Chapter 1909: Stork Ancestor

The Human Realm

Mount Tianliang, Yu Daozi.

Qin Sang learned another new name.

“Does Yu Daozi know about the Yin family's collusion with the Thirteen Eagles of Beimo?” Qin Sang asked.

The Yin Patriarch's expression suddenly became vacant.

“I am merely an unregistered disciple of my master. After I broke through to the Golden Core stage, I was sent down the mountain to manage the Yin family in Four Fires Town. It’s rare for me to see my master. Although the Thirteen Eagles of Beimo have some connection to my Yin family, it was actually Senior Brother Huang's instruction behind it all...”

“Senior Brother Huang was originally my master's third disciple, and he already possessed Nascent Soul cultivation. I don't know what he did, but he was suddenly expelled from the sect by my master, becoming a renegade. Senior Brother Huang then joined Mount Ming, one of the three bandit strongholds known as the Three Mountains Bandit Lairs...”

“My master has countless unregistered disciples. Not only our Yin family, but various forces across the desert send their juniors to Mount Tianliang, most of whom are accepted as unregistered disciples by my master...”

“After these unregistered disciples descended the mountain, they all maintained contact with Senior Brother Huang. Senior Brother Huang ordered us to secretly recruit sand bandits, and occasionally, Mount Ming would send commands, instructing us to carry out tasks and transmit messages...”

“If there were any benefits, we would receive at least thirty percent...”

The Yin Patriarch sat upright in a high chair, revealing every unknown secret without hesitation, as if reporting to a superior.

He spoke of arson, murder, looting, and kidnapping, yet his tone and demeanor were chillingly calm.

The Gu Patriarch watched this eerie scene, frozen in his seat, not daring to move. His forehead twitched, and cold sweat broke out all over his body.

“Another Three Mountains Bandit Lair has emerged. It seems I'll have to visit them one by one,” Qin Sang shook his head, looking at the Gu Patriarch.

“Is the Gu Patriarch also an unregistered disciple of Yu Daozi?”

Catching Qin Sang's gaze, the Gu Patriarch's heart constricted, and he couldn't help but swallow.

‘Gulp!’

The sound was jarringly loud in the hall, and he wished he could slap himself. Carefully, he said, “Elder, please understand, my Gu family has absolutely no connection to Mount Tianliang or the Three Mountains Bandit Lairs. I never imagined the Yin Patriarch would dare to harbor sand bandits and cruelly kill innocents...”

Under Qin Sang's half-smile, the Gu Patriarch gradually trailed off, finally letting out a bitter laugh.

“If I claimed to be completely unaware, Elder would certainly not believe me. Although the Yin family always operated from behind the scenes, they inevitably left traces, and I had indeed been suspicious for a long time. However, my Gu family only managed to secure the position of master of Four Fires Town by leveraging a slight connection with Hunye City, and how could Hunye City compare to Mount Tianliang? I could only secretly restrain the Yin family, preventing them from acting too overtly...”

“To be honest, Elder, I truly only just learned about the Yin family’s connection with the Three Mountains Bandit Lairs.”

“Fortunately, Mount Tianliang claims to be righteous, and the Three Mountains Bandit Lairs also have their scruples. Only in this way could a fragile balance be maintained. If I had truly confronted the Yin family, I feared the Gu family would have been flattened by sand bandits the very next day...”

The Gu Patriarch poured out his grievances and lingering fear, lamenting endlessly.

He prattled on, but received no response. Only then did he realized that the two figures had already vanished.

He turned his head to see that the Yin Patriarch had long since died.

“Hiss...”

The Gu Patriarch rushed out of the hall to find all of the Yin Patriarch’s guards lying on the ground outside, as if asleep, having died silently.

Sounds of conversation could still be heard within the Yin Mansion.

Some had died, others lived.

“They weren't wiped out?”

The Gu Patriarch was puzzled, unable to fathom the mysterious stranger's intentions. He quickly returned to the Gu family, immediately ordered all Gu family members to return home and not go out, and secretly dispatched people to investigate.

Soon, someone came to report.

“What about the Gou family?” the Gu Patriarch urgently asked.

“Of the Second and Third Branches, who were close to the Yin family, only one in ten of their masters survived. Some even died in their own meditation chambers. The entire Gou Mansion was in chaos, and the news spread throughout the city...”

“Karma, karma... Are there truly Yama Kings who claim lives in this world?”

People often say that there are gods three feet above one's head.

But cultivators knew that the divine path in this world was in decline. Such rumors only held some sway in the mortal realms to the south and were not taken seriously by cultivators at all.

It was said that there were also powerful beings among the mountain gods and earth spirits, but neither their numbers nor their influence could compare to cultivators. The overlord of this region, Cloud Sky City, was a cultivation sect.

The Gu Patriarch waved his hand, dismissing his subordinate, then slumped into a chair, staring blankly at the carved beams and painted rafters above him.

For a long time.

A faint sigh echoed within the room.

“Ah, this person committed too much evil... Who knows when heaven would claim him.”

A chilling wind swept through.

The world was hazy.

The gray mist was actually stirred-up sand and dust.

For hundreds of miles around this area, the sand was gray. When the wind rose, even in broad daylight, the sky would darken, giving an eerie sensation.

Beneath the swirling sand, towering mountains and majestic peaks sprawled like ancient dragons prostrate on the earth.

The mountains were filled with an ominous aura, like a man-eating beast, deterring all who saw them.

Several figures appeared at the foot of the mountain, slowly approaching the range.

“This is Mount Ming.”

Along the way, Qin Sang had cleared out many sand bandits, yet there was no trace of blood on him.

He gained a deeper understanding of the Three Mountains Bandit Lairs.

The Three Mountains Bandit Lairs referred to Mount Ming, Mount Luomeng, and Mount Ji. They were said to be the strongholds of the three most powerful sand bandit factions in Beimo, as well as the main headquarters of the sand bandit alliance.

The three mountains were interconnected, each with a Nascent Soul Ancestor presiding over it. Although they started as sand bandits, they had now become three unfathomable powers, and even the cultivation sects of Beimo were extremely wary of them.

Qin Sang glanced at the mountain's topography and headed towards the main peak.

They did not conceal their presence and were detected as soon as they entered Mount Ming.

“State your names, intruders!”

A pillar of fire suddenly erupted on the mountaintop, and a stern shout boomed like thunder.

Under the firelight, several figures flickered, their aura sharp, their voices filled with intense killing intent.

Before their words finished, they were abruptly interrupted by thunder.

‘Rumble...’

Thunder appeared in the sky.

In an instant, dark clouds gathered. Mount Ming, already dim from the sandstorm, became pitch black, rendering visibility impossible.

‘Crack!’

A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the fire pillar directly.

Amidst cries of alarm, the fire extinguished. The people under the fire pillar were not struck dead by the lightning but were involuntarily lifted into the air.

“I have plundered nine times after leaving the mountain...”

“I once followed the mountain master to annihilate three sects...”

“I stole women to be my concubines, and if they dared to disobey, I would wipe out their entire family...”

Before the eyes of all, several individuals confessed their crimes, their voices clear and resonant, echoing throughout Mount Ming.

After confessing their misdeeds, thunder descended from the heavens, striking them dead on the spot, their blood writing out their sins.

‘Rumble!’

Thunder roared across Mount Ming.

Qin Sang seemed to be strolling through the mountains, yet his speed was by no means slow. Each time he passed a peak, similar scenes would repeat.

‘Boom! Boom! Boom!’

Lightning rained down, one after another.

This spectacle was like divine punishment!

The thunderclouds and lightning moved with Qin Sang.

Qin Sang was like a deity, though to the people in the mountains, he was a terrifying demon god!

Under the lightning's glow, Mount Ming was illuminated as brightly as day, revealing faces contorted with terror.

How many people on Mount Ming did not have innocent souls on their hands?

For a time, panic spread throughout Mount Ming.

On Mount Ming's main peak, the summit was resplendent with golden light, and figures continuously flickered into view, among them Nascent Soul cultivators with powerful auras.

The leader was an elegant man with a feathered fan and a silk turban, none other than Senior Brother Huang, or Huang Daoxun, as mentioned by the Yin Patriarch.

At this moment, his composure was gone, and his face was contorted with rage.

“Who exactly is he?! Which blind fool dared to provoke such a powerful enemy?!”

His furious roar echoed across the mountaintop.

Everyone remained silent; no one could give him an answer.

A black-robed elder beside him spoke, “There was news earlier that several sand bandit groups in the north were inexplicably annihilated; it must have been this person’s doing. I was just about to go down the mountain to investigate, and I never expected him to dare to kill his way up Mount Ming. This person’s strength is unfathomable. Perhaps someone accidentally harmed his junior. Mountain Master, please calm down, ask for clarity, and just hand over whoever he wants...”

Huang Daoxun took a deep breath, composed himself, and commanded, “Activate the Nine Heavenly Blessing Array!”

With that, he took the black-robed elder and others, and flew towards the front mountain on streaks of light.

“The Daoist thunder techniques are indeed extraordinary. The Jade Purity Summoning Thunder Talisman, used to carry the initial-level Divine Firmament Talisman, I thought I had fully comprehended it, yet it can still evolve into so many variations...”

Qin Sang led his horse into the mountain, heavenly thunder accompanying him.

He didn't even look at the sand bandits struck dead by lightning, instead focusing on experiencing the thunder techniques.

He began with the divine talismans he was most familiar with, those bearing three spiritual seals, and gradually comprehended the Five Thunder Court's thunder techniques.

In a short period, he had made considerable progress.

Just then, the ground ahead shook violently. Nine peaks surrounding the main peak erupted with sky-piercing profound-yellow spiritual light, clearly indicating that the mountain-protecting array had been activated.

Between the two streaks of spiritual light, several figures broke through the air, flying towards him. They had already unleashed their respective magic treasures, their faces full of vigilance.

Huang Daoxun, leading the group, bowed from a distance to Qin Sang, “I am Huang Daoxun, Mountain Master of Mount Ming. I am unaware of how I have offended fellow Daoist, why...”

Before he could finish, Huang Daoxun suddenly saw Qin Sang look up, giving him a gentle smile. His heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

Next, Huang Daoxun witnessed a scene he would never forget.

The harmless-looking girl on the horse's back raised her right hand and extended a finger.

A five-colored stream of light shot from her fingertip, as slender as the girl's finger.

The light stream was silent.

Struck by the stream of light, one of the peaks, where the foundation of the Nine Heavenly Blessing Array lay, unexpectedly exploded with a thunderous roar.

A mountain peak had just exploded right beside them.

In their minds, the incredibly sturdy Nine Heavenly Blessing Array seemed to not exist at all.

“Well done.”

Qin Sang gently patted Little Five’s small hand.

He could also break this array using thunder techniques, but a large part of this descent was for Little Five, so he needed to give her some sense of involvement.

The formation that had just closed immediately had a huge gap.

Huang Daoxun had not yet recovered from the shock when sounds of self-confessed crimes echoed behind him, and thunderclouds obscured the main peak.

These voices included Mount Ming's Nascent Soul elders!

“My master is Yu Daozi, the Grand Elder of Mount Tianliang! You cannot kill me!”

Huang Daoxun was greatly terrified and cried out in dismay.

“So, you committed evil deeds down the mountain with your master's backing?” Qin Sang asked.

“Back then, it was my master who secretly ordered me to descend the mountain...”

Huang Daoxun’s eyes lost their focus. As he spoke, he slowly floated high into the sky, meeting his demise under the heavenly thunder.

When the dark clouds dispersed and the heavenly thunder vanished, Mount Ming became eerily silent, like death. The few survivors fled in panic.

Looking across the Fire Domain to the desert, Mount Tianliang was a sect with considerable prestige.

Although there were no Soul Transformation cultivators within the sect, both the Grand Elder and the Sect Master were powerful experts at the late Nascent Soul stage.

Unlike the Twilight Mountains, which were plagued by demons and monsters, the Fire Domain, being connected to Cloud Sky Mountain, had named factions that conducted themselves relatively righteously, and Mount Tianliang's reputation was acceptable.

On this day, Mount Tianliang welcomed two uninvited guests.

Inside the Guest Reception Hall.

The Mount Tianliang Sect Master rarely appeared in person to entertain guests, but the atmosphere in the hall was tense.

“Is fellow Daoist perhaps joking? How could the Grand Elder of my Mount Tianliang conspire with sand bandits? That’s absurd! Who dares to slander him?!”

The Mount Tianliang Sect Master slapped the table and stood up.

The Daoist and the little girl opposite him remained completely unmoved.

“Truly worthy of a renowned sect; these spirit fruits are excellent. Little Five, try some...”

Qin Sang handed Little Five a fruit and looked at the Mount Tianliang Sect Master, “Whether it’s slander or not, wouldn’t it be clear if you called your esteemed Grand Elder here for a confrontation? Can one hide in a cave and be a coward, and thereby absolve oneself of sin?”

The last sentence, like rolling thunder, spread out from the hall, shaking the entire sect.

“Presumptuous!”

The Mount Tianliang Sect Master’s face flushed with anger, but then he froze on the spot.

To the east, lightning illuminated the sky, thunderbolts like dragons, striking directly down onto a spirit peak. Mount Tianliang’s grand array didn't even have time to stop them.

‘Boom!’

The mountaintop exploded, and a horrific roar echoed out.

A distorted figure burst out, flickering with lightning, bound by thunder-ropes, its limbs involuntarily spread out, as if suspended in mid-air.

A Dragon Whip Lightning Talisman directly seized Yu Daozi from his cave dwelling.

All the disciples of Mount Tianliang, from top to bottom, witnessed with their own eyes as the esteemed Grand Elder was captured without any resistance, dragged towards the Guest Reception Hall.

“You, you, you...”

The Mount Tianliang Sect Master trembled as he pointed at Qin Sang, filled with shock and fury.

“Who are you! If you dare to kill me, the Ancestor will surely avenge me! Ancestor, save me!”

Yu Daozi was brought before the hall, struggling madly, roaring hysterically, acting like a madman.

Hearing the roar, the Mount Tianliang Sect Master also froze. If Mount Tianliang had an Ancestor, how could someone act so brazenly within their gates?

“There’s someone above you?”

Qin Sang gave a wry smile. Others would only deal with the elder after dealing with the junior; he, however, had killed the junior and then actively sought out the elder.

Seeing the Mount Tianliang Sect Master's expression, it seemed as if some conspiracy shrouded Mount Tianliang and even this cultivation world, which he had inadvertently disrupted.

“Ancestor Guan is an external powerful being, lurking in Fire Origin Valley. I was commanded by Ancestor Guan to secretly send disciples down the mountain, cultivate forces for his use, and collect various blood elixirs and cauldrons for the Ancestor, so that when the time is ripe, I can replace the Sect Master...”

Yu Daozi suddenly stopped struggling and began to actively recount his schemes.

As he spoke, Yu Daozi's expression became increasingly contorted. Despite being a late Nascent Soul master, he could not escape Qin Sang's control.

‘Bang!’

The Grand Elder’s body suddenly exploded, just like the sand bandits, using his flesh and blood as ink to inscribe his sins on the mountain wall.

His accumulated crimes were too numerous to list.

At some point, Qin Sang and Little Five had vanished. The Mount Tianliang Sect Master remained standing in place for a long time, unmoving.

Leaving Mount Tianliang, Qin Sang suddenly accelerated, flying directly towards Fire Origin Valley.

As he flew at lightning speed, Qin Sang pondered to himself.

He had killed countless villains on his journey here, but it seemed to have little effect on his enlightenment.

“Did I misunderstand the sword spirit's meaning, or are these opponents too weak? Does evil also have different levels? This Ancestor Guan is a mid-stage Soul Transformation cultivator, a master of sorts. He'll be perfect for testing this...”

Qin Sang mused, and before long, he saw a fiery red river valley.