Inquiry about immortality

Chapter 2617 Qingfen Alliance

The offerings previously agreed upon with the Yinming Water Mansion are now entirely within the Yu family's means, not to mention the vast prospects of following Qin Sang.

Since Qin Sang arrived at the Yu family, visitors have been coming in droves. Some small sects wanted to seek their allegiance, but many more were just testing the waters.

……

The back hill of Yu's family.

This place is surrounded by clouds, mountains, and bamboo forests, quiet and elegant.

Inside the mountain pavilion, Qin Sang sat on one side of the chessboard, opposite an old man with a goatee and an air of otherworldly wisdom.

Yu Chang'en stood to the side, his expression focused on the chessboard, seemingly captivated by the game between the two.

'Snapped! '

The placement of a piece stirred up invisible ripples, which only lingered in the pavilion before vanishing.

The old man stroked his long beard and smiled smugly, "It seems Elder Qin is going to lose this round."

“Fellow Daoist, your skill is superior. I concede defeat,” Qin Sang said, resigning his position.

They were playing a kind of Dao chess. There are countless types of Dao chess in the Spirit Realm, but they are all basically similar. In the end, the competition comes down to the cultivation level and understanding of the Great Dao. This Dao chess, which is popular in Xianlin Lake, has very special rules. Cultivation level only accounts for 40%, while chess skills account for 60%, making it more interesting than other Dao chess games.

The old man chuckled as he put the chess pieces back in their place. “Elder Qin has only just come into contact with this Nine Elders Chess, while I have been playing it since I was a child. It would be dishonorable for me to win.”

Qin Sang shook his head. After all, he had only recently entered the Integration Stage. The person opposite him was an elder of the Cloud Ship Association, known as Cangjun Shangren, a veteran Integration Stage expert. Even if the two were evenly matched, he might not be able to beat him.

It is said that the great array set up by the Cloud Boat Society at Xianlin Lake must be guarded by a Nascent Soul cultivator year-round. This person must also preside over major internal and external affairs. At this time, it is Venerable Cangjun who is in charge.

Venerable Cangjun gave Qin Sang and the Five Elements Alliance ample face by personally paying them a visit.

Perhaps the intention was to use chess to discuss philosophy and to deflate Qin Sang's arrogance.

At this level, especially within the Great Zhou Dynasty, it is rare for a Nascent Soul cultivator to personally take action. Once they do, it becomes a life-or-death feud, a fight to the death, and often affects the rise and fall of two sects or forces.

After the game, both sides lost interest. Master Cangjun looked down the mountain and laughed, "Elder Qin's arrival has shaken Xianlin Lake. Everyone wants to see your face, but I was too tactless and came at the wrong time."

With their hearing, they could hear the noise outside clearly if they wanted to.

The Yu family compound was bustling with people; it hadn't been this lively in a long time. Unfortunately, they were destined to leave disappointed.

Qin Sang glanced at Yu Chang'en and said, "This was not my intention. I prefer peace and quiet. I am here to visit an old friend and will not stay at Xianlin Lake for long. I did not want to disturb you too much, and it would be impolite to avoid seeing you. Fellow Daoist has given me a wonderful reason."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Venerable Cangjun also turned his gaze to Yu Chang'en and exclaimed, "To be appreciated by Elder Qin, Patriarch Yu has such profound good fortune!"

Yu Chang'en said respectfully, "Back then, I was blind and audacious, showing off in front of Elder Qin. Fortunately, Elder Qin was magnanimous and did not hold it against me."

Master Cangjun was very interested in how they became friends. Everyone said that the Yu family had found a new powerful backer, but now it seems that they might actually be old friends.
"Forgive my boldness, but the trade routes that my family established in the Celestial Division of the Otherworldly Race were also guided by Elder Qin?"

The Yunbo Association has already had a debate over Qin Sang.

The debate revolves around two points. First, does the support of the Five Elements Alliance elders for the Yu family mean that the Five Elements Alliance wants to interfere in Xianlin Lake? Second, there's the trade route controlled by the Yu family, which is where their most vital interests lie. Regardless of what happened before, the benefits still belong to the Yunbo Association. If the Five Elements Alliance were to seize the Yu family's trade route along with it, and the Yunbo Association were to sit idly by, wouldn't they be ridiculed?

That trade route isn't very large yet, but its future potential is immeasurable.

Qin Sang readily agreed, "I met a few fellow Daoists among the alien race. I casually offered them a few words of advice back then, and then forgot about them. I never expected that Chang'en would be able to persevere until now. So I thought I would take this opportunity to visit my old friend and bring Chang'en along, so that we can continue our efforts and make something of ourselves."

"Oh?"

Venerable Cangjun's expression shifted slightly. "This old man will first congratulate Patriarch Yu."

Yu Chang'en said he dared not, "This junior and the Yu family still need to rely on the guidance of the elder and colleagues in the association."

Master Cangjun, however, looked at Qin Sang.

Qin Sang smiled and said, "The Yu family has always been a member of the Yunbo Association. Will Yunbo kick them out?"

"Let's see who dares to break the rules of the Cloud Ship Association!"

Venerable Cangjun was a decisive man. He waved his hand and said, "Patriarch Yu, please rest assured. As long as the Yu family does not violate the rules of the association, no one can expel the Yu family from the Yunbo Association. Otherwise, they will have to get past this old man first!"

He thought to himself, "This answer should shut up the gossip."

As long as the Yu family does not break away from the Yunbo Association, each family can share in the profits. As the trade routes expand, their interests will also increase.

As for the suggestion to continue coercing the Yu family and have the Yunbo Association control the trade route, that's pure wishful thinking. The key is Elder Qin; he's not only an elder of the Five Elements Alliance but also has extensive connections. If he angers the Yu family, they could simply abandon the Yu family and establish an alternative trade route, leaving the Yunbo Association helpless.

Qin Sang sighed inwardly. His preferred ally was the Burning Crystal Sect, but the Cloud Ship Society dominated the southeast of Xunzhou and could not be shaken off.

He decisively left the Northern Region in order to escape the intrigue and backstabbing, but upon arriving here, he found himself in a new cycle of intrigue and backstabbing.

This kind of spiritual practice is really not satisfying enough!
Over the years, the Great Zhou Dynasty has developed a complete and complex system from top to bottom, encompassing all cultivators.

Qin Sang was not alone; he had to consider his disciples and the Qingyang Temple. Fortunately, Yu Fu and others were there to protect his rear, and Yu Chang'en would be able to stand on his own in Xunzhou in the future. He only needed to set up the framework; the troubles were temporary.

Just like before in Qingyang, the Qingyang Alliance has grown strong by following the framework he initially established.

As the thought flashed through his mind, he heard Venerable Cangjun say, "In my opinion, Patriarch Yu should enter Boyang Palace."

Similar to the four levels of Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow in the Heavenly Market, the Cloud Ship Association also has a three-tiered structure. When holding meetings, they sit in different halls, which are named Boyang Hall, Zhongming Hall, and Shuxi Hall.

Among them, Boyang Hall is the highest, and the Yu family would normally only be ranked last. This time, they went directly into Boyang Hall, which is unprecedented in the Yunbo Association. Even if Venerable Cangjun cannot make a decision in one word, it represents his attitude, and there is a very high chance that it will succeed in the future.

This was also a way of returning the favor to Qin Sang.

Yu Chang'en was of good character, and upon hearing this news, he couldn't help but show joy, feeling even more grateful to Qin Sang.

Both parties reached a satisfactory result in their conversation, though it was only a preliminary agreement and the details still needed to be discussed.

Master Cangjun immediately rose to take his leave.

……

On the day of the offering, the Yu family, following Qin Sang's instructions, delivered the offering to Yinmingshui Mansion.

The Yinming Water Palace accepted the tribute without being enraged by the Yu family's breach of custom.

In the first few days, Yu Chang'en was a little uneasy, but in the end, he did not receive any questioning from Yinming Water Mansion. Everything was normal, and it seemed that Yinming Water Mansion had already acquiesced.

Having resolved the Yu family's worries, Qin Sang's visiting card was also sent to the Burning Crystal Sect.

On this day, Qin Sang rode in the Yu family's precious carriage, flew out of Xianlin Lake, soared through the clouds, and headed west.

After speeding for several days, a column of smoke suddenly appeared on the horizon, like a plume of smoke rising slowly into the heavens, where it never dissipated.

This column of smoke is the symbol of the Burning Crystal Sect.

Below the column of smoke, the mountains rise and fall, cluster together like a dragon coiled on the earth, their range radiating in all directions, stretching endlessly.

Where the mountains converge, that is where the Burning Crystal Sect's mountain gate is located.

The place was shrouded in mist, not the white mist commonly seen elsewhere, but a gray mist like a column of smoke.

It is said that the Burning Crystal Sect spent generations of effort to gather the earth's veins and regulate the vital energy to build a Heavenly Heart Crystal Furnace there. Its function is similar to the Nine Earth Furnace built by Yuan Zhenjun, but it has many wonderful uses when combined with the Burning Crystal Sect's mental cultivation method, which has laid a solid foundation for the Burning Crystal Sect and made it increasingly powerful since then.

The current leader of the Burning Crystal Sect, Li Bingzhu, has made invaluable contributions.

Legend has it that this person was just a candle-bearing boy in the Ancestral Hall when he was young. At that time, the Burning Crystal Sect was just a minor sect. Later, he gradually showed his talent and eventually stepped into the Integration Realm. The Burning Crystal Sect also became a famous sect.

'boom!'

Suddenly the earth shook violently.

Yu Chang'en stepped out of the carriage and saw the smoke column dissipate. Above the Burning Crystal Gate, a huge phantom of a crystal furnace was floating, spewing out thousands of rays of light. The rays of light shot out into the sky, layer upon layer, landing among the surrounding mountains, spaced in an orderly and well-ordered manner.

Whenever the rosy dawn sets in, it is accompanied by the blooming of spiritual flowers, as beautiful as fire, with layers of flowers as tall as a tower, in a thousand different forms, piled up and reaching the heavens.

'Boom! Boom! Boom!'

The rosy clouds burst forth continuously, dazzling the eyes.

Yu Chang'en personally drove the chariot through the dazzling lights, heading towards the Burning Crystal Gate. Wherever the chariot passed, the rosy clouds met, forming a rainbow road.

Suddenly, celestial music filled the air, and groups of fairies, some playing flutes and xiao, others carrying pipa, emerged gracefully, their beautiful faces like flowers, lining both sides of the rainbow path.

Such a commotion had already alerted the nearby sects.

The cultivators left their cave dwellings and looked out over the scene, all of them astonished by what they saw.

"Hiss! This is the highest courtesy of the Burning Crystal Sect. I wonder which distinguished guest has arrived!"

"This imposing aura... could it be that Sect Master Li is personally welcoming us?"

"It is said that after failing to get the Burning Crystal Sect to join the Heavenly Market, Sect Master Li was disheartened and secluded himself for many years without seeing any visitors, but he has now emerged from seclusion."

……

Outsiders were buzzing with curiosity about the identity of the distinguished guest, but even with their eyes strained, they could only vaguely see a precious carriage entering the Burning Crystal Gate.

"I am flattered!"

Qin Sang stepped down from the carriage and saw that Young Master Yan and his wife had returned at some point, standing on either side of a man. She knew very well that this man was Master Li.

"Greetings, Sect Master Li!"

Sect Master Li laughed loudly, "I have long heard of Elder Qin's illustrious reputation, and indeed, seeing is believing!"

The two hit it off immediately, and entered the hall arm in arm. Yu Chang'en and the young master and his wife Yan followed closely behind.

After the guests and host were seated, Qin Sang secretly sized up this Sect Master Li. He looked to be around forty years old, lean and capable, with a beard on his chin and a pair of red eyes that looked like two flames.

Sitting next to him felt like being roasted by flames; his imposing presence was evident.

According to Qin Sang, the methods of the Burning Crystal Sect are similar to the cultivation techniques he deduced, both using flames to forge the foundation of the Dao. The difference is that he refines external fire, while the Burning Crystal Sect refines the heart fire and forges crystal furnaces.

This time, the etiquette displayed by the Burning Crystal Sect has actually exceeded expectations, demonstrating how much importance Sect Master Li attaches to this meeting. The Burning Crystal Sect is currently unaware of his other identity, and they must be eyeing that trade route.

This is exactly what Qin Sang hoped to see; only when both parties are willing can the alliance be successfully reached.

After exchanging pleasantries, Qin Sang revealed the tacit understanding he had reached with the Yunbo Society and stated frankly that he did not want to be bound by the Yunbo Society and wanted to seek allies outside.

The prospects are very bright.

In the future, the Linfeng Clan will represent the Dao Court and stir up trouble in Xunzhou. The Burning Crystal Sect and Yu Chang'en will use his name to contact the Linfeng Clan again. Even if they only take a portion of the benefits, it will be enough to make them rich.

Of course, that's a story for later. The profits offered by that trade route were enough to tempt the Burning Crystal Sect.

Over the years, the Qingyang Alliance must have established a firm foothold in Kanzhou, allowing them to focus their efforts on expanding into Xunzhou. Back then, Qingyang Zhi lacked the strength to operate on a small scale, but things changed drastically after his return; he could now expand his business significantly.

With Ziyun Mountain providing support in Kanzhou, Qin Sang chose the Burning Crystal Sect in Xunzhou.

The visit went exceptionally smoothly. Qin Sang and Sect Master Li finalized the business alliance agreement in just a few words, naming it the Qingfen Alliance, taking one character each from the Qingyang Alliance and the Fenjing Sect. Furthermore, Sect Master Li would also travel out to persuade other forces to join the alliance.

Since Tian Shi Xu did not accept the Burning Crystal Sect, Sect Master Li decided to start his own sect. Perhaps he had this idea for a long time, but there was never a suitable opportunity.

The Qingfen Alliance's current existence is based on that trade route. Sect Master Li assigned Young Sect Master Yan and his wife to accompany him to the Misty Sea. Qin Sang also planned to take them to Qingyang to show some secrets to their allies.

The two sides hit it off immediately, and being both easygoing people, the process was extremely smooth. What others considered major issues were often settled in a few words, leaving Yu Chang'en and the others dazzled.

Qin Sang and Sect Leader Li only grasped the general outline, leaving the specific tasks to Young Sect Leader Yan and his wife, and Yu Chang'en. The affairs of the Merchant Alliance were numerous and complex, keeping them extremely busy.

Therefore, Qin Sang stayed in Xunzhou for several more months, often drinking and chatting with Sect Master Li, and in a short time, they accumulated a deep friendship. Through the sect master's introduction, he also got to know some famous cultivators and sects in Xunzhou.

Sect Master Li only thought Qin Sang was a sword cultivator or insect cultivator, but he didn't expect him to be interested in the Great Dao of Fire and to have such profound insights. He became very interested.

Listening to his discourse deeply inspired Qin Sang.

So much so that when it was time to part, Qin Sang was still reluctant to leave.

Fairyland Lakeside.

The lake connects to the East China Sea and is separated by a chain of islands. Outside the islands, thousands of sails are like a forest, and countless merchant ships are moored. Because the north is sparsely populated, most cultivators from Xunzhou choose to set sail from here, so Xianlin Lake is always bustling with activity.

A treasure ship floated quietly on the sea, only slightly undulating when large waves surged.

Suddenly, a streak of light flew from the horizon and landed on the treasure ship. This was a very common sight in the vicinity and did not attract much attention.

As Qin Sang boarded the treasure ship, gazing at the East China Sea, all her emotions transformed into anticipation for her return journey.

Accompanying him were Yu Chang'en, the young master Yan and his wife, as well as some key members of the Yu family and the Burning Crystal Sect. There were quite a few people, and they all entered the cabin and performed their duties.

The treasure ship shuddered and broke through the waves to the east!

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There's another chapter coming up, probably quite late, so don't wait, read it tomorrow morning.