Chapter 1990: Da Zhou

A streak of escape light emerged from the mountains and flew towards them, revealing a man. He possessed Deity Transformation stage cultivation and remained perfectly composed, even when facing Qin Sang and the others.

The man introduced himself as Chu Wenxuan and greeted Sect Master Ying. Chu Wenxuan greeted each person present, finally turning his gaze to Qin Sang.

Qin Sang introduced himself as Qingfeng, a humble Daoist, explaining that he had come to attend the ceremony at the invitation of his friend, Old Man Guyun.

Without further questions, Chu Wenxuan offered, "We have arranged for you, esteemed senior, and the other seniors to stay at Guqing Peak. Does that suit your preference?"

"That works," Qin Sang affirmed, nodding.

Everyone immediately followed Chu Wenxuan, flying over the mountains until they reached a verdant peak. Apart from slight variations in flora, the scenery on these mountains was largely similar. Abundant spiritual energy and vibrant green landscapes uplifted their spirits, making it impossible to discern any significant difference in quality among them. It was likely a deliberate decision by the Jitian Sect, aiming to prevent resentment from any perceived uneven arrangements.

Their flying artifacts ceased glowing, and everyone put them away as they landed on the mountain's lower slopes. Near the summit, several striking ancient trees stood out. Chu Wenxuan explained that each ancient tree functioned as a "Treasure Abode," serving as a residence for distinguished guests. Around these abodes, numerous cultivation chambers of varying sizes were scattered. Guqing Peak was more than sufficient to comfortably accommodate several sects.

The Treasure Abodes were largely similar, so Qin Sang casually selected one. As he had only brought Taiyi and Yulang with him, he arranged for them to cultivate within the same abode.

Standing before the Treasure Abode, Qin Sang activated the jade talisman in his hand. The space in front of him distorted, revealing the abode's true appearance. The tree's canopy spread like a magnificent parasol. A wooden pavilion was built against the tree, and upon closer inspection, it became clear that the pavilion was not man-made. Instead, the ancient tree's branches had twisted and coiled, naturally growing into this intricate structure. Though hidden beneath the canopy, the wooden pavilion did not obstruct the view. Qin Sang ascended the pavilion and gazed out at the endless, rolling green mountains.

Taiyi and Yulang rested below.

A short while later, the abode's protective barrier was triggered. Taiyi and Yulang came up to him, explaining that Daoist Yunxi was outside and had invited them to go sightseeing.

Several major sects were due to participate in the Jitian Assembly, and Old Man Guyun, along with others, needed to negotiate with the Jitian Sect to arrange the upcoming affairs. Qin Sang had no immediate tasks and was simply awaiting news from Old Man Guyun.

Recognizing this as an opportunity for Taiyi and Yulang to broaden their horizons, Qin Sang naturally did not stop them. He flicked his finger, sending out a bolt of lightning that struck Taiyi's forehead, leaving a lightning mark there. This lightning mark served to conceal Taiyi's true origin.

The Jitian Sect had issued strict orders prohibiting participating cultivators from engaging in mutual combat. Both righteous and demonic factions were deliberately separated and housed in different areas. No one wished to cause trouble at the Jitian Assembly. While the area was generally free of danger, accidents could always happen. Taiyi's origin was unique; he was a spiritual talisman that had achieved sentience and the Dao. Qin Sang did not want him to be targeted by malicious individuals or to cause any disturbance. After Qin Sang cast the concealing spell, even if others noticed something unusual about Taiyi, they would merely assume he was a special kind of demon cultivator.

"Go," Qin Sang instructed.

Qin Sang waved his hand. After the two departed, he did not enter cultivation. Instead, he sent a voice transmission talisman to Old Man Guyun and left the Treasure Abode alone.

Strange peaks stood tall, connected by vine bridges, with the mountains forming a natural array, collectively creating a unique city. Qin Sang followed a vine bridge, leaving Guqing Peak. From time to time, he heard bursts of lively chatter. Flying artifacts continuously arrived in the city, and more people gathered on the mountaintops, excitedly commenting on the various sects' flying artifacts and discussing the state of affairs.

Qin Sang was not so bored as to join them. He had just inquired about the city's layout from Chu Wenxuan and was preparing to head to a place called Lingbao Peak. Lingbao Peak was home to all the major trade guilds. Once the Assembly began, an auction would be held there, rumored to feature treasures that could even tempt Void Refinement stage cultivators. Qin Sang had already arranged for Old Man Guyun to secure a seat for him. His purpose this time was not to participate in the auction, but rather to use the opportunity to consult ancient texts and gather information about the cultivation world.

Lingbao Peak was the highest and most prominent peak in the city. This peak featured sheer, straight cliffs on all four sides. Ancient trees grew unevenly from the cliffs, with 'lanterns' hanging from their canopies, arranged densely. Some of these 'lanterns' were even larger than houses. These lanterns were entirely jade-white, as if carved from white jade, emitting a soft, elegant glow. Thick and thin vine bridges connected the lanterns to each other, and Lingbao Peak to the surrounding peaks, forming a dense network. These ancient trees were a special type of spiritual tree, and the 'lanterns' were their flowers. The flower petals were incredibly hard and hollow inside. Cultivators carved these flowers into pavilions and palaces, with exquisitely patterned doors and windows. Shops were set up within these flowers.

It was already dusk, with evening's shadows gathering. The lanterns on Lingbao Peak swayed, becoming even more beautiful and enchanting.

Before long, Qin Sang ascended Lingbao Peak with a clear destination in mind, passing through several covered bridges. He noted the sign: Jinshu Pavilion. Qin Sang looked up at the sign.

Jinshu Pavilion sold a variety of cultivation techniques and classical texts, claiming them all to be 'jade brocade' books, which is how it earned its name. Qin Sang was not there to purchase cultivation techniques. He was seeking texts that recorded anecdotes of the cultivation world, preferably ancient texts passed down from antiquity.

Inside the flower-shaped structures, the furnishings were no different from elsewhere. A beautiful maid came forward. Upon learning Qin Sang's purpose, she led him into a quiet room, served fragrant tea, and presented him with various jade slips and books. Batch after batch of jade slips and books were brought in. Qin Sang completely lost track of time, sifting through the information to verify its authenticity while contemplating the tasks he needed to accomplish during this Jitian Assembly.

His primary objective was naturally the small grotto-heaven, but there was little he could do personally; Old Man Guyun was handling the arrangements for it. One Coiling Dragon Heaven Pillar could largely guarantee a 70% chance of success, but to ensure absolute certainty and prevent any potential obstacles, all aspects needed to be carefully considered.

His next objective was the Star Essence Infusion. If he could find a master at the Void Refinement stage who cultivated the Dao of Stars, the Star Essence Infusion would not be a difficult task. On the way here, Qin Sang had specifically inquired with Old Man Guyun and others. Moonlit Bay had no renowned sects or powerful individuals known for cultivating the Dao of Stars, so he had to consider other avenues.

His next priority was to gather information on the cultivation world and plan his future itinerary.

When he first learned the name 'Moonlit Bay,' Qin Sang had assumed it referred to an actual bay, located at the edge of a landmass. Only after detailed inquiry did he learn that, to some, Moonlit Bay was merely an island. This 'island' was, in fact, far more vast than the continents of a small-thousand world! However, in the context of the Great-Thousand World, Moonlit Bay was merely an insignificant small island – a fact unimaginable in a small-thousand world.

It was named Moonlit Bay because the island's shape resembled a bay. To the island's east, the sea curved inland, with two peninsulas extending from its edges, as if a large portion of land had been scooped out, forming a bay-like topography. Yundou Tian was located in the southern part of Moonlit Bay, considered one of its more barren areas. The most fertile location was naturally where the Jitian Sect resided, roughly in the center of Moonlit Bay. One could reach the bay by heading directly east from the Jitian Sect. The terrain clearly indicated that the Jitian Sect's influence could radiate to both the northern and southern ends, implying that all sects in Moonlit Bay had to defer to the Jitian Sect's will.

Beyond Moonlit Bay, countless small islands were also inhabited by mortals and cultivators, with innumerable sects of varying sizes. These were considered part of Moonlit Bay's peripheral cultivation forces and were not qualified to participate in the Jitian Assembly.

Based on its behavior over the years, the Jitian Sect showed no ambition to unify Moonlit Bay. However, this did not mean that other sects could disregard the Jitian Sect and stir up trouble in the cultivation world. The Jitian Assembly was more akin to an alliance meeting, serving to assert the Jitian Sect's authority and balance the interests of all parties. Even before the Assembly officially began, a sense of sharp opposition was already palpable.

Beyond Moonlit Bay lay the boundless ocean, and other cultivation worlds also existed in the surrounding areas. Each of these cultivation worlds was no weaker than Moonlit Bay in terms of strength and scope. They were separated by vast seas, and although there were connections between them, due to the long distances and various dangers, including demonic creatures and rogue cultivators, it was extremely difficult even for Deity Transformation cultivators to travel between them.

During this journey, traveling with Sect Master Yu, Sect Master Ying, and others, they shared some of their experiences and generously provided several different cartographic maps. The situation in the sea was constantly changing; information on a cartographic map could become outdated after a single period of seclusion. Relying solely on such maps could lead to an unforeseen demise. The purpose of these cartographic maps was to indicate directions and mark the locations of top-tier powers.

These cartographic maps shared a common characteristic: their descriptions of the area north of Moonlit Bay were more detailed compared to other regions. Qin Sang noted that to the north of Moonlit Bay were Qifeng Island, Jitian Peak, and other locations. At the northernmost edge recorded on the cartographic maps, only a small dot remained marked. It was impossible to ascertain the exact distance or the dangers in between, and naturally, Moonlit Bay had very few connections with that distant place. Despite such vast distances, they had not yet reached a major landmass.

Qin Sang also noticed a characteristic: westward from Moonlit Bay, the markings on the maps became increasingly sparse. Regarding this, Qin Sang asked Old Man Guyun, who revealed that he had also been quite curious years ago and had traveled westward alone, finding that the further west he went, the more desolate the landscape became. Eventually, due to time constraints, he had returned from his journey. Most cultivators from Moonlit Bay who ventured out traveled north, maintaining closer ties with the northern powers.

When he first met Qingyuan, Qin Sang had consulted him about his current location and how to reach Mount Yujing. Qingyuan could not provide Qin Sang with detailed paths, only general directions, and a brief introduction to information about the human race. Combining this with some rumors he had heard recently, Qin Sang formed a general impression of the human race in the Great-Thousand World. Most legends circulating in Moonlit Bay were based on hearsay, but some did align with Qingyuan's accounts.

Mount Yujing was the cradle of heroes, the holy land of the human race, and had always been the core and spiritual symbol of humanity since ancient times. There stood the Immortal City of Baiyujing, which was also the largest immortal city of the human race. Furthermore, Baiyujing served as the capital of Great Zhou! Indeed, it was unimaginable for ordinary mortals, but the human race possessed an immortal kingdom named Great Zhou, which had existed since Mount Yujing became a holy land. The Emperor of Great Zhou was the common sovereign of all under heaven, residing in Baiyujing and ruling with minimal effort, commanding the human race of the Great-Thousand World. Although Qingyuan did not provide extensive details, it was likely that Great Zhou's rule was not as strict as that in the mortal world.

Beyond Mount Yujing, human territories were divided into eight Great Heavenly States: Qian, Kun, Xun, Zhen, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui, perfectly aligning with the Eight Trigrams. The Eight Great Heavenly States were not strictly arranged according to the Eight Trigrams. According to Qingyuan, the Eight Great Heavenly States and Mount Yujing were separated by an immeasurably vast distance, with wild and barren lands in between, like a natural chasm. Ordinary cultivators from a provincial capital could not reach other Heavenly States or Baiyujing in their entire lifetime. The journey was fraught with unimaginable dangers, and even Void Refinement cultivators dared not traverse it alone. The Eight Great Heavenly States and Mount Yujing were connected by Great Teleportation Arrays. As long as Qin Sang reached the capital of any of the Eight Great Heavenly States, he could travel to Mount Yujing via a Great Teleportation Array. Traveling by Great Teleportation Array was expensive and came with strict conditions, but it was undoubtedly much simpler than physically traversing the Great-Thousand World.

Mount Yujing and most of the Eight Great Heavenly States were located on major landmasses. According to Qingyuan, heading continuously north from his current location was the shortest route and would eventually lead to a landmass. If he didn't lose his way, he would most likely make landfall at the border of Gen State. Among the Eight Trigrams, the Gen trigram symbolized mountains, and Gen State was known for its numerous unusual mountains. This was the only information Qin Sang had about it. Qingyuan had not come south from Gen State, but had crossed the sea from another place, so he could not tell Qin Sang which route was safe.

Texts were continuously brought in and then taken away. Unknowingly, it was already past midnight, and the sky outside was gradually brightening. Qin Sang remained in the quiet room, continuously poring over the texts.

After finishing the ancient texts from Jinshu Pavilion, Qin Sang did not leave immediately. Instead, he had the shop owner send for ancient texts from other merchants. During this time, Qin Sang also purchased some cultivation techniques and secret arts that interested him. At the Void Refinement stage, any problems that could be solved with spirit stones ceased to be a concern. According to his understanding, Void Refinement cultivators, after reaching a certain level of cultivation, could manipulate spiritual energy and even forge spirit stones by hand. His own ability was still somewhat lacking; even if he forcibly forged one, the spiritual energy would be impure, rendering it of little value, and it would require considerable mental effort. Based on his own judgment, even at the peak of the Void Refinement stage, forging a top-grade spirit stone would not be easy. He wondered if Integration stage cultivators could achieve it. Therefore, for Void Refinement cultivators, only top-grade spirit stones held significant value. At this stage, there was no universally recognized 'currency.' All transactions were conducted through bartering, relying entirely on one's own discernment.

The protective barrier was triggered. The manager brought in another batch of ancient texts, followed by a maid who served the best spiritual tea. Neither dared to disturb Qin Sang, and they quietly withdrew. He had lost track of how many batches there had been. Jinshu Pavilion was exceedingly accommodating to this lavish patron, fulfilling his every request.

To gain a deeper understanding of the cultivation world around Moonlit Bay, he would certainly need to interact with Void Refinement cultivators later, as information from them would be the most reliable. Even so, Qin Sang had found a significant amount of useful information by browsing through these many texts. To the north of Moonlit Bay, islands were scattered like stars in the sky. Those large islands comparable to Moonlit Bay generally had top-tier powers established there. Separated by vast seas, these hegemons generally did not interfere with each other, maintaining peaceful coexistence, unless under special circumstances. For now, the cultivation world seemed relatively calm, with no signs of hidden undercurrents.

Picking up the last jade slip, Qin Sang quickly scanned it with his divine sense. Its content was unremarkable, so he tossed it aside and pushed the door open to leave.

The manager himself was waiting outside. Seeing Qin Sang, his face broke into a wide smile. He asked if Qin Sang had finished reading everything, explaining that those were merely the establishment's current treasures. He added that if Qin Sang required more, he had already sent a message to headquarters, noting with a suggestive chuckle that the texts there involved rather sensitive secrets.

Qin Sang calmly stated, "Have them brought here as soon as possible. I will come to collect them when the Assembly concludes."

"Understood! Please take care as you go!" the manager exclaimed. The smile on the manager's face grew even brighter. He quickly stepped forward and personally escorted Qin Sang out the door.