Chapter 1327: The Time is Coming

Without further ado, Qin Sang ignored everyone else and began to speak.

The mountain quickly returned to calm, with only Qin Sang's unhurried voice gently emanating.

Initially, Qin Sang's lecture was simple enough for even Qi Condensation stage disciples to understand. Having previously worried that a Nascent Soul Grandmaster's lecture would be too profound and only coming out of curiosity, they unexpectedly gained something substantial and began to listen intently.

Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators, seeing a respected Nascent Soul Grandmaster expound at length on such low-level content, and on the minor art of artifact refinement no less, grew impatient. Naturally, they dared not act presumptuously in front of a Nascent Soul cultivator, only grumbling inwardly. While their minds wandered, some noticed that several cultivators of their same stage were listening to the content with rapt attention, as if enchanted. It didn't seem feigned. Realizing they might have overlooked something, these individuals quickly refocused their attention. Only then did they discover that what seemed superficial, and what they thought they had long understood, actually contained unimaginable profoundness. With just a few words, Qin Sang opened up a new world for them.

Magic tools, magic treasures...

Qin Sang explained layer by layer. His artifact refinement techniques integrated those from Canglang Sea and Xuling Sect, forming his own unique system. Due to their earlier dismissiveness, many cultivators found it increasingly difficult to understand later on, as if listening to gibberish. They were gently pushed out of the mountain by a soft force, only then realizing what they had missed and filled with deep regret.

In the end, only Qin Sang, Qing Jun, Bing Han, and Jing Yu remained on the mountain. They all wore thoughtful expressions, patiently listening to Qin Sang finish, then spoke up to discuss the Dao with him. This discussion of the Dao was not limited to artifact refinement; it lasted for seven days and seven nights. Lower-stage disciples looked up at the mountaintop, seeing four figures seated around a stone platform, but hearing no sound. Thin mist swirled around them, like immortals in the clouds.

Two years later.

Peach Blossom Valley.

The mist parted, and three figures flashed out: Qin Sang, Qing Jun, and Bai.

Qing Jun took out a sound-transmitting talisman. "Demon Lord Tongyou sent a message," she said. "They've already gone ahead and want us to meet them directly at Yuanxu."

Bai said apologetically, "I caused the delay. I wanted to cultivate a secret technique, but I didn't expect it to take so long."

"Brother Bai, your cultivation is the top priority," Qin Sang replied. "The Immortal Gate hasn't opened yet, so what difference does it make if we arrive early or late?" Qin Sang looked up toward the west, silently calculating the time. "Fellow Daoist Jing Yu should be arriving soon," he remarked. Before his words finished, a bolt of lightning suddenly streaked across the distant sky, landing before the three in the blink of an eye.

The group exchanged greetings and immediately set off.

Bai remembered something. "I should hide first," he said, "lest we encounter others on the way and have to waste words explaining." With that, he flashed and entered Qin Sang's Corpse Puppet Pouch.

Qin Sang had just thought the same. Their purpose for this trip was to go to Yuanxu, to prepare for entering the Immortal Gate. If nothing unexpected happened, the Ziwei Palace would emerge soon. This exploration of the Ziwei Palace had too many uncertainties. Bai was his biggest trump card; the later he was exposed, the better.

For this trip to Ziwei Palace, cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage were all excluded. Other Nascent Soul cultivators from the Lesser Cold Region had already departed; they had waited for Bai to emerge from seclusion, delaying them by a few days. Qin Sang also wasn't sure how strong Bai's current power was. For Bai, the biggest hurdle was advancing to the Corpse King stage, which he had successfully passed. The subsequent stages would be much simpler. However, since it had only been twenty years, his power shouldn't be excessively overwhelming.

The three flew on, and after entering the grasslands, they encountered Nascent Soul cultivators from the Skywalking Alliance, journeying together.

Yuanxu Mist Sea.

Figures were suspended in small groups around the Seven Waters Bewildering Array. Daoist Master Zhen Yi and a few others gathered together, occasionally looking at the swirling mist as they discussed something. As soon as Qin Sang and the others arrived, they were immediately welcomed to this spot. Qin Sang looked around; they were among the last to arrive. All Nascent Soul cultivators from the Beichen Realm had received the news early and arrived in advance. Old Demon Ye's conspiracy and the anomaly of Ziwei Palace all held immense appeal for them. Except for those who genuinely couldn't get away due to special circumstances, almost everyone was present.

"The three of you have finally arrived," Daoist Master Zhen Yi said. "True Man, please reiterate what we just discussed..."

Qin Sang and the other two gazed intently at True Man Cang Hong.

"Within the Sin God Palace, there are three forbidden areas containing ancient secrets," True Man Cang Hong began. "These are places our Sin Abyss has always wanted to explore, and they could also be Old Demon Ye's targets, so we cannot overlook them. I have carefully considered this: we should divide into three teams, heading directly to these forbidden areas. If Old Demon Ye is found, we will surround and kill him within the Ziwei Palace. If he is not found in any of these three places, we will then quickly gather at the entrance to the Ziwei Palace; this won't cause much delay. Additionally, Immortal Maiden Qiuzhi and a few other fellow Daoists will remain outside to guard the Seven Waters Bewildering Array, preventing Old Demon Ye from escaping."

True Man Cang Hong gently tapped the void with his finger, and a cloud of mist transformed into a map of the Sin God Palace's terrain. The terrain within the Sin God Palace was extremely complex, covered with dangerous restrictions, and far more perilous than the inner hall of Ziwei Palace. Although Daoist Master Zhen Yi and the others had heard it once before, they still listened very seriously this time. The three forbidden areas True Man Cang Hong pointed to were located in three different directions within the Sin God Palace. If everyone went together to investigate each one, it would waste a lot of time; the best method was to split their forces. Doing so carried some risks, but they had tried their best to overestimate Old Demon Ye's strength. However, everyone had made ample preparations for this trip. Once they encountered him, they should be able to contend with Old Demon Ye for a while until reinforcements arrived.

"Daoist Master Zhen Yi and I will go to the forbidden area on the left," True Man Cang Hong proposed. "Fellow Daoist Tongyou and King Yu will go to the one on the right. Fellow Daoist Qin, how about you, Fellow Daoist Lu, and your party go to this one?" True Man Cang Hong pointed to the forbidden area in the middle of the Sin Abyss.

Qin Sang and the other two did not commit, instead asking about the dangers within the forbidden areas and how they could confirm if Old Demon Ye was there. True Man Cang Hong answered everything he knew. Qin Sang and Qing Jun communicated telepathically, discussing that the three forbidden areas were equally dangerous, so choosing any one wouldn't make much difference. The one they needed to be most wary of was Old Demon Ye.

Next, True Man Cang Hong pointed to the depths of the Sin God Palace, where the passage to Ziwei Palace was located. "We speculate that Old Demon Ye's target is most likely the Ziwei Palace," he explained. "However, he is already inside, and we cannot be faster than him. We can only search for him slowly after entering the Ziwei Palace. Old Demon Ye's plot is vast; if he makes any moves, there will surely be signs."

Demon Lord Tongyou chimed in, "The inner hall of Ziwei Palace may seem stable and less dangerous than the Sin God Palace. However, most forbidden areas are far beyond what even Nascent Soul cultivators like us can breach alone. Old Demon Ye's possible targets are limited. He forced his way into Tianshan last time, so he will most likely go there again this time..."

Seeing that they had considered everything thoroughly, Qin Sang and Qing Jun said no more, accepting the plan. Together with Lu Boyuan, they gathered the other accompanying Nascent Soul cultivators to discuss the next course of action.

With Ziwei Palace about to emerge, the tremors in Yuanxu became more violent. The mist sea was in disarray, and chaotic currents were everywhere. Cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage would find it difficult to stand firm here without protection. As time passed, a few more Nascent Soul cultivators arrived sporadically. Everyone silently watched the vortex, waiting for the Immortal Gate to open!