Chapter 1164: Arrangement

The sect master, despite her dignified appearance, was in tears, a testament to the untold hardships she had endured.

Qin Sang was deeply moved.

"I've made a fool of myself, causing the Venerable Sect Master to laugh at me," she said.

Aunt Mei wiped away her tears. Her momentary vulnerability vanished, and her expression quickly returned to normal.

Qin Sang nodded and said, "I recall that before I left, you few had only recently established your foundations. I merely laid the groundwork; that you could lead the Demonic Flame Sect to this level of development truly exceeds my expectations."

"This is not solely the disciple's achievement. Even Junior Brother Lu, before his betrayal, fully supported me. Junior Brother Zhao's dedication to the sect is no less than mine. We worked together wholeheartedly and, by chance, encountered several opportunities, which is why we are here today..."

Aunt Mei was humble, taking no sole credit, and especially highlighting Zhao Shanran's contributions.

She spoke of several incidents. Seeing Qin Sang's keen interest and receiving no objection, she simply recounted their experiences over the past century.

Qin Sang perceived Aunt Mei's intentions and stated directly, "Those who contribute naturally deserve to be rewarded. Although Zhao Shanran is old, I see that his cultivation is well-honed; he might very well have a chance to form a Gold Core."

Aunt Mei was overjoyed to hear this. "This disciple thanks the Venerable Sect Master on behalf of Junior Brother Zhao," she said.

Qin Sang waved his hand, stopping Aunt Mei from kowtowing. His tone shifted as he asked, "Leaving others aside for a moment, what are your own aspirations for the future? Your ability to form a Gold Core under such circumstances clearly demonstrates not only strategic talent but also excellent cultivation aptitude and fortuitous opportunities."

"This disciple dares to ask the Venerable Sect Master, in consideration of my wholehearted dedication to the sect, to guide my cultivation so that I may advance further on the path of immortality! I am willing to give up everything; I beg the Venerable Sect Master to fulfill my wish!"

Aunt Mei seemed to have prepared for this, acting decisively and kneeling without hesitation.

Previously, she dared not hope to advance much further on the immortal path, intending to dedicate all her efforts to developing the sect.

Qin Sang's appearance gave her a glimmer of hope.

The sect now had its strongest support.

More importantly, the Venerable Sect Master was actually a Nascent Soul ancestor. Aunt Mei knew this would be the greatest opportunity of her life, one she absolutely had to seize.

"Very well, I will take you as my disciple," Qin Sang said.

Qin Sang didn't keep her in suspense, nodding in agreement.

He had a good impression of Aunt Mei. With the Demonic Flame Sect merged into the Azure Sheep Temple, Aunt Mei and others would become pillars of support.

Aunt Mei hadn't expected it to go so smoothly. She thought she had misheard, pausing for a moment before reacting.

"This disciple greets Master!"

Aunt Mei suppressed her immense joy and meticulously performed the disciple's bow.

Qin Sang raised his hand, gesturing for Aunt Mei to stand. He said gravely, "From now on, you are my second disciple. You have other fellow disciples elsewhere. However, you cannot meet them yet."

Aunt Mei looked puzzled.

Qin Sang paused and continued, "Years ago, I provoked an enemy and was forced to leave. That enemy is powerful, so it's not suitable for me to appear publicly now. I'm temporarily disguised under another identity, and I need you to continue leading the Demonic Flame Sect. As for my cultivation level, keep it to yourself; do not disclose it to anyone else."

Aunt Mei's heart skipped a beat. No wonder the Venerable Sect Master had been missing for so long.

What frightened her even more was how terrifying the enemy must be, for the Venerable Sect Master, already a Nascent Soul ancestor, to be so cautious.

"This disciple understands!"

Aunt Mei asked no further questions.

The grievances between Nascent Soul ancestors were beyond her involvement.

Qin Sang nodded and handed Aunt Mei a jade slip. "After you lead your disciples to the front line, give this to the sect master of the Illusionary Mirage Sect. He and I have some history. Though the Illusionary Mirage Sect is a righteous sect, they can still offer you some protection."

Aunt Mei took the jade slip, carefully put it away, and felt much relieved.

In the Minor Cold Domain, despite disagreements between the righteous and demonic paths, they always unite against external threats. This time, in the fight against the Sinful Abyss, was no exception. Both sides would cooperate wholeheartedly, and the Illusionary Mirage Sect Master could look after them.

With a Nascent Soul ancestor vouching for them, their safety was largely assured.

Then, Qin Sang presented Aunt Mei with a mid-grade magic treasure as a reward. After personally guiding her for a while, he suppressed his cultivation back to the Gold Core stage and instructed Aunt Mei to bring in Zhao Shanran and the others.

"Greetings, Venerable Sect Master..."

Zhao Shanran and the others bowed in reverence.

Qin Sang singled out Zhao Shanran and said solemnly, "Aunt Mei just mentioned that you have dedicated yourself wholeheartedly to the sect over the years, contributing significantly. These two pills, which aid in Gold Core formation, are your reward. If you refine them and cultivate diligently, you still have a chance to form a Gold Core."

With that, Qin Sang flicked his finger.

A jade bottle containing two fiend-energy pills flew towards Zhao Shanran.

Since Qin Sang's return, he hadn't sold any fiend-energy pills, keeping them all.

Zhao Shanran quickly caught the jade bottle, his face flushed with excitement. He knelt and kowtowed, "This disciple, Zhao Shanran, bows in gratitude to the Venerable Sect Master. I vow to spare no effort to repay the Venerable Sect Master's great benevolence."

"Rise," Qin Sang said. "Just remember it in your heart. In the future, do not betray the sect, or Lu Xing will be a cautionary example for you all!"

The disciples shivered, quickly affirming they wouldn't dare.

"As for the rest of you, you can also exchange merits for these," Qin Sang said, looking at the other disciples. "With the great battle approaching, as a temporary measure, those in the Pseudo-Core stage can receive one first. However, let this old man tell you beforehand, it's best if you first try to form your Gold Core on your own. If that fails, then take the pill. While this pill can increase the chances of forming a Gold Core, the price is being afflicted by fiend energy, which not only affects your strength but also greatly increases the difficulty of breaking through bottlenecks in your future cultivation."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions varied.

Zhao Shanran, however, was unconcerned. All he cared about now was forming a Gold Core, regardless of the cost.

"This fiend energy is not without a cure," Qin Sang continued. "Taking certain specific spiritual medicines can eliminate it. I will not interfere; whether you can find these medicines depends on your own abilities."

Qin Sang handed Aunt Mei a jade slip containing records of various spiritual medicines.

These spiritual medicines were nearly exhausted in the Canglang Sea, but they were not difficult to find in the Minor Cold Domain for now, though their price would not be low either. Consider it a test for them.

Afterward, Qin Sang remained at the Demonic Flame Sect, leaving some resources for them and working with Aunt Mei to formulate plans for the sect's development, preparing for its future merger into the Azure Sheep Temple and integration into the righteous path.

Upon learning the truth, Aunt Mei showed no resistance; instead, she was delighted by the opportunity to leave the demonic path.

Soon, the day of departure arrived.

As previously arranged, Zhao Shanran stayed behind, while Aunt Mei led the other disciples to the front line.

Before their departure, Qin Sang called Aunt Mei over and imparted to her several life-saving techniques.

"This time, you have another mission," Qin Sang said.

It was then that Qin Sang revealed his true purpose: "Subtly approach the Azure Sun Demonic Sect. Ideally, befriend the old demon's direct disciples and inquire about his temperament and news of the Ancestral Sacred Fire..."

A flicker of surprise crossed Aunt Mei's eyes.

Qin Sang reassured her, "Don't overthink it. My enemy is not that old demon. The Ancestral Sacred Fire is somewhat useful to me. If possible, I hope to make a deal with him. I am unable to split myself, so I need you to scout ahead on my behalf."

Aunt Mei felt a slight relief. "This disciple obeys!" she said.