"Could someone have modified the Witch Clan's heritage and resolved its hidden perils, allowing humans to cultivate it?"
Qin Sang was inwardly astonished.
He had acquired his natal insect gu shortly after forming his core, and he had now even nurtured a fourth-metamorphosis Heavenly Eye Butterfly. He considered his own attainments in this field far from shallow.
Yet if he were tasked with modifying the technique, he would have no idea where to begin.
The secret arts of the natal insect gu were an ancient heritage of the Witch Clan. Altering one part affected everything; it was not something that could be casually adjusted.
Unless that person possessed an exceptionally profound mastery of the Dao, not even a peerless genius could achieve such a feat.
Lan Jingsi and Master Feng chatted and laughed merrily.
Qin Sang silently followed behind them.
Before long, a mountain peak appeared before the three of them.
Lan Jingsi lightly raised her jade hand and formed an incantation gesture. The peak abruptly distorted, revealing itself to be an illusion concealing a different world within.
This was the mountain gate of Hundred Flowers Valley.
"Fellow Daoists, please."
Lan Jingsi gestured gracefully.
Flying into Hundred Flowers Valley, a rich floral fragrance greeted their senses, intoxicating the mind.
Hundred Flowers Valley truly lived up to its name. The entire valley was carpeted in splendid brocade, a sea of blossoms. Among them were many spiritual flowers standing tall and graceful, giving off their own distinct fragrances.
A few disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley moved through the blooms, occasionally startling an insect from the bushes.
The insects showed no fear. They fluttered affectionately around the disciples before ducking back into the thickets.
Crystal Ants, Green-Backed Mantises, Triangular King Insects...
Qin Sang's eyes could hardly take it all in. In just a short moment, he spotted more than a dozen kinds of spiritual insects.
Though none reached the level of exotic insects, all were rare species seldom seen in the outside world, each possessing its own wondrous innate divine ability.
From the look of it, these spiritual insects were all reared by Hundred Flowers Valley. The sect clearly had real depth.
Hundred Flowers Valley held not only an ocean of flowers, but also various other terrains suitable for sustaining different kinds of spiritual insects, including poisonous varieties.
Rather than Hundred Flowers Valley, calling it Insect Valley would have been far more fitting.
The trio finally arrived at a lakeside bamboo pavilion.
Lan Jingsi had maidservants serve floral tea.
They chatted idly for a time, and Master Feng brought up the recent war between the two races, heaping praise upon Qin Sang.
Lan Jingsi seemed convinced, treating Qin Sang with growing respect.
Master Feng praised the tea's mellow fragrance, exchanged a glance with Qin Sang, set down his cup, and asked, "Where might Fellow Daoist Mu be at present?"
Lan Jingsi did not conceal anything. "Senior Brother was invited by a fellow daoist and traveled to the Boundless Sea."
"The Boundless Sea?"
Master Feng was slightly taken aback. "Your sect's founding ancestor also hailed from the Boundless Sea..."
"Senior Brother even told Fellow Daoist Feng this? Indeed. Though he left the Boundless Sea, he still has many old acquaintances there, and the one who invited Senior Brother is the descendant of one of our ancestor's old friends. It is a matter of great gravity, so until it is resolved, Senior Brother cannot pull himself away,"
Lan Jingsi explained gravely, though she did not disclose Valley Master Mu's exact whereabouts.
Master Feng refrained from prying further. Looking at Qin Sang, he stated their purpose: "To be frank with Fellow Daoist Lan, I owe Fellow Daoist Mingyue a favor and promised to introduce him to Valley Master Mu, hoping Valley Master Mu might offer him guidance in the art of insect control."
Lan Jingsi seemed to have anticipated this and showed no surprise. Turning toward Qin Sang, she asked, "Fellow Daoist Mingyue is also well-versed in insect control?"
"In Hundred Flowers Valley, I dare not claim to be well-versed," Qin Sang replied modestly. "I have always had an interest in the art of insect rearing and tried nurturing a few varieties, but the results have been less than ideal."
Speaking of insect rearing, Lan Jingsi showed great interest as well, and began conversing with Qin Sang.
Qin Sang had immersed himself in this Dao for many years. Even though he concealed everything relating to the Witch Clan, his remarks were frequently insightful, at times leaving Lan Jingsi deep in thought.
Lan Jingsi reciprocated in kind, which only solidified Qin Sang's conviction that Hundred Flowers Valley's heritage was far from ordinary.
Master Feng could not join the discussion, but he listened with keen interest and found it far from dull.
When the topic turned to the spiritual insect Qin Sang valued most, Lan Jingsi said eagerly, "Could I have a look?"
Qin Sang opened his spirit beast bag and summoned the Fire Jade Centipede.
Before uncovering the full background of Hundred Flowers Valley, Qin Sang could not reveal the fact that he possessed a natal insect gu.
The fat silkworm was Yagu's spiritual insect.
He could only use the Fire Jade Centipede to keep up appearances.
The Fire Jade Centipede was on the verge of breaking through to the late stage of its third metamorphosis, which was already quite rare in the cultivating world.
"A Fire Jade Centipede!"
Surprise flickered in Lan Jingsi's eyes. "To think it is such a rare treasure-seeking insect! Among spiritual insects, the difficulty of advancing the Fire Jade Centipede ranks near the top. I never expected to see a third-metamorphosis Fire Jade Centipede in this era! No wonder you care so deeply about it!"
She truly understood the craft of insect control, laying bare the centipede's nature in a single glance.
"Fellow Daoist Lan is exceptionally learned, I am full of admiration," Qin Sang said with a cupped-fist salute. "You must have already seen my dilemma. I have only managed to nurture it to the brink of the late third metamorphosis, but I do not know how to help it advance once more."
Using the Fire Jade Centipede was merely testing the waters.
Qin Sang's aim was to probe how much Hundred Flowers Valley truly knew.
Hundred Flowers Valley possessed two Nascent Soul cultivators, and their valley master was in the middle Nascent Soul stage while also on good terms with Master Feng.
Obtaining what he wanted through an exchange would be best; unless strictly necessary, Qin Sang had no wish to resort to other means.
After a brief pause, Qin Sang continued, "I heard that Valley Master Mu possesses a fourth-metamorphosis tide-summoning horseshoe crab, so he should be able to offer me some guidance."
That Valley Master Mu possessed a fourth-metamorphosis spiritual insect was no secret among Nascent Soul cultivators, though Qin Sang had not anticipated it would be his natal insect gu.
"This..."
Lan Jingsi wore a troubled look. "Senior Brother's success was also largely a stroke of fortune, tied to his own cultivation method and nearly impossible for an outsider to replicate. Furthermore, this is Senior Brother's secret; without his permission, I cannot disclose it to an outsider."
Master Feng advised Qin Sang, "Our timing was poor. Why not visit again once Valley Master Mu returns to the valley?"
Qin Sang pondered silently. Upgrading the Fire Jade Centipede was not an urgent necessity, and Hundred Flowers Valley was not going anywhere; he could return at any time.
It might be better to use this time to head to the Boundless Sea to search for Pure Lake, see if he could find anything connected to the Witch Clan, and reconsider after that.
Just as Qin Sang made up his mind and was about to speak, Lan Jingsi hesitated and said, "Fellow Daoist Mingyue, if you have no pressing matters, you might as well stay in the valley for a time. I will try sending a message to Senior Brother and let him decide."
Master Feng said joyfully, "If you can contact Fellow Daoist Mu, that would be wonderful!"
Qin Sang quietly scrutinized Lan Jingsi. A glint appeared in his eyes. After a moment's thought, he decided to alter his plans and nodded. "Then I shall impose on your hospitality for a while. Thank you for the trouble, Fellow Daoist Lan."
The three continued sipping tea and discussing the Dao.
An hour later, Master Feng was eager to visit an old friend and stood to take his leave. Unable to persuade him to stay, Qin Sang and Lan Jingsi escorted him out of the valley.
From then on, Qin Sang remained in Hundred Flowers Valley.
Lan Jingsi settled Qin Sang into a quiet bamboo lodge.
Perhaps owing to Master Feng's glowing praise, Hundred Flowers Valley displayed little overt wariness toward Qin Sang.
Qin Sang was allowed to stroll freely through the valley, and he even obtained permission to enter the first floor of Hundred Flowers Valley's Scripture Pavilion to peruse a portion of their texts.
Over the next ten days or so, Lan Jingsi never made an appearance, and Qin Sang had no idea what method she used to contact Valley Master Mu.
Having decided to proceed step by step, Qin Sang was in no hurry.
During this time, his understanding of Hundred Flowers Valley grew deeper.
Even without obtaining Hundred Flowers Valley's secret ancestral arts, Qin Sang could now be certain that they were inextricably linked to the Witch Clan!
Chapter 1395