Chapter 1730: Old Friends and Past Events

The Human Realm

Within his spiritual perception, a cultivator was flying towards him from afar, whose aura was quite strong. He was an expert at the early Nascent Soul stage.

Judging by the trajectory of their flight, they were heading directly for him.

Qin Sang glanced at the token in his hand. He stood still, looking in the direction of the approaching figure. Before long, a long blue rainbow broke through the air and arrived, revealing a man dressed in a long robe within its streaking light.

The man had a heroic appearance and looked to be around forty years old. As he flew, a faint blue sword light danced around him. The torrential rain nearby was drawn in by the sword light, transforming into waves of water that encircled the man. These were then utilized by some divine ability he employed, significantly boosting his escape speed, making him an outstanding practitioner among those of his cultivation level.

In the Rain Barren Land, the torrential rain never ceased, and the man utilized his surroundings to the utmost.

Qin Sang stood motionless where he was, but before the man saw him, he had no perception of Qin Sang whatsoever.

Suddenly seeing a figure standing on the sea ahead, the man's heart jolted. A wary look flashed in his eyes, and he stopped before reaching Qin Sang.

The man did not put away his spiritual sword. His manners were impeccable as he cupped his hands and asked, "I am Zhuo Yunshui, a protector of the Four Sages Palace. Did my fellow Daoist just activate the Sacred Token?"

As he spoke, the man had already seen the token in Qin Sang's right hand, and his expression softened slightly.

The Sacred Token held an extraordinary status within the Four Sages Palace.

Only the most esteemed guests of the Four Sages Palace, or those who had assisted the palace in times of crisis, would be bestowed a Sacred Token. Only a select few individuals within the Four Sages Palace were authorized to issue them.

Since the Four Sages established their orthodoxy, it was estimated that only a few dozen Sacred Tokens had been issued.

During the period when the Four Sages Palace was in decline, they withdrew from the world, and perhaps not a single token was issued for several centuries.

With the other party holding a Sacred Token, they were at least not an enemy.

Zhuo Yunshui's thoughts raced. He secretly sized up Qin Sang, and the more he looked, the more perplexed and startled he became.

He knew the identities of almost all the Sacred Token holders from recent years, but this person was too unfamiliar; Zhuo Yunshui had no impression of him at all.

The other party was clearly standing before him, yet within his spiritual perception, this person seemed to not exist. If he hadn't seen him with his own eyes, he would find it hard to believe there was anyone else nearby.

Such a phenomenon could only mean that the other party's cultivation far surpassed his own!

Could he be a reclusive expert from some sect?

"Is Protector Zhuo referring to this token?"

Qin Sang held up the token in his hand.

From the man's tone, the Sacred Token seemed very special within the Four Sages Palace.

He recalled the situation back then. This token was probably not given to him; the Four Sages Palace truly wished to befriend Senior Qingzhu.

It was a pity they didn't know that Senior Qingzhu had suffered grave injuries and could not be saved...

Recalling past events and old acquaintances, Qin Sang couldn't help but sigh. If he had the chance, he would very much like to return to that mountain valley to pay his respects to Senior Qingzhu.

"Qin once joined forces with Daoist Bao Zhengnan against enemies in the Seven Kills Palace. Daoist Bao gave this token to me, saying that if I were to visit the Four Sages Palace, I could activate this token in the far north of the Rain Barren Land."

Qin Sang explained.

"So Daoist Qin is an old acquaintance of the Palace Master. My apologies for the oversight! My apologies!"

Zhuo Yunshui bowed again. However, judging by his expression, he clearly did not recall who Qin Sang was.

Bao Zhengnan had become the Palace Master of the Four Sages Palace!

Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly, but he was not surprised. He merely heard Zhuo Yunshui continue, "Daoist Qin's visit should have been personally welcomed by the Palace Master. However, the Palace Master is currently overseeing matters on Tianxing Island and is not in the palace. I am responsible for guarding this area, and upon sensing the Sacred Token's fluctuation, I took the liberty of coming to welcome you. Please forgive any unintentional impoliteness, Daoist Qin."

With that, Zhuo Yunshui asked no more questions. He turned slightly and gestured, personally leading Qin Sang to the Four Sages Palace as a guest.

Before departing, he had already reported to the palace. Every Sacred Token had a special mark, so presumably, the Palace Master, far away on Tianxing Island, already knew the identity of the visitor, and the elders in the palace would make the necessary arrangements.

Zhuo Yunshui looked at Qin Sang, and his confusion deepened.

The Palace Master had been overseeing Tianxing Island for many years, which was no secret in Canglang Sea. If this person wished to visit the Palace Master, why didn't he go to Tianxing Island? Why did he travel all this way to this place?

Could he truly be an ascetic who shunned worldly affairs and cultivated in seclusion?

Qin Sang also gleaned some information from Zhuo Yunshui's words. It seemed Tianxing Island had returned to the control of the Four Sages Palace. The situation in Canglang Sea was now entirely different from what it had been back then, and he wondered about the outcome of that conflict between the righteous and demonic factions.

He nodded and followed behind Zhuo Yunshui.

Zhuo Yunshui intended to test him. He held nothing back, fully controlling his sword, and pushed his escape technique to its limit. His escape light was as swift as lightning.

It wasn't until he himself started to feel strained that he was horrified to discover Qin Sang had been quietly following behind him the entire time, always maintaining a distance of three zhang, not an inch more, not an inch less.

Meanwhile, Qin Sang's aura was steady, with only the corners of his clothes fluttering.

Zhuo Yunshui was greatly alarmed. He dared not entertain any further thoughts of testing and flew northeast with Qin Sang all the way.

As they neared the Four Sages Palace, they saw two figures flying towards them from afar.

"Greetings, Elder Wu and Elder Xiao."

Zhuo Yunshui stopped and saluted, conveying Qin Sang's identity via spiritual transmission.

The two elders landed in front of Qin Sang. They cupped their hands and said, "The Palace Master already knows of Daoist Qin's visit and is overjoyed. He will return to the palace tomorrow and has ordered us to respectfully welcome Daoist Qin, ensuring no breach of etiquette."

Like Zhuo Yunshui, they were also full of questions. They had not participated in the demon-subduing battle at Yitian Peak back then, so they did not recognize Qin Sang.

"It's kind of Daoist Bao to still remember me," Qin Sang smiled faintly and waved his hand. "There's no need for such a grand welcome. I merely wish to visit an old acquaintance."

As they spoke, Qin Sang followed the two elders onward.

Soon, a large shadow appeared behind the curtain of rain.

The shadow hovered above the sea. Through the rain curtain, one could discern sprawling palace complexes, possessing an extraordinary aura. This must be the legendary Four Sages Palace.

The Four Sages Palace was a Daoist sanctuary meticulously established by the Four Sages. It was very unique.

When closed off from the world, activating specific spiritual formations could conceal it within the storm zone, untouched by worldly affairs.

When it chose to appear, it could manifest before the world, becoming a sacred land in the human realm.

Now, the Four Sages Palace openly revealed itself, without any concealment. This showed that the Four Sages Palace possessed absolute confidence that no other power could shake its standing.

From the cultivation levels of the two elders, one could also discern the profound heritage of the Four Sages Palace; both were at the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

From above, overlooking the palace, what met the eye were exquisite and magnificent palace buildings. There was hardly any vegetation between the palaces, with only a few patches of greenery at the edges, likely medicinal fields.

It was a completely different style from other immortal cave dwellings typically established in deep mountains and dense forests or hidden within clouds and mist.

The Four Sages Palace resembled a city more. The palace layout was orderly, strictly arranged in layers according to the positions of the Bagua, with the cave dwellings of the Palace Master and elders located at the very center.

The further outwards, the lower the status of the residents, and various functional areas extended from there.

Qin Sang followed the two elders and landed. A rich spiritual aura assailed him. While not as abundant as Luye, it could still be considered a top-grade Daoist sanctuary in the Central Plains.

Moreover, the Four Sages Palace was larger than Luye, capable of accommodating an entire sect of cultivators.

However, upon Qin Sang's arrival, he found that there weren't many cultivators in the Four Sages Palace. Upon inquiring, he learned that most of the Four Sages Palace's successors had transferred their cave dwellings to the Four Sages Mountain on Tianxing Island, with only a small number remaining at the Four Sages Palace.

The two elders settled Qin Sang in a quiet chamber and ordered servants to bring him immortal nectar and spiritual fruits.

Qin Sang had many questions, but he found it inappropriate to ask strangers. So, he patiently waited for Bao Zhengnan to return to the palace.

The following evening.

Qin Sang was in meditation when he sensed that the restrictive formation had been activated. He rose and went outside to greet them, seeing five people standing there: Elders Wu and Xiao accompanying two men and one woman.

The man and woman among them had familiar features; they were none other than Bao Zhengnan and Bao Xi, the siblings. Upon receiving the news, they immediately set off from distant Tianxing Island. They activated an ancient teleportation array leading to the Rain Barren Land and returned to the palace in just one day.

Bao Zhengnan had changed significantly. In the past, he looked like a youth, but now he appeared to be a middle-aged man around forty years old, no longer retaining his former youthful innocence.

As the esteemed Palace Master, and having held a high position for a long time, he possessed an extraordinary dignity that made people feel awed and impressed.

Bao Xi's features remained beautiful and delicate, but she now possessed a touch more mature charm.

The other person was an unfamiliar young man in white. He stood on Bao Zhengnan's side, with Bao Xi on the other, flanking him, and Elders Wu and Xiao both showed him considerable respect.

Upon meeting, both parties were stunned.

Qin Sang was surprised by the cultivation realms of the three.

When they parted ways, Bao Zhengnan and Bao Xi were both at the late Core Formation stage. Now, Bao Zhengnan was at the late Nascent Soul stage, and Bao Xi was at the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

The young man's aura was only slightly weaker than Bao Zhengnan's; he was surprisingly also a Grand Cultivator!

Back then, when two of the Four Sages Palace's powerhouses died and one was injured, it surprisingly did not continue to decline. After several centuries, so many top-tier experts had emerged!

Bao Zhengnan and the other two were equally startled by Qin Sang.

Before their arrival, they had received reports from the elders and assumed Qin Sang would at most be on par with them. Considering the peerless sword arts of that senior from back then, it wouldn't be surprising for him to have trained such a disciple.

However, seeing him in person, the three discovered that Qin Sang's aura was extremely reclusive, so much so that they couldn't see through him!

However, they only assumed Qin Sang had achieved extremely profound attainments at the late Nascent Soul stage and dared not imagine that he had already reached the Spirit Transformation stage.

Bao Zhengnan was the first to recover. He cupped his hands and sighed, "Daoist Qin, it has been almost six hundred years since we parted ways at Yitian Peak, hasn't it?"

"Indeed."

Qin Sang also sighed with emotion. "Although several centuries have passed, the events of that year are still vivid in my mind. If not for several seniors risking their lives to slay demons, we would long ago have been mere bones in a tomb."

As they spoke of past events, their relationship subtly grew closer.

They exchanged smiles. Bao Zhengnan introduced, "This is my younger sister. Daoist Qin should remember her, right? My sister has mentioned Daoist Qin many times, and finally, she has wished you here. This is my junior brother, Zhuo Ming, who is now the Grand Elder of the Four Sages Palace."

"Even as Palace Master, my elder brother can't shake his habit of speaking too freely. Please don't take offense, Daoist Qin."

Bao Xi scoffed lightly. Her beautiful eyes darted over Qin Sang's face as she covered her mouth and smiled, "That year, Daoist Qin delivered a fatal blow to the ancient demon, turning the tide. This young woman remembers it vividly. Seeing you again today, Daoist Qin's bearing is as remarkable as ever."

After some pleasantries, everyone settled down in the quiet chamber.

Elders Wu and Xiao excused themselves, but Zhuo Ming remained. He rarely interjected, silently observing them as they reminisced.

"It's been many years since we last met, and the Four Sages Palace is brimming with talented individuals and emerging masters," Qin Sang said, looking at the three of them. He couldn't help but think of Qingzhu.

What a pity! If there had been so many experts that day, the situation would not have deteriorated to such an extent!

Qingzhu wouldn't have died, nor would Bao Zhengnan's two grand-masters have perished so early.

During their recent conversation, Qin Sang had learned that not long after he left the Four Sages Palace, the old man from the Four Sages Palace had perished in a heavenly tribulation, reuniting with Immortal Nan Gui beneath the Nine Springs.

Soon after, Ling Zhuzi, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect, also followed in the old man's footsteps.

As for the Demon Lord, he vanished without a trace after leaving the Seven Kills Palace, not concerning himself with worldly affairs. It was said he went to find a place to heal his injuries, but there had been no news of him for nearly six hundred years. His injuries might not have been lighter than Ling Zhuzi's, and having sacrificed the Taiyin Heavenly Ghost Divine Light, it was likely he met a grim fate.

In addition, the leaders of the Three Great Merchant Alliances and Old Demon Mou had also died at Yitian Peak.

After the battle at Yitian Peak, both the righteous and demonic factions were severely depleted. The Three Great Merchant Alliances disbanded. Not only humans, but the Witch race also lost a Great Witch Priest, and the Demon race lost its Flood Dragon King, causing undercurrents to surge through Canglang Sea.

Before his demise, Ling Zhuzi, in his capacity as the Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect, stepped forward to stabilize the situation. Otherwise, with few human experts remaining, a great chaos might have erupted.

As it stood, the evolution of events didn't need to be detailed; the Four Sages Palace had become the biggest winner.

Bao Zhengnan guessed what Qin Sang was sighing about. Recalling his two grand-masters, a hint of sorrow appeared in his expression. However, his resolve was firm, and he quickly returned to his usual composure. He said, "Speaking of which, we owe much of what we have today to Daoist Qin."

"Oh?"

Qin Sang was puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"

Bao Zhengnan replied earnestly, "Does my fellow Daoist still remember the young woman you entrusted to me?"

"Su Nü."

Qin Sang nodded.

He certainly hadn't forgotten Su Nü.

This woman not only possessed extraordinary talent, but even after becoming a pawn of the Three Great Merchant Alliance leaders, she never gave up. She resisted in various ways, and her resolve and decisiveness were beyond what ordinary people could achieve.

Before coming, Qin Sang had recalled past events. He thought that among those old acquaintances, excluding the demon race, Su Nü, freed from her constraints, was the most likely to achieve extraordinary feats.

"That's her!"

Bao Zhengnan nodded. He paused and said, "The reasons for all this date back a long time. Ever since the Four Sages ancestors established their orthodoxy, their descendants were unworthy, and the palace gradually declined. However, the ancestors' legacy was profound. If not for an unexpected incident, it could have maintained its strength for a long time; though perhaps not regaining its former prosperity, it wouldn't have had to withdraw from the world. The reason was that several grand-masters back then discovered a secret realm within the inner hall of the Seven Kills Palace. After analyzing it, they believed it contained a great inheritance. So, they gathered the palace's experts and entered the secret realm to explore. Unexpectedly, they triggered an ancient restriction inside. Not only did they not obtain any treasures, but less than half of them ultimately escaped, and everyone was injured. From then on, the Four Sages Palace never fully recovered."

Speaking, Bao Zhengnan looked up at Qin Sang. "During the battle at Yitian Peak, human experts fell one after another. The Demon and Witch races watched covetously, and our situation was critical. We had no choice but to stake everything on continuing to explore that secret realm. When the Seven Kills Palace reopened for the next exploration of the secret realm, Su Nü stepped forward. According to her, after being possessed by the ancient demon, though the demon's soul was destroyed upon her awakening, some strange power remained within her. She gained great divine abilities that we could not match. She played a crucial role in the secret realm, helping us open it and obtain the inheritance within. My sister, Junior Brother Lu, and I all benefited from this. Without that fortunate encounter, we might not be where we are today."

Qin Sang was also somewhat surprised to hear this. He hadn't expected such a fortunate connection to emerge after rescuing Su Nü.

"Where is Su Nü now?"

Qin Sang asked.

Bao Zhengnan and the others had all managed to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage. As the key figure, her cultivation shouldn't be weaker than theirs, right?

Bao Zhengnan and Bao Xi exchanged glances; their expressions were a bit strange. "When the Seven Kills Palace opened, Su Nü was last seen acting alone in the inner hall. Unexpectedly, the Seven Kills Palace underwent an anomaly. We hastily fled, and at the last moment, we discovered Su Nü had, for some unknown reason, appeared at the peak of Yitian Peak. She failed to escape in time, and her whereabouts are unknown."