Chapter 1782: Origination of Sin

Qin Sang was completely unaware of the discussion between True Immortal Zhangu and the others.

True Immortal Zhijian stood by the cliff, waiting for Qin Sang to emerge, then soared on a streak of light back to Sword Heart Island.

"How was it?" True Immortal Zhijian asked.

Qin Sang sighed, "The Dao Court wants me to infiltrate the Guifang Kingdom."

True Immortal Zhijian was not at all surprised; he and Qin Sang had discussed this possibility before and concluded it was the most likely outcome. The Daoist Sect has countless powerful cultivators; easy and low-risk tasks could be handled by the Dao Court's own immortal officials. Only a mission like infiltrating the Guifang Kingdom, fraught with uncertainties, would be entrusted to outsiders.

"They want me to investigate a certain secret realm, said to be near a Demon King's residence. The situation isn't clear yet; someone will contact me once I enter the Guifang Kingdom..." Qin Sang briefly explained the contents of the edict. There was nothing much to hide; he, too, would only learn the specific details of the secret realm after arriving in the Guifang Kingdom. This also indicated that further variables could arise.

"Near a royal residence?" True Immortal Zhijian frowned.

Qin Sang nodded; this was precisely his concern. The so-called royal residence belonged to a Duke of the Guifang Kingdom, incomparable to a Demon King's cave abode in the Storm Realm. A Duke of the Guifang Kingdom, commonly referred to as a Demon King by the Daoist Sect, is equivalent to a Grand True Immortal of the Dao Court—a powerful cultivator at the Void Refinement stage! He could emit demonic qi and disguise himself as a demon cultivator, so he should be able to deceive other demon cultivators of the same rank without issue. But who knew if he would cause a major disturbance in the secret realm? Although the edict stated it was some distance from the royal residence, Qin Sang had to consider the possibility of attracting a Demon King. Qin Sang had never had the chance to experience the divine abilities of a Void Refinement stage cultivator, nor did he wish to risk his life trying. Yet, this edict was considered one of the easier ones.

After True Immortal Zhijian learned about Qin Sang's discussion with True Immortal Zhangu, he repeatedly shook his head, "Fellow Daoist, your luck is poor. Neither of these edicts is easy to complete; both are fraught with danger."

Qin Sang, however, remained optimistic. "Fortunately, I invited Fellow Daoist along, and True Immortal Zhangu granted some leeway. The first edict was likely intended for a genuine Cavern Profound True Immortal. Had it been forced upon me, I would have had no choice but to accept it."

The two conversed for a while longer, and True Immortal Zhijian asked Qin Sang about his plans. Qin Sang countered, "Do you have any results on your end, Fellow Daoist?"

True Immortal Zhijian nodded, "Although one piece of information hasn't been confirmed yet, it's about ninety percent certain. True Immortal Youhuang, True Immortal Guyun, and I are preparing, and it shouldn't take much longer. I'll explain the full story to you now, Fellow Daoist..." As he spoke, True Immortal Zhijian glanced around, then cast a sound-insulating barrier to cover them before slowly beginning his tale. Seeing his solemn demeanor, Qin Sang's curiosity was piqued, and he listened patiently.

Before long, True Immortal Zhijian finished speaking and looked at Qin Sang. "What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"

Qin Sang pondered in silence. True Immortal Zhijian and his companions actually planned to delve deep into the Sinister Barrens and still contend with the demons of the Guifang Kingdom.

"Capturing or slaying a Demon Marquis would grant qualification for promotion?" Qin Sang asked in a deep voice.

"It would be best if we could capture one alive. The Dao Court would surely bestow great rewards upon us. Even if we split them amongst ourselves, would the Dao Court begrudge a single Daoist rank? If capture isn't possible, slaying a Demon Marquis is still a great achievement. Even if Fellow Daoist's individual contribution isn't enough, we would simply allocate more credit to you. If you feel uneasy about it, you can always repay us later. We rogue cultivators should naturally help each other, and neither of the other two True Immortals are petty individuals," True Immortal Zhijian's tone was filled with confidence, as if a Guifang Kingdom Demon Marquis could be killed with ease.

Qin Sang also understood that the depths of the Sinister Barrens were different from the Guifang Kingdom. With the four of them working together, using careful planning against unprepared foes, their chances of success were indeed significant. According to True Immortal Zhijian, the Dao Court had discovered that the demons of the Guifang Kingdom seemed to be plotting something in the Sinister Barrens, with Demon Marquises frequenting the area. To avoid alerting the enemy, the Dao Court did not mobilize a large force. Cavern Profound True Immortals of the Daoist Sect are often sect masters or hold important positions, making it inconvenient for them to act lightly. Cultivators from Jushan Prefecture are the least conspicuous, which is why they had this opportunity to intervene. But it was certain that the Dao Court would make other arrangements. As long as they had enough patience and waited for a direct confrontation between the two sides, they would have an opportunity to fish in troubled waters.

True Immortal Zhijian smiled again, "If we are fortunate enough to uncover the demons' secrets, what is a mere Daoist rank? Perhaps we could even persuade a Grand True Immortal to guide our cultivation." Hearing this, Qin Sang's heart stirred. Guidance from a Grand True Immortal was a rare opportunity! After being granted the Five Thunders Secret Rank, he would fully dedicate himself to cultivation, and the Void Refinement stage would no longer be out of reach.

However, Qin Sang did not let his head be swayed. The Demon Marquises of the Guifang Kingdom would certainly be aware of the danger and would most likely act in groups, making it difficult to find isolated opponents. That was secondary; they could hide in the shadows and patiently await their opportunity. Qin Sang's concern was that anything that garnered the Dao Court's attention was surely no small matter. Were only a few Demon Marquises involved in the Guifang Kingdom's scheme, or were there Demon Kings participating? If a Demon King were to appear, True Immortal Zhijian's outwardly strong but inwardly weak sword strike might not be enough to deter them.

True Immortal Zhijian sensed Qin Sang's worry and changed his tone. "Fellow Daoist, in your cultivation journey thus far, have you ever witnessed a Grand True Immortal of the Daoist Sect make a move? Have you ever heard of any Grand True Immortal's divine presence gracing Jushan Prefecture?"

"Never," Qin Sang shook his head. Although he didn't know the exact reasons, he had gathered some information over the years. Unless engaged in battle with the Guifang Kingdom, Grand True Immortals of the Daoist Sect rarely left the Dao Court's two prefectures to manifest their powers externally.

"Because Grand True Immortals do not lightly leave their Governing Altars!" True Immortal Zhijian glanced southwest. "Cultivators who reach the Five Talisman Rank, pursuing the Unity of Heaven and Man, can draw upon the creation of heaven and earth to nourish themselves, granting them almost endless lifespans and the might of heaven and earth in every movement. However, precisely because of this, once a Grand True Immortal strays too far from their Governing Altar, their interwoven aura with heaven and earth cannot be hidden. Their movements will be accompanied by wind and thunder, and strange phenomena will frequently appear. The same applies to the Demon Kings of the Guifang Kingdom."

Pausing, True Immortal Zhijian pointed north towards the Sinister Barrens. "In this way, it's actually less convenient for them than for us. Fellow Daoist, imagine: once a Grand True Immortal enters the Sinister Barrens, they would be like a bright lamp in the dark night, causing all fierce beasts to go mad. With such a massive disturbance, we would detect them long before they even approached a Demon King."

"Unity of Heaven and Man..." Qin Sang seemed to grasp something. Concerns about lifespan exist for both Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation cultivators. Upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, one transcends mortality and has various means to replenish vital energy, making their lifespan difficult to pinpoint. It's related to the cultivator's cultivation techniques, divine abilities, experiences, longevity practices, and environment. There are even certain differences between body cultivators, spell cultivators, and spirit cultivators. Generally, it's around 1,500 years, with a potential variation of several hundred years up or down. For Soul Transformation cultivators, it can almost double. However, Heavenly Tribulations are more terrifying, and most cultivators don't live long enough to die a natural death. Once one breaks through to the Void Refinement stage, they only need to guard against Heavenly Tribulations. It is said that the Void Refinement Heavenly Tribulation is a Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation occurring every three thousand years, far more powerful than the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. Thus, breaking through to Void Refinement does not mean one can rest easy. When Qin Sang learned that the key to breaking through to the Soul Transformation stage lay in "Heaven-Man Resonance," he deduced that Void Refinement might involve seeking the "Unity of Heaven and Man" state. He hadn't expected that merging with heaven and earth in this realm would actually have such a drawback. True Immortal Zhijian, being able to wield a sword strike almost at the Void Refinement level, must have received a great inheritance, so it was not surprising that he knew these things.

Upon hearing this, Qin Sang became curious about the Dao Court's Governing Altars. As the core of a prefecture, it seemed that a Governing Altar was more than just a place for bestowing ranks. This made him realize that he had never heard where Jushan Prefecture's Governing Altar was located.

Qin Sang considered for a moment, then asked, "How long do you plan to stay in the Sinister Barrens, Fellow Daoist?"

"It's hard to say right now; it depends on how far that place is and what the situation is like, but it definitely won't be too long," True Immortal Zhijian explained.

Hearing this, Qin Sang secretly nodded. Since that was the case, he could first accompany True Immortal Zhijian on this trip. If they returned empty-handed, he could then proceed to complete the edict. The edict had no specified deadline, so it should be quite lenient. He no longer hesitated and nodded in agreement.

Soon after, the two returned to Sword Heart Island, where True Immortal Youhuang and True Immortal Guyun were already waiting. Upon learning that Qin Sang would be joining them, the two exchanged glances. They weren't overjoyed, but they didn't refuse him on the spot either. They both knew Qin Sang was seeking qualification for promotion.

True Immortal Youhuang turned to True Immortal Zhijian, "Fellow Daoist Qingfeng is still at the Second Rank Daoist, and the Altar-Guarding Divine General can only protect those at the Ascended Profound Rank. The influence he'll experience in the Sinister Barrens will surely far exceed ours, making him unable to endure as long as us. When the time comes, shall we all return together?"

True Immortal Guyun also said, "Although Fellow Daoist Qingfeng has a Truth-Stabilizing Pill, he only has one. The situation we'll face on this trip is too complex; I'm afraid..." The two voiced their concerns. Previously, True Immortal Zhijian had not disclosed Qin Sang's full details to them.

Qin Sang's expression remained unchanged. True Immortal Zhijian, however, chuckled. "True Immortal Youhuang, there's no need to worry. This humble Daoist happens to have several pills for stabilizing the primordial spirit. While they cannot completely resist the Six Heavens Malign Qi, they are sufficient as a temporary measure."

True Immortal Youhuang lightly nodded her head. They wouldn't stay in the Sinister Barrens for too long, and as long as their intellect remained intact, they could slowly recover upon returning.

Next, True Immortal Zhijian looked at True Immortal Guyun. "You, however, underestimate Fellow Daoist Qingfeng. Fellow Daoist Qingfeng cultivates both spiritual arts and the physical body. When we last met, he demonstrated powerful physical cultivation, capable of holding off two opponents if he goes all out. At critical moments, we might even have to rely on Fellow Daoist Qingfeng."

"Dual cultivation of spiritual arts and physical body?" True Immortal Guyun's eyes showed a peculiar light as he looked at Qin Sang in surprise. Dual cultivators of spiritual arts and physical body are rare in this realm. Someone like him, who cultivates the Dragon-Tiger Altar, would find it even more impossible to cultivate both concurrently.

Qin Sang calmly stated it was mere luck. Since he had already disclosed it to True Immortal Zhijian, there was no need to hide it from these two anymore. Besides, their current objective of seeking a Demon Marquis required sincere cooperation.

"Alright!" True Immortal Zhijian stopped the eager True Immortal Guyun. "I know you're fond of battle, but now isn't the time for sparring. Once we enter the Sinister Barrens, there will be plenty of opportunities for combat." With that, True Immortal Zhijian turned to Qin Sang. "Before we depart, is there anything else Fellow Daoist Qingfeng needs to do? Let's pool our ideas, share what we have, and prepare as quickly as possible to avoid being caught off guard."

The Whirlwind Armor was already forged, so Qin Sang actually had nothing left to do. However, a thought struck Qin Sang. "Fellow Daoist, do you recall the Imperial Bell True Talisman? This humble Daoist has been collecting spiritual materials everywhere, but unfortunately, I'm still missing Kun Earth Blood Sand, and there's been no news of it."

True Immortal Zhijian looked at True Immortal Guyun. "I recall Fellow Daoist Guyun having a piece of Kun Earth Blood Sand."

True Immortal Guyun immediately produced the item: a fist-sized, blood-colored ore. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be formed from countless rice-grain-sized crystals. A simple refinement would yield the cinnabar needed for drawing talismans. Qin Sang also took out the spiritual items he had collected.

True Immortal Zhijian looked at them and said, "These materials should be enough to refine about three Imperial Bell True Talismans."

True Immortal Guyun interjected, "This humble Daoist has a friend who is skilled in the art of talisman crafting. I can ask him to make the talismans, and I'll make up for any missing spiritual materials. If we can get more than two, how about giving me one?" The last sentence was directed at Qin Sang.

"Alright," Qin Sang nodded. In this realm, all cultivators can draw talismans, but the success rate varies greatly, and not everyone can become a grandmaster. Qin Sang estimated that if he were to craft the talismans himself, successfully refining even one would be a good outcome.

"Excellent!" True Immortal Guyun laughed heartily, then with a sweep of his sleeve, collected all the spiritual items.

After that, the group discussed for a while longer, then dispersed. Qin Sang first returned to Gourd Island, found Master Qi, retrieved the Whirlwind Armor, and informed him that he would be leaving for a period. Master Qi seemed quite reluctant, though it was unclear whether he felt a mutual appreciation for Qin Sang or was simply loath to part with the Whirlwind Armor. Qin Sang then gave up his cave abode on Gourd Island and began quiet cultivation on Sword Heart Island. Unexpectedly, this wait lasted an entire year. During this time, True Immortal Guyun visited once, informing Qin Sang that only two Imperial Bell True Talismans had been successfully refined, with one conveniently allocated to each of them. With no news for so long, when the four gathered, True Immortal Youhuang speculated whether the Dao Court had exaggerated, and if it would turn out to be nothing more than a farce, making them work for nothing. After several more months, just as Qin Sang was considering whether to first go to the Guifang Kingdom to gather information, the news finally arrived!

Sword Heart Island.

Qin Sang and True Immortal Zhijian stood side by side, while an elder who called himself an old servant stood attendant nearby. Although his cultivation was not weak, he could not participate in battles of this caliber and could only remain behind to guard the cave abode.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Two streaks of light arrived in tandem, swiftly approaching them. Upon landing, True Immortal Youhuang eagerly asked, "Is it confirmed?"

True Immortal Zhijian nodded, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, the source of the news is absolutely reliable! Demon Marquises from the Guifang Kingdom have set out and are heading in that direction. We haven't yet identified which Demon Marquises they are, but time is pressing, and we cannot wait any longer."

"How long ago did they depart?" True Immortal Guyun pressed.

"Two days ago, but the news just reached us," True Immortal Zhijian said gravely. As top cultivators in the world, their speed differences wouldn't be significant, so they had to hurry.

"It shouldn't just be the few of us, right? A little delay might not be a bad thing," True Immortal Youhuang's expression, instead, relaxed.

"Certainly there are others. Everyone knows the Dao Court's little tricks," True Immortal Guyun scoffed.

As they spoke, the group prepared to depart and headed straight north. They successfully arrived at the North Shore of Star Island Immortal Lake. As far as the eye could see were vast expanses of wild grass, thick and yellow, reaching two people's height, resembling a dense jungle. Entering the mainland, the four continued to fly at high altitude. The wild grasslands were incredibly vast; they flew for some time before reaching its edge. It was also due to luck that they didn't encounter a single fierce beast on their journey.

True Immortal Zhijian paused ahead and said gravely, "Ahead, fierce beasts run rampant. All of you must be careful. If you encounter a fierce beast, remember to finish the fight quickly!" With that, he handed Qin Sang several jade bottles, explaining how to take the contents. The bottles contained various types of pills, evidently True Immortal Zhijian's accumulated treasures over many years, all given to Qin Sang.