Demon-Subduing Pestle

Catastrophe befell the Kongling Sea. Beneath the terrified gazes of countless cultivators, a torrent of crimson fire erupted, shooting straight into the clouds. Those Core Formation cultivators who failed to flee in time were instantly swallowed by the flaming surge. The Jinghai Sect was upended directly by the fiery torrent, its surviving land fragments thrust out of the sea. Upon some of these fragments, pavilions and halls still stood, Buddhist restrictions still flickering, but all were being engulfed by the flames at an astonishing speed. The surrounding cultivators watched as several figures actually burst out from within. Not only had those Nascent Soul cultivators survived, but, displaying their respective divine abilities, they did not even forget to snatch up the treasures washed out by the flaming deluge before retreating. In the dire emergency, paying no heed to their rank or quality, they swept up what they could and pulled back at once. Before the aura of crimson flame completely erupted, they sped far into the distance. The fiery torrent brought with it a storm of crimson flame that spread outward at alarming speed, descending upon the low-tier cultivators amidst their horrified stares. Seawater vaporized. Gigantic waves surged. Large ships had no time to withdraw; some were overturned, while others broke apart on the spot, swallowed by the inferno. Low-tier cultivators whose cultivation was insufficient had their flesh and blood stripped away directly by the scorching storm, perishing in sheer terror. Only on the verge of death did they recall an admonition handed down through the cultivation world since antiquity: never draw near high-tier cultivators, especially the battlefields between Nascent Souls. For a time, scenes of devastation unfolded without end. In midair, Old Man Hunmo did not race against time to seize the surviving treasures of the Jinghai Sect like the others. His pupils were pitch-black as he scanned his surroundings like a hawk, yet in the end, he failed to locate that suspicious figure. *** Southeast of the Kongling Sea. This area already lay outside the Kongling Sea. Cultivator-occupied islands could occasionally be seen, and numerous cultivators were active here. Two figures sped low-profile over the surface of the sea, seemingly on guard against something. After flying for a time, the boundless azure waves stretched all around them; not even a deserted island was in sight nearby. "Senior's water dwelling is right here." The burly, rough-hewn man looked around for a moment, raised a hand toward the front, and then took the lead, flying forward a distance before diving beneath the surface. The other man followed closely behind. These two were none other than Qin Sang and Tan Hao. Four days had passed since the great battle at the Jinghai Sect. Leaving the Jinghai Sect that day, Qin Sang had suppressed his injuries and fled into the distance with Tan Hao without once looking back. He had not paused for a single moment along the way, nor had he sought out Valley Master Mu, leaving him with no idea how the Jinghai Sect incident had concluded. What they sought now was the cave dwelling that the Ghost Mother had once occupied. Tan Hao had stayed there for a while when he previously accompanied the Ghost Mother to the North Sea. That this cave dwelling had gone undiscovered for so long proved how hidden it was. Qin Sang could heal his injuries here, sort out his gains, and organize what he needed to do next. *Splash!* Before they had dived very far, a sunken island appeared beneath the sea. Tan Hao tried forming an incantation gesture. A faint shimmer gleamed at the center of the sunken island, swiftly manifesting a doorway. Qin Sang flashed inside behind Tan Hao and found only several stone chambers. Spiritual energy was extremely rich, but the furnishings within were exceedingly simple, with a few chambers completely empty. "Senior Ghost Mother hasn't returned," Tan Hao reported after pushing open several doors to check. "It seems she has indeed left the North Sea." Qin Sang nodded without much hope. Choosing a chamber at random, he paused just as he was about to enter. "Brother Tan, how are your injuries?" "I took some spirit pills, and they're no longer an issue, thanks to Brother Qin blocking the fiery torrent." Tan Hao recalled the final encounter that day, feeling lingering dread mixed with excitement. After all, by working together with Qin Sang, he had successfully snatched food from the tiger's maw right before a great cultivator! Qin Sang gave a soft grunt of affirmation. "I remember you saying you were active nearby before and had some connections, so people shouldn't suspect you. Once the storm blows over, go out and gather news. It isn't convenient for me to show my face for now. Also, see if there is any unusual movement among the descendants of Qi and Wang. Old Man Hunmo might target them, so be extremely careful and avoid direct contact." Qin Sang was still concerned about the Spirit Ascension Rite, but he did not plan on visiting Hundred Flowers Valley just yet. Through the movements of Qi and Wang's descendants, one could deduce the outcome of that great battle and whether anyone had survived. *Three against two. At the critical moment, I also seized the opportunity to channel the power of the Thousand Buddha Wall, ambushing Old Man Hunmo and buying them time. At least one of them should have escaped, right?* Qin Sang thought to himself. Tan Hao nodded. "I'll head out in a few days." "Also help me inquire about people or factions in the Boundless Sea who excel at alchemy..." Qin Sang weighed the matters he needed to handle one by one, concluding, "Though your demon-subduing pestle is a Buddhist treasure, fortunately cultivators outside the Buddhist order can use it as well. Because it's a magic treasure dedicated solely to slaughter, its function is singular, yet its might is heightened as a result. Though it's a high-grade magic treasure, once you fully refine it, it should unleash power comparable to a top-grade one..." The precious pestle he had snatched in the Buddhist hall was called the demon-subduing pestle. Hearing this, Tan Hao beamed with delight. With this magic treasure in hand, once he achieved his breakthrough, he would have no need to fear veteran Nascent Souls. Just then, Qin Sang shifted his tone and smiled. "Keep it with me for now to see if we can alter the demon-subduing pestle's appearance. Otherwise, even if I give it to you, you won't dare use it in public unless you don't fear being tracked down by Old Man Hunmo's lackeys." Tan Hao shivered at the thought of the consequences of drawing Old Man Hunmo's gaze. *Bang!* Qin Sang shut the door and laid down restrictions. He summoned the Nascent Soul talisman puppet. Charred black, the puppet had no obvious external injuries, but another large swath of its puppet seals had collapsed. After inspecting it, Qin Sang clicked his tongue. "The puppet's injuries rival when it first came out of the Storm Belt. Sigh, following me has truly made you suffer." Reaching out to stroke it, Qin Sang set the Nascent Soul talisman puppet aside. The Qianjun Ring flashed. Streaks of flowing light spilled across the ground like water. "This truly is an unprecedented harvest..." Qin Sang rubbed his hands together, unable to wait to inspect the spoils. First were the nine Myriad Spirit Fruits, laid out separately. The fruits' luster was dim, but that did not diminish their effects. "There's quite a surplus, but unfortunately I didn't find the recipe for the Soul Calming Incense..." Qin Sang wondered if the Ghost Mother had taken it. Letting the thought pass, he opened his spirit beast bag and summoned the Fire Jade Centipede. The Fire Jade Centipede was curled into a ball, the red light across its body waxing and waning as though breathing. The injuries caused by the Three Spirits Pan King Formation required a long time to heal; for the past few days, the Fire Jade Centipede had remained listless. Qin Sang opened a jade box, took out a Myriad Spirit Fruit, recalled the feeding method Valley Master Mu had described, and gently urged his true essence to pierce the fruit's skin. Juice brimming with rich vitality flowed forth, its fresh fragrance greeting the nose. With a snap, the Fire Jade Centipede's body tensed and sprang upright like a stick. Qin Sang gave a soundless chuckle, cast several restrictions to refine it a bit, and drew forth a drop of the juice to feed the Fire Jade Centipede, pouring the rest into a jade bottle. The effect was immediate. The Fire Jade Centipede's aura stabilized considerably at once. Then, looking lazy, it curled back into Qin Sang's palm, drowsy as it began digesting the spiritual medicine. Following the same method, Qin Sang refined two more Myriad Spirit Fruits and fed them to the Heavenly Eye Butterfly and the fat silkworm.