Chapter 1465: Listening Snow Tower

The Mortal World, Chapter 1465: Tingxue Tower

Touching one small pagoda caused the other to react. Qin Sang experimented with this idea and found that messages couldn't be directly transmitted. However, there was no delay in the twin pagodas' mutual sensing. If two people were separated by tens of thousands of miles, a signal sent by one would be instantly detected by the other, which could play a crucial role in specific situations, for example, as a warning!

Qin Sang was no longer limited by his previous line of thinking and boldly made a conjecture. Both the Xuantian Palace and Jinghai Sect had significant connections to Xiao Xiangzi. He tentatively assumed that the twin pagodas were intentionally left in the two sects by Xiao Xiangzi. Various signs indicated that the Jinghai Sect's demise was related to the demon. They used the full power of their sect to repair ancient restrictions and re-seal the demon. Could their duty have been to guard the demon's seal? This duty was very likely bestowed by Xiao Xiangzi. Going even further, perhaps the Jinghai Sect was founded solely by Xiao Xiangzi. If that were the case, did Xiao Xiangzi integrate the Yinri Realm and establish the Xuantian Palace for a similar purpose: to guard against the demon breaking its seal, leaving a contingency plan in advance? This would explain the existence of the twin pagodas. Once the seal showed signs of weakening, the Jinghai Sect would immediately use the Seven-Story Pagoda to warn the Xuantian Palace, gather reinforcements, and combine the strength of both Buddhist and Daoist forces to suppress the demon. Furthermore, there might be more than just these two pagodas. If the demon broke the seal, it would face the combined suppression of the entire cultivation world of the Northern Sea.

However, circumstances are unpredictable. Over long years, hearts change, and events did not unfold as Xiao Xiangzi planned; deviations occurred. The Jinghai Sect lived up to its heavy responsibility. The Xuantian Palace, however, experienced repeated calamities due to internal strife caused by selfish desires. It was no longer the original Xuantian Palace; its scriptures were lost, it had forgotten its patriarch's entrustment and its own responsibilities, and it failed to appear as agreed. Fortunately, the Jinghai Sect managed to turn the tide, using Buddhist restrictions to repair the ancient seal. Yet, in doing so, the entire sect perished, leading to a tragedy.

Qin Sang looked at the pagoda in his hand. These were all his conjectures, mostly without basis. Xiao Xiangzi's disposition, whether he possessed the noble spirit to protect all living beings, remained unknown. Perhaps having witnessed a similar situation in the Seven Kill Temple, where the Four Saints sacrificed themselves to seal the Demon Lord, and their descendants guarded the seal for generations, led Qin Sang to these associations. Once he became an honored guest of Tingxue Tower, he might gradually investigate within the Xuantian Palace to find some clues.

After a long period of contemplation, seeing no new developments, Qin Sang placed the twin pagodas back into his Qianjun Ring.

Ditong Island was located to the west of the Yinri Realm. After leaving the Seventy-Two Springs of Xuantian Palace, Qin Sang needed to travel northwest. When he arrived at Ditong Island, Liuli and the other woman had not yet arrived. He found the previously agreed-upon desolate island, entered it, and began to comprehend the 'Seven Master Buddhist Seal'.

After this period, Qin Sang finally fully comprehended the first seal, the Auspicious Seal.

In the center of the desolate island, stone peaks stood tall. Vegetation was sparse on the peaks, with only touches of green in the crevices. These stone peaks were not massive, varying in height, with the thinnest resembling a pillar. Qin Sang casually chose a larger stone peak, lightly tapped his foot, and flew to its front.

Floating in mid-air, Qin Sang closed his eyes, remaining motionless for a long time, seemingly experiencing something. Suddenly, Qin Sang's eyes widened, shimmering with dazzling light. He raised his arms, brought his hands together, and rapidly formed a Buddhist seal. The Auspicious Seal!

Instantly, Qin Sang felt a surge of qi and blood within him, and his bones popped loudly. After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, he had rarely purely relied on his physical body for combat. During the Core Formation stage, there was a period when his cultivation stagnated. At that time, his 'Heavenly Demon Transformation' realm surpassed his cultivation, and he relied on his physical body, but it was primarily brute force. It was only by cultivating such a top-tier body cultivation divine ability that Qin Sang truly understood how to best utilize the power contained within his physical body. As the first of the Seven Seals, the greatest function of the Auspicious Seal was to help cultivators understand themselves and mobilize the power throughout their bodies!

At this moment, Buddhist light shone between Qin Sang's palms, forming an illusory giant Buddha shadow, also holding the Auspicious Seal, with his hands as the core. This was an anomaly produced by the overflowing abundance of qi and blood, coating Qin Sang in a golden glow, his skin turning bronze. He became copper-skinned and iron-boned, impervious to swords and blades! The qi and blood within him grew stronger, his meridians and bones vibrated in resonance, thundering like drums, his voice like a Sanskrit chant. For a moment, Qin Sang resembled an arhat manifested in the world, walking upon the earth.

The mere display of a body cultivation divine ability generated such a grand spectacle, which surprised Qin Sang, but also displeased him somewhat. He examined himself and realized that as his cultivation deepened, he would be able to conceal these anomalies, preventing enemies from being alerted before he even made a move. Forming seals was merely a formality, a guide. Once he fully mastered this divine ability, he could form seals with his mind and move freely, without such inconvenience. With a slight thought, the illusory shadow indeed gradually receded, and the qi and blood within his body condensed to their peak.

Immediately, Qin Sang's gaze shifted to the stone peak in front of him. His figure flickered rapidly, appearing instantly before the peak. With qi and blood condensed in his hands, he fiercely imprinted them onto a large boulder. Silently, deep palm prints appeared on the surface of the boulder, then cracks rapidly spread outwards from the prints, as if a terrifying force was erupting from within. Boom! The stone peak suddenly shattered into pieces. What was astonishing was that no fragments flew off the peak; instead, the entire thing turned into stone powder. Dust lingered, creating a grey haze.

Qin Sang looked at his palms, a peculiar gleam in his eyes. He could easily destroy a stone peak with a single punch before, but certainly not in this manner. Having tested the power of the Auspicious Seal, Qin Sang nodded in satisfaction, growing even more expectant of the remaining six seals. He then withdrew his divine ability and returned to his dwelling.

He did not continue cultivating the 'Seven Master Buddhist Seal'. Instead, he took out the Solar Divine Tree. The Southern Bright Lihuo aura on its buds had deepened in color, and faintly, the rudimentary form of a divine bird could be seen within. Although it was very vague, Qin Sang could barely make out some contours with careful discernment. Nevertheless, it was an exciting discovery.

After his divine sense transformed, Qin Sang clearly felt his control strengthen. The condensation speed of the Southern Bright Lihuo had significantly accelerated, and everything was progressing smoothly, evolving in the direction he had envisioned. "At this rate, the divine bird should fully form within a few years, definitely before the sacred ground opens..." Qin Sang examined it carefully, a look of joy in his eyes.

He couldn't accurately estimate the Solar Divine Tree's power, but he presumed it wouldn't be weaker than the Eighteen Demonic Banners. Like the Eighteen Demonic Banners, it used special methods to seal high-grade spiritual flames, drawing upon a portion of their power. Unless it encountered a unique opportunity, it wouldn't naturally develop sentience. Its power depended on the spiritual flame sealed within, and couldn't be judged solely by the grade of a magic treasure or spirit treasure. Such situations were not uncommon in the cultivation world. There were even some unique magical artifacts that possessed abilities not found in true magic treasures, highly prized by Nascent Soul cultivators.

The sky was clear for thousands of miles. A gentle sea breeze blew. Above the sea, two graceful figures flew from a distance, one in purple and one in white, their faces beautiful, like twin lotuses. They were Shi Xue and Liuli, arriving from Hunmo Island. Liuli was still in plain white robes, her face veiled by light gauze. Shi Xue had changed into a purple robe, her demeanor elegant.

She shaded her eyes, gazing ahead. "They took the Grand Elder's treasure carriage, so they're faster than us. If that faithless man hasn't gone back on his word, he would have already returned the sacred object. If he has any conscience at all, he should be waiting for Junior Sister near Ditong Island."

Liuli had been hearing "faithless man" the entire journey. Shi Xue clearly knew the "faithless man's" true name, but whether out of indignation for her junior sister or to vent her frustration over her lost treasure, she refused to change her address. As they neared their agreed meeting spot, Liuli looked at Shi Xue and reminded her, "His Daoist name is Qingfeng."

Qin Sang had previously agreed with Liuli that once he became an honored guest elder of Tingxue Tower, he would revert to his pseudonym — Daoist Qingfeng.

"I certainly won't scold him to his face, Junior Sister, do you take me for a fool?" Shi Xue rolled her eyes, gritted her teeth, and huffed, "It's just that I can't beat that faithless man now! One day, if I reach the Palace Lord's cultivation, I'll beat him senseless to avenge us sisters!" The Grand Elder had compensated her for her losses on behalf of the sect, but such an effective life-saving treasure was unique and irreplaceable, so she still felt a significant loss.

Liuli remained indifferent. Shi Xue secretly delighted in her fantasy of severely beating Qin Sang, then somewhat shamefully cleared her throat. "Junior Sister, the Yinli Pearl granted by the Grand Elder is a better match than the other spiritual objects we considered. If we also obtain three Ditong fruits, your breakthrough this time should be foolproof, right?" She stole glances at Liuli as she spoke, using a questioning tone.

Seeing Liuli's expression unchanged and noncommittal, Shi Xue felt a touch of worry and hesitantly asked, "Junior Sister, how do you feel about that faithless man now?" Liuli remained silent for a moment, then said, "He is him, I am me."

Shi Xue's lips twitched as she seemed to weigh her words, then she spoke haltingly, "Junior Sister, have you ever considered... that your current thoughts might... not be from your true heart, but influenced by the Ice Soul Sealing Emotions?"

Liuli turned her head, silently looking at Shi Xue. Shi Xue immediately felt immense pressure. "I don't know if saying this is good or bad for you, Junior Sister. Just consider it my rambling. Your Daoist heart has always been firm, so you certainly won't be swayed by a few words from your Senior Sister." Shi Xue first made an excuse for herself.

"I don't know what happened between you and that faithless man, and I won't ask further. As the saying goes, the deeper one loves, the more one criticizes. Junior Sister, your choice to use Ice Soul Sealing Emotions only proves that your feelings for him are true, and that faithless man has left a deep, unforgettable mark on your heart. Such devotion, Senior Sister has cultivated for hundreds of years and never seen a second person like you. Before, I always thought that romantic love was an illusion, and that so-called tossing and turning were merely obstacles for mortals. It was you, Junior Sister, who changed my understanding. He was persuaded by you to return the sacred object, helped you extract its power, and acquired the Yinli Pearl for you. That shows he still has some conscience. If there truly are feelings between you, why torment yourselves? Unless that faithless man committed an unforgivable wrong, if there's any misunderstanding or unresolved issue, go actively resolve it. Being indecisive is not the nature of cultivators like us, nor will any external force stop you. For cultivators, especially Nascent Soul cultivators like us, finding a suitable Dao companion is not easy. You knew each other before the Nascent Soul stage. That faithless man's age should be similar to yours, and to have reached his current cultivation, his talent is no less than yours. In the future, you could be constant companions, an enviable pair of immortal partners. Ice Soul Sealing Emotions is not a prerequisite for cultivating Ice Soul Divine Light. Junior Sister, you also needn't worry that 'love' will affect your cultivation. The cultivation world has never lacked dual cultivation techniques. The union of male and female, yin and yang complementing each other, is only natural. We cultivators cultivate the Great Dao; intentionally avoiding or suppressing our true nature will only lead to inner demons. By using Ice Soul Sealing Emotions, you are following a 'transcendent' path. Senior Du Zhong of Zixia Pavilion, trapped by a bottleneck for hundreds of years, simply left seclusion, sealed his cultivation, forgot his identity as a cultivator, entered the mortal world, married, and had children, experiencing birth, old age, sickness, death, and the cycle of reincarnation. He then saw through illusion and broke through his bottleneck in one fell swoop, becoming a legend. That is the 'worldly' path. Heart refinement has always had these two divisions, 'transcendent' and 'worldly,' with no inherent superiority or inferiority!"

Having poured out all the words she had suppressed in her heart, Shi Xue took a breath, afraid that she might have been unclear and caused Liuli to misunderstand, and quickly added, "These are just my personal opinions, Senior Sister doesn't know what choice is truly right for you, Junior Sister. I only hope you can examine your true heart and not be clouded by the cultivation method, which would be detrimental rather than beneficial to your cultivation."

Liuli listened silently, then looked sincerely at Shi Xue and said, "Senior Sister, I understand. Thank you." Shi Xue gave a dry laugh. "I'm just talking hypothetically, Junior Sister. Just listen for now."

Silence fell between them. After flying for a while, the two saw the desolate island, and then a streak of light flew out from it. It was Qin Sang, who had sensed their arrival.

Shi Xue pursed her lips, but her expression quickly returned to normal.

"This humble Daoist Qingfeng greets the two immortal ladies." Qin Sang flew forward and bowed. Liuli nodded in return. Shi Xue maintained the demeanor of a lineage master, her aura not falling behind. "You are too kind! Daoist, you must have returned the sacred object. From now on, you will be an honored guest elder of Tingxue Tower, so there's no need for us to be so formal."

Qin Sang smiled casually. "As a newcomer, I ask for Master Shi's patronage. I hope both Master Shi and Immortal Liuli will be forgiving of any past offenses. This humble Daoist has always walked alone, accustomed to vigilance and caution; that's how I've survived until now." He offered a half-truthful explanation, expressing his apology.

"How dare you bring that up!" Shi Xue inwardly snorted. However, although she blamed Qin Sang for the damaged treasure, she also knew that the ambush by Xuantian Palace was the cause, and Qin Sang merely retaliated. Coupled with her junior sister's connection, she didn't truly resent him.

Noticing a hint in Qin Sang's words, Shi Xue asked in surprise, "Are you a rogue cultivator?"

"I once had a place to belong, but ultimately, I drifted." Qin Sang glanced at Liuli. Reflecting on the past, he had thought he could remain a Shaohua Mountain disciple forever, but alas, things are unpredictable. Now, he had personally established Qingyang Abbey, but it could no longer serve as his sole reliance.

Shi Xue's surprise deepened. A mere rogue cultivator had achieved such feats. She couldn't help but think, "No wonder Junior Sister keeps thinking of him."

As they spoke, the three journeyed together towards Ditong Island.

Shi Xue remembered something and scrutinized Qin Sang. "Are you planning to show your true face? If news about you reaches Xuantian Palace later, you might be recognized."

Qin Sang was prepared and was about to take out his bamboo hat. Shi Xue swept her hand across her mustard seed bag and produced a mask as thin as a cicada's wing. "This is the Thousand Fox Mask. It can subtly change your appearance flawlessly. You can borrow it for now. Your divine sense is very strong, so if you wear the Thousand Fox Mask, only the Palace Lord and the Grand Elder within Xuantian Palace would be able to spot any flaws with their naked eyes. You just need to be wary of a few individuals who possess special magic treasures or Daoist arts, but they generally only use them during combat to avoid causing offense, so just try to avoid meeting them as much as possible." She deliberately emphasized the word 'borrow'.

Qin Sang didn't mind. He thanked her, took the Thousand Fox Mask, and immediately felt a refreshing coolness. With the Thousand Fox Mask on, Qin Sang's thoughts stirred. His facial features subtly shifted, appearing somewhat unsettling, then his appearance completely transformed, his demeanor now more like a Daoist who had traveled widely. "Indeed, it's exquisite!" Qin Sang praised it. He didn't know the crafting method for such an arcane magic treasure. With patient study, he might be able to craft one, but he wouldn't waste time on it. The Thousand Fox Mask only required divine sense to maintain, and Qin Sang's divine sense had already reached the transformation stage, easily supporting this minor consumption.

Before long, Ditong Island came into view. Qin Sang deliberately fell back a step, following behind the two women. Ditong Island had a peculiar shape, with jagged boulders covering its coast. Inside, ancient trees towered, teeming with life, truly like a green emerald embedded in the sea. No human figures were visible on the island, only birds chirping, creating a serene atmosphere. Around Ditong Island, faint, ethereal blue light shimmered in the void, faintly visible under the sunlight, truly peculiar and clearly indicating it was no ordinary place. Auspicious light glowed softly, and propitious qi diffused. The three stopped their escape light outside Ditong Island, observing the precious island.

Shi Xue let out a soft exclamation. "Did Old Man Ditong know we were coming and close his doors to visitors? Why has the island protection array been activated in advance?"

Qin Sang awakened his Heavenly Eye Butterfly and looked towards the depths of Ditong Island. Everything on the island was normal, with no signs of combat. After a brief hesitation, Shi Xue stepped forward, raised her hand, and sent a streak of light into the grand array. Soon, a beautiful young girl emerged from within the array. The girl held a jade plate covered with a red cloth. She stood inside the array and bowed to those outside. "This junior greets the three seniors."

Shi Xue perceived that the girl was only at the Foundation Establishment stage and directly asked, "Is your ancestor on the island?" "The ancestor is in seclusion," the girl replied, neither humble nor arrogant. "Are the three seniors here for the Ditong fruit?" Shi Xue nodded. "Precisely."

Hearing this, the girl raised the jade plate. "This is a Ditong fruit. The ancestor instructed that seniors may take it in exchange for treasures or spirit stones of equivalent value." The three exchanged glances, somewhat surprised that Old Man Ditong handed over one so readily. However, one Ditong fruit could not satisfy their appetite.

Just as Shi Xue was about to speak, Qin Sang stopped her. "Let's get this one first," he said. Shi Xue understood and remained silent. Liuli took out a spiritual herb prepared for exchange and tossed it into the grand array. After the girl inspected it, she immediately uncovered the red cloth and presented the spirit fruit. The Ditong fruit had a yellow peel and was shaped like an olive. As soon as the girl removed the restrictions, a chilling aura immediately gathered around it, indicating it was a yin fruit. Once Liuli had put the spirit fruit away,

Shi Xue cleared her throat lightly and said, "We hope you can convey to your ancestor that we wish to purchase two more." The girl was startled, not expecting the visitors to be so insatiable, and for a moment didn't know how to respond.

Just then, a cold snort suddenly echoed from the island, rumbling like thunder. "Master Shi, this fruit only yields ten every hundred years, and you ask for one-third right away! Moreover, experts from your Tianshan lineage came not long ago, claiming to resist the demon race, and forcibly took three. This old man respects you as a lineage master of Xuantian Palace and painfully gave you one, but do not push your luck; the others have already been refined by this old man!"

Hearing this, Qin Sang quietly asked, "Has the situation deteriorated to such an extent?" He knew that the demon race was causing trouble in the Star Sand Archipelago, but he didn't expect a two-front war, with Xuantian Palace also having to unite with nearby forces to resist the demon race.

"The Great Sage Heavenly Peng is indeed ambitious, but he still has to get past the Grand Elder." Shi Xue frowned deeply. "Why don't I know about resisting the demon race? Whose orders were they following? Could it be Shang Lu's? How dare they stir up trouble while the Grand Elder is away, falsely transmitting orders, and ruining the sect's reputation!" Shang Lu was the lineage master of the Tianshan lineage.

After explaining quietly to Qin Sang, she turned to face Ditong Island and loudly asked, "Daoist, by giving away three Ditong fruits, are you trying to use that as a condition to stay out of this matter?"

"Ditong Island will be sealed for a hundred years. Everyone, please return," Old Man Ditong said, unwilling to elaborate further, immediately intending to dismiss them. Just then, his tone suddenly changed, and he angrily roared, "Stop! What are you doing!" It was Qin Sang, who had, at some point, flown close to the grand array. His palm pulsed with true essence, lightly touching the array, causing the nearby light to fluctuate. The girl's face paled, and she hastily fled into the island.

Qin Sang looked up and smiled. "Daoist, this grand array of yours has quite a few flaws. If the demon race targeted it, I'm afraid it wouldn't last long, and your wish for peace would be unfulfilled."

"Presumptuous! Who are you, to be so rude!" Old Man Ditong was furious.

Qin Sang sighed softly. "As this concerns a friend's Dao path, this humble Daoist can only choose to help kin over reason." With that, Qin Sang's figure flickered, and he pointed a finger towards a spot in the void, where the spiritual array's light flickered, clearly revealing a flaw. Although this flaw did not affect the overall situation, Qin Sang's ability to discover it so quickly was astonishing.

Shi Xue grew increasingly surprised by Qin Sang and quietly asked, "You also understand the way of formations?" "A little," Qin Sang replied modestly. In truth, having inherited the complete legacy of the Yuan Mirage Sect and with the assistance of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, his ability to break formations was extraordinary; even a Grand Cultivator might not surpass him. He could tell that Ditong Island's grand array was not top-tier. Old Man Ditong was only in the early Nascent Soul stage, and even when personally controlling the array, its variations were limited. He wondered how Old Man Ditong had managed to preserve this spiritual tree.

Unbeknownst to them, the Ditong fruit's effects were unique yet narrow, only offering auxiliary benefits to specific cultivators, so no true powerhouses competed with him for it. Even so, Old Man Ditong had changed his cultivation ground several times. Each time he moved, the Ditong spiritual tree would be greatly weakened. He had relocated from the depths of the Boundless Sea all the way to near the Yinri Realm, establishing good relations with Xuantian Palace, before finally settling down.

"How dare you!" Old Man Ditong exclaimed, enraged. "Xuantian Palace prides itself as a prominent righteous sect. Are you not afraid of being ridiculed by the world for such despicable conduct!"

Qin Sang's face showed a sudden realization, and he said with annoyance, "I almost made a grave mistake! This humble Daoist and the two immortal ladies merely met by chance, having only just become acquainted. I am invited to be a guest at Xuantian Palace, but I am not a member of Xuantian Palace. Any actions of this humble Daoist are completely unrelated to Xuantian Palace. Immortal Ladies, please step back first, lest you be implicated by this humble Daoist's misdeeds and damage Xuantian Palace's reputation."

At these words, both Liuli and Shi Xue were somewhat speechless, but they went along with it gracefully.

"You!" Old Man Ditong was enraged. Qin Sang shed his rogue expression and said seriously, "Daoist Ditong, my previous words were merely a jest, do not take them seriously. However, as this concerns a Dao path, we certainly cannot give up the Ditong fruit. I believe Master Shi's terms will not put you at a disadvantage. As compensation, this humble Daoist can freely help you perfect your island protection array. I hope you will consider carefully."

Shi Xue interjected at the appropriate moment, stating their conditions and expressing willingness to purchase at a premium.

Old Man Ditong fell silent. He wasn't sure if Qin Sang was bluffing. The claim that he could break through his meticulously arranged island protection array seemed utterly arrogant. However, Qin Sang's performance just now was indeed astonishing, and he had to consider the possibility. If the other party, alone, could truly break in, where would his dignity be? Shi Xue seemed intent on acquiring three Ditong fruits, leaving no room for refusal. If Shi Xue were to gather the forces under Tingxue Tower and launch a massive siege on Ditong Island, using power to oppress him, he wouldn't be afraid. Xuantian Palace was not a monolith, and he could take his case to Lingxiao Peak. But now, things were difficult.

While Old Man Ditong pondered, Qin Sang's movements continued. He successively found two more flaws. Old Man Ditong immediately changed the array's formation to conceal them, but his eyelids twitched wildly.

Seeing Old Man Ditong remain silent, Qin Sang also muttered to himself. He had just spoken very confidently, but this was a Nascent Soul cultivator's cultivation ground after all. Even if he could break the array, it would take some effort and certainly require him to use his full strength, thus revealing his identity.

After a long silence, Old Man Ditong's voice was hoarse as he asked, "Can you truly perfect this array?" "You have two options. First, I can perfect this array for you free of charge. Second, I can help you refine a complete defensive grand array, far more powerful than this one, but you would need to gather the spiritual materials yourself," Qin Sang said, standing his ground, simultaneously trying to secure a high-paying client for himself. Having mastered the way of artifact refinement, he should have been able to earn more and avoid being so financially constrained. However, he was either diligently cultivating or wandering abroad, leaving him no time for such endeavors.

"You're not doing it for free, are you?" Old Man Ditong snorted. "This old man will first assess your capabilities!" Before his words fully fell, the spiritual array's light shimmered, parting to both sides, revealing a path.

Seven days later, three figures flew out of Ditong Island, heading directly east. They were Qin Sang and the two women. The spiritual array on Ditong Island glowed, floating like a dark blue eggshell covering the sea. It was much more solid and robust than before, then it promptly faded from view.

Qin Sang spent seven days helping Old Man Ditong perfect the grand array. Its power increased by less than ten percent, but the most critical flaws were all repaired. Unexpectedly, Old Man Ditong felt the spiritual array was sufficient for now and wasn't planning to enlist Qin Sang's help again. Fortunately, the other two Ditong fruits were obtained, and Old Man Ditong proactively lowered his conditions.

"Thank you," Liuli said, noticing a hint of fatigue between Qin Sang's brows, knowing that he had expended a great deal of mental energy this time. Shi Xue's attitude towards Qin Sang also significantly improved. "We owe a great debt to Elder Qingfeng this time. After we return, my sister and I will certainly thank you profusely."

Qin Sang waved his hand. "No need for profound thanks; as an honored guest elder of Tingxue Tower, this is merely my duty. If Master Shi believes this humble Daoist has done his best, I hope you can do your utmost to help me secure the qualification to observe the sacred ground's opening. Additionally, I have one more matter to ask Master Shi: do honored guest elders have the qualification to exchange for a Kanshen Pearl?" He had given up the Kanshen Pearl for the seven-story pagoda. This treasure bead could be refined by an external incarnation to enhance cultivation, so he had to find another way to acquire it.

Before Shi Xue could reply, Liuli said, "After entering the sacred ground, I will help you acquire one." "Thank you, Immortal Lady. If any conditions are required, this humble Daoist will provide them!" Qin Sang cupped his hands in gratitude.

After this incident, the three were no longer as distant, becoming much more familiar with each other. Traveling east, Shi Xue thoroughly introduced Tingxue Tower and Xuantian Palace to him. Although Tingxue Tower ranked last among the four lineages, it was still one of the four main lineages; a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. There were quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators, including a mid-Nascent Soul master, who was the current Palace Lord of the Yuanji Hall in Xuantian Palace. Unfortunately, this person was already old and struggled to shoulder the burden alone.

In Xuantian Palace, the Palace Lord must come from the Xuantian lineage, while the position of Grand Elder must be held by the top master outside the Xuantian lineage, not even limited to a main lineage. The current Grand Elder, Tong Lingyu, was from Zixia Pavilion. Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators could serve as elders or palace lords of various halls. Once in these positions, they could not concurrently serve as lineage masters, which was why Shi Xue held the position of Tingxue Tower's lineage master.

Unbeknownst to them, the three entered the Yinri Realm, flew across the vast snowfields, and finally arrived at Tingxue Tower, located in the northern region. Compared to Lingxiao Peak and the Seventy-Two Springs, the mountain range occupied by Tingxue Tower appeared exceptionally graceful. Snow-capped mountains wound and sprawled deep within the snowfield, with no exceptionally prominent peaks. Qin Sang followed them into the mountain protection array. His gaze swept across, and he noticed exquisite and beautiful pavilions and towers on each peak, meticulously designed and arranged.

Shi Xue and Liuli brought Qin Sang back discreetly, not alarming anyone else. They planned to announce Qin Sang's new status as an honored guest in two years, otherwise, the timing would be too close to the mysterious master from Hunmo Island, potentially inviting speculation.

After escorting Qin Sang to the back mountain, Shi Xue pointed to a two-story small building and said, "Daoist, I apologize for the temporary inconvenience, but please stay here for now." Qin Sang observed it closely. The small building was built near the mountain peak, on a protruding boulder. Its front yard had no obstructions, offering an extremely broad view. From the second floor, one could see an endless expanse of snow. The place was quiet, undisturbed, and surrounded by a formation. More importantly, the spiritual energy was sufficiently dense, making it an excellent dwelling.

Qin Sang was very satisfied. He expressed his thanks, then remembered something and hastily asked, "Are there any underground yin veins nearby?" Cultivating 'Cold Nether Returning Yin' required using underground yin veins to temper the spiritual body of the Nascent Soul talisman puppet.

Shi Xue had already heard that Qin Sang was preparing to refine an external incarnation. She pointed northeast and said, "Three hundred li from here, there is an underground yin vein, but it's not continuous; it's intermittent and varies in strength. You'll need to find a suitable spot yourself, Daoist."

Then, Shi Xue and Liuli bid farewell to Qin Sang.

Qin Sang entered the small building, activated the array, and then set up several more layers of restrictions himself. He ascended to the second floor, gazed at the snowy scenery for a while, and began to contemplate his situation. The sacred ground of Xuantian Palace would open in ten years. During this time, he needed to improve his strength as much as possible. The Solar Divine Tree could evolve on its own. There wasn't actually much for Qin Sang to do himself. He planned to stay at Tingxue Tower for a period, comprehend the 'Seven Master Buddhist Seal,' and simultaneously cultivate 'Cold Nether Returning Yin' using the underground yin veins. Once he had made progress with the external incarnation, he would set off for Hundred Flowers Valley to trade with Valley Master Mu for the last spiritual object needed for the Spirit Ascension Ritual: Yin Nether Soil. Time was not pressing.

As Qin Sang thought about these things, he slowly closed his eyes, and the chapters of 'Cold Nether Returning Yin' appeared in his mind.