Chapter 202: The Tianjing Hidden Realm

"Only for a cave dwelling?"

Yu Yangzi asked with a puzzled expression. "Is Junior Brother Qin planning to stay in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield long-term for cultivation?"

Qin Sang nodded.

"Think it over carefully, Junior Brother. The snow-capped mountains south of Xuanlu Stronghold contain several spirit veins secured by our sect for disciples to use in cultivation. Although the Ancient Immortal Battlefield holds countless opportunities, it’s not a place to linger. Those hidden realm ruins are remote, far from towns and markets, making it difficult and costly to acquire urgent resources for cultivation. If anything happens, no one will be there to help. Without the benefits, why choose such a place for cultivation?"

Yu Yangzi was concerned for Qin Sang as a fellow disciple of the same sect, fearing he might make a mistake, so he gave this earnest advice.

Qin Sang was well aware of these drawbacks, which was why he had been frugal with his spirit stones, planning to stock up on essential items like healing pills and Cloud Artifacts before venturing out.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for your frank advice. I understand what you’re saying," Qin Sang replied with a bitter smile, "but the requirements of my cultivation leave me no choice."

"Ah, I see," Yu Yangzi said with a nod, though he wasn't surprised by Qin Sang’s determination.

Shaohua Mountain housed nearly a hundred arts of diverse types. Many of these arts were incomplete, excavated from relics within the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, and even the Golden Core masters in the sect couldn’t fully comprehend them.

The choice of an art determined one’s potential for forming a Golden Core and how far one could ultimately progress on the path of immortal cultivation. Choosing the wrong art could lead to lifelong regret—a sentiment far from an exaggeration.

Many of the arts in Shaohua Mountain’s collection directly led to the path of divine transformation, and since they had been proven feasible, most cultivators chose these well-trodden routes for safety. Only a rare few dared to venture into uncharted territory with incomplete arts.

As a result, over half of the arts in Shaohua Mountain’s collection had never been cultivated.

Yu Yangzi furrowed his brow in thought. Since Senior Uncle Che had entrusted him with handling the matter, and Qin Sang was a fellow junior disciple, he couldn’t simply dismiss him. However, arranging such a request was difficult.

The sect held the hidden realms in high regard; some of these realms were as critical as the Shaohua Mountain itself, containing resources vital to the sect’s survival. Even as the guarding general of Xuanlu Stronghold for decades, Yu Yangzi knew the location of only one hidden realm.

After a moment of contemplation, Yu Yangzi’s eyes brightened, and he said, "Junior Brother Qin, securing a position to guard a hidden realm is no easy task, but there is an indirect way—you could use merit to rent a cave dwelling in the Tianjing Hidden Realm."

Merit, in this context, was a quantified value earned by Xuanlu Guards, Shadow Guards, and others through accomplishments in their missions.

Merits could be exchanged for cultivation resources, many of which were rare items from the hidden realms and unavailable for purchase with spirit stones.

The sects made these resources available to incentivize disciples, attracting many who were willing to give up freedom to join one of the two guard units.

The Tianjing Hidden Realm was located in the middle region, far from other towns and markets, and jointly developed by several sects, with the resources inside shared among them. Each sect stationed guards there.

Since the spiritual materials and herbs produced within the Tianjing Hidden Realm were not exceptionally rare, it wasn’t kept under strict secrecy. The realm was eventually opened to the Xuanlu and Shadow Guards, who could treat it as a base during missions, seeking refuge there if faced with danger.

The Tianjing Hidden Realm had unoccupied cave dwellings, and if Qin Sang joined one of the guard units, he could justifiably use a cave dwelling within the realm.

Since the Xuanlu Guards rarely left Xuanlu Stronghold, Qin Sang’s only option was to join the Shadow Guards.

"The Tianjing Hidden Realm’s guarding general is Senior Brother Teng Nan from Shangyuan Tranquility Palace. I’m on good terms with him, so I’ll write a letter on your behalf. If you’re willing to share part of your merit earnings with Senior Brother Teng Nan, he’ll likely welcome the additional Foundation Building strength and merit income. The rewards from each Shadow Guard mission yield abundant merit, enough for you to sustain your cultivation long-term," Yu Yangzi said, feeling pleased to have resolved the matter.

The jade slip contained information about merits. Qin Sang had already been planning to accumulate merits, as they were indeed extremely valuable, but right now, cultivation remained his top priority.

According to Senior Brother Yu Yangzi, since the Tianjing Hidden Realm was relatively safe and undisturbed during exploration, its barriers were nearly intact.

In contrast, the barriers in the hidden realms housing markets were damaged and riddled with gaps, far inferior to those of the Tianjing Hidden Realm. Even the cave dwellings within them were of a lower grade.

Given Qin Sang’s Foundation Building cultivation, he required a high level of spiritual qi in his cave dwelling. Since he knew of the Tianjing Hidden Realm, he saw no need to search farther afield.

The only drawback was the realm’s remote location, which would make trading items inconvenient later. However, Qin Sang intended to go into secluded cultivation, so it wouldn’t impact him much.

After inquiring further with Yu Yangzi about the specifics of the Tianjing Hidden Realm, Qin Sang immediately made up his mind and cupped his hands in thanks. "Thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance. I am willing to join the Shadow Guards."

Yu Yangzi clapped his hands in delight and said, "It’s good that Junior Brother Qin has made his decision. Follow me, and let’s go see Senior Brother Qi."

Following Yu Yangzi, Qin Sang walked down the long corridor leading behind the main hall. Along the way, Yu Yangzi provided some background on Senior Brother Qi.

Senior Brother Qi’s real name was Qi Yuanshou. His master was a deceased Golden Core cultivator of Shaohua Mountain, and like Qin Sang, he arrived at Xuanlu Stronghold shortly after reaching the Foundation Building Realm and made a formidable reputation for himself in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.

To Qin Sang’s surprise, Qi Yuanshou was a Fake Core Realm expert!

A Fake Core cultivator was someone who, having reached the late stage and peak of Foundation Building, had advanced as far as possible without breaking into Core Formation Realm. One foot was already in Core Formation, yet due to various reasons, he could not yet form a Golden Core.

A Fake Core expert was stronger than most other late-stage Foundation Building cultivators. With one more step, he would reach Core Formation Realm as a true Golden Core expert.

Yu Yangzi explained that Qi Yuanshou was currently the most promising among all Foundation Building disciples of Shaohua Mountain to achieve Core Formation. He held an elder position at Xuanlu Stronghold, overseeing Shadow Guard affairs.

Although Xuanlu Stronghold had Golden Core cultivators, they rarely involved themselves in mundane affairs. Responsibilities were managed by the council of elders, comprised mainly of late-stage Foundation Building experts from various prominent sects.

These included not only Shaohua Mountain, Shangyuan Tranquility Palace, and Taiyi Core Sect but also many other sects with long lineages. While they were not among the Eight Major Sects of the righteous path due to the absence of a Spiritual Realm grandmaster, they collectively held considerable influence and a voice in decision-making.

The Shadow Guards were one of the two guard units of Xuanlu Stronghold. Qi Yuanshou couldn’t hold absolute authority, as there were several elders on equal standing with him.

As Qi Yuanshou was Qin Sang’s senior brother, joining the Shadow Guards left Qin Sang with no choice but to place himself under Qi Yuanshou’s command.

This wasn’t a disadvantage for Qin Sang. With Qi Yuanshou above him, he wouldn’t have to worry about being schemed against or assigned to particularly dangerous missions without cause.