Chapter 2022: True Appearance

The mysterious powerful cultivators battling at Jade Gate Pass weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, creating an unseen sense of urgency.

Qin Sang wondered if one of them was Celestial Master Tianyue, but after a long wait, no news arrived. Celestial Master Tianyue remained completely out of contact, suggesting it might truly have been an accident.

However, an accident at such a time, did it imply an unknown shift in the situation at Fengju Jade Gate? Would it affect the upcoming sword retrieval plan?

Qin Sang didn't know, and could only continue to focus on planning his escape routes.

Soon it was time for their next meeting. They had shortened the interval to three months. Frequent meetings within the vast Fengju Jade Gate would waste a lot of time traveling back and forth, but they were forced to do so due to the drastically changing situation.

Of the three escape routes, one had been discovered using records provided by the Xin family cultivators. Perhaps the Xin family could even bring back valuable clues, which is why Qin Sang personally met with them each time.

Before the appointed day arrived, Qin Sang flew with Gu Ya towards the edge of Fengju Jade Gate.

After the great battle at Jade Gate Pass, Qin Sang had kept Gu Ya and the Vermilion Bird and other demons by his side. Now, he was preparing to send Gu Ya out of Fengju Jade Gate.

They soon reached an exit, where they could vaguely see the boundless yellow sand outside. Qin Sang performed a Thunder Escape technique, transforming into a bolt of lightning and vanishing into the sand, flying towards the vicinity of Jade Gate Pass.

Upon entering the city, he found it significantly desolate compared to when he first arrived; it had become a deserted city. The city lord had yet to appear, and chaos frequently erupted within the city.

Almost all major merchant guilds had closed their doors, and even some sects and noble families had moved their entire clans. Qin Sang visited the Five Elements Alliance's stronghold and found that they had withdrawn all their personnel, leaving only a talisman letter within the formation to explain the situation.

Qin Sang frowned. Did these factions have such a pessimistic outlook on the unfolding situation? Had some unknown change occurred?

“This is a credential I specifically purchased while concealing my identity. Crush it, and the Beast Taming Pavilion will send someone to meet you. Have them take you to Silver City to settle down and await my news.”

Qin Sang altered his appearance, took out a jade talisman engraved with a spirit eagle, crushed it, and then produced several spiritual talismans, handing them all to Gu Ya. “These are Thunder Talismans I personally crafted. With these protecting you, almost no cultivator at the Soul Transformation stage can threaten you, and they can help you cultivate safely.”

“Senior, aren't you coming with me? Can I stay and help you?” Gu Ya felt a deep unease rising in her heart, seeing Qin Sang’s actions as if he were giving a final instruction.

Having finally met a senior who ascended from the lower realms, was another accident about to occur?

Qin Sang shook his head. “This is just a precaution. Undercurrents are surging in Fengju Jade Gate, and if danger arises, I might not be able to protect you. Wait patiently in Silver City. Even if something truly happens in Fengju Jade Gate, I will entrust others to find you.”

“But…”

Gu Ya opened her mouth to speak, but seeing Qin Sang’s mind was made up, she dared not say more, and could only silently accept the Thunder Talismans.

After waiting for a while, the people from the Beast Taming Pavilion arrived.

“Recently, the Beast Taming Pavilion’s business must be booming, right?” Qin Sang asked, looking at the cultivator who introduced himself as a deacon from the Beast Taming Pavilion.

The deacon, beaming, chuckled, “Our pavilion has a good reputation throughout Dui Province. Even major powers and large sects hire our people to lead the way. The higher-ups have transferred all available personnel nearby, but we are still stretched thin…”

Once the situation turned chaotic, it was the Beast Taming Pavilion’s opportunity to make a fortune.

“Jade Gate Pass is in such chaos, with everyone fleeing. Is it truly caused by the powerful cultivators battling outside the city?” Qin Sang pressed.

“Well… this junior is of low power and humble status, so I don’t know the inside story. But from my observations, most people are just going with the flow. Those who remained in the city wished for stability, while those daring enough to take risks had already entered Fengju Jade Gate. The powerful cultivators' battle has caused widespread panic, so leaving the city to avoid it is only natural,” the deacon replied.

Qin Sang secretly nodded. With such chaos in the city and no one stepping forward to take charge, it was highly probable that the powerful figures of Jade Gate Pass had all entered Fengju Jade Gate.

“She is my junior. You must ensure her safe delivery to Silver City,” Qin Sang said, gesturing for Gu Ya to go with the deacon.

The deacon bowed and responded, “Senior, rest assured, our pavilion will certainly not fail your trust. There is also a group of fellow cultivators heading to Silver City; they can travel together. Gu Daoist, please come this way.”

After seeing Gu Ya off, Qin Sang returned to Fengju Jade Gate to rendezvous with the Xin family.

As soon as he saw the Xin family members, Qin Sang sensed a change in the atmosphere. The faces of several Xin family cultivators were beaming with joy, and their previous suppressed mood had vanished.

Even Patron Pei’s expression had softened considerably, no longer so gloomy, but his gaze turned cold when he saw Qin Sang.

“Found it?”

Qin Sang looked towards the Luan Chariot.

There was no need to guess; only one possibility could turn the Xin family’s worries into joy.

Steward Luo flew up to greet him, saying repeatedly, “Reporting to Elder Qin, Xin Kui’s talisman fire has shown anomalies, but it cannot be fully confirmed yet. The young master needs to go personally to verify.”

“It’s been almost eight years of searching, and finally it’s found. It wasn’t easy. It seems you were all waiting for me. In that case, let’s depart.”

Qin Sang flashed onto the Luan Chariot and sat cross-legged behind the jade table.

The Luan Chariot vibrated slightly, leaving a meteor-like trail in the void. Its aura gradually converged as it sped silently through the air.

Various illusory scenes formed by divine abilities flashed by. Qin Sang gazed for a moment, then looked towards the quiet chamber. “What exactly do you need me to refine, Young Master Xin? You can tell me now, can’t you?”

Young Master Xin, from behind the curtain, bowed slightly. “Once the location is confirmed, we will find it quickly, and then we will inform Elder Qin. Please be patient, Elder Qin.”

Patron Pei chuckled, “Does Elder Qin lack even this much patience? I, Pei, have been kept in the dark by their theatrics for many years.”

These words sounded like sarcasm directed at Qin Sang, yet also like a subtle warning.

Qin Sang’s heart stirred. Young Master Xin’s actions were indeed very peculiar.

Young Master Xin was certainly not foolish. It was possible he invited Qin Sang to counterbalance Patron Pei, but Qin Sang doubted Young Master Xin would dare to simultaneously act against both of them.

How could Void Refinement cultivators be so easily tricked? Furthermore, to scheme against two of them at once, weren’t they afraid of playing with fire and getting burned?

However, Patron Pei did not seem like a magnanimous person. His long endurance of the Xin family implied either that the Xin family possessed means that made him wary, or that there were significant interests at play that made him willing to endure.

Even if Qin Sang didn’t want to get involved in this mess, he habitually analyzed the words and actions of these people, just in case.

While Qin Sang was deep in thought, silence returned to the Luan Chariot. After traveling for a while, they finally found the Xin family cultivators who had remained behind.

“Greetings, Young Master!”

The Xin family cultivators stepped forward and bowed in salute.

The cultivator named Xin Kui stepped forward and pointed to a cluster of colorful lights. “Young Master, please see, it was near there that the talisman fire showed slight changes. We finally determined that the source of the anomaly came from within that unusual light. Since we don’t know if there’s danger inside, we dared not act on our own. Please make your decision, Young Master.”

Young Master Xin grunted in acknowledgment, took out a yellow talisman, and maneuvered the Luan Chariot in front of the unusual light.

‘Crack!’

Behind the curtain, a ball of crimson fire light emerged, then gradually revealed a hint of green.

Everyone watched the curtain nervously. Then, they heard Young Master Xin let out a long breath, his voice tinged with excitement, “This is the place!”

As soon as he spoke, cheers erupted.

“Elder Qin, Senior Pei, please wait here for a moment. This junior will go and bring over the other Xin family cultivators. Uncle Luo, you stay here and lead Xin Kui and the others to scout ahead…”

Young Master Xin acted swiftly and decisively, immediately making all necessary arrangements, then drove the Luan Chariot and broke through the air.

Steward Luo took charge of coordinating, deploying personnel, and dividing the Xin family cultivators into several teams. They formed battle formations, activated their respective magical artifacts, and cautiously entered the unusual light, advancing and retreating with precision.

Qin Sang and Patron Pei had nothing to do and no intention of intervening. They stood aside, observing the Xin family cultivators’ actions.

“These unusual lights don’t seem very dangerous. Why doesn’t Elder Qin make a move, to avoid wasting too much time here?” Patron Pei transmitted his voice.

“I am an outsider. If anyone is to act, it should be Patron Pei, shouldn’t it? Besides, I only agreed to refine artifacts for Young Master Xin; other matters have nothing to do with me,” Qin Sang said calmly, completely unmoved.

“Is that so?”

Patron Pei said meaningfully, “When Fellow Daoist Qin sees the Xin family’s secret, I wonder if you’ll still be as indifferent as you are now?”

“Oh? I am quite curious. What kind of secret is it that warrants such a grand mobilization from the Xin family? It seems Patron Pei knows quite well. Could it be a huge treasure? If it’s an Earth Splendor Jade Vine, I certainly wouldn’t be able to resist, and I’d surely have to ask Young Master Xin for a section,” Qin Sang said, looking at Patron Pei with interest.

“I, Pei, am just guessing! Elder Qin has just experienced it himself; this Young Master Xin is extremely tight-lipped.”

Patron Pei’s gaze flickered, and he gave a hollow laugh.

Suspicion arose in his heart. Was Elder Qin truly completely unaware, simply invited to refine artifacts?

Qin Sang could partly guess Patron Pei’s suspicions, but he didn’t say much. This must be the situation Young Master Xin had deliberately created. Patron Pei already regarded him as a rival, and under such circumstances, explanations were useless. Seeing is believing.

As they gradually delved deeper into the unusual light, Young Master Xin also brought back the others. Once everyone was assembled, they took turns forming formations to clear the path, increasing their speed.

Initially, there were only scattered patches of unusual light, intertwined with various colors. As they went deeper, the lights gradually solidified, and their colors became purer.

Beams of light of varying sizes shot out from within, densely packed. Some were harmless, while others subtly contained danger, a movement of one affecting the whole.

After continuing for a distance, Qin Sang seemed to sense something. His expression shifted slightly, and he glanced at Patron Pei, who appeared completely at ease.

At the same time, a commotion suddenly erupted ahead.

At the forefront of the battle formation, the Soul Transformation cultivator named Xin Kui was currently leading the way. He wore a jade crown on his head, which radiated a fringe-like glow, providing protective power and repeatedly helping him overcome dangers.

Just then, as Xin Kui used the jade crown to deflect several unusual lights, without the slightest warning, a burst of blood suddenly erupted from his left shoulder, revealing a gaping bloodied hole.

An unknown object had pierced his shoulder, leaving only an empty hole. Everyone gasped in alarm. Before they could react, Xin Kui’s abdomen was pierced again.

“Invisible light! Retreat quickly!” Young Master Xin bellowed.

Xin Kui didn't hesitate and immediately retreated.

Along with Xin Kui, two Nascent Soul cultivators closest to him also suffered. One of them, unfortunately, had a vital point pierced.

Despite Xin Kui’s cultivation, even those two small wounds caused him to break out in a sweat, enduring unimaginable pain. The person whose vital point was pierced shuddered violently, his aura rapidly weakening.

Steward Luo flashed over, took out a jade bottle, and emptied all the pills from it into the injured person’s mouth. “Quickly circulate your energy and regulate your breath!”

The injured person mustered his remaining strength, sat cross-legged in meditation. His expression still twitched occasionally, but he had finally saved his life.

“Hiss! What a mysterious and violent power!”

Xin Kui forced out the residual power from his wounds, saying with lingering fear.

The Xin family members halted and discussed for a while before continuing their journey. However, after moving a short distance, people were successively severely injured. This was already the result of Steward Luo’s timely treatment.

The danger came from the invisible, intertwined with the various unusual lights, making it impossible to guard against. If this continued, the Xin family cultivators would all perish in this light domain before even reaching their destination.

Faced with this situation, Young Master Xin had no choice but to make a decision, saying in a deep voice, “All Nascent Soul cultivators, retreat!”

“This…”

Hesitation flashed in Steward Luo’s eyes, and he couldn’t help but look behind him.

At the very back of the group, Qin Sang and Patron Pei, with a tacit understanding, leisurely followed them, one on each side, waiting for them to clear the path.

Steward Luo believed that if either of them took action, the current difficulties would be resolved easily. Yet, neither of them showed any intention of intervening, watching the Xin family fall into crisis.

For this journey, the Xin family had specifically refined a formation diagram. When Xin family cultivators combined their efforts to set up the formation and simultaneously circulated the Xin family’s cultivation technique, they could unleash several sharp attacks. Although it couldn’t kill Void Refinement cultivators, it was their confidence in facing Qin Sang and Patron Pei.

The grand formation was vast, and these Nascent Soul cultivators were indispensable. If they were forced to retreat, their manpower would sharply decrease, meaning the Xin family would lose a trump card before even reaching their objective.

Once deployed, the formation diagram could not be retracted, and since it was an offensive killing formation, it couldn’t be used here.

He wondered if these two had figured something out and deliberately intended to weaken the Xin family’s strength.

Before the powerful, the weak were too helpless; sometimes, the powerful didn't even need to do anything.

Steward Luo opened his mouth, filled with helplessness. “You all wait outside. Do not let down your guard.”

“Yes!”

All the Nascent Soul cultivators retreated, leaving only the Xin family’s Soul Transformation cultivators.

Next, even the Soul Transformation cultivators began to suffer injuries. For example, Xin Kui, whose injuries were too severe, was also forced to leave to heal.

The remaining Xin family members dwindled, each with a solemn expression, their previous excitement no longer visible.

Qin Sang had been silently observing the unusual lights when he suddenly saw the Luan Chariot ahead stop.

Along the way, the Luan Chariot had shrunk repeatedly, and now only a small quiet chamber remained, indicating it could no longer continue.

A jade-like hand lifted the curtain, and Young Master Xin slowly stepped down from the chariot.

Qin Sang saw Young Master Xin’s true face for the first time and looked on with curiosity. He saw that Young Master Xin had a delicate figure, like a young woman in her prime. She wore a half-face veil, her exposed skin as fine as congealed fat, and her eyes like a clear autumn pool. It was evident that both her temperament and appearance were of superior quality.

When Patron Pei saw Young Master Xin, his gaze slightly condensed, but his expression remained as usual.