Chapter 635: Chapter 635

The cave dwelling in Winged Serpent Village was excellent, and the cultivation resources left behind by the priests were abundant. Although they held little value in Qin Sang’s eyes, they would be a great boon to Mute Girl.

However, staying in Winged Serpent Village meant a lack of peers to learn with and teachers to guide her. Her prospects would be limited. It would also be easy for worldly distractions to creep in. Without strong cultivation or firm resolve, one could easily lose their way.

What Qin Sang had not expected was that Mute Girl would so decisively abandon power that lay within reach, cutting ties without hesitation.

He was not slow-witted. He could guess what Mute Girl was thinking.

But the two of them were destined to be fated without a future together.

In the world of cultivation, Mute Girl’s talent placed her at the very bottom. Even in Nanjiang, where the life-bound insect gu could aid in breakthroughs, her chances of reaching the Foundation Building Realm or Core Formation Realm remained slim.

As for Qin Sang, he would never give up his pursuit of immortality to indulge in romantic entanglements.

He had far too much to accomplish. He would certainly leave Xijiang, and he would not stay in any place for long. Wandering across the ends of the earth, it was not realistic to bring Mute Girl with him.

To help her grow, he had seized the moment and used heavy-handed methods. It was, in truth, due to time constraints.

His purpose on this trip was solely to repay a debt of gratitude. He would not respond to anything beyond that.

Still, when he heard Mute Girl’s decision, a trace of comfort rose in Qin Sang’s heart.

He recalled his own journey of seeking the Dao. Like Mute Girl, he had once resolutely given up easy wealth and power. Though their obsessions differed, they were walking paths that led to the same end.

Qin Sang’s tone became solemn. "Are you certain? I can arrange for Five-Insect Sect to accept you, but cultivation is no carefree life. It is filled with solitude and hardship. You may regret it in your old age. A life of comfort and honor might be the better path."

Mute Girl shook her head. "I’ll go to Five-Insect Sect. I won’t regret it."

Since she had made her decision, Qin Sang said no more. He handed over the belongings of the Winged Serpent Village priests. "Before we leave, would you like to return to Thousand-Household Village?"

Qin Sang had never asked what happened to her in Thousand-Household Village on the day the saintess was chosen.

She now had power. If there was any lingering grievance, she could deal with it herself.

Mute Girl hesitated. "May I go see Grandpa Witch Doctor?"

Qin Sang nodded, summoned the Nether Cloud, and brought Mute Girl away from Winged Serpent Village.

Thousand-Household Village.

The moonlight was faint and the stars sparse.

It was the eve of the Witch God Festival. Some villagers had gone to Winged Serpent Village to attend the sacrificial rite, while others had headed to nearby large villages to join in songs. Only a few remained behind, most of them elderly.

News of the incident at the sacrificial ritual had yet to spread. Thousand-Household Village remained peaceful.

The old witch doctor had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Two figures stood quietly by the window. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI-Fire.ɴet

Bathed in moonlight, Mute Girl stared at the sleeping witch doctor. Her lips pressed tightly together, eyes rimmed with red. She was filled with reluctance to part.

In the end, she took out a bottle of pills that could strengthen one’s qi and blood, prolong life and vitality, and placed it on the witch doctor’s bedside table. Then she knelt outside the window and bowed to him several times.

When she rose, she wiped her eyes and said softly, "Big Brother, let’s go."

She had only come to see the witch doctor one last time.

Five-Insect Sect was the dominant power of the Bear Mountain region.

In the past, the sect had not only held absolute authority over Bear Mountain but had even compelled the surrounding territories to bow to its might. This was all thanks to the emergence of a Core Formation Realm cultivator from within their ranks.

Such an achievement was incredibly rare in the barren lands of Xijiang.

Unfortunately, that cultivator had no interest in ruling Xijiang or expanding the sect’s influence. Not long after reaching the Core Formation Realm, he departed on a journey and never returned.

Even so, the prestige he left behind brought Five-Insect Sect considerable benefits.

But with the passage of time—nearly a hundred years now—no word had ever come back. Many suspected he had long since perished in the outside world.

Compounding the problem, the sect lacked worthy successors and had steadily declined.

Now, not only were outside forces watching eagerly for weakness, even the priests of the larger villages within Bear Mountain had begun to harbor ambitions of their own. Internal and external pressures mounted on all sides.

The sect’s location was remarkably unique. From above, the mountain peaks formed the shape of a blooming lotus.

Such a spiritually rich and beautiful site was rare even across Xijiang.

Qin Sang traveled swiftly by sword light, arriving at Five-Insect Sect just as dawn was breaking, intending to retrieve some items as previously arranged.

"Once you’re part of the sect, remember to never let anyone know that you possess the Cold Gold Sword or the Essence-Devouring Spikes..."

He had not concealed his presence. Arriving with Mute Girl at the foot of the Five-Insect Sect’s mountain, Qin Sang was giving her final instructions when a streak of azure light emerged from within the mountain. It was Cui Xuanzi, sect leader of Five-Insect Sect.

"Greetings, Senior Qin!"

The voice reached them before the man did.

Cui Xuanzi withdrew his evasion light and landed before Qin Sang, behaving with utmost respect. "Please, Senior, allow me to guide you into the mountain. I’ve already prepared spiritual tea."

"Aren’t you afraid I might cause chaos within Five-Insect Sect the moment I step in?" Qin Sang asked with a playful smile.

Cui Xuanzi froze, his expression twitching slightly with unease.

Qin Sang glanced at him, then swept forward with Mute Girl and said coolly, "I have no interest in your Five-Insect Sect. I’m here for the matter we agreed upon. Are the information I asked you to gather and the items I requested ready?"

Cui Xuanzi forced a smile. "Senior’s instructions were carried out with full effort. During these past days, I’ve indeed made some progress..."

The two spoke as they walked, soon entering the sect and arriving at the sect leader’s main hall.

"This place isn’t bad," Qin Sang said with a nod. Though only "not bad."

Five-Insect Sect was rich in spiritual qi and possessed picturesque scenery. It was a rare treasure land in Xijiang, but still fell short for someone at the Core Formation Realm.

"Please, Senior, have some tea."

The three sat facing each other. Cui Xuanzi poured tea himself and offered a cup to Mute Girl as well. He asked curiously, "May I ask, who is this young lady?"

Qin Sang replied blandly, "I didn’t like what I saw at Winged Serpent Village’s ritual, so I casually slaughtered all their priests. She was one of the saintesses. For now, let her stay at Five-Insect Sect and cultivate."

"Winged Serpent Village?"

Cui Xuanzi blinked in confusion.

He didn’t like what he saw and casually slaughtered them?

Cold sweat broke out across Cui Xuanzi’s back. He was inwardly shaken.

When he heard the latter part of Qin Sang’s statement, a thought stirred in Cui Xuanzi’s mind. He immediately agreed without hesitation, raising his voice in praise. "I’ve heard rumors too. Winged Serpent Village raised gu insects using human lives; it was truly vile. Senior acted as a force of justice. You were right to kill them. If this young lady is willing to cultivate at Five-Insect Sect, I would welcome it wholeheartedly. She may choose any cave dwelling she likes."

Qin Sang turned to Mute Girl. "You’ll stay here and cultivate for a while. If you feel it suits you, becoming a disciple under Sect Leader Cui isn’t a bad choice. I trust he won’t refuse."

During the past month at Winged Serpent Village, Qin Sang had guided Mute Girl while also traveling the Bear Mountain region, searching for ancient teleportation arrays. Along the way, he made contact with several major village priests and learned that Five-Insect Sect still had a decent reputation.

He deliberately avoided clarifying his relationship with Mute Girl.

Once he left, the sect would not dare to mistreat her for some time.

By the time they realized what had happened, Mute Girl’s cultivation would have progressed. With the Cold Gold Sword and Essence-Devouring Spikes in her possession, she would be free to choose whether to stay or leave.