Chapter 2083: Casting Altar

The Human World

The mountain wind whistled.

Li Yu'fu softly recounted the details of the Three-Clan Deliberation.

Qin Sang listened impassively. While developments might bring surprises, they wouldn't deviate far from his expectations. No matter what schemes or tricks those people employed, they couldn't stop the torrent of the great tide.

He was this 'great tide'!

Due to his immense power, he could manipulate this great tide, letting its surging current crush everything in its path. However, the human heart was unpredictable, subtle, and profoundly mysterious.

High-level cultivators lived for hundreds, even thousands of years. Even if they spent most of their time cultivating in their caves, untouched by worldly affairs, living long enough meant they had seen every possible scheme. Sometimes, it wasn't that they were unwilling to use schemes, but that there was no need.

In the cultivation world, immense power resided within oneself. Dominance through might was the simplest approach; one merely needed to ensure others obeyed. A massacre, leaving rivers of blood, naturally eliminated all opposition.

However, the Path of Mahayana emphasized the human heart. What Qin Sang desired was a spiritual sanctuary where followers truly embraced him, rather than one filled with dissension and disloyalty.

Of course, human hearts could also be manipulated. The stage was set; now he just needed to wait for the devils and demons to expose themselves.

“As expected, the Flood Dragon King was the first to show his true colors. The Dragon Whale Saint King chimed in with a few words, though it's still unclear if he's allied with the Demonic Sea. Old Demon Fang remained silent, and the Three Sects Alliance's attitude is the most intriguing…” Li Yu'fu remarked.

With Qin Sang as his backing, he felt utterly confident. Yet, maintaining a worried facade in public was quite tiring.

Qin Sang hummed, unconcerned, and inquired about other matters. Li Yu'fu answered each question.

Seeing that Qingyang Temple was fully prepared, Qin Sang said, “We can seal the mountain!”

“Your disciple obeys!” Li Yu'fu bowed and withdrew.

A moment later, the mountain gate resonated with the sound of bells and chimes, while clouds and mist billowed around Qingyang Temple. During this period, Qingyang Temple had constructed several powerful formations around its gate, also serving to protect it.

Qin Niansui and his wife were waiting to be summoned in front of the main hall. Hearing the bells and chimes, both were startled. Activating their spiritual eyes, they saw that their sect was indeed sealing the mountain. During the Three-Clan Deliberation, Li Yu'fu had displayed an unprecedentedly tough stance. Now it seemed he truly intended to act unilaterally, sealing the mountain to isolate external disturbances.

“Husband, please calm down.” Bai Hanqiu's eldest daughter, Bai Zhixin, sensing her husband's inner anxiety, took his arm and gently comforted him.

After a long wait, the attendant finally returned, hurrying to the couple with a token held level in his hands. It was none other than Li Yu'fu's Temple Master's decree. With the Temple Master's decree presented, it was as if the Temple Master himself were present.

Qin Niansui and his wife quickly bowed. The attendant then offered an apologetic smile and sternly delivered the order: “Qin Niansui, Bai Zhixin, I instruct you both to return to the North Sea immediately and guard the ancestral temple without delay! Should the ancestral temple fall, you will be held accountable.”

The couple was greatly alarmed, never expecting to be sent back to the North Sea without even meeting the Martial Uncle.

“Where is Martial Uncle Shen now?” Qin Niansui pressed.

After he and Bai Zhixin became cultivation partners, they apprenticed under Bai Hanqiu. Shen Chen joined later, so he would address Bai Hanqiu as Senior Sister.

“Grandmaster Shen is currently in seclusion, refining artifacts. He gave strict orders that no one is to disturb him except for the Temple Master,” the attendant respectfully stated, adding, “Saint King Yunü and Grandmaster Huanhen are both assisting Grandmaster Shen with the refining.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Niansui calmed down. It was clear that the Transcendent Divinity cultivators within the sect had reached a consensus. The Temple Master might make a misjudgment, but it was impossible for all four Transcendent Divinity cultivators to lose their heads at once. There had to be a compelling reason for this action.

“Your disciples obey. We shall return to the North Sea at once!” Qin Niansui and his wife bowed again towards the main hall, then departed on their clouds.

Meanwhile, Qin Sang had left the main peak and arrived at a valley not far away. It was a valley surrounded by three mountains, with a cleared, flat expanse of land within. From the outside, it appeared as a mist-shrouded lake, a forbidden area that even Nascent Soul cultivators could not enter.

Qin Sang landed in the center of the valley. Sensing the flow of the surrounding spiritual veins, he sat down a moment later and slowly circulated his True Essence, guiding each spiritual vein according to his will. Qingyang Temple had already sorted out the spiritual veins. Qin Sang only needed to make slight adjustments, which wouldn't cause significant disturbance, allowing him to easily conceal his actions. The changes were happening right around them, yet the disciples of Qingyang Temple remained completely unaware.

Under Qin Sang's continuous efforts, the spiritual energy of the area was gradually shifting towards his desired configuration.

In fact, Qin Sang's plan had repeatedly changed with his experiences. Previously, as the sole Void Refinement cultivator, he had to personally oversee the main altar. So, he had planned to divide other sub-altars into regions, each built around one sub-altar, and then entrust them to Transcendent Divinity cultivators, ultimately converging all the altars' power onto himself.

Now that he had encountered Su Nü and Silu, and with Vermilion Bird having hope of breaking through to Void Refinement, if he could obtain the assistance of three Void Refinement cultivators, such detailed division would be unnecessary. The main altar would be in Central Continent, with three core sub-altars established in the North Sea, Western Lands, and Demonic Sea (Canglang Sea), each guarded by one of the three. With three Void Refinement cultivators sharing the burden, not only would the power greatly increase, but its activation speed would also be faster.

Of course, the main altar was the foundation of everything. If the main altar was unstable, all other aspirations would be baseless.

Days and nights revolved.

After an unknown period, the spiritual energy around Qingyang Temple subtly transformed, and the spiritual veins in this area finally met Qin Sang's requirements. Qin Sang withdrew his True Essence and slowly awoke. Just then, a streak of light flew into the valley; it was Shen Chen.

“Master, did you call for me?”

Qin Sang had summoned Shen Chen because he was about to begin constructing the altar. This process had similarities to artifact refining, and Shen Chen, by observing carefully, would surely gain significant insight.

“How far have you progressed in comprehending the ancient texts I gave you earlier?” Qin Sang asked.

Shen Chen replied, his expression excited, “Only today did I realize the profound mysteries of artifact refining. While I wouldn't claim rapid progress in this short time, I certainly felt much more at ease when refining formation flags. However, I also have many doubts and questions that I wish to ask you, Master.”

Next, the master and disciple engaged in a Q&A, with Qin Sang dispelling Shen Chen's doubts, all while continuously working. Spiritual materials like Azure Trace Essence flew out one by one. One by one, precious spiritual materials shone with dazzling brilliance. Most of them were things Shen Chen had never even heard of, leaving him wide-eyed with wonder.

Hearing Shen Chen's questions, Qin Sang secretly nodded. Those ancient texts contained some of Master Qi and Master Gu's insights on artifact refining. To comprehend so much in such a short time truly demonstrated Shen Chen's talent.

Finally, Qin Sang tossed a jade slip to Shen Chen. Shen Chen glanced at it and immediately became engrossed. The jade slip contained none other than the "Heavy Profundity Tome"!

Qin Sang ignored him, circulating his True Essence to draw the Azure Trace Essence before him. He cast a series of incantations, and the Azure Trace Essence's color gradually deepened, then it spontaneously split, finally transforming into countless blue specks of light suspended in the air. After the refining was complete, Qin Sang pressed his palm downwards, and all the specks of light submerged into the ground.

The tremor startled Shen Chen awake. Reluctantly, he put away the jade slip and focused on observing his master construct the altar. Under Qin Sang's exquisite control, the Azure Trace Essence dispersed underground, 'drifting' towards the surrounding spiritual veins. Each important spiritual vein received the essence's favor; the specks of light merged with the spiritual veins, seemingly freezing them in place. This step was to stabilize the spiritual veins, preventing excessive fluctuations and damage during the altar's construction. This step was indispensable regardless of the type of altar being built. While this step sounded simple, it was actually extremely taxing on one's mental energy and allowed no room for error. Qin Sang knew he couldn't rush, so he proceeded systematically, occasionally explaining things to Shen Chen.

Master and disciple remained in the valley, oblivious to the passage of seasons.

After deploying the Azure Trace Essence, Qin Sang took out Golden Peak Jade, carving it into pieces with meticulous care. At the same time, he scattered Golden Pattern Grass seeds, which could be directly watered with True Essence. The Golden Pattern Grass seeds sprouted and grew into exceptionally peculiar plants. Their branches and leaves shimmered with silver light, shaped like lightning bolts with numerous forks. Countless Golden Pattern Grass plants were sown in one area, their branches and leaves intertwining to form what resembled a web of lightning. The Golden Pattern Grass would die after reaching a certain growth stage because it was forcibly stimulated and would not produce new seeds. After dying, the plants would transform into a peculiar lightning power that, as long as it wasn't dispersed, would never disappear, serving as the altar's 'energy channels'. Immediately after, Qin Sang conjured up Thousand Plume Spiritual Silk. After carefully refining it, he cautiously guided it into the interior of those 'lightning bolts'. Shen Chen watched as the altar was constructed step by step by Qin Sang, a sight that left him utterly amazed.

One day, seeing that Qin Sang seemed to have some free time, Shen Chen eagerly took out an item. “Master, during one of my travels in the Beichen Realm, I acquired this piece of Infernal Blood Mulberry. I originally intended to refine it into a magical artifact, but I felt this spiritual wood was more complex than that, and merely using it to defile others' artifacts seemed like a waste of its potential. So, I haven't made up my mind.”

“Oh? There's still scattered Infernal Blood Mulberry in the Beichen Realm?” After the Ziwei Palace ascended, Qin Sang had searched in vain and had thought Old Demon Ye had wasted it all.

“Your intuition is correct; this spiritual wood has other wondrous uses. Keep it for now,” Qin Sang mused. “Staying by my side constantly has kept your horizons too narrow. Once this matter is concluded, I will take you to the Eight Great Celestial Continents to join a force that can be called a sacred land for artifact refiners.” Since Shen Chen was determined to pursue the path of artifact refining, the Five Elements Alliance would be perfectly suited. Qin Sang had always been interested in the secret art that used Infernal Blood Mulberry to blind artifact spirits, but the Cloud Roaming Sword could not be exposed. With Shen Chen possessing a fragment of the spiritual tree, if managed properly in the future, he might be able to acquire this secret art.

Shen Chen was overjoyed. He carefully put away the Infernal Blood Mulberry and continued to observe Qin Sang constructing the altar.

Beyond the Western Desolation.

Behind the Changyou Tribe's main army, there was a serene and picturesque island, strikingly out of place with its surroundings. Patrolling soldiers and generals bypassed it by a hundred miles.

Just then, a white wave suddenly surged into this sea area, heading straight for the island. It abruptly stopped in front of the island, revealing a fully armored Changyou Tribe soldier who knelt on one knee on the water.

“Reporting, General! A confidential message has arrived!”

Ripples spread through the air, and the talisman message in the soldier's hand shot directly into a palace on the island, where it was caught by a Changyou tribesman. This man was burly and robust, with short, neatly trimmed hair. His face was resolute, his thick eyebrows like two sharp swords, and his eyes gleamed with sharpness. Even sitting, his back remained perfectly straight. His name was Minshan. He held the rank of High General, a position second only to the chieftain and a few tribal elders. At this time, he commanded several armies, pressuring the Storm Realm.

Opening the confidential message, he found no text, only a pitch-black inkblot that, like a living thing, displayed various twisted lines. His gaze flickered, his brow furrowed slightly, and he crushed the confidential message between his palms. He tapped his fingers on the table, seemingly deep in thought.

The next moment, outside the island, a mass of water gathered beneath the surface, then merged into the ocean currents, drifting through the sea until it reached an open expanse of water. The mass of water re-coalesced, surfacing as a human figure, identical in appearance to Minshan. He gazed at the calm sea and said faintly, “Come out.”

After a moment, a wisp of black mist slowly rose from the seabed, twisting and transforming into a shadowy figure, its facial features extremely blurred.

“What matter is so important that you…” Minshan was about to ask, when suddenly his gaze turned cold, and he roared, “You are not Soul Thorn!”

“Heh heh…” The shadowy figure let out a sinister laugh. “As expected, High General is cautious, sending only an avatar here. I have long admired your esteemed name, High General, and finally have the honor of seeing your true form!”

After years of conflict, the Changyou Tribe had also bought over some informants in the Storm Realm. Soul Thorn was one of the deepest undercover agents, always contacting only him. Unexpectedly, he had been exposed.

“Who are you?” Minshan narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing within them. Since the other party had discovered Soul Thorn's identity, yet chose not to use the opportunity to spread false information but rather to boast and show off, were they trying to humiliate him?

“High General need not know my identity. You only need to know that, like this fellow Daoist Soul Thorn, I also favor the Changyou Tribe. I was fortunate enough to obtain some important information, but I couldn't trust anyone else, nor could I reach you directly, High General. This was my last resort. I wonder if High General is interested…” The shadowy figure's voice was ethereal, and its form appeared elusive, seemingly guarding against Minshan's attack.

How could one refuse someone who came seeking refuge? Though Minshan found the person's origins suspicious, he decided there was no harm in listening and asked, “What news?”

“There is much news, for example, the weak points in the North Sea defense line,” the shadowy figure said lightly.

Minshan stared at the shadowy figure. “How do I know if your information is true or false?”

The shadowy figure chuckled. “I'm taking such extraordinary risks not for a one-time deal. High General can verify the information step by step, and gradually you will perceive my sincerity… Why not start with this very instance!”

The Changyou Tribe had constantly tried to buy informants, but with little success. This person seemed to know the North Sea defense line very well, likely holding a high position. Such individuals would only betray if they had suffered injustice or bore grudges against others.

“Why do you seek refuge with my tribe?” Minshan asked bluntly, suspecting a scheme targeting him.

“No! No! No!” The shadowy figure shook its head repeatedly. “I am not seeking refuge; rather, I am cooperating with you. This information is not for free!”

The world is driven by profit.

Minshan was not surprised. “What do you want?”

“Naturally, I want treasures commensurate with the value of the information. I trust the Changyou Tribe's profound heritage can satisfy my appetite. Of course, what I desire most is Azure Spirit Qi!” The shadowy figure's tone gained a hint of urgency.

“Azure Spirit Qi?” Minshan scoffed. “If you can help me break through the North Sea or Central Continent, you may take all the Azure Spirit Qi you wish!”

The shadowy figure bowed deeply. “I will certainly not disappoint High General!”