Chapter 2102: Correcting the Source

Qingyang Temple.

Inside the temple, green mountains stretched like distant eyebrows, and rivers flowed, creating a scene of a blessed immortal land, devoid of any signs of damage.

On this day, the temple gates were wide open, auspicious clouds adorned the sky like brocade, and guests filled the entrance.

From the west, chanting could be heard, and a group of monks was seen approaching, walking through the void. Some were ascetic monks, clad in patched robes, thin and sallow-faced. The others, too, appeared weathered and were clearly not ordinary monks. They did not travel by flying boat but walked, yet their speed was not slow; a single step could traverse several mountain peaks, and in the blink of an eye, they had arrived near the temple gates.

Shortly after, the sound of bells and chimes echoed within Qingyang Temple, and Li Yufu, as the temple master, personally came out to greet them. Li Yufu flicked his whisk, bowed, and said, "This humble Taoist greets Saint Huaiyin and all esteemed holy monks." This group of monks had come from the Western Lands, and the leading monk was Saint Huaiyin.

"Greetings, Temple Master Li."

Saint Huaiyin and the monks returned the greeting, looking up at Qingyang Temple with varied expressions.

More than a month had passed since the Northern Sea conflict. On that day, the Changyou tribe suffered a crushing defeat, fleeing in disarray and leaving behind countless corpses, including many first-level Void Realm masters and Changyou tribal elders. The Northern Sea had achieved a decisive victory. At the same time, the Changyou tribal armies stationed in the Western Wilderness and patrolling the Southern Sea also retreated in haste. From then on, there was not a single Changyou soldier near the Central Plains. It took multiple investigations in the Western Wilderness to confirm that the great enemy, who had threatened the Central Plains for hundreds of years, had completely withdrawn.

Just as various forces were bewildered, a rumor spread that Qin Zhenjun, the ancestor of Qingyang Temple, had returned. Not only had he not perished, but his cultivation had also greatly advanced, making him a Void Refinement master. Simultaneously, another piece of news circulated, filling countless people with dread and apprehension: the Changyou tribal chief had broken through to the second level of the Void Realm and was slaughtering demon cultivators in Canglang Sea. Fortunately, Qin Zhenjun arrived in time to force back the tribal chief; otherwise, the demon army might have been completely annihilated. As for why the demon cultivators from the Demon Sea appeared in Canglang Sea at that time, it also sparked much discussion, but it was less attention-grabbing compared to the two preceding rumors.

The situation was chaotic, and rumors ran rampant, making it difficult for all parties to ascertain their truth. Qingyang Temple then announced a closure of its mountain, and forces like the Profound Heaven Palace in the Northern Sea also remained silent.

Just when everyone was feeling apprehensive, some time ago, well-known forces across the Storm Realm received invitations from Qingyang Temple, announcing the re-establishment of its mountain gate. A grand ceremony would be held to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, honor the ancestors, and invite fellow cultivators from all sides to attend. The key lay in this invitation letter: the signature not only bore Li Yufu's temple master seal but also carried a faint, subtle aura. Sensing this aura, the powerful overlords who dominated their respective regions were all filled with trepidation.

The Western Buddhist Sects also received an invitation. With the foreign enemy retreated, the pressure on the Western Lands had greatly reduced. As a mark of respect, Saint Huaiyin and eminent monks from various temples came together to attend the ceremony. For reasons unknown, they did not use teleportation arrays to travel to the Central Plains but instead journeyed physically across the Central Plains continent, accumulating dust and arriving even later than the Northern Sea forces. By this time, Qingyang Temple was filled with distinguished guests, and the Western monks were among the latest arrivals.

"We apologize for our tardiness; we hope it hasn't affected the ceremony," Saint Huaiyin said with an apologetic expression.

"You overstate it, Holy Monk. The celebration has not yet begun. Please, everyone, come in!"

Li Yufu gestured, inviting the monks to enter Qingyang Temple.

Immortal mist swirled, and clouds billowed, resembling an ethereal fairyland. While marveling, the monks' greatest interest was naturally the protective mountain array of Qingyang Temple. They secretly probed and found that they could not discern its intricacies. The profundity of this array surpassed their imagination, filling them with silent awe.

As the monks entered the mountain gate and walked through the clouds, they saw a sea of clouds slightly below the peaks of Qingyang Temple. Peaks emerged from the clouds like immortal islands, with the highest and central peak being the main peak of Qingyang Temple. Jade tables were set on these immortal islands, laden with an abundance of divine nectar and immortal fruits. Most of them already had occupants, representing the various forces that had come to attend the ceremony.

Saint Huaiyin surveyed his surroundings and found that most of the immortal islands were bustling with people. A great number of attendees were present, and virtually all well-known figures in the Storm Realm had arrived. There were high-ranking figures from the three major tribes, various sect masters, grand elders, renowned rogue cultivators, and countless large and small sects. Grandmaster Huaiyin knew these people's thoughts like the back of his hand; in fact, the Western monks harbored similar intentions. Firstly, they came to ascertain the truth about Qingyang Temple: whether Qin Zhenjun had truly returned and if he had indeed broken through to the Void Refinement stage. Secondly, if the rumors were true, the situation would undoubtedly undergo earth-shattering changes. Understanding Qingyang Temple's intentions beforehand would help them make informed judgments. Thirdly, although the external enemy had retreated, the threat persisted. They wondered how Qin Zhenjun intended to deal with the Changyou tribe and internal matters within the Storm Realm. This concerned not only the prosperity and decline of the Storm Realm but also the rise and fall of every cultivator and force within it.

With a quick glance, Grandmaster Huaiyin roughly understood the seating arrangement of the guests. Around Qingyang Temple's main peak, various forces were generally placed in the four directions, corresponding to their geographical distribution in the current world. The Northern Sea forces, led by the Profound Heaven Palace, were situated in the north. The eastern side was primarily occupied by human forces from the Central Plains, led by the Three Sect Alliance. Not a single sect, such as the Northern Wilderness Demonic Sect, Ten Thousand Poisons Mountain, Jade Shadow Gate, Unremembering Mountain, or Water Mirror Seven Islands, was absent. The Eastern Sea demon cultivators, led by the Great Saint Dragon Whale, maintained a distance from the Central Plains humans and occupied the southeastern direction. Directly adjacent to them were the Demon Sea demon cultivators in the due south. Grandmaster Huaiyin couldn't help but take another look, noticing that Yuanchu was seated in the main position of the Demon Sea demon cultivators, with Phoenix King and other kings arrayed on either side. Only the Flood Dragon King, Golden Toad King, and some other demon kings were nowhere to be seen. The unusual seating arrangement drew many gazes, but Yuanchu sat upright and motionless, while the Phoenix King and other demons maintained tense expressions, making it impossible to discern any clues from their faces.

The Witch Tribe and the human cultivators from Canglang Sea, led by the Four Sacred Palaces, were settled in the southwestern peaks, encroaching on some of the Western Lands' territory. However, the Western Lands had been plagued by continuous wars for years, and smaller temples and monasteries had mostly merged into the major Buddhist temples. Not many people came, and the remaining space was sufficient to accommodate them. Those attending the ceremony were on the outer periphery. Qingyang Temple disciples, led by Shen Chen, Yu Nu, Huan Hen, and others, formed arrays around the main peak, all appearing vibrant and spirited. Grandmaster Huaiyin gazed at the peaks, seeing golden radiance filling the sky and a solemn, dignified atmosphere, but Qin Zhenjun was not visible.

Li Yufu led the way, and as the monks walked through the clouds, they were surprised to find a vibrant, dew-kissed lotus blooming with every step they took. The lotuses were real; a closer look revealed white filaments intertwined within the misty clouds, which were the vines of a certain spiritual plant. This plant was called the "One-Breath Lotus," a rare spiritual plant gifted to Qingyang Temple by Jihong. As its name suggested, the lotus would bloom for only a single breath before wilting, yet in that brief moment, it brought the most beautiful scenery to the world and, over time, could even improve spiritual veins. As the monks walked, lotuses bloomed with each step. Even those who had witnessed this marvelous sight before couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, bowing to the monks.

The spiritual plants Jihong brought out were not limited to the One-Breath Lotus. At this grand ceremony, there were no Taoist acolytes or serving maids; the peaks were adorned with vibrant flowers. Whenever a cup on a jade table became empty, a flower bud immediately bloomed, shaped like a bull's horn, and flowed with divine nectar and jade liquid. This spiritual flower was named the "Wine-Burning Flower," and it had only one purpose: to improve the quality of wine. Its roots, steeped in wine, could transform even ordinary spirits into superior wine. Jihong also presented several other similar spiritual plants as gifts, adding considerable grandeur to Qingyang Temple's ceremony.

"Holy Monks, please be seated."

After settling the Western monks, Li Yufu's gaze swept across the peaks, noting that most guests had arrived. Clouds formed under his feet, and he flew towards the main peak. Noticing his actions, the murmuring among the crowd immediately subsided. Soon after, a bell chime silenced the last whispers, rendering the entire Qingyang Temple utterly silent, with only the lingering sound of the bell. The precious bell chimed nine times consecutively, and the Grand Hall of the Sect Master opened with a thunderous sound.

Li Yufu, holding a whisk and clad in an immortal brown Taoist robe, walked out of the hall amidst the gazes of countless people. Standing before the hall, he loudly proclaimed the ceremony's purpose: that this would henceforth be Qingyang Temple's main hall, and today, an altar would be opened to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth and honor the ancestors. Finally, Li Yufu flicked his whisk, and the main peak trembled slightly, erupting in golden light that stretched for ten thousand feet. An altar rose from the mountaintop. However, he did not go to perform the sacrifice himself but looked up at the sky, his face filled with reverence. Seeing his actions, everyone realized something and held their breath.

A moment later, a long cry was heard, and fiery meteors streaked across the sky! The sound was clear and resonant, followed by a majestic aura that shook everyone's minds. Gazing intently, they saw that the fiery meteors were, in fact, an incomparably magnificent firebird. It was like a phoenix born from flames, yet purer than a phoenix, as if it were the master of heavenly fire. Such a divine bird, however, was merely a mount. Upon its back sat a Taoist, whose demeanor was extraordinary.

"Greetings, Senior Uncle!" Li Yufu knelt and cried out.

"Greetings, Ancestor Master!" The disciples of Qingyang Temple followed suit, bowing with fervent adoration on their faces.

Qin Sang arrived on the divine bird, but an incongruous squawk sounded in his ear: "I am a Vermilion Bird, a divine beast, noble by nature, not a mere mount!"

"I'm just borrowing you to enhance my prestige. Other spiritual beasts can't compare to the Vermilion Bird's bloodline; they wouldn't have such a good effect," Qin Sang said with a laugh. This remark pleased the Vermilion Bird, which mumbled, "Why haven't you hatched that foolish Qilin yet? And don't forget your promise to help me transcend my tribulation!" Qin Sang nodded. The Vermilion Bird's retreat to refine the essence of the Qilin origin seed was proving effective. Soon, he would likely have another powerful ally by his side.

'Boom!'

The Vermilion Bird descended from the sky, cooperating with Qin Sang to create a grand entrance. It landed before the altar, its upper body prostrate, allowing Qin Sang to dismount. Qin Sang stood firm on the altar, looking at the spirit tablets enshrined there, filled with mixed emotions. These were the spirit tablets of Qingyang Temple's successive ancestors; they were not solely for honoring the deceased, and his own name was also among them. The topmost layer naturally belonged to Yunyouzi, followed by Daoist Jixin. Next to them, a separate tablet was erected for Senior Qingzhu. Qin Sang only needed to offer respects to these three seniors.

Qin Sang held an incense stick, his expression solemn, meticulously completing each ritual: first offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, then paying respects to each ancestor individually. After the rites were complete, Qin Sang slowly turned, his gaze sweeping over Li Yufu and the disciples of Qingyang Temple. Unbeknownst to him, Qingyang Temple had grown from a dilapidated Taoist temple on Cuiping Mountain to this extent, now holding a place in the Grand World. People like Li Yufu and Shen Chen were more like seeds he had sown, not meticulously nurtured. Qin Sang could be considered one of the most irresponsible ancestors; his path to the Mahayana realm was also compelled by his cultivation method, yet so many people had gathered around him. They regarded him as their ancestor, offering him unreserved respect, adoration, and trust, viewing him as both an example and a reliance, and they were his most steadfast supporters. Anyone witnessing this scene would surely be moved, let alone cultivators who truly walked the path of Mahayana. With so many ties, could they sever them? Would they be willing to sever them? But if they didn't, how could they pursue the immortal path and seek transcendence? This was Qin Sang's greatest doubt regarding the Mahayana path.

His gaze moved outwards, to the guests, who had already risen from their seats.

"Greetings, True Monarch Qin!" Someone shouted first.

The next moment, cries erupted like a mountain roar and a tsunami. Everyone, regardless of their intentions, bowed.

"Greetings, True Monarch Qin!"

Humans, demons, and witches; Taoists, Buddhists, and demonic rogue cultivators; various sects and factions; powerful aristocratic families — they all represented the entire Storm Realm, bowing before Qin Sang!

"Greetings, fellow Taoists." Qin Sang cupped his hands slightly and chuckled, "In the Grand World, among human Taoist sects, 'True Monarch' is an honorific for cultivators at the Integration Stage, while all others are called 'True Man'. For someone like this humble Taoist, at most, a 'Grand' might be added before 'True Man'. This bow from all of you, this humble Taoist truly dares not accept."

At these words, everyone was dumbfounded. High-ranking Taoists like True Monarch Hegao all looked embarrassed. If Qin Sang didn't dare call himself True Monarch, what were they? Others also looked abashed. Titles like Buddhist Saint and Demon Saint King were on par with True Monarch. Since True Monarch was considered an overstep, they certainly wouldn't dare use such titles in the future. At the same time, some quick-witted individuals discerned key information from these words: this Qin Zhenjun had indeed returned from the outside, having traveled the Grand World and interacted with humans.

With a single statement, Qin Sang set things straight. Disregarding their thoughts, he continued, "This humble Taoist was pursued back then, fortunately preserving myself and ascending to the Grand World. I originally thought there would be no hope of returning to the lower realm in this life. Unexpectedly, affairs of the world are unpredictable, and I unexpectedly met Gu Ya, only then learning that the Storm Realm had collectively ascended..." He didn't need to explain anything to these people, merely giving a brief account of the circumstances.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked towards a northern peak. Some recognized Gu Ya and knew that she had been swept away by the mist waterfall back then. They had not expected her to not only be alive but also to have met Qin Zhenjun. Learning of this, some cultivators whose relatives had also been swept away by the mist waterfall became excited. Their loved ones might not have died, which was truly a blessing in misfortune.

"Learning that the Storm Realm underwent tribulation, and that all fellow Taoists and unfortunately sacrificed companions were able to cast aside old grudges, work together wholeheartedly to assist Immortal Liuli in fighting external enemies, striving diligently, overcoming countless difficulties, and writing a magnificent, tear-jerking epic with blood and tears, step by step gaining the strength to resist the enemy—my heart is greatly comforted! Back then, to find a way to counter the demonic sounds of the Heavenly Dao, this humble Taoist also thought of gathering the strength of myriad beings. Indeed, it has proven to be correct."

Qin Sang's tone carried genuine appreciation, affirming everyone's efforts. The atmosphere immediately relaxed, and everyone displayed relieved smiles.

"However..."

Suddenly, Qin Sang's expression abruptly changed, and his tone turned cold. "But when this humble Taoist returned, what I saw were scenes of regrettable sorrow! During the Northern Sea's peril, while Immortal Liuli was still recovering from severe injuries, some colluded with external enemies, some harmed their neighbors, some harbored sinister intentions, and some took advantage of the chaos..."

Each sentence was like a sharp, chilling wind, sweeping across the peaks, piercing into everyone's hearts and bones!