Chapter 2013: Saint

Wuxia & Xianxia

Qin Sang had envisioned various reunion scenarios, even considering the possibility of meeting seniors who had ascended from the Storm Realm before. However, he never expected his first "reunion" to be with the spirit embryo he had personally refined.

Back then, the Xuling Sect discovered fire jade in the Mountains Beyond Mountains and cultivated a special fire spirit. The sect leader, Bing Han, had invited him and Xiang Qing of the Qingyang Sect to assist in refining it into an embryo for a spiritual treasure, hoping it would eventually give birth to a true spiritual treasure for the Xuling Sect.

This very spirit embryo had astonishingly appeared in the Grand World, already a pseudo-spiritual treasure and on the verge of transformation.

Could the woman be a Xuling Sect disciple who had ascended from a lower realm?

If people were already ascending to the Grand World less than a millennium after he left the Storm Realm, did that mean the Heavenly Dao's demonic sounds were no longer a problem, and the ascension path through Guixu had become smooth again?

Had anyone from Liuli or Qingyang Temple already ascended to the Grand World?

"Swoosh! Swoosh!"

The woman's jade blade had been snatched, and she hadn't yet recovered from her shock when two gusts of ominous wind suddenly arrived from behind, grey and blue streaks of light aiming directly at her back.

The blue streak was an ice arrow, smaller than the one shattered by the jade blade earlier, but its light was purer and sharper, clearly indicating a more terrifying power. Along with the ice arrow came a sky full of blizzards.

Snowflakes as large as dippers fluttered down, a cold wave surged, and even the sandstorm was frozen, as if everything in heaven and earth had been solidified.

The grey streak was a pill, the size of a longan, enveloped in grey mist, giving off an eerie aura.

The moment the pill neared the woman, the ground suddenly rumbled. Sand dunes collapsed, the desert cracked open, and a stream of grey mist burst forth from underground, shooting up into the sky.

Within the grey mist was a terrifying phantom: a massive grey-scaled python. Its body was as huge as a mountain, and its dull grey scales looked as if they were made of earth and rock. It swallowed the pill in one gulp, unleashing monstrous ferocity, and suddenly coiled its long tail.

The ground seemed to become a blanket, pulsating with rhythmic tremors. Yellow sand was lifted by the immense force, forming a dreadful dust storm intent on engulfing the woman.

With ice and snow above, and a dust storm below, the ice arrow and the grey-scaled python arrived in an instant, leaving no escape above or below.

Under such a tight offensive, even if the woman hadn't been distracted, escaping would have been far from easy.

At that moment, the woman had no mind to care about what Qin Sang was asking. Her survival instinct suppressed her fear, and she lunged forward. Her palace dress, a Dharma Robe, hastily transformed into a cloud banner, emitting colorful mist. Immediately, clouds rose and mists swirled around her, forming a protective spiritual light.

But this was far from enough to get the woman out of danger. Just then, she suddenly felt the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth vibrate.

In an instant, all sounds ceased. The threats from behind vanished simultaneously.

The void transformed into a magnificent and serene painting, as if time itself had frozen there.

Ice and snow, dust storm, colorful mist—everything stood still at that moment. The ice sword and the grey-scaled python were also restrained by an invisible force, unable to move.

The two pursuers felt their scalps tingle, a chill colder than any cold wave spreading through their bodies. In their terror, just as they were about to retreat, they felt a terrifying pressure descend upon them.

The black-robed man who had just manipulated the ice arrow opened his mouth and spat out an oval piece of Profound Ice. Its surface was engraved with dense runes, indicating it was a protective treasure. Unexpectedly, the Profound Ice merely flickered with a blue light before extinguishing instantly.

Then, the black-robed man flew uncontrollably towards Qin Sang.

His companion reacted quicker, conjuring a jade bracelet. The bracelet transformed into a halo of precious light, enveloping him, but that was all it did. The bracelet couldn't protect him at all; he was carried along with it as he flew out.

"Thud! Thud!"

Both men crashed heavily onto the ground, unable to utter a single word. From beginning to end, Qin Sang didn't even spare them a glance.

"You don't need to come over," Qin Sang said in a deep voice.

"Yes, sir!"

From the distant sandstorm, Qu Zhen's voice was heard. Without questioning the reason, the Hengsha Guild members immediately retreated to their Luan carriage.

With two powerful enemies instantly captured and at someone's mercy, the woman, still shaken, stared blankly at Qin Sang. She suddenly recalled the question Qin Sang had just asked and finally realized something.

"You know my master?"

At this point, the woman seemed to have just clearly seen Qin Sang's face. Her eyes suddenly widened, her cherry lips parted slightly, revealing an expression of disbelief, and she blurted out, "You... you are Saint Qin!"

Qin Sang observed the woman's reaction. It seemed she was Bing Han's disciple and recognized him, but what she said was entirely unexpected, causing him to frown.

Saint? Where did this 'Saint' come from? When did he become a saint? Who bestowed this title upon him?

The woman didn't notice Qin Sang's changing expression. With a face full of reverence and a tone brimming with excitement and surprise, she said, "This junior, Gu Ya, greets the Saint! The Saint once lectured at my master's sect. I was young then and unfortunately missed the opportunity, which has always been a great regret. Later, I visited the Sacred Land to venerate the Saint's statue and fulfill a vow. I never imagined I would have such immense fortune to personally meet the Saint, and even be saved by the Saint..."

Saint statue, Sacred Land, what a mess!

Qin Sang was completely bewildered, finding it absurd. He waved his hand, stopping Gu Ya. "Where did this 'Saint' come from? How come this old man doesn't know about it? Who erected a saint statue for me, and what exactly is this 'Sacred Land'?"

Gu Ya paused, realizing she had been too excited and hadn't explained many things clearly. The Saint hadn't returned since the world transformation, so he probably wasn't aware of the full story.

"Back then, the Saint caused a celestial phenomenon in the Canglang Sea, visible throughout the entire realm. Later, the truth came to light, and we learned that the Saint had sacrificed himself to lure away the evil fiends, saving all living beings in the realm, and breaking the cage that imprisoned the realm. From then on, the entire realm entered the Grand World, paving a smooth path for future generations. We had thought the Saint had already..."

Gu Ya paused. "To commemorate the Saint's benevolence, Qingyang Temple was collectively honored as a Sacred Land. Fairy Liuli and the major powers together erected a statue of the Saint in the Sacred Land, for eternal veneration!"

"What did you say? The entire Storm Realm entered the Grand World?" Qin Sang sharply caught the most crucial information, his heart jolting. "When?"

The Talisman Realm had ascended en masse, and now the Storm Realm had also astonishingly entered the Grand World.

Could this be the reason why the First Sword Attendant later couldn't sense the Storm Realm?

But the Talisman Realm was one of the four separate domains created by the Dao Court in ancient times. It was a realm formed when the Dao Court, with the power of the Divine Court, divided the Grand World.

What about the Storm Realm?

What was the origin of the Storm Realm?

Was the Storm Realm's entry into the Grand World related to the Dao Court's return, or was it connected to the Ziwei Palace?

Qin Sang couldn't help but look westward. Perhaps the Storm Realm existed only to contain and hide the Ziwei Palace, and its recall had broken the Storm Realm's cage. However, according to the Ghost Mother's account and various indications, the Storm Realm clearly held a great secret even before the Ziwei Palace, one that the First Sword Attendant dared not forcibly breach.

If the Storm Realm was also part of the Grand World, then why did its cultivators still have to endure the grey heavenly tribulation after ascending? Only cultivators from minor realms, where the Heavenly Dao is incomplete, experience true Heavenly Dao enlightenment during tribulation lightning after ascending to the Grand World.

Qin Sang was genuinely unsure if there was any precedent within the Grand World for an entire minor realm to integrate into it.

This news was completely unexpected. Qin Sang's mind was somewhat chaotic, and countless questions instantly arose.

"This junior cannot give an exact time!

"It is said that one day, mist suddenly appeared in the storm belt, but no one could say exactly when it began. The mist first spread within the storm belt, then filled the entire area, leaving a vast expanse of white beyond the barrier.

"Gradually, the invisible barrier that held back the storms seemed unable to resist the encroachment of the mist, making people uneasy.

"Eventually, the barrier's power truly waned, and the white mist genuinely crossed over it, enveloping the land and sea, present everywhere. The world became a boundless expanse, terrifying people who believed the end of days was nigh.

"Accompanying this was the fluctuating spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Spiritual tides continuously roared high in the sky, as if the heavens were collapsing, and it seemed the storms truly invaded. All living beings were immersed in fear, frantically searching for shelter. Cultivators could only hide in their caves, and the major sects were powerless, closing their mountain gates to await the end.

"But as time passed, we discovered that not only did the end of days not arrive, but the spiritual energy became denser amid the tremors. Some even broke through long-standing bottlenecks, as if a depleted world was recovering.

"Finally, some ventured out and found that the invisible barrier had vanished, and the eternal, ceaseless storms had also died down..."

Gu Ya described the changes during the Storm Realm's entry into the Grand World, all of which were her personal experiences.

According to Gu Ya, the truth was obscured by the mist, and no one could precisely say when the Storm Realm fully integrated into the Grand World.

During the initial period after entering the Grand World, cultivators from the Storm Realm were still bewildered, unsure of what exactly had happened. They only knew that the spiritual energy in the Storm Realm was becoming denser and more suitable for cultivation.

It was a long time later before they understood the full story.

All changes happened gradually; there was no exact moment, and abundant spiritual energy did not suddenly surge into the Storm Realm all at once.

Qin Sang meticulously questioned Gu Ya about her experiences during that period, trying to find evidence to support his own judgment.

When he left the Storm Realm, he had traveled from Zhongzhou to Canglang Sea, and even visited the edge of Guixu. Even earlier, he had traveled with Liuli from Beihai to Zhongzhou.

But Qin Sang couldn't be certain if the "mist" Gu Ya mentioned had begun to condense at that time. The storm belt was constantly raging with storms and sea mist, while between Xitu and Zhongzhou, there were raging flames.

The anomaly experienced by the Storm Realm lasted for a long time. The mist was already spreading when he was in the Talisman Realm, and it was only after he ascended to the Grand World that cultivators from the Storm Realm confirmed their integration.

It was impossible to determine whether this was related to the Dao Court's return, or if it was caused by the earlier ascension of the Ziwei Palace.

Frustratingly, Qin Sang had experienced many hardships before ascending to the Grand World, while the beings in the Storm Realm "ascended" without much ado.

How disheartening this must be for Sage Huiguang, Saint King Qinghu, Mo Xingdao, and the Storm Realm ancestors who painstakingly forged the ascension path through Guixu, as well as the prodigies who died with resentment, blocked at the threshold of the Soul Transformation stage!

Qin Sang had originally thought it would be difficult to meet many old acquaintances from the Storm Realm in this lifetime, perhaps only two or three at most successfully ascending.

But now that the Storm Realm had integrated into the Grand World, with spiritual energy recovering and becoming a cultivation sacred land, and with the aid of the grey heavenly tribulation, many old friends' cultivation must have advanced by leaps and bounds!

"Where is the Storm Realm now? How did you end up here, and why are you being pursued?"

Qin Sang suspected the Storm Realm might be near the Fengju Jade Gate. If so, could it be due to the Ziwei Palace?

"After returning to the Grand World, the mist did not dissipate. Whether on land or at sea, day or night, everything was hazy with white mist. The mist lingered year-round, and we later learned that we had landed in a place called the Mist Sea.

"The Mist Sea was not peaceful. As we were exploring outwards, we were discovered by an alien race called the Changyou Clan, which quickly led to war.

"The Changyou Clan has two hands and two legs like humans, but their bodies are covered in yellow fur, more abundant than human hair. They resemble monkeys but have four ears and are naturally gifted with water manipulation abilities, thriving in the sea. We were caught off guard and suffered heavy losses; my master also died in that war."

Gu Ya's tone became somber. Her excitement at seeing Qin Sang diminished considerably. The Storm Realm had integrated into the Grand World, and cultivators had seen the dawn of immortal cultivation, yet her master had fallen at that very moment. How could one not feel sorrow?

Qin Sang sighed inwardly. His friendship with Bing Han had begun with this very jade blade, and now to receive news that his old acquaintance was gone, and certainly Bing Han wasn't the only one lost.

"Later, we discovered that we hadn't entered human territory, but had instead landed in the domain of the Variant Human Race. The Variant Human Race members are all strangely shaped; they have human bodies but possess certain characteristics similar to demonic beasts. Besides the Changyou Clan, there are countless Variant Human tribes with different features, forming clans and nations, distributed throughout the Mist Sea. It is said that the most powerful among them are the Feathered People Clan and the Merman Clan..." Gu Ya suppressed her sorrow and continued.

Mist Sea, Variant Human Race.

Qin Sang's expression grew serious. He had read relevant records: the Variant Human Race was another race in the Grand World, distinct from humans, demons, and witches. It was said that deep in the Eastern Sea lay a mysterious, boundless expanse of mist-shrouded waters, and that was where the Variant Human Race lived.

The Storm Realm had actually landed in alien territory. It was truly hard to say whether this was a blessing or a curse.

"Fairy Liuli and the major powers united with the cultivators of the Storm Realm, working together to resist the alien races. However, we never anticipated that the dangers in the Mist Sea were not limited to alien races; there were also natural disasters like Mistfalls. This junior was swept into a Mistfall, which is how I ended up here."

Gu Ya recalled her experience from that time, still feeling lingering fear. She composed herself before continuing.

"The Mistfall arrived in an instant and was incredibly terrifying. At the time, I was completely unprepared and thought I would be torn apart by it. After a dizzying whirlwind, I fell unconscious, losing all sense of myself. When I woke up, I found myself severely injured and thrown onto an unfamiliar land. After careful inquiry, I learned that I was already far from the Mist Sea. Dangers lurked all around, and being alone, I could only proceed with extreme caution, prioritizing the improvement of my cultivation first.

"Later, I confirmed that I had been flung into the dark zone between the Barrenlands and Great Zhou. By chance, I overheard discussions about the Fengju Jade Gate, and that the Ziwei Palace had actually appeared there.

"As the Ziwei Palace is known to everyone in the Beichen Realm, I thought that once news of its appearance spread, seniors who had previously ascended from lower realms would likely be drawn to it..."