Chapter 2038: Haobo Clan

Qin Sang instructed the cultivators of the Xin family to clear out the back mountain, set up restrictions, create an open space, and then retrieved a stone hall from his Minor Grotto-Heaven. Only then did he have time to examine the items he had brought from the tomb.

Altars, ancient halls, stone carvings… Qin Sang had stored anything that might contain information in his Minor Grotto-Heaven. After some investigation, he indeed found something.

"Haobo Clan..."

Qin Sang looked at a square stone in front of him. The top of the stone was carved with an orchid totem, and all four sides bore engravings detailing the name of this ancient shamanistic clan, along with some miscellaneous information. Most of it commemorated significant events within the clan, using a chronological system based on the Haobo Clan's own calendar, which did not correspond to the Great Zhou calendar. It was evident that the Haobo Clan was an ancient clan, but whether its lineage still survived to this day was unknown.

On the back of the square stone, Qin Sang saw some complex patterns that were vastly different from ordinary markings. He immediately thought of shamanistic divine script and focused his gaze, realizing they were not complete divine scripts; they were incomplete at the top and bottom, making their meaning unclear. There must be more such square stones, as the Haobo Clan recorded important clan information on them.

Qin Sang continued searching and indeed found another square stone, but this one didn't contain divine script. Instead, it was the secret method for the Haobo Clan to cultivate sacrificial insects. Qin Sang was greatly surprised to acquire this method, but after a cursory look, his initial joy diminished.

Raising sacrificial insects required a long period of meticulous cultivation to be effective, proving even more complex than cultivating a life-bound Gu worm. Moreover, to cultivate a group of truly useful sacrificial insects, the entire clan needed to unite and continuously perform blood-feeding rituals. If Qin Sang wanted to cultivate sacrificial insects for the Storm Realm, he would first need all local powers to submit and willingly blood-feed the insects. Furthermore, it remained to be seen whether this method was suitable for humans. However, if a group of mature sacrificial insects could truly be cultivated, their utility would be immense. They could be combined with the thunder altar to form a dual layer of protection. Qin Sang considered the Storm Realm his own cultivation ground, so he was naturally quite interested, but he still needed to weigh the pros and cons carefully.

While Qin Sang was examining the items from the Haobo Clan, Su Nu instructed Steward Luo to take her to the dwelling of Grand Elder Pei. Grand Elder Pei had few disciples, and he had previously dispatched them elsewhere, believing they were monitoring crucial locations of the Xin family. In reality, the Young Master of the Xin family had deliberately created a diversion to lead them away. These disciples were diligently maintaining their watch, while the two disciples left guarding the dwelling had slightly weaker cultivation and no defenses whatsoever. Steward Luo approached and called out, deceiving them with a few words into opening the grand formation, thus effortlessly taking over the dwelling. Su Nu then painstakingly captured Grand Elder Pei's other disciples herself, after which she focused on dealing with the Azurewater Stronghold.

Grand Elder Pei's dwelling was located on Mount Xianjin, on the west bank of Qiong Lake, just like the Azurewater Stronghold. Su Nu stationed herself on Mount Xianjin and dispatched Xin family experts to gather information, with reports steadily coming in. Holding this intelligence, Su Nu looked at Steward Luo, who was seated below her.

"Steward Luo, what are your thoughts?"

"Senior Su Nu, as you can see, I believe the Azurewater Stronghold must already know of the death of Recluse Zhong Liang!"

Steward Luo stood up, projected a ball of spiritual light, which transformed into a topographic map of Qiong Lake's vicinity, and then illuminated several points. These points represented the strongest powers around Qiong Lake.

Steward Luo continued, "I initially intended to devise a way to draw out a few key figures for you to control, Senior. However, we recently discovered that no such scheme is necessary. Several of Recluse Zhong Liang's disciples had already left the Azurewater Stronghold, but their movements were secretive, and we dared not act overtly before, so we failed to detect them."

He then tapped the topographic map several times, "During this period, based on the clues we've found, the Azurewater Stronghold has frequently been in contact with several powers, including the Li Yu Palace, with their interactions with Li Yu Palace being the most frequent. Just now, the Grand Elder sent word that Qi Ming, Recluse Zhong Liang's second disciple, has personally left the stronghold to visit Li Yu Palace. Therefore, I speculate..."

Steward Luo bowed slightly, "Recluse Zhong Liang likely left behind a Blood Spirit Lamp. The Azurewater Stronghold might be holding onto a fantasy, or perhaps internal disagreements arose, making them unwilling to abandon their vast stronghold. They ultimately reached an agreement to seek protection near Qiong Lake and pledge allegiance to a certain power. After some contact, they finally chose Li Yu Palace..."

"Indeed!" The Second Elder of the Xin family nodded in agreement, "Their chosen patron must possess greater strength than Recluse Zhong Liang to possibly preserve the Azurewater Stronghold. Li Yu Palace is the only choice."

"Li Yu Palace? The power where all three palace masters are Void Refining cultivators?" Su Nu asked.

Steward Luo nodded, a look of worry flashing in his eyes. "Among Li Yu Palace's three masters, only the Third Palace Master recently broke through to Void Refining. Senior Su Nu and Elder Qin must be wary of the First and Second Palace Masters. The First Palace Master has long since broken through to the mid-Void Refining stage and is reputed to be the strongest cultivator near Qiong Lake. The Second Palace Master, like Grand Elder Pei, has remained at the threshold of the mid-Void Refining stage for many years. However, it is said that his cultivation method is unique, and he deliberately paused there to refine his cultivation, able to break through whenever he wishes. While the rumors may be exaggerated, they sufficiently prove the Second Palace Master's formidable strength. Moreover, he once fought Recluse Zhong Liang to a draw!"

"Oh?" Su Nu's eyes flickered. "Did Recluse Zhong Liang have a grudge with Li Yu Palace?"

"It was said to be a normal sparring match. Even if there were animosity, if the Azurewater Stronghold pledged allegiance, Li Yu Palace certainly wouldn't refuse them," Steward Luo sighed.

Su Nu nodded slightly, stood up, and with a wave of her hand, sent out a message talisman, ordering, "Inform Xin Sheng! You all are to quickly gather the clan's experts. We move on the Azurewater Stronghold today!"

"Understood!" Steward Luo and the others bowed in assent.

Su Nu's figure flickered, appearing outside the mountain, then transformed into a wisp of smoke, silently traversing mountains.

Meanwhile.

In Mount Qiong Zhe, a streak of light arrived. After reading the message talisman, Qin Sang waved his hand, put away his belongings, and vanished instantly.

Qiong Lake was surrounded by many rivers and large waterways. At this moment, on the surface of a great river, three figures were moving downstream, heading towards Li Yu Palace on the east bank of Qiong Lake. The three were highly vigilant, their aura perfectly concealed, without the slightest leakage. Ordinary cultivators would not be able to discern their stealth technique. However, none of them noticed that on the south bank of the great river, another person was traveling through the mountains, trailing them from a distance.

This person was none other than the Grand Elder of the Xin family. He watched the three closely, then suddenly sensed something. His expression shifted, and he landed on a rock, saluting the air, "Greetings, Senior Su Nu!"

Su Nu appeared out of thin air, looking towards the great river. "Are these the three?"

The Grand Elder pointed to a young man in the middle. "This person is Qi Ming, Recluse Zhong Liang's second disciple!"

Before his words finished, Su Nu appeared above the river, directly over the heads of the three. Qi Ming and the two others, completely unaware, were flying along when they suddenly felt something amiss. Only then did they realize that both banks of the great river had fallen into an inexplicable silence; even the sound of birds was gone.

"Something's wrong!"

Qi Ming abruptly stopped. It was then that he heard a flute sound. The flute sound was clear, but Qi Ming was startled, completely unaware of when the sound had begun or where it was coming from! The two elders, at this moment, had a look of rapture, having unknowingly been entranced by the flute music.

"You all..." Qi Ming's face turned pale with alarm. A five-colored light flickered from his right sleeve, a treasure about to emerge, but before it could, he felt a sudden daze in his mind. At the same time, a strong sense of warning arose within him. He forcibly channeled his profound art, and a round light abruptly appeared behind his head. The round light immediately transformed into two blade-beams, slashing rapidly behind him. Immediately after, Qi Ming heard the sound of the blade-beams shattering, and at the same time, felt a light tap on his back, completely losing consciousness.

By the time the Grand Elder of the Xin family arrived, all three had become living puppets, their expressions blank, suspended side by side on the river surface. Su Nu had not killed them; she had subdued them and asked a few questions. Qi Ming answered everything without reservation.

The Grand Elder of the Xin family grew increasingly alarmed as he listened, becoming anxious. "They've already pledged allegiance to Li Yu Palace! What do we do now?!"

From Qi Ming's confession, it was revealed that ever since Recluse Zhong Liang's Blood Spirit Lamp shattered, his several disciples had been terrified and anxious. On one hand, they kept a close watch on the Xin family; on the other, they sought an escape route. Ultimately, unwilling to abandon the Azurewater Stronghold, they decided to align with Li Yu Palace. A while ago, they had reached a preliminary agreement with Li Yu Palace. However, since the First Palace Master of Li Yu Palace was in seclusion for cultivation, and both the Second and Third Palace Masters were away, the final decision awaited their return. The Second Palace Master of Li Yu Palace was expected to return to the palace soon. Recluse Zhong Liang's senior disciple, who needed to remain at the Azurewater Stronghold, sent Qi Ming to visit as a sign of sincerity.

It was too late to block the news. Even if they rushed to seize the Azurewater Stronghold before Li Yu Palace became aware, they would still have to face pressure from Li Yu Palace. Su Nu and Qin Sang were both at the early Void Refining stage, while Li Yu Palace had three Void Refining cultivators, one of whom was the mysterious First Palace Master. The Grand Elder of the Xin family was filled with worry, fearing that Su Nu and Qin Sang would act recklessly, offend Li Yu Palace, and make the Xin family's situation even more difficult.

"What's there to be afraid of? Have you forgotten Elder Qin's identity? Would Li Yu Palace really form a mortal enmity with Elder Qin just for the Azurewater Stronghold?" Su Nu glanced at the Grand Elder of the Xin family and said indifferently. She could naturally tell that Qin Sang had experienced another fortuitous encounter at the Fengju Jade Gate, significantly advancing his cultivation. When Void Refining cultivators engage in battle, even if they are outmatched, if they are determined to escape, their opponents will find it difficult to stop them. The gamble here was that Li Yu Palace had a large foundation and wouldn't dare to make enemies with them. Su Nu saw no problem with this approach. Since the beginning of her cultivation, she had repeatedly sought survival in dangerous situations, carving out a vast world for herself. Moreover, for her and Qin Sang, even if they couldn't defeat Li Yu Palace, their lives wouldn't be in danger, so why not proceed?

"The Azurewater Stronghold has not yet fallen into Li Yu Palace's hands, so we still have a chance," Su Nu said, flicking her fingers to send three wisps of black qi into the foreheads of Qi Ming and the other two. The three's faces darkened, then immediately returned to normal. Next, Su Nu waved her jade hand, concealing her own figure and that of one of the Azurewater Stronghold elders. Qi Ming and the other elder regained consciousness, frowning as they looked around. They felt something was amiss but couldn't find any anomalies. After an unfruitful search, the two continued their journey. They had not only forgotten their previous experience of being controlled but also forgotten the other elder who had been traveling with them.

"Good. These two should be able to stall Li Yu Palace for a while. We'll return immediately and seize control of the Azurewater Stronghold as quickly as possible." Su Nu conjured clouds beneath her feet, taking the two with her. At the same time, faint black qi swirled around her, and she transformed into an elegant, scholarly man in brocade robes. This was precisely the Second Palace Master of Li Yu Palace from Qi Ming's memory. The Grand Elder of the Xin family's eyes widened in astonishment. He felt that Su Nu's aura was identical to that of the Second Palace Master of Li Yu Palace. To achieve such a transformation based solely on their memory of the person was simply miraculous!

The Azurewater Stronghold was located on the west bank of Qiong Lake, with its main encampment nestled between two peaks. Green mountains and clear waters offered a pleasing landscape. It was midday, and a faint mist floated over the lake, enveloping the Azurewater Stronghold like ethereal clouds. Within the mountain gate, Azurewater Stronghold disciples were flying back and forth, sparring and discussing the Dao—everything seemed normal.

Su Nu flew over the Azurewater Stronghold and immediately saw through its relaxed facade to discover that its mountain-protecting grand formation was secretly activated, making a direct assault difficult. In a mountain hollow in the distance, Xin Sheng and Steward Luo had already arrived with more than ten Xin family experts, while others were still on their way.

"Act as the situation dictates!" Su Nu gave an instruction, then, accompanied by the Azurewater Stronghold elder, openly flew towards the stronghold. The oppressive aura of a Void Refining cultivator swept over, instantly causing a stir within the Azurewater Stronghold.

Main encampment of Azurewater Stronghold. Several streaks of light flew out from a cloud tower, looking up at the sky. Upon seeing the Second Palace Master of Li Yu Palace, they were all filled with doubt and surprise. The leader was a white-browed old man, precisely Recluse Zhong Liang's senior disciple and the current sect master of the Azurewater Stronghold. Recluse Zhong Liang, concerned about exposure while tracking Grand Elder Pei and the Xin family, had not brought his disciples along.

The Azurewater Stronghold elder descended from mid-air and loudly proclaimed from outside the formation, "Palace Master Ling has arrived! Sect Master, please quickly open the mountain gate to welcome him!"

"Junior Brother Wu, why have you returned alone? Where is Junior Brother Qi?" the Azurewater Stronghold sect master asked via spiritual transmission.

"Reporting to Sect Master, we met Palace Master Ling halfway. After we explained the situation, the Palace Master gave Senior Brother Qi a talisman scroll, instructing them to go to Li Yu Palace to finalize the formal alliance. The Palace Master came ahead to inspect," the elder replied.

The Azurewater Stronghold sect master looked at Palace Master Ling, who stood in the air with his hands behind his back, his expression arrogant, admiring the scenery of Qiong Lake as if disdaining to spare them a glance. A wave of sadness washed over the sect master. Some junior brothers had suggested moving the entire sect to avoid disaster, but with such a large base, how could it be so easily relocated? After much debate, they finally decided to secretly send away a few lines of lineage and for the rest of the stronghold to pledge allegiance to Li Yu Palace, enduring humiliation and biding their time. Unexpectedly, the Xin family's story was repeating itself with them, and without Meditative Spirits, their situation was even more dire than the Xin family's.

"Quickly open the mountain gate!" Since they had already decided to surrender, further deliberation was pointless. The Azurewater Stronghold sect master waved his horsetail whisk and gave a stern order.

"Boom!" The peaks shook simultaneously, and the mist churned, parting to reveal a clear path directly to the main encampment of the Azurewater Stronghold. The Azurewater Stronghold sect master led his disciples, standing bowed to the side, respectfully proclaiming, "Welcome, Palace Master Ling!"

"Welcome, Palace Master Ling!"

The shouts echoed through the mountains as Su Nu strode through the air, entering the Azurewater Stronghold's mountain gate, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Meanwhile.

Qin Sang rushed from Mount Qiong Zhe. Midway, he received a message talisman from Su Nu, learning the details of the situation. Su Nu had already arranged everything. Before she could completely take control of the Azurewater Stronghold, Qin Sang needed to intervene and intercept anyone from Li Yu Palace.

"Three Void Refining cultivators?" Qin Sang gazed eastward, feeling some pressure, but nothing more. If the First Palace Master of Li Yu Palace were a top-tier cultivator at the late Void Refining stage, he might be somewhat apprehensive. However, with his Thunder Escape technique, which incorporated the true lightning of the Azure Phoenix, he could move freely unless encircled by all three opponents. His cultivation had surged recently, leaving some unresolved questions. This was a good opportunity to test himself. Qin Sang bypassed the Azurewater Stronghold, continued eastward, chose a lakeside rock protruding from the water, and sat down in a cross-legged position.