Chapter 2150: Tai Xu Golden Book

"When True Man Qin manifested his Dharma Body back then, he used a lightning seal technique. I wonder if that technique can be activated using a lightning altar?" the Junior Preceptor asked.

During the war against King Lu, Qin Sang's lightning talismans were mostly suited for battlefield combat. However, even among the royal family, only a handful of cultivators were qualified to enter the sacred land, leaving little room for these talismans to be effective there. Even if they managed to subdue a group of fierce beasts in the sacred land, it would be difficult to train them into a disciplined army in a short period.

"Are there fierce beasts in the sacred land as well?" Qin Sang asked, wondering if the Outsider race's sacred land was similar to the Sinister Sea in the Talisman Realm.

The Junior Preceptor chuckled. "Although I don't know the exact location of the sacred land, it only opens when the Sinister River's tide recedes, so there must be intricate connections. They were likely captured intentionally by the ancient sages from the Sinister River and kept in the sacred land. Not only are there fierce beasts, but there are also formidable beasts comparable to cultivators in the Saint Realm! True Man Qin, you must be extremely careful after entering the sacred land. If you find anything unusual in a certain area, it's best to avoid it from a distance."

Fierce beasts at the Integration Stage! Qin Sang's heart tightened. He would not only have to guard against fellow cultivators entering the sacred land with him but also avoid these fierce beasts. He wondered if the environment in the sacred land differed from the Sinister River. He hoped those fierce beasts wouldn't know how to conceal their aura, allowing him to detect danger in advance.

The Junior Preceptor's interest lay in the Five Thunder Heavenly Heart True Seal Talisman. This talisman carried the Five Thunder Secret Records, but it was primarily a lightning talisman, and one of the most complex and profound among third-tier lightning talismans. Qin Sang could not only cast this talisman but also completely control it, making it suitable for sealing within the Radiant Pearl.

Soon after, Qin Sang activated the altar again, using the lightning altar to cast the Five Thunder Heavenly Heart True Seal Talisman.

A lightning seal appeared in the sky.

The lightning seal's display was less grand than the Lightning Offering Oath Chapter, but its power was undeniable. Among the third-tier offensive lightning talismans recorded in the Five Thunder Emissary Temple Seal, none surpassed its might.

The lightning seal was enveloped by lightning, its formidable power subtly contained, as it slowly descended from high above.

Qin Sang preemptively activated the Radiant Pearl, transforming it into a silver orb of light.

With previous experience, Qin Sang handled the process with ease. The lightning seal merged into the orb of light, and the resulting ripples were quickly brought under control. Finally, the lightning seal settled firmly into its proper place.

Qin Sang immersed his consciousness into the Radiant Pearl, focusing on sensing. Having previously discovered the presence of a pulsation, he consciously searched for it this time. Just as the lightning seal was about to be successfully sealed, he once again detected a fleeting pulsation, confirming that his earlier perception wasn't an illusion.

The clouds dispersed, and the lightning vanished.

Qingyang Domain returned to tranquility.

The silver orb of light contracted to its smallest form, reverting to the Radiant Pearl, which slowly descended into Qin Sang's palm.

The precious pearl retained its original form, emitting an even more dazzling spiritual light. Through this light, one could see a tiny lightning seal nestled among the dense flashes of lightning within the pearl—it was indeed the Five Thunder Heavenly Heart True Seal.

The lightning seal was suspended stably in the center of the pearl, ready to be activated at Qin Sang's mere thought.

The Junior Preceptor praised it, saying that even though the Lightning Offering Oath Chapter couldn't be sealed, sealing the Five Thunder Heavenly Heart True Seal Talisman still accomplished their goal. He then took out a golden paper and said, "True Man Qin, if you have no other requests, you can leave your Dharma name on this to establish the covenant."

"What is this?" Qin Sang focused his gaze, seeing clusters of white light suspended on the surface of the golden paper. They twisted and shifted like mist in a foggy sea, transforming into various strange runes. When his divine sense touched a rune, text would appear in his mind.

This text contained the precise terms of the covenant he and the Junior Preceptor had previously discussed, which imposed restrictions on both his actions and those of Emperor Si's faction, and had been mutually agreed upon.

On one side of the golden paper, a crimson seal bore Emperor Si's name.

The Junior Preceptor explained, "This is the Grand Void Golden Tome. It is itself an extraordinary treasure that various races would contend for, and its value is immense. The royal family has only collected three such sheets over the years. Once both parties sign their Dharma names, the golden tome will spontaneously combust, and the oath will be established. Thereafter, any party that violates the alliance oath will be punished, and the oath will dissolve automatically once the matter is concluded."

"What kind of punishment?" Qin Sang scanned the text on the golden tome but found no mention of the specific punishment.

"Those who betray their trust will encounter ominous events. It's said to vary from person to person, with no fixed outcome, and it cannot be guarded against. The power of the Grand Void Golden Tome has been verified countless times, and this treasure originates from the sacred land. If anyone contemplates betraying an ally, they must think thrice before acting. At critical moments, major tribes trust the Grand Void Golden Tome more than karmic oaths," the Junior Preceptor stated meaningfully. "No one can tamper with the Grand Void Golden Tome. If True Man Qin is concerned, you can send a letter to the Vermilion Ape Tribe for verification, but do not disclose the details of our agreement."

Qin Sang wasn't afraid of trouble. He asked the Junior Preceptor to stay a few more days and sent out a talismanic message. A reply arrived quickly, confirming that the description of the Grand Void Golden Tome was consistent with what the Junior Preceptor had said.

The Grand Void Golden Tome originating from the sacred land implied that its creator was at least an Integration Stage cultivator, and Qin Sang had no desire to challenge its power.

The so-called Dharma name could be fabricated, like his real name, "True Man Qin," or even "Five Thunder Temple Envoy." The crucial element was the wisp of aura inscribed into the golden tome.

Qin Sang personally wrote down the three characters for 'True Man Qin.' As the last stroke fell, the golden tome spontaneously ignited without a flame, revealing golden flames that burned fiercely, leaving no trace of ash behind.

Watching the golden flames, Qin Sang's brow furrowed slightly. He faintly felt an inexplicable wisp of aura enter his body, but when he searched for it carefully, it was nowhere to be found.

With the Dharma name inscribed in the Grand Void Golden Tome, both parties became allies. The Junior Preceptor's demeanor grew a few shades friendlier. "That Mirage Jade..."

Qin Sang immediately took out the Lu family's Mirage Jade.

The Junior Preceptor pocketed it, saying cheerfully, "I will now return to my clan to report the good news to Lord Emperor Si. At that time, True Man Qin, would you like to accompany us to the Yuanjiao Sea Market?"

"This humble Taoist has already agreed to travel with Patriarch Yuan Xiang. It won't be too late to visit Emperor Si at the Yuanjiao Sea Market," Qin Sang replied.

The Junior Preceptor nodded. "Very well! I shall take my leave now. True Man Qin, we will meet again!"

With that, the Junior Preceptor left Qingyang Temple, transforming into a rainbow and departing.

After the Junior Preceptor, Si Lu quietly arrived at the main hall.

"For this trip to the sacred land, do you have anyone in mind?" Qin Sang asked.

Originally, Si Lu wanted to use helping Qin Sang enter the sacred land as leverage to ask Qin Sang to avenge him. In reality, he didn't understand the rules, and even if he became King Yan now, he wouldn't be able to do it.

Qin Sang could have also accompanied Si Lu, which would have effectively given the Lu family's Mirage Jade entirely to Emperor Si, surely making Emperor Si's conditions more lenient.

However, as he gained more understanding of the sacred land and had True Man Ning's entrustment, Qin Sang dared not be careless. He believed that the more allies, the better. Therefore, he did not take up Si Lu's family's quota, allowing Si Lu to bring an additional helper.

The cost was that he had to do something for Emperor Si. After weighing it, Qin Sang deemed it worthwhile; the Radiant Pearl was an unexpected bonus.

Unfortunately, the helper couldn't be an outsider; they had to be chosen from the Siyou clan, and Si Lu's faction was currently lacking top-tier experts.

"Shi Mu and others aren't trustworthy enough, and Auntie is not skilled in combat. Among the old ministers left by my father, Grand Marshal's cultivation is the highest, and he has cultivated a powerful life-or-death secret technique. Once fully unleashed, even mid-stage cultivators would retreat," Si Lu said.

The image of that wizened old man flashed through Qin Sang's mind.

The old man was already at the peak of the early stage of cultivation, but he had been stuck by a bottleneck, unable to make any progress.

Under the previous King Yan, perhaps some individuals surpassed the Grand Marshal in cultivation, apart from Attendant Xia, but the Grand Marshal's status was always second only to Attendant Xia. When the previous King Yan fell, and Si Lu and Attendant Xia's whereabouts became unknown, it was solely due to the Grand Marshal that King Yan's old subordinates were gathered, navigating the cracks between the royal family and the Lu family, and preserving their foundation. Both his wisdom and strength were exceptional.

"Good, he's the one! After entering the sacred land, I'll first go to rendezvous with Emperor Si, which might take some time. You can proceed with your own matters first, and then we'll agree on a meeting point," Qin Sang said.

Si Lu delightedly said, "My father left guidance in the Mirage Jade. With the Grand Marshal assisting me, there's hope I can obtain that opportunity!"

Qin Sang was naturally pleased that Si Lu might obtain an opportunity and improve his strength in the sacred land. The stronger his allies, the more stable Qingyang Domain's position would be in the Misty Sea.

The two discussed some details, and Si Lu also bid farewell to Qin Sang.

After seeing off both individuals, Qin Sang meticulously reviewed everything once more, feeling confident there were no oversights. Next was simply waiting for the Sinister River's tide to recede.

Taking out the Radiant Pearl, Qin Sang idly examined it for a while before putting it away again. He then rose and flew towards the fire chamber.

Inside the fire chamber, the golden light was slightly dim.

The golden liquid within the eight golden figures was nearly depleted again. Qin Sang silently activated a secret technique to replenish it, while his divine sense swept over the Sky-Trapping Golden Lock. The Golden Lock's spiritual embryo appeared increasingly quiet, and its response to Qin Sang's probes was gentler than before.

Qin Sang sat cross-legged to the side, continuing to contemplate the sword array.

Time flew by.

Thirty years passed in a blink.

After decades of recuperation, Qingyang Domain was no longer shrouded in desolation. The scars of war had almost been erased by time, though the wounds from the loss of loved ones still occasionally stung people's hearts.

The Five Thunder Temple was on the right track, and the Four Pacified Regions enjoyed peace. Stability brought prosperity, and all clans, sects, and rogue cultivators presented a flourishing scene.

Within the Four Pacified Regions, cultivators had already begun to leave Qingyang Domain, exploring deeper into the Stormy Sea. Some established branch residences for their own sects, while others, carrying edicts from the Five Thunder Temple, expanded its territory and gained merit.

By this time, Qingyang Temple had become a sacred place in the hearts of all cultivators in Qingyang Domain, holding a transcendent status.

The small Taoist temple founded by Taoist Jixin years ago had grown into a colossal entity that "dominated a realm," with its territory even surpassing the major domains of the Stormy Realm back then. Qin Sang had not failed Vagrant Yun's expectations!

Qingyang Temple.

The back mountain of the main peak had become another forbidden area of Qingyang Temple because Qin Sang cultivated there.

Normally, only Li Yufu and a few others occasionally came to visit, mostly to ask questions about cultivation. With all internal and external troubles in Qingyang Domain settled, disciples handled mundane affairs, so Qin Sang did not need to personally attend to them.

The warm sun spilled into the forest. Amidst the floating mists, Qin Sang sat cross-legged beneath a tree, with a golden light suspended before him—it was the Sky-Trapping Golden Lock!

Not long ago, the eight golden figures had exhausted their power and shattered, finally helping Qin Sang refine this treasure!

The spirit of the Sky-Trapping Golden Lock had submitted to Qin Sang, recognizing him as its master. However, when Qin Sang wielded the treasure, he noticed a slight sense of sluggishness.

This was an inherent problem left by the secret technique, causing some damage to the spiritual treasure, which was unavoidable and something Qin Sang had anticipated.

Qin Sang remained seated, seemingly deep in thought. After a moment, his expression shifted slightly, and he formed a hand seal.

The Sky-Trapping Golden Lock rose into the air, its golden light dispelling the mist, making half of the main peak appear as if draped in a dazzling golden cloak.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound.

Spiritual light pulsed on the surface of the Sky-Trapping Golden Lock, and a peculiar fluctuation spread, subtly altering the surrounding golden light.

Qin Sang bathed in the golden light, focusing his senses and pondering.

After a long time, an enlightened expression appeared on his face. He opened his eyes and raised a hand, golden light flowing like water through his fingers.

"So this is the power of the false domain..." Qin Sang murmured.

Regarding understanding of Dharma Domains, even the Grand Enshrined might not surpass Qin Sang.

In his opinion, false domains had a certain "gilded outside, rotten inside" quality, merely mimicking the form of Dharma Domains without their essence.

However, even so, it was a power that many Void Refinement cultivators could never touch in their lifetime.

The sword strike Qin Sang unleashed during Vagrant Sword's tribulation could, to some extent, be considered a Sword of the False Domain. However, that was created by Qin Sang integrating his own understanding, and what he had comprehended was still very shallow and one-sided. Compared to the false domains comprehended by top-tier Void Refinement cultivators, the Sword of the False Domain still had many shortcomings, such as being usable only within sword moves.

Those top-tier experts not only possessed an understanding of Dharma Domains no less than Qin Sang's but had also studied for many years, developing unique ways to utilize the power of the false domain. Qin Sang, on the other hand, had only just made some progress, and what he lacked was time.

By contemplating the Sky-Trapping Golden Lock's false domain power, Qin Sang gained some insights. If he could thoroughly integrate them, his application of the Sword of the False Domain would undoubtedly reach a higher level, allowing him to use it with the Gray Oriole Sword, though its power would certainly not match that of Vagrant Sword.

Naturally, Qin Sang was also very satisfied with the Sky-Trapping Golden Lock. The treasure's power centered on the concept of 'confinement,' complementing the sword array. When facing difficult enemies, he would be able to advance or retreat freely, giving him a few more assurances for his trip to the sacred land.

After continuing his contemplation for a period, Qin Sang changed his hand seals, performing the blood refinement secret technique from his cultivation.

A drop of vital blood was forced out of his body. Qin Sang's fingers moved like spinning wheels, continuously forming incredibly complex hand seals. The drop of vital blood trembled slightly, branching into numerous threads of blood, forming a spiderweb-like blood net that floated before Qin Sang.

The threads composing the blood net were extremely delicate, so fine that one might worry a gentle breeze could snap them. Qin Sang didn't pause. With the continuous infusion of hand seals, the blood threads became dazzlingly scarlet, and finally, Qin Sang guided them towards the Sky-Trapping Golden Lock.

The Sky-Trapping Golden Lock was entirely enveloped by the blood net. The blood threads writhed on its surface, slowly seeping into the Golden Lock's interior, and a strange, demonic crimson flickered within the golden light.

Qin Sang sensed a new connection, as if by bloodline, between himself and the Sky-Trapping Golden Lock. The sluggishness he felt when wielding the treasure didn't significantly change, but as long as he persisted in using this secret technique, it would minimize the hidden problems.

Putting away the Sky-Trapping Golden Lock, Qin Sang looked up towards the edge of the forest. "Yufu, come in."

At the edge of the forest.

Li Yufu was respectfully waiting. He had been there for a while, and sensing Qin Sang was casting spells, he hadn't disturbed him.

"Yes, Master!"

Li Yufu flashed into the forest, appearing before Qin Sang, and presented a talismanic letter.

"To Master-Uncle, this was just delivered by the Vermilion Ape Tribe. They requested you open it personally."