Immortal Crane Delivering the Imperial Seal

After entering King Dongyang's residence, Qin Sang was assigned to a small courtyard. His three daily meals were delivered to him, but he was forbidden from wandering outside.

For several days in a row, Qin Sang saw neither Princess Dongyang nor received a summons from King Dongyang. During that time, only Bai Jianglan came by once.

He had come seeking immortality, so he waited with great patience.

Still, this environment was quite suitable for cultivation. Qin Sang steadied himself and threw his whole heart into cultivating the "Netherworld Scripture."

With the help of Soul Pills, Qin Sang felt that his cultivation speed was even faster than when he had been at the first level. If he never lacked Soul Pills, he estimated that he could break through to the third level of the "Netherworld Scripture" within a year.

Of course, that was only an ideal scenario.

Under his frenzied cultivation, a single Soul Pill would be exhausted in at most half a month. Qin Sang drew out two Soul Pills in succession, but when he took the third, Yanwang's body had become so faint it was scattering like a guttering candle in the wind.

At this rate, if he took one more, Yanwang would likely collapse.

Qin Sang was not sure whether Yanwang could recover after being drained dry, nor would he do something as foolish as draining a pond to catch its fish. What troubled him was how to obtain an endless supply of Soul Pills.

What Yin Sha Qi actually was, Qin Sang could not figure out in a short time.

Human souls, on the other hand, were inexhaustible, but he would likely have to slaughter village after village to meet his cultivation needs.

Slaughtering innocents—setting aside the hurdle in his own heart, if he acted so recklessly, other immortal masters would slaughter him as a Demon Lord before his cultivation had improved much. Qin Sang still vividly remembered the miserable sight of the black-robed Demon Lord being cut in two.

A faint stabbing pain came from his meridians. Qin Sang stopped cultivating and opened his eyes, only to find that daylight had already begun to brighten outside. Though he had cultivated all night, he was still full of vigor. Even so, Qin Sang was used to taking a short nap. Sometimes he would sleep for an entire day; he felt that was true rest.

Just as he was about to lie down fully clothed, someone suddenly knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Eldest Brother Bai, you're here."

Qin Sang opened the door and saw Bai Jianglan standing outside. A fine rain was falling from the sky. Bai Jianglan wore a bamboo hat and a straw rain cape, with a treasured sword on his back. Covered in the dust of travel, he looked like a wandering martial hero.

Bai Jianglan entered the room, removed his rain cape, then took several books from his robes and handed them to Qin Sang. "Brother Qin, these are several superior martial arts manuals the County Princess instructed me to select from the royal residence's martial arts repository. Many major events have occurred outside over the past month. I was running about outside with the County Princess, and only returned today."

No wonder no one had come to disturb him for so long.

He had cultivated bitterly in this small courtyard for over a month without taking a single step outside. Apart from the servant girls who brought his meals, he had not seen a single stranger. He had nearly been cut off from the world—yet he had no idea what major events had happened outside.

Qin Sang pondered this silently as he took the books and flipped through them. There were three secret manuals in total.

One was "Soul-Snatching Spear," which suited him perfectly. Though "Tiger Subduing Long Fist" could also be performed with a staff, it was ultimately only a most basic martial art, and not purely a spear technique.

Once he mastered "Soul-Snatching Spear," Qin Sang would have an easier time concealing the Yanluo Banner from others in the future.

The second was "Great Ming King Art," an internal cultivation method. Qin Sang could not discern its mysteries at a glance, so he planned to study it carefully later and see how it differed from the "Netherworld Scripture."

When he turned to the third book, Qin Sang's eyes suddenly lit up. It was a lightness art movement technique called "Shadowless Steps."

Light as a swallow, flying over eaves and walking across walls, leaving no traces upon snow, crossing a river on a single reed...

He had long coveted the legendary lightness arts. Unfortunately, none of the martial schools or escort agencies in Three Witches City taught lightness arts. At most, they had a few practical footwork techniques.

Seeing Qin Sang's delighted expression, Bai Jianglan smiled as well. "I saw that Brother Qin is skilled with spears and staves, so I selected this 'Soul-Snatching Spear' for you. This spear technique was created by a renowned martial artist who specialized in the spear. It seizes souls and captures spirits, exquisitely profound. 'Great Ming King Art' is one of the finest internal cultivation methods in the martial world, but such methods are slow to show results. Brother Qin, do not be impatient. You must calm your heart and cultivate patiently. If you can truly nurture even a wisp of True Qi in your dantian, your martial arts will surely rise to another level. And this 'Shadowless Steps'—because Brother Qin has no Inner Force, I selected it for you. Not only is its movement technique marvelous, it also encompasses the ability to conceal one's breath and hide one's shadow. It forms a school of its own. When cultivated to its depths, it is no weaker than the finest lightness art movement techniques... Are you satisfied, Brother Qin?"

Qin Sang cupped his hands in thanks. "I am deeply grateful for the County Princess's favor. Sorry for the trouble, Eldest Brother Bai. Qin Sang cannot thank you enough."

The two sat facing each other, drinking fragrant tea as they spoke. Bai Jianglan pointed out the essentials of these three martial arts manuals to Qin Sang, who carefully committed them to memory. Still, he would only truly understand them after practicing them himself.

When speaking of the Water Monkey's condition, Bai Jianglan's tone was no longer so sorrowful. "That child Zhou Ning is cheerful by nature and can take things in stride. His injuries are improving now, and he can already get out of bed to practice swordsmanship. He is much more diligent than before. After surviving this great calamity, if he can change that lazy temperament of his, his martial arts may not be unable to rise another level."

Qin Sang nodded in agreement, but he would not take such comforting words seriously. For a martial artist, losing an arm had an enormous impact on one's martial arts.

Bai Jianglan took a sip of tea and looked at Qin Sang. "Brother Qin, do you still hold to your previous thoughts?"

Qin Sang set down his teacup, sat upright, and replied solemnly, "Eldest Brother Bai, I have admired the immortal path since childhood. This heart has never changed!"

A month ago, Bai Jianglan had come to the small courtyard to meet Qin Sang and probed indirectly into Qin Sang's plans for the future.

Qin Sang knew that Bai Jianglan was testing him on Princess Dongyang's behalf.

King Dongyang's status in Great Sui was second only to the emperor's. He was one of those with the greatest chance of coming into contact with immortal masters.

Princess Dongyang had saved his life twice, and when they had returned to Dongyang Prefecture by boat, Qin Sang had clearly sensed how highly Princess Dongyang regarded him. Qin Sang's mind was quick, so he simply made his desire to seek an immortal opportunity plain.

He did not know what answer Bai Jianglan would bring him, and Qin Sang secretly felt nervous as well.

In truth, Bai Jianglan had already seen through Qin Sang's thoughts while they were aboard the ship last year, but he had not expected him to be so resolute. After pondering for a moment, he said, "By Great Sui's ancestral law, whenever a new emperor ascends the throne and inherits the great throne, he must hold an enthronement ceremony on Pilgrimage Mountain in the Imperial Capital, offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth to show that royal authority is divinely bestowed and that he bears Heaven's mandate. At that time, immortal rosy clouds fill the sky and divine music rings out. Only when Heaven sends an immortal crane bearing the Imperial Seal does he become a true ruler of men."

Qin Sang knew about these things. This world differed from the ancient world of his previous life in many ways, but there were also things they had in common. For instance, the methods used to fool the common people were all more or less the same.

However, because martial arts and immortals truly existed here, the deception was made far more convincing than in his previous life.

"Yet who would have known..."

Bai Jianglan paused, then said, "I only learned recently that the so-called mandate of Heaven is merely an illusion. But the immortal crane delivering the Imperial Seal is real. The Imperial Seal, however, does not come from Heaven, but from immortal masters."

Qin Sang was shaken when he heard this and asked in surprise, "Eldest Brother Bai, could it be that one needs the recognition of immortal masters to become emperor?"

Bai Jianglan nodded.

Qin Sang frowned. "Then wouldn't immortal masters merely have to designate whoever they wanted as emperor? What would there be to fight over?"