Chapter 2114: Yuan Xiang

Many people, from the moment they embarked on their cultivation path, were instilled with the belief that the Storm Realm was in grave danger, viewing the Changyou Clan as a mortal enemy and personally fighting them on the battlefield. For the disciples of Qingyang Temple and indeed all cultivators in the Storm Realm, the recent period had been one of unprecedented peace.

Only a few, including Qin Sang, knew how dangerous and urgent the situation truly was. Fortunately, the Lu family's army had not appeared, nor had there been any unusual activity from the Changyou Clan.

As time passed, the situation gradually began to tilt in the direction Qin Sang desired.

After breaking through, Vermilion Bird naturally stabilized its cultivation and quickly proceeded to the Western Lands to oversee the sub-altar.

Qin Sang was able to disengage, but instead of returning to Qingyang Temple, he remained elusive, appearing intermittently in various parts of the Storm Realm, secretly making arrangements.

A storm was brewing.

It was more like the calm before the storm.

On the border of the Western Lands, a gentle sea breeze pushed the seawater onto the shore, splashing white foam that rippled with the waves.

A flock of seabirds glided across the horizon, tracing elegant arcs before disappearing into the clouds.

After the birds flew past, two streaks of light, silent yet incredibly swift, appeared from an unknown direction in the sky, arriving above the Western Lands in the blink of an eye.

Within the streaks of light, two figures were faintly visible. One was Yuan Miao, and the other was an old man with white hair, a head shorter than Yuan Miao, with a round belly, a long beard that almost touched the ground, and cloudy eyes that made him appear perpetually drunk.

He leaned on a staff that was a smooth, yellowish-glowing wooden stick of unknown material, with a red gourd tied to its tip, gently swaying in the wind.

Upon entering the territory of the Western Lands, Yuan Miao's lips moved slightly as he was about to offer some introductions, but he saw the old man beside him heading directly for the Grand Compassion Zen Temple, seemingly very familiar with the area. Yuan Miao then closed his mouth, a look of confusion in his eyes.

Yuan Miao suppressed his curiosity and silently followed the white-haired old man through the desert.

Along the way, Yuan Miao noticed that more and more Buddhist temples and altars were being built in the desert, suggesting that the scale of the altar formation was larger than he had anticipated.

Previously, he had thought Qin Sang was making too much of a fuss, believing it would be difficult for the Changyou Clan to find allies capable of rivaling Qin Sang, and that they wouldn't be able to cause much trouble.

Now he understood that caution was justified, as Fellow Daoist Qu Lin of the Siyou Clan turned out to have so many connections.

The old man also clearly noticed the altars, stopping above a Buddhist temple. He didn't forcefully enter but watched with interest for a while before leaving.

The monks in the temple were completely unaware of anyone peering down from above, but Vermilion Bird, currently overseeing the sub-altar in the Western Lands, felt its feathers practically stand on end!

After entering the Western Lands, neither Yuan Miao nor the white-haired old man concealed their auras.

As the altar formation became increasingly perfected, those guarding the altars could sense each one, as well as the changes in spiritual energy nearby, through the connections between them.

When Yuan Miao and the white-haired old man passed by an altar, Vermilion Bird detected two powerful auras heading deeper into the Storm Realm.

The duo was utterly unbridled, and one of the auras was incredibly profound, unmatched even by Qin Sang's dharma body, indicating an obvious disparity in cultivation levels.

A top-tier expert intruding into the Storm Realm at this time was likely not a good sign.

Vermilion Bird wasn't sure if the altar formation could be activated yet, or what percentage of its power it held, but having itself go out to stop the intruders was absolutely out of the question!

It immediately activated the restrictions, prompting the altar to relay the information to Qin Sang's dharma body, who was stationed at the main altar.

Yuan Miao and the white-haired old man were completely unaware that they had thoroughly terrified a certain demonic bird.

Leaving the Buddhist temple, they continued eastward.

As they neared the Grand Compassion Zen Temple, the old man's expression subtly shifted. He suddenly stopped, gazed into the distance, then swiftly executed an escape technique, his speed skyrocketing as he tore through the air, leaving a single sentence behind.

"Little monkey, I'll go meet him first. You follow slowly."

Yuan Miao's face twitched. He roared internally, "Ancestral Grandmaster, I'm all grown up!"

'Little monkey' was his childhood nickname because he resembled a monkey the most at birth, and a certain ancestral grandmaster, with his authoritative words, bestowed this 'affectionate' name upon him.

However, since he had entered the Void Realm, almost no one dared to call him by that name anymore.

But this person, this...

Yuan Miao couldn't help but feel deflated.

At the edge of the desert, Qin Sang was flying through the air.

In his hand was a three-story miniature pagoda, crafted like crystal, exquisite and translucent.

This was the treasure Slu refined, named the Void-Severing Pagoda, which could restrict the inter-transfer technique of the Siyou Clan. However, to unleash its true power and detain an opponent, one needed extremely precise control over timing, making it not easy to use.

Qin Sang was currently studying this treasure, hoping to gain inspiration to apply its principles to the Thunder Altar.

Fiddling with the Void-Severing Pagoda in his hand, Qin Sang's brow furrowed slightly. He had just been patrolling the interior when he received the message and immediately rushed over.

According to Vermilion Bird's description, there were two arrivals, one of whom was likely Yuan Miao. Yuan Miao hadn't replied to his letter, and now he had arrived unannounced, bringing a mysterious expert with him, making Qin Sang wonder about his intentions.

Qin Sang believed Yuan Miao wouldn't harm him without reason, and with the Sky-Eye Butterfly's Void Profound Divine Light providing protection, his true body came in person to avoid any perceived slight.

As he was flying, Qin Sang sensed an unfamiliar aura approaching. His heart tightened, and he immediately put the Void-Severing Pagoda into his Qianjun Ring, suppressed his escape light, and became secretly vigilant.

Moments later, Qin Sang sharply turned his head, looking towards a nearby mountain forest, simultaneously hearing a voice ask:

"You cultivate Buddhist divine abilities, yet you build Daoist altars. Are you a Buddhist disciple or a Daoist successor?"

In the forest, on top of an ancient tree, a white-haired old man had appeared at some unknown point, sitting astride a branch, his long beard hanging down between his legs.

He picked up the red gourd, pulled out the stopper, and immediately a rich aroma of wine wafted out.

The wine aroma instantly filled the mountain forest. The plants seemed to stir, and the birds, beasts, fish, and insects all appeared drunk, their faces flushed, bodies swaying, before finally falling into a deep sleep.

The old man took a satisfied swig of wine, watching Qin Sang with great interest.

Qin Sang's nostrils flared slightly. He thought to himself that this was no ordinary wine; who knew how many creatures in the mountains would achieve enlightenment and defy fate simply by smelling its aroma.

"This humble Daoist is Qin Sang. May I inquire about your esteemed name, fellow Daoist!"

Qin Sang also landed atop an ancient tree, cupped his hands from a distance, his tone neither servile nor arrogant.

A ripple spread through his heart.

Previously, neither Slu nor Yuan Miao had discerned the origin of the Thunder Altar, yet this person had seen through it with a single glance. This individual was clearly very familiar with the human race, and Qin Sang wondered what connection he had to them.

"Indeed, a Daoist successor..."

The old man nodded, "This old man is Yuan Xiang."

Yuan Xiang!

The Patriarch of the Zhu Yan Clan!

Qin Sang was inwardly astonished. It was beyond his expectation that *this* individual had been drawn here.

The Siyou Clan had already dispatched secret agents and would make a move sooner or later. It was normal for the Zhu Yan Clan to send a higher-ranking figure if they found Yuan Miao couldn't control the situation.

He hadn't expected to directly alarm the Patriarch!

Excluding the Saint and Ancestor Realm powerhouses in the Sacred Lands, the patriarchs of the major superior clans were among the most prominent and few figures of the entire demon race.

The goal of these individuals should be to break through to the Saint Realm. Patriarch Yuan Xiang had long since ceased to involve himself in worldly affairs, appearing and disappearing like a divine dragon.

Arriving with Yuan Miao, Patriarch Yuan Xiang's identity was beyond doubt; such a powerful figure would not bother impersonating others.

Qin Sang's expression grew serious, and he spoke solemnly, "I was unaware of your arrival, Patriarch. This humble Daoist's etiquette has been lacking, and I hope the Patriarch will be magnanimous regarding any disrespect."

"Daoist seniors drink the wind and dew, living free and unconstrained by worldly etiquette, natural and unrestrained. This old man has always yearned for such a life."

Yuan Xiang wiped his mouth and waved his hand dismissively.

Qin Sang thought to himself, 'You're probably referring to the Pill Cauldron Sect of Daoism. As far as I know, the Talisman Sect's rules and etiquette are quite elaborate.'

However, this showed that Yuan Xiang was very familiar with the human race, perhaps having left the Misty Sea and traveled throughout the Great Zhou.

That a small Storm Realm could alarm Patriarch Yuan Xiang was something Qin Sang had never anticipated. This unusual situation also raised many doubts for Qin Sang, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

He suddenly had a premonition that there might be more to the Storm Realm than met the eye.

By common sense, when the Storm Realm ascended as a whole into the territory of the Zhu Yan Clan, it would have been impossible to hide it from them.

Qin Sang had been pondering how to coexist with the Zhu Yan Clan.

After returning to the Storm Realm, the various situations he investigated—such as the existence of rare treasures like the Cyan Spirit Qi, which gave the Changyou Clan reason to conceal it; the Zhu Yan Clan's extremely magnanimous treatment of their vassal clans; and Yuan Miao's complete ignorance of these matters—forced Qin Sang to believe this reality.

Patriarch Yuan Xiang's sudden appearance made Qin Sang realize that perhaps these were all just superficial observations.

Whether this sudden variable was good or bad, Qin Sang's mind raced. He then heard Yuan Xiang continue, "Since you are also a Daoist successor, did Fairy Liuli's master send you here?"

After saying this, Yuan Xiang muttered to himself, "They should be master and disciple by now."

At these words, a sharp glint flashed in Qin Sang's eyes, and his heart was suddenly stirred.

Everything truly was just a facade; there was another hidden reason why the Storm Realm had remained safe and sound in the Misty Sea for nearly a thousand years!

The "Master Liuli" mentioned by Yuan Xiang was clearly not Bingyao; they were already master and disciple before, so why would he say "become master and disciple"?

The ruins of the Ziwei Palace also indicated that Bingyao's fate was grim.

Who exactly was Liuli's new master? Why were Tong Lingyu, Li Yufu, and even Shi Xue unaware, and why did the entire Storm Realm know nothing?

Liuli's recent departure was likely to visit that master.

When Yuan Xiang mentioned this person, his demeanor was unusually solemn, indicating that Liuli's master's cultivation and status must be extremely high.

Could it be an ascended senior?

Or perhaps a powerful human cultivator who had traveled to this place?

However, Qin Sang's thoughts at this moment turned to the various secrets of the Storm Realm, aside from the Ziwei Palace, and the existence that the First Sword Attendant feared. He wondered if there was another hidden reason for the realm's collective ascension.

Was he finally glimpsing the tip of the iceberg?

"This humble Daoist doesn't know who the Patriarch is referring to, but I presume it's not a fellow Daoist I previously knew," Qin Sang replied after a moment's thought.

"So it is! It seems you ascended from a lower realm to the Great Thousand Worlds, later learned of this matter, and came here on your own, not under anyone's guidance. The Great Thousand Worlds are vast and boundless; it's truly not easy that you managed to find this place."

Yuan Xiang took another swig of wine and sighed deeply, "Who would have thought it was all due to a series of coincidences, leading to so many misunderstandings."

At this point, Qin Sang could faintly guess some things and pressed, "What misunderstandings is the Patriarch referring to?"

"Since you don't know that person, it's inconvenient for this old man to reveal their identity..."

Yuan Xiang looked thoughtful, seemingly pondering what could and couldn't be said.

"Back then, that person came to me, asking me to look after your clan a little, so that your clan wouldn't be annihilated. However, the animosity between you and the Changyou Clan is already deep, and as a superior clan, I cannot openly favor an outsider clan and forcibly stop the Changyou Clan from seeking revenge. So, I made an agreement with that person: I would not interfere with the conflict between your clan and the Changyou Clan. From then on, as long as you didn't proactively provoke enmity with others, no one would deal with you, and no one would bully the weak. That person agreed. For many years, that person never appeared again, and I never intervened. But your recent reliance on the Siyou Clan has brought a great deal of trouble, and it's difficult for me to intervene now."

Hearing Yuan Xiang's words, Qin Sang suddenly understood everything, and all his previous doubts were explained.

The Storm Realm's survival in the demon race territories was indeed due to someone's patronage, though only Liuli in the entire Storm Realm knew about it.

Qin Sang grew even more curious about the identity of Liuli's master.

For some unknown reason, that person had never appeared, only entrusting Patriarch Yuan Xiang to secretly look after them.

Was it inconvenient for that person to act, or was it a form of tempering for Liuli?

The great trouble Yuan Xiang spoke of certainly referred to the Siyou Clan preparing to launch an attack. From this, it seemed that Qin Sang had unknowingly brought about this major problem himself.

However, if he hadn't returned and Min Zhuo had broken through, the Storm Realm's situation would still have been very dangerous. Qin Sang wondered if Patriarch Yuan Xiang would have intervened then.

"Is the great trouble the Patriarch mentioned referring to the Lu family of the Siyou Clan?" Qin Sang asked, feigning ignorance.

"Not just the Lu family of Hanjiang, but also the Imperial Clan. They claim that the one you sought refuge with is a traitor to the Si family of Yanshan. At that time, experts from the Imperial Clan will also join the punitive expedition. You have already become a vassal clan of the Si family of Yanshan, making this an internal matter of the Siyou Clan. It would be improper for me to intervene directly; at most, I can impose some restrictions on them and buy you some time. Whether you can overcome this calamity will depend solely on yourselves!"

After Yuan Xiang finished speaking, seeing that Qin Sang showed no signs of panic, he looked at him deeply and said, "I see you are not flustered. It seems you already have a good strategy."

"This humble Daoist has already found a safe region and sent some juniors there. In the worst-case scenario, our lineage can still be preserved," Qin Sang said solemnly.

Everything was within their expectations, even better than anticipated.

This was Zhu Yan Clan territory, so the Siyou Clan couldn't dispatch all their forces. As long as Patriarch Yuan Xiang was willing, he could make reasonable demands to restrict the experts sent by the Siyou Clan. With Patriarch Yuan Xiang's cooperation in delaying time until the Thunder Altar was completed, the outcome of victory or defeat was still uncertain!

Of course, Qin Sang wouldn't reveal all his thoughts, even though Patriarch Yuan Xiang appeared to be a friend rather than an enemy.

He eagerly pressed, "Patriarch Yuan Xiang, are you able to contact Fairy Liuli's master, or inform this humble Daoist of their spiritual abode? This humble Daoist would be willing to visit in person."

"Purple Cloud Mountain, do you know of it?" Yuan Xiang countered.

Qin Sang thought for a moment, then slightly shook his head.

It was rumored that beyond Kanzhou, in the East Sea, there were many reclusive human factions and powerful individuals. Qin Sang had heard some legends, but Purple Cloud Mountain was not among them.

"There you have it."

Yuan Xiang said, "That person has always cultivated on Purple Cloud Mountain. However, this old man only knows that Purple Cloud Mountain is near the Misty Sea, but not its exact location, nor do I have a way to send messages there. It has always been Purple Cloud Mountain contacting my clan."