Chapter 1491: Master

The two avatars faced each other.

Qin Sang's previous cautious approach proved effective.

The stone statue's avatar only knew one divine ability.

The external avatar no longer concealed its strength. All colors vanished from its eyes, which became crystalline and transparent. A fissure opened in each, suddenly emitting two sword-like beams of light.

The beams of light were almost tangible. In mid-air, they transformed into two ice crystal chains.

At this point, the stone statue's avatar was still mechanically attacking with cold air. Its divine ability was singular.

The Fissured Pupil Ice Chains ranked among the top three divine abilities recorded in "Cold Netherworld Reversion to Yin".

The ice crystal chains pierced through the cold air.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, the stone statue's avatar retreated rapidly. At the same time, its eyes underwent the same transformation, immediately mimicking the Fissured Pupil Ice Chains.

However, it was, after all, a mimic. Losing the initiative in a magical duel is fatal.

"Clatter!"

The ice crystal chains rapidly coiled, forming a cage around the stone statue's avatar.

Simultaneously, the external avatar swiftly completed an incantation. A cold light descended from the sky, and boundless cold air filled the gaps in the ice crystal chains, isolating the stone statue's avatar from the battlefield.

"Boom!"

The cage shook violently, and cracks appeared on the ice crystal chains. The stone statue's avatar retaliated with equal ferocity.

The external avatar's goal was merely to temporarily trap the stone statue's avatar. It did not press its advantage but instead turned its gaze to the main body, changing its hand seals once more.

By this time, Qin Sang was very close to the python banner.

It seemed he intended to repeat his old trick: first, eliminate the stone statue's helper.

The bronze cauldron, demonic flames, ice fan…

Attacks followed one after another.

The stone statue instinctively tried to stop Qin Sang.

At this very moment, a strange glint flashed in Qin Sang's eyes. Without the slightest warning, he suddenly changed direction. He stepped on the Lotus Seal, skillfully dodging the jade-white mystic light. With a turn of his body, he actually charged directly at the stone statue's main body, facing its attacks.

The stone statue showed no emotion. Its empty eyes contained only battle intent.

Facing Qin Sang's unexpected move, it showed no surprise. The ice fan in its hand glowed brightly, and the banner fluttered fiercely.

The fire dragon and ice dragon intertwined, roaring skyward. Their might was earth-shattering, threatening to devour Qin Sang.

"Crack!"

Just then, a faint blue light appeared in the void in front of Qin Sang. In an instant, it transformed into an ice mirror, crystal clear yet appearing extremely substantial.

Another major divine ability of the external avatar—the Profound Ice Mirror!

This divine ability was unpretentious but extremely robust.

"Boom!"

The stone statue's attack squarely hit the Profound Ice Mirror.

In an instant, flames and cold air scattered everywhere. Mixed within them were fragments of the Profound Ice Mirror of varying sizes, leaving the platform a scene of chaos.

Qin Sang remained extremely calm. With the help of the Heaven's Eye Butterfly, he clearly saw through the turbulent energy. His figure moved like smoke, weaving through it, rapidly approaching the stone statue.

Unexpectedly, the stone statue mimicked the Lotus Seal; its movement technique was as exquisite and elusive as Qin Sang's. While maneuvering, the bronze cauldron above the stone statue's head aimed at Qin Sang, and beams of azure mystic light shot out continuously.

Although it was difficult to approach the stone statue, Qin Sang showed no sign of anxiety on his face. His gaze flashed, and he suddenly pointed two fingers at the stone statue.

"Crack!"

Heavenly lightning descended!

With a "clang," the Lightning Control spell directly struck the bronze cauldron. Under the furious impact of the violent lightning power, the bronze cauldron was instantly knocked away. The stone statue below stumbled, nearly falling to the ground, appearing utterly disheveled.

However, the stone statue was still not heavily wounded. It immediately pointed a finger back at Qin Sang.

"Crack!"

As expected, it had also learned the Lightning Control spell.

The next moment, two bolts of lightning converged in mid-air.

The instant the heavenly lightning descended, Qin Sang activated his long-planned Lightning Escape technique. He successfully dodged it, emerging completely unharmed.

At the same moment, on another platform.

The cultivator surnamed Yue fought against the stone statue, growing increasingly alarmed as the battle progressed. He realized that he could not defeat the stone statue in a short time. Like Qin Sang, he quickly analyzed the true nature of this trial.

Without hesitation, he slapped his mustard seed pouch, and a palm-sized gourd flew out. He prepared to unleash his trump card, intending to surprise the others!

Just then, he saw the stone statue make a strange move, raising a finger and pointing it at him.

The cultivator surnamed Yue was startled, suddenly realizing something was wrong. A strong sense of alarm rose within him.

He dared not hesitate, swiftly sweeping his hand over his head. White qi shot up from his Baihui acupoint, forming a large hand.

"Boom!"

The lightning struck the large hand, shattering it instantly and returning it to white qi.

The cultivator surnamed Yue's body trembled; he felt as if he had been struck by an immense force, crashing heavily onto the platform. He slid back rapidly, his entire body numb, appearing utterly disheveled.

Before he could steady himself and recover, he felt a blinding flash of light, and the stone statue transformed into lightning, its speed skyrocketing to an astonishing degree, now within arm's reach!

"Whoosh!"

Black spiritual flames engulfed everything.

The cultivator surnamed Yue's expression changed drastically.

He had been regarded as a genius since childhood. Especially after successfully forming his Nascent Soul after over a decade of secluded cultivation, he was held in even higher regard. He cultivated diligently on Tianshan year-round, undisturbed. In just over a century, he broke through again.

However, this led to a lack of practical experience.

For years, experts from the Tianshan lineage had taken turns sparring with him. But they could not bring him to a life-or-death crisis, nor did the Tianshan lineage have Grand Cultivators.

At this moment, encountering the Lightning Control spell, demonic flames, and Lightning Escape consecutively, the feeling of being flustered, which he hadn't experienced for many years, reappeared in the cultivator surnamed Yue.

"Whoosh!"

The black spiritual flames swept out.

The stone statue suddenly froze in place, and all phenomena caused by its magical artifacts and divine abilities vanished instantly, as if they had never existed. The spot where the cultivator surnamed Yue had stood was now empty.

Only a curse remained.

"Son of a bitch!"

At the archway exit.

A meteor-like beam of light shot out from the depths of the white mist. Immediately, a figure tumbled out, thrown clear of the archway—it was the cultivator surnamed Yue.

He took a deep breath, calming the chaotic qi within him. He thoroughly checked himself, confirming he was not seriously injured.

Just as the stone statue's final blow was about to land, he was teleported out.

Staring resentfully into the depths of the white mist, a hint of reluctance appeared on the cultivator surnamed Yue's face. Even though he was a genius, unparalleled in cultivation speed within the Profound Heaven Palace, he was still unwilling to miss any opportunity to improve himself.

Helplessly, his skills were inferior, and he could only sigh.

Just then, the cultivator surnamed Yue sensed a strange movement from a token in his mustard seed pouch. Recalling Dean Shang's earlier instructions, he was about to reach for the token, but then seemed to sense something else.

He stopped, glanced at an ancient ruined hall not far away, and snorted. Then, he conjured a beam of light and soared into the air.

Not long after he left, a faint white light flickered within the ruins, revealing two figures. They were a man and a woman, both dressed in white, possessing an ethereal aura.

"He found us! As expected of the so-called millennium genius of Profound Heaven Palace. He easily saw through my Thousand Illusions Refraction Mirror."

A treasure mirror with an uneven surface floated before the woman. As she watched the direction the cultivator surnamed Yue flew off in, a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes.

"What good is being a genius? We all ended up being defeated by others, just like us. Besides, Junior Sister Yu, you didn't activate this magical artifact to its fullest potential. It's a pity this trial is too special; Junior Sister's magical artifact couldn't display its true power. We were also forced to separate, making our previous discussion of cooperation moot…"

The man, equally reluctant as the cultivator surnamed Yue, spoke with a tone full of helplessness.

As he spoke, the man suddenly began to cough violently, his internal qi in disarray.

The woman was startled, "Senior Brother Zhang, you…"

"It's nothing!"

The man waved his hand, giving a bitter smile. "To compete for this opportunity, I forcibly advanced my cultivation with a secret technique. My cultivation is superficial, lacking true insight, and I will now fall back to the early Nascent Soul stage. It will take at least several decades of secluded cultivation to recover. It's truly not worth the gain!"

Such situations were commonplace in the Profound Heaven Palace.

Before the sacred land opened, each lineage had three hundred years to prepare thoroughly. Secret techniques for last-minute cultivation breakthroughs were not as precious and rare.

Therefore, the woman was not surprised, saying with a sigh, "I didn't expect the final winner to be an outsider. I wonder why Dean Shang didn't appear. I heard that when he forcibly broke through back then, his methods were even more aggressive than yours, Senior Brother. Did he suffer hidden injuries, felt he had no chance, and thus voluntarily gave up? I originally considered him and Junior Brother Yue formidable rivals."

"Dean Shang causing a scene at the wedding banquet was probably to pave the way for Junior Brother Yue. Given the suppression of the ancient restrictions, there are very few recorded instances of someone participating and winning twice. It's normal for Dean Shang to give up. With the demonic invasion and chaos in the sacred land, Dean Shang and others are needed to formulate strategies."

The man mused.

"Senior Brother Zhang, have you forgotten about this person?"

The woman gestured towards the Cleansing Pool with her chin, "He's an outsider, and he's also suppressed."

The man said meaningfully, "Junior Sister Yu, have you still not figured out this person's background?"

"What background?" The woman was stunned.

"There have always been rumors within the sect that the sacred artifact was lost for a period ten years ago. It was later recovered by the Grand Elder and the other elders, but the process was not smooth. It's said they encountered a mysterious master, a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator whose strength rivaled Grand Cultivators. He left the elders disgraced, forcing them into a transaction before they could retrieve the sacred artifact. I once subtly probed Elder Lan about it, and he didn't deny it. Later, I specifically gathered information about the Myriad Devil Assembly, and this person uses a black demonic flame…"

The man paused, then sneered, "Since when did Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators become so common that two popped up one after another? The elders probably had suspicions long ago, but it involves one of the four main lineages and the Grand Elder, making the implications too significant. And it would expose the Elder Council's failure in guarding the sacred artifact, so they all pretended to be deaf and mute."

The astonishment in the woman's eyes grew, and she sighed, "Facing such an opponent, our defeat was not unjust. However, whether that grand wedding was real or fake, this person's connection with Profound Heaven Palace is now undeniable. With him here, he might be the key to the sect overcoming this catastrophe."

The two fell silent, gazed at the archway for a moment, then left together.

Inside the white mist.

Qin Sang waved his arm, putting away the demonic banner.

He was the only one left on the platform. Just now, the stone statue gained new divine abilities, its strength greatly increased, and Qin Sang was engaged in a bitter struggle. However, after only a few rounds, the stone statue became motionless.

A smile appeared at the corner of Qin Sang's mouth. Indeed, as he had expected, the others had been eliminated.

A gentle force appeared.

Qin Sang's heart stirred; he stopped resisting. He was gently pushed off the platform and into the white mist.

Not long after, his feet touched solid ground.

Before him, immortal mist swirled. From deep within the mist, a faint golden light emanated. Within the golden light, there was the silhouette of a peculiar spirit tree.

This was a spirit tree Qin Sang had never seen before. Facing its silhouette, Qin Sang felt as if the golden light permeated his entire body and soul. The qi within him immediately calmed, and his true essence flowed like tranquil water through his meridians.

Qin Sang seemed to hear the sound of his true essence flowing within him.

A strange light shone in his eyes, and he instinctively walked forward.

When he drew closer, the tree silhouette and golden light suddenly vanished. Everything before seemed like an illusion.

He stopped, taking a moment to experience the feeling he had just had. Only then did he notice a clear spring at the base of where the tree silhouette had been; its water was so pure it seemed to be invisible.

"This is the Cleansing Pool?"

Qin Sang had heard Liu Li describe it before, but seeing it with his own eyes was still somewhat surprising. The Cleansing Pool was too small; one person could fill it completely.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stepped into the Cleansing Pool.

In an instant.

Everything around him vanished.

Qin Sang felt as if he had entered a vast, unknown realm. The void was filled with multicolored light, yet it was incredibly silent, making him yearn for deep sleep.

Just then, Qin Sang suddenly felt a subtle stinging sensation.

Only then did he realize that a peculiar force had surrounded him at some point. It was omnipresent and pervasive, entering his body through every pore.

Qin Sang also cultivated his physical body, which was exceptionally strong. He was indifferent to this level of pain.

As time passed, the stinging sensation grew stronger. Eventually, it penetrated deep into his meridians, spread along them into his Qi Sea, and even reached his Nascent Soul!

Sweat beaded on Qin Sang's forehead, and his body tensed up.

He could no longer ignore the intense pain within his body.

His meridians felt as if they were being cut by knives. His true essence was like a bursting flood, recklessly surging through everything.

The source of this flood was his Qi Sea.

Under the influence of that peculiar force, Qin Sang's Qi Sea had long lost its usual tranquility. It became incredibly turbulent, with raging waves surging one after another.

This was only the beginning.

Qin Sang was horrified to discover that his Nascent Soul also showed signs of losing control.

That force had invaded his Nascent Soul's body at some unknown point.

The Nascent Soul's features distorted, as if it were suffering from qi deviation, letting out silent roars.

"Boom! Boom!"

Waves of true essence within his Qi Sea crashed repeatedly, assaulting Qin Sang's mind. Intense pain assailed him in waves.

At this moment, Qin Sang finally understood why the Cleansing Pool required cultivators to be in the Mid-Nascent Soul stage. If an Early Nascent Soul cultivator were to face such an impact, their Nascent Soul would likely collapse on the spot.

The Cleansing Pool was an opportunity, but also held hidden dangers.

That peculiar force seemed endless, continuously pouring into his body.

The Heaven's Eye Butterfly was also in Qin Sang's Qi Sea, overlooked by that force. She sensed her master was in danger but was powerless to help. She could only obey his instructions and hide in a corner, her rapidly fluttering wings betraying her anxious mood.

Qin Sang's fists were clenched, and his expression was ferocious.

He forgot everything else, focusing all his efforts on preventing his Nascent Soul from scattering.

Each wisp of the peculiar force that entered was like a needle, a dagger, wreaking havoc within his Nascent Soul. Compared to this, the pain in his meridians and Qi Sea was utterly insignificant.

Each time his Nascent Soul neared the brink of collapse, Qin Sang forcibly pulled it back.

Breaking down and rebuilding, again and again.

Qin Sang had the illusion that he was repeatedly undergoing the process of forming a Nascent Soul countless times.

He was already numb, having endured countless crises of his Nascent Soul collapsing.

As Qin Sang entered the Cleansing Pool, on another floating mountain, the light of magical artifacts and divine abilities continuously flashed, and shouts of battle shook the heavens.

The Ice Wind Cave was located on this mountain.

This place could increase the chances of Golden Core cultivators forming their Nascent Souls. It was one of the Profound Heaven Palace's most valued treasures, vital for the sect's heritage.

Even though many hands were needed to collect treasures from other locations, the Palace Lord and Grand Elder still dispatched several Nascent Soul cultivators to escort the disciples entering the Ice Wind Cave.

As expected, they encountered competitors.

The other faction was led by Lord Dongyang. Most of these Nascent Soul cultivators, like Lord Dongyang, saw no future for themselves and were using their remaining time to pave the way for their successors.

Without a word, both sides immediately erupted into battle.

The entrance to the Ice Wind Cave was a sheer cliff.

At the center of the cliff, a blue light orb was continuously spinning.

Once the light orb stabilized, the Ice Wind Cave would open!

Golden Core cultivators were not qualified to join the battle. They stood on either side of the cliff, glaring at each other. However, they all remained calm, not daring to act rashly, constantly observing the changes in the light orb.

They occasionally looked towards the battlefield in front of the cliff.

Due to their insufficient cultivation, they could no longer clearly distinguish who was who among the figures. Nor could they tell which side had the upper hand, only feeling secretly anxious.

"Wu Junzi, you dare to stir up trouble in my Profound Heaven Palace's sacred land? Aren't you afraid I'll destroy your Black Wu Island once I get out?!"

Immediately followed by a burst of wild laughter, a mocking voice replied, "This was initiated by the Chaotic Devil Elder and the Great Saint Heavenly Peng. If you've got the guts, go kill them first! This old man will be waiting for you on Black Wu Island. Let's see how capable your Profound Heaven Palace is and if you can sweep across the Boundless Sea! You've occupied this secret realm long enough; it's time you shared its benefits!"

As these words were spoken, a chorus of agreement immediately followed.

"Sacred land, my ass! This is an unowned ancient secret realm that should be shared by cultivators from the Three Realms of the North Sea. You shamelessly call it a sacred land!"

"Exactly!"

"It should be given up!"

Just then.

The light orb on the cliff face changed, splitting into two, forming a slowly rotating Tai Chi symbol. A cave entrance gradually appeared in the center.

"Go in!"

Qiu Mubei heard Lord Dongyang's voice and immediately rushed towards the light orb. Then, a streaking light shot from the battlefield, clearing a path for him.

Just then.

Lord Dongyang's opponent's eyes flickered, and he suddenly changed his target. He controlled his precious saber to fiercely slash at Qiu Mubei.

Lord Dongyang's expression subtly changed, and he quickly activated his Vajra Bracelet, blocking the strike for Qiu Mubei.

"Thump!"

The Vajra Bracelet's light flickered.

Lord Dongyang felt a sweetness in his throat, which he forcibly suppressed.

However, his opponent still noticed his abnormality and burst into laughter. "A decaying body dares to act so presumptuously!"

This person, when facing Lord Dongyang alone, was quite wary of him. But during their exchange, he subtly realized something was amiss with Lord Dongyang.

A slight probe just now confirmed it was a bluff!

Qiu Mubei successfully rushed into the cave entrance, where biting cold wind assaulted his face. At the same time, he heard the laughter behind him, and his eyes revealed a look of anxiety.

He clearly knew his master's current condition.

After arriving in the North Sea, his master had grown increasingly frail. Especially in the last decade or so, his condition worsened, aging him a bit more with each period of secluded cultivation.

He was unwilling to believe it, yet he had to acknowledge this fact.

Now, fighting fiercely to help him contend for the Ice Wind Cave was adding insult to injury for his master.

Qiu Mubei clenched his jaw, suppressing his worry, and charged into the Ice Wind Cave without looking back.

The sooner he exited, the sooner his master could disengage.

A fork appeared ahead, and he randomly chose one path. Inside, he found a circular ice platform with a cushion woven from ice silkworm silk placed on it.

Qiu Mubei leaped onto the cushion and had just settled down. The altar vibrated, and blue light emerged, enveloping him.

A short while later.

Qiu Mubei's figure appeared at the cave entrance, his expression complex, a mix of joy and anxiety.

"Did you succeed?"

A familiar figure appeared before him.

"Master!"

Qiu Mubei was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.

Lord Dongyang showed a look of relief, grabbed Qiu Mubei's shoulder, and said, "Let's go!"

Seeing his master was unharmed, Qiu Mubei felt relieved. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw a figure pursuing them closely. Immediately after, Lord Dongyang shot out a beam of white light.

It was his native magical artifact, the Vajra Bracelet.

The next moment, Qiu Mubei witnessed a scene he would never forget.

The Vajra Bracelet emitted mournful wails, suddenly shattering. An incredibly dense white light, emitting an aura of destruction, drew everyone's gaze and stung Qiu Mubei's eyes.

"Madman!"

The pursuer had not expected Lord Dongyang to self-detonate his native magical artifact. His expression changed drastically, and he hastily retreated.

Qiu Mubei's eyes were red, and he felt his master's aura rapidly weakening. Yet the hand gripping his shoulder was as firm as an iron clamp, guiding him away from the perilous area.

"Thud! Thud!"

The two figures landed on an unnamed floating mountain.

Lord Dongyang stumbled.

"Master!"

Qiu Mubei quickly supported Lord Dongyang, his face filled with anxiety and regret.

Lord Dongyang told Qiu Mubei to help him sit down, and as he looked at Qiu Mubei, his gaze softened. "I've misjudged two people, but at least I didn't miss you this time. With this opportunity, your Nascent Soul formation should be foolproof."

"If I had known… this disciple would rather not have had this opportunity."

Qiu Mubei said through clenched teeth.

"Don't talk nonsense," Lord Dongyang reprimanded, his face stern. "You know my condition well. Living for almost three hundred more years has already been defying fate! Dying in an ancient secret realm is no injustice. After I die, take my belongings and leave the sacred land quickly… I have a few words of instruction."

Tears welled in Qiu Mubei's tiger-like eyes as he knelt heavily, "This disciple swears that this life will surely see the revitalization of Shaohua Mountain!"

Lord Dongyang chuckled, "Who said I told you to revitalize Shaohua Mountain?"

Qiu Mubei was taken aback.

Lord Dongyang sighed, "I once made such a vow before your Grandmaster, taking the sect's well-being as my own responsibility. I only ever planned for myself once in my life, and yet…" He paused, a look of melancholy on his face, "Everything in this world is fleeting; only the Great Dao is eternal! You shouldn't follow in my footsteps. I command you to focus on cultivation from now on and pursue the path of immortality. With Qin Sang and Mu Yifeng looking after Shaohua Mountain, it will eventually have its day of resurgence."

"Junior Brother Qin?"

Qiu Mubei looked up in astonishment.

He had personally experienced the change in the Bronze Hall.

From then on, Junior Brother Qin became a taboo in Shaohua Mountain. Junior Brother Mu was confined to Jingyue Peak, and shortly after, Miss Chenyan also left Shaohua Mountain, disappearing without a trace.

Qiu Mubei possessed excellent talent and intellect. Although he hadn't witnessed it directly, he could infer some details, but he could only pretend ignorance.

Decades ago, Junior Brother Qin made a strong return, achieving astonishing feats and becoming a top expert in the Beichen Realm. Meanwhile, his master had quietly taken him far away to the North Sea.

Qiu Mubei had always believed his master chose to avoid Junior Brother Qin due to fear of retaliation. But now, hearing these words, could it be that his master and Junior Brother Qin had reconciled?

"Once you become a Nascent Soul cultivator, you'll understand. There are no grudges or kindnesses in this world that cannot be resolved, and the path of cultivation isn't always a life-or-death struggle." Lord Dongyang spoke enigmatically, then changed his tone, a look of longing in his eyes. "The ascension of the Ziwei Palace is an unprecedented great upheaval, and it cannot be without cause; the time is simply not yet ripe. I have a premonition that the world will usher in a new era, and it won't be long! Perhaps the opportunity for the path of immortality will also appear, but alas, I won't be able to witness it! You and Qin Sang are both fortunate. You should not be constrained by the sect, constantly toiling away! Remember, focus diligently on cultivation, awaiting the coming times. It won't be too late to repay the sect once your cultivation is complete!"

Before his words had fully faded, Lord Dongyang looked at Qiu Mubei with a smile, and crystalline fragments began to peel off his face. In an instant, his entire being shattered like a mirror, dispersing with the wind, leaving behind only a mustard seed pouch.

"Disciple… I obey!"

Tears fell from Qiu Mubei's eyes as he bowed in gratitude to his master's kindness, making his final farewell. He gripped the mustard seed pouch, then resolutely turned and departed the sacred land as instructed.

Not long after Qiu Mubei left, a faint sigh echoed through the void.