Chapter 1983: Epilogue

Qin Sang thought of Qingyuan.

Qingyuan's insights into the paths of the Lesser and Greater Vehicles had greatly enlightened Qin Sang, helping him finally find his true direction. His journey down the mountain for enlightenment had yielded a satisfactory outcome.

Xiao Wu had experienced worldly affairs, allowing his humanity to suppress his demonic nature. From now on, he only needed to slowly wear down his demonic intent, and his transformation would be imminent. Though it was an unconventional approach, Qin Sang had finally grasped the true path of the *Ziwei Sword Sutra*.

He wondered if Qingyuan had spoken so extensively to draw out the Dao Court, or if he had simply recognized Qin Sang's confusion and bottleneck and deliberately enlightened him. Although he would eventually understand after a period of contemplation and interacting with other powerful figures in the Great Thousand World, he couldn't help but acknowledge Qingyuan's timely assistance. The Great Thousand World was vast and boundless, and the future was unpredictable. He wondered if they would ever meet again.

"Greater Vehicle." These two words churned relentlessly in Qin Sang's mind.

It was truly difficult for ordinary people to imagine how a Greater Vehicle of Slaughter could exist in the world. Qin Sang initially found it somewhat absurd, but upon closer thought, it wasn't without discernible traces. Through the *Ziwei Sword Sutra*, one could glimpse the changes in the Ziwei Sword Venerable's state of mind and his cultivation trajectory. It could roughly be divided into two stages, with the Nascent Soul stage as the dividing line. Before the Nascent Soul stage, killing intent coalesced into killing talismans, and his murderous nature was overwhelming. After experiencing confusion during the Nascent Soul stage and breaking through to the Soul Transformation stage, he sheathed his sword. He was then able to control his killing intent and was no longer just a harbinger of death who only knew slaughter.

However, how the Ziwei Sword Venerable came to comprehend the Greater Vehicle of Slaughter and what he experienced remained a source of speculation. During the Soul Transformation stage, he was merely struggling to suppress his murderous nature, yet in the Void Refinement stage, he could transcend from slaughter. This was truly a monumental transformation. What was even stranger was that if the Ziwei Sword Venerable was dedicated to protecting common people, why did he end up with his pavilion shattered, his sword broken, and the entire world as his enemy? Now, the Ziwei Sword Venerable was missing, his forces scattered like stars and clouds, and his enemies still wouldn't let them go. Even he, as the "inheritor," was forced to live in hiding.

Qin Sang couldn't fully comprehend it, but he wasn't in a hurry. From this day forward, he would openly step forward and interact with the major powers of the Great Thousand World, confident that he would eventually uncover hidden secrets. The Dao Court and Ziwei Sword Pavilion possessed unfathomable power; they must have once been pivotal forces throughout the Great Thousand World. Even in decline, they would surely leave traces. Unless…

Qin Sang thought of the Formless Immortal Sect in Zhongzhou, which had been erased from historical records by a joint effort of Daoists and Buddhists. This made him less optimistic. Various thoughts flashed through his mind, but Qin Sang quickly suppressed them. Overthinking was futile; the most crucial thing was his own cultivation. The return of the Dao Court and Ziwei Sword Pavilion signified a grand game among mighty individuals. If one's strength wasn't sufficient, they would merely become pawns, much like those swept along by the currents of this upheaval. On that day, the Ziwei Child would probably abandon him too.

Sighing inwardly, Qin Sang saw Yulang standing outside the square, hesitant to approach, and beckoned him closer. That sentence echoed in Yulang's mind; he seemed to understand it yet not fully. Composing himself, he stepped forward to bow, saying, "Greetings, Master." He had gathered that Daoist Qingfeng might be an avatar or similar existence, but he always felt that his master's words held a deeper meaning that he couldn't fully grasp. Gazing at the unfamiliar master before him, Yulang's thoughts were chaotic, still in a state of profound shock. From his senior sister's reaction, he could guess that his master was powerful, but he hadn't expected him to be *this* powerful.

With a single decree, the human world was overturned! Immortal Yun, who hailed from Cloud Capital Heaven, left a sound transmission talisman for Tao Teng and fled back to Cloud Capital Mountain, not daring to show his face since. All the various forces in the Yan Kingdom's cultivation world retreated back to the mountains, sealing their gates and staying away from the human world. Brother Sha and Tao Teng didn't dare enter the city, waiting nervously outside. His master's single word was like a heavenly law. The chessboard was overturned, and the Void Refinement old ancestors of Falling Soul Abyss and Cloud Capital Heaven never appeared, seemingly tacitly accepting the situation. He didn't yet know that Old Ancestor Minghu had perished and that Falling Soul Abyss was in turmoil; otherwise, he would have been even more profoundly shocked.

"You should return to the mountain," Qin Sang said.

Yulang was stunned for a moment, then replied, "Your disciple obeys." Before he finished speaking, Yulang felt something and looked north, seeing a procession of honor guards escorting a palanquin approaching from the Imperial City. Soldiers cleared the way, separating the common people, and civil and military officials followed closely behind, with only him, the Prime Minister, conspicuously absent. The procession reached the statue, seemingly oblivious to them standing before it. "Master must have used an illusion," Yulang thought to himself, then immediately showed a look of surprise. He saw them set up an incense altar before the statue, with offerings of three sacrificial animals. The King himself led all civil and military officials in a sacrifice, reciting an eulogy. The spectacle was even grander than a Heaven Worship Ceremony.

The great affairs of a nation are in sacrifice and war. Sacrifices had always been of paramount importance since ancient times, so Yulang was not unfamiliar with them. Now, the Yan Kingdom was actually using the Heaven Worship ritual to sacrifice to his master's statue! Within the eulogy were phrases such as "acting on behalf of Heaven," "cleansing demonic aura," "protecting the human world," and "sage of the age." Yulang couldn't help but glance at his master. Qin Sang's eyes gleamed with divine light as he looked beyond the city, his gaze seemingly sweeping over the entire human world, encompassing more than just the Yan Kingdom. At the same moment, similar grand ceremonies were taking place in all the human kingdoms, set to replace the Heaven Worship Ceremony and become a regular practice, occurring once a year, with the eulogy circulated throughout the world!

Daoist Qingfeng's merits were known to everyone in the human world. Qin Sang's spirit seemed to wander afar. As the sacrificial ceremony proceeded, Qin Sang vaguely felt an indescribable connection forming between himself and those statues. There was no significant increase in his cultivation, but by using it to verify his cultivation methods, things subtly became clearer. Qin Sang's face was as still as an ancient well, and he felt no particular joy in his heart.

In this conflict, only Old Ancestor Minghu had perished. Qin Sang had merely used words to warn Solitary Cloud Old Man, and he presumed Cloud Capital Heaven would no longer dare interfere with the human world. The human world would be his human world. When he descended the mountain, Qin Sang hadn't expected to step forward so quickly and seize a territory from the two major powers. Moreover, this territory was the least valuable in the vicinity. Even less did he expect this to be his place of enlightenment. If this was truly his path, and it originated from his genuine heart, continuing on it would surely lead to great accomplishments, and cultivating the *Ziwei Sword Sutra* in the future would also be much smoother.

But was he truly willing? Qin Sang recalled his own path of cultivation. When he first cultivated the *Ziwei Sword Sutra*, then called the *Primordial Spirit Sword Nurturing Chapter*, there was far from any synergy between him and this cultivation method. Relying on the jade Buddha, he had reached this point step by step, but the discrepancies had grown wider and wider. Before today, Qin Sang had believed he would follow the Ziwei Sword Venerable's path, always treating the *Ziwei Sword Sutra* as his fundamental cultivation method, and had eagerly sought to obtain the latter half of the sutra. Suddenly, that eagerness had waned. Of course, this didn't mean Qin Sang would give up searching for the latter half of the sword sutra. Even if he changed cultivation methods, the *Ziwei Sword Sutra*, a top-tier cultivation method in the world, would still be the best reference.

"I plan to build sixty-four branch temples in the human world, and along with the main temple, they will all be entrusted to your management from now on. Each branch temple will temporarily have a mountain-guarding spirit beast. There's no need to rush to recruit more people. I will send Taiyi and the others into the human world to search for children with exceptional talent and good character, and guide them to join the sect. My words were not empty talk. Qingyang Temple will be responsible for overseeing the world. From now on, all sects and forces, big and small, in the human world must be regulated to prevent anyone from feigning compliance and causing chaos in the human realm," Qin Sang concluded.

The human world was now stabilized. Qingyang Temple's oversight of the world could not be achieved with just an empty shell. Human hearts were difficult to pacify, and mere deterrence could only last for a time. From then on, Qingyang Temple would be truly rooted in the Great Thousand World.

Yulang respectfully listened to Qin Sang's instructions, his expression gradually becoming solemn. His master had driven away Cloud Capital Heaven and Falling Soul Abyss, deterring the cultivation world, and from then on, cultivators were forbidden from interfering in the human world. This was precisely what he sought; how could he not be willing? But this responsibility was a heavy one. Overseeing the entire world was incomparable to managing a small Yan Kingdom.

Qin Sang continued: "With Taiyi and the others assisting, and the divine path acting as overseers, you don't need to do everything yourself. Your cultivation should be your priority." Previously, Qin Sang had allowed Yulang to descend the mountain and experience the world before his cultivation was complete, using his disciple's heart to illuminate the Dao, and had not urged him to cultivate. Yulang was talented and possessed a rare firm Dao heart. Qin Sang didn't want to see this disciple live an ordinary life.

"Master's intentions are profound, and your disciple will bear them in mind," Yulang said. Yulang took a deep breath and nodded heavily. His master had taught him a valuable lesson through words and actions. Without his master, he would have been nothing more than a pawn, struggling in the muddy currents, his ambitions mere empty talk, and his passion ultimately becoming futile. Only by being like his master could one deter petty villains and restore peace and order to the human realm! His heart was filled with gratitude for his master, believing that his master's astonishing actions were solely to enlighten him.

Qin Sang didn't expose his thoughts. After watching the entire ritual with Yulang, he departed alone, his whereabouts unknown. Yulang remained in the Yan Kingdom. He appeared at court, resigned his official position, called for Shajia Yu to enter the city, and took his family with him back to the mountain.

Qin Sang strolled among the clouds, heading west. He moved unhurriedly, seemingly surveying the human realm. As he proceeded, a beam of purple light shot towards him from ahead. Qin Sang caught it in his hand, seeing that it was a piece of purple bamboo.

*Puff!*

The purple bamboo piece spontaneously combusted without fire, and Solitary Cloud Old Man's voice emerged.

West of Twilight Mountain.

In the plain, long, bottomless ravines stretched out. This was originally the mountain gate of Falling Soul Abyss, Old Ancestor Minghu's Daoist temple. Now, white clouds floated above the ravines, densely packed with numerous figures. This group had sharp, sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes. Dressed in snow-white robes, their aura was clear and pure, completely devoid of demonic energy. In the center of the cloud mass, on a single cloud, sat or stood a total of nine people: the Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital.

The Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital were filled with excitement, yet also a deep sense of bewilderment, occasionally looking up at the sky. In a place unseen by other disciples, Solitary Cloud Old Man, the Supreme Sect Master of Cloud Capital Heaven, sat cross-legged on a cloud, seemingly waiting for someone.

"Why has Master entered meditation at this time?" asked a female cultivator among the Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital in a low voice. Everyone looked towards Yunxi, who shook his head slightly, indicating he didn't know either. The Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital exchanged bewildered glances.

Old Ancestor Minghu had emerged from the mountain to seize treasures, causing them to flee in panic, followed by a series of unforeseen events like the heavenly change. Just as the Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital were at a loss, their master arrived late, finally settling their minds. Unexpectedly, their master commanded them to use the full might of their sect to eradicate the corpse demons of Falling Soul Abyss. The Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital were utterly shocked but dared not defy their master's orders. To their surprise, the subsequent cleanup proceeded unusually smoothly. Their master personally intervened, and several top experts from Falling Soul Abyss were easily subdued. The remaining forces were a disorganized mess, not worth worrying about. Most of their energy was actually spent pursuing the fleeing remnants. Even when they attacked the mountain gate, Old Ancestor Minghu did not appear to stop them, which was self-explanatory.

The Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital were both shocked and delighted. Their joy stemmed from Cloud Capital Heaven finally eliminating this grave threat, but their shock was rooted in the mystery of why Old Ancestor Minghu had perished. Their master's cultivation was no secret. It was said that Old Ancestor Minghu was cultivating a great divine ability. Even if their master had broken through to the mid-Void Refinement stage and could defeat Old Ancestor Minghu, killing him would likely not have been easy. If they didn't completely eradicate the root, Cloud Capital Heaven absolutely could not have withstood Old Ancestor Minghu's furious retaliation. Therefore, while the two sides, righteous and evil, were irreconcilable, neither desired a fight to the death. Given that their master had completely annihilated Falling Soul Abyss, Old Ancestor Minghu must certainly have perished. Could that mysterious person who issued the decree have been a helper invited by their master?

These past few days, everyone in Cloud Capital Heaven had been exceptionally excited. Just as they were about to flatten Falling Soul Abyss, their master ordered them to stop, without explaining why. Their morale gradually began to wane.

Solitary Cloud Old Man was not in meditation at this moment; he was still pondering the events of that day. When the Daoist declared his intention to protect the human realm, Solitary Cloud Old Man's heart skipped a beat. He thought the Daoist would also move against him. After all, the chaos in the human world originated from the two major sects using it as a chessboard for their game, and Cloud Capital Heaven was inextricably involved. He, Solitary Cloud Old Man, was also one of the masterminds behind it. Fortunately, the Daoist eventually spared him, only requiring Cloud Capital Heaven to clear out the demonic cultivators and thoroughly eliminate evil. The Daoist didn't send anyone to monitor them, and Solitary Cloud Old Man was wise enough to order his disciples that after killing corpse demons, all artifacts from Soul Transformation stage corpse demons and above must be handed over. As for the treasures within Falling Soul Abyss's mountain gate, Solitary Cloud Old Man dared not keep them for himself and invited the Daoist to retrieve them personally. Otherwise, a bolt of divine lightning would likely have struck Cloud Capital Heaven on the spot.

With just a fleeting glimpse, Solitary Cloud Old Man couldn't discern the details of the altar formation. Uncertain how far it could attack or how many times it could unleash heavenly lightning, he dared not offend Qin Sang. During this period, Solitary Cloud Old Man racked his brains, considering all sects, including Jitian Sect, but still couldn't fathom the Daoist's origin. It was as if he had appeared out of nowhere, yet he was utterly fearless. Indeed, he possessed the means to be fearless. Dual cultivation of magic and body, acquired spirit treasures, sword domains, altars—all signs indicated that the sect behind the Daoist must be extremely powerful, or at the very least, he had a highly skilled master. Perhaps even a Grand Unified stage mighty cultivator! Without personal guidance from a Grand Unified stage mighty cultivator, how could he have comprehended a sword domain in the early Void Refinement stage? How could he have commanded a spirit artifact to brew tea for him?

Whenever he thought of this, Solitary Cloud Old Man felt restless. If he were alone, he could simply flee far away. But relocating the sect was not so simple, and he couldn't abandon the sect's foundation. The human realm had been taken over by the Daoist, who had set up so many altars. It was impossible to expect him to leave on his own. Solitary Cloud Old Man's headache was how to manage the relationship between the two sides. He now only hoped that the power behind the Daoist had no conflict with Jitian Sect. If two major powers fought, a small Cloud Capital Heaven caught in the middle would only face utter destruction.

"Alas!" Solitary Cloud Old Man sighed inwardly. Noticing the Daoist approaching swiftly, he rose to greet him. "The remnants of Falling Soul Abyss are all hiding below. The sect's grand formation of Falling Soul Abyss is an ancient array obtained by that old zombie years ago, possessing some subtle intricacies. I trouble Daoist Master to assist me; let us break the array together!"

Qin Sang nodded, neither confirming nor denying. The darkness of Falling Soul Abyss could not obstruct his vision. Through the formation, he saw panicked faces. Strictly speaking, he bore no grudge against Old Ancestor Minghu; the old ancestor was merely a tool for his enlightenment.