Chapter 1974: Panlong Heavenly Pillar

White clouds drifted over the battlefield.

Cultivators from both righteous and demonic paths crowded together on one side of the clouds. On the other side stood Qin Sang alone, yet his presence deterred everyone. The scene did not resemble a confrontation between good and evil, but rather Qin Sang facing down a multitude.

Because of Qin Sang's presence, the recent battle had been one-sided. Three demonic powerhouses in the late Nascent Soul stage had successively fallen to him, causing disarray among the demonic forces. The righteous side, however, did not seize the opportunity to wipe out their adversaries; instead, they regarded Qin Sang with profound apprehension.

In truth, Qin Sang's displayed cultivation did not exceed the Nascent Soul realm, yet he exerted unparalleled pressure on everyone. Those who had personally fought him felt this most keenly. Regardless of the spells or artifacts they employed, Qin Sang consistently saw through their weaknesses, countering with equal or even weaker power, yet always striking first and defeating them in a single move, leaving them struggling and overwhelmed. It seemed his other methods were unremarkable; he relied solely on his terrifying insight.

Yun Xianshi and the cloaked figure, observing from afar, could not discern anything more. They had been sent down by the two major powers, both possessing early God Transformation cultivation, to assert authority over the various factions. In their eyes, Qin Sang was indeed a late Nascent Soul cultivator, completely devoid of any God Transformation aura. The more they observed, the more peculiar the situation seemed. How could a Nascent Soul cultivator possess such sharp insight?

"Could this person be from Yun Du Mountain?" the cloaked figure said coldly. Affairs of the mortal realm were to be settled by mortals. Neither of the two major powers would directly intervene in this conflict. However, it was hard to guarantee that they wouldn't secretly employ minor stratagems.

Yun Xianshi scoffed. "To deal with you devils, there's no need for such tactics! Daoist Qing Feng established Qing Yang Temple in the mortal realm, dispensing medicine and healing diseases, gaining experience in the mundane world. This old man coincidentally learned of a recluse in the State of Yan. I spent considerable effort trying to win over Daoist Qing Feng. It's just unfortunate that you lacked the fortune to meet such a profound master!"

"Hmph!" The cloaked figure gave Qin Sang a deep look, then stepped into the air. The mountain beneath his feet trembled, and he vanished. They had lost this round.

Yun Xianshi smiled as he saw the cloaked figure off, then transmitted a message. "Daoist Qing Feng, might you favor me with a visit?"

The voice reached Qin Sang's ears. He nodded slightly and flew towards them. His movement instantly caused a stir among the cultivators. The old ancestors of both righteous and demonic factions looked thoughtful, remaining silent and not daring to depart, as if awaiting a final judgment.

"This one is Yun Shan. Greetings, Daoist," Yun Xianshi said, standing on the mountaintop, saluting from a distance with a casual demeanor.

"You must be Yun Xianshi, then? My apologies for not recognizing you!" Qin Sang descended gracefully.

Yun Xianshi humbly replied, "I wouldn't dare. Many thanks for Daoist's assistance in upholding justice and deterring the demonic forces!"

Qin Sang did not reply directly but smiled. "My unworthy disciple, ambitious but lacking in talent, was fortunate to receive the care of a noble person, preventing him from becoming a laughing stock to the world. It seems Yun Xianshi has taken much trouble."

Yun Xianshi laughed heartily. "Your disciple is incomparably benevolent and righteous; otherwise, this old man wouldn't have bothered! In the future, your disciple will bear great responsibilities for the world, so Daoist must not feel too much concern, yes?"

"Oh?" Qin Sang's gaze flickered. "Does Yun Xianshi mean that the turmoil is not yet over?"

"Indeed!" Yun Xianshi said solemnly. "The demonic forces are powerful and have plunged the mortal world into chaos. The gain or loss of a single territory cannot sway the overall situation. In the future, we will certainly still need to rely on Daoist." After a pause, Yun Xianshi added, "Daoist's suppression of the demonic evil is an invaluable contribution. When merits are rewarded in the future, Daoist will certainly not be disappointed."

Qin Sang offered no comment.

Yun Xianshi glanced in the direction where the cloaked figure had departed. "Daoist's emergence from seclusion this time will also be noted by the demonic forces, making you a thorn in their side. You must be extremely careful in the future!"

"This humble Daoist is but a hermit, rarely leaving Qing Yang Temple. If they dare, let them come." Qin Sang gave a cold smile. Why should he fear any demons? The more, the merrier! He hoped more true disciples from Luohun Yuan would come to completely stir up the waters. By then, who would be able to stand by idly? Let them know that this game is not so easy to play!

Qin Sang bowed slightly, transformed into a streak of green light, and vanished into the sky, arriving and departing without a trace. He seemed to have come and gone at leisure, making a few casual moves, and whether the righteous or evil side won or lost had nothing to do with him. He exuded a sense of carefree detachment.

Yun Xianshi slowly put away his smile, deep in thought. Even when facing Qin Sang directly, he could not be certain of his cultivation level. The spiritual essence of the mortal world was far inferior to Yun Du Mountain and Mu Luo Mountain, but occasionally a God Transformation cultivator would emerge. Recruiting each God Transformation cultivator would significantly increase their chances of victory. Yun Xianshi withdrew his gaze, looked towards the battlefield, pondered for a moment, then flew over unhurriedly to clean up the aftermath.

Yu Lang achieved his wish, and the State of Yan unified the world, creating an unprecedented great feat for its monarch. From then on, under the imperial steps were not only mortals but also cultivators. However, the war was far from over, and the prosperous era Yu Lang desired might still be a long time in coming.

Qing Yang Temple.

Sensing his avatar's return, Qin Sang's main body's eyelids fluttered, drawing some of his consciousness away from the ritual altar. At this moment, the altar beneath him was radiant and exceptionally wondrous compared to its former state. The main altar had been repaired, signifying the restoration of the entire altar formation. Qin Sang finally understood what that Rank 4 spiritual talisman was.

During this period, Qin Sang had voraciously absorbed everything, marveling at the profundity of the Rank 4 spiritual talisman and the magic of the Thunder Altar. A Rank 4 spiritual talisman should not have been within the scope of a Void Refinement stage cultivator, yet Qin Sang, with the aid of the Thunder Altar and the formation, was able to access it and comprehend some of its mysteries. It was this Thunder Altar that gave Qin Sang the confidence to face two Void Refinement cultivators!

Qin Sang slowly opened his eyes, his pupils shimmering with streaks of lightning, as if two thunderous orbs were embedded in his eye sockets. As his sharp gaze slowly receded, one could discern that the lightning in his eyes was a reflection of the Rank 4 spiritual talisman.

"Whew..." After a long while, Qin Sang exhaled slowly, and the anomaly in his eyes gradually faded. "What a magnificent Rank 4 spiritual talisman! What a formidable Thunder Talisman!" Qin Sang exclaimed. That power was too immense, too profound; it deeply attracted him, and he had been so immersed in it that he almost could not extricate himself. Every so often, he had to withdraw his consciousness, fearing complete immersion. He blinked, and his eyes returned to normal.

After a short rest, Qin Sang continued to immerse his consciousness into the Thunder Altar, focusing without distraction. Regardless of how the outside world changed, Qing Yang Temple remained peaceful. Yu Lang did not burn a second bamboo slip, nor did Yun Xianshi disturb him.

Unbeknownst to them, another five years passed. The mortal world underwent several transformations. From countless scattered small states, it merged into powerful nations, standing tall in the human realm. A new era of chaos had arrived!

Qing Yang Temple.

A slightly hoarse voice broke the calm of the underground chamber. "Have they finally discovered it?" Qin Sang awoke from his meditation, his gaze piercing through the earth and stone, looking north. His 'chess piece' had begun to move!

Fire Domain.

Qin Sang's former dojo. After Qin Sang moved his dojo, this place had become a desolate lake of magma, inhabited only by fire spirits. Cultivators from Luohun Yuan and Yun Du Tian occasionally passed through, but rarely paid attention to what lay beneath. Before this, both sides had searched countless times, confirming that the relic was not here.

One day, a cultivator from Yun Du Tian made an unexpected new discovery. This person, Daoist Yun Xi, was one of the Nine Immortals of Yun Du. Yun Xi was leading several disciples to another location when they passed through this area. He casually activated his Dragon Ring Golden Bell, sweeping it over the magma lake. Unexpectedly, there was a faint reaction from the bottom of the magma lake. The Dragon Ring Golden Bell was an artifact refined by their sect, used to locate the relics of the Coiling Dragon Ancient Formation. It was shaped like a bell and named for the dragon sculptures on its exterior.

*Ding-a-ling...* The Dragon Ring Golden Bell emitted an almost imperceptible chime.

Yun Xi looked down, both surprised and delighted. He had not expected another hidden relic here, undiscovered. However... Yun Xi felt a trace of doubt, because the Dragon Ring Golden Bell's reaction was too faint. Had he not been in the late God Transformation stage and personally activated this artifact, he surely would have overlooked it. "Perhaps that's why it has remained hidden here all this time," Yun Xi mused. He called a disciple, ordering him to quickly return and report, then personally led his group to dive into the magma lake.

*Splash!* The magma, like boiling water, swallowed everyone.

Yun Xi deliberately slowed his descent, carefully perceiving his surroundings. Other than the chaotic direction of the underground flame veins, there was nothing unusual. After descending for a while, they should have been closer to the relic, yet the bell's chime did not grow louder. Yun Xi remained calm and unhurried, continuing to delve deeper, guided by the sound of the bell, finally reaching the vicinity of the relic. Magma was everywhere. Yun Xi clearly knew the relic was hidden within the magma before him, yet the bell's chime remained faint. He found it strange, realizing this relic must be unique. He approached cautiously, diligently circling the edge of the relic.

Gradually, he began to understand some of its workings. Whenever he discovered a relic of the Coiling Dragon Ancient Formation, he personally explored it. No matter how peculiar a relic was, it was always of the same origin as the others, with traceable connections. Without waiting for his fellow sect members, he entered the relic alone, gradually deciphering the restrictions. Seeing the scene inside, he finally understood the reason.

"What a mess!" This relic was severely damaged. In a few more years, it might be completely swallowed by magma. He had initially thought it would be of little value, but just as Yun Xi was feeling disappointed, he discovered something else unusual.

"Huh?" He suddenly sped up, flying towards the center of the relic, staring in astonishment at the scene before him.

"Senior Brother Yun Xi, have you found anything?" A familiar voice came from behind him. The newcomer was Yun Yuan, also one of the Nine Immortals of Yun Du. Yun Yuan followed the markers and found Yun Xi, and at the same time, he saw the scene before them, his face filled with surprise. The ancient restrictions here seemed familiar, but they were more complex and profound than any ancient restrictions they had seen before. Undoubtedly, this place must have once been a crucial part of the Coiling Dragon Ancient Formation! After observing for a while, both felt it was a pity; although the ancient restrictions here were exquisite, they were severely damaged.

"Hmm? No!" Yun Xi exclaimed, raising a hand and pointing to a spot in the ancient restrictions. "Here..."

"A part has detached from here!" Yun Yuan cried out simultaneously. Moreover, both judged that the marks were not from ancient times; they must have been made recently. The detached part was likely extremely valuable. However, the underground magma flowed in all directions, and the presence of underground flame veins caused extreme chaos beneath the surface, making it impossible to determine where that part had gone.

"I'll go get people!" Yun Yuan immediately prepared to leave to gather personnel.

"Wait!" Yun Xi stopped him. "You go personally. Tell only Junior Sister Yun Mi and the others, and order them to come here secretly. Do not alarm anyone else!" Calling only the Nine Immortals of Yun Du meant the search would be slower, but absolutely reliable. They absolutely could not let Luohun Yuan know!

"Understood." Yun Yuan left without delay, hurrying away.

Soon, the Nine Immortals of Yun Du gathered at the relic. After careful analysis, they dispersed to search. They fanned out from the relic, gradually expanding their search, and during this time, they took turns appearing elsewhere to avoid suspicion from Luohun Yuan. After several months of searching, they finally found some ambiguous traces. They followed the traces, painstakingly searching, heading further south, gradually entering the desert region. Here, the traces became increasingly clear. They were already impatient, and with a burst of effort, they finally found their target.

Before them lay an underground stone forest, with hundreds of stone pillars standing in the magma, forming a special formation.

"Huh? There's a secret realm here."

"These bas-reliefs look like the style of a sect that vanished ten thousand years ago, called Hong Yang Mansion."

"It looks like that core part drifted here and got trapped in the secret realm..."

With just a few words, they analyzed most of the situation and immediately set about entering the secret realm. With the Nine Immortals of Yun Du gathered, there was no secret realm in the entire Fire Domain they dared not enter. Unexpectedly, just as they were traversing the stone forest, breaking through layers of restrictions, a booming sound suddenly erupted from deep within the stone forest. The entire stone forest trembled along with it.

"This aura... not good! Form up!" Yun Xi cried out, conjuring a long spear and firing it upwards. The Nine Immortals of Yun Du also conjured their weapons. Each person's weapon was different—swords, spears, blades, halberds—but all had the same fluctuations. The nine joined forces, and the Cloud Soldier Profound Formation immediately formed, attempting to cover the entire stone forest, but they were still too slow! A massive wave of magma surged fiercely towards them, carrying astonishing power.

They were all too familiar with this fluctuation; it was precisely the fluctuation of the Coiling Dragon Ancient Formation's restrictions. Clearly, that part of the relic had drifted here and crashed into the secret realm, maintaining a fragile balance. Their arrival had broken that balance, causing an instant eruption. Before the eruption, they had not detected the slightest anomaly; otherwise, they would have been much more cautious. At this moment, they had no time to ponder these things.

*Rumble!* The earth trembled, and wild sand swept across. Sand dunes cracked open, and the ground was torn apart. Underground magma, carrying power accumulated over countless years, erupted wildly. Hundreds of miles away, the magma spewing high into the sky could be seen, staining the sky red.

The worst fear of the Nine Immortals of Yun Du had come true. As the magma erupted, peculiar fluctuations spread outwards. In a certain relic, a true disciple of Patriarch Ming Hu suddenly raised his head and quickly vanished. Soon after, he appeared near the fissure. At the same time, the Flame Heart Jade in his hand shone with light more blinding than ground fire!

"A Coiling Dragon Heavenly Pillar! There's actually a Coiling Dragon Heavenly Pillar here!" At the bottom of Luohun Yuan, the Black River churned, and a hoarse, joyful voice was heard.