Chapter 2258: Su Wen

**The Mortal Realm**

As Qin Sang stepped off the stone bridge, the flames and cold winds behind him simultaneously receded. He turned for a glance, then closed his eyes slightly to internalize what he had just gained.

The Shuihuo Xiangji Pian and this stone bridge trial complemented each other perfectly, so Qin Sang's gains were considerable. Subsequent trials might not yield such significant returns. Merely traversing the stone bridge had refined Qin Sang's cultivation, though this was secondary. Most importantly, his comprehension of the Grand Dao had deepened, paving a smoother path for his future.

Qin Sang stood in place, taking a moment to fully internalize his insights before looking forward to examine the scenery of the next trial. This end of the stone bridge rested on a wisp of white cloud. Beyond the cloud lay boundless void, utterly empty, offering no foothold. Gazing at the scene before him, Qin Sang felt only an overwhelming sense of emptiness. Above him stretched an endless azure sky, clear of clouds for thousands of miles. Below was a bottomless abyss, stretching into infinity.

Qin Sang frowned slightly. Since stepping onto the white cloud, he hadn't received any hint about the nature of this trial. Or perhaps the next trial was even further ahead, and this was merely a safe zone between two challenges? Qin Sang did not rashly leave the white cloud. Instead, he stood still on its surface, hands clasped behind his back.

A short while later, Qin Sang suddenly glanced to his left. At the far edge of the void, a sliver of light appeared, like the glow before dawn. The moment it emerged, it shone brilliantly, as if awakening all things from slumber. Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly as he gazed at the light. He watched it grow increasingly dazzling, a golden gleam appearing within the red glow, followed by a colossal fireball rising from within the radiance.

“The sun?”

Qin Sang knew this wasn't a real sun, but a fireball conjured by the power of the grand formation. His naked eye could clearly discern the fiercely burning flames on the fireball's surface. A searing heat assaulted him, far more intense than any real sun. Any beast here would instantly be roasted to cinders. Waves of heat assailed him, yet Qin Sang remained motionless, watching the 'sun' arc across the sky.

As sunset approached, Qin Sang's expression confirmed his expectation. Just as the fireball descended and the light faded, a luminous blue glow emerged from the direction of the setting sun. Then, a blue orb slowly ascended. Unlike the moon outside, this was an ice sphere, hanging high in the sky, exuding a biting cold. In an instant, extreme heat gave way to extreme cold.

The sun and moon are traditionally associated with 'Taiyang' (Great Yang) and 'Taiyin' (Great Yin) respectively. Clearly, the fireball and ice sphere were mimicking the sun and moon of the outside world, with one cycle perfectly corresponding to a day and night. As the ice sphere descended, the fireball rose again, continuing this cyclical rotation without end.

Where then, was the trial of this stage?

Qin Sang fell into contemplation, his eyes following the rotating ice and fire spheres. A faint understanding began to dawn on him, and finally, he raised his foot and stepped off the white cloud. After just one step, Qin Sang paused again, waiting for the ice and fire spheres to complete three rotations before taking his second step. This second step wasn't just forward; it was also slightly upward. He paused for another period, then took a third step, a fourth... Invisible steps seemed to exist in the void, and Qin Sang ascended them one by one, heading directly towards the zenith.

Finally, Qin Sang reached the very top. Coincidentally, the fireball moved directly above his head, its terrifying flames licking at his body. Qin Sang smiled faintly, then, like a moth drawn to a flame, he plunged himself into the inferno. Then, a humanoid outline appeared on the surface of the fireball, descending with it into the abyss. When the ice sphere rose, this same humanoid outline surprisingly reappeared on its surface.

He thus joined the ice and fire spheres in their rotation and succession. As time passed, instead of being burned by fire or frozen by ice, he gradually moved deeper into their cores. Eventually, he entered the very core of the ice and fire spheres, even becoming their essence. Suddenly, everything fell silent. In a daze, Qin Sang found himself no longer within the spheres but at the end of the second trial.

Qin Sang looked back; the void behind him had returned to its tranquil state. The ice and fire spheres would reappear when the next challenger entered.

“Yin and Yang cycle, intertwined within each other...”

Qin Sang whispered softly. The principle was something everyone understood, but only through personal experience could one truly grasp the profound mysteries of the Grand Dao and apply them to one's cultivation. This formation had bestowed upon him that invaluable experiential process. He briefly adjusted his breathing, then continued forward, ready for new challenges.

The grand formation revealed the Grand Dao of Yin and Yang to him in myriad ways and from various angles. Moreover, as if tailor-made for him, none of these manifestations strayed from the imagery of ice and fire. With such a 'renowned master,' Qin Sang's comprehension of the Grand Dao progressed by leaps and bounds.

By now, Qin Sang's mastery of the Shuihuo Xiangji Pian had reached the late Nascent Soul stage, steadily progressing towards the Soul Transformation stage. It was at this juncture that Qin Sang encountered a formidable obstacle, for the grand formation tested not only talent and ingenuity but also cultivation level. The optimal approach was to cultivate while overcoming the trials. Qin Sang was confident he could complete all of the grand formation's challenges, but the Shuihuo Xiangji Pian was not like the Tianyao Lianxing. Even with rapid cultivation, there were ultimately limits, and with the heavenly omen already appearing, Qin Sang didn't know how much time he had left.

It seemed that to quickly uncover the secrets of Yuji Mountain, he would have to force his way through!

A glint flickered in Qin Sang's eyes. He had been deducing this possibility and believed the plan was feasible. Since he had already gained the grand formation's recognition, effectively making him half its master, even forcing his way through wouldn't cause the formation to treat him as a mortal enemy. Coupled with his Void Refinement stage cultivator's insight, it was entirely achievable. However, Qin Sang's current strength was still insufficient.

Qin Sang estimated that once he cultivated the Tianyao Lianxing to the late fifth layer, which was equivalent to the late Soul Transformation stage, and combined it with his mastery of the Shuihuo Xiangji Pian, he should be able to break through the formation. Before this, Qin Sang had already declared to the mysterious Azure Luan that he could refine the holy object. To make his act more convincing, Qin Sang still needed to wait another ten years. Ten years was but a fleeting moment for an immortal cultivator. Qin Sang decided to simply remain on Yuji Mountain, dedicating most of his energy to breaking through the formation and cultivating the Shuihuo Xiangji Pian.

Ten years later.

The Tianyao Lianxing naturally progressed, reaching the late fifth layer. Qin Sang now stood before the final trial of the grand formation. He had attempted it three times, failing each, but advancing further with each attempt. His confidence grew steadily. It was now clear what the formation's limits were. A successor purely cultivating the path of Yin and Yang, upon reaching roughly the mid-Soul Transformation stage, could pass all trials and become the master here. Qin Sang's mastery of the Shuihuo Xiangji Pian was still a little short of the Soul Transformation stage, which was why he had forced his way through the last few trials based on sheer strength.

Gazing at the shifting, fantastical scenery before him, Qin Sang's eyes grew steadily profound. His gaze moved back and forth, then suddenly fixed, as if locking onto something. With a flicker of his figure, he soared forth.

There were majestic mountains, peaks clustered together like a sleeping colossal dragon. The forests were deep and serene, with ancient trees reaching skyward, guarding the immortal mountain through countless ages. Branches and leaves intertwined, dappling the mountain springs with light. The springs murmured, and a waterfall, like a silver river, cascaded from a great height, carrying faint wisps of immortal aura.

Suddenly, a rainbow bridge descended from the sky. A figure stood upon it, slowly walking down.

“This is the true appearance of Yuji Mountain?”

Qin Sang stood on the rainbow bridge, surveying the secret realm. Just moments ago, he had overcome the grand formation's final trial, immediately gaining its recognition and becoming the master of Yuji Mountain. From now on, he could come and go as he pleased.

As expected, the true Yuji Mountain was brimming with spiritual energy and imbued with immortal aura. Not only was it a cultivation sacred ground, but its terrain was vast and its resources abundant. Qin Sang immediately spotted several rare spiritual herbs. This place was ample enough to serve as the main gate of a major sect. However, contrary to his expectations, there was not a single soul to be seen, nor any pavilions or palaces. Instead, there were only deep mountains and ancient forests everywhere.

“Could it be that Yuji Mountain was never a renowned sect?” Qin Sang mused. No wonder he couldn't find any information about Yuji Mountain; it must be a reclusive sect, or perhaps not even a sect at all. If it had ever taken in a few disciples, there wouldn't be a single pavilion or hall to be found.

There were no halls or pavilions here, only an octagonal stone pavilion situated atop the main peak. Qin Sang flashed to land outside the pavilion. Inside, he saw a stone table and a pair of stone stools. A chessboard was carved into the table's surface, with some pieces arranged, leaving an unfinished game. This scene couldn't help but make one imagine two people once playing chess in the pavilion, suddenly faced with an urgent matter, departing in haste, and never returning.

“Hmm?”

Qin Sang looked at the chess game for a moment longer, a thought stirring within him. The next instant, the chess pieces suddenly glowed brightly, and streaks of light shot into Qin Sang's glabella. Looking at the pavilion again, there was no chessboard or chess pieces, only jade tablets fluttering about.

Qin Sang tightly closed his eyes, feeling countless profound characters swarm into his mind. He found the Shuihuo Xiangji Pian, as well as the complete Siqi Tiaoshen Lun, yet these were only a small fraction of the total content.

“Suwen...”

After a long pause, Qin Sang murmured these two words, a look of shock flashing across his face. What he had obtained was actually a complete classic, titled the 'Suwen Jing'! This classic belonged to the path of Yin and Yang, but it encompassed everything, far exceeding Qin Sang's previous imagination. The Shuihuo Xiangji Pian was a part of the 'Yin-Yang Corresponding Phenomena Treatise,' and even that treatise was merely a section of the Suwen Jing. This classic was vast and profound, expounding upon the Grand Dao of Yin and Yang through countless phenomena.

The Shuihuo Xiangji Pian was one such method. The 'Yin-Yang Corresponding Phenomena Treatise' alone contained several others, similar to the Shuihuo Xiangji Pian, which involved cultivating by studying other natural phenomena in the world. The Siqi Tiaoshen Lun might seem like merely a secret art for regulating oneself, but when cultivated to a profound level, it could also be used to comprehend the ultimate truths of Yin and Yang. There were also others, such as the 'Five Viscera Generation Treatise' and 'Five Viscera Distinction Treatise,' which transformed the five internal organs into the five viscera of heaven and earth, specializing in cultivating the Qi of these five organs to harmonize Yin and Yang. All these methods, despite their variations, adhered to the same fundamental principle.

Moreover, these methods were not progressive but parallel; any of them could serve as a path to enlightenment. Though seemingly complex, cultivators entering the Dao need not agonize over gains and losses. They could choose one method based on their talent and circumstances, and as their cultivation advanced, they could then explore others, drawing parallels and verifying their insights. All paths lead to the same destination; ultimately, all could comprehend the Grand Dao of Yin and Yang!

Qin Sang quickly read further, discovering that this classic pointed directly to the Void Refinement and Dao Integration stage, equivalent to the later-era Body Integration stage. As for whether it contained content for the Mahayana stage, Qin Sang wasn't sure, as he couldn't comprehend it. True teachings become simpler at higher realms; indeed, there was only a single sentence, a mere few words, utterly profound and mysterious. What was certain was that, provided one had sufficient talent, cultivating to the Body Integration stage with this classic would be effortless.

“At least a cultivation method of the Body Integration stage level!”

Qin Sang was overjoyed, yet a trace of regret lingered. The Five Thunders Envoy Seal was a remnant, the Ziwei Sword Scripture was incomplete, and while the bone flute might contain the full Tianyao Lianxing, it carried significant hidden dangers. In a way, this Suwen Jing might be the greatest opportunity he had gained in the illusion. If the Ziwei Sword Scripture and Tianyao Lianxing proved unviable, this classic could serve as a fallback.

Nevertheless, Qin Sang still had no intention of switching to cultivating the Suwen Jing. Firstly, the path forward for the Ziwei Sword Scripture was already clear. Secondly, the Suwen Jing was too vast and complex. This was also the reason for Qin Sang's regret. Lapis was born near Yuji Mountain, which led Qin Sang to hope that this legacy might be connected to the Spring-Autumn Sundial. If the Suwen Jing had been a cultivation method from later eras, it would have been certain!

The cultivation world was also constantly evolving. Through generations of cultivators creating and summarizing, the differences between later-era cultivation methods and ancient ones were quite distinct. All characteristics of the Suwen Jing perfectly matched the ancient era: for instance, the realm divisions were not clear enough, the content was not concise enough, and crucial points for cultivation were not explicitly stated. Many parts were merely outlines, requiring cultivators to explore on their own, demanding extremely high levels of comprehension.

Cultivating the Suwen Jing was an even more colossal undertaking. It presented all possible paths, and while the initial stages posed no great difficulty, a cultivator aspiring to great achievements would need to attempt all treatises to synthesize their own unique path. In later eras, a single Suwen Jing might have been divided into many separate texts, serving as true inheritances for various lineages, allowing even those with lesser talent to cultivate step-by-step. Undoubtedly, the former approach demanded higher talent and comprehension from cultivators.

Qin Sang closed the classic with a sigh. His hopes were dashed; he couldn't confirm whether the Suwen Jing was related to the Spring-Autumn Sundial. Everything seemed to have returned to square one, but fortunately, he had other options.

On the peak of Yuji Mountain.

A wisp of white cloud drifted from the north. Standing on the cloud were two women, both peerless beauties, each possessing her own unique charm. They were Qinghong and Shuangluo, who had recently received Qin Sang's message and rushed here together.

“Junior Sister, the place Junior Brother mentioned in his message seems to be this mountain below!” Qinghong glanced around, pointing towards Yuji Mountain.

“I wonder how much Junior Brother has changed,” Shuangluo murmured softly. Her cheeks were faintly flushed. After years apart, the figure in her memories remained as clear as ever, and the affection buried deep in her heart was like aged wine, growing ever more fragrant and mellow.

“He's changed; he's even more arrogant than before,” Qinghong scoffed.

“Junior Brother has every right to be arrogant,” Shuangluo said with a light chuckle, covering her lips. Her disciples would surely be dumbfounded if they saw her now. Was this truly the 'iceberg' master they feared?

They descended from the cloud. Before they even reached the mountaintop, spiritual light erupted from the cliff face, and a portal materialized out of thin air. Qin Sang himself emerged to greet them, bowing from a distance. “Please come in, Senior Sisters. This Junior Brother apologizes for not coming out to meet you earlier. I hope you won't take offense.”