Chapter 999: Meeting

"You already have some idea on how to break through to corpse king?" Hearing those words, Qin Sang asked with a hint of joy.

Bai shook his head. "If I can’t resolve the problem with my origin vitality, I wouldn’t dare attempt a breakthrough, let alone talk about having an idea. As for the secret techniques of corpse cultivation, I haven’t found anything I can truly learn from."

The two talked in secret within the cave dwelling for a long time before leaving the market quietly, flying toward Heavenly Dao Sect.

Amid the blend of green and ocher mountains, a narrow white stone path wound upward. This inconspicuous mountain trail led straight to Heavenly Dao Sect’s main gate.

A lone figure was walking along the path. Qin Sang had come here by himself.

His steps looked unhurried, yet each stride carried him more than ten zhang forward, and in no time he reached near the mountaintop, where a weathered ancient stele stood engraved with two large characters: "Heavenly Dao."

It looked rather simple and plain, almost austere, yet the Dao Will[1] emanating from the stele was profound, revealing its extraordinary nature.

Qin Sang glanced back down the mountain once, then stepped forward. In an instant, the scenery shifted. A young man and woman appeared before him. Their cultivation was only at the Foundation Building Realm.

"We juniors, Zhang Yi and Xia You, are assigned to guard the mountain gate. May we ask for your Dharma name and purpose of visit, Senior?" The two offered fist-and-palm salutes respectfully.

Qin Sang hadn’t concealed his cultivation, and his late-stage Core Formation cultivation was plain to sense. Naturally, they dared not show the slightest discourtesy.

"My surname is Qin. I’ve come today to visit an old friend of your sect," he said kindly.

As it was a formal visit, there was no reason to hide. Qin Sang appeared in his true form. In this identity, he had once offended the Black Snake Mountain faction of the witch race.

Later, after investigating, he discovered that Landou Sect had not issued any wanted order for him, meaning that the previous incident hadn’t spread. Within human territories, he had nothing to fear.

Hearing this, the two guards relaxed. The woman named Xia You asked, "Senior, may we know which senior uncle you wish to visit? I can send a message immediately."

Qin Sang appeared hesitant. "I don’t know that friend very well. We met only once many years ago and lost contact afterward. Since I happened to pass by Heavenly Dao Sect this time, I thought to stop by. I only remember his surname is Ning, and he said he cultivated the sword path..."

His answer was deliberately vague. The two exchanged a troubled glance before asking, "Do you know what cultivation realm your friend had at the time?"

Qin Sang said after some thought, "That’s hard to say. Back then, he was already at the Core Formation Realm. With his talent, he likely had great hope of reaching the Spiritual Infant Realm."

At that, their expressions turned solemn with respect. After exchanging a brief sound transmission, Xia You said respectfully, "Since we can’t be sure of your friend’s identity, Senior, please allow me to escort you to the Guest-Welcoming Peak to wait for a while. I will report to my senior uncles and have them help find your friend."

"That’s fine." Qin Sang agreed easily and followed Xia You as she guided him deeper into the sect.

Majestic peaks soared into the clouds, and rivers wove like silver threads through the valleys.

As expected of the greatest righteous sect of Canglang Sea, what Qin Sang saw now was only a small portion of Heavenly Dao Sect’s vast domain, yet its grandeur already rivaled that of Shaohua Mountain.

It made sense. Shaohua Mountain only had Dongyang Bo as its single Spiritual Infant grandmaster, and sects of that level were common throughout Canglang Sea.

Compared to it, the Small Cold Domain was minuscule, inferior even to the Witch God Continent, to say nothing of the boundless sea regions beyond.

Soon, they reached the Guest-Welcoming Peak. Xia You arranged a quiet, elegant room for him, ordered servants to serve tea and spiritual fruits, then left in haste.

Qin Sang had no interest in tasting the tea. Standing by the window, he looked out at the serene view, his mind full of thoughts.

If Heavenly Dao Sect corresponded to Cunyang Sect mentioned by Senior Qingzhu, then he should be in the right place.

Qingzhu must have had his own purpose in sending him here. Perhaps he even made arrangements long ago. What Qin Sang didn’t know was who exactly this person was.

The sound of footsteps came from downstairs. Turning, Qin Sang saw Xia You returning with a young man following behind her. The moment Qin Sang saw him, his eyes flickered slightly. The young man’s cultivation was profound, seemingly not weaker than his own.

"Senior Uncle, this is the senior seeking an old friend surnamed Ning," Xia You said by way of introduction. "Senior Qin, this is Senior Uncle Pei."

The young man surnamed Pei spoke in a low, steady tone. "You may go, Xia You. I’ll personally receive Daoist Qin."

"Yes!" Xia You bowed and departed.

Under Qin Sang’s gaze, Pei sat calmly opposite him and personally poured a cup of tea. "Xia You’s explanation was vague. Daoist, can you please describe your friend in more detail? Any distinctive traits?"

As he spoke, he offered the jade cup with both hands. Qin Sang looked at the cup. Steam rose from the tea, forming countless shifting shapes that carried a subtle sharpness within their fragrance. It was refreshing, yet faintly edged like a blade.

The life-bound spiritual sword within Qin Sang’s body stirred on its own. His expression grew still. He reached out to take the cup, and the instant his fingers touched it, they trembled imperceptibly.

In that brief instant, it was as if his fingertips had turned into a sword. Invisible sword qi burst forth.

The steam above the tea transformed with increasing speed. At first, it took the shapes of flowers, birds, fish, and insects; then it shifted into images of azure lotuses and mythical beasts. In the end, it manifested into scenes of starlight and lightning, vast and awe-inspiring, stirring the heart and soul.

Within that tiny space, the sword will burst forth, swift to appear, swifter still to fade.

Whoosh!

In an instant, the steam scattered completely, leaving no trace behind.

Inside the small chamber, everything remained ordinary. Apart from the faint ripples of the tea’s surface, nothing else had been touched. The jade cup was perfectly intact.

Qin Sang drank it all in one smooth motion. The tea was warm, its fragrance lingering pleasantly between his teeth and tongue.

Thud!

Qin Sang set down the jade cup and fixed his gaze on the young man. "Should I call you Daoist Pei or Daoist Ning?"

Their brief exchange had been confined entirely within the swirl of tea steam. The outcome hardly mattered.

What did matter was that Qin Sang could clearly sense how familiar the young man’s swordsmanship felt. Its essence was identical to that of Senior Qingzhu’s teachings.

"The

Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment

... You’ve cultivated this art to such a level!" The young man exclaimed in admiration, then offered a fist-and-palm salute with a respectful bow. "You may call me Pei or Ning, it makes no difference. But when no one else is present, it’s best you address me as Daoist Ning. My name is Ning Wuhui."

At those words, Qin Sang’s eyes flickered. Since this man even knew of the

Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment

, he must have had a deep connection with Senior Qingzhu. At last, Qin Sang had found the person he sought. He hadn’t expected it to be so easy.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

This man was stationed right here at the Guest-Welcoming Peak and had even been assigned to receive him. Clearly, everything had been arranged long beforehand. No wonder Senior Qingzhu had been so certain.

"There are too many eyes and ears here. Daoist, please come with me to my cave dwelling so we can speak more freely..." Ning Wuhui rose as he spoke.

Qin Sang naturally agreed and stood up, following Ning Wuhui out of the elegant room. Ning Wuhui’s cave dwelling was located behind the Guest-Welcoming Peak. They soon stepped into a tranquil bamboo grove.

As they walked, Ning Wuhui sent a voice transmission. "Since you’ve cultivated this art to the late stage of the Core Formation Realm, there should be no problem. But I’ve never met Daoist Qin before."

"I don’t know what kind of agreement Senior Qingzhu and Daoist Ning may have had. I had no prior connection with Senior Qingzhu and our meeting was by chance. After receiving his guidance, I came here specifically to visit Daoist Ning," Qin Sang replied carefully.

1. The term Dao Will (道意) is a compound word derived from traditional Chinese culture, whose core meaning points to the essential tenets of Daoist philosophy, particularly the principle of "wu wei" (non-action or effortless action). Within the Chinese linguistic and cultural context, the term carries multiple layers of meaning: it can serve as a vehicle for expressing intent or will, embody the spiritual temperament of Daoism, and also denote a sense of deep concentration or focus. ☜