Ever since stepping into the cultivation world and recognizing the limits of his natural talent, Qin Sang had never dared speak lightly of immortality again.
The Nascent Soul stage.
He had only ever dared contemplate it in dreams.
Back during his Qi Refinement days, he had not even dared to dream of Core Formation.
As the saying went, give an inch and they'll take an ell—having reached Foundation Establishment, Qin Sang's ambitions had begun to swell.
He could not help thinking: now that he had established his foundation, what if, against all odds, he somehow managed to form a core? And once he achieved Core Formation and cultivated to late Core Formation, wouldn't he be able to put it to use?
It was said that in the cultivation world, there were spiritual herbs capable of extending lifespan.
A heavenly treasure of this caliber was something one encountered at most once in a lifetime; he could never hope to obtain a second stalk. Now that it was in his hands, letting it slip away would be an utter tragedy—he would deserve to be struck down by lightning.
If he truly had the fortune to form a core, a Du'e Pill increasing his chances of reaching Nascent Soul by twenty percent would instantly let him surpass those so-called prodigies. The significance could hardly be overstated.
Once he learned the true use of the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid, Qin Sang made up his mind: unless he was pushed to a dead end, he would not consider doing anything else with it.
Now Qin Sang could be certain that Sect Master Yi of the Kuiyin Sect had plotted against the Yuanzhao Sect precisely for this Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid.
Sect Master Yi's lifespan was nearly exhausted. If he did not stake everything on an attempt to break through to Nascent Soul, only death from old age awaited him.
Thinking of this, Qin Sang could not help mocking internally: if Sect Master Yi had actually obtained this stalk only to discover it had merely undergone seven metamorphoses and would require at least five hundred more years before it could be used in medicine, would he have dropped dead on the spot from sheer fury?
Unless he possessed some means of accelerating the herb's growth.
Flying out from Pagoda Peak, Qin Sang turned his hand over, and several jade slips appeared in his palm. These slips were all relics left behind by that master alchemist. One of them was the very jade slip that mentioned the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid, containing not only records of the orchid but also the pill formula for the Du'e Pill. To conceal his true objective, Qin Sang had purchased them all under the guise of studying alchemy.
Perhaps Senior Brother Zhang had given him a discount out of respect for Master Mawu, charging him only a single middle-grade spirit stone.
Then again, Qin Sang had also seen many pill formulas boasting miraculous effects lying discarded in the corners of the Pill Chamber, looking as though no one had touched them in ages.
Without spiritual herbs, even the finest pill formula held no value at all.
Qin Sang picked out that particular jade slip and carefully tucked it into his mustard seed bag.
Forming a Nascent Soul was like an unreachable dream; for now, he could only plant a seed of that dream.
What he needed to do now was cultivate with his feet firmly on the ground, find a way to achieve Core Formation, and only then worry about the Du'e Pill.
After standing on the ground and thinking for a long while, Qin Sang set off toward the Sect Master Hall.
After waiting in the Sect Master Hall for some time, Sect Master Yu finally returned to the sect. Qin Sang set down his teacup, rose, and bowed with hands clasped.
"Greetings, Sect Master Senior Brother."
"My apologies for keeping you waiting, Junior Brother Qin."
Sect Master Yu smiled and returned the courtesy, sizing Qin Sang up. "Junior Brother Qin looks in good spirits. Truly a cause for celebration."
Qin Sang gave a wry smile. "It was fortunate that Senior Brother gave me the Nine Yang Pill in advance. By taking it in time, I was able to restore my vitality. I haven't even had the chance to thank Sect Master Senior Brother yet."
Sect Master Yu chuckled. "That was merely my duty, Junior Brother Qin; no need to stand on ceremony. Besides, the Nine Yang Pill was compensation arranged by Master Mawu. That reminds me..."
Pausing, Sect Master Yu clapped his hands together sharply. "I nearly forgot! As promised before, once Junior Brother Qin completed the task, you could make one request. I wonder if you have thought of what you want?"
Hearing this, Qin Sang did not hesitate long before replying, "To report to Sect Master Senior Brother, I ask for nothing else, only a grand formation to protect my cave abode against outside enemies. Ideally, it should also possess concealing effects so I can cultivate in peace. It's just that my knowledge is shallow and I know nothing about formations, so I must trouble Sect Master Senior Brother to choose on my behalf."
When Sect Master Yu made that promise earlier, he had set no upper limit, as if any request could be granted.
Qin Sang, however, was not so naive. The Nascent Soul Patriarch's gift of the Dan Dragon Ginseng to assist his Foundation Establishment was enough to offset most of the debt. If he were to make exorbitant demands now, it would be sheer ingratitude.
While sitting and sipping tea just now, Qin Sang had already made his decision.
The Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid had exceedingly demanding requirements for its environment. The master alchemist had stated clearly in the jade slip that it required a spirit eye at the very least, while a place with a spirit spring was best.
The spirit spring in his cave abode was not yet fully formed, but it was far better than ordinary spirit eyes. Planting the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid there would be ideal; once he found a true spirit spring in the future, it would not be too late to transplant it.
That cave abode was located in the Yuncang Great Marsh with little security; it could not go without a spiritual formation to protect it.
Although the cave abode's original formation was serviceable, it had been set by the bamboo demon after all. While good enough for simply guarding the dwelling, Qin Sang could hardly rest easy once the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid was planted inside.
Not knowing the inside story, Sect Master Yu misunderstood and asked in surprise, "Does Junior Brother Qin intend to find a cave abode outside the sect? In a moment, you can visit the Spirit Beast Hall on Pagoda Peak. Several kinds of spirit beasts capable of seeking spirit veins and sensing spirit eyes are kept there, all of which can be loaned to you."
Disciples of Shaohua Mountain were entitled to their own cave abodes upon breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. One could choose to have a ready-made one allocated within the sect, though quite a few were unwilling to stay confined and chose instead to venture into the Yuncang Great Marsh, using the sect's spirit beasts to locate a suitable spot and open their own abode.
Shaohua Mountain's spirit vein was unrivaled for thousands of li around. Even ordinary cave abodes that possessed only a spirit eye boasted spiritual power far purer than elsewhere.
Opening a cave abode outside made it difficult to find anywhere better than inside Shaohua Mountain, not to mention the lack of security.
Thus, it was only natural that Qin Sang would want a spiritual formation to protect his dwelling.
Wearing a pensive look, Sect Master Yu nodded inwardly. He had originally worried Qin Sang might be young and impetuous, making an excessively demanding request. Seeing now that he understood propriety and restraint made things much easier.
After pondering a moment, Sect Master Yu's eyes lit up. "Junior Brother Qin, your timing is impeccable. The sect recently acquired a set of formation flags known as the Xuanming Tortoise Shell Formation. Nothing could be more suitable for guarding a cave abode! Wait here a moment, Junior Brother Qin..."
Sect Master Yu hurried off. Qin Sang sat waiting for a short while before Sect Master Yu returned clutching several small, dark-black flags, which he handed over to Qin Sang.
There were seven small flags in total, their surfaces painted with faint, dark ripples of water. To the naked eye, the ripples seemed to be flowing, and within them, a black tortoise rose and sank, appearing and disappearing intermittently.
Holding the flagstaffs, Qin Sang felt threads of chill seep into his grip and realized the coolness originated from the lingering Xuanming Qi clinging to the small flags.
"Junior Brother Qin, these formation flags of the Xuanming Tortoise Shell Formation have quite a pedigree. They are the relic of an accomplished cultivator from the Yuanshen Sect who excelled in formations. Once laid down, the formation flags generate Xuanming Qi, granting a concealing effect that is not only imperceptible to the naked eye, but exceedingly difficult to detect even if a Core Formation stage cultivator sweeps their spiritual sense over it. Should an outside enemy invade, the formation shifts, manifesting the black tortoise with an equally astonishing defensive power. If Junior Brother finds it suitable, I will take it upon myself to grant this set of formation flags to you."
Chapter 134