the fourth level of body refinement would prove more effective. This opportunity was extremely precious, and he could fully utilize this chance to take the pill and break through the bottleneck.

Everything was in place, just awaiting the opportune moment. After contemplation, Qin Sang decided not to wait any longer. With a calm mind, he adjusted himself and, starting from the beginning, sorted through his cultivation techniques again and again.

This took a full three days. Qin Sang's Qi Sea was filled with true essence, and his body was brimming with vital energy and blood; he had adjusted both his physical body and true essence to their peak states. But this alone wasn't enough, and Qin Sang still wasn't in a hurry to proceed to the next step.

At this moment, Qin Sang's thoughts drifted, recalling his past, and returning to his place of origin. Scene after scene from the depths of his memory surfaced in his mind—the voices and smiles of his loved ones, everything—all things from over two hundred years ago. With his level of cultivation, even these memories were starting to blur.

"All are but passersby," Qin Sang recalled his Senior Sister Qing Jun's past remarks. Having embarked on the path of cultivation, Qin Sang had long since understood this. No ripples arose in his heart as he continued to sort through his cultivation path, for these were what truly mattered.