Chapter 1198: Divine Pattern (I)

At the edge of Heavenly Scar, Qin Sang lowered his head and gazed into the abyss. Following the cliff wall, he slowly descended, entering Heavenly Scar for the first time.

Unlike Ancient Immortal Battlefield, the interior of Heavenly Scar showed no signs of desolation. On the contrary, the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful.

Along the sloping sides of the cliffs, green trees spread like lush carpets, as though a layer of green velvet had been laid across the mountainside.

All kinds of rare flowers and exotic plants, seldom seen in the mortal world, competed in brilliance here. Between them, waterfalls flowed like ribbons of white jade, sometimes converging, sometimes branching apart, before cascading into the abyss below.

If not for the occasional appearance of dangerous fragments of ancient barriers, the place would have looked like a celestial paradise.

Such minor dangers could not stop Qin Sang.

His speed gradually increased. Soon he noticed the terrain becoming steeper, while the scenery grew increasingly ruined and desolate. After descending a little farther, not a trace of greenery remained.

Bare earth and rock lay exposed. Blocks of pitch-black stone, dark and sinister, dotted the landscape, revealing that the environment here was far from ordinary.

Qin Sang sensed a familiar cold aura and immediately realized that below lay a place where Earth Malevolent Qi had gathered densely.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he saw wisps of Earth Malevolent Qi drifting out from stone caves below.

The steep cliff face was riddled with countless holes. Irregular stone caves covered the rock wall, each one filled with dense Earth Malevolent Qi hidden deep within the cliff. The concentration was even greater than in Sunken Cave.

Qin Sang circulated his true essence to protect his body, casually chose one of the cave entrances, and flashed inside.

Relying on his powerful cultivation, he resisted the erosion of the Earth Malevolent Qi and pushed deep into the cliff interior. After thoroughly searching the surroundings and finding nothing, he confirmed that the relics of Heavenly Corpse Sect were not located here.

After finishing the refinement of the malevolent corpse, Qin Sang returned the way he came.

Once the external incarnation had recovered his Qi Refining Realm cultivation, Qin Sang brought the incarnation to one of the markets.

His true body waited outside while he controlled the incarnation to enter the marketplace.

Using the identity from before, the incarnation passed through without obstruction. After entering the market, he gathered several old acquaintances in a residence at a corner of the market.

"Qi Lao'er, didn’t you say last time that you had a new deal, probably some naive newcomer? Why did you disappear for so long? Don’t tell me you ran into someone tough?"

Qi Lao'er was Qin Sang’s incarnation, and his friends were people who had shared the same dubious temperament as the incarnation’s previous self. The speaker was a burly man with a vicious face, his expression full of schadenfreude.

The incarnation snorted. "Er Wuchang, sooner or later you’ll misjudge someone and capsize yourself. I want to see the day when the real Wuchang hooks your soul and drags it away, hauling you into the eighteen levels of hell."[1]

Er Wuchang sneered. "If I end up in hell, what about you? Qi Lao'er, have you committed any fewer evil deeds than I have?"

"Enough!" A charming woman in red interrupted them impatiently. "I just got a sweet little treasure and we were right in the middle of enjoying ourselves. I didn’t come here to listen to you two argue. Qi Lao'er, why exactly did you gather us here?"

The incarnation and Er Wuchang glared at each other but stopped arguing.

"Daoists, I have a matter for which I need your assistance." The incarnation paused before continuing, "I need help investigating someone. About a hundred years ago there was a Golden Core cultivator known as Corpse Ghost Immortal. He was said to have been active near Jinhen Mountain at that time. As long as you find any information related to this person, I will reward you generously."

Er Wuchang and the others exchanged glances.

"Qi Lao'er, have you grown tired of living? You want to provoke a Golden Core cultivator?" Er Wuchang stared at him like he was looking at a fool.

The charming woman seemed thoughtful and studied the incarnation carefully. "A Golden Core cultivator from a hundred years ago, and with such an arrogant title as Corpse Ghost Immortal. None of us have even heard of him. He’s probably already dead. Did you discover clues about a Golden Core inheritance or treasure?"

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

The incarnation stiffened slightly. Under their pressing gazes, he forced a dry laugh. "I knew I couldn’t hide it from your eyes! I’ve been running around for this matter these past few days. My cultivation is too low, and I don’t have the strength to monopolize it anyway. I intended to invite some helpers, so I asked you Daoists to come. But let me say this first. We all know each other well, so none of you should harbor any strange ideas..."

"Is there really a Golden Core inheritance? I never expected you to have such luck one day, Qi Lao'er." Er Wuchang rubbed his hands excitedly.

The others were equally interested. After discussing for a while, they dispersed. The incarnation watched them leave with deep eyes. Soon afterward, he also left the residence and began investigating.

After a round of inquiries, however, he found nothing. Qin Sang then had the incarnation visit another market, but the result was the same.

Time was enough to wash away everything. The traces of a Golden Core cultivator were nothing more than a speck of dust in the long river of time. After merely a hundred years, they had already been erased.

With the search yielding nothing, Qin Sang activated his second plan. He had the incarnation return to the market with a malevolent corpse whose strength rivaled a Foundation Building cultivator. Without concealing anything, he summoned those acquaintances again.

Feeling the powerful pressure emanating from the refined corpse beside the incarnation, Er Wuchang and the others cursed inwardly.

This bastard has clearly taken everything for himself! When he tricked us into helping investigate earlier, he must have secretly taken the Golden Core inheritance. Otherwise, with his strength, how can he refine such a powerful corpse?

Despite their thoughts, outwardly they behaved with complete respect, just as if facing a genuine Foundation Building cultivator.

After an entire afternoon of secret discussion, the incarnation finally let them leave.

When Er Wuchang reached a dark corner, he glanced back toward the courtyard with flickering eyes and sneered inwardly. My cultivation is higher than his. Just because he got lucky and obtained a Foundation Building corpse, he thinks I’ll serve him? Dream on!

Earlier, Qi Lao’er had even proposed taking all of them under his command and joining forces to search for treasure in Heavenly Scar.

With a Foundation Building refined corpse at their side, they would be able to venture deeper into Heavenly Scar in the future.

But Er Wuchang did not believe for a moment that Qi Lao’er was being so generous. If any danger arose, Qi Lao’er would surely abandon them without hesitation, perhaps even use them as shields.

Thinking of this, Er Wuchang snorted coldly and strode off in another direction.

Soon, he arrived near a rather quiet courtyard deep within the marketplace. After confirming no one had followed him, Er Wuchang lowered his head and approached the courtyard with a broad smile plastered across his face. He explained his purpose to the gatekeeper and was soon escorted inside.

The bright moon and stars lit the sky. In the central courtyard stood a jade table. Fine wine and exquisite dishes filled the table.

A cultivator dressed as a Daoist sat drinking, his face slightly flushed with wine. In front of him, several beautiful female cultivators danced gracefully, casting seductive glances.

Er Wuchang swallowed hard, filled with envy.

These female cultivators were all at higher cultivation levels than him. As expected of disciples from major sects. What a carefree and indulgent life they lived!

Although he could imitate this sort of display, at most he could only hire a few mortal women to dance for him. He certainly would not dare behave arrogantly in a major city controlled by Jinhen Mountain. At best he could only put on such airs in some remote backwater. How could he compare to the man before him?

The gatekeeper stepped forward and made a report. The Daoist cast a glance over.

Er Wuchang shuddered and quickly straightened his posture. He then saw the Daoist dismiss his attendants before saying to him, "What matter do you wish to report? Come forward and speak."

"A Golden Core inheritance treasure? Is this true?" After Er Wuchang finished recounting the entire story, the drunken haze vanished instantly from the Daoist’s face.

Er Wuchang nodded repeatedly. "Absolutely true. Qi Lao’er’s Foundation Building refined corpse must have come from there."

"Corpse Ghost Immortal..." The Daoist pondered carefully but could not recall any such figure from a hundred years ago.

Suddenly a thought flashed through his mind. Without warning, a streak of sword light shot from his sleeve and instantly pressed against Er Wuchang’s throat. He sneered coldly. "Qi Lao’er obtained a Golden Core inheritance treasure and still dares swagger around meeting you openly? His refined corpse uses Earth Malevolent Qi instead of yin qi. Do you think I’m a three-year-old child? You have quite the nerve to attempt such a clumsy scheme to plot against me!"

"Senior, please see clearly! Even if I had a hundred times the courage, I would never dare plot against you or Jinhen Mountain!" Er Wuchang trembled violently as he hurriedly defended himself. "Qi Lao’er said his refined corpse is comparable to a middle-stage Foundation Building cultivator. He probably thought most seniors had already been dispatched to the front lines. The market is nearly empty now. When the cat's away, the mice will play. That is why he dared to act so brazenly. Qi Lao’er is still in the market right now. Senior, you can verify it easily and see whether I am lying..."

The Daoist narrowed his eyes, surprise entering his voice. "A middle-stage Foundation Building refined corpse?"

He had only recently reached the Foundation Building Realm himself. He might not even be able to defeat such a corpse.

If Er Wuchang truly intended to harm him, there would have been no need to explain everything so clearly.

"Hmph. I’ll spare your useless life for now!" The Daoist withdrew his sword. Seeing the expectant look on Er Wuchang’s face, he snorted. "Go back and continue dealing with Qi Lao’er. Do not reveal anything. If there truly is a Golden Core inheritance treasure, you will receive your share of reward!"

"Yes, Senior!" Er Wuchang’s face filled with delight as he bowed and departed.

The Daoist showed a thoughtful expression. After considering for a moment, he decided to send a message back to his sect and consult several friendly senior brothers to determine whether anyone with the Dharma name Corpse Ghost Immortal had ever existed.

A Golden Core cultivator’s inheritance treasure was extremely tempting.

If his senior brothers came to assist, even if this turned out to be a trap, they could simply crush it outright!

Even Qin Sang had not expected that before his incarnation could parade around with the refined corpse, the news would reach the ears of Jinhen Mountain disciples through sheer coincidence.

Soon, the Daoist received a reply. After reading it, his face filled with astonishment. "So there really was a Golden Core cultivator called Corpse Ghost Immortal. He could refine corpses using Earth Malevolent Qi and was even on good terms with Senior Uncle Wu. However, he had only just gained some reputation before dying on the battlefield. No wonder no one has heard of him. It seems he might have foreseen something and left his inheritance here before being sent to the front lines, which Qi Lao’er ended up obtaining..."

The Daoist immediately sent another message inviting his senior brothers to come assist, lest Qi Lao’er realize something was wrong and flee with the treasure.

Two days later, the incarnation left the market with the refined corpse. Shortly after entering the mountains, his vision suddenly blurred. A man appeared ahead out of thin air, blocking his path.

When he turned to retreat, another person had already appeared behind him. Both were middle-stage Foundation Building cultivators!

Moments later, a third figure stepped out from behind an ancient tree. It was the Daoist from before.

He looked at the refined corpse beside the incarnation with shining eyes, gently waving a feather fan. "I heard Daoist Qi has been blessed with great fortune and obtained the inheritance of a Golden Core cultivator. Would you mind letting us take a look?"

The incarnation remained completely calm. "I’ve been waiting for you."

The three men immediately felt something was wrong. Yet they had carefully checked the surroundings earlier and found nothing unusual.

Before they could react, their bodies suddenly tightened. Darkness filled their vision. In the next instant, they were completely immobilized. Terror flooded their hearts.

The opponent’s strength was far too terrifying. They had not even seen the person appear. No matter how they struggled, the invisible restraints did not move in the slightest.

Just as panic overwhelmed them, a strange voice sounded beside their ears. "You three are quite bold to follow my disciple."

One of them barely managed to steady himself. Discovering that he could speak again, he hurriedly begged. "Senior, I was blind and failed to recognize that Daoist Qi was your disciple. Senior, please be merciful. For the sake that we have not yet caused a great disaster, please spare our lives. I am willing to return to Jinhen Mountain and bring all the treasures from my cave dwelling to present to Daoist Qi as an apology."

They still thought they had been captured because they had provoked Qi Lao’er.

He chuckled. "There is no need to use Jinhen Mountain to threaten me. I'm not frightened so easily. However, for Jinhen Mountain’s sake, if you answer a few of my questions properly, I can spare your useless lives."

The three of them felt somewhat relieved. The other party still had some scruples about their sect after all, so they quickly voiced their agreement.

1. Wuchang also refers to the deities in Chinese folk religion in charge of escorting the spirits of the dead to the underworld. ☜

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