Chapter 467: True Purpose

This was clearly a derelict place.

Similar to the stone pavilion by the pool he saw upon entering, it had endured countless years and, once ruined, had been left untouched.

However, after noticing the unusual behavior of the restriction fragments, Qin Sang dared not underestimate this place.

Could peculiar power linger in the square, repelling the restriction fragments?

Qin Sang glanced sideways and, out of the corner of his eye, saw Old Woman Jing flying up from his shoulder, looking around. He realized this must be her destination.

She must have had a reason for going to such lengths to get here; perhaps some precious treasure was hidden within.

Qin Sang lowered his head, glancing at the center of the square. It was the most conspicuous spot, but it was completely covered by a pile of stone pillar fragments, obscuring anything beneath.

He knew his limits, suppressing his curiosity and, even more so, any greedy thoughts.

After fulfilling his agreement with Old Woman Jing, Qin Sang simply wanted to get away immediately.

Thinking this, Qin Sang transmitted a message, "Senior, are you..."

Unexpectedly, Qin Sang was cut off mid-sentence by a muffled thud.

The source was right in the center of the square.

The sound was very sudden. Old Woman Jing made no move, and the noise originated from beneath the rubble in the center of the square.

Qin Sang's expression changed dramatically. His gaze shifted, and he saw the piled-up stone pillar fragments suddenly heave, as if something was about to break free from within.

With that heave, the base of the stone pillar fragments abruptly lit up. Light seeped through every crevice, and streams of white light burst forth, instantly dispelling the darkness across the entire square, illuminating it brightly.

Witnessing this scene, a strong sense of alarm rose in Qin Sang's heart. His first thought was to escape quickly; he had no desire to get involved in this mess.

With this thought, Qin Sang made a decisive move. Without waiting for Old Woman Jing's reply, he immediately turned to leave.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Just as Qin Sang was about to act, a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation suddenly emerged from deep within the square, directly blasting apart the pile of stone pillar fragments.

Instantly, stones flew everywhere, and dust billowed.

Amidst the chaos, an unexpected sight appeared before Qin Sang: three figures shot up into the sky.

People!

Qin Sang was utterly shocked. He had never imagined there would be other people here.

Deputy Island Master Xiao had no reason to deceive them; Mount Zhitian was said to contain only countless restriction fragments, no living beings, let alone people.

These three individuals, suddenly emerging from the rubble, were clearly not among the sixty-five people who had entered with him. Could Mount Zhitian have other entrances?

Who were they?

Was Old Woman Jing not here for treasure, but for them?

As the stone pillar fragments were blasted open, a calm voice came from one of the three figures: "Reporting to Grand Elder, this is not a celestial abode; it's another secret realm!"

A more excited voice rang out: "Uncle-Master, look at these! They're truly Star Essence Stones! The Sect Master's vision is like lightning; the celestial abode is indeed related to Mount Zhitian!"

"Wait!"

"Someone's here!"

They appeared so quickly that Qin Sang had no time to hide and was easily discovered.

The three people's voices abruptly stopped. They clearly hadn't expected to encounter someone immediately upon entering, and six gazes simultaneously fixed on Qin Sang, who was poised to flee.

The dust settled.

Qin Sang saw their faces.

There were three individuals: an old man and two young men.

The old man was in the middle, with the young men on either side.

The old man wore a strange silver robe, adorned with a highly detailed star chart. The stars on the silver robe shimmered, appearing as brilliant and captivating as a real starry sea.

The young man to the old man's left was the first to speak. He wore casual clothes, stood with his hands behind his back, and had an indifferent expression and tone, indicating he was no ordinary person.

When facing the old man, however, he showed respect.

This, coupled with the casual-clothed young man referring to him as "Grand Elder," clearly indicated the old man's very high status.

The other young man, wearing a feathered fan and silk scarf, had a rather handsome and extraordinary appearance, and he was the most frivolous of the three.

He was excitedly pointing at the light sphere outside the square and shouting, but upon suddenly noticing Qin Sang, the smile on his face instantly froze, looking somewhat odd.

Their exposed aura was not strong, all at the Foundation Establishment stage, but this didn't mean their cultivation was limited to that.

Grand Elder, Uncle-Master...

Such titles were certainly not for ordinary people. It was highly likely that the old man and the casual-clothed young man had suppressed their cultivation levels, just like Old Woman Jing, to enter.

Qin Sang's thoughts raced. He found no identifying marks on them and couldn't guess their origins. He quickly shifted his gaze to Old Woman Jing for help, only to discover she had disappeared without a trace.

The surroundings were empty, and Qin Sang's heart sank.

The handsome young man exclaimed, pointing at Qin Sang and speaking rapidly: "Grand Elder, I know this person! He's the Shadowless Sword from Shaohua Mountain, very famous in the Cloud Cang Great Marsh. My Senior Brother messaged earlier that this person was among those chosen by the Serpent Crone to enter Mount Zhitian with him."

Qin Sang scrutinized the handsome young man, certain he had never met him before, and he didn't know who this "Senior Brother" he spoke of was.

Hearing this, Qin Sang could only confirm that they were from the Minor Cold Region or the Sky-Roaming Alliance, not cultivators from outside the domain.

Qin Sang forced an awkward smile, but before he could speak, the old man's eyes flashed with a hint of killing intent, and he coldly uttered two words.

"Kill him!"

Qin Sang's eyes suddenly narrowed. The moment his presence was discovered, he knew things wouldn't end well. He wasn't naive enough to think that those whose secrets had been stumbled upon would let him off.

He had originally thought that if they were fellow cultivators from the Minor Cold Region, he might be able to buy some time with words.

He hadn't expected them to be even more ruthless, striking directly without a word.

Before the old man's words had fully landed, the handsome young man eagerly summoned a flying sword, looked at Qin Sang with disdain, and exclaimed, "Uncle-Master, wait! Let me deal with him first. I want to see what the so-called Shadowless Sword can do; even though he hasn't reached the Pseudo-Core stage, his reputation has somehow overshadowed Senior Brother."

The casual-clothed young man frowned slightly, shot a glare at the handsome young man, and rebuked him: "This journey concerns crucial sect matters. How can you mess around? Kill him first, then..."

It was then, unnoticed by anyone, that an ethereal figure in flowing white robes quietly appeared in the center of the square. With an indifferent gaze, she looked at the three men and spoke in a clear, cold voice: "Only one Grand Elder came? Is Leng Yuntian still hiding in the sect, playing the coward?"

The three were greatly alarmed.

"Who's there!"

"Who are you!"

Leng Yuntian!

Hearing that name, a lightning bolt struck Qin Sang's mind, and he immediately realized their true identities.

Leng Yuntian, Sect Master of Yuanshen Sect!

He was rumored to be a Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator!

This old man being called "Grand Elder" by the two young men meant only one possibility: he was the Grand Elder of Yuanshen Sect, the late-stage Core Formation Grand Cultivator whose fame was second only to people like the Serpent Crone — Elder Stargazer!

Old Woman Jing's target was actually the Sect Master of Yuanshen Sect!