"I remember that Qin Sang was only at the Fake Core Realm back then. He was brought into Ziwei Palace by Daoist Dongyang and Lady Chenyan. He originally belonged to Shaohua Mountain; when did he switch allegiances?" Daoist Master Chongyi narrowed his eyes, looked Qin Sang up and down, then glanced at Dongyang Bo before asking the question without warning.

Quite a few Spiritual Infant grandmasters present in the hall had been there in those years. As they recalled the conflicts between the two sides and saw Qin Sang walk straight to stand behind Qingjun, treating his former grandmaster Dongyang Bo with marked indifference, they all turned to look at Dongyang Bo with playful expressions.

Not many truly cared about Qin Sang himself anymore.

Daoist Master Chongyi clicked his tongue. "When he entered Ziwei Palace, he was only at the Fake Core Realm. Now, among the Core Formation juniors of the two domains, his cultivation ranks near the top. Daoist Dongyang was willing to let a disciple of such talent go?"

"Could it be that he betrayed his sect and killed his master? Otherwise, why would Daoist Leng accept him into Yuanshen Sect and even appoint him as an elder?" A cultivator from Tianxing Alliance spoke purely out of curiosity, his gaze shifting back and forth between Dongyang Bo and Qingjun.

Shaohua Mountain and Yuanshen Sect are both on the northern shore of Yuncang Marshlands, one to the east and one to the west. Could it be that not only are they neighbors, but they also exchange disciples? The cultivator thought.

Qingjun wore a mask and attended the alliance meeting under the disguise of Leng Yuntian. The Spiritual Infant cultivators present vaguely understood the inside story, yet they tacitly accepted it and did not expose her.

Dongyang Bo’s smile did not fade. In a tone that sounded almost like a sigh, he said lightly, "People strive upward just as water flows downward. What is wrong with that? No wonder Lady Chenyan searched for Qin Sang for years without success. So he had been hidden away by Sect Leader Leng."

"Lady Chenyan was looking for him?"

"Wasn’t this kid only at the Fake Core Realm back then? Lady Chenyan is a dignified Spiritual Infant grandmaster. What connection could she possibly have with him?"

The Spiritual Infant cultivators were clearly all very familiar with Chenyan. They had personally seen her peerless beauty, and most of them knew her background as well.

Hearing this, they were greatly surprised. They were extremely curious whether Qin Sang had done something to anger Chenyan or whether there was some other reason.

Yet Dongyang Bo suddenly fell silent, leaving them hanging.

This kid sure was blessed with romantic fortune. Someone thought inwardly, but in Qingjun’s presence, no one dared to voice it aloud.

Qin Sang looked at Dongyang Bo coldly.

As expected, he is a crafty and shameless old fox. He said not a word about the origin of our grievances. With a few casual remarks full of implication, he shifted everyone’s attention elsewhere. Qin Sang thought.

Qin Sang did not know how much of Dongyang Bo’s words were true and how much were false.

Has Chenyan really searched for me? And for what reason? Has Chenyan been trapped by the hidden consequences of the Jade Cauldron Sutra of Profound Jade Cauldron, and has to cultivate that ridiculous Stone Bridge Zen to resolve the danger? Is that why she continued cooperating with Dongyang Bo and searching for me? Qin Sang thought.

In Ziwei Palace, her help in his escape had only been forced by Dongyang Bo, a temporary expedient.

If that were true, then he had inexplicably gained another enemy, and one with an extraordinary background at that.

Hatred stirred in Qin Sang’s heart. Dongyang Bo had spoken deliberately ambiguously. He clearly had no intention of revealing the truth.

If it had been someone else, whether harboring inappropriate ambitions or feeling pressure and fear at facing two Spiritual Infant enemies at once, they might easily have become anxious and unsettled upon hearing those words.

If there had been even the slightest flaw in their Dao Heart, Dongyang Bo would have succeeded. Qin Sang endured in silence and did not argue.

Right now, the most important thing was to enter Zhitian Peak. He did not want to create unnecessary complications.

If he wanted to seek justice, he would at least have to wait until he possessed sufficient strength.

Seeing that both Qin Sang and Dongyang Bo remained evasive, the others turned to Qingjun. Do this person and Chenyan have some grudge between them?

Qingjun went straight to the point. "No matter which sect Qin Sang belongs to, his merits cannot be denied. When this matter was decided, most of you were present. Surely you have not forgotten?"

Before she finished speaking, a rather young cultivator from Tianxing Alliance chimed in, "Indeed. Thanks to these two juniors, I only lost my physical body. My Spiritual Infant escaped in time."

As he spoke, he nodded kindly at Qin Sang.

Joy rose in Qin Sang’s heart, and he quickly bowed in thanks.

Old Daoist Zhenyi nodded lightly. "The other junior has already been rewarded. It would indeed be improper to favor one over the other. I understand Daoist Leng’s meaning. Qin Sang wishes to enter Zhitian Peak and use its abundant star essence to cultivate a secret technique? Such techniques are exceedingly rare in this age. May I ask what technique it is? During cultivation, will it affect the fragile space of Zhitian Peak?"

Devil Lord Tongyou added, "Whether the celestial array of Ziwei Palace will continue to weaken remains uncertain. Before that is settled, the Elemental Star Stones and the Small Polaris Array must not be compromised."

Qin Sang hesitated. If he exposed the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement, and they learned that his body cultivation surpassed even his realm, trouble would certainly follow. Fortunately, his senior sister stood in front of him.

Qingjun spoke first. "I will personally take him to open the barrier. Before he enters, I will seal his true essence with my own hands. I guarantee he will not damage Zhitian Peak."

Old Daoist Zhenyi and Devil Lord Tongyou exchanged a glance.

Devil Lord Tongyou nodded. "With Daoist Leng personally guaranteeing it, there should be no issue."

To Qin Sang’s surprise, Dongyang Bo did not interfere. "I believe Daoist Leng would not deliberately damage Zhitian Peak."

The leaders of both the righteous and devilish paths of Small Cold Domain had spoken in succession.

After a moment of contemplation, Old Daoist Zhenyi turned to a general in armor beside him. "Jiugu, you will accompany Daoist Leng later."

"You may go down first. Wait for me at the bamboo building." Qingjun transmitted her voice.

"Yes! I will take my leave!" Qin Sang turned and left, feeling a weight lift from his heart.

He had not expected things to go so smoothly. With little argument, he had been granted permission to enter Zhitian Peak.

As he walked out of the hall, he heard the Spiritual Infant cultivators discussing the war. Faintly, he sensed a gaze, indistinct yet persistent, following him.

He paused slightly, then quickened his pace and walked outside.

Now, he had to focus entirely on tempering the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement. He had no time to be distracted.

Back at the bamboo building, Qin Sang waited for a full two hours. Only when dusk had deepened did Qingjun return.

The Spiritual Infant cultivator from Tianxing Alliance named Jiugu arrived together with a devilish Spiritual Infant cultivator from Small Cold Domain. They brought Qin Sang along and flew without pause toward the depths of Yuncang Marshlands.

Zhitian Peak had always roamed unpredictably within Yuncang Marshlands. To determine its location, the talismanic seals of Tianxing Alliance and Small Cold Domain had to be united. Only then could one sense where the barrier of Zhitian Peak lay.

They flew an unknown distance. The four of them stopped above an empty stretch of water. Taking out the complete talismanic seal, they activated it with true essence. After a brief sensing, they changed direction and flew northeast.

They sped on for another stretch. From afar, Qin Sang saw a familiar sight.

In the night, a beam of light descended from the heavens, connecting above to the river of stars and below to the waters of the marsh.

A peculiar force flowed within the beam. On the water’s surface, a silvery sheen shimmered like a mirror. That was the entrance to Zhitian Peak.