Chapter 1933: Martial Arts

The Human World

A person encased in ice was frozen, but their breath had not ceased, indicating they were clearly not an ordinary individual.

This person was either trapped by an enemy's spell or had used profound ice to seal off their aura, then floated down the river to escape their pursuers.

The latter seemed more likely, but their current state was dire.

They might have intended to break the ice themselves upon regaining consciousness after escaping danger, but their injuries were too severe. Not only did they show no signs of waking, but their breath also grew increasingly faint.

"Tsk, tsk! If this fellow isn't released soon, he'll freeze to death."

How could Vermilion Bird, with its inquisitive nature, hold back? It lowered its wings, opened its mouth, and exhaled a stream of fire, pulling the ice block from the middle of the river to the shore.

As it descended, it remarked, "Something big might have happened ahead. What if it's related to the main altar you're looking for? Let's wake him up and ask."

Qin Sang knew this wasn't Vermilion Bird's true intention; it was merely saying it casually, worried that he might not want to bother.

However, Qin Sang did not stop it.

Firstly, Vermilion Bird had a point, and secondly, he found the person in the ice somewhat familiar; he might recognize them.

*Bang!*

Struck by the flames, the profound ice shattered upon hitting the ground, and the person inside tumbled out.

The person lay face up, hands clasped over their chest, tightly gripping a sword.

They appeared young, around twenty years old, with a pale complexion and an extremely weak aura. Their white robe was stained red in many places with blood—some their own, some belonging to others—frozen solid by the profound ice.

While the white-robed youth's features and demeanor had changed slightly since their last encounter, Qin Sang was certain it was the same person.

It was the young man who had sold him the dojo token in Cloud Cauldron City years ago. He never expected to reunite here.

At that time, the youth was only at the Qi Refining stage. Now, he had reached the late Golden Core stage, not far from the Nascent Soul realm.

To be able to attempt Nascent Soul ascension in just over two hundred years, and having received a Purple Source Pill from Qin Sang, his chances of success were significant.

If Qin Sang remembered correctly, after the youth's father died, he had to appear in public at a young age and risk trading, indicating he likely had no powerful backing.

If the youth had never taken a master and achieved this level as a rogue cultivator, he would be considered exceptional in the Great Thousand World.

As Qin Sang and the others landed, they saw the white-robed youth's chest gently rise and fall, his eyelids fluttering a few times before slowly opening.

The white-robed youth awoke and, seeing the strangers standing beside him, was instantly startled. He abruptly leaped up from the ground, instinctively brandishing the spirit sword in his hand.

*Whoosh!*

A cold wind enveloped the spirit sword, positioning it before the white-robed man, its tip trembling slightly.

But before the spirit sword could unleash its energy, a streak of fire slammed down fiercely, easily dispersing the cold wind and striking the spirit sword to the ground.

"Hey! Kid, this Divine Bird Lord saved you, and you dare draw your sword on me!"

Vermilion Bird glared at the white-robed youth, highly displeased, and loudly exclaimed.

*Pfft!*

The white-robed youth was already injured, and forcing himself to wield his sword only to be interrupted by Vermilion Bird caused his vital energy to surge chaotically, exacerbating his wounds.

Wiping away the blood from his mouth, he looked at the center of the river and the fragments of profound ice at his feet. Finally realizing the situation, he suppressed his injuries and bowed, "Thank you all for saving me. I am deeply grateful."

Qin Sang's current face was completely different from when they met in Cloud Cauldron City, so the youth naturally did not recognize him.

"Considering your pathetic state, this Divine Bird Lord won't bother arguing with you," Vermilion Bird said with a satisfied huff, "Who beat you up like this?"

The white-robed youth hesitated, eyeing Qin Sang's group.

There was a bird and a horse, an old man and a young one, looking like a family on an outing.

Although the divine bird could speak human language, it wasn't necessarily a Great Demon in the Transformation stage. Besides Imperial Spirit Dew, there were secret arts and elixirs in the world that could aid beasts in refining their transversal bones.

"You all aren't cultivating nearby, are you? Since you saved me, I should tell you everything. But my opponent is very powerful and acts ruthlessly, so I fear it might implicate you all."

Vermilion Bird chuckled.

Qin Sang had no interest in his grievances. Although they were old acquaintances, it had only been a single transaction.

"Has anything major happened in the area ahead recently?"

"Major?"

The white-robed youth nodded, "Indeed, there was a strange incident that caused quite a stir, I don't know if it counts as major. Not long ago, there was a sudden clap of thunder, said to have shaken three provinces: Yin, Lu, and Nanshu. It was heard throughout all three, yet at that time, all three provinces had clear skies. It was a bolt from the blue, certainly not heavenly thunder, and stranger still, no one could pinpoint the source of the thunder. Later, rumors spread that this thunderous sound was an omen, signaling the emergence of a rare treasure within the three provinces. Many cultivators entered the provinces to search for it. So far, no one has found the treasure, but the rumors are only intensifying..."

"When did the thunder occur?"

Qin Sang's heart stirred, and he quickly pressed for details.

Tai Yi also thought of something, and a flicker of excitement passed through his eyes.

If the time of the thunderclap coincided with the time Qin Sang activated the three thunder altars, it was highly likely that the three sub-altars had resonated with the main altar, causing this phenomenon.

This would mean the main altar had not been destroyed!

The white-robed youth was also within the three provinces that day and had heard the thunder with his own ears, remembering it vividly.

When asked, it was indeed on the same day!

This was truly a turning point. Qin Sang nodded secretly. Being able to confirm the main altar was still there gave him confidence in finding it.

At worst, he could have Tai Yi return to activate the sub-altars, while he stayed here to listen for the thunder. After hearing it a few more times, he would surely discover clues.

"Quick, quick, quick!"

Vermilion Bird was impatient. It was curious about everything, and this matter was no exception.

If the thunder altar could allow Qin Sang to ascend to a realm of power comparable to the Integration or even Mahayana stage, what would Cloud City Sky and Soul-Sinking Abyss matter?

It could walk around as it pleased, being a lord wherever it went, bullying anyone it wanted!

Everyone nodded to the white-robed youth, then immediately activated their escape light and soared into the sky.

"Wait..."

The white-robed youth didn't expect these people to be so swift. He stared blankly at the receding escape light.

He hadn't even had time to ask their identities. How would he repay them in the future?

Thinking of this, he suddenly realized that he had even forgotten to introduce himself, and they didn't know his name either.

A chance encounter, like a dream.

The white-robed youth was silent. Thinking of the hatred he carried, he murmured, "This is good... good."

He took out a pill, swallowed it, and disappeared into the mountains.

"No wonder I haven't seen any river gods or government soldiers; they've probably all gone treasure hunting..."

The group sped along the river surface, entering Yin Province, one of the three provinces.

Upon entering Yin Province, Qin Sang quickly sensed the presence of cultivators, both divine and immortal, searching for something everywhere.

He appeared and contacted some people, buying information with spirit stones. As the white-robed youth had said, no one could pinpoint the source of the thunder.

Everyone was like a headless fly. If the thunder hadn't truly occurred, many would have given up long ago.

After some investigation, Qin Sang understood the local terrain.

When Tai Yi came here years ago, there was no such division as Yin, Lu, and Nanshu provinces.

Yin and Lu provinces were situated west and east respectively, both along the Pingjiang River. The river flowed through a single province, and both provincial capitals were built on its banks.

These two provinces enjoyed geographical advantages, making them among the wealthiest in Yan State, second only to the capital city.

Nanshu Province, while having the largest territory among the three, was the most barren, with many mountains. Its southern part bordered Yan State, where friction and warfare often occurred.

Various forces speculated that the most likely place for the treasure to emerge was at the junction of the three provinces.

That area was currently the most bustling, with various factions gathered, a mixed bag of individuals.

However, Qin Sang was in no hurry to join the commotion. These people couldn't provide more useful information.

Based on the three thunder altars, the area he deduced was within Nanshu Province, but it was a considerably large region, encompassing most of Nanshu Province.

He would cut diagonally through Yin Province into Nanshu Province.

Qin Sang instructed Vermilion Bird to fly at low altitude. He sat cross-legged on Vermilion Bird's back, with Tai Yi and the others protecting him, meticulously searching.

This search continued for three months, yielding nothing.

"Could the main altar be in a sealed state?"

Qin Sang pondered.

The main altar could respond, but it couldn't be sensed from the sub-altars. After it quieted, no trace of its aura leaked out.

If the main altar was sealed, that seal must be powerful. It seemed Tai Yi would have to make a trip.

Qin Sang drew three thunder talismans for Tai Yi to carry, which could be considered the 'keys' to the thunder altars.

Tai Yi's cultivation was somewhat lacking, but as the spirit of the thunder talismans, he could activate the three sub-altars without causing too many additional changes.

Vermilion Bird accompanied Tai Yi.

After they left, Qin Sang landed on a mountain in central Nanshu Province and waited quietly.

At the junction of the three provinces, the passion for treasure hunting had not yet faded.

Immortal sects, noble families, provincial governors, and city gods had all gathered here, practically scouring the area.

What drove so many cultivators to frenzy was not merely a thunderclap.

It was also the fleeting tremor deep within their souls when they heard the thunder. Mortals would ignore such a sensation, but cultivators would not. The higher one's cultivation, the more they understood its significance.

The search area gradually expanded from the three-province junction outwards.

Qin Sang watched coldly as streaks of escape light flew across the sky, waiting for the thunder to reappear.

"For the first three layers of Qi Refining, one only needs to focus on accumulating true essence, but also on contemplating the essence of the cultivation technique..."

Yu Lang sat cross-legged before Qin Sang, listening attentively to his master's discourse.

During this time, he had entered the Tao and cultivated his first wisp of spiritual energy.

Qin Sang would not delve too deeply, nor would he be too straightforward, giving his disciple room for thought.

Feeling the spiritual energy circulate within his body, bringing him surging vitality, Yu Lang suddenly asked, "Master, are true qi and spiritual energy different?"

In his youth, his father taught him martial arts and once said that cultivating true qi could make one a first-rate martial artist, while entering the innate realm made one a peerless master.

From then on, he aimed to cultivate true qi.

Now, led onto the path of immortality by his master, he learned that so-called innate masters might be able to kill Qi Refining cultivators, but that was their limit.

If a Qi Refining cultivator was proficient in powerful and strange spells and used magical artifacts, innate masters would have little power to resist.

Not to mention the stronger Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators.

Was the innate realm the limit of martial arts? Were martial artists destined to be incomparable to immortal cultivators?

"True qi is the essence of a martial artist's vital blood and spirit, combined with a martial artist's tenacious will. Cultivators absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth to cultivate spiritual energy, but it also integrates with their own essence, qi, and spirit."

Qin Sang had also practiced martial arts, though he couldn't cultivate true qi. However, he had pondered this question.

The higher his cultivation in *Heavenly Demon Refining Form*, the deeper his understanding.

Qin Sang had a feeling that there was more than one path to strength.

For example, *Heavenly Demon Refining Form* might not be purely a body refining technique. Its two most important functions were to cultivate a Dharma Idol and to refine bloodline power.

Neither of these seemed to be purely about physical strengthening.

Qin Sang's Dharma Idol was not yet fully mature, so he only had some conjectures and couldn't be certain.

If the path of the Dharma Idol were cultivated to its extreme, would it involve completely abandoning one's physical body, pouring all one's essence, qi, and spirit into the Dharma Idol, and reshaping a new body?

Pure body cultivators, on the other hand, should continuously excavate the body's potential, temper their physique, and step by step reach the peak, with the physical body being their strongest weapon, never to be abandoned.

Martial artists, clearly, were also different from pure body cultivators.

If one were to follow the martial arts path, would it lead to another vast prospect?

"There are three thousand Great Daos, and no minor ones. The martial path may not be without a future; perhaps no one has walked it out yet..."

Qin Sang paused, "Perhaps someone has already stood at the peak of the martial path, but we haven't seen them yet. This master has not yet witnessed the true Great Thousand World."

"Peak of martial arts."

Yu Lang pondered.

Suddenly, Qin Sang stood up, his eyes blazing, gazing south.

Seeing this, Yu Lang knew it was time for serious business. He quickly collected his thoughts and followed his master's gaze but felt nothing and heard no thunder.

"Xiao Wu, let's go. Luo Hou, you follow."

Qin Sang led Xiao Wu, taking a single step, and their figures vanished.

He activated his movement technique, speeding south.

Although there was no thunder, he sensed an extremely subtle fluctuation. Had he not personally repaired the three thunder altars, he might have overlooked it.

Clearly, Tai Yi and Vermilion Bird had already activated the three sub-altars.

In the blink of an eye, after flying over countless mountains and rivers, Qin Sang noticed that this fluctuation was gradually accumulating.

The thunderclap was likely the result of this accumulation reaching its peak and erupting.

Back then, after Qin Sang activated the three sub-altars, he had urged them for quite a while to fully experience the sensation.

The fluctuation became increasingly clear.

Finally, Qin Sang arrived nearby. The first thing he saw was a city, and the source of the fluctuation was in a mountain less than a hundred *li* outside the city.

*Swish!*

Qin Sang descended from the sky, landing on the mountain. His gaze shifted, immediately locking onto a dilapidated Taoist temple on the front side of the mountain.

The temple was extremely run-down, its courtyard walls collapsed, weeds growing through the roof tiles, and the roof of the front hall had several holes. It had long been devoid of human presence and incense.

The fluctuation originated from beneath the temple.

Qin Sang's eyes slightly closed as his divine sense penetrated the ground. Soon, a smile appeared on his face.

"There's a seal, indeed!"

The seal was of the same origin as the thunder altar, likely left by the altar's owner to guard against something unknown.

Qin Sang used his earth-escaping technique to go underground, touching the edge of the seal. After some exploration, he devised a way to break it.

Using his finger as a brush, he traced symbols on the surface of the seal, then finally pressed down hard with his palm.

*Pfft!*

The seal shattered.

The accumulated fluctuations within the seal suddenly burst forth.

*Boom!*

Creatures within the three provinces heard another bolt from the clear sky.

This thunderous sound, however, was not merely emanating from within the seal. The altar sealed within seemed to make heaven and earth resonate with it!