Inside the bronze hall... The Vajra Bangle restrained Qin Sang and flew back into the hall, hovering silently beside the two. As if still uneasy, Dongyang Bo pulled out a strange spirit talisman and struck it into Qin Sang’s body. In that instant, Qin Sang not only had his body locked down, but even his primordial spirit, meridians, and Qihai were sealed by the talisman. He could no longer summon a trace of strength. He finally saw the full picture: the two standing opposed within the great hall. A treasure-hunting alliance turned into betrayal. Such things were far from rare in the world of immortal cultivation. But why did it involve me? Why would Dongyang Bo, of all people, lay hands on me? Qin Sang was both shocked and furious. He then heard Dongyang Bo sigh and say, "Lady Chenyan, I’ve planned this for many years. To be able to bring this boy here without arousing suspicion... It’s finally paid off. Do you know how much effort this cost me?" It was a thunderbolt out of the blue. Qin Sang’s heart quaked violently at those words. He stared at Dongyang Bo in disbelief. Dongyang Bo, seeming quite pleased with this crowning move, actually elaborated further. "This boy’s aptitude was downright unbearable. It’s a miracle he survived this long!" "At the time, I couldn’t approach him directly for fear you’d notice something, nor could I let Che Yutao and the others break protocol and take him in as a disciple." "I hadn’t expected he’d leave such a strong impression on you. Back then, it was just a casual maneuver—leave it to fate, do what I could." "So I arranged for a disciple to treat him as a peer, form some friendship, and offer minimal support, just enough to keep him alive longer and prevent him from dying too early." "Unexpectedly, the boy actually had decent luck. He managed to make a bit of a name for himself." "Later, once I discovered the secret hidden on you, I realized that idle move of mine might actually come in handy. With just a little more arrangement and guidance..." Zhuang Yan? Senior Uncle Wen? Mu Yifeng? A string of familiar names flashed through Qin Sang’s mind. In that instant, he felt as if he had plunged into an icy abyss. If someone had been acting on Dongyang Bo’s orders all this time, it could only be Qi Yuanshou! Thinking back, it had been Qi Yuanshou who first contacted him at the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. Qi Yuanshou hadn’t treated him with any special favor at first, but after a couple of meetings, his attitude warmed significantly. Over the years, Qi Yuanshou remained stationed at Xuanlu Stronghold. The tasks he assigned Qin Sang had always been simple, with little danger. Later, Qi Yuanshou was recalled to the sect... Qin Sang suddenly remembered that Qi Yuanshou’s auxiliary spiritual item for Core Formation had been gifted by none other than Dongyang Bo! Was that a reward for services rendered? After forming his core, when Qin Sang decided to head to Endless Valley for training, Qi Yuanshou, seeing his resolve, revealed to him all the hidden contacts the sect had placed within devilish sect territory, instructing him to call on them in times of need. How many Foundation Building cultivators were ever granted such privilege? Qin Sang had assumed it was simply because Qi Yuanshou held more power after reaching Core Formation and was genuinely looking out for him. At the time, he had doubted whether he was worth all that effort, but never once had he imagined this. Who could have guessed there had been a Spiritual Infant expert giving orders from the shadows? Along the way, all those Golden Core cultivators had ignored him. Even after he completed the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment and gained the Sword Qi Thunderclap ability, no one ever questioned how he’d managed such a feat. Only the Snow Spirit Lotus and the Iris Flower, due to their immense value, had stirred up some waves. But after it was confirmed he had already consumed them, no one troubled him further. Now that he thought about it, aside from the few times he ventured out on his own and slipped past Qi Yuanshou’s oversight, his entire cultivation journey had unfolded under that man’s watchful eye, remarkably stable all the way. Except for the battle at the Chaotic Island Waters. But even then, Che Yutao had been stationed at Stargazing Island! Though there had been mortal danger during that battle, with Che Yutao overseeing things, it was entirely possible that the most perilous engagements had been steered away from him. Even if something unexpected had happened, he still had the Sword Qi Thunderclap ability to escape. Great rewards came with great risks. That period of time had indeed been the most fruitful of his entire path. His rapid advancement to the Fake Core Realm was inseparable from that battle. Qin Sang gave a bitter smile. He had finally figured it out. He had never done anything earth-shattering, so how had his name grown so widespread? It wasn’t because true warriors made their mark without glory, but because someone had been pushing from behind the scenes, fanning the flames. Their goal had been to cooperate with Dongyang Bo to ensure he obtained a five-elemental beast seal and entered Ziwei Palace without raising Chenyan’s suspicion. Qi Yuanshou had used the excuse of giving Qin Sang early access to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield to gift him the Xuanlu Guards’ command token, urging him to arrive early at Xuanlu Stronghold. Back then, Qi Yuanshou had encouraged him not to overexert himself in cultivation, and to spend more time experiencing the mortal world. Didn’t that sound suspiciously like telling someone, "Go enjoy a good meal"? Toward the end, Qi Yuanshou had even refused to meet with him. Was it because Qi Yuanshou couldn’t face him? At Xuanlu Stronghold, Dongyang Bo had suddenly gathered personnel to oversee the beast seals. For original chapters go to novel⸺fire.net Because of Qin Sang’s fame from the recent battle, Che Yutao had been able to appoint him to bear a beast seal without requiring him to undergo any test. The reasoning had seemed legitimate, and Chenyan hadn’t suspected a thing. Scene after scene flashed through Qin Sang’s mind. Taken alone, each incident seemed inconsequential. But once everything was strung together, he was jolted to realization. It was as if an invisible hand had been guiding him all along. Especially in that final stretch, leading him step by step into a carefully laid trap. He hadn’t noticed a thing, so how could Chenyan have? Besides Qi Yuanshou... who else? Qin Sang shuddered. Could Wandering Man be one of Dongyang Bo’s people too? He could accept betrayal from anyone except Wandering Man. Their bond ran too deep. To Qin Sang, Wandering Man was both a teacher and a friend. There had always been a certain distance between him and Qi Yuanshou. But not with Wandering Man. He was the one Qin Sang respected and admired the most. If he too was involved, Qin Sang truly couldn’t bear it. Not to mention, Wandering Man knew so many of his secrets. After reviewing everything in his mind, Qin Sang finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was impossible for Wandering Man to be one of Dongyang Bo’s pawns. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have needed to risk his life again and again, always teetering on the edge of death to seize every opportunity for breakthrough. Wandering Man’s existence brought a faint hint of warmth to Qin Sang’s chilled heart. At the same time, Qin Sang was filled with questions. What exactly has Dongyang Bo discovered about Chenyan? Aside from that single instance of energy extraction, Chenyan and I have never had any further connection, and she certainly doesn't treat me any differently. So why is Dongyang Bo capturing me to threaten her? Chenyan cast Qin Sang a cold glance, unsurprisingly unmoved. "You’re threatening me with your own disciple? Isn’t that a bit of a joke?" Dongyang Bo gave Chenyan a knowing, almost playful smile, then turned to glance at Qin Sang. "Lady Chenyan, are you aware that the Sutra of the Profound Jade Cauldron is considered a forbidden art even within the Hehuan Sect? Even the lunatics of the devilish sect dare not casually resort to such a method to seek breakthroughs. Those who obtain it often seal it away and never touch it again." "Though your talent is extraordinary, and you succeeded in forming a Spiritual Infant by using that secret art only once to grasp a sliver of opportunity, you’ve already stepped onto a path of no return." "Do you truly believe that from now on, you can rest easy?"