Chapter 2072: Memorial Ceremony

Qin Sang and Li Yufu returned to the main hall, where Si Lu and Ji Hong looked up as Shen Chen rose and bowed. Earlier, Shen Chen had followed Qin Sang's instructions and disclosed certain details to Si Lu and Ji Hong. However, some truths were difficult to hide and would inevitably come to light.

"Now that we are here, our previous agreement is complete," Qin Sang said, sitting opposite them. "Daoist Si Lu, what are your plans next?"

Qin Sang could partly guess Si Lu's intentions but would not turn him away because of them. This was Zhuyan clan territory; even if Si Lu's identity were exposed, Siyou would be unable to launch a major assault. The various non-human tribes coexisted in the Mist Sea, and competition among them was inevitable. Even the major clans within each tribe remained vigilant against one another. He still couldn't quite fathom the Zhuyan clan's intentions, and keeping Si Lu might prove to be greatly beneficial.

"If we were to simply leave now, Daoist Qin, I doubt you would be entirely at ease, would you?" Si Lu gave a cunning smile, gazing out of the hall with a faraway look.

According to a legend, there are countless Lesser Thousand Worlds within the Great Thousand World, with new ones being born and old ones destroyed every moment. Portals to these worlds might exist right before one's eyes – by a bedside, on a desk, or among tree branches and flowers – coexisting silently until the Lesser Thousand World perishes, its inhabitants wiped out, without so much as a ripple. They had not yet grasped the full truth, unable to imagine that the Storm Realm had wholly integrated into the Great Thousand World. Instead, they believed someone from the Storm Realm had broken through and ascended, then returned to nurture their realm, leading others into the Great Thousand World to cultivate in a vaster expanse—a scenario not uncommon in the Great Thousand World. Alternatively, these individuals might have originated from a collapsed Lesser Thousand World, having fortunately escaped by finding a beacon gate before its ultimate destruction. Regardless, humans could not have appeared in the Mist Sea without a reason, and these individuals were certainly unrelated to the Siyou clan.

A soft rustling sound could be heard. The disciples of Qingyang Temple remained quietly in their meditation rooms. The wind rustled through a clump of purple bamboo in front of the hall, and occasionally a few bird calls broke the silence. This lack of other noise made the Daoist temple seem even more profound and remote.

"It's a rare pleasure to find such a peaceful place," Si Lu said. "I would like to continue imposing for a while longer, if that is permissible?"

"Qin could not wish for more," Qin Sang replied, glancing at Li Yufu.

Li Yufu understood immediately. He bowed and said, "Not far from here, our temple has a secluded sub-temple nestled deep in the mountains. It's rich in spiritual energy, used for hosting honored guests, and only a few disciples guard it, making it exceptionally quiet and secluded."

Qin Sang nodded. "In due time, once a suitable opportunity arises, I will have to trouble you, Daoist, to make a trip and bring Su Nu and the others back." Frequent movements in and out within a short period could easily arouse suspicion.

Si Lu had no objections and immediately agreed.

"And Daoist Ji Hong?" Qin Sang asked, looking at Ji Hong.

"I still need to help Daoist Si Lu get his revenge!" Ji Hong tilted her small face upward, then suddenly asked eagerly, "You must have strange and new species here, some of which might have the potential to grow into excellent spiritual seeds. Can I explore around?"

Qin Sang agreed without hesitation. "As long as you, Daoist, abide by the agreement between the Jiaojiao clan and other tribes and share the spiritual seeds you cultivate with us, you are free to come and go. However, I will not make these matters public for now, as others have never seen your kind. It would be best if you disguised yourself as a human cultivator." It wasn't that he worried about Ji Hong's safety, as almost no one in the Storm Realm was her match. Rather, Qin Sang feared she might cause unrest and disrupt his plans.

Ji Hong's small face lit up with delight, and she nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, Daoist Qin, I will be very careful!"

As they spoke, Li Yufu had already activated the Luye Grand Formation, and they soon arrived above the sub-temple. After settling Si Lu and Ji Hong, Li Yufu left Luye there and departed with Qin Sang.

Qin Sang decided to visit the Minor Cold Domain first, as it was the ancestral home of Qingyang Temple and where he had begun his journey. Transporting themselves to the Crescent Moon Realm, Qin Sang conjured a spiritual wind that carried them both northward. The storms between the Minor Cold Domain and the Three Northern Sea Realms had now dissipated, so it was no longer isolated overseas. In fact, these two regions could have been considered loosely connected even before Heavenly Sovereign Tianyue's sword stood in the Northern Sea, as top masters had always maintained contact.

Qin Sang flew at a steady pace at high altitude, deliberately choosing a route closer to the outer sea. He observed that the defense line constructed by the Storm Realm cultivators extended all the way to the Minor Cold Domain, indicating that all four Northern Sea Realms faced the threat of the Changyou clan.

"The Storm Realm is like a wedge embedded within the Changyou clan's territory," Li Yufu explained. "Except for the corrupted lands to the east, it's entirely surrounded by Changyou clan territory. Fortunately, their power is concentrated in the more fertile south, leaving the northern regions relatively weaker. That's why Central State, Canglang Sea, and the Monster Sea were initially subjected to fierce assaults; otherwise, the Four Northern Sea Realms might have been forcibly occupied."

Li Yufu, with a look of emotion, pointed towards the outer sea. "The Changyou clan continually dispatches reinforcements to the Northern Sea, attempting to replicate their past victories. However, with the teleportation arrays, Central State can reinforce the Northern Sea at any time, preventing them from ever succeeding!"

Currently, the Storm Realm's territory consists of only two large areas: the Northern Sea and Central State. After the storms receded, Storm Realm cultivators discovered several locations suspected to be shelters, similar to the one Qin Sang had passed when leaving the Northern Sea. These areas were small and could not compare to the major domains. Some had become barren lands, while others contained only mortals and low-level cultivators, resembling scattered fragments. These locations had now been abandoned, with efforts focused solely on defending Central State and the Northern Sea. Cultivators traveled between these two regions exclusively via teleportation arrays, as Changyou clan experts roamed the areas between them, posing a threat even to Spirit Transformation cultivators traveling by air. The defense line was well-organized; unless the Changyou clan chief broke through to the Void Realm Second Layer, it would be impossible to defeat the Storm Realm cultivators in a short time. Thus, Qin Sang did not need to rush his appearance and had ample time to make arrangements calmly.

As they spoke, they arrived at the edge of the Beichen Realm. The former Beichen Great Desert had vanished, replaced by lush green forests and grasslands. The air carried a moist, fresh scent, and countless creatures thrived there, enjoying the bounty of this fertile land. With the recovery of the world's spiritual energy, the climate and topography of many regions had undergone drastic transformations.

Li Yufu then spoke to Qin Sang about some old acquaintances. "Senior Lu unfortunately passed away," Li Yufu began. "Before his death, he bequeathed all his possessions to Daoist Han Xi. After Daoist Han Xi entered the Spirit Transformation stage, he relocated his cultivation ground to the Monster Realm. However, the current ruler of the Monster Realm is Feather King. The previous ruler of the Monster Realm perished during a Heavenly Tribulation. It's rumored that Feather King unearthed a divine medicine while ascending at Ziwei Palace, which helped him successfully overcome the tribulation. After achieving Spirit Transformation, Feather King took control of the Monster Realm and has since unified the Northern Sea demon tribes. Many demon tribes from the Minor Cold Domain followed Feather King and moved their entire clans to the Monster Realm. These areas then became ownerless lands, allowing Senior Yunu to connect the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea with Qingyang Temple."

It was unexpected that Lu Boyuan had perished, while Han Xi, his spiritual beast, had instead achieved Spirit Transformation. Qin Sang mused to himself that he had not had much contact with Feather King in the past and wondered if the demon's temperament had changed. If this demon proved unruly, it would be easily resolved by entrusting the Northern Sea demon race to Yunu or Han Xi. Besides, he still had two demon marquises unreleased from his talisman altar. As for the human race in the Northern Sea, Xuantian Palace was the dominant power and had deep ties with him. As long as Xuantian Palace was willing to cooperate, others were of no concern. Central State, with its myriad interwoven clans and sects, was the area requiring focused attention and thorough organization.

Li Yufu then pointed towards the Sin Abyss in the east. "Immortal Qiu Zhi possesses extraordinary talent; even without the Azure Spirit Qi, she was one of the most promising individuals to achieve Spirit Transformation." As they spoke, they arrived near the Tianxing Plateau. "It's a pity that Daoist Zhenyi's two disciples, both possessing top-tier talent and character, found it impossible to advance beyond the late Nascent Soul stage due to flaws in their shared cultivation method. They were tragically halted there and died in regret. The Tianxing Alliance, with its members harboring their own intentions, soon splintered..."

Li Yufu narrated as they traveled, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea. He took out the Temple Master's decree, flashed it in front of him, and passed through the grand formation with Qin Sang, completely unnoticed by the guarding demon soldiers. As they entered the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea, they heard a lazy voice from within: "How does the Temple Master have time to return? Is the Changyou clan planning another major move? Uh..." The voice abruptly stopped.

The next moment, a charming figure suddenly appeared before Qin Sang and Li Yufu. Dressed in a simple white gown and without makeup, she had a round face, round eyes, and a wide-open, round mouth as she stared at Qin Sang. Only her ears were pointed.

"Daoist Yunu, I trust you've been well," Qin Sang said with a smile, performing a Daoist salute.

"Qin..." Yunu was both startled and overjoyed, speechless for a moment before letting out a gasp. She quickly performed a deep curtsy. "Yunu greets Young Master Qin."

The three walked leisurely amidst the clouds, slowly flying eastward. After a thousand years apart, speaking of the past and their missing Daoist companions, both Qin Sang and Yunu sighed with emotion, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

The Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea, Qingyang Temple, and the surrounding areas were now considered Yunu's cultivation ground by outsiders. Disciples of Qingyang Temple and demon cultivators of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea, upon achieving successful cultivation, could choose a spiritually vibrant location to open their own cave dwellings, undisturbed. Qingyang Temple's ancestral home, Cuiping Mountain – formerly the Great Sui Kingdom – was also located here. They headed directly to Cuiping Mountain. Disciples and adherents who had contributed to Qingyang Temple were all buried on the back mountain, receiving offerings from future generations, including the tombs of Tan Hao and others.

The Ancestral Hall. Qin Sang lit three incense sticks and gazed at the spirit tablets above, which included not only Daoist Jixin and Mingyue but also Yun Youzi and his own. Qingyang Temple believed he had perished, and Yun Youzi certainly had no hope of revival. A thousand years had passed, yet Qin Sang could still vividly recall his memories from Qingyang Temple. After he finished his worship, Yunu couldn't help but ask, "Will Senior Bamboo Demon return?"

Li Yufu looked nervous, having always wanted to ask but never daring to.

"Yes!" Qin Sang nodded emphatically.

Yunu and Li Yufu, both trusting Qin Sang unconditionally, couldn't help but break into joyful smiles.

At this moment, Li Yufu recalled another matter. "There is one more thing to report to Martial Uncle," he said. "In recent years, strange occurrences have been happening in various places. In temples, like those dedicated to the City God, the clay and wooden effigies receiving sacrifices have suddenly come to life, giving birth to deities. Upon inquiry, it was learned that these were souls returning to their proper places after death, becoming gods in a dazed state. Due to the Changyou clan, there has been no consensus on how to deal with them. Seeing that these deities are deeply intertwined with the mortal world, and for now will not affect the cultivation world's structure, and can even help various sects stabilize the mortal realm, they have been temporarily left alone." He had omitted one detail: ever since deities began appearing frequently, some worried that sacred statues, enjoying worship from an entire realm, could give birth to something extraordinary if possessed.

On his journey here, Qin Sang had sensed several divine auras. The Storm Realm previously had no deities, but after its integration into the Great Thousand World, deities had sprung up like mushrooms after rain, which was clearly unusual. Qin Sang couldn't fathom the reason and could only attribute it to the unique characteristics of the Storm Realm itself. He had a theory: could it be that the Heavenly Dao of the lower realms was incomplete, and the Storm Realm specifically lacked a Divine Dao?

Li Yufu paused, and seeing Qin Sang remain silent, he continued, "In those years, people, grateful for the kindness of Grandmaster and Ancestor, established countless ancestral halls where incense has never ceased. Is it possible that Ancestor and Master..." His voice held a hint of excitement.

Qin Sang understood his thoughts but believed the hope of Daoist Jixin and Mingyue returning was slim. Had the Divine Dao always existed, given their merits, they would surely have been inducted into it. However, they had been dead for over a thousand years, and their spiritual souls had long since vanished. If they could return, it would prove that everyone possessed a unique imprint in the world that would not be erased after death—perhaps reincarnation was not just a legend! Previously, Qin Sang had heard that among the Eight Great Heavenly States, the Divine Dao flourished most in Zhenzhou, located in the southeast, while in most other places, the Divine Dao was suppressed. Qin Sang had traveled through three major states and had not encountered any formidable Divine Dao cultivators. Had it not been for the news from the Storm Realm, he might have gone there himself.

Next, Qin Sang visited the tombs of Tan Hao and others to pay his respects, then left Cuiping Mountain alone. Looking down from the sky, the former Three Witch City had undergone several cycles of prosperity and decline and no longer resembled its original form. The great river's waters had surged, and the new city had shifted far from its old site. That baozi shop was also long gone, and he wondered if that family had passed down their lineage.

He continued northward, finally arriving above a mountain peak: Pilgrim Mountain! Under the careful protection of Qingyang Temple, Pilgrim Mountain's scenery remained unchanged.

Qin Sang descended, carrying a flask of wine. He walked along a path for a while until a blank stele appeared ahead. Even with the best protection, the stone stele had endured a thousand years of erosion and inevitably bore the marks of time.

Qin Sang paused, silently observing for a moment before walking to the tomb. He set down the wine flask in his hand and murmured, "This time, I've come a little late..." He carefully brushed away the dust, then sat before the tomb and looked up at the sky. Unknowingly, over a thousand years had passed. At that time, he could never have imagined the hardships and wonders he would experience in his future after making that choice.

The sky was dim, seemingly no different from the past, yet it was not the same sky. Remembering his oath from that time, he had broken through the firmament and arrived "above," but he had yet to see immortals. His future remained arduous and distant. Fortunately, Princess Dongyang had also come under the same sky, and she could continue to witness him fulfill his old oath.

After sitting quietly for a long time, Qin Sang stood up, raised a toast to Princess Dongyang, and poured the flask of excellent spiritual wine before the tomb. There were no words of remembrance, no grand pronouncements; he simply said, "I'm leaving now!" Then he casually waved his hand, as if bidding farewell to an old friend.

His figure was gradually swallowed by the night.