Chapter 1355: Peach Blossoms Still Smile at the Spring Breeze

Qin Sang took the urgent letter. After reading it, he let out a soft exclamation, his expression showing some surprise.

"What happened?" Jing Yu asked, looking over curiously.

"A few days ago, Earl Dongyang passed on his sect leader position to a disciple and left Shaohua Mountain," Qin Sang said, concealing the letter. His eyes flickered as he gazed towards Shaohua Mountain.

A hint of joy flashed in his eyes, but then he became wary and thoughtful. He pondered the deeper meaning of Earl Dongyang's action, wondering if it concealed a hidden plot.

After the Battle of the Blood Pond, Earl Dongyang had been remarkably 'docile.' Qin Sang had deliberately created opportunities for him on the battlefield, but Earl Dongyang didn't take the bait.

Earl Dongyang must have known the origin of the puppet in Qin Sang's possession, yet over the years, there had been no rumors in the cultivation world about Nascent Soul talismans or puppets.

Earl Dongyang had meticulously plotted against Gongliang Yu, but in the end, Qin Sang benefited from it all, and Earl Dongyang himself was injured by Qin Sang. It seemed he had truly accepted his fate.

Qin Sang had let go of his hatred and was no longer solely focused on revenge. Both sides had remained at peace with each other.

Unexpectedly, Shaohua Mountain had quietly changed hands.

"Someone in Shaohua Mountain has broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, who is it?"

Jing Yu knew about the animosity between Qin Sang and Earl Dongyang, and had thoroughly investigated Shaohua Mountain's background. She listed Earl Dongyang's well-known disciples: "It's rumored that Shaohua Mountain's most talented disciple, widely considered Earl Dongyang's favorite, is a disciple named Qiu Mubei. He's already in the late Core Formation stage, but still a ways off from the Nascent Soul bottleneck. As for those at the peak Core Formation stage, the most promising to achieve Nascent Soul should be Che Yutao, right?"

To her surprise, Qin Sang slowly shook his head.

"Neither of them! Che Yutao failed in his attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul stage and died in his cave dwelling half a year ago. Qiu Mubei also didn't achieve Nascent Soul, and Earl Dongyang took him along when he left."

Jing Yu was startled. "Not his two favored disciples? Did Shaohua Mountain produce another genius?"

"No genius, and no one in Shaohua Mountain has reached Nascent Soul. The one who succeeded Earl Dongyang is — Mu Yifeng!"

Qin Sang tapped the urgent letter in his hand, his tone complex.

After returning to the Northern Star Realm, Qin Sang had always wanted to meet Mu Yifeng. He now had the means to repay Mu Yifeng.

However, for decades, even during the most critical moments of the Three Realms War, Mu Yifeng had remained in seclusion at Shaohua Mountain, never once stepping out of the sect.

Mindful of Earl Dongyang, Qin Sang couldn't act rashly. He could only send people to infiltrate the market outside Shaohua Mountain, constantly observing and waiting for Mu Yifeng to emerge from seclusion.

Unexpectedly, this was the news he ultimately received.

Mu Yifeng had become the leader of the sect!

Earl Dongyang passed on the position to Mu Yifeng, not his favored disciple Qiu Mubei. Was it an acknowledgment that Mu Yifeng's cultivation and talent surpassed Qiu Mubei's, or was there another deeper meaning?

Qin Sang wasn't naive enough to believe it was a mere coincidence.

If Mu Yifeng took charge of Shaohua Mountain, Qin Sang would definitely offer his full support.

Given his standing in the Northern Star Alliance, he could ensure that for at least the next few centuries, no one would dare to trouble Shaohua Mountain.

It would be different if it were Qiu Mubei.

Qin Sang wouldn't take out his anger on Qiu Mubei, but he also wouldn't offer him any help.

He wouldn't need to personally target Shaohua Mountain; a mere hint or subtle indication of his attitude would be enough to cause the sect, now without Earl Dongyang, to be ostracized by various factions.

If Earl Dongyang had accurately foreseen this, that would be why he passed Shaohua Mountain to Mu Yifeng.

It was highly probable that he had known all along that Mu Yifeng had deliberately let Qin Sang escape back then!

Qin Sang's heart sank slightly.

"It's him?"

Jing Yu was also quite surprised. Understanding the intricacies, she clicked her tongue twice. "Earl Dongyang is indeed an old fox! Mu Yifeng defied his master's orders and let you go, yet Earl Dongyang endured it for centuries and even promoted him to sect leader. Truly unexpected!"

"Not necessarily! Back then, Mu Yifeng wasn't even at the Core Formation stage; his value wasn't significant, and Earl Dongyang's magnanimity isn't that great."

Qin Sang shook his head. He recalled the information he had previously gathered: Mu Yifeng's cave dwelling was on Pure Moon Peak.

Earl Dongyang letting Mu Yifeng off was probably related to Chen Yan. At that time, the deed was already done.

Furthermore, Earl Dongyang and Chen Yan hadn't completely fallen out, and they had reached some kind of agreement.

If Chen Yan had pleaded for Mu Yifeng, given Earl Dongyang's profound cunning, it wasn't unimaginable for him to tolerate the matter.

However, Qin Sang hadn't expected Earl Dongyang to use Mu Yifeng as a pawn again, putting Qin Sang in a difficult position.

"Where did Earl Dongyang go?" Jing Yu asked again.

Qin Sang shook his head. "Mu Yifeng doesn't know either, but Earl Dongyang personally told him before leaving that he probably wouldn't have a chance to return after this departure!"

Jing Yu mused, "I recall Daoist Qing Jun mentioning that Earl Dongyang's cultivation progress was unusually fast. After breaking through a bottleneck, it suddenly stagnated, making almost no progress for over a century. She suspected he had used some highly problematic demonic art for a forced breakthrough. His heavenly tribulation isn't due for another century, and even if he couldn't survive it, he could have still nurtured Qiu Mubei to at least the peak Core Formation stage. Could his sudden departure mean that his hidden problems are about to erupt?"

Qin Sang's eyes narrowed slightly.

Jing Yu's speculation was likely close to the truth.

Earl Dongyang highly valued his sect's heritage. With him personally overseeing it, no one could suppress Shaohua Mountain.

His silent departure from the sect now must certainly have a reason.

The entire Northern Star Realm was under the control of the Northern Star Alliance.

Qin Sang's heart stirred, and he exchanged glances with Jing Yu.

"The Three Northern Seas!"

Qin Sang paced back and forth. "Chen Yan has a mysterious master. The secret art Earl Dongyang used to break through his bottleneck likely came from Chen Yan, as part of their renewed cooperation. If Earl Dongyang wants to resolve his hidden problems, he can only seek Chen Yan's help! With his cultivation, there's a strong possibility he could cross the storm belt alone. But why would he risk taking Qiu Mubei with him?"

Jing Yu chuckled, "Perhaps he's afraid you'll take your anger out on his favored disciple."

"Then he underestimates me too much," Qin Sang scoffed.

Every grievance has its source, every debt its owner. All the hatred was solely between him and Earl Dongyang.

In his cultivation journey, his experiences at Shaohua Mountain were an indelible memory. He wouldn't needlessly take his anger out on innocent people.

After thinking for a moment, Qin Sang turned to the white cat and said, "Go invite Mu Yifeng to Peach Blossom Valley... No, I'll go meet him myself!"

Jing Yu stood up and flew out of the valley alongside Qin Sang.

The entrance to Azure Goat Temple was the original site of the Primal Illusion Sect.

Before Qing Jun departed, she entrusted the Primal Illusion Sect to Qin Sang for disposition. However, Qin Sang didn't want to absorb so many of its disciples, fearing it would become unmanageable. So, he chose a slightly less optimal spiritual vein on the southern foothills of the Heavenly Path Plateau and relocated the Primal Illusion Sect there.

No one in the Northern Star Alliance objected, and the disciples of the Primal Illusion Sect dared not defy Qin Sang's decision.

The white cat hopped along behind them.

At the entrance to Peach Blossom Valley, the mist parted to either side, and one person and two demons flew out.

It was sunset again. The setting sun cast its light inwards.

The moment Qin Sang flew out, his body was bathed in a golden glow. He suddenly felt something, paused slightly, and turned to look back at Peach Blossom Valley.

Peach blossoms bloomed in abundance, dyeing the peach groves. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Ten years..." Qin Sang sighed softly in his heart.

He still remembered.Back then, human faces and peach blossoms reflected each other's blush.Now, the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze.