Chapter 2135: Great Victory Afterglow

At this point, Qin Sang stopped, lost in thought.

The process of exploring the stele space seemed winding and difficult, yet in reality, he hadn't encountered significant danger; it could even be described as remarkably smooth. If collecting the Daiyu Immortal Mountain were truly this simple, it would be far too easy. So, was there any overlooked threat?

Qin Sang reviewed the entire process, meticulously recalling the subtlest fluctuations that had appeared within the stele space, but found nothing unusual. Overthinking was useless. Qin Sang collected his thoughts, and as he 'observed' the Daiyu Immortal Mountain, his attention was naturally drawn to the mountain's fissures.

Previously, from outside the immortal mountain, he could only see dazzling green light emanating from the fissures, which blocked his sight. Inside the fissures, a surging energy constantly diffused, capable of obscuring the senses of outsiders. Qin Sang and Min Zhuo had both tried, but neither could directly peer into the depths of the fissures.

Now, it was different. Qin Sang found he could 'see' inside the fissures; the green light originated from the mountain body itself. The rock walls on both sides were like precious jade, completely emerald green, pure and flawless. At the deepest part of the fissures, there was a mass of green aura—precisely the Green Spirit Qi. This Green Spirit Qi wasn't newly formed; it had actually been trapped there all along, and only a wisp or a few wisps would be shaken out each time the immortal mountain trembled. To Qin Sang's disappointment, there was no higher-grade Green Spirit Qi here.

What then was the source of the Green Spirit Qi? All Qin Sang could see on the immortal mountain, besides its main body, were the mysterious ancient restrictions. The Green Spirit Qi should not have originated from these ancient restrictions but from the immortal mountain itself. His attention shifted to the mountain walls. He saw no new Green Spirit Qi appearing. Perhaps it took time for Green Spirit Qi to form, or perhaps it had formed under specific conditions during the mountain's ascension. If it were the latter, he wondered if new Green Spirit Qi could ever be created in the future.

The situation deep within the fissures was somewhat unexpected. As Qin Sang continued to observe the mountain body, he made another astonishing discovery: the Daiyu Immortal Mountain was riddled with scars, causing its own internal power to become chaotic and clash, which was one of the reasons for the mountain's tremors. Fortunately, thanks to those mysterious ancient restrictions, the Daiyu Immortal Mountain had not disintegrated. One function of these mysterious ancient restrictions was to protect the immortal mountain; its seemingly majestic and imposing body was, in fact, very fragile internally.

"Was this also caused during its ascension?" Qin Sang speculated silently, wanting to delve deeper. He successively discovered several mysterious areas, including the core of the immortal mountain, which was a chaotic mass internally and couldn't be explored even with the help of the stele.

Unable to discern anything conclusive for now, Qin Sang's attention finally turned to the mysterious ancient restrictions. After a brief test, he was pleasantly surprised to find that some of the ancient restrictions on the mountain's surface were not resistant to him and could be manipulated. He began searching for ancient restrictions that wouldn't reject him. As he controlled one after another, they spread almost across the entire mountain. Controlling these ancient restrictions allowed him to influence the immortal mountain.

Qin Sang hadn't found a way to refine the Daiyu Immortal Mountain, but he could try to use the ancient restrictions to move it! With this thought, Qin Sang immediately began to experiment.

On the surface of the immortal mountain, the ancient restrictions gradually became visible, creating immediate phenomena. White mist emerged within the mountain, shrouding it in ethereal fog. Even the green light emanating from the fissures was obscured by the clouds, adding a touch of elusive mystery to the immortal mountain. Within the white mist, Qin Sang and the stele appeared faintly, as if merging with the surroundings. The next moment, the void trembled slightly, the immortal mist surged, and the immortal mountain abruptly rose dozens of feet.

"Boom!"

The unusual movement of the Daiyu Immortal Mountain caused the abyss to become turbulent. The ancient restrictions in the void emitted abnormal fluctuations, seemingly on the verge of erupting because of this. Qin Sang felt the threat. With a slight shift in his thoughts, and accompanied by a roar, the Daiyu Immortal Mountain heavily slammed back down to its original position, and the unusual movements in the abyss consequently subsided.

"It seems taking the Daiyu Immortal Mountain out won't be easy..." Qin Sang looked beyond the mountain, his gaze sweeping across the dim abyss, and thought to himself. The Daiyu Immortal Mountain seemed to have some connection to the abyss. Forcibly removing the mountain would trigger anomalies in the abyss, potentially even causing it to collapse and cease to exist.

It seemed only one path lay before him: to try and control more of the immortal mountain's ancient restrictions, ideally gaining complete control over the mountain to sever this connection. However, time was running out, and Qin Sang wasn't sure if he could achieve it.

Nonetheless, Qin Sang had another, unconventional method: he had his Dharma Idol bring over the Thousand-Juin Ring! It wasn't that he had anticipated this situation beforehand. Inside the Thousand-Juin Ring was a small Grotto-Heaven. Over the years, this Grotto-Heaven had become increasingly stable, boasting a vast space covering a hundred *li*. Regardless of whether the source of the Green Spirit Qi was the Daiyu Immortal Mountain or something else, as long as it didn't exceed the Grotto-Heaven's capacity, it could be directly stored, which was incredibly convenient. The prerequisite was that the object be stable enough not to cause tremors or even collapse within the small Grotto-Heaven. The Daiyu Immortal Mountain was not stable, but Qin Sang could use the ancient restrictions on its surface to mask the tremors' fluctuations. As long as he could hold on until he exited the abyss, this problem could be easily resolved. It would be even better if the Daiyu Immortal Mountain could be kept within the small Grotto-Heaven, as a mountain would be too conspicuous no matter where it was placed.

With this in mind, Qin Sang continued his attempts, searching for more ancient restrictions he could control. The white mist on the mountain's surface grew thicker and thicker, a dense, ethereal fog enveloping the entire mountain. Eventually, the mountain's main body became completely hidden, fully obscured by the immortal mist. The immortal mist flowed, not smoothly, often rippling, but compared to the previous tremors, it had become much weaker.

At this point, Qin Sang withdrew his thoughts, let out a soft sigh, and realized he too was surrounded by the immortal mist. Qin Sang flew out of the mountain and summoned the Thousand-Juin Ring. With a flash of spiritual light, the space before him instantly became empty; both the immortal mist and the immortal mountain vanished into thin air. He immersed his consciousness into the small Grotto-Heaven and saw the immortal mountain descend onto an empty space he had specially created. The moment it landed, the ground trembled violently. The fluctuations emanating from the immortal mist ultimately had an impact on the Grotto-Heaven, but it was considerably better than anticipated.

"Rumble!"

The anomalies outside startled Qin Sang awake. He quickly withdrew his consciousness and realized the loud noise came from the bottom of the abyss. In the depths of the darkness, a terrifying power seemed to be brewing, ready to erupt at any moment. The surrounding ancient restrictions flickered with unusual light, and an unsettling atmosphere enveloped the area. Qin Sang dared not hesitate. He immediately grabbed Min Zhuo, who was nearby, transformed into a streak of green lightning, and shot out of the abyss.

Weaving through the layers of ancient restrictions, Qin Sang returned along the same path, not without some fright but no real danger. Just as he was about to burst out of the abyss, an anomaly suddenly occurred.

"Crack!"

A bolt of white lightning shot out from a cluster of ancient restrictions, striking towards the green lightning. The two streaks of electric light crossed paths. Qin Sang was secretly alarmed. Fortunately, his Thunder Escape was fast enough; otherwise, he might have been struck by the white light, and he couldn't imagine what the consequences would be.

Outside the abyss.

The Ten Elders and others were busily collecting Green Spirit Qi, having a great time. The Storm Realm had only sent these individuals from start to finish, who only dared to pick up scraps from the side, posing no threat to them at all. Conversely, some experts from the Changyou Clan were eyeing the Xuan Heaven Palace experts menacingly, planning to kill them all after the matter was concluded, leaving no one alive!

"Huh? Why isn't any Green Spirit Qi floating out anymore?" Someone activated their spiritual eyes, gazing into the abyss, and asked strangely.

The Ten Elders looked towards the horizon, mentally calculating, and said, "The turbid qi has reached its lowest point and is now rising. Perhaps..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by that person's alarmed cry, "What is that?"

Everyone was startled, turning to look in the direction the person was pointing. They saw a brilliant green light erupting from the gloom, far more dazzling than the Green Spirit Qi. The speed of the green light was astonishing. They feared that dim area like tigers, yet the green light moved through it as if it were uninhabited. Following it was an incredibly ferocious pressure that made hearts tremble.

"This pressure..."

Among those present, some had been on battlefields and had witnessed the Azure Luan True Thunder Escape before. A possibility came to mind, and their expressions changed drastically. When they finally saw clearly what was within the green light, they were utterly aghast. Their clan leader was actually being held in someone's hand, utterly powerless to resist!

Fear surged into everyone's hearts. Before they could even flee, the green light was already upon them. The Azure Luan Dharma Idol waved its phoenix wings, sending the Ten Elders and others sprawling. Before they could even resist, dazzling thunder light descended from high above, forming thick thunder ropes. A powerful force tore through their protective divine abilities. Everyone felt a wave of numbness wash over them, their consciousness grew dim, and they fell unconscious.

The thunder ropes swung, depositing them before the Xuan Heaven Palace cultivators. Qin Sang commanded in a low voice, "Take them away!"

The Xuan Heaven Palace cultivators exchanged glances, still reeling from the sudden turn of events. In the blink of an eye, their enemies had been captured alive, left at their mercy. A Xuan Heaven Palace elder opened his mouth to speak, only to notice gray-white mist rising from the depths of the turbid land. Simultaneously, the abyss stirred, and a strong sense of danger surged into his heart.

"Hurry!"

After everyone had left, Qin Sang also slowly retreated, watching as the turbid qi spread over the abyss, and phenomena immediately erupted. Strange lights frequently appeared, turning into terrifying waves that collided with the turbid qi, churning the heavens and earth. It was uncertain whether the abyss would survive this anomaly. Qin Sang watched for a while, then no longer lingered and broke through the air to leave.

***

Storm Realm.Western Lands.

After the great battle, the battlefield was a scene of devastation. Su Nu, Si Lu, and Vermilion Bird had all arrived and were leading people in cleaning up the battlefield. This great battle was not without its benefits. Although the Indefinite Eight Extremes Map had been taken, the Western Lands' topography had undergone permanent changes due to over a year of nourishment. The desert had almost disappeared, and although it still looked desolate, once the Storm Realm regained stability in the future, this place would inevitably recover its vitality.

Qin Sang stood alone, suspended in mid-air, unmoving for a long time, contemplating his gains from this experience. No one dared to disturb him. He slowly awakened and looked at the battlefield, seeing Si Lu leading people in gathering the remnants of King Lu's army. When the Thunder Oath Scroll was activated, even its aftershocks could easily kill Nascent Soul stage cultivators. King Lu's army suffered countless casualties on the spot. Fortunately, Qin Sang had shown some restraint, leaving behind a number of captives. These were all elites of the Lu Clan, who could serve as Si Lu's foundation or join the demon soldiers as guards for his Daoist Abode. As for Shi Mu and the other survivors, they had all sworn oaths with Si Lu, becoming guest elders of the Yan Mountain Si Clan. They showed no impatience even when assigned various trivial tasks.

"A great victory!" Qin Sang was already aware of the Azure Luan Dharma Idol's experiences. This thought flashed through his mind, and he felt immensely pleased. Both battlefields had yielded resounding victories and substantial gains.

"Hey! You're smiling quite deviously. Just how many good treasures did you snatch this time?" Vermilion Bird had been protecting Qin Sang. Seeing him awaken, she hurriedly flew over, clamoring for a share of the spoils.

Qin Sang couldn't help but begin to sort through the gains from this battle. Setting aside the intangible benefits, such as the Storm Realm finally achieving true peace, his insights gained from this battle, and Si Lu's return to the Siyou Clan, the most precious treasure was undoubtedly the Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock, which could evolve into a Void Domain. With the Grand Confessor's demise, the treasure lost its master, fell to the ground, and was collected by Qin Sang. Unfortunately, the Grand Confessor's mustard seed artifact had been destroyed by the Thunder Oath Scroll. The Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock was a spirit treasure. Had the 'Treasury Art' (a specific cultivation method or scroll) been present, it too would have been annihilated along with the Grand Confessor's entire fortune. Qin Sang was not the Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock's fated master. To make the treasure acknowledge him, he could only rely on a secret art obtained from the Five Elements Alliance, gradually suppressing and confusing the treasure's spiritual essence to refine it. This secret art was extremely intricate and troublesome, making it not worth using for ordinary spirit treasures, but the Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock was clearly worth the effort. Having observed the sword light left by Reverend Tianyue, his understanding of Dharma Domains far surpassed others at his cultivation stage. With the Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock, he might even be able to manifest a Void Domain during the mid-stage Void Refinement.

The Grand Confessor's precious bottle also possessed considerable power, but it was deeply connected to him, almost like a life-bound artifact, making it difficult for outsiders to refine, thus greatly diminishing its value. Furthermore, Qin Sang obtained the mustard seed artifacts of King Lu, Lu Gan, and others. King Lu was one of the Siyou Clan's Four Kings, and Lu Gan was his confidant. Both of them possessed extremely abundant fortunes. King Lu, in particular, carried the legacy of the Hanjiang Lu Clan, possessing countless treasures, a dazzling array. The spirit treasures and artifacts themselves were secondary, as most of them were not compatible with other races due to the Siyou Clan's unique physique and divine abilities. What Qin Sang valued were the spiritual materials and elixirs. The accumulation of one of the Four Great Royal Clans over countless years, combined with the resources plundered from the Yan Mountain Si Clan, was truly astonishing. To construct the Thunder Altar, Qin Sang's fortune had been almost depleted. These gains largely replenished his losses. It is worth mentioning that King Lu had carried the Hanjiang Lu Clan's Mirage Jade with him, which also fell into Qin Sang's hands. Moreover, this was not all.

At this moment, Si Lu also noticed Qin Sang's actions, flew into the air, bowed deeply, and sincerely said, "Many thanks, Brother Qin, for avenging me and eradicating my enemies! I have no way to repay this kindness, and Si Lu will forever remember it in my heart!" Si Lu's words came from the bottom of his heart. Back then, when he chose to follow Su Nu, he had intended to endure humiliation and bide his time. Unexpectedly, by following Qin Sang, he had so swiftly avenged his clan's annihilation. Not a single mastermind among his enemies was spared; all were brought to justice! Recalling the past, Si Lu was filled with profound emotion, and his gratitude and respect for Qin Sang grew even deeper.

"My actions were not solely for the purpose of avenging you, Fellow Daoist; I also had my own considerations," Qin Sang said calmly. "With this, Fellow Daoist can return to the Siyou Clan, and in the future, the Yan Mountain Si Clan can serve as my allies."

"If Brother Qin has any commands, Si Lu will certainly not refuse!" Si Lu made a solemn promise, then his tone shifted, "Now that King Lu and the Grand Confessor have been executed, and the Lu Clan's strong cultivators have been wiped out, with all their elites dispatched, the Hanjiang Lu Estate is at its most vulnerable. Other forces currently dare not act rashly, but once Young Master returns and the news spreads, they will surely carve up the Lu Clan. There's no time to lose; we should return to Hanjiang as quickly as possible to avoid others snatching our prize."

Qin Sang nodded and said, "Let Su Nu and Vermilion Bird accompany you first. I have important matters to attend to, but I will follow shortly."