Chapter 1555: Watching the Changing Clouds and Winds

The Human Realm

Elder Leng's visit was just the beginning. In the following period, several more Nascent Soul cultivators arrived. Regardless of their background, Qin Sang would only meet them briefly, then retreat to meditate under the guise of healing, instructing the Zhou and Ruan couple to directly escort them to the backyard to interrogate Lan Jiao. Some even wanted to buy Lan Jiao. Having received several Nascent Soul cultivators one after another, the Zhou and Ruan couple, who had never witnessed such a spectacle, were initially terrified but eventually learned to handle it calmly.

One day.

The Zhou and Ruan couple were guarding the main hall, betting whether another Nascent Soul cultivator would visit that day. Suddenly, the door to the quiet room opened. Qin Sang emerged, looked at the flustered couple rising, and instructed, "Pack your things. We're leaving the Chihnan Island Chain."

Zhou Jin was stunned. "Senior Qin, are only the three of us going to the outer sea?" They had been closely following the situation on the island. Since the news of a great demon's presence spread, everyone on the Chihnan Island Chain was on high alert, and low-level cultivators no longer dared to venture into the outer sea. Currently, various factions had gathered on the Chihnan Island Chain. It was said that the Nascent Soul patriarchs were acting discreetly, discussing some plan. In recent days, Qin Sang had publicly claimed to be injured by a shapeshifting great demon and confined himself to his room, seemingly unwilling to ally with the current forces on the island. Zhou Jin had assumed Qin Sang had other helpers, but no allies had appeared yet.

Qin Sang shook his head. "Not to the outer sea. We're going back!"

"Go back now? What about the ancient immortal sect ruins..." Zhou Jin and Ruan Yu looked astonished, not expecting such an outcome. The Chihnan Island Chain was in turmoil, with powerful figures from both races arriving, clearly indicating that something significant was about to happen. The legend seemed very likely to be true. Senior Qin was certainly qualified to claim a share, yet he chose to withdraw now.

"What immortal sect? Is there a chance for Soul Transformation?" Qin Sang chuckled, walked to the backyard with his hands behind his back, leaving the Zhou and Ruan couple dumbfounded.

First, a demon king appeared. Upon returning to the Chihnan Island Chain, Elder Leng visited overnight, linking to a mysterious Gu God Sect. At that time, Qin Sang had sensed something amiss, suspecting it was not as simple as merely an ancient immortal sect. He even thought the legend might have been deliberately spread. He had stumbled into this situation by chance.

During this period, the Chihnan Island Chain was a chaotic mix of people, with undercurrents swirling. Qin Sang generously kept Lan Jiao in the pond, intending to use the news of a demon king to lure out hidden figures. Yet, he still couldn't untangle the threads or discern the hidden agenda. He had no intention of being a vanguard for others, nor would he allow himself to fall into a dangerous vortex and become someone else's pawn. Since he couldn't see through it, he decided to simply jump out!

His true self was nearing a breakthrough. It was better to remain still than to act. Even if there were ancient immortal sect ruins nearby, the probability of finding a chance for Soul Transformation within them was extremely low, and the legend itself remained unverified. Of course, Qin Sang would not leave too far for now. He planned to find a place to settle down and quietly observe the changing situation. Once the situation in the Chihnan Island Chain became clear, or he received concrete information, he would then decide whether to contact his true self or intervene and compete, acting as the situation dictated.

The Zhou and Ruan couple didn't understand the intricacies but obeyed the order, quickly packed their belongings, and followed Qin Sang to the backyard.

In the pond.

Lan Jiao, now the size of a carp, floated motionless on the water's surface, belly up, eyes dull like a dead fish. Qin Sang had used it to entertain Nascent Soul cultivators, which had severely tormented Lan Jiao, leaving it barely alive, with both its mind and body greatly traumatized. Finally seeing Qin Sang, a flicker of light returned to Lan Jiao's vacant eyes. It struggled to turn over, summoned its last remaining strength to swim to the shore, and cried out piteously, "Master, spare me! Master, spare me!"

Qin Sang walked to the edge of the pond, looked down at Lan Jiao, and pointed at Zhou Jin, asking, "Are you willing to acknowledge him as your master?" If it were Qin Sang, Lan Jiao wouldn't have hesitated for a moment. But this person... Lan Jiao sighed, knowing that circumstances dictated its choice, and could only nod in agreement.

Qin Sang told Zhou Jin, "Take it back and let it be the guardian beast of the Pavilion of Lofty Views."

Zhou Jin never imagined their gains would be so significant this time. Ruan Yu received a pill bestowed by Elder Leng, and he gained a demon core stage spirit beast. It truly was good to be under the wing of a powerful figure! Running errands for Senior Qin certainly brought good fortune. Zhou Jin happily subdued Lan Jiao, making a promise, "Fellow Daoist Lan Jiao, from now on, we will interact as equals. If you can achieve human form, the Pavilion of Lofty Views will grant you freedom." Only then did Lan Jiao feel slightly better.

After paying for their lodging, they left the market, traveled to the western shore of the Chihnan Island Chain, summoned their flying magical artifact, and soared into the sky.

Inside the market.

A secluded courtyard.

This was the best location in the entire market. Pavilions and towers, tranquil and elegant.

"Creak!"

The gate was pushed open from outside, and Leng Qi hastily entered the small courtyard, his head slightly bowed, his demeanor respectful. He quickly approached the main hall and reported, "Master, Senior Qin and the Zhou and Ruan couple have left the market. It's said they headed west."

Inside the hall.

Elder Leng was playing a game of Go with another person.

"Snap!"

Elder Leng placed his white piece. The other person was completely shrouded in a black robe, even their face thoroughly concealed. Holding a black piece, their hand was delicate like a youth's, but their voice sounded extremely ancient. They said indifferently, "Since he's gone, perhaps it was merely a coincidence, not someone aligned with our path."

Elder Leng gazed at the board, pondered for a moment, and shook his head slightly. "He's a clever one. Perhaps he could still be swayed... but never mind. The time is not right. There's no rush."

The black-robed figure hummed in acknowledgment. "The first few parties to arrive indicate they are the most concerned about the disappearance of the Soul Transformation cultivators. We must carefully discern who is an enemy and who is a friend."

Elder Leng twirled a Go piece, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "However, the Eight Scenery Pagoda and Sweet Dew Zen Temple have shown no activity. If Soul Transformation cultivators have disappeared, they should be the most concerned."

The black-robed figure chuckled strangely. "The leaders of both the Buddhist and Daoist sects always have some stability! The demon race's movements are very interesting. The demon king's swift appearance is an unexpected gain. The disappearance of Soul Transformation cultivators seems not to be an isolated incident. If we can confirm that the demon race's Holy King has also disappeared, it would indicate a few things. How many years has it been since we heard anything from that old devil in the Northern Wilderness's Luye? The world has already forgotten. It's a pity that the Luye Plain has vanished from the world, its location constantly shifting, and no successor of Luye has appeared! Even if these old fellows can return, grasping the opportunity in between is enough for us to act..."

Elder Leng nodded.

The two fell silent, and only the crisp sound of Go pieces tapping the board echoed in the hall. Leng Qi waited outside the door for a while, then quietly withdrew.

Outer Sea.

The sun shone brightly, and the sea was calm, without wind or waves. Suddenly, waves rose, and a white line appeared on the horizon, streaking forward at an astonishing speed. It was a handsome young man dressed in brocade robes and jade armor. At that moment, a pair of white wings extended from the youth's back, like a crane feather cloak. With a slight flap, his speed became astounding, and he vanished in the blink of an eye.

Arriving in an unfamiliar sea area. The youth circled briefly nearby, then retracted his wings, parted the water to create a path, and entered the seabed. Soon, he saw a crystal palace suspended in the sea. Several blue jiaos (dragon-like creatures) wandered around the crystal palace. Seeing the youth, these blue jiaos were first wary, then successively prostrated themselves, trembling.

The youth flew directly to the palace gate, slapped it hard, and revealed a gloating smile. "Old weird fish, I heard you ran into a tough opponent and suffered a silent loss?"

An angry grunt came from within. The palace gate opened silently, and the youth walked in, seeing the annoyed sea patrol Yaksha. He laughed even harder. "I warned you long ago not to be too arrogant. Do you really think no human can control you? If you're caught and made into a guardian beast, no one can save you."

"You bald crane, did you come just to mock me?" The sea patrol Yaksha fumed. "I merely saw many Golden Core cultivators on that ship, fresh and delicious, truly tempting, and acted on impulse. Who would have thought there was a Nascent Soul cultivator hiding? You tricked me into coming here for some bullshit ancient immortal sect? What treasures could human ruins possibly have?"

The youth stopped his teasing, his eyes flickering. He said, "Old weird fish, think carefully. If an ancient immortal sect was built in this location, could it lack opportunities to interact with our race? It is said that in those days, our race was severely oppressed, and countless seniors were enslaved by immortal palaces. How could the ruins lack treasures? This time, fellow Daoists from the Holy King Palace will also be present. Don't say I didn't warn you, curb your temper, and don't ruin our important matter."

"Holy King Palace?" The sea patrol Yaksha was both startled and delighted. "A command from the Holy King?" The youth shook his head without answering.

Qin Sang left the Chihnan Island Chain, stepping out of the fray. He traveled west with the Zhou and Ruan couple, and when he felt they had gone far enough, he found an island with a market town and stopped there. Qin Sang kept a low profile. The Zhou and Ruan couple operated nearby, responsible for gathering information. It might not be immediate, but it allowed for contemplation.

The Chihnan Island Chain first saw the legend of an ancient immortal sect, followed by the appearance of a demon king. All signs indicated something extraordinary about the place, and as time passed, the situation gradually intensified. News spread. Nascent Soul cultivators frequently appeared on the Chihnan Island Chain. In the outer sea, demon race activities also became increasingly frequent, with even beast tides occurring.

Initially, both sides maintained restraint, tacitly keeping their distance and repeatedly searching their respective occupied sea areas. Later, when neither side found anything, they had to expand their search, inevitably encroaching on each other's territory. Friction gradually increased, and every so often, news of Nascent Soul cultivators clashing with demon kings would be heard.

During this time, someone unearthed ancient texts from unknown years ago, confirming the existence of a super-force called the Palace of No Delusions near the Chihnan Island Chain, which ignited even greater enthusiasm.

This chaotic situation lasted for a long time but yielded no results. The sea areas around the Chihnan Island Chain were thoroughly scoured countless times, yet there were no ancient immortal sect ruins to be found.

As enthusiasm waned, the fervent treasure hunt could not be sustained and ended hastily. The intricate power struggles in between seemed somewhat laughable and pointless. Fortunately, the powerful figures of both races remained clear-headed and did not trigger a large-scale conflict due to unsubstantiated rumors, thereby avoiding a catastrophe.

Qin Sang observed this, feeling it was like a farcical drama that started grandly but fizzled out, leaving observers perplexed. There was no trace of the imagined mastermind behind the scenes; it seemed to be just a simple treasure hunt. Upon learning about the Palace of No Delusions, he had even considered whether to let his true self emerge from seclusion.

After the farce, it was difficult for the Chihnan Island Chain to return to its former tranquility. The Palace of No Delusions had indeed existed. Some cultivators lingered, while others continued to arrive, each believing they were blessed with good fortune and could find the ruins of the Palace of No Delusions.

Confirming that various factions were withdrawing, beast tides became increasingly rare, and most of the demon race returned to the deep sea, Qin Sang decided there was no need to stay longer. He kept names like the Gu God Sect and Elder Leng in mind. Perhaps the true impact of this treasure hunt would only become apparent much later, allowing the full picture to emerge.

Just as Qin Sang was planning to return to Fudu Commandery, the Zhou and Ruan couple brought back an unexpected person.

In the quiet room.

Above Qin Sang's head, white mist swirled, hovering like an auspicious cloud formed of profound energy. He was cultivating the 'Great Profound Heavenly Grasping Hand'. The profound energy sometimes condensed, sometimes dispersed, transforming into various shapes. With each transformation, a barely perceptible tremor would ripple through the surrounding void, all under his complete control.

During this period, Qin Sang remained out of the affairs, not delaying his cultivation of divine abilities, and making daily progress. Sensing the commotion outside, Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. The profound energy cloud above his head vibrated, then suddenly retracted, pouring into his body from the crown of his head and disappearing without a trace.

Qin Sang awakened, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, and pushed the door open.

"Fellow Daoist Lu!"

The person who returned with the Zhou and Ruan couple was none other than Lu Zhang of Forgetfulness Mountain.

Lu Zhang nodded, teasing, "When I first heard that a mysterious master proficient in ice spells appeared on the Chihnan Island Chain, repelling a demon king with a single saber strike, I wondered if it might be you. Masters proficient in this path are rare in the Central Continent. Then I indeed encountered the Zhou and Ruan couple... Why are you impersonating Fellow Daoist Qin? Aren't you afraid Fellow Daoist Qin will cause you trouble?"

Qin Sang also laughed. "After I met Fellow Daoist Qin, we often impersonated each other to mislead others. I didn't expect to meet Fellow Daoist Lu here. Please, sit."

Lu Zhang could never have imagined they were one and the same. He nodded, adjusted his robe, and sat down. "I came to the Eastern Sea initially to handle another matter for my sect. After it was done, I heard about an ancient immortal sect appearing on the Chihnan Island Chain, and on a whim, I came to join the excitement. Only upon arriving here did I realize something was amiss, full of mysteries. You first used an alias, then withdrew from the affair; you must have also sensed something, right?"

"Indeed." Qin Sang needed someone to help him clarify things. He recounted his recent experiences and asked in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Lu also thinks there's more to this than meets the eye?"

Lu Zhang nodded. "Knowing you were here, I was worried you might get inadvertently drawn in. It's fortunate you withdrew, otherwise, you would certainly face continuous trouble. The Eight Scenery Pagoda and Sweet Dew Zen Temple seem inactive, but no one knows their true intentions. Ostensibly, those gathered on the Chihnan Island Chain are treasure hunters attracted by the Palace of No Delusions. However, some factions, previously hidden, are now uncharacteristically active. Some are even unknown to me, yet their strength is not to be underestimated."

Qin Sang interjected, "Like the Gu God Sect?"

Lu Zhang affirmed, "It's strange, isn't it, for a 'sect' to have a name but not spread its teachings? Or perhaps the Gu God Sect only operates in remote areas, and its methods of spreading doctrine are secretive and low-key, avoiding attention. However, as long as they are active, they will definitely leave traces. I'll send people to investigate after returning to my sect."

The two exchanged their respective findings. With insufficient information, they couldn't draw firm conclusions.

Lu Zhang cupped his hands, then changed the subject. "I came this time to ask for your assistance with something."