Chapter 1133: Seven-Kill Sword Array
The Heavenly Demon Body Refinement had broken through to the fourth stage. The Sky-Eyed Butterfly had advanced to its fourth metamorphosis. Both developments greatly aided his attempt to form his Spiritual Infant.
With no clear path to help his spiritual insects advance, Qin Sang could only seek solutions within himself. Now that he had uncovered clues linking the stone tablet to the Azure Luan’s phantom, how could he not seize the opportunity? If he did not try, how would he know whether it would succeed?
Moreover, what interested Qin Sang was not only the Azure Luan’s phantom, but the stone tablet itself!
If it truly was a relic left behind by the Azure Luan and he could obtain it and study it carefully, it would undoubtedly benefit his future cultivation of demon race arts.
After making his decision, Qin Sang did not depart immediately.
Using the sword wheel as a foundation, he integrated the puppet sword array, the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment, and the Qingzhu Sword Scripture, gradually fusing their principles together until he finally created a sword array of his own.
Calling it self-created made him feel somewhat embarrassed.
The foundation of the array originated from the Seven-Yin-Soul Killing Array within the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment. However, his cultivation had not yet reached the level required to grasp its true essence. He could only incorporate the transformations of the puppet sword array to compensate.
More importantly, there was the Qingzhu Sword Scripture.
Senior Qingzhu had been an unquestionable genius of the Sword Dao. While still in the Core Formation Realm, he had created killing symbols and extended his own art.
Although Qin Sang had comprehended only a portion of the Qingzhu Sword Scripture's true meaning, he had benefited immensely. His Sword Dao realm had advanced repeatedly. After meticulous refinement, the sword array finally took on a respectable form.
Outside the cave dwelling, Qin Sang stepped through the air and found an open stretch of ground.
Swoosh! An azure shadow shot forward like lightning.
In the next instant, it halted abruptly mid-air. The azure light dissipated, revealing a figure with phoenix wings.
Qin Sang activated the Heavenly Demon Transformation, sensing the improvements brought by years of arduous cultivation.
Both his body refinement and cultivation had advanced. His strength had risen accordingly. The change was especially evident in his evasion technique.
After activating the Heavenly Demon Transformation, he could unleash the true power of dual cultivation of body and law. His speed alone exceeded what he had once achieved even when using three supernatural abilities simultaneously.
Combined with his complete control over the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman and further advancement in the Sword Dao, the synergy of these abilities made him feel that his speed now rivaled that of early-stage Spiritual Infant cultivators.
Three-colored evasion lights flickered.
Qin Sang instantly disappeared into the depths of the mountains, only to return moments later. His evasion technique had indeed transformed beyond recognition. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. This would become his greatest means of survival.
Rise! With a thought, the ebony sword trembled and released dazzling sword light, clear and cold as moonlight.
Swoosh! The sword light circled above his head. As Qin Sang completed his sword incantation, the ebony sword split into new strands of sword light.
Seven sword lights formed first. These seven strands were the supernatural ability derived from the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment. Senior Qingzhu had called them sword souls. Now that Qin Sang’s cultivation had reached full maturity, all seven appeared.
Unlike ordinary sword light, each carried a trace of soul qi. However, since Qin Sang’s cultivation was insufficient, he did not yet know how to fully utilize them. For now, he used them as the backbone of his sword array.
More sword light continuously split from the spiritual sword, radiating brilliant brilliance. The sword light gathered like a river, illuminating everything around him.
"Form the array!" Qin Sang shouted softly as his sword incantation shifted once more.
A resonant hum filled the air. The seven sword souls suddenly scattered, surrounding Qin Sang and forming the embryonic structure of the sword array. Other sword lights flashed into position, finally assembling into a complete array!
From a distance, the sword array appeared circular, rotating slowly in mid-air like a dazzling sword lotus!
Its edges were sharp and distinct, embodying Qin Sang’s understanding of the Sword Dao as well as insights inherited from Senior Qingzhu.
Even without activation, its sharpness was unmistakable! Qin Sang fixed his gaze upon the array.
As his sword seals changed, the array shifted accordingly. At times it condensed into a towering giant sword; at others it dispersed chaotically, as if lacking any order.
He had integrated all the recorded transformations of the puppet sword array into it, and the results proved excellent.
Suddenly, all sword light contracted inward violently, merging into a thick pillar of radiance. With a flash, it shot skyward, piercing into the clouds.
The momentum of the pillar was astonishing. Clouds scattered instantly beneath its impact.
Qin Sang tilted his head upward, watching until the radiance faded. After sensing the power of that strike, he nodded slightly.
"It cannot compare to the twelve-devilish-banner array, but I can fully control it. The Wuhuan Pill I bought on Cangheng Island has an effect similar to Soul-Cleansing Liquid, temporarily boosting spiritual consciousness. Unfortunately, it was far too rare and expensive, and I only obtained one. Although my Jade Liquid of Three Radiances has been exhausted, my cultivation has advanced greatly. After using the twelve devilish banners, my true essence no longer drains completely as before, leaving me a chance to escape. With these abilities combined with my evasion technique, even if I face a demon king or a Spiritual Infant cultivator directly, I may still have room to maneuver..." Qin Sang muttered.
After all, his objective was merely to approach the stone tablet, not to fight a demon king to the death.
He dispersed the sword array and recalled the ebony sword. After a brief contemplation, he said softly, "Since this array was derived from the Seven-Yin-Soul Killing Array, I shall call it the Seven-Kill Sword Array."
He returned to his cave dwelling and secluded himself once more, reorganizing all his supernatural abilities.
Before departing, he awakened Bai. To his delight, Bai agreed to accompany him to Heavenly Demon Hill. With Bai’s assistance, his confidence increased further.
Leaving the cave dwelling, Qin Sang first visited a familiar marketplace to inquire about recent developments in the cultivation world. Then he headed northwest, planning to pass through Immortal Demon City before entering the demonic domain.
Immortal Demon City was a great city controlled by Yuling Sect. It bordered the demonic domain of Heavenly Demon Hill. It was said to be supported by Heavenly Demon Hill and served as the gateway connecting Heavenly Demon Hill and the Small Cold Domain cultivation world.
Back then, Wandering Man had claimed he had hidden in Immortal Demon City for years to learn of the Purple Cloud Fruit.
Qin Sang now understood that it had merely been an excuse to conceal his identity. He must have already known about the Purple Cloud Fruit.
In fact, when competing with the Shadow-Devouring Panther for the fruit in Ziwei Palace, Wandering Man had revealed clues by manipulating the Demon King blood seal to suppress the panther.
At the time, Qin Sang had never imagined such a bizarre phenomenon as the fusion of human and demon souls, so he had not given it deeper thought.
The farther west he traveled, the harsher the environment became. Human presence gradually thinned.
Heavenly Demon Hill was filled with treacherous mountains and perilous waters.
Ordinary mortals had once lived there. After cultivators ceded Heavenly Demon Hill to the demon race, only some mortals had been relocated to this side of the mountain range.
As a borderland between the human and demon races, Immortal Demon City displayed rare scenes of coexistence. It could be considered the foremost demon city of Heavenly Demon Hill.
After a long journey, Qin Sang arrived at Immortal Demon City. Along the way, he joined a merchant caravan and blended into the city.
Inside Immortal Demon City, he witnessed scenes unseen even in Canglang Sea. The streets held not only humans, but also wolves, tigers, and leopards walking openly in groups.
At their head were demonic beasts that, though still in beast form, were clearly different. Their ferocity had faded. They spoke human language and observed proper etiquette, indistinguishable from humans. They had evidently been enlightened by Imperial Elixir.
Under their discipline, lesser beasts without intelligence remained orderly. Incidents of harming humans were rare.
The mortal inhabitants of the city seemed long accustomed to these fierce beasts and showed no fear.
Qin Sang walked through winding streets until he arrived at an inconspicuous shop.
To his surprise, there was no manager inside. Instead, a white cat lay lazily sprawled across the counter.
