Chapter 410: Pill Completion

Wandering Man hurried away.

Qin Sang stayed at Qingyang Market for another half month before changing his original plan. Instead of heading to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, he returned to his sect at Shaohua Mountain.

At Huilong Temple, he acquired several more Sound Transmission Talismans.

Qin Sang took them out one by one for inspection, and when he saw one of them, his expression shifted ever so slightly. He then activated an evasion light and sent it soaring toward his sect.

Sect Leader Peak, Shaohua Mountain.

This peak had originally been under the command of Sect Leader Yu.

However, after irregularities were detected in the Tianxing Alliance, Qi Yuanshou was urgently recalled to the mountain and subsequently took up permanent residence at the Sect Leader Peak.

An evasion light streaked across the sky and arrived before the Sect Leader Peak.

This time, Qin Sang moved with great caution. The evasion light landed at the foot of the peak, where he retrieved a jade box and held it in his palm. He then hurriedly walked up the mountain until he reached the sect leader's hall.

Before the sect leader's hall stood a tall, handsome youth. Judging by his cultivation, he had only just broken through to the Foundation Building Realm.

Not only did the youth appear youthful, but his age was likely low as well—a clear sign of remarkable talent.

Having been away from the sect for so long that he no longer recognized these emerging talents, Qin Sang regarded the youth standing guard before the hall as someone not to be underestimated. Clasping his hands in greeting, he said, "Greetings, Junior Brother. I am Qin Sang. I wish to see Senior Uncle Qi. Please convey my request."

"Are you Senior Brother Qin?" the youth asked.

The youth, who seemed to recognize Qin Sang, immediately smiled and approached him. "Gao Yang greets Senior Brother Qin. Master often speaks highly of you, Senior Brother Qin, as well as Senior Brother Yu Yangzi and Senior Brother Mu. I have long admired you, and today I finally seeSenior Brother Qin!"

"I am not worthy of such praise!" Qin Sang replied modestly.

Curiously, Qin Sang then asked, "Junior Brother Gao, is your master Senior Uncle Qi?"

Gao Yang nodded, his eyes lighting up in sudden understanding, and explained, "Senior Brother Qin, you have been traveling outside the sect and might not have known yet. When Master formed his Core, I had just broken through to the Foundation Building Realm, so Master took me on as a disciple. That allowed me to remain at Master’s side, to listen to his teachings and to share in his burdens."

A look of envy appeared on Qin Sang’s face as he remarked, "Junior Brother Gao, to be chosen by Senior Uncle Qi as his disciple is truly a fortunate destiny! When Senior Uncle Qi was stationed at Xuanlu Stronghold, Senior Brother Mu and I received much of his care. Should you encounter any difficulties in the future, do not hesitate to inform me. Though my cultivation is not high, I will do everything I can to help."

Gao Yang beamed with joy, "Thank you, Qin Senior Brother!"

A warm smile spread across Qin Sang’s face as he engaged in cheerful conversation with Gao Yang.

Among the Sound Transmission Talismans from Huilong Temple, one was a congratulatory message announcing that a month ago, Qi Yuanshou had successfully formed his Core and become a Golden Core cultivator.

Qin Sang’s first visit to Xuanlu Stronghold had been thirty years ago, when Qi Yuanshou was already at the Fake Core Realm—trapped by a bottleneck for a long time.

It was common for immortal cultivators to remain stuck in the Fake Core Realm for their entire lives. For thirty years, Qi Yuanshou had never broken through.

Unexpectedly, after being recalled to the sect to handle increasingly complicated affairs, Qi Yuanshou achieved a breakthrough in one fell swoop.

In a twist, Senior Brother Qi transformed overnight, assuming the title of Senior Uncle Qi.

Before Qin Sang departed this time, he had not heard any whispers of this development—not even Senior Brother Wen, who presided over Dao Peak, knew a thing about it.

While most immortal cultivators secluded themselves for ten or even several decades to form their Golden Core, Qi Yuanshou had taken a different path. Rather than entering seclusion, he had continuously attended to mundane matters. Then, when the opportunity arose, he broke through immediately. It was truly enviable.

While Qin Sang had been away and had missed Qi Yuanshou’s Golden Core celebration, his return to the sect made it both proper and necessary for him to personally bring his congratulatory gifts.

"Senior Brother Qin, Master is currently in seclusion. I do not know when he will emerge. Once he does, I will report to him. However, Master does not accept congratulatory gifts, so please, Senior Brother Qin, keep these."

Noticing that Qin Sang’s expression had turned uneasy—fearing a misunderstanding—Gao Yang continued quickly, "Senior Brother, you know well that not only gifts from you, but those from all senior brothers and even senior uncles are uniformly not accepted by Master."

Qin Sang was somewhat surprised. "Is that really so?"

Gao Yang replied solemnly, "Absolutely. How could I dare to deceive you, Senior Brother Qin!"

"Since these are the rules set by Senior Uncle Qi, I must not break them. I have been too forward," Qin Sang said, and he reluctantly put away the jade box.

Inside the jade box was a Cold Gold's motherlode. Qin Sang had not yet refined it, but as a congratulatory gift it was more than sufficient.

At the same time as he put away the jade box, Qin Sang took another item from his Mustard Seed Pouch—a copper ring.

This top-grade artifact was a relic of the man from Yinshan Stronghold who had pursued Tan Hao. Its quality was excellent, though its function was somewhat mediocre. Qin Sang had always kept it in his Mustard Seed Pouch, as he had no immediate use for it.

"Junior Brother Gao, though this is our first meeting, we are very well matched. This artifact of mine harmonizes with your cultivation art, so I shall present it to you to keep by your side..."

It was clear that Gao Yang liked the artifact very much, yet he dared not accept it, repeatedly refusing.

Qin Sang urged him earnestly, but Gao Yang, still young and inexperienced, could only reluctantly hold his ground.

Unexpectedly, just as the two of them were exchanging words, laughter rang out from within the hall—it was Qi Yuanshou’s voice. "Gao Yang, don’t reject Senior Brother Qin’s good intentions. Take the item and bring Senior Brother Qin inside."

"Yes, Master!"

Gao Yang quickly put away the copper ring and bowed towards the hall. After receiving the instructions, he turned to Qin Sang and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother Qin! Please follow me."

Even after giving away a top-grade artifact, Qin Sang felt an immense joy. Following Gao Yang into the sect leader's hall, he saw Qi Yuanshou emerging from his cave dwelling.

"I pay my respects to Senior Uncle Qi! Congratulations on forming your Golden Core and taking one further step toward the Great Dao[1]!"

Qin Sang, adhering to the rules of Shaohua Mountain, respectfully bowed to Qi Yuanshou.

"As a mere Golden Core cultivator, I dare not speak of the Great Dao!" Qi Yuanshou replied with a smile, then extended his hand toward the table. "Qin Sang, given our many years of friendship, there’s no need for formalities. Please, sit as you like."

"Thank you, Senior Uncle Qi," Qin Sang said as he bowed and settled onto a half-chair, proactively pouring tea. He did not dare to probe Qi Yuanshou with his spiritual consciousness, yet even sitting before him, he could feel the overwhelming aura emanating from his presence, as if standing before a mountain.

Before Qin Sang could speak, Qi Yuanshou got straight to the point. "Qin Sang, I have come to understand some things about you. Since you chose to cultivate the

Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment

and devote yourself to the Dao of Slaughter, it is inevitable that you must venture out to hone your skills."

"This time, our sect selected a group of disciples to be dispatched to guard vital locations—the mining veins and herb gardens in the Yuncang Marshlands, as well as to patrol various regions. The rewards are exceedingly generous."

"However, although the Tianxing Alliance is making small moves, it has not yet reached a state of alarm. Even if you were to join the patrol, you would hardly encounter any formidable adversaries. Yet, remaining confined in those areas, unable to leave at will, might please some, but it would significantly impede your cultivation."

"Therefore, although your name was originally on the list, I took the initiative to remove you. I plan to call you back to the mountain and have you enter the battlefield for training when the great war truly begins."

"Now that you have returned, I wanted to ask for your opinion."

Observing that Qi Yuanshou did not intend to take him on as a disciple—but that his words carried a hint of protection—Qin Sang’s heart swelled with gratitude. The good karma he had accumulated over the years had finally borne fruit!

1. This can refer to the absolute truth. In this context, it probably means the final goal on the path of immortality. ☜