Chapter 2073: Treasure Tree

Peach Blossom Valley.

After Qing Jun and Qin Sang left, this place became a sacred site for Qingyang Abbey. Sword cultivators occasionally came to pay respects to Qing Zhu, and the valley's furnishings remained almost unchanged.

Yu Nu learned the art of winemaking and excitedly took out a jar of sealed peach blossom wine, brewed from the valley's blossoms, inviting Qin Sang to taste it.

It was still the same pavilion and the same peach blossom wine, but the person sitting opposite was different. The person from back then was now nowhere to be found.

Qin Sang raised his wine cup, its fragrance wafting to him.

The exquisite liquor flowed down. Qin Sang closed his eyes, savoring it for a moment, and praised, "Excellent wine."

Yu Nu's heart was filled with joy, and her eyes squinted in a smile.

Not lingering there for long, Qin Sang parted ways with Yu Nu. He took Li Yufu and flew east for a while, arriving at a mortal realm.

Below, the morning mist had not yet dispersed.

Qin Sang saw a serene mountain village, nestled by mountains and rivers, peaceful and tranquil, with pleasant scenery all around.

However, the villagers were far from simple; there was no lack of immortal cultivators' aura. What appeared to be an ordinary mountain village was actually protected by formations, and the visible scenery was not everything; there was more to it within.

Even ordinary immortal cultivation families wouldn't have such a grand setup.

"It's said that this is Sect Master Mu's hometown. Sect Master Mu requested Shaohua Mountain to bury him here..." Li Yufu pointed below.

The back mountain of the village was also a heavily protected area by formations. There was a tomb there, which belonged to Mu Yifeng!

Although the formations here were strong, they couldn't compare to the mountain-protecting formations of various sects. Naturally, they couldn't obstruct them. Without any visible effort from Qin Sang, he led Li Yufu through the formations and arrived before the tomb on the back mountain.

Qin Sang placed down a pot of wine and silently gazed at the tombstone.

He had few friends before, and even fewer true confidants. Tan Hao was gone, and now Mu Yifeng was also gone.

Mu Yifeng's act of shattering his Nine-Flame Divine Blade to clear a path for him in front of the Bronze Palace was still vivid in Qin Sang's memory.

Li Yufu sensed his master's sadness and secretly sighed. Fairy Liuli and he both knew that his master had a deep friendship with Sect Master Mu, and naturally wouldn't lack Sect Master Mu's Azure Spirit Qi, but ultimately, they couldn't reverse fate.

Just then, Li Yufu suddenly felt an approaching aura. A moment later, a streak of light appeared on the horizon. It seemed to be passing by but suddenly veered sharply mid-flight, descending towards them.

This streak of light also concealed its presence, not alarming the cultivators in the village.

Li Yufu was a little surprised; the newcomer was actually Qiu Mubai, the current Sect Master of Shaohua Mountain.

Immediately after, Li Yufu noticed Qiu Mubai staring at him with a look of astonishment. He paused, then realized that his master had not cast a spell to hide their presence.

Qin Sang slowly turned around. He hadn't originally intended to visit, but since they met here, there was no need to deliberately avoid him.

Recognizing Qin Sang, Qiu Mubai trembled all over. Moreover, Qin Sang had not concealed his cultivation from him. Feeling the vast and profound aura emanating from Qin Sang, his heart was greatly shaken.

Qiu Mubai had never imagined he would face this junior brother Qin again in his lifetime. The sudden encounter left him somewhat flustered. As a sect master and an early-stage Soul Transformation expert, it had been a long time since he had been so discomposed.

It was Qin Sang who first cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist Qiu."

Qiu Mubai's expression subtly shifted. He composed himself and solemnly returned the greeting, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Qin."

Qin Sang's address of "Fellow Daoist" indicated his stance.

Without Mu Yifeng, the connection between Qin Sang and Shaohua Mountain was completely severed.

Everything that happened at Shaohua Mountain was now in the past; both favors and grievances had scattered with the wind. Qin Sang would not make things difficult for him because of Dongyang Bo.

There would be no harsh criticism, nor any special treatment; from now on, they were merely fellow Daoists.

For Qiu Mubai, this was undoubtedly the best outcome.

After exchanging greetings, Qin Sang remained silent, continuing to gaze at Mu Yifeng's tombstone. Qiu Mubai's mind was still reeling, and he didn't know what to say.

Li Yufu found the atmosphere a bit awkward and asked, "Sect Master Qiu, have you also come specifically to pay respects to Sect Master Mu?"

Qiu Mubai replied, "I was returning from the outer seas and passed through this area. For some reason, I felt a sudden urge to come and see Junior Brother Mu. I didn't expect to meet two fellow Daoists here."

He spoke more smoothly as he went on, simultaneously realizing that Qin Sang had not put any pressure on him; everything stemmed from his own mental barriers.

Realizing this, Qiu Mubai immediately felt a little more at ease. He looked at Mu Yifeng's tombstone and half-narrated, half-explained, "When Junior Brother Mu returned heavily injured that time, I originally thought he would, as before, turn misfortune into a blessing and use it to break through his barriers..."

At this point, Qiu Mubai smiled kindly.

Qin Sang also showed a faint smile. It seemed everyone knew about Mu Yifeng's 'peculiarity.' Unfortunately, good fortune could not last forever.

"Have you found the person who injured him?" Qin Sang asked.

Qiu Mubai looked ashamed: "The enemy is an island lord of the Changyou Tribe, whose cultivation is one level higher than mine. He has always been stationed in the rear, rarely appearing on the battlefield. I haven't been able to find an opportunity to avenge Junior Brother Mu!"

Qin Sang nodded and said lightly, "Leave this person to me then."

They talked for a while longer before the tomb. Qiu Mubai invited them to visit the mountain gate, and Qin Sang readily agreed.

With Qiu Mubai's significant progress in cultivation, Shaohua Mountain's influence was no longer comparable to what it once was, becoming one of the prominent major sects in the Four Northern Seas. The aura of Shaohua Mountain's gate far surpassed its former self, yet the core areas remained the same.

Sword Gate Pass, Pure Moon Peak, Pagoda Peak, Dao Gate Peak...

Qin Sang could always see traces of the past, along with those deeply etched memories.

Qiu Mubai was still cultivating in Dongyang Bo's former cave abode. The mountaintop was swept by wind and snow, making it very desolate, and the cave's furnishings were extremely simple.

After the host and guests were seated, Qiu Mubai did not summon a dao boy but personally served spirit tea.

The stone door was open, but no wind or snow could penetrate in the slightest.

Qiu Mubai offered a polite invitation, raised his jade cup, and took a sip. His gaze, piercing through the swirling tea mist, drifted outside as he softly said, "Revitalizing the sect was my master's lifelong wish, and also Junior Brother Mu's. Back then, when I took over the Sect Master position from Junior Brother Mu, I was always fearful, treading on thin ice."

Qin Sang smiled faintly, "Dongyang Bo surely wouldn't have imagined Shaohua Mountain achieving such a grand presence. Fellow Daoist, you have done very well."

"In the Lower Realm, perhaps one could say that. But looking at the vast Great Thousand World, with countless powerful races and mysterious forces, a single Changyou Tribe can besiege us here. What does a small Shaohua Mountain amount to then?"

Qiu Mubai sighed, "The road ahead is fraught with internal and external troubles. My master told me not to worry too much about the sect back then, but ultimately, I couldn't do that."

"Is the 'internal trouble' Fellow Daoist mentioned related to Dao methods?" Qin Sang asked.

Qiu Mubai's expression became serious, "Precisely!"

This was the biggest challenge facing all cultivators and sects, and Shaohua Mountain was no exception.

But considering how Dongyang Bo treated Qin Sang back then, it was already fortunate that Qin Sang wasn't filled with resentment. How could he dare to ask for anything more?

Now that Qin Sang had proactively brought it up, a glimmer of hope was ignited in him.

Qin Sang pondered, "If a Grand Dao were presented before Fellow Daoist, but it required changing your cultivation technique, how would you choose?"

Qiu Mubai's expression solidified. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Would it require abandoning our sect?"

Qin Sang said, "Not necessarily."

Qiu Mubai understood. Not having to abandon his sect meant he could stay in his original sect. However, cultivation methods were not lightly passed on; practicing such a method would entail bearing its karma. The best outcome would be to revere it and consider it a superior sect!

The worst outcome was that all disciples would be attracted to the cultivation method leading to the Grand Dao, change their practice to it, and their sect's own methods would gradually be ignored. If they cultivated its methods and admired its Dao, people's hearts would change, and it would be irreversible.

Cultivators aspiring to the Grand Dao was by no means an empty statement. Unless Qin Sang set thresholds, everyone pursuing the Grand Dao would surely not willingly join a sect with incomplete Dao methods.

By then, their own Dao lineage would silently vanish, and the sect would exist in name only.

Qiu Mubai lowered his head, falling into deep thought. This was an incredibly difficult choice. He knew that with Qin Sang's strength and prestige, he could forcibly unify the Storm Realm and eliminate other Dao lineages; no one could resist his will.

He hadn't done so, which meant he was leaving some leeway for various sects and preserving their heritage. Of course, no matter what Qin Sang chose, Qingyang Abbey would certainly become the dominant power in the Storm Realm, towering above all other forces.

Finally, Qiu Mubai let out a long breath and cautiously stated, "Considering myself, for the sake of the Grand Dao, I am willing to cultivate this method. But considering the sect, our lineage must not be severed, and our disciples must not be cut off. Even if I borrow a side path to achieve a higher realm, I will still return to deduce cultivation methods for my sect!"

"I understand."

Qin Sang nodded, stood up, and said, "Qin has only recently returned and still needs to visit other places, so I won't trouble Fellow Daoist any longer. Regarding today's matter, I hope Fellow Daoist will not reveal it for now."

"I understand."

Qiu Mubai escorted Qin Sang and Li Yufu out of the cave abode, then stood at the mountain peak, his figure motionless for a long time.

Following behind Qin Sang, Li Yufu couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

His master hadn't stated it explicitly, but he could easily guess, already envisioning a grand and expansive picture in his mind.

Qin Sang mused that Qiu Mubai's attitude likely represented most sects in the Storm Realm. Regardless, when faced with the crisis of their Dao path being severed, it would be impossible for them to completely reject a Dao method placed before them.

However, if someone was sufficiently resolute, as long as it didn't harm his Dao field, he wasn't entirely intolerant.

Leaving Shaohua Mountain, they continued north. Qin Sang learned that Patriarch Han was still alive.

Back when Pure Yang Sect split, Patriarch Han followed one faction. Later, after achieving success in cultivation, he subdued the other half of his fellow disciples, restored the Pure Yang Sect, and became its Sect Master.

However, he had not yet broken through to Soul Transformation and was currently in seclusion. His ability to live until now must have been due to some fortunate encounter, but his lifespan was likely nearing its limit, and this was his only chance.

After Qin Sang began cultivating, he had little interaction with Patriarch Han and wasn't close to him. But after all, he was an old acquaintance from the Great Sui period, and there was a past karma between them. Qin Sang instructed Li Yufu to deliver a medicinal pill without disturbing his cultivation.

They flew past the Seven Great Passes and arrived at the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.

Without the raging storms, the Ancient Immortal Battlefield gradually returned to peace. The ancient prohibitions had become dormant, and it looked no different from other places, with mortals living and cultivators practicing here.

Cultivators from the Storm Realm had later explored this place countless times, gaining various fortuitous opportunities.

Qin Sang flew all the way to the end of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. It wasn't as mysterious as imagined, no different from elsewhere. The end was the ocean; all the wondrous phenomena were brought by the Ziwei Palace.

After exploring the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, Qin Sang detected fluctuations from several ancient formations, but these no longer held any appeal for him; he left them for those who were fated to find them.

After this, as they were about to leave the Minor Cold Domain, Qin Sang suddenly remembered something: a Vajra Seed had gone missing back then, and he had instructed his disciples to search for it, but they found nothing.

When he asked Li Yufu again, there had been no news of the Vajra Seed for years, and it was unknown who had obtained it.

Qin Sang, on a whim, released his divine sense, scanning inch by inch over what was once the Great Northern Desert.

It took a considerable amount of time, but there wasn't a single trace. Just as Qin Sang was about to give up, he suddenly sensed something. His figure flickered, and he appeared above a small island in the sea.

This island, located west of the Great Northern Desert, was just an ordinary desolate island, covered with a thick layer of bird droppings and completely uninhabited.

The island was lush with vegetation and full of vitality, yet Qin Sang spotted a slender sapling in the jungle.

The sapling was only knee-high, with a slender trunk and just a few green leaves. It was surrounded by towering ancient trees that blocked out the sunlight.

It appeared to be just an ordinary small tree, with no space for growth unless the surrounding ancient trees died.

"That Vajra Seed actually took root and sprouted here!"

Qin Sang was surprised. This was indeed a young Vajra Bodhi Tree!

This tree showed no divine properties whatsoever. Had Qin Sang not personally seen a true Vajra Bodhi Tree before and found the leaf shape somewhat familiar, he might have overlooked it entirely.

However, the leaves of the Vajra Bodhi Tree he had seen were golden and belonged to a massive tree, whereas this small sapling only revealed a hint of gold in its leaf veins upon close inspection.

This difference might be due to a divine object's self-concealment, meaning it wouldn't display its extraordinary properties until it fully matured.

Qin Sang swept his divine sense over the entire small island. There were no cultivators' cave abodes here, nor any bones nearby. It was unknown how it ended up here.

Once a Vajra Seed grew into a Vajra Bodhi Tree, it lost its original properties. Only when the divine tree bore new Vajra Seeds would it be considered one of the Ten Great Divine Woods.

But it was unknown what year or month it would take for that to happen.

Regardless, this was a pleasant surprise. Such a divine tree, even if it didn't bear fruit, could serve as Qingyang Abbey's most prized treasure, no less valuable than any other treasure in the world.

Qin Sang set up formations, activated ley lines, and made full preparations before carefully digging out the young Vajra Bodhi Tree. He temporarily placed it into his small Grotto-Heaven, intending to transplant it to a suitable location later.

Afterwards, they left the Minor Cold Domain and headed straight for the Hidden Sun Realm, one of the Four Northern Star Realms.

Outside the Xuangtian Palace's mountain gate.

Qin Sang and Li Yufu stood on the snow-capped mountain peak. After waiting for a moment, a figure flew from a distance, transmitting a message from afar: "Since the Abbey Master has arrived, why not come in as a guest?"

The person who arrived was none other than Tong Lingyu, currently the Palace Master of Xuangtian Palace.

To establish his Dao field, Qin Sang wouldn't openly reveal himself, but he still needed to meet trustworthy old acquaintances to reassure them and ensure their cooperation.

"Fellow Daoist Qin?"

As expected, upon seeing Qin Sang, Tong Lingyu's face was filled with shock, and his mind was greatly stirred.

After the two reminisced for a while, Tong Lingyu sighed from the bottom of his heart, "It's a pity Liuli isn't here! You know her temperament; once she decides on something, not even nine dragons could pull her back. For all these years, she has single-handedly carried the heavy burden of this realm. Finally, someone can help her share it."