The reason Tong Lingyu had spoken so much was to make Qin Sang beat a retreat in the face of difficulties.
Disclosing the matter of the Treasure Mastery Formula was an implicit warning to Qin Sang not to harbor unrealistic delusions; moreover, since Qin Sang did not cultivate a cold-ice path art, it was impossible for him to gain the spirit treasure's approval.
That ten percent of the Fourfold Tengshe Seal's might had not posed much trouble to Qin Sang was something Tong Lingyu had not anticipated.
An ordinary cultivator, having witnessed this strike, would have already bowed their head and conceded defeat.
She was unwilling to go all out because, as formidable as a spirit treasure was, its drain on true essence was equally terrifying. This was not Xuantian Palace; she had no desire to expend so much true essence in a pointless struggle, needlessly increasing her own risk.
Sparks of demonic fire danced across the sky, drifting toward Qin Sang before gathering before him and reforming into the fiery dragon, which coiled quietly at his feet with its blustering aura subdued.
Qin Sang remained silent, looking down at the demonic fire.
He recalled the sensation of contending with the Fourfold Tengshe Seal and secretly assessed the encounter.
Earlier, he had not felt hopelessly outmatched, nor had he reached his limit.
If Tong Lingyu spoke the truth, the demonic fire wielded through the fire lotus and the eighteen demonic banners was slightly superior to ten percent of the Fourfold Tengshe Seal's power, but it certainly could not withstand twenty percent.
Tong Lingyu had likely held back in her closing words.
Had Tong Lingyu unleashed her full strength, the eighteen demonic banners would never match the Fourfold Tengshe Seal head-on, and his defeat would be a foregone conclusion.
There truly was no point in continuing the fight.
Naturally, this did not mean Qin Sang feared Tong Lingyu.
A spirit treasure represented only a portion of her strength. When cultivators fought to the death, there were far too many decisive factors.
Although the clash had merely been a spar—head-on and tit-for-tat, with the Fourfold Tengshe Seal displaying few variations—it was clear that this was an offensive spirit treasure meant for slaughter.
At the very least, relying solely on the Fourfold Tengshe Seal, it would be impossible for Tong Lingyu to chase Qin Sang down and kill him.
His extraordinary escape arts were Qin Sang's confidence when facing other powerhouses.
Qin Sang could also sense Tong Lingyu's misgivings, deducing that wielding a spirit treasure must consume a staggering amount of true essence—one of the reasons why the Nascent Soul stage could not unleash a spirit treasure's full potential.
He only wondered: if the Palace Master of Xuantian Palace wielded the Fourfold Tengshe Seal personally, how many percent could be brought to bear?
The thought crossed Qin Sang's mind, but he did not ask, knowing Tong Lingyu would never answer.
Turning his thoughts back to himself, his gaze swept across banner after demonic banner.
Originally, he had held high hopes for the true source of demonic fire sealed within the banners, even harboring many unrealistic delusions.
He had not imagined the gulf between a magic treasure and a spirit treasure could be so vast!
The Xuling Sect and Bing Han had perhaps been overly optimistic regarding the difficulty of refining a spirit treasure.
Calculating along these lines:
Even if he refined the true source of Nine Nether Demonic Fire sealed in the eighteen demonic banners into a fire lotus, thanks to its high purity, its might might match that of a spirit treasure—it would merely amount to a Soul Formation-grade divine ability.
This was merely a rough deduction; after all, Qin Sang's attainments in Fire Seed Golden Lotus were still rudimentary.
Still, if he could complete the refinement before reaching the Soul Formation stage, this divine ability would be monstrous enough. Other Nascent Soul cultivators, even if in possession of a spirit treasure, could only tap into a fraction of its power.
Whereas he, with a fire lotus refined from the fully gathered demonic fire, might even have the strength to put up a fight against a Soul Formation cultivator!
Qin Sang imagined that scene, but quickly cooled down and returned to reality. He knew these were merely fond daydreams. He had never encountered a Soul Formation cultivator, but he had witnessed the terror of the Demon Lord.
The difficulty of cultivating Fire Seed Golden Lotus was unmatched among all his divine abilities; how long it would take to refine the demonic fire's true source remained unknown.
When the time came, with the fire lotus's caliber exceeding his own cultivation, Qin Sang was not even sure he could wield it at will. If its drain proved as terrifying as a spirit treasure's, that would be truly disappointing.
The good news was that as the fire lotus advanced, his divine sense would also rise in step, which should make a difference.
Seeing Qin Sang silent for so long, Tong Lingyu assumed he was intimidated by the spirit treasure's might. She did not press him, but secretly marshaled the true essence within her body; if Qin Sang was still not convinced, she would have no choice but to strike again.
Just then, Qin Sang gathered his thoughts, raised his head with a solemn look, and cupped his hands. "The might of a spirit treasure is truly beyond imagination. Qin is thoroughly convinced. Many thanks to Fellow Daoist Tong for the instruction."
Seeing that Qin Sang had indeed conceded, Tong Lingyu's expression softened slightly, and a smile appeared. "Fellow Daoist Qin's banner treasures rank foremost among all the magic treasures this elder has ever seen. In time, Fellow Daoist Qin will surely reign supreme across the North Sea!"
"Yet they still fall far short of a spirit treasure," Qin Sang said, shaking his head repeatedly, looking as though he had suffered a heavy blow.
Tong Lingyu smiled without a word.
By then, seeing that the two had ceased, Liuli flew back from afar and stood quietly behind the Grand Elder, unable to resist glancing at the demonic banners orbiting Qin Sang.
She had long known how terrifying spirit treasures were, but only now realized she had underestimated the power of Qin Sang's magic treasure—no wonder he had been so confident.
"Does Fellow Daoist Qin have any other urgent matters? If not, how about we set off now and return to Xuantian Palace?"
Tong Lingyu was impatient to invite Qin Sang back to the palace, have him pick his treasures quickly, and return the sacred relic.
Qin Sang thought for a moment and said, "Please wait a moment, both of you. Qin still has a few matters to arrange."
Leaving the two women behind, Qin Sang returned to Pearl Island. He first paid a visit to Master Yinquan to bid him farewell and make plans to meet in the future, then sent a letter to Tan Hao, using cipher to inform him of his movements.
He told Tan Hao to cultivate peacefully in the Ghost Mother's cave dwelling, prepare for his Nascent Soul breakthrough, and contact him if anything was needed.
Afterward, Qin Sang returned to the small island to reunite with the two women.
Together, the three flew eastward.
As they flew, Tong Lingyu suddenly retrieved an object from her mustard seed bag and handed it to Liuli. "This Yinli Pearl was originally intended to lure that vile creature into showing herself so we could recover the sacred relic. Now that Fellow Daoist Qin is returning the sacred relic, your contribution cannot be overlooked. Take this treasure as a reward from the sect."
Qin Sang swept a glance over it, unsure what was special about the treasure, and turned his eyes toward Liuli.
He saw Liuli take the Yinli Pearl, her expression remaining calm without any apparent joy. "Thank you for the reward, Grand Elder."
"I am a few centuries younger than your master, and used to call her Aunt Bing. By rights, you and I are of the same generation. Calling me Grand Elder makes me sound so old."
Tong Lingyu was in high spirits, even in the mood to tease Liuli.
Tong Lingyu had wanted to tease the icy beauty, but seeing Liuli's gaze dim, she quickly stopped and sighed softly. "Your master clearly had the makings of a Great Cultivator, yet she perished unexpectedly. Fortunately, she taught a disciple who surpasses the master, so her life was not in vain. Because of cultivation deviation, my own hopes of breaking through are slim as well. Were it not for that, our Xuantian Palace would now boast three late-stage cultivators in one sect—a golden age even by historical standards."
Hearing this, Qin Sang subconsciously glanced at Liuli.
Tong Lingyu actually did not know Liuli's master was not dead, but had been trapped in Ziwei Palace for hundreds of years, her life or death unknown only after Ziwei Palace ascended.
Why had Liuli concealed this from her sect? Could there be another hidden truth?
Qin Sang withdrew his gaze impassively; without knowing the reason, it was better not to pry into others' affairs.
After offering a few words of comfort to Liuli, Tong Lingyu turned to Qin Sang. "Fellow Daoist Qin, since you are to become a guest elder of Tingxue Tower, you will inevitably deal with Elder Mei and the others in the future. The less you see them now, the less likely your identity will be exposed. Furthermore, the sacred relic admits no mishaps and must be returned to the forbidden ground as quickly as possible. Why don't you and I depart ahead and rush back to Xuantian Palace at top speed?"
Qin Sang raised no objection, stating that he would follow his host's arrangement.
Arriving near the Xuantian Palace encampment, Tong Lingyu and Liuli left Qin Sang waiting while they went back to make arrangements.
An hour later, Tong Lingyu returned alone. To conceal the connection between Qin Sang and Liuli, since Liuli had contacted the Grand Elder in secret, she did not accompany them this time.
Qin Sang was about to raise his escape light and fly through the air, when he saw Tong Lingyu untie an exquisite fish whistle carved from coral from her fair right wrist. She smiled at Qin Sang, placed it between her rosy lips, and blew gently.
"This journey eastward is long; this will save us some energy," Tong Lingyu explained.
The whistle's tone was crisp, melodious, and lingering.
To the melody, the fish whistle quietly dissolved, turning into an illusory giant fish, as though the soul of a great fish.
At this time, a silver crescent had just risen.
Faint moonlight bathed the vast sea, ripples lapped gently, and the soft whistle drifted far into the distance, giving off a distinct stillness.
Qin Sang's gaze was drawn to the great fish soul.
The great fish soul's body was transparent. It leaped from Tong Lingyu's fingertips like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, vivid and lively, soaring high into the air.
It was as if the silver crescent on the horizon were a moon boat on the Heavenly River, and it wished to leap aboard.
As the great fish soul bounded, the sea was drawn by an inexplicable pull, swelling silently upward. Water currents followed the great fish soul, flowing upward against gravity.
Before long, an inverted waterfall appeared out of nowhere before them, streaming from the sea up toward the Heavenly River.
Qin Sang looked up, watching the great fish soul shuttle leisurely through the waterfall, climbing higher and higher into the sky.
Meanwhile, the whistle lingered continuously in their ears.
Qin Sang faintly felt an extraordinary ripple emanating from the great fish soul into the distance, though what this ripple signified, he could hardly fathom.
Just then, a premonition struck Qin Sang, and he looked down into the sea.
Unnoticed, more and more fish had answered the summons and gathered toward them—some grotesquely shaped, others brilliantly patterned. Many even glowed with luminescence, scattered endlessly among the shoals like the Heavenly River reflected upon the mortal realm.
Just as they were captivated by this dreamlike spectacle, a sudden commotion stirred the fish, and two blue jiao swam domineeringly into the midst, circling beneath their feet.
Tong Lingyu pointed at the great fish soul, about to make a move, when an ethereal cry drifted from afar, like a whisper from the deep abyss.
"A whale song."
Tong Lingyu listened intently, beaming. "Good fortune indeed. There happens to be an Abyss Whale cruising nearby."
Qin Sang followed her gaze.
Moments later, he first saw a massive waterspout shoot up, followed by the dark silhouette of an outline surfacing—and that was merely a portion of the underwater behemoth.
*Whoosh!*
The great fish soul flicked its tail, leaped out of the waterfall, and transformed into a ball of blue water.
The whistle faded away.
Losing their attraction, the surrounding fish—including the two blue jiao—dispersed reluctantly. The Abyss Whale swam over, and the water orb formed from the fish soul merged into its head.
Next, Tong Lingyu retrieved a petite carriage and tossed it out. Ropes automatically wound around the Abyss Whale's dorsal fin. Like a boat, the carriage rested steadily upon the water behind the whale, radiating treasure glow as it harmonized into one with the beast.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, please!"
Tong Lingyu gestured, and Qin Sang flitted into the carriage, finding a spot to sit cross-legged.
Tong Lingyu whispered something into the Abyss Whale's ear, then took out a jade bottle, poured out an elixir pill, and fed it to the creature. Patting the whale gently, she boarded the carriage as well.
*Crash!*
The Abyss Whale swung its body around, kicking up colossal waves as it surged due east at astonishing speed.
The carriage was exceptionally stable; not a drop of seawater could seep inside.
Tong Lingyu nodded in satisfaction. Reaching outward, she scooped up a handful of moonlight and smoothed it lightly, transforming it into a layer of gossamer veil hung before the window to block prying eyes from outside.
Qin Sang welcomed the ease, knowing that hardly anyone would dare obstruct their path midway. Excusing himself to Tong Lingyu, he laid an isolating restriction around himself, ordered the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to stand guard, and promptly withdrew a jade slip. Sinking his divine sense into it, he fell utterly silent.
Taking no offense, Tong Lingyu likewise arranged a formation using gossamer and closed her eyes in quiet cultivation.
Beneath the moonlight, only the Abyss Whale cleaved through the waves, its song and the surging waters orchestrating a beautiful movement.
...
The contents of the jade slip were none other than the *Seven Master Buddhist Seals*.
This place lay a tremendous distance from the Yinri Realm, not to be reached in a day and a night. Qin Sang finally had time to comprehend this body-cultivation divine ability.
He had skimmed it once before.
Now he began from the beginning once more, weighing every word and phrase to study it thoroughly.
He cultivated a demon body refinement art, which differed greatly from human techniques. Knowing nothing about human body-cultivation divine abilities, delving into it now felt like stepping into unfamiliar territory and proved rather arduous.
The seven Buddhist seals of the *Seven Master Buddhist Seals* were seven stances.
However, this divine ability required Buddhist mudras to mobilize physical strength.
The overarching canon stated: *Hands form the covenant seal, lips chant the true mantra, mind visualizes the honored Buddha.*
These words carried the true intent and were the key to mastering the *Seven Master Buddhist Seals*; at present, Qin Sang could grasp only the surface.
He understood the seals and mantras, but what struck him as peculiar was "mind visualizes the honored Buddha"—the visualization was not of a well-known Buddha or Bodhisattva, but of a hazy Buddhist statue.
Unsure of the reason, he committed it to memory and read on.
The first seal of the *Seven Master Buddhist Seals*, the Auspicious Seal, could be barely cultivated by a Golden Core body cultivator. Because this seal was not overly domineering and would not rebound against the user, it served as the inception of the seven seals. Its primary function was to mobilize blood vitality throughout the entire body to face foes at peak state; its offensive power was merely passable.
Qin Sang was currently at the early fourth layer of the Heavenly Demon Transformation and could cultivate the first four seals. The other three were named the Lotus Seal, the Wheel Altar Seal, and the Demon Quelling Seal. Though their seal incantations varied, they shared the same lineage, their power mounting step by step, all being seals of slaughter.
Of these four seals, Qin Sang could still discern some profound principles.
As for the final three seals, he could only memorize them in their entirety without having a clue: they were the Vajra Great Wisdom Seal, the Vajra Heavenly Armor Seal, and the Vajra Sovereignty Seal!
*In legend, Buddhist vajra represents that which is indestructible and uncuttable. I wonder if these final three seals truly live up to their name.*
Qin Sang mused to himself, turning his gaze back to the first four seals.
Though he was no Buddhist disciple, his cultivation was sufficiently high; once he grasped the divine ability's true intent, comprehending the first seal was not too difficult. His only regret was that with Tong Lingyu by his side, he lacked the opportunity to practice it.
Riding the whale, they journeyed on.
Without rest, the Abyss Whale traversed who knew how many tens of thousands of li across the Boundless Sea.
Immersed in the *Seven Master Buddhist Seals*, Qin Sang found the divine ability increasingly profound, broadening his horizons. It even reflected back upon his own cultivation, granting him deeper insights into body refinement.
In cultivation, one loses track of time.
On this day, Qin Sang was awakened by the Heavenly Eye Butterfly. Sensing a touch upon his restriction, he heard Tong Lingyu's voice: "Fellow Daoist Qin, we will reach the shore shortly."
Chapter 1462