Chapter 1987: Yangyang Corpse Classic

Wuxia Xianxia

Qin Sang thought of Qingyuan.

The other party had pointed out the paths of the Lesser Vehicle and Greater Vehicle, which had enlightened Qin Sang and helped him find his way. His journey of enlightenment down the mountain had turned out quite successful.

After experiencing worldly affairs, Little Wu's human nature had suppressed his demonic nature. Now, he only needed to slowly wear down his demonic intent, and his transformation was imminent. Although it was an unconventional approach, Qin Sang had finally found the true path of the *Purple Star Sword Scripture*.

He wondered if Qingyuan had said so much to draw out the Daoist Court, or if Qingyuan had seen his confusion and bottleneck and intentionally enlightened him. While he would eventually understand after some time of introspection and encountering other powerful figures in the Great Thousand Worlds, he couldn't help but acknowledge Qingyuan's benefit to him. The Great Thousand Worlds were vast and boundless, the future unpredictable; he wondered if they would ever meet again.

"Greater Vehicle."

These two words churned in Qin Sang's mind, lingering persistently. It was truly difficult for ordinary people to imagine how a Greater Vehicle Path of Slaughter could exist in the world. Qin Sang initially found it somewhat absurd, but upon closer thought, it wasn't entirely without basis.

Through the *Purple Star Sword Scripture*, one could glimpse the changes in the Purple Star Sword Venerable's mindset and his cultivation trajectory. Roughly, it could be divided into two stages, with the Nascent Soul realm as the dividing line. Before the Nascent Soul realm, his killing intent condensed into slaughter talismans, and his murderous nature was overwhelming. After the confusion of the Nascent Soul period and breaking through to the Soul Transformation realm, he sheathed his sword, indicating he could now control his murderous intent and was no longer merely a killer star consumed by slaughter.

However, what led the Purple Star Sword Venerable to comprehend the Greater Vehicle Path of Slaughter, and what experiences did he go through, sparked much imagination. In the Soul Transformation realm, he was still struggling to suppress his murderous nature, but in the Void Refinement realm, he could transcend slaughter. This was truly a monumental transformation.

What was even stranger was that if the Purple Star Sword Venerable's intention was to protect all living beings, why did he end up with his pavilion shattered, his sword broken, and the entire world as his enemy? Now, the Purple Star Sword Venerable was missing, his forces scattered like stars and clouds, and his enemies wouldn't let them go. Even he, as the 'inheritor,' had to hide.

Qin Sang couldn't fully comprehend it, but he wasn't in a hurry. From today onward, he would openly step forward and engage with the major powers of the Great Thousand Worlds, confident that he would eventually uncover some hidden secrets. The Daoist Court and the Purple Star Sword Pavilion possessed unfathomable power. They must have once been pivotal forces in the entire Great Thousand Worlds, and even if they declined, they would leave traces.

Unless... Qin Sang thought of the Formless Immortal Sect in Zhongzhou, which was erased from historical records by the combined forces of Daoists and Buddhists. This made him less certain. Various thoughts flashed through his mind, but Qin Sang quickly suppressed them. Overthinking was useless; the most crucial thing was his own cultivation. The return of the Daoist Court and the Purple Star Sword Pavilion was a game between powerful beings. If one wasn't strong enough, they would simply become pawns, just like those who drifted with the currents in this storm. On that day, the Purple Star Child would probably abandon him too.

Qin Sang sighed inwardly. Seeing Yulang standing outside the square, hesitant to approach, he waved a hand.

The words echoed in Yulang's mind, half-understood. He composed himself and stepped forward to bow, "Greetings, Master." He had gathered that Daoist Qingfeng might be an avatar or similar existence, but he always felt his master's words held a deeper meaning that he couldn't fully grasp. Looking at the unfamiliar master before him, Yulang's thoughts were a jumble, still deep in shock. From his senior sister's reaction, he could guess that his master was strong, but he hadn't expected him to be *this* powerful.

With a single decree, the mortal realm was overturned! Immortal Yun, originally from Cloud Capital Heaven, left a voice transmission talisman for Tao Teng and fled back to Cloud Capital Mountain, not daring to show his face since. All forces in the Yan Kingdom's cultivation world retreated into the mountains, sealing their gates and staying away from the mortal realm. Brother Sha and Tao Teng didn't dare enter the city, nervously waiting outside the walls. His master's single word was like a heavenly law. The chessboard was overturned. The Void Refinement ancestors of Fallen Soul Abyss and Cloud Capital Heaven had not appeared at all, seemingly acquiescing. He didn't know that Ancestor Minghu had already fallen and Fallen Soul Abyss was in turmoil, otherwise he would have been even more shocked.

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

Yulang was startled, then replied, "Your disciple obeys."

Before he finished speaking, Yulang felt something and looked north, seeing a procession of honor guards escorting an imperial sedan chair approaching from the imperial city. Imperial soldiers cleared the way, separating the common folk, followed closely by civil and military officials, but without him, the prime minister. The procession reached the stone statue, completely ignoring them standing before it.

It must be a blindfolding spell from Master, Yulang thought to himself, then immediately showed surprise. He saw them set up an incense altar before the statue, with offerings of three sacrificial animals. The monarch himself led the civil and military officials in performing the sacrifice and reciting the eulogy, a ceremony even grander than the Heaven Worshiping Ceremony. The great affairs of a state are sacrifice and war. Sacrifices had always been of utmost importance since ancient times, and Yulang was not unfamiliar with them. Now, the Yan Kingdom was using the Heaven Worshiping Ceremony to worship his master's statue! Within the eulogy were phrases like "acting on behalf of heaven," "cleansing demonic aura," "guarding the mortal realm," and "sage of the world."

Yulang couldn't help but glance at his master. Qin Sang's eyes shone with divine light as he looked beyond the city, his gaze seemingly extending past the Yan Kingdom to survey the entire mortal realm. At the same moment, similar grand ceremonies were taking place in all the mortal kingdoms, replacing the Heaven Worshiping Ceremony to become a regular practice, performed once a year, with the eulogy circulated throughout the world! Daoist Qingfeng's merits were known to everyone in the mortal realm. Qin Sang's spirit wandered afar.

As the sacrificial ceremony progressed, Qin Sang vaguely felt an inexplicable and indescribable connection forming between himself and the statues. While it didn't significantly boost his cultivation, it subtly clarified his understanding of his cultivation method, validating it further. Qin Sang's face remained placid like an ancient well, and he felt no particular joy in his heart.

In this conflict, only Ancestor Minghu had fallen. Qin Sang had merely warned the Solitary Cloud Old Man with words, so Cloud Capital Heaven would likely not dare to interfere in the mortal realm again. The mortal realm would be his mortal realm. When he descended the mountain, Qin Sang hadn't expected to step forward so quickly and seize territory from the two major powers. Moreover, this territory was the least valuable in the vicinity. Even more unexpectedly, this was his place of enlightenment. If this was his path, and it originated from his true heart, continuing down it would surely lead to accomplishments, and his future cultivation of the *Purple Star Sword Scripture* would also be much smoother.

But was he truly willing? Qin Sang recalled his path of cultivation. When he first began cultivating the *Purple Star Sword Scripture*, which was then called the *Primordial Spirit Sword Nurturing Chapter*, there was never a strong synergy between him and this cultivation method. Relying on the jade Buddha, he had walked step by step to this day, and the rift between them had grown larger and larger. Before today, Qin Sang had believed he would follow the Purple Star Sword Venerable's path, always keeping the *Purple Star Sword Scripture* as his fundamental cultivation method, and was eager to obtain the latter half of the scripture. Suddenly, he was no longer so eager. Of course, this didn't mean Qin Sang would give up searching for the latter half of the sword scripture. Even if he were to change his cultivation method, the *Purple Star Sword Scripture*, as a top-tier cultivation method in this world, would still be the best reference.

"I plan to build sixty-four branch temples in the mortal realm. Together with the main temple, all of them will be entrusted to your care from now on. Each branch temple will temporarily have a mountain-guarding spirit beast overseeing it, so there's no need to rush to recruit more personnel. I will send Taiyi and the others into the mortal realm to search for children with exceptional talent and excellent character, and guide them into our sect. My words were not empty talk. The Azure Ram Temple will be responsible for overseeing the world. From now on, all sects and powers, large and small, in the mortal realm will be regulated to prevent anyone from feigning compliance and causing chaos," Qin Sang said.

The mortal realm was now settled. The Azure Ram Temple could not oversee the world as a mere empty shell. Human hearts were difficult to settle, and deterrence could only last for a while. From then on, the Azure Ram Temple would truly be rooted in the Great Thousand Worlds.

Yulang respectfully listened to Qin Sang's instructions, his expression gradually becoming solemn. His master had driven away Cloud Capital Heaven and Fallen Soul Abyss, deterring the cultivation world so that cultivators could no longer interfere in the mortal realm. This was precisely what Yulang had strived for; how could he not be willing? But this responsibility was a heavy one. Overseeing the world was far beyond what a small Yan Kingdom could achieve.

Qin Sang added, "With Taiyi and the others assisting, and the divine path acting as overseer, you don't need to do everything personally. You should prioritize your cultivation." 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 his own path, 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, your disciple will bear them in mind," Yulang said. He took a deep breath and nodded emphatically. His master had taught him a valuable lesson through words and actions. Without his master, he would have merely been a pawn, struggling bitterly in the turbulent currents, all his ambitions empty talk, and his fervent passion ultimately turning to naught. Only by being like his master could he deter villains and restore peace and order to the mortal realm! His heart was filled with gratitude for his master, believing that his master's astonishing actions were solely meant to awaken him.

Qin Sang didn't expose Yulang's thoughts. After watching the entire sacrificial ceremony with Yulang, he left alone, disappearing without a trace. Yulang remained in the Yan Kingdom, appeared in the imperial court, resigned from his official position, summoned Sha Jiayu to the city, and took his family with him back to the mountain.

Qin Sang strolled leisurely among the clouds, heading west. He moved neither fast nor slow, seemingly inspecting the mortal realm. As he was proceeding, a purple light shot towards him from ahead. Qin Sang caught it in his hand, seeing it was a piece of purple bamboo.

"Puff!"

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

West of Duskfall Mountain. In the plains, long, bottomless ravines stretched out. This was originally the mountain gate of Fallen Soul Abyss, the cultivation ground of Ancestor Minghu. Now, above the ravines, white clouds floated, densely packed with many figures. This group of people had sharp, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, wore snow-white robes, and exuded a clear aura, completely devoid of demonic energy. At the center of the cloud cluster, on one cloud, sat or stood nine people in total, who were none other than the Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital. The Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital were filled with excitement, yet also deep confusion, frequently looking up at the sky. In a place unseen by other disciples, the Grand Elder of Cloud Capital Heaven, the Solitary Cloud Old Man, sat cross-legged on a cloud, seemingly waiting for someone.

"Why has Master entered meditative seclusion at this moment?" a female cultivator among the Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital whispered.

Everyone looked at Yun Xi, who shook his head slightly, indicating he didn't know either. The Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital exchanged glances. Ancestor Minghu had left his mountain to seize treasure, causing them to flee in a panic, followed by a series of dramatic changes, including a celestial alteration. Just when the Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital were at a loss, their master finally arrived, bringing their minds to rest. Unexpectedly, their master commanded them to use the full might of their sect to eradicate the corpse demons of Fallen Soul Abyss. The Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital were utterly shocked but dared not defy their master's order. To their surprise, the subsequent purge proceeded unusually smoothly. Their master personally took action, easily capturing several top experts from Fallen Soul Abyss. The remaining forces were a disorganized mess, posing no threat. Most of their energy was spent on hunting down deserters. Ancestor Minghu did not appear to stop them even when they reached the mountain gate, which was self-explanatory. The Nine Immortals of Cloud Capital were both surprised and delighted. They were delighted that Cloud Capital Heaven had finally eliminated this grave threat, but surprised by the reason for Ancestor Minghu's fall. Their master's cultivation level was no secret. It was said that Ancestor Minghu was cultivating a powerful divine ability. Even if their master broke through to the mid-Void Refinement stage and could defeat Ancestor Minghu, killing him would likely not be easy. If they didn't completely root out the problem, Cloud Capital Heaven absolutely could not withstand Ancestor Minghu's furious retaliation. Therefore, while the two sides, righteous and evil, were irreconcilable, neither wanted to escalate to a fight to the death. Since their master was mercilessly wiping out Fallen Soul Abyss, Ancestor Minghu must have fallen. 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 was unusually excited. Just as they were about to level Fallen Soul Abyss, their master ordered them to stop, without explaining why. Morale was gradually beginning to flag.

The Solitary Cloud Old Man was not in meditative seclusion at this moment; he was still thinking about the events of that day. When the Daoist declared his intention to protect the mortal realm, the Solitary Cloud Old Man's heart skipped a beat, thinking the Daoist would also attack him. After all, the turmoil in the mortal realm originated from the two major sects using it as a chessboard for their game, and Cloud Capital Heaven was undoubtedly involved. He, the Solitary Cloud Old Man, was also one of the masterminds behind it. Fortunately, the Daoist eventually let him off, only requiring Cloud Capital Heaven to purge the demons and eliminate all evil. The Daoist didn't send anyone to monitor them, so the Solitary Cloud Old Man was sensible. After ordering his disciples to kill the corpse demons, he mandated that all relics of corpse demons above the Soul Transformation stage must be handed over. As for the treasures hidden within Fallen Soul Abyss's mountain gate, the Solitary Cloud Old Man dared not keep them for himself and invited the Daoist to retrieve them personally. Otherwise, a bolt of thunder might have instantly struck Cloud Capital Heaven. From a brief glimpse, the Solitary Cloud Old Man couldn't discern the full details of the altar formation, nor was he sure how far it could attack or how many heavenly thunder strikes it could unleash. How could he dare offend Qin Sang?

During this period, the Solitary Cloud Old Man thought of all sects, including the Sky-Clearing Sect, but still couldn't figure out the Daoist's origin. It was as if he had appeared out of nowhere, yet he acted with absolute confidence. He indeed had the capital to be so confident. Dual cultivation of magic and body, acquired spiritual treasures, sword domain, altar formations — all these signs indicated that the Daoist's sect behind him must be extremely powerful, or at the very least, he had a highly skilled master. Perhaps even a Grand Unified Realm cultivator! Without direct guidance from a Grand Unified Realm cultivator, how could he have comprehended a sword domain at the early Void Refinement stage? How could he have an artifact spirit brew tea for him? Whenever he thought of this, the Solitary Cloud Old Man felt uneasy. If he were alone, he could have fled far away. However, relocating his sect was not that simple, nor could he abandon his sect's foundation. The mortal realm was now occupied by the Daoist, with so many altar formations established; it was impossible to expect him to leave on his own. The Solitary Cloud Old Man's headache was how to manage the relationship between their two sides. He now only hoped that the power behind the Daoist had no conflict with the Sky-Clearing Sect. If two major powers were to fight, the small Cloud Capital Heaven, caught in the middle, would only end up shattered.

"Alas!" The Solitary Cloud Old Man sighed inwardly, noticed the Daoist approaching swiftly, and rose to greet him. "The remnants of Fallen Soul Abyss are all hiding below. Fallen Soul Abyss's sect array is an ancient formation obtained by the old zombie years ago; it has some intricacies. I trouble Daoist to assist me in breaking the formation together!"

Qin Sang nodded, neither confirming nor denying. The darkness of Fallen Soul Abyss could not obstruct his vision. Through the formation, he saw one panicking face after another. In truth, he bore no grudge against Ancestor Minghu. Ancestor Minghu was merely a tool for his enlightenment.