Watching Yan Changqing’s remnant soul, which was filled with confusion and agony, Ding Songyan shifted the Clear Mist "seed" to his throat.
He spoke in a chilling, eerie voice:
"Yan Changqing, where is the missing Kunlun?"
Having already confirmed through details like the Remains of Chaos that Yan Changqing had entered the Heavenly Emperor’s palace, he skipped the redundant questions of "did you" or "is it."
The wandering ghost of Yan Changqing turned its body, gazing at him blankly, and replied in a hollow voice:
"Kunlun has always been in its original location, between the Red Water and the Black Water; it was merely hidden."
At this moment, Su Qingli let out a soft gasp:
"I can hear it! I can hear it!"
Her excitement was plain to see.
Tao Wenshu, who was carrying her sword and scabbard, also nodded.
You can hear it? That makes sense. I didn't even move the Clear Mist "seed" to my ears, yet I can still hear it... This is for the best. It saves me the trouble of relaying the information, which might have led to suspicions that I was a middleman skimming off the top or hiding key details... Ding Songyan felt relieved and gathered his thoughts:
"Then how does one enter Kunlun?"
Yan Changqing’s ghostly figure, translucent and tinged with a ghostly green, replied:
"First, one must be able to sense the heavens and respond to the earth. Second, one must possess one of the items that flowed out of Kunlun in the past or a relic of the Heavenly Emperor. Third, one must find the specific location according to the *Kunlun Secret Treasury*."
"*Kunlun Secret Treasury*?" Tao Wenshu and Su Qingli asked in unison.
Ding Songyan didn't need to think twice to know what to ask:
"What is the *Kunlun Secret Treasury*?"
The expression on Yan Changqing’s ghostly face flickered:
"Ever since Xia Houqi failed to succeed to the Imperial Throne, there have been seekers of Kunlun in every generation. The *Kunlun Secret Treasury* is a collection of the findings and gains of those who came after."
Ding Songyan didn't dwell on this, cutting straight to the point:
"Where is the *Kunlun Secret Treasury*? And where is the specific location it records?"
"After I was severely wounded by the Remains of Chaos, I was forced to leave Kunlun prematurely and lost the book in the most perilous outer reaches." Yan Changqing’s ghostly face twisted slightly.
"Remains of Chaos..." Su Qingli whispered to herself.
Yan Changqing continued:
"The specific location is not directly recorded in the *Kunlun Secret Treasury*. It was something I deduced myself after reviewing the words of my predecessors, discarding the dross and keeping the essence, distinguishing the false from the true, calculating with arithmetic arts, and conducting on-site surveys.
"I did not record this in the *Kunlun Secret Treasury*, but kept it hidden in my heart, so that if I were ever imprisoned, I could use it to save my life."
As he spoke, a hint of a smile appeared on the ghost’s face, as if to say, "If you want to find the missing Kunlun, you cannot kill me!"
Unfortunately, you’ve run into a filial disciple like Ji Hanyi and a commoner like me who has no martial arts. If you don't die, I will almost certainly die. Compared to the secret of Kunlun, my survival is far more important... Ding Songyan found this both amusing and poignant.
Through this, he also fully understood one thing:
No wonder Yan Changqing looked so terrified when he saw that the person from the Absolute Saint Path was Ji Hanyi—others might have been concerned about the secret of Kunlun and left him a chance to maneuver, but for Ji Hanyi, killing him was a higher priority than obtaining the Heavenly Emperor’s treasure or solving the mystery of Kunlun. In the end, the demoness hadn't even asked where the missing Kunlun was.
Ding Songyan was unsure if Yan Changqing’s remnant soul had an obsession with keeping the secret of Kunlun, so he could only try to change the question:
"Then where is that specific location?"
Yan Changqing’s face, a mix of pale and ghostly green, suddenly twisted:
"Yes, it was that person who guided me to the deduction. Judging by the records he left in the *Kunlun Secret Treasury*, he was not far from the correct answer. It makes no sense that there were no further records, unless he died shortly thereafter..."
Stop rambling about irrelevant things and just answer where the specific location is... Ding Songyan realized that "Soul-Walking" wasn't a simple matter of the ghost answering whatever he asked, especially when the soul had just died and its thoughts and obsessions were still so vivid.
He had no choice but to repeat the question:
"Where is that specific location?"
Yan Changqing’s twisted face suddenly revealed a hint of fear, as if he had recalled some realization from before his death:
"According to Jiang..."
Before the ghost could finish, a bolt of ghostly green lightning fell silently from the sky above the dark, smoke-filled Netherworld, instantly striking Yan Changqing’s remnant soul, which had not yet fully entered the Netherworld.
Yan Changqing let out a sharp, piercing scream that made Ding Songyan’s eardrums ache.
The ghostly green lightning flickered rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, Yan Changqing’s remnant soul became thin and dissipated, leaving no trace behind.
"What happened?" Su Qingli covered her ears and asked urgently, while Tao Wenshu also looked on with confusion.
Once Xiaoqing lowered her hands, Ding Songyan described exactly what he had seen and what Yan Changqing had encountered.
He was just as bewildered:
Was it because Master Yan had committed such grave sins that he deserved this fate, or was their luck simply poor? In the midst of a Soul-Walking session, the target had been struck by ghostly lightning and had his soul scattered!
Su Qingli blinked:
"Did he violate a heavenly law, break a nether rule, or did someone use this to silence him?"
"Could... could someone have used this to silence him?" Ding Songyan was so shocked that his speech became stuttered.
Su Qingli’s eyes darted around, a look of recollection on her face:
"Sects capable of communicating with the Netherworld or borrowing its power could potentially pull off something like this, but I have no idea who could manifest a scene so close to a divine miracle."
"The True Spirit Sect’s 'Useless Divine Skill' that turns one into a ghost-god after death, those in the Sanwei Sect who practice the *Nether Laws*, the Mangshan Sect with their strange burial arts, the high-level experts of the Earth Mother Sect who can ferry souls, every branch of the Wuchang Sect, the high monks of the Ksitigarbha Sect who hold the *Ksitigarbha Scripture of Descending into the Netherworld*, those in the Youdu Gate who perform the 'Nine Methods of Youdu,' as well as the Emperor’s Ruins who hold the *Heavenly Laws*, and the Shamanic Sect proficient in witchcraft—all of these could do it. Hmm, there are quite a few who could have such specific abilities. Even the ones I listed aren't exhaustive. To do what just happened, it would have to be at least a Grandmaster of the Heavenly Human Realm," Tao Wenshu pondered aloud.
Among the sects her master mentioned, Ding Songyan had only heard of the True Spirit Sect, the Earth Mother Sect, and the Emperor’s Ruins.
The True Spirit Sect was one of the "Six Sects and Four Schools" of Great Zhao; the Earth Mother Sect was one of the nine great sects of the world, with its headquarters in the State of Gan, preaching the salvation of the world, and it had followers within Great Zhao as well—the two sects among the "Two Sects and Three Clans" of Great Zhao were also among the nine great sects of the world, namely the Kitchen God Sect and the Yin-Yang Sect.
The Emperor’s Ruins were one of the five great sects of the world and one of the two holy lands of Zhao, claiming to be the tomb keepers of Emperor Zhuanxu.
"I can't imagine who it could be..." Su Qingli shook her head slowly, her black-and-white eyes looking at Tao Wenshu with a thirst for knowledge. "Sect Master Tao, who could the one surnamed Jiang be? It must be Jiang, right? Why would mentioning him cause a strike of ghostly lightning?"
Before Tao Wenshu could answer, the young girl continued to herself:
"The only famous person I know with the surname Jiang is Jiang Lanting of the Yin-Yang Sect. He is in the top ten of the 'Martial Arts Jade Tree Ranking,' but Yan Yong has been missing for at least thirteen years, and Jiang Lanting was only ten years old at the time, so it couldn't possibly be him... His parents' generation? His grandparents' generation?"
Tao Wenshu thought for a moment and said:
"Neither Jiang Lanting’s parents nor his grandparents were famous figures in the martial arts world."
"Ugh... I'll ask my second uncle later, and my father, and my aunt." Su Qingli stopped thinking about it since she couldn't figure it out; she would leave it to the elders to worry about.
Tao Wenshu turned her gaze to Ding Songyan:
"Although we didn't learn the method to enter Kunlun, obtaining these clues is quite good. You should be credited with the primary contribution.
"In a while, the head of the Yi clan and the Gold and Silver Twin Swords of the Chongwu Sect will arrive. By this evening, Senior Tian of the Divine Firmament Sect should also be able to reach us. Although I personally witnessed your exchange with Yan Changqing’s remnant soul and have some credibility to answer on your behalf, so they shouldn't come looking for you again, you must still be prepared to be questioned.
"Miss Su, please take my disciple home to ensure he isn't caught in the remaining chaos. I must go to the Listening-to-Water Pavilion to assist our fellow practitioners."
As she spoke, Tao Wenshu took out a gilded token and gave it to Su Qingli, telling her that North Water Street had been cordoned off and that she could use this token to pass through.
Ding Songyan was stunned:
My master is letting me go home without even checking what I have on me?
And she’s going to answer questions from Grandmasters and even Transcendental beings on my behalf?
Isn't this implying: whatever you might have gained, use it if you need to, hide it if you should, and don't let the secret slip. Although the Transcendental beings and Grandmasters might not see you personally, you must be prepared just in case.
Having grasped the hidden meaning in Tao Wenshu’s words, Ding Songyan felt a surge of warmth:
She already treats me like her own disciple!
Moreover, he roughly understood why his master didn't ask what he had gained: his master was known for being upright and honorable in both character and the arts she practiced. If she had asked and learned something, it would be difficult for her to lie or hide it in front of Transcendental beings and Grandmasters, so it was better not to ask.
This also showed that his master was someone who knew how to be flexible, had a way of doing things, and was not blindly rigid or pedantic... This is good, this is good... Ding Songyan thanked his master solemnly and watched her leave the courtyard with her sword, leaving only the gently swaying scene behind.
Su Qingli turned back, looking at Ding Songyan with excitement:
"Let's go find Yuyao first; she's nearby. Then I'll take you home. On the way, you have to tell me what happened earlier!"
Only then did Ding Songyan learn that the little maid’s name was Yuyao.
He thought for a moment and said:
"Miss Xiaoqing, I’m afraid there might be chaos on the road. Why don't you go find Miss Yuyao first, and I’ll wait for you here? That way, there will be two of you, and you won't have to fear any chaos."
He was trying to send Miss Xiaoqing away so he could quickly consume the Remains of Chaos.
Su Qingli’s eyes darted, and she thought for a moment:
"That makes sense."
She hurried toward the gate and entered the courtyard.
Taking advantage of the fact that the Yin Eye’s effect had not yet worn off, Ding Songyan quickly moved the Clear Mist "seed" to his wrist, then reached behind him to the black stone pillar and took out the small, rough yet greasy lump of the Remains of Chaos.
Before he could even raise his hand, Yuyao’s voice rang out from outside the courtyard:
"Miss, Miss, did you find it?"
"Here, here!" Su Qingli shouted while turning back to look at Ding Songyan.
Ding Songyan was startled, gripped the lump of the Remains of Chaos tightly, and hid his hand behind his back.
"Let’s go." Su Qingli beckoned to Ding Songyan with a beaming smile.
Ding Songyan tried to walk over. He wasn't too nervous; after all, this was his drinking buddy, and he knew her character well. In fact, even if he ate the Remains of Chaos in front of her, there probably wouldn't be any major issues.
Ding Songyan’s only worry was that Miss Xiaoqing often leaked secrets due to her careless words, and his small lump of the Remains of Chaos might not be enough. By the time the "Grandmaster Experience Card" ran out, he hoped he would have truly reached the corresponding realm. Until then, it was best to develop quietly, with as few people knowing about this as possible.
Su Qingli didn't notice anything. She grabbed Ding Songyan’s shoulder and carried him lightly over the walls and courtyards, feeling almost as if they were riding the clouds, with the maid Yuyao following alongside, guarding against chaos and accidents.
Seeing that Miss Xiaoqing couldn't sense the Remains of Chaos gripped tightly in his palm, Ding Songyan breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
After leaving the Zhen Mansion and relying on the token to exit North Water Street, Su Qingli set Ding Songyan down and said with a smile:
"Let’s walk to your house, and you can tell me about what happened earlier.
"Don't worry, the people around us, including Yuyao, won't be able to hear us, nor will they touch you. I’m using the Great Void Illusion!"
Ding Songyan, who had made up his mind to swallow the Remains of Chaos at the first sign of trouble, steadied himself and nodded gently:
"Alright."
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