Mysterious Stone Slab

"The Sin Abyss has quieted down recently because of Ziwei Palace. Not only do the immortal formations of Sin God Palace and Ziwei Palace share the same origin, but cultivators from the Sin Abyss can also enter Ziwei Palace directly through the demon cave at the entrance of the Inner Hall..." Qin Sang learned more hidden secrets from Qingjun. Only now did he understand why spiritual formations had been locked in a standoff at the edge of the demon cave. The Sin Abyss cultivators could actually enter Ziwei Palace through that demon cave. During this treasure hunt, both sides had maintained strict vigilance against each other, scheming and maneuvering inside, and had even fought several fierce battles on Tianshan. Qin Sang felt fortunate that he had been vigilant enough; otherwise, he might have plunged headfirst into the Sin Abyss's trap. Qingjun's tone shifted, and she sneered. "It's laughable how some people think the Sin Abyss has run out of momentum and that they are safe now, so they've begun stirring up trouble in secret. The internal strife within the Chunyang Sect actually has their fingerprints on it—seeing that the new sect master's foundation is unstable, they're trying to tear the Chunyang Sect apart. Little do they know, I've always felt there is something strange about the Sin Abyss. The back-and-forth fighting earlier might not have been a full-scale offensive on their part. There's no telling when they will make a comeback. For now, you don't need to worry; you can cultivate at peace in Peach Blossom Valley. Naturally, once war breaks out again, you won't be able to stay hidden in the shadows forever. You cultivate a Killing Path Sword Scripture and excel at slaughter; on the battlefield, you'll be even more like a fish in water..." "I am a cultivator of the Xiaohan Realm as well. If the need arises, I will certainly do my part!" Qin Sang replied solemnly, making no attempt to shirk responsibility. In his mind, he calculated that by the time the Sin Abyss mustered its forces and launched an assault, he would at the very least have recovered his late Core Formation stage cultivation. With all his divine abilities, as long as he did not face a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Sin Abyss alone, he would have few rivals. Disguised as an elder of the Yuanshen Sect with Senior Sister helping cover for him, he did not need to fear being seen through by Dongyang Bo either. Such peace in the cultivation world was rare; he had to seize the time to cultivate. Qin Sang thought to himself. If the Sin Abyss moved just a bit slower, he might even reach the Nascent Soul stage by then. At this thought, Qin Sang suddenly recalled something that had been weighing on his mind and asked, "Senior Sister, is that Green Luan puppet still with you? Could I have a look at it?" He also cultivated his physical body. By now, his Heavenly Demon Metamorphosis had already reached the late third layer, and reaching the third layer's peak was only a matter of time. Having learned from Senior Qingzhu that strengthening one's physical body and divine sense might aid in forming a Nascent Soul, Qin Sang had conceived this notion: if given the chance, he would break through to the fourth layer of Heavenly Demon Metamorphosis before attempting to reach the Nascent Soul stage. However, there had always been a lingering worry. When practicing the technique, Qin Sang had visualized the Green Luan puppet crafted by Qingjun, whose spirit and presence could not compare to a true Green Luan. Although he could barely manage to cultivate it, his foundation was unsteady, and Qin Sang did not know how far he could progress. According to the technique's description, if one wished to break through to the fourth layer, the Heavenly Demon Dharma Idol was of paramount importance. Visualizing only a Green Luan puppet, he was uncertain whether he could comprehend the Green Luan Dharma Idol. Qingjun had once mentioned that she had seen a real Green Luan and felt its aura, which was why the Green Luan puppet was so lifelike, endowed with the true spirit of a Green Luan. The moment Qin Sang finished speaking, the tea mist before Qingjun rippled. Where the vapor condensed, a Green Luan spread its wings and flew out. Its cry was crisp and melodic, like the song of a phoenix. Because space inside the wooden cottage was limited, the Green Luan puppet did not reveal its true size. Even so, its posture was exquisitely graceful. Divine light spilled from its wings as it circled continuously above their heads, its cries carrying a hint of joy, resembling a living creature. "It seems to remember you..." The look in Qingjun's eyes softened as she gazed at the Green Luan, speaking softly. Qin Sang felt a slight weight on his shoulder. The Green Luan settled comfortably upon him, preening its feathers as though greeting an old friend, showing no unfamiliarity whatsoever. From the Green Luan, Qin Sang actually sensed a faint hint of danger. Evidently, the Green Luan puppet was far more than just a pretty exterior. With its master's cultivation far exceeding what it once was, its strength had grown as well. Qin Sang observed the Green Luan closely. To his disappointment, the transformed Green Luan puppet's aura and spirit differed little from before. "I was fortunate enough to see the Green Luan's true appearance, but it was not the divine beast's true body—only an image left behind, and a fleeting glimpse at that. Although the Green Luan left a deep impression on me, in that hasty moment, the form I could remember fell far short of the divine beast's true spirit. When carving the Green Luan puppet, I incorporated a great deal of imagination..." Qingjun called the Green Luan puppet back, expressing that she was unable to help. "Senior Sister, where did you see that image? Do you know if it is still around?" Qin Sang's tone grew urgent as he consulted Qingjun. Recalling the past, Qingjun said, "The illusion of the Green Luan originated from a mysterious stone slab discovered inside a secret realm. When the stone slab surfaced, I wasn't the only one present. At the time, my cultivation was low, so I had no right to contest for it. In the end, the stone slab most likely fell into the hands of a demon king." "A demon king?" Qin Sang had not expected it to involve a demon king. "A demon king from the Demon Realm?" "Indeed. A stone slab sealing the phantom of a Green Luan is nothing short of a supreme treasure in the eyes of demon beasts. As for what exactly is within the slab, only that demon king knows..." Qingjun nodded and said. The two chatted for a while longer. Qingjun then showed subtle signs of seeing him off, mentioning that she would be heading out in a while and was uncertain when she would return, bidding Qin Sang to take good care of the peach forest. Qin Sang did not pry further. Leaving the wooden cottage, he returned to his cave dwelling. "To think the mysterious stone slab is in the hands of a demon king of the Demon Realm. That's a bit troublesome..." Sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat, Qin Sang felt a pounding headache. Although the demon race had formed an alliance with the human race and contributed to the recent fighting against the Sin Abyss, they still harbored vigilance and even hostility toward humans. During deliberations of the two realms' alliance, the demon kings rarely made an appearance. Most of the time, the two sides relayed messages through the Spirit Taming Sect. How could a demon king casually lend such an important treasure to a human for observation? 'Under these circumstances, Senior Sister won't provoke a demon king of her own accord. Senior Yunyouzi frequented the Demon Realm and must have befriended some demons; perhaps he understands that demon king's temperament...' Qin Sang considered the various possibilities. 'There is no rush for the moment. For the astral essence infusion, Pointing Sky Peak is an exceptional location. Breaking through to the fourth layer might not necessarily require studying the stone slab. The plan for now is to first cultivate Heavenly Demon Metamorphosis to the peak of the third layer.' Qin Sang made up his mind. Having become an elder of the Yuanshen Sect, there was no hurry to subdue the Demon Flame Sect; he could focus entirely on bitter cultivation from here on. Before going into seclusion, he would first commission major trading companies and factions to purchase the items he needed. As for pills capable of boosting cultivation, he would take as many as they could supply. Next were the demon fruits that aided the Heavenly Demon Metamorphosis—Tyrant Blood Fruit, Green Weed Root, Scorpion Poison Grass, and others. Qin Sang had learned of these demon fruits' medicinal efficacies from the records of the demon race in the Demon Sea. The demon race of the Xiaohan Realm was tucked away in a corner of the world, and their heritage was certainly not as complete as that of the demons in the Demon Sea. They might not know the true effects of those demon fruits, so some might have slipped through unnoticed. In addition, there were the spirit herbs needed to feed the Heavenly Eye Butterfly and the Fire Jade Centipede, which should not be difficult to find in the Xiaohan Realm. ... Totalling it all up, he needed quite a lot of things, every single one of them costly. Fortunately, Qin Sang had brought back many demon cores and demon bones from the Canglang Ocean. Reselling them would easily generate enough profit to cover his expenses.