Drafts being written RN

The vestments distributed by Yuanzhaomen were blown up in the cave, leaving Qin Sang no time to clean himself up. After several months on the run, he looked no different from a savage.

The weather was getting warmer, and the population was becoming denser. The towns along the way were growing more prosperous. Qin Sang felt it was about time to change. He put on clean clothes, sneaked into a small town, and inquired about his current location.

"Zheng State..."

Qin Sang was eating a freshly steamed meat bun at a small shop. He had just asked if this place was within the borders of Zheng State, which sounded familiar. Suddenly, he remembered that Zheng State was marked on the geomancy map given to him by Han Xianshi.

After leaving the bun shop, Qin Sang found a secluded spot, took out the geomancy map from his mustard bag, and counted himself lucky.

Zheng State was indeed marked, positioned at the westernmost edge of the geomancy map. If he traveled farther west, he would leave the map's range.

Zheng State lay southwest of the Youshan Mountain Range, separated by a considerable distance.

South of Zheng State was a place called Jiuding Mountain. From what he could see on the geomancy map, it was not as majestic as Youshan Mountain, but it was still a notable landmark nearby.

After some thought, Qin Sang decided to head to Jiuding Mountain, hoping to find a quiet and secluded spot to establish a cave. There, he could heal his old wounds, gather information from other cultivators, and then continue south to the heartlands of the righteous forces.

Although Qin Sang had no idea what ultimately transpired that night, he remembered the terrifying sun and the unexpected arrival of a Golden Core Master. It seemed unlikely that the Kuiyin Sect would escape unscathed.

For such a long time, he hadn't encountered any Kuiyin Sect pursuers, which helped ease his anxiety.

Jiuding Mountain, Fenghuangding

Fenghuangding was once the most enchanting of Jiuding Mountain's nine peaks, surrounded by countless legends.

Seen from a distance, Fenghuangding resembled a divine phoenix spreading its wings. Unfortunately, a mysterious earthquake struck the peak, causing the Divine Phoenix Stone to collapse and shatter.

Though the mountain range was still called Jiuding Mountain, Fenghuangding had since been forgotten, becoming an unremarkable peak.

Then, one day, Fenghuangding was shrouded in a thick mist that lingered year-round. Mortals who wandered into the fog would lose their way, often taking most of the day to find their way out. Legends about the place grew over time.

Little did they know, the former Fenghuangding had become a gathering spot for immortal cultivators near Jiuding Mountain. The thick, ever-present mist was merely a simple barrier to keep mortals away.

At the end of every ten-day cycle, casual cultivators and members of small cultivation families from the surrounding area would gather at Fenghuangding. The crowd was modest compared to larger cultivation markets, and the participants were mostly low-level cultivators. Even so, it provided an opportunity to exchange cultivation insights and gossip.

Today was one such day. Early in the morning, several lights of escape technique converged, followed by cultivators walking into the mist one after another.

By daybreak, a woman in her thirties landed at the base of Fenghuangding. She turned to the young man beside her, her face lit with excitement. "Fellow Daoist Qin, your cloud escape technique is truly remarkable! It's far more discreet than my water escape technique and much faster. Thank you for teaching it to me."

Qin Sang smiled and nodded politely.

The woman traveling with him was Li Youniang. She was in her thirties and had once been an ordinary villager from a small mountain hamlet near Jiuding Mountain. She married in her teens.

Years ago, her husband rescued a gravely injured cultivator while gathering firewood in the mountains. In gratitude, the dying cultivator imparted his cultivation techniques to them. Unfortunately, only Li Youniang possessed spiritual roots, though she had four spiritual roots, making her cultivation progress extremely slow. It had taken her many years to reach the third level of the Qi Refining Stage.

Despite her inheritance, Li Youniang neither left the village to pursue the path of immortality nor abandoned her mortal husband. Instead, she chose a simple, mundane life.

Now, she had three children and a harmonious family life.

Half a month ago, Li Youniang's husband fell seriously ill. In desperation, she ventured to Fenghuangding in search of medicine. Passing by Qin Sang's cave, she was stopped by him.

At the time, Qin Sang had chosen a secluded mountain stream within Jiuding Mountain to establish his cave, focusing on healing his injuries.

Intending to connect with local cultivators and gather information, Qin Sang was pleased to meet Li Youniang. After hearing about her plight, he generously gave her a medicinal pill that cured her husband's illness.

Grateful for his kindness, Li Youniang readily agreed to accompany him to the gathering at Fenghuangding and informed him about Yu Lian, an elder of the Yu family—a small cultivation clan near Jiuding Mountain. Yu Lian was a well-informed individual who enjoyed making connections and sharing news at these gatherings.

Qin Sang stayed with Li Youniang's family until the end of the month. Observing their happy and harmonious life, he couldn't entirely agree with her choices but admired her unwavering dedication.

Li Youniang restrained her joy as she said, "Fellow Daoist Qin, come with me. I'll introduce you to Master Yu."

The illusionary barrier at Fenghuangding posed no challenge for cultivators. Using the Qi Observation Technique, they could see a path leading directly to the mountain's summit. As Qin Sang followed Li Youniang, he was surprised by the scenery.

Atop the ruins of the Divine Phoenix Stone sat a hollowed-out white rhinoceros horn, a low-grade magical artifact designed solely to condense water vapor. The horn's spout directed water into a bubbling stream that trickled melodiously down the mountain. The stream wound through elegant pavilions and bridges, creating a picturesque landscape.

Numerous cultivators were already gathered in the pavilions, forming small groups. Li Youniang greeted them as they passed, her familiarity evident. Seeing the unfamiliar Qin Sang, many looked curious but refrained from asking questions.

Li Youniang led Qin Sang to a bamboo pavilion at the summit. Inside were seven individuals seated around a goateed old man who looked to be in his seventies. The group was drinking and chatting.

"To say there have been some major events in the cultivation world lately..." The goateed elder, slightly drunk and in high spirits, raised his voice mid-conversation. When he spotted Li Youniang and Qin Sang, he waved enthusiastically. "Youniang, you're here! Come, sit, and help your uncle warm up two pots of wine. Eh? Who is this fellow Daoist?"

"Uncle Yu, this is Fellow Daoist Qin, the man who saved Silang's life," Li Youniang explained and recounted the story.

Qin Sang stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Qin Sang greets Senior Yu."

Yu Lian's drunken demeanor faded. Narrowing his eyes, he scrutinized Qin Sang before saying, "Youniang and Silang are fortunate indeed to have met a kind-hearted friend like Fellow Daoist Qin. Please, come in and sit."

After Qin Sang sat down, Yu Lian smiled and said, "Just now, You Niang mentioned that Daoist Qin had something to ask. I wonder if I can assist Daoist Qin in any way. Please feel free to speak."

"It's not urgent," Qin Sang replied with a smile. "I just heard Senior Yu speaking about the major events in the world of immortal cultivation and grew curious. I wouldn't dare interrupt. It's not too late to listen to your insights first."

Hearing this, the others nodded in agreement, some smiling kindly at Qin Sang.

Li You Niang warmed several glasses of wine and served them. She handed one to Qin Sang before sitting down beside him.

Yu Lian took a sip of wine and praised, "Youniang's brewing skills are improving! Since Fellow Daoist Qin is also interested, I'll share what I know. The most significant event in the world of immortal cultivation recently was the sudden invasion of the righteous Yuanzhao Sect by the evil Kuiyin Sect a few months ago. The battle was fierce, with multiple Jindan masters fighting in succession. The skies dimmed, the sun and moon seemed to lose their light, and even the land was affected. In the end, the Kuiyin Sect was wiped out."

Qin Sang, who had been gazing at the amber wine in his glass, looked up in surprise upon hearing this.

The others grew animated, voicing their doubts:

"Old Yu, are you pulling our leg? How did the Kuiyin Sect invade Yuanzhao Sect only to end up being wiped out? What happened to Yuanzhao Sect? And what exactly is the Kuiyin Sect?"

Yu Lian chuckled and gestured for patience. "Let me explain slowly. To understand the recent battle, you need to know the origins of both sects. While some of you may have heard bits and pieces, the full story is rarely told. The Yuanzhao Sect, for example, though in decline now, was on par with the eight most prominent righteous sects in Xiaohan Territory a few centuries ago. The Kuiyin Sect was its equal in power."

He continued, "Yuanzhao Sect was founded by the great Patriarch Yuanzhao, a Nascent Soul cultivator, while Kuiyin Sect's founder was Patriarch Kuiyin, a Nascent Soul demon cultivator. Both were figures of immense power in their time. Interestingly, the two sects were founded around the same period and named after their founders. What's more, they were geographically close, fueling a bitter rivalry."

"In the past, Patriarch Yuanzhao and his disciples perished unexpectedly in the ancient immortal battlefield. If not for an intervention by the Wuji Sect, Patriarch Kuiyin might have exploited the situation and razed Yuanzhao Peak. Only after Patriarch Kuiyin's death did the enmity between the two sects subside. However, it seems Kuiyin Sect harbored its grudge and launched a surprise attack on Yuanzhao Sect, only to meet its downfall."

Yu Lian paused, taking another sip of wine and savoring it leisurely. The listeners groaned in unison.

"Yu Lian, you're always keeping us in suspense!"

"Get on with it already!"

Qin Sang, anxious to hear the rest, barely restrained his eagerness.

Yu Lian laughed heartily. "All right, all right. As I was saying, the Kuiyin Sect launched an all-out assault. Oddly, they managed to breach the famed defensive formation of Yuanzhao Sect—an array established by Patriarch Yuanzhao himself with the help of two other Nascent Soul cultivators. That formation was said to be unbreakable by mere Jindan-level cultivators. Yet somehow, Kuiyin Sect broke through."

"Broken?" someone exclaimed. "If the defensive formation was breached, how did Kuiyin Sect end up being destroyed?"

"Good question," Yu Lian said. "The details are murky, but one credible account comes from the Wuji Sect. They reported that during the assault, Yuanzhao Sect's Grand Master detonated his golden core, along with the sect's protective array and spiritual veins. The resulting explosion was cataclysmic, killing a Kuiyin Sect Jindan master instantly and severely injuring two others. It also caused countless casualties among their Foundation Establishment cultivators."

The crowd gasped in unison. "Self-detonation of a golden core?!"

Yu Lian nodded solemnly. "Indeed. It's said the Grand Master took this drastic measure to save his sect's lineage and eliminate his old enemy's foundation. Truly, a ruthless yet decisive act."

A young man scoffed, "Hmph, if I had the same resources, I'd achieve no less than him!"

Yu Lian chuckled but didn't argue. "In the chaos that followed, the remaining Jindan masters of Kuiyin Sect fled. One was killed during the pursuit, and the other escaped to the ancient immortal battlefield. The Kuiyin Sect's base is now under Yuanzhao Sect's control, effectively ending their lineage."

Qin Sang interjected cautiously, "Do we know which Kuiyin Sect Jindan master survived?"

Yu Lian frowned in thought. "No specifics were given. The Wuji Sect merely hinted that the Kuiyin Sect leader perished. The surviving Jindan's identity remains uncertain, though their condition is reportedly dire."

Qin Sang fell silent, deep in thought. If even one Kuiyin Sect Jindan survived, his safety was far from guaranteed.

To change the subject, Qin Sang asked, "Senior Yu, you mentioned the eight prominent righteous sects earlier. Could you share more about them? I'd love to broaden my horizons."

Here's the corrected version with improved grammar and sentence structure:

The Eight Sects of the Righteous Path refer to the eight major sects: Chunyang Sect, Taiyi Dan Sect, Wuji Sect, Yuling Sect, Shaohua Mountain, Shangyuan Qingjing Palace, Xuling Sect, and Yuanshen Sect. Each is presided over by a Yuanying ancestor, granting them immense power and influence. Collectively, they are known as the Eight Sects.

In the Xiaohan Territory, the names of the Eight Sects of the Righteous Path are not fixed. If a sect's Yuanying ancestor passes away and no successor emerges, the sect declines, similar to what happened to the Yuanzhao Sect. Such sects are often replaced by rising powers.

Most immortal cultivation families in the Xiaohan Territory depend on these sects for survival.

Yu Lian talked extensively about these matters, but the content was similar to what Qin Sang had already learned from the Kuiyin Sect.

When Yu Lian finished, dusk had already fallen. The gathering dispersed, and everyone bid each other farewell.

Qin Sang then approached Yu Lian with a request for a geomancy map of the Xiaohan Territory's immortal cultivation world. He emphasized that the map didn't need to mark mortal kingdoms, but the locations of the major sects had to be clearly indicated.

"Please let me know where I can purchase such a geomancy map nearby. I've been away from home for many years and have been wandering like a headless fly. I wish to visit the major immortal sects, but without a map, it's extremely difficult."

Yu Lian didn't believe Qin Sang's claim about visiting the sects and assumed he was another hopeful seeking immortal cultivation. This was a common occurrence. Yu Lian smiled and said, "There's no need to purchase a geomancy map elsewhere. My family has one. If you can wait a few days, I'll bring you a copy at the next Fenghuangding gathering."

Qin Sang was overjoyed. "Thank you, senior. May I ask if your family has any requirements? I have a few spirit stones or perhaps some magic tools I could offer in exchange…"

Fearing that carrying too many treasures might expose his identity, Zhao Yan's mustard bag contained only a modest assortment, though each item was valuable.

Among his possessions were three medium-grade spirit stones and over a hundred low-grade ones. Additionally, there were two very practical magic tools.

One was the Feitian Shuttle, a high-quality magic tool for flight. Though slower than Pingxufeng, it could fly at great heights, generating a protective shield against cold winds. However, its conspicuousness among cultivators meant Qin Sang rarely used it.

The other was Tianxing Tears, a top-grade magic tool left behind after Zhao Yan's body burned. This teardrop-shaped tool could be stored in the body, instantly generating a protective divine light upon command.

Qin Sang also had a collection of elixirs and a dozen talismans with varied functions, all carefully stored. Obtaining a geomancy map seemed affordable.

Yu Lian waved him off. "You Niang is my junior, and you helped her selflessly by curing Si Lang's illness. How could I accept your spirit stones? Consider this geomancy map a gift from me on her behalf."

"Then I thank you, senior," Qin Sang replied gratefully.

Ten Days Later

Qin Sang received the geomancy map, bid farewell to Li You Niang and Yu Lian, and flew south into the white clouds. His destination was Yuncang Lake.

Shaohua Mountain, located at the southernmost edge of the Xiaohan Territory, bordered Yuncang Lake.

Jiuding Mountain, where casual cultivators avoided conflict, was safe but offered slim chances for advancement. Many gave up the path of immortality, choosing instead to live like mortals, like Li You Niang. Others turned to lives of indulgence or despair.

Qin Sang, however, refused to give up. He wanted to fight for his place. Heading to Shaohua Mountain, he sought to uncover the legacy of the Song family's ancestor and to pursue opportunities for advancement.

Shaohua Mountain – Asking the Moon Market

Two years passed since Qin Sang set out from Jiuding Mountain. Along the way, his cultivation progressed to the late eighth level but became stuck at the ninth-level bottleneck.

Reaching the border of Yuncang Lake, Qin Sang marveled at the vast expanse of water. He discovered the majestic gate of Shaohua Mountain, surrounded by sword-like peaks that exuded a sharp, imposing aura befitting a sword cultivator's domain.

Among the four famous markets near Shaohua Mountain, Qin Sang searched for signs of the Song family. He explored them one by one, hoping to find clues.

Arriving at Asking the Moon Market, the third market he visited, Qin Sang mingled inconspicuously with the crowd, gathering information.

Eventually, he came across a lead: a house suspected to be connected to the Song family. His heart surged with anticipation as he made his way through the bustling market to the quieter inner district.

This area, lined with deep, spiritual-energy-rich residences, was home to cultivators and their descendants. Even the shops exuded a serene atmosphere.

Qin Sang reached a large house adorned with a plaque reading "Li Mansion." He frowned but noticed a weapon refining shop across the street. His curiosity piqued, he walked toward the shop.