Blood-Clad Tower

From Daoist Master Jixin, Qin Sang had learned that not all Immortal Masters secluded themselves from the world to cultivate. He had never expected their entanglements with the mundane world to run deeper than imagined—even a sovereign of a nation needed the recognition of Immortal Masters.

But upon careful thought, it was only natural.

"That is not quite right. Immortal Masters do not interfere in worldly affairs. Only the ruler who ultimately unifies the realm can gain their recognition. Throughout the struggle for supremacy, no one can obtain an Immortal Master's aid. Likewise..."

Bai Jianglan said solemnly, "If a ruler lacks ability and is overthrown by another, the Immortal Masters will not intervene either."

Qin Sang's heart stirred. Catching the implication beneath his words, he asked softly, "Could it be that the Prince..."

Bai Jianglan frankly admitted it. "Brother Qin, you have stayed in the Prince's Manor, so there are things you do not know. Some time ago, the Prince personally wrote a 'Proclamation Against the False Emperor,' listing the False Emperor's cruel and muddleheaded acts. That immoral, befuddled ruler has brought unending Heavenly Calamities, leaving the people in misery and the five-hundred-year foundation of Great Sui teetering on the brink. Now the proclamation has spread throughout the land. Of Great Sui's thirteen prefectures, all but the three prefectures of the Imperial Capital under the False Emperor's control have responded. The Prince has personally raised troops to punish the False Emperor. King Zhenshui has already pledged allegiance to the Prince, and the armies of the two prefectures have joined as one, their spearhead aimed directly at Yingnan Prefecture. The County Princess and I have been traveling back and forth precisely to bring this about. Now that heroes rise everywhere, it is the finest hour to render service and build an achievement."

King Dongyang moved quickly indeed!

A month ago, there had not been the slightest sign. Yet after only one month, he had already swept up the momentum of the realm and raised an army in rebellion.

If Qin Sang had not longed for the immortal path, this truly would have been the best time to render service and build an achievement. Perhaps he might even have fought for the rank of prince or marquis and enjoyed wealth and glory for a lifetime.

Bai Jianglan glanced at Qin Sang and slowly said, "When the new emperor ascends the throne, he may choose his trusted ministers and receive investiture together at Pilgrimage Mountain..."

Qin Sang abruptly raised his head. Seeing Bai Jianglan smile without speaking, he asked in a deep voice, "What can I do for the County Princess?"

Though he had Yanwang, he did not even count as having entered the gates of the Cultivation World. Hiding within the mundane world and plotting slowly was the safest course.

Bai Jianglan smiled faintly, dipped a finger in water, and wrote three words upon the table—Blood-Clad Tower!

Lowering his voice, Bai Jianglan said, "After the Prince issued his proclamation, the False Emperor's claws, Jiangshan Tower, made a massive incursion into Dongyang Prefecture. They hide in the shadows, carrying out sabotage, assassinations, and espionage. Jiangshan Tower has become a festering sore clinging to the bone; it must be removed! Ten days ago, King Zhenshui nearly fell to an assassin, throwing everyone into panic. The Prince was furious, and the County Princess proposed forming the Blood-Clad Tower to stand needle against wheat awn against Jiangshan Tower. Eliminating Jiangshan Tower would not only sever the False Emperor's claws and fangs, but also cut off one of his vital sources of intelligence. In addition, the Blood-Clad Tower must bear the duty of infiltrating enemy ranks and scouting military intelligence..."

After hearing this, Qin Sang secretly sighed. In the end, they wanted him to join a spy organization.

The keen five senses brought by the Netherworld Scripture, along with the Yanluo Banner's ability to interrogate enemies, truly could not have been more suited to it.

"Who will be the Tower Master? You, Brother Bai, or Elder Yue?"

"I will not join the Blood-Clad Tower." Bai Jianglan shook his head. "The Blood-Clad Tower Master is True Man Black Crane, commander of the Prince's personal guards. This man's origins are mysterious. His Inner Force has reached the realm of divine transformation, and his lightness skill is like a ghost or phantom. Elder Yue and I can only admit ourselves inferior. However, beneath the Tower Master, there will be four Protectors. Elder Yue will be one of them."

Qin Sang found this strange. "Brother Bai, your martial arts are so formidable. Why..."

Bai Jianglan sighed softly. "Back then, unwilling to implicate my wife and daughter, I severed my own two toes, ended my grudges of the martial world, and withdrew into the Prince's Manor. I had long since lost the ambition to render service and build achievements. Now, I only wish to remain at the County Princess's side as her guard and pass the rest of my life in peace. I no longer wish to meddle in the affairs of the martial world. However, some brothers under me refuse to remain ordinary. They will all join the Blood-Clad Tower, and when the time comes, I will need Brother Qin to look after them. Though you are not among the foremost experts of the martial world, the abilities you possess are indeed beyond ordinary people. The Blood-Clad Tower cannot do without you. The County Princess once considered making you a personal guard, but she feared it would be burying your talents, so she never settled the matter. Later, when she asked me for advice concerning the Blood-Clad Tower, you were the first person I thought of."

Qin Sang smiled bitterly. "Brother Bai, you think too highly of me. I only fear my abilities are meager, and that I may delay the Prince's and County Princess's great undertaking."

Bai Jianglan chuckled. "Brother Qin, do not belittle yourself! The County Princess may not know Jiangshan Tower's reputation in the martial world in detail, but how could I not? Before you, Brother Qin, I had never heard of anyone prying information out of the mouths of those madmen from Jiangshan Tower..."

Qin Sang was startled by those words.

But Bai Jianglan waved his hand. "Everyone has secrets. As long as Brother Qin loyally serves the County Princess and the Prince, I will not make waves where there are none. Enough idle chatter. The Blood-Clad Tower is newly founded, and the Protectors will decide all its affairs themselves. The County Princess and Elder Yue intend to divide it into two branches. The Shadow Branch will disperse into the martial world and act against Jiangshan Tower. The other, the Military Branch, will penetrate deep into the front lines and scout military intelligence. Brother Qin may consider which branch you wish to serve in."

Qin Sang said no more and began to ponder with a furrowed brow.

With Immortal Masters watching over Great Sui, Qin Sang knew that it was best not to flip the table. Otherwise, what he drew might not be an immortal opportunity, but a calamity that took his life.

Whether or not to join the Blood-Clad Tower was a matter that could go either way. But contacting Immortal Masters through the investiture at Pilgrimage Mountain seemed to be the only path to seeking immortality that he could currently see.

Between the Military Branch and the Shadow Branch, the Shadow Branch was undoubtedly more suitable for him. The Military Branch had to go deep into the front lines. Though it offered many opportunities for military merit, the flames of war were merciless; perhaps a single stray arrow could take his life.

Yet what Qin Sang thought of was soul pills. To him, soul pills were the foremost priority, and he could not afford to miss any chance to gather souls.

Where were the most departed souls?

The battlefield!

He would join the Military Branch, use his mundane identity as cover, gather departed souls on the battlefield, and plot while improving his cultivation. Even if not for the sake of seeking immortality, it would solve his greatest immediate problem. He merely needed to be more cautious.

"Brother Qin wishes to join the Military Branch?"

A flash of surprise crossed Bai Jianglan's face. He was somewhat taken aback by Qin Sang's choice, but since Qin Sang had chosen it himself, it was not his place to say more.

"Brother Qin, make your preparations. I will report back to the County Princess at once. The Blood-Clad Tower's preparations are nearly complete. Within a few days, there will certainly be a major move."

After seeing Bai Jianglan off, Qin Sang sat in dry contemplation for a long while.

He had imagined his future: becoming an official and a favored courtier, or becoming someone close to the County Princess. So long as he had a chance to encounter an immortal opportunity, he could endure anything.

He had never imagined that he would become a spy, an agent, or even engage in the work of an assassin.

The danger of doing such things went without saying. Even with Yanwang protecting him, there was no guarantee of absolute safety.

After much deliberation, Qin Sang made up his mind. After joining the Blood-Clad Tower, he would base every action on not delaying his cultivation, and preserving his own life would be the principle behind all he did.

He would rather fail to accomplish anything than place himself in danger. But he would still seize merit, and seize it openly; he would not be an unsung hero.

Moreover, after learning that Immortal Cultivators were actually watching over Great Sui, Qin Sang was glad he had acted cautiously before. He secretly resolved that whether gathering souls or killing people, he would keep an even lower profile in the future. Unless absolutely necessary, he would not casually reveal his abilities.

If he ruined some great undertaking, at worst he could conceal his name and flee to another country, starting anew. In any case, the Netherworld Scripture was not something that could be cultivated to completion in a year or two.

Having made up his mind, Qin Sang immediately felt much lighter. He picked up the secret manual on the table and began reading.

That night, Elder Yue came to visit.

After speaking in secret for a long time, Qin Sang packed his luggage, followed Elder Yue to meet the County Princess once, then quietly left the Prince's Manor, his whereabouts unknown.