Chapter 2007: Five Elements Alliance

"Demon Race from Beyond the Realm..."

According to Qin Sang's observations and knowledge, cultivators of the Great Thousand Worlds do not consider Small Thousand Worlds as 'beyond the realm.' In the common understanding of the Great Thousand Worlds, Small Thousand Worlds are derived from them, an integral part of the Great Thousand Worlds. They are like saplings growing in the shade of a large tree, sprouting from its roots, essentially the same organism. There's even a theory that the Great Thousand Worlds will one day perish, and Small Thousand Worlds are a continuation of the Great Thousand Worlds' vitality. Eventually, one or more Small Thousand Worlds will grow as the Great Thousand Worlds decline, bringing new life to ruins and offering a path for all living beings, simultaneously marking the beginning of a new cycle.

The Demon Race being considered 'beyond the realm' implies only one possibility: they come from another Great Thousand World!

"Did Senior Sister and Bai Zhen ascend to another Great Thousand World?" Qin Sang fell silent.

If it were a normal Great Thousand World with which the current world had communication, there might be a chance to meet again in the future. However, the Demon Race from Beyond the Realm is regarded as an invader by this world; they are mortal enemies. The realm barrier was once sealed by the Jade Emperor, making it an insurmountable chasm. Meeting them would be incredibly difficult!

The Witch Clan is beyond the Fengju Jade Gate, so there's news of Liu Ying and Gui Mu. Without the celestial Dao demonic sounds bothering her, Liu Li has hope of ascending to the Nascent Soul stage and possibly meeting them in the Great Thousand Worlds. Unexpectedly, Senior Sister and Bai, who ascended first, turned out to be the most difficult to reunite with.

"Why are the Dao Court and Purple Micro Palace not mentioned here? Did they rise during subsequent upheavals?"

Since Reverend Tian Yue had revealed so many secrets to Jian Nu and entrusted him to wait here, Qin Sang didn't need to hold back. He directly voiced his questions. Upon asking, Qin Sang noticed Jian Nu seemed surprised, looking at him with a strange expression.

Jian Nu lightly coughed, saying, "This old servant, this old servant... had some questions I wanted to ask True Lord."

Qin Sang immediately understood. Jian Nu probably assumed he had a deep connection with the Purple Micro Palace, perhaps even being a successor of a powerful figure, which is why Reverend Tian Yue valued him so much. Little did Jian Nu know, Qin Sang had indeed received a legacy, but he was a rather clueless inheritor.

"Daoist friend has followed Senior Tian Yue for many years, yet Senior Tian Yue didn't reveal those hidden secrets to you. I don't know much more than you. Moreover, let alone before, even with my current cultivation, what does it amount to in the Great Thousand Worlds? What good would knowing do?" Qin Sang sighed. These words truly reflected Qin Sang's inner thoughts. A cultivator at the Void Refinement stage could be a hegemon in one region, but in the entire Great Thousand Worlds, they were merely a slightly larger chess piece. When he thought of the great karmic entanglements tied to him, Qin Sang couldn't help but feel powerless.

Jian Nu resonated with this feeling and began to recount the information he had gathered.

"Whether deliberately erased or for other reasons, there are few records of the Dao Court and Sword Pavilion in public archives. This old servant only found scattered mentions in those texts. After the Jade Emperor opened up the heavens and earth, humanity flourished, and various Dao paths emerged, with the Daoist sects being the most prominent. The Dan Ding (Elixir Cauldron) sect goes without saying, its influence was profound. The Talisman (Fu Lu) sect is widely recognized as the origin of humanity's divine path. Some even trace the conflict between Mahayana and Hinayana Dao back to that era, believing the Mahayana Dao originated then. However, the records only mention the Talisman sect, not the Dao Court.

"Later, during the Great Zhou era, sword cultivation became popular. Every major change, every powerful figure's emergence, was accompanied by great chaos and catastrophe! In an era of great contention, the various races of the Great Thousand Worlds and the Demon Race from Beyond the Realm were always involved. At that time, sword rainbows blotted out the sky, and countless sword cultivators rode the swift winds, flowed with the clouds, crossed mountains and seas, and soared through the nine heavens on their swords. They established the Sword Pavilion at the realm barrier, guarded the frontier, and slew outer demons. There were even rumors of sword qi surging like tides, attacking the demon realm, advancing relentlessly, slaughtering all before them, striking fear into all demons!

"But there are also rumors that sword cultivators were autocratic and lacked patience, actively blasting open the realm barrier seal, which allowed them to invade the demon realm. However, their advance was eventually blocked, bringing a great catastrophe upon the Great Thousand Worlds. Some even rumored that sword cultivators colluded with outer demons to sow chaos in the Great Thousand Worlds... These true and false accounts are mixed together, confusing people's vision, making it impossible to distinguish. The truth has been completely covered up."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Qin Sang immediately realized something was wrong, and his expression gradually turned serious.

According to the Dao he had comprehended from it, the Purple Micro Sword Venerable cultivated the Mahayana Killing Dao. Thus, guarding the realm barrier, attacking outer demons, and protecting the Great Thousand Worlds was indeed his modus operandi. But why did a guardian of the Great Thousand Worlds end up with the Sword Pavilion in ruins, its legacy severed, and everyone reviling it? The First Sword Attendant even spoke of being an enemy of the world. Even if they were enemies of the world, it should have been the Demon Race from Beyond the Realm that was the enemy of the world!

Qin Sang considered various possibilities, countless schemes flashing through his mind. Could it be that while the Purple Micro Sword Venerable led the Purple Micro Palace in battle at the realm barrier, he neglected what was behind him and was betrayed by malicious individuals? When the Purple Micro Palace and the Demon Race were locked in battle, severely weakening their strength, villains seized the opportunity to usurp their achievements and tarnish their reputation. Or perhaps the sword cultivators were too sharp, long becoming a thorn in others' sides, and were suppressed by a united front. Humanity itself was not a monolithic entity, let alone other races like the Witch and Demon clans.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Qin Sang's mind, and he thought of another possibility, his heart tightening slightly. Anything could be false; only the Great Dao is truly real. But what if the Great Dao he had comprehended was 'false'? After all, he only had the first twelve layers of the cultivation method; the subsequent parts for Body Integration and Mahayana were missing. What if the Mahayana Killing Dao was only the Dao of the twelfth layer, and after breaking through to Body Integration and Mahayana, the Purple Micro Sword Venerable abandoned the Mahayana Killing Dao and changed his path? It was not impossible. Throughout the first twelve layers, the Purple Micro Sword Venerable's Dao was never constant; he was always exploring and advancing. If he had abandoned the protective heart of the Mahayana Killing Dao and just entered the demon realm for the sheer joy of killing, then it might indeed be problematic.

Countless thoughts intertwined in Qin Sang's mind, becoming more chaotic the more he thought. Conclusions drawn from limited information would certainly be far from the truth. Qin Sang merely speculated on a few possibilities; until definite evidence was found, none could be trusted. Thus, Qin Sang became even more eager to obtain the fragments of the killing sword and the subsequent cultivation methods, to see what the Purple Micro Sword Venerable's Dao truly was. Perhaps it was the very path he was seeking, which would mean he wouldn't need to change his fundamental cultivation method. As for changing allegiance, Qin Sang hadn't considered it for now. His karmic ties with the Purple Micro Palace couldn't be severed just by wanting to. At least for now, he was the biggest beneficiary of this karma.

Seeing Qin Sang lost in thought, Jian Nu sat quietly, not disturbing him.

"Did Senior Tian Yue say where I should wait for him after taking the spiritual sword?" Qin Sang wanted to know what arrangements the First Sword Attendant and Reverend Tian Yue had for him. If he could receive their protection, find a blessed land, and cultivate peacefully for thousands or tens of thousands of years, he would be more than willing.

"Master said for True Lord to act as he sees fit," Jian Nu shook his head, clearly indicating no specific instructions.

'Perhaps Reverend Tian Yue finds it inconvenient to meet me, and he must also know what dangerous situation lies ahead,' Qin Sang sighed inwardly, saying, "Can we contact Senior Tian Yue to meet first? Perhaps there's a better way..."

"Master said, 'A sharp sword comes from grinding'; this is his Dao!" Jian Nu stated gravely. There was no room for negotiation.

While admiring this resolve, Qin Sang leaned back slightly, forced to carefully consider his retreat. If the process of taking the sword went smoothly, all would be well. But if his identity was exposed, there would be no safe place for him in the Eight Great Heavenly Provinces, or even within all human territories.

He had just learned from Jian Nu that the ancient battlefield where the Fengju Jade Gate was located was vast. Although it spanned between human and witch territories, entering from the human side was far less dangerous than from the witch side. It was even more difficult for the witch clan to enter their sacred mountain. Furthermore, the Purple Micro Palace was closer to the human side, essentially within human territory, so they only needed to consider human opponents at the Fengju Jade Gate.

If escaping to the Witch Clan side meant meeting Liu Ying and Gui Mu, it could be an option, but how to bypass the Fengju Jade Gate was a problem, and it might not be safe. The Witch Clan would certainly be interested in a major legacy like the Purple Micro Palace. If he continued north, he would enter the boundless wilderness. After the Demon Court's destruction, the demon race was driven into the wilderness. After countless years of evolution, who knew what they had become.

Qin Sang knew nothing about the situation in the wilderness, only that humanity could still only hold fast to the Eight Great Heavenly Provinces. In contrast, the Buddhist sect had opened up new fronts outside the Eight Great Heavenly Provinces. Additionally, the human race in the Eight Great Heavenly Provinces was not the entirety of the Great Thousand Worlds' human population. There were countless places similar to Moon Dew Bay, whose inhabitants were not citizens of the Great Zhou. Between the two races, there were also boundless chaotic zones, inhabited by various alien races, fraught with danger, even more perilous than the South Sea. To go to the wilderness, one must first pass through these areas.

After much thought, his options were truly limited. He could only be extremely careful when taking the sword.

Qin Sang could only take one step at a time for now, so he asked, "When do we depart?" Jian Nu would accompany him to Dui Province, and they would separate there. At that time, Jian Nu would send a report to Reverend Tian Yue using the agreed-upon method, while Qin Sang would conceal his identity and go to the Fengju Jade Gate alone, waiting for the right moment. Since the message was sent via a special method, Jian Nu also wouldn't be able to meet Reverend Tian Yue, making Qin Sang's desire to meet Reverend Tian Yue a luxury.

"Before we depart, this old servant needs to request leave from the Great Zhou Royal Palace and make arrangements. That will take at least a month," Jian Nu said.

The Great Zhou Royal Golden Guards defended the Royal Palace. As the saying goes, "The cicada senses the wind before it stirs." Any shift in the situation would be quickly detected. Unless absolutely necessary, it was best not to abandon this identity.

"Good! I'll also take this opportunity to admire the so-called human holy land of the Great Thousand Worlds," Qin Sang nodded. "Daoist friend, do you know of any major powers in Great Zhou known for artifact crafting? I fancy myself somewhat skilled in the Dao of artifact crafting. If I can gain recognition from a certain power and secure a guest elder position, it could serve as a disguise when traveling west. Well-established sects with clear lineages would probably be very strict and hard to approach. Business associations or alliances would be better."

Qin Sang did this partly for his own sake. He had thought he was quite wealthy among cultivators of his rank, but only after coming out did he realize how difficult the journey was. After a few more trips in the Eight Great Heavenly Provinces, his reserves would run dry. From then on, he would have to 'earn money' using his own skills. He still remembered how comfortable it was in the Talisman Realm, when he would hunt fierce beasts whenever he was short on funds, and could even comprehend the Killing Dao.

"There are indeed some powers known for artifact crafting, the most famous being the Tongtian Pavilion," Jian Nu mused. "Rumor has it that the high-ranking members of the Tongtian Pavilion are artifact spirits who attained Dao. They are innate spiritual treasures and acquired spiritual treasures that, for various reasons, broke free from their masters' control, and they call themselves the Spirit Race. However, they are few in number, and people rarely mention the Spirit Race when speaking of foreign races. In all my years in White Jade City, I've never heard of any Spirit Race member from the Tongtian Pavilion appearing. They are exceptionally mysterious."

"Oh? Spiritual treasures forming their own race?" Qin Sang's heart stirred. These Spirit Race members were similar to Xiao Wu, but Qin Sang would never let Xiao Wu interact with them. Artifact spirits forming their own race showed their independent nature, unwilling to be subservient to others. It would be bad if they lured Xiao Wu away.

"Those not of our kind are sure to have different intentions. The Tongtian Pavilion is probably not easy to enter," Qin Sang shook his head. If he joined a major power, he wanted to stay long-term unless absolutely necessary. He wouldn't seek a high position but enough leverage to secure resources for himself. The Great Zhou King's governance, whether merely titular or not, indicated that powerful human cultivators favored the existence of rules. Being within the rules meant acting according to them.

"Aside from the Tongtian Pavilion and those sects, the most famous is the Five Elements Alliance," Jian Nu said. "It's said to be an alliance formed by like-minded artifact refiners. Since all things in the world are largely composed of the five elements, and the Dao of artifact refining is found within all things, they named themselves the Five Elements Alliance. The Five Elements Alliance gradually grew and is now spread throughout the Eight Great Heavenly Provinces, having absorbed countless artifact refiners. They don't care about background; rogue cultivators can also join. There are also some rather strange ones..."

The Five Elements Alliance, and the Five Elements Diadem, also fit. Qin Sang smiled. No need to choose; it would be the Five Elements Alliance! However, he was curious about the "strange ones" and listened as Jian Nu continued. Upon hearing, he was indeed moved. Rumor had it that there was a power that could help people merge their souls with spiritual treasures, abandoning their human bodies and sheltering within the spiritual treasure, passing through the thunder tribulation to become true artifact spirits, and existing as artifact spirits, cultivating the Dao of artifact spirits. Qin Sang knew this was possible; Xiao Wu's birth process had some similarities. However, their claim to help the dying gain new life was of questionable credibility, and since the cost was extremely high, no one would easily try it.

This conversation truly broadened Qin Sang's horizons. The two talked for a while longer, finalizing their plans. Jian Nu left the jade token for the courtyard array with Qin Sang and returned to the Great Zhou Royal Palace.

After seeing Jian Nu off, Qin Sang sat quietly in the courtyard, analyzing the information he had gathered recently. The peaceful cultivation period was finally coming to an end.

Qin Sang sighed lightly, stood up, and walked out of the courtyard, proceeding unhurriedly along the streets of White Jade City toward the Five Elements Alliance. Unlike the mysterious Tongtian Pavilion, the Five Elements Alliance's headquarters were located in White Jade City itself, on the thirtieth heaven. However, Qin Sang did not plan to go directly to the headquarters. The Five Elements Alliance conducted business with outsiders, much like guilds in the mortal world, to show accessibility. They established a branch on every fifth heaven to facilitate cultivators.

While the Great Zhou didn't have explicit regulations for the thirty-three heavens, over the years, some widely accepted rules had spontaneously formed. For instance, the Great Zhou Royal Palace exclusively occupied the thirty-third heaven, and low-level cultivators generally wouldn't venture alone into the higher levels. After consideration, Qin Sang decided to go to the branch on the twentieth heaven.