Chapter 2082: Within and Outside the Mountain Gate

The spring was mild and the sun warm. The new Qingyang Temple mountain gate, like the early spring earth, presented a scene of vibrant life and burgeoning growth.

Before, this place was nothing but barren mountains and treacherous shoals. It was filled with jagged rocks and tangled river channels, and various weeds and trees grew profusely. Although the spiritual energy was dense, it exuded an untamed, wild aura.

Now, after meticulous transformation by Qingyang Temple, the spiritual energy was stronger than ever. The green mountains were verdant, and the river water was as clear as jade. There were many strange peaks and vast lakes, imbued with spiritual essence and possessing picturesque beauty. Palaces and pavilions, shrouded in ethereal mist, created an otherworldly, hazy landscape. Immortal trees and spiritual flowers were planted among the mountains and by the water, and spiritual beasts flew through the air and leaped about. It already had the semblance of an immortal blessed land.

The sky was clear for thousands of miles, and white clouds drifted leisurely.

A white cloud rose from the great eastern marsh, flying unhurriedly westward, navigating through the sea of clouds.

On the white cloud stood a Qingyang Temple deacon. A dozen or so young boys and girls followed behind him, all captivated by the magnificent mountains and rivers below. Their faces were filled with awe and pride, and they pointed at the ground, exclaiming repeatedly.

These individuals were junior disciples of Qingyang Temple. Some came from the ancestral court of the Little Cold Domain, some from Qingyang Island, and others had cultivated since childhood in Luye or other branch temples. No matter where they came from, none could compare to the mountain gate currently under construction.

They had been sent here successively over the years. Upon arrival, they were assigned to one location. Because the construction of the mountain gate was a heavy task, and they also had to balance their cultivation, their teachers often came to inspect their studies. They had almost no leisure time throughout the day, so this was their first time accompanying the deacon to view the full scope of the mountain gate.

Everyone couldn't help but imagine cultivating here in the future once the mountain gate was completed and having their own cave dwelling. What more could they ask for!

Just then, everyone saw a streak of green light flying over, which the deacon caught in his hand.

The deacon smiled and turned around, saying, “Brother Bai has arrived. Among the spiritual beasts he brought this time, several have top-tier bloodline potential. You must seize this opportunity.”

Everyone responded in unison, their faces showing anticipation.

During the establishment of the mountain gate, Qingyang Temple would record the disciples' merits based on their contributions and provide various rewards to motivate their enthusiasm.

These disciples had earned an opportunity to be among the first to choose a spiritual beast.

King Yu relocated to the Demon Realm, taking his followers and clan with him. He gradually relinquished control over Tianyao Hill. Thus, the Thousand Mountain Bamboo Sea became the de facto leader of the demon race in the Northern Star Realm. Even when the Mistfall swept away most of the Thousand Mountain Bamboo Sea's masters, King Yu showed no intention of interfering further.

The relationship between the Thousand Mountain Bamboo Sea and Qingyang Temple remained as close as ever. Li Yufu and Yu Nu, to deepen the bond between the two races, encouraged Qingyang Temple disciples and the demon beasts of the Thousand Mountain Bamboo Sea to support each other.

Of course, this selection was mutual: cultivators could choose spiritual beasts, and spiritual beasts could also choose cultivators.

Unlike the Spirit Taming Sect, Qingyang Temple's cultivation methods did not rely on spiritual beasts for assistance. Therefore, there was no compulsion for either party to form a spiritual contract; it was entirely voluntary.

If a cultivator could have a powerful spiritual beast as a companion, it would greatly benefit their cultivation, and the same was true for the beasts.

However, spiritual beasts with exceptional talent were very rare. Whether one could gain the recognition of such a spiritual beast depended entirely on fate. Their qualification to be among the first to choose undoubtedly gave them an advantage.

Within the sect, unlike outside, one could not subdue spiritual beasts by force. So, everyone began to ponder deeply how they should act later to gain a spiritual beast's recognition.

The new mountain gate was far vaster than Luye. Everyone had been deep in thought for quite a while, only to find they hadn't yet reached their destination. They had already lost count of how many mountain ranges and lakes had passed beneath them.

Finally, the white cloud stopped mid-air, then rapidly descended. Everyone felt their feet sink as they landed on a wide mountaintop.

The mountaintop was a lively scene of various spiritual beasts. Hawks, falcons, foxes, leopards, and even plant spirits were all present. There were dozens of spiritual beasts in total, arranged in neat formation behind an old man.

The old man was tall and thin, with skin as rough as tree bark. His expression was rigid, like an old scholar.

“Brother Bai!” The deacon stepped forward and bowed.

The old man returned the bow meticulously, saying, “Greetings, Fellow Daoist Tan Yi.”

After exchanging greetings, Tan Yi looked at the various demons behind the old man. “Brother Bai, is this all you've brought this time?” he asked.

“These are the most talented batch; the others are on Yuanling Peak,” replied the demon cultivator surnamed Bai.

They also had their own motives: they wanted their talented offspring to bond with the most promising disciples of Qingyang Temple, achieving a synergy of strength.

Upon hearing this, everyone was secretly excited. They looked at the group of demons behind the old man, who were also scrutinizing them with their round eyes.

The spiritual beasts from the Thousand Mountain Bamboo Sea were unlike other demon cultivators. Their aura was peaceful, and their eyes sparkled with wisdom. Some were small and cute, some were innocently endearing, and others had intimidating gazes and majestic demeanors.

Qin Li was immediately drawn to a small fox. The demon fox was petite, seemingly not yet fully grown. Its entire body was snow-white, except for a ring of black fur around its neck and chest, like it was wearing a large, fluffy collar.

The little fox also noticed his gaze, and glared back fiercely. Qin Li quickly lowered his eyes, but couldn't help but peek at it from the corner of his eye.

Seeing this, the little fox's eyes darted, revealing a cunning look. It suddenly stepped out of the group of beasts, occasionally glancing back at Qin Li with enchanting eyes, and finally leaped down the mountain.

To Qin Li, this was clearly an inviting look, and his heart began to pound. For some reason, no other spiritual beast appealed to him besides this little fox, nor did he care about the little fox's talent level.

Qin Li secretly glanced at Tan Yi, seeing that he was talking to the old man. Finally unable to restrain himself, he slipped out of the crowd, activated his movement technique, and swiftly glided down the mountain.

Chasing in the direction the little white fox had gone for a while, Qin Li finally spotted a white shadow among the forest.

The little fox leaped onto a treetop, looked back at him as if urging him on, and then vanished into the forest again in an instant.

Seeing that the little fox was indeed waiting for him, Qin Li was overjoyed. He exerted his movement technique to its fullest, but unexpectedly, the little fox was even faster than him. The distance between them grew wider and wider. Had the little fox not waited for him each time, he would have long lost its trace.

“Where are you taking me?” Qin Li shouted loudly.

The little fox, however, did not respond, only looking back at him again.

With such a relentless chase, Qin Li's spiritual energy was rapidly consumed. Yet, he was completely unaware, his eyes fixed only on the little fox.

“Whoa!” Suddenly, an exclamation sounded from the forest. Qin Li was actually tripped by a vine hanging from a tree, his spiritual energy became chaotic, and he tumbled towards the ground. Beneath him was precisely a muddy swamp, and he plunged into it headfirst.

As he floated up from the thin mud, Qin Li, covered in mud, heard chirping sounds. The little fox was laughing uncontrollably on a branch, covering its mouth and nose with its small paws, as if implying he smelled too bad.

“I... I'm sorry, I...” Qin Li blushed deeply, stammering, unsure how to explain himself. He secretly regretted neglecting his escape techniques in the past, to be tripped by a vine and embarrass himself in front of the little fox. He was, however, completely oblivious to the peculiar appearance of this vine.

He quickly cast a Water Manipulation spell, washing away the mud and stench from his body. Fortunately, the little fox didn't disdain him and continued to signal him with its eyes to follow.

Next, the man and the fox traversed through forest after forest. Accidents frequently occurred along the way, each time misfortune befell Qin Li, accompanied by the little fox's joyful sounds.

Even Qin Li, foolish as he was, realized something was amiss. Yet he was unwilling to believe the little fox was playing tricks on him. He only thought the jungle in this area was strange, perhaps not yet cleared by the sect, and that the little fox must have been here before, knowing where the dangers lay.

After crossing an unknown number of mountains, Qin Li finally followed the little fox to a cliff face.

Below the cliff, directly adjacent to a large river, they stood at the base of the cliff. A scorching aura assailed them. The cliff face was covered in holes, from which flames erupted, and thick smoke billowed. The river water passing through here had become significantly warmer.

The little fox pointed at the smoke and dust above and chirped twice.

Qin Li squinted, looking up. He saw a faint silhouette of a small tree in the middle of the cliff, bearing two bright red fruits.

The little fox chirped twice more, looking at Qin Li with expectant eyes.

“You want me to help you get the spiritual fruits up there?” Qin Li asked.

The little fox nodded repeatedly.

“It truly was looking for my help.” Qin Li cast aside his doubts and immediately felt his spirits soar. He rubbed his hands together, assessing the cliff.

“It seems this isn't ordinary ground fire. The thick smoke has undergone some kind of mutation, making it even more dangerous. I can only climb up along the cliff face...”

Qin Li found it tricky but was not deterred. He swallowed a few elixirs to restore his spiritual energy, summoned his most precious magic robe, then activated a Water Element spell, coating his body with a layer of ice. He used both his hands and feet to climb upward.

The climb was not as easy as he imagined. The flames erupting from the holes could even burn through his magic robe.

Qin Li gritted his teeth. By the time he almost reached the base of the spiritual tree, he was entirely blackened, his magic robe was riddled with holes, and he had several blisters on his body, looking quite miserable. He could only desperately circulate his spell.

After immense effort, when he finally reached the base of the spiritual tree and his right hand gripped the stone platform, he suddenly felt a soft touch on his fingertips. His heart tightened. He looked up, and his face instantly filled with astonishment.

The little fox had, at some unknown point, arrived beneath the tree. Its front paw rested on his hand. Completely unharmed, it tilted its head, scrutinizing him.

“You...” Qin Li was speechless.

The little fox wrinkled its pink nose. “You're so clumsy,” it said, “how will you protect me in the future?”

“You can talk?” In his shock, Qin Li's spiritual energy became chaotic, causing his spell to destabilize. He immediately cried out in pain from the fire and plummeted downward.

The little fox wore a helpless expression, covered its eyes, and let out a long sigh.

The Thousand Mountain Bamboo Sea currently had no shortage of Demon Kings. Imperial Nectar was abundant, and one drop was enough to awaken the spiritual intelligence of a young demon.

‘Splash!’ Qin Li fell into the middle of the river, drifting in the water. As he struggled to shore, the burning pain somewhat alleviated.

The little fox jumped down. It opened its mouth to say something, but suddenly its expression stiffened. With a whoosh, it darted behind Qin Li, curled into a ball, and covered its head with its tail.

Qin Li froze for a moment, then realized there were two figures in the air. Upon seeing the appearance of one of them, he was greatly alarmed.

“Grand...” Qin Li quickly turned over and knelt on the ground. “Qin Li respectfully greets the Ancestor!”

Qin Niansui had just arrived from the North Sea, passing by coincidentally. He paid no attention to this junior of the Qin family; he merely glanced at the little fox, then continued flying towards the main peak.

The little fox's body trembled. After a while, it cautiously lifted its tail. Seeing that the figure in the air had left, it let out a long sigh of relief. Noticing Qin Li was still kneeling, it tugged at his arm. “Hey! What's your name?”

“My name is Qin Li,” Qin Li answered honestly.

“Qin?” The little fox's eyes darted. It leaped onto his shoulder and lay down, sharing a fruit with him. “You're the one!”

Qin Niansui naturally paid no attention to the games of the juniors. His brow was furrowed, as he worried about the future of his sect.

Currently, only a few Soul Transformation cultivators in Qingyang Temple knew of Qin Sang's return.

Qin Niansui did not understand why Martial Uncle Yufu had made such a decision. Qingyang Temple had long wished to re-establish its mountain gate, but they knew full well that the eyes of the world were on them, and thus had to postpone it repeatedly.

Qingyang Temple led the various clans and sects in confronting the Changyou clan. To gain universal respect and always stand for righteousness, they had to lead by example. Initially, there was no lack of skeptical voices. Later, when the masters of the Thousand Mountain Bamboo Sea were swept away by the Mistfall, Qingyang Temple suffered heavy losses. At the same time, this demonstrated to the world their unwavering determination, leaving others with nothing more to say.

This situation was hard-won. Qingyang Temple had gone to great lengths to unite all parties. Each clan and sect had its own agenda, but with Qingyang Temple setting an example, they had no choice but to prioritize the overall situation; otherwise, they would incur universal condemnation.

Now, with external enemies not yet subdued, and Qingyang Temple actively withdrawing personnel to establish its mountain gate, it would be seen by others as a selfish act.

Could it be true, as the rumors suggested, that Immortal Glaze was gravely wounded in her last battle with the Changyou clan chief, and her condition was precarious, forcing Qingyang Temple to prepare an escape route?

Even in the North Sea, various voices had emerged, let alone Central Continent.

It was said that during the recent tripartite discussion, the demon race of the Demon Sea took the lead in raising difficulties, demanding assistance in reclaiming their ancestral lands. Although the Four Saints Palace and the Witch Clan did not publicly state their positions, the scene was quite unpleasant.

“Husband, do not worry,” a beautiful woman beside Qin Niansui gently consoled him. “Martial Uncle's actions must be well-thought-out. We will know when the time is right.”

The woman was Qin Niansui's Dao companion and also Bai Hanqiu's eldest daughter. Back then, when Bai Hanqiu mentioned this matter to Qin Sang, Qin Sang had left behind two jade pendants, which both of them were currently carrying.

“Although Martial Uncle has his considerations, for the sect's grand plan, no matter what others think, as your husband, I must point out the hidden dangers I perceive!”

Qin Niansui shook his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the ground.

He had to admit that the new mountain gate indeed presented a magnificent spectacle, unmatched by the other few cultivation sites. Even he couldn't help but be moved. No wonder the disciples were in high spirits. Unfortunately, they only knew the joy of this place, unaware of the external concerns.

They accelerated their flight speed and soon arrived at the main peak. As their figures landed, a deacon immediately came forward to greet them.

Upon learning their purpose, the deacon turned and entered the hall to report.

At this moment, Li Yufu was in the back mountains of the main peak, respectfully standing before Qin Sang's cave dwelling.

After waiting for a while, he suddenly saw spiritual light shimmering on the surface of the stone door, which slowly opened. A moment later, Qin Sang walked out.

“Greetings, Martial Uncle.” Li Yufu bowed respectfully and followed Qin Sang as he flew to the mountaintop.

Qin Sang stood with his hands behind his back, releasing his divine sense. It silently swept across the land, perceiving the changes within Qingyang Temple.

After this period of secluded cultivation, his cultivation had largely stabilized. Qingyang Temple was also changing rapidly day by day, having largely met the requirements he set before his seclusion.

Next, preparations for forging the Lightning Altar would begin. Qin Sang planned to first establish the main altar, then construct the sub-altars. The construction of the mountain gate would proceed concurrently with the forging of the altars.

Because the requirements for the Lightning Altar were extremely stringent, it could not be accomplished solely by Qingyang Temple's power. Some matters he had to handle personally.