Chapter 2343: Leak of Secrets

Martial Arts and Immortal Cultivation

A warm breeze swept across the lotus pond, bringing wafts of delicate fragrance into the waterside pavilion.

Inside the waterside pavilion, Qin Sang sat opposite Yu Yunyi and Yu Ling, sipping tea, admiring the view, and enjoying their lively conversation.

“Excellent tea!” Qin Sang raised the jade cup. The tea mist swirled, as beautiful as an evening glow. He took a small sip, closed his eyes to savor it, and couldn’t help but exclaim in praise.

It was no mere flattery; even with Qin Sang’s cultivation, the spiritual tea brought a refreshing sensation upon entering his body.

“This Crimson Mist Tea can only be harvested once every hundred years,” Yu Yunyi said, accompanying Qin Sang with a sip and showing a look of intoxication. “Its timing perfectly coincides with the Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifice, so it’s considered a ritual offering, one of our Tian Yu clan’s three major sacrificial gifts. Though I am the High Priest’s younger brother, I only receive a small amount of Crimson Mist Tea each time. I only bring it out to entertain esteemed guests like Elder Qin.”

Yu Ling, watching the two men feigning appreciation, pouted. “I stole a box from Father’s residence. If Elder Qin likes it, I’ll have someone fetch it and send it to your residence right away.”

Yu Yunyi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He pointed at Yu Ling, “You naughty girl, daring to steal even the Crimson Mist Tea! Wait until your elder brother finds out; see how he punishes you.”

“Father would never be willing to punish me!” Yu Ling retorted. “Besides, as the saying goes, a valuable sword is given to a hero. Father would be overjoyed to know I gave the Crimson Mist Tea to Elder Qin; how could he punish me?”

Yu Ling looked smug, asking Qin Sang, “Elder Qin, wouldn’t you agree?”

Qin Sang chuckled, “I cannot accept such a grand gift without contributing anything in return.”

These words greatly displeased Yu Ling. She huffed, “If Elder Qin hadn’t brought out my token, I would have died in the Bug Tomb! How can you say you haven’t contributed? Does Elder Qin perhaps believe that I am too insignificant to matter?”

Qin Sang had long since experienced this woman’s sharp tongue, so he quickly changed the subject and asked Yu Yunyi, “How did you all manage to rescue Miss Yu?”

Yu Ling snorted, letting Qin Sang off the hook.

Yu Yunyi replied, “This girl has good luck. Most of it was her own doing. We happened to run into her not long after we entered the Bug Tomb.”

“Elder Qin, do you ever get the feeling that the Bug Tomb is alive?” Yu Ling hesitated. “I always feel it wasn’t just good luck on my part, but rather that the Bug Tomb let me out. Everything we encountered and witnessed in the Bug Tomb didn’t seem to be naturally formed…”

Hearing Yu Ling’s speculation, Yu Yunyi’s eyes flickered slightly as he watched her with a smile.

Qin Sang, feigning thoughtfulness, mused inwardly that this woman was quite astute. There was indeed a hidden mastermind manipulating them within the Bug Tomb. Perhaps because Yu Ling was not a descendant of Shaohao, the Void Butterfly showed her leniency and didn’t trouble her.

He wondered if the Wood and Metal clans had encountered each other, and whether the two clans had already reached some kind of agreement.

Qin Sang subtly observed Yu Yunyi, continuing to listen to Yu Ling recount her experiences in the Bug Tomb, preparing for his own upcoming trip there. Originally, Qin Sang was swept away by a stream of light, which Yu Ling speculated was an anomaly triggered by the killing of the ancient insect’s illusion. However, since Bai Xianzi and others were nearby, she didn’t dare to stay and could only leave the area of the ancient insect’s illusion by herself.

Her subsequent journey was much smoother than she had anticipated. Although she encountered several crises, she had plenty of spiritual medicine, and her spiritual insects could quickly recover from injuries. The Bug Tomb was vast and boundless; without guidance, Yu Ling had no idea which direction the exit was in. She could only choose a direction and stick to it, and unexpectedly, she gambled correctly, successfully reuniting with Yu Yunyi and his group.

Even now, she thought, her luck had been almost unbelievably good, so much so that Yu Ling herself found it incredible.

“Elder Qin, you were swept away by that light. How did you eventually escape? Did you complete some kind of trial in the Bug Tomb?” Yu Ling was also very curious about Qin Sang’s experience.

The stream of light was likely a test specifically set by the Void Butterfly for the Celestial Eye Butterfly. Since the Celestial Eye Butterfly chose Qin Sang, that unknown ultimate treasure was not destined for it, so there was no longer any need for Qin Sang to keep this secret.

After some conversation, both of them were filled with emotion. Yu Ling, with a serious expression, said, “Elder Qin should still remember my proposal from when we were in the Bug Tomb. I wonder what you have considered?”

Yu Yunyi interjected, “Elder Qin, have you found out the reason for the Hao Bo clan’s decline?”

“During this time, thanks to several fellow cultivators from the Dong Yang clan, we have repeatedly requested ancient texts from the Taihao clan,” Qin Sang said. “Though we still don’t know the full story, we have uncovered many hidden secrets. We descendants finally have some understanding of the Hao Bo clan and our ancestors…”

Qin Sang cupped his hands towards the heavens, his face filled with reverence.

Yu Yunyi said solemnly, “While we cannot fully empathize with Elder Qin’s feelings, considering the experiences of our Witch Tribe from ancient times to the present—the glory, the heritage, and even the clans—we have lost too much. Isn’t the Hao Bo clan merely a microcosm of the Witch Tribe? As fellow descendants of the Wood Tribe, if Elder Qin wishes to revitalize the Hao Bo clan, our Tian Yu clan has an undeniable responsibility!”

“This…” Qin Sang feigned hesitation.

Yu Yunyi took out a jade slip from his sleeve, and his tone shifted. “My elder brother is preoccupied with many matters, but he has always been concerned about Elder Qin. He instructed us to investigate thoroughly, and Ling’er even personally visited various clans. We have finally found some valuable information…”

Qin Sang took the jade slip. Although he no longer cared about the Hao Bo clan, he still read it carefully. A moment later, he closed the slip and sighed, “Are we the only remaining lineage of the Hao Bo clan?”

Besides the major clans, there are many smaller clans within the Witch Tribe, and many of them don't even know who their ancestors were.

“In ancient times, our ancestors endured continuous wars and were forced to migrate multiple times,” Yu Yunyi said, his tone shifting. “The Hao Bo clan’s territory is probably no longer within the Witch Tribe’s domain. It would be almost impossible for Elder Qin to reclaim the ancestral land. However… if you wish to revitalize the Hao Bo clan, you must first have a territory. Does Elder Qin have any preferred locations? If not, our Tian Yu clan happens to have an exclave, which is quite fertile. We usually neglect its management due to its remoteness, so we might as well gift it to Elder Qin.”

“Is that true?” Qin Sang suddenly stood up, his face a mix of surprise and delight. Then he sat down heavily again, full of indecision.

“What else concerns Elder Qin?” Yu Yunyi asked knowingly.

Qin Sang’s lips twitched. He sighed, “I have an existing agreement with Fellow Daoist Luxin. If I were to switch allegiance to the Wood Tribe, I wouldn’t know how to explain it to my junior brother and Fellow Daoist Luxin.”

“Elder Qin, can’t you see clearly?” Yu Yunyi earnestly advised. “Restoring the ancient Five Tribe system is the general trend. Even if you uphold your promise, the Wood Tribe blood flows in your veins. Those Zhu Rong descendants might not understand your good intentions; they will only treat you as an outsider and guard against you constantly! You must make a decisive move!”

Qin Sang remained hesitant. He stood up and said, “Please allow me to consider this further. I will bother you again another day…”

“You are welcome anytime!” Yu Yunyi and Yu Ling stood up and escorted Qin Sang out of the residence.

Watching Qin Sang transform into light and escape, Yu Ling frowned. “I thought he was a hero, but why is he so indecisive?”

Once out of their sight, Qin Sang’s expression returned to normal. After a brief thought, he immediately vanished into the Dong Yang clan’s stronghold.

Not long after he returned to his room, the protective formation was triggered, signaling a visitor.

Qin Sang had anticipated this. He went out to greet the visitor himself and, seeing it was Jiomie, smiled and invited him in.

“Elder Qin, did you just visit the Tian Yu clan again?” Jiomie asked directly as he sat down.

Qin Sang nodded, openly admitting, “Fellow Daoist Yu Yunyi and I are quite congenial. Our conversations are always pleasant during our visits.”

During this period, Qin Sang had frequently visited Yu Yunyi precisely to create a facade of intimacy between himself and the Tian Yu clan in front of the Dong Yang clan. Yu Yunyi, eager for this, would certainly not proactively refute it.

A flicker of concern crossed Jiomie’s eyes. “Elder Qin, are you aware of Yu Yunyi and the Tian Yu clan’s intentions?”

“Fellow Daoist Yu has mentioned it a few times, wanting to recruit me to join some ‘Wood Tribe,’ claiming that the Hao Bo clan is a descendant of Jumang…” Qin Sang said, feigning indifference.

“Precisely!” Jiomie said resentfully. “They’re trying to recruit Elder Qin because they believe you are a descendant of the Hao Bo clan. Have you considered the consequences if they were to discover your true identity, Elder Qin?”

“With Fellow Daoist Luxin’s secret art concealing my identity, how could it be exposed if I don’t speak of it myself?” Qin Sang’s face darkened. “Are you implying that you would deliberately leak it?”

“Of course, we wouldn’t leak Elder Qin’s identity!” Jiomie denied repeatedly. “But there are countless strange divine abilities and treasures in the world; there’s no foolproof method…”

He paused, then Jiomie suddenly stood up, exclaiming in surprise, “Are you truly tempted?”

Qin Sang neither confirmed nor denied, but instead counter-questioned, “Since the Hao Bo clan is a descendant of Jumang, wouldn’t following the Tian Yu clan be their best outcome? You can’t deny that, can you, fellow daoist? As for me, what if I secretly continue to maintain our alliance with your Dong Yang clan, and we assist each other?”

“How can that be!” Jiomie sharply retorted.

Qin Sang wanted to play both sides, but the open and covert struggles between the Five Tribes were growing increasingly fierce, leaving no room for anyone to sit on two boats. If Qin Sang were a Witch Tribe cultivator, it might be negotiable, but he was an outsider. Once his identity was exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable, and the Dong Yang clan would also be implicated. Jiomie had a headache and greatly regretted inviting him to escort the Witch Maiden. It was easy to invite a god, but difficult to send one away. This fellow was clearly a menace, yet a menace the Dong Yang clan couldn’t afford to offend.

With a long sigh, Jiomie helplessly said, “This is not something I can decide. You should speak directly with the High Priest.”

With that, he summoned a spiritual insect, which manifested as an illusory image of Luxin.

Luxin was clearly already waiting for him. Jiomie explained the whole situation to Luxin, then bowed and exited the room.

Luxin didn’t directly question Qin Sang but asked curiously, “How did Elder Qin come to know Yu Yunyi?”

“This… involves some secrets,” Qin Sang said apologetically. “I promised Fellow Daoist Yu that I would keep them confidential.”

“Is that so?” Luxin’s eyes flashed, but he didn’t press the matter. “What conditions did the Tian Yu clan offer that tempted Elder Qin? Surely you can tell me that?”

“Fellow Daoist Yu promised to give me an exclave as the Hao Bo clan’s territory,” Qin Sang did not hide.

“Could it be that exclave? What a grand gesture!” Luxin exclaimed. “However, Elder Qin is worth it. Yu Yunyi has excellent foresight, but unfortunately, he miscalculated Elder Qin’s true identity.”

He mused inwardly, no wonder Qin Sang was tempted. The Witch Tribe’s territory was far smaller than that of the Human and Demon races, and it had long since been completely divided among the major clans. If the Hao Bo clan were to be established outside the Witch Tribe’s domain, the risks would be much greater.

Qin Sang said solemnly, “Is there truly no room for compromise?”

“In my opinion, I absolutely do not wish to be an enemy of Elder Qin!” Luxin said resolutely. “But has Elder Qin considered that the Tian Yu clan is one of the strongest clans, and there’s even a possibility of a new Azure Emperor emerging from it? How could our small Dong Yang clan compare to the Tian Yu clan? Once a mistake occurs, it’s not something our humble Dong Yang clan can bear. If Elder Qin insists on going his own way, I cannot stop you, nor will I reveal Elder Qin’s identity. However, I must report this matter to the higher authorities and let the Huo Zheng clan make a decision…”

Unlike the Heterodox Tribes, the Witch Tribe does not have clear distinctions of ‘upper’ or ‘ruling’ clans, but there are factions and subordinate relationships among the clans.

The Huo Zheng clan is one of the clans qualified to contend for the position of Red Emperor. Its strength is comparable to that of the Tian Yu clan. The Dong Yang clan is close to the Huo Zheng clan, but has not yet fully pledged allegiance, still lacking some leverage.

Upon hearing this, Qin Sang’s brow furrowed deeply.

At this point, Luxin’s tone softened. He said, “There’s also a solution that serves both our interests. I can also try to secure a territory for Elder Qin. Even if it’s not as good as that exclave, it could at least provide a temporary home.”

“What price must I pay, then?” Qin Sang asked coldly.

“The Tian Yu clan wouldn’t just give that exclave to Elder Qin for free, would they?” Luxin smiled. “If Elder Qin agrees to serve our Fire Tribe, I can immediately persuade the Huo Zheng clan to allocate a treasure land for you!”

Qin Sang’s expression changed erratically. He said indignantly, “Enough! I am a human cultivator. Why should I get involved in your Witch Tribe’s internal strife? Send Wuzhao and the others over. Once I have settled them, I will immediately leave the Witch Tribe and never interfere again. Furthermore, I am willing to trade a secret for a territory. It doesn’t need to be large or particularly fertile, but ideally, it should be far from the vortex of the Five Tribes’ conflicts, allowing them to rest and recuperate!”

Luxin was moved and said eagerly, “Those few famous barren lands also contain oases within them, though they are rarely known and controlled by the top clans. As long as the secret is significant enough, I can persuade the Huo Zheng clan to grant one to the Hao Bo clan!”

“First, send them here,” Qin Sang insisted. “I guarantee it will be a major secret that will tempt the Huo Zheng clan.”

Luxin gazed at Qin Sang for a long time. “Very well!”

Not long after, Wuzhao and Shiliu were brought to the vicinity of Mount Dengbao.

Qin Sang and Jiomie descended the mountain without alerting anyone else. Yu Yunyi and the others remained in the dark.

Two people escorted Wuzhao and Shiliu: one was an elder from the Dong Yang clan, and the other was a stranger—a top master with fiery red hair, at the late stage of Void Refining.

“This is Elder Zhuyan of the Huo Zheng clan…” Jiomie whispered.

Zhuyan brought Wuzhao and Shiliu before Qin Sang, his round eyes fixed on Qin Sang.

Qin Sang’s lips moved slightly as he transmitted something. Zhuyan’s expression instantly changed. He flung a fire talisman to Qin Sang and sternly said, “If you dare utter a single falsehood, the Huo Zheng clan has the power to reclaim this territory and make the Hao Bo clan vanish from this world forever!”

Previously, Qin Sang had deliberately sworn a heart demon oath with Yu Ling, and Yu Ling had no ability to refuse. Therefore, Qin Sang now had no pressure revealing the secret.

“Send someone to check, and you’ll know,” Qin Sang said calmly. “I have no intention of becoming an enemy of the Huo Zheng clan.”

With that, he nodded to Jiomie and walked away with Wuzhao and Shiliu.