Chapter 1132: Peak of the Core Formation Realm
"The mysterious stone tablet was discovered in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. Looking back now, that place was likely a hidden realm of the demon race. In my view, the only truly valuable item inside was that stone tablet. Although I was the first to discover it, Demon King Qianji and a devilish path Spiritual Infant cultivator also entered the hidden realm at the same time. Seeing that it was an ancient treasure of the demon race, I was unwilling to take the risk. I did not reveal myself and quietly withdrew in the end..." As Qingjun recalled the scene from that year, her expression shifted slightly, as if she had just remembered something.
She continued, "When they fought over the stone tablet, the battle was extremely fierce and dragged on for a long time without a clear winner. By then, the ancient array sealing the tablet had already been broken. In the end, Demon King Qianji gained a slight advantage and seized the tablet first before flying away. That stone tablet likely could not be stored inside a Mustard Seed Pouch or similar astra because of the Azure Luan phantom..."
"It cannot be stored in a Mustard Seed Pouch?" Qin Sang revealed a look of surprise.
Treasures like that were indeed rare. Each had a special reason. Either its origin was extraordinary, or its power was astonishing. However, to Qin Sang, this was good news.
Demon King Qianji could not possibly carry the stone tablet on its person at all times. If it was stored inside a cave dwelling, Qin Sang might not be without hope.
"According to intelligence sent by the Two-Domain Alliance spies, Sin Abyss was previously held back by another matter. That was not their true strength, and we only took advantage of the opportunity to gain a little ground. It is almost certain that once Sin Abyss finishes handling its affairs, it will act again. This time, their momentum is different from before. It may become a brutal war. To avoid being caught unprepared, I must depart immediately for the front lines..." As Qingjun spoke of the outcome of the alliance meeting, she revealed that she would be leaving the Small Cold Domain.
She glanced at Qin Sang. "You do not need to worry for the time being. Dongyang Bo will also be going. In confronting Sin Abyss, there is no room for error. He will find it difficult to divert his attention to trouble you. For the next few years, remain in Yuanshen Sect and cultivate. With the sect’s array protecting you, you will be safe. However..."
Her tone shifted abruptly. "For now, we have only detected signs. Before the war begins, I can help delay matters for you. But once the survival of the immortal cultivation world is at stake, I cannot let you hide in the sect and cultivate indefinitely... unless you leave Small Cold Domain."
Qin Sang’s expression darkened. He understood what Senior Sister Qingjun meant. The time left for him to break through was running short.
If he failed, no matter how strong he was, he could not compare to the value of a Spiritual Infant cultivator. He would be shameless to ask Qingjun to protect him forever.
Once he entered the battlefield, even with his many life-preserving methods, he would have to guard against Dongyang Bo’s open attacks and hidden schemes at every moment.
Ziwei Palace had not opened. He could not return to Canglang Sea. To head south across Tianxing Alliance would lead directly into territory controlled by Sin Abyss. In this situation, that would be no different from walking into a trap.
***
The gate of Shaohua Mountain lay within the marshlands. Yuanshen Sect, however, stood within the coastal mountain range.
Within Small Cold Domain, this mountain range was second only to Tianduan Mountains in scale. It stretched westward from the northern shore of Yuncang Marshlands, then shifted its direction and extended all the way to the far north. It formed a natural barrier separating the human race from the demonic domain.
The gate of Yuling Sect was also located within this range, though further north. From Yuanshen Sect, traveling straight west would lead directly into the demonic domain.
Deep within the ancient forest, two figures descended.
Two towering peaks rose here, the terrain steep and perilous. Between them lay a passage only a hundred zhang wide, like a gate. This was the entrance to Yuanshen Sect.
Qingjun led Qin Sang through the gate and into the sect.
Qin Sang discovered that everything inside Yuanshen Sect appeared normal. Low-level immortal cultivators moved back and forth, busy with various tasks. The entire sect operated as usual.
After Qingjun seized control of Yuanshen Sect, she had been warned by the red-haired grandmaster and others not to act recklessly. She disguised herself as Leng Yuntian and secretly eliminated a few individuals involved in the murder. Then she stopped and did not implicate others.
As a result, the rest of Yuanshen Sect disciples remained completely unaware of any change in leadership. Qin Sang admired Qingjun’s almost miraculous disguise technique and wondered whether it was related to her proficiency in the art of puppetry.
"This was originally the cave dwelling of Leng Yuntian and his father. You may cultivate here." Qingjun brought Qin Sang to the sect’s forbidden grounds.
As she spoke, a Yuanshen Sect elder arrived. She then ordered, "Elder Xun, summon the disciples. All those at the middle stage of the Foundation Building Realm and above, including the elders, are to gather at the main hall. I will arrive shortly."
"As you command!" Elder Xun accepted the order and departed.
Seeing Qingjun immediately mobilize the sect’s disciples, Qin Sang truly felt the urgency of the situation.
"Senior Sister," Qin Sang said suddenly, "I have reconsidered. I will not cultivate within Yuanshen Sect. If Dongyang Bo truly intends to kill me, and I am forced to leave the sect for any reason, I may fall into a trap."
Qingjun had no objection. "Very well."
Qin Sang was secretly sent away by Qingjun. He returned to the cave dwelling of Wandering Man and brought Bai with him. This was the advantage of having multiple refuges.
Bai had been fully focused on comprehending the Corpse Soul Orb and did not care where it cultivated.
"Star Essence Infusion was effective. My physical body truly became stronger, but it cannot be considered a true breakthrough. It fell far short of the genuine fourth stage. Being stuck in this in-between state, I wonder how much it will help..." Qin Sang entered seclusion. He examined himself with inner vision, pondered for a long time, and then produced a jade slip.
Before leaving, Qingjun had given him the ancestral insights of Yuanshen Sect regarding formation of the Spiritual Infant.
Qin Sang felt deeply grateful. At the same time, he understood that this might have been the last time Qingjun could help him.
He skimmed through the jade slip, then circulated his cultivation art and entered meditation.
***
The clouds of war once again gathered over Small Cold Domain. For now, both sides remained in a phase of standoff, probing each other’s strength. Yet the once-relaxed atmosphere had vanished.
As reports returned one after another, even though Sin Abyss was not advancing as fiercely as imagined, a shadow still fell over the faces of the immortal cultivators. For low-level cultivators, they could only leave matters to fate.
Four years passed.
Qin Sang devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation. At last, he completed the engraving of the seventh killing symbol, and his cultivation advanced to the peak of the Core Formation Realm!
Both his realm and cultivation reached the peak.
However, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly had broken through to late stage of its third metamorphosis much later than Qin Sang. It was impossible for it to break through so quickly. Qin Sang knew he could not rush it. He had prepared ample spiritual herbs. It would only take a few more years for the Sky-Eyed Butterfly to reach the peak of its third metamorphosis.
After his realm reached perfection, Qin Sang did not emerge from seclusion. He continued refining his cultivation, reviewing his past progress, and correcting flaws.
At the same time, he studied the insights on forming the Spiritual Infant left by Qingjun. At this stage, it was impossible to consume the Du’e Pill.
Even so, Qin Sang attempted to break through the bottleneck several times on his own. The results were as expected.
When he thought of how Dongyang Bo had painstakingly nurtured so many disciples, each more talented than himself, yet not a single one had successfully formed a Spiritual Infant, Qin Sang felt somewhat relieved.
"There is no need to remain in seclusion here to comprehend these insights. Before the Sky-Eyed Butterfly reaches perfection, I might as well make a trip to the demonic domain. In this situation, the demonic domain will inevitably be affected. Perhaps I will discover something..." Qin Sang fell into deep thought.
This was also the reason he did not wish to remain trapped within Yuanshen Sect. He was still unwilling to give up.
