Chapter 1568: Yanshan Elder

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He left Mount Bunian.Qin Sang glanced back.Until now, Mount Bunian was the only potential ally in Zhongzhou. Several crucial pieces of intelligence had previously been acquired through Mount Bunian, providing timely insights into the various factions' movements and an accurate grasp of the world's major trends. Losing this channel would make things more difficult in the future. For a sect, ensuring its legacy is paramount, so Situ Yu's decision was understandable. Qin Sang shook his head, withdrew his gaze, and returned to Mount Pu.

His true self focused on consolidating his cultivation and practicing the Fire Seed Golden Lotus technique. Meanwhile, his avatar took out the remaining cold crystals, preparing to refine them to determine how much they would aid the Ice Soul Divine Light technique, before deciding whether to visit Elder Yanshan.

Regardless of how the world's situation changed, it wouldn't affect the small Fudu Commandery for now.

Three years later.His avatar successfully refined the cold crystals, and the results were pleasing. Qin Sang decided to make a trip to the Northern Barrens, with both his true self and his avatar going. He planned for his avatar to visit Elder Yanshan with the Sky Eye Butterfly, entrusting the avatar with the task of finding the cold crystals. This way, it wouldn't interfere with his true self's cultivation of Fire Seed Golden Lotus. However, the Sky Eye Butterfly was too vital to his true self, so Qin Sang wasn't at ease letting the avatar take it alone. His true self would follow in secret to prevent any mishaps.

On Mount Pu, Zhou Ruan and his wife received a summons and came to receive orders. They were greeted by Xie An and a rising talent named Xie Ruyun. Forty years ago, Xie Qian reached the end of his lifespan and passed away peacefully, his cultivation having remained at the mid-Core Formation stage. Before his death, Xie Qian witnessed the prosperity of the Xie family, departing without regrets. The Xie family and the Pavilion View had a close relationship, and several pairs of disciples from both sides had become cultivation partners. Zhou Ruan and his wife felt at home on Mount Pu. They casually sat opposite Xie An, stopping the disciples from serving tea.

"Qingfeng Senior, may we ask why you have summoned us?" Zhou Jin asked, bowing slightly.Xie An and Xie Ruyun both shook their heads, saying they didn't know. Just as they exchanged a few words, the room suddenly darkened as Qin Sang's avatar entered from outside, prompting them to quickly stand and salute.

Qin Sang surveyed the four individuals. He secretly thought that he still had too few capable subordinates; even Zhou Jin, with the highest cultivation, was still some distance from the late-Core Formation stage. In times of peace, Nascent Soul cultivators were busy with cultivation and tribulation crossing, their whereabouts elusive. In the cultivation world, Core Formation cultivators could be considered masters. But with troubled times approaching, the cultivation of Zhou Jin and others would no longer suffice. If he could have a Nascent Soul subordinate, everything would be much more convenient. Unfortunately, reaching the Nascent Soul stage was not that easy.

Qin Sang suddenly thought of Qingyang Temple. A single period of secluded cultivation, and a century had passed. He wondered how many from Qingyang Temple had achieved great success on the Grand Dao. Bai Hanqiu was certainly out of the question. Shangguan Lifeng, Aunt Mei, and Li Yufu, from oldest to youngest: Shangguan Lifeng was similar in age to Qin Sang, and the youngest, Li Yufu, was no more than fifty years younger than Qin Sang. If they failed to reach the Nascent Soul stage, they would likely already be dust in their graves. Old friends, once parted, might never meet again. Before leaving the North Sea, Qin Sang had already anticipated this situation; after coming to Zhongzhou, he certainly wouldn't be able to return anytime soon. Remembering it now, he still couldn't help but sigh with emotion. One day, when matters in Zhongzhou were settled, how many familiar faces would he still see upon returning to the North Sea? Even Liuli, who had traveled with him to Zhongzhou, had been out of contact for a century. Separation and death were things every seeker of the Dao had to grow accustomed to.

Qin Sang remained silent, and Zhou Jin and the others dared not speak, waiting respectfully.

After offering some guidance on their cultivation, Qin Sang instructed them to contact various major merchant associations, sparing no spirit stones to gather as much intelligence as possible. The individuals all readily agreed.

Afterward, Qin Sang flew out of Mount Pu alone. His true self was already waiting outside the mountain. After bringing his second Nascent Soul back into his body for nourishment, he began his journey north.

Elder Yanshan's cultivation ground was simply named Yanshan, located in the northwest of the Northern Barrens. Situ Yu had provided a general direction. However, the Northern Barrens were vast and sparsely populated, so finding a specific mountain would require considerable effort.

With his true self personally undertaking the journey, seeing the landscapes and scenery of the outside world again after a century of secluded cultivation gave him a feeling of being in another lifetime. He decided to slow his escape technique and travel by wind. He headed north out of Zhuozhou, entering Zhaoyao State. Qin Sang clearly sensed the tense situation in Zhaoyao State; in less than an hour of flying, he witnessed several conflicts. Zhaoyao State lacked a super sect like Mount Bunian, with three medium-sized sects forming a three-way standoff, a pattern that destined Zhaoyao State to instability. Its proximity to the Northern Barrens only added to its woes. Along the way, Qin Sang casually dealt with a few audacious demonic cultivators. After flying past Zhaoyao Mountain and re-entering the Northern Barrens, he grew tired of the scenery and sped up.

'Whoosh...'The biting wind howled like knives. Heavy snow fell ceaselessly. Blizzard no longer adequately described the current snowfall. Gray clouds hung low to the ground, and snowflakes, like clumps of cotton, were being poured from the heavens, covering the earth in the darkness as if they would never stop. In his sight, there was nothing but snow. Such was the harsh environment of the Northern Barrens. In fact, this was one of the Northern Barrens' Nine Disasters, the dreaded Snow Disaster. Snow disasters had the widest destructive range among the Nine Disasters. Once a snow disaster occurred somewhere, it would last for years, with the most terrible ones enduring for decades, not only causing devastating blows to mortals but also significantly reducing the strength of low-level cultivators in such conditions. Fortunately, snow disasters rarely occurred in the most densely populated eastern part of the Northern Barrens.

Amidst the swirling snow, Qin Sang flew at a low altitude, barely a zhang above the snow surface. At this point, he had entered the western part of the Northern Barrens and unexpectedly encountered a snow disaster. The heavy snow hit his protective True Essence and was repelled. Qin Sang looked around. He didn't know how long the snow disaster had been going on; the heavy snow had filled rivers and ravines, making the snow surface appear perfectly flat as far as the eye could see, with only a few isolated mountain peaks visible in the distance. In such an environment, finding someone to ask for directions would be difficult.

"Oh? Finally, living people."Qin Sang's figure paused slightly. He released his external avatar, ordered the Sky Eye Butterfly to conceal itself within the avatar's dantian, and then his true self vanished into the shadows.

'Whoosh!'The avatar left a white streak in the air. On a mountain ahead, three low-level cultivators were busy picking a small blue flower. Hearing the whoosh behind them, they quickly gathered, summoned their respective magical artifacts, and looked around with full vigilance.

The next moment, snowflakes swirled before them. A figure 'swooshed' down and landed in front of them.

A moment later, Qin Sang tossed them a few spirit stones and soared away. In his hand was a topographical map, with several landmarks matching Situ Yu's description, allowing him to largely pinpoint Yanshan's location.

Qin Sang continued north, flying for half an hour, until an endless range of mountains appeared before him. Because of the snow disaster, only the upper parts of the peaks were visible above the snow surface, looking like numerous white burial mounds from a distance. Such a place was indeed excellent for secluded cultivation. This thought crossed Qin Sang's mind. He awakened the Sky Eye Butterfly and slowly flew deeper into the mountain range.

Yanshan was merely a mountain range within the larger mountain chain, named by Elder Yanshan himself. The topographical map of the three cultivators did not mark Yanshan, indicating that Elder Yanshan was not well-known in the vicinity, just as Situ Yu had said, he was an ascetic.

Originally, Situ Yu had traveled here and befriended Elder Yanshan. The two shared similar temperaments and collaborated to pursue a strange fox. However, because Elder Yanshan preferred tranquility and Situ Yu was preoccupied with sect affairs, their interactions became less frequent later on.

After flying around these mountain peaks for a while, the Sky Eye Butterfly finally discovered a hidden secret within what appeared to be an ordinary peak: the snowy landscape was likely an illusion created by a grand formation, seamlessly blending with the surrounding environment. Aside from Elder Yanshan, there should be no one else in the vicinity capable of setting up such a spirit formation. Qin Sang did not conceal his aura and flew directly towards that mountain.

Before he could get close, a robust voice suddenly echoed from within the mountain: "Fellow Daoist, you've been circling around my abode for a while now, lingering without leaving. What exactly do you intend to do?"

"You must be Elder Yanshan, correct?" To show goodwill, Qin Sang stopped at a distance, cupped his hands toward Yanshan, and spoke clearly, "I am Qingfeng, and I have come seeking assistance, having been introduced by Master Situ."

"Master Situ? Do you mean Situ Yu?" Elder Yanshan chuckled, "I didn't expect Grand Master Situ to still remember this old man." His tone wasn't bad at all.

Qin Sang took out a letter inscribed on a jade slip, flicked his finger, and sent it flying into the mountain. The snow surface, which appeared level with its surroundings, was surprisingly hollow underneath. The jade slip passed through the snow without hindrance and vanished. Qin Sang stood calmly in place.

Soon, the snow surface cracked open, revealing the verdant mountain scenery below. "Since Master Situ has introduced you, Reverend, please come in for a discussion," a voice invited. Qin Sang thanked him, his peripheral vision casually glancing at a low peak on the edge of the mountain range, then he calmly entered Yanshan through the opening.

His true self had established a cave abode on that peak. Beneath the snow surface, the scenery was like spring. From inside, one could see snowflakes falling everywhere, yet no trace of coldness could be felt.

Qin Sang's gaze shifted, spotting a white-robed elder standing in a small pavilion in the mountains, gazing toward him. His expression subtly changed, and he leapt to land before the pavilion. "Greetings, fellow Daoist," he said. This person's cultivation was profound, his aura as deep as an abyss. His cultivation was certainly no less than his avatar's, likely not weaker than Venerable Chengyuan. Such a master was rare even in the Central Plains, yet he was secluded in this remote location.

Elder Yanshan returned the salute, then unreservedly scrutinized Qin Sang from head to toe, asking directly, "I know your purpose, Fellow Daoist. Master Situ mentioned in his letter that you are skilled in the path of ice. So you've come for cold crystals? May this old man witness your divine abilities?"

"Of course!" Qin Sang didn't know Elder Yanshan's true intention, but since he was asking for a favor, he had no choice but to satisfy the other party's request. After a slight hesitation, Qin Sang chose to summon his Snow-Treading Divine Blade.

Upon seeing the Snow-Treading Divine Blade, Elder Yanshan's eyes lit up. He pointed to the empty space above and said, "Fellow Daoist, please demonstrate!"

Qin Sang looked up. The Snow-Treading Divine Blade hummed, its tip slightly upturned, and suddenly unleashed a blade aura.'Swish!'As the blade aura activated, snowflakes began to drift around the pavilion, creating a beautiful contrast with the snowy scene outside. A path of snow stretched directly to the sky, merging into the blizzard without causing the slightest impact on the external environment, demonstrating Qin Sang's exquisite control.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Elder Yanshan exclaimed 'Excellent' three times, his eyes gleaming with delight. "The legacies of the ice path are rare in Zhongzhou; this old man dares to say he understands seventy to eighty percent of them. Your blade technique is so exquisite; it must be a top-tier legacy that I have never heard of before."

"Zhongzhou is vast; how could one possibly know everything, Fellow Daoist?" Qin Sang took the initiative to speak, "If you are interested, I can share some insights with you." He was still considering how to persuade Elder Yanshan to help him. He didn't have many treasures suitable for trade. Elder Yanshan had lived in the Northern Barrens for a long time and probably wasn't interested in spirit stones. The Soul-Soothing Incense would certainly work, but using it here would be overkill. As for the Yin-Yang Soul Crystal, it only had value when encountered by specific individuals.

Elder Yanshan nodded repeatedly and said, "There's no hurry for that. Since you've come seeking cold crystals, do you know the difficulties involved?"

Qin Sang acknowledged, "Master Situ mentioned that he and you discovered these cold crystals while tracking a strange snow fox years ago."

"That's right!" Elder Yanshan said gravely, "To tell you the truth, Fellow Daoist, after Master Situ left, I tried several more times, but the snow fox always escaped, and I couldn't obtain any more cold crystals. I cannot guarantee if there are more cold crystals there, but one thing is certain: to find them, we must first capture the snow fox."

Qin Sang pondered, "Does the snow fox escape using illusions? I happen to possess a divine ability that can see through illusions."

"It's rather embarrassing to admit," Elder Yanshan sighed softly, "but that snow fox is exceedingly strange. Neither Master Situ nor I could discern how it vanished right before our eyes. Even if it's an illusion, it's one of the most powerful illusions in the world; ordinary methods simply won't work."

Hearing Elder Yanshan's mystical description, Qin Sang inwardly thought how bizarre the Northern Barrens truly were. Not only was there the mysterious Insect King of Sky Rift Valley, but also this strange snow fox, leaving two top experts utterly helpless against it.

"Ordinarily, it wouldn't be an issue for this old man to accompany you, but currently, I am at a critical juncture in cultivating a divine ability. If you are not absolutely confident, Fellow Daoist, it would be best not to waste your effort." Elder Yanshan said solemnly, clearly not having much faith in Qin Sang.

"How will we know without trying? You should at least give me a chance to prove myself, shouldn't you?" Qin Sang said calmly.

Seeing Qin Sang's confidence, Elder Yanshan became interested. "Fellow Daoist, please follow me," he said.

Qin Sang followed Elder Yanshan to the mountaintop. Elder Yanshan nodded to Qin Sang, then formed hand seals with both palms, striking towards the sky. The seals flashed and vanished.

Immediately afterward, the protective mountain formation's configuration abruptly changed. From an overhead perspective at this moment, the snowy scenery within the mountain disappeared, revealing the true appearance of the protective mountain formation. Qin Sang clearly felt the power of the spirit formation converging around them. He narrowed his eyes, glanced at Elder Yanshan, and then looked up at the sky as well.

Just then, Elder Yanshan's figure flickered and suddenly vanished. Elder Yanshan's voice echoed from all directions: "This formation incorporates the path of illusion. This old man will use the spirit formation to conceal himself. I imagine only a handful of people in this world can see through my concealment. If you can easily block this move of mine, Fellow Daoist, I will personally accompany you on your trip."

Qin Sang took a deep breath. "It's a deal!" Having said that, he once again summoned his Snow-Treading Divine Blade, sweeping his hand over its body. The Snow-Treading Divine Blade blurred and disappeared from sight. Snowflakes swirled around Qin Sang, enveloped by blade aura. Once Qin Sang was ready, Elder Yanshan said, "Beware, Fellow Daoist!"

'Whoosh!'Qin Sang heard the crashing of waves and found himself surrounded by vast surges, as if he had entered the boundless ocean.

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