Hearing Qin Sang's reply, Ghost Mother was somewhat surprised.
"She didn't choose the wrong person... Why not ask her what she thinks? Or, find me another member of the Witch Clan, and my previous offer will still stand."
Qin Sang said regretfully, "The teleportation formation was in Ziwei Palace. There's no going back."
Ziwei Palace had ascended, severing the path, unless the Deity Transformation relics contained a sea chart leading to the Canglang Ocean.
"The materials for the formation have long been prepared. Taking a few drops of her blood essence as a guide will not harm her. Nor will I hide this from you: when crossing over, I will also need her to carry my soul body."
Ghost Mother openly explained the process of her 'return' to Qin Sang and said solemnly, "I have an instinctive premonition that my physical body is hidden at the place of return. That is another reason I must go back! You have no need to suspect me. The divine silkworm acknowledged her as its master of its own accord. The bond between them is so deep that it reaches the level of symbiosis; no one can take it from her. Furthermore, it possesses only a thread of the divine silkworm's bloodline, and how much potential it has in the future remains uncertain—it might not surpass this palace master's spirit insects. If you still worry that I will harm her, I can swear both an inner demon oath and a karma oath. As long as I live, I will never let her come to harm!"
Because of the jade Buddha, Qin Sang had always been somewhat distrustful of inner demon oaths.
After arriving in Zhongzhou, Qin Sang had gained some understanding of karma oaths.
A karma oath carried powerful binding force; no one wanted to suffer the repercussions of violating it. Its drawback was that the swearing process was exceptionally cumbersome, rendering it impractical in most situations.
In any case, saving and waking Yagu required Ghost Mother's hand.
Thus, Qin Sang did not object to awakening Yagu first.
"What needs to be prepared?" Qin Sang asked cautiously.
"For now, we can only forcibly guide her consciousness and have her barely respond to us through the divine silkworm. Waking her abruptly would carry severe consequences. Although she and her natal insect gu are one, there still must be a distinction between master and servant. She has been asleep for too long; the process of awakening her must be gradual, or else the natal insect gu will take control. Even among the Witch Clan, there is no shortage of people who ended up reduced to insect slaves."
Ghost Mother gestured for Qin Sang to support Yagu into a cross-legged sitting posture. She then set to work in the cave dwelling, laying down layer upon layer of restrictions to prevent any disturbance.
Awakening Yagu required the quietest possible environment.
Qin Sang stood guard to the side, his eyes fixed on Ghost Mother's spellcasting.
Understanding Qin Sang's thoughts, Ghost Mother hid nothing from him, even taking the initiative to explain the meaning behind each of her actions.
Refining a Heavenly Corpse Talisman was simple, but dispelling it was extraordinarily tedious.
Her jade fingers tapped repeatedly, and thousands upon thousands of intricate runes flowed from her fingertips like water, converging in the cave dwelling into a river of cyan and white light.
The river of light flowed around Yagu, head meeting tail to form a luminous ring, before slowly descending to encircle Yagu and the stone bed at its center.
Qin Sang knew little of Witch Clan arts, but from experience, he guessed it was some sort of restrictive formation.
Ghost Mother's expression turned grave, and her movements grew increasingly swift.
The restrictive formation was exceedingly complex. Ghost Mother spent several hours on it, finishing only when dawn broke in the east.
Wiping the beads of sweat from her brow, Ghost Mother breathed a soft sigh of relief. She pressed two fingers together and reached toward the glabella between Yagu's brows. Just as she was about to act, she paused, turning to ask Qin Sang, "Did you personally inscribe the Haze Bone Markings on her body?"
"I did."
Ghost Mother stepped back. "Next, more divine markings must be inscribed to pry loose the Heavenly Corpse Talisman with their power and guide her consciousness, while also laying the foundation for fully awakening her in the future. You do it, so you won't suspect me of tampering with her."
Qin Sang did not decline, stepping up to take Ghost Mother's place.
"These divine markings are very complex, but they shouldn't be a problem for you. Steady your true essence and do as I say." Ghost Mother guided Qin Sang patiently, overlooking no detail.
Meticulously, Qin Sang used his fingers as a brush and true essence as ink, beginning from between Yagu's brows and carefully tracing the divine markings. As he inscribed them, he gradually sensed the changes within Yagu.
Her aura grew clearer and clearer. The light of the restrictive formation bathed her, draping her in a hazy veil, and her facial features seemed imbued with a touch more vitality, as if she could awaken and open her eyes at any moment.
"Have the divine silkworm return!"
Ghost Mother's voice rang in his ear.
The fat silkworm was Yagu's anchor to the mortal world; from here on, they had to rely on its power.
Qin Sang immediately ordered the fat silkworm to return to Yagu's soul, finishing the final stroke of the divine markings at the exact same moment. The fat silkworm promptly fell into a deep sleep.
Qin Sang vaguely felt a new connection forming between Yagu and the fat silkworm. He scrutinized Yagu closely, yet could detect no visible change from her appearance.
After waiting a short while, Qin Sang could not help but glance at Ghost Mother. At her nod, he mobilized his divine sense, probing into Yagu's purple palace to call to her consciousness through the fat silkworm.
Call after call vanished like stones sinking into the ocean.
Qin Sang did not give up. Calling out untiringly, he finally received a response separated by five hundred years!
"...I... will..."
The voice was exceedingly faint.
It was like someone who had fallen into an abyss thousands of feet deep, shouting and crying for help at the top of their lungs, yet unable to be heard by anyone above the cliffs, surrounded by endless darkness and despair. She had persevered for five hundred years, and at last, a gust of wind had appeared in the abyss, carrying her cry for help out into the open.
Even so, the response was unimaginably weak, though Yagu had already exerted all her strength.
Qin Sang felt as though a lifetime had passed. He blanked for a moment before realizing what Yagu meant.
Yagu had heard his conversation with Ghost Mother.
Past signs had indicated that Yagu could only preserve her consciousness from sinking into oblivion through the fat silkworm, and could only perceive outside events when massive fluctuations occurred in the silkworm—such as back when Qin Sang had fled into the poison pool in the Hall of Seven Kills.
As her condition improved, it turned out she had already become capable of perceiving the outside world; she had simply been unable to respond.
She was willing to go with Ghost Mother.
Qin Sang fell silent.
He had envisioned many things he might say once Yagu awoke, but he had never imagined her first words would be this. She had not even asked whether Ghost Mother was good or evil.
"You don't need to feel you owe me anything, nor should you think you must repay me by selling yourself. That Witch Clan Deity Transformation expert has long since perished. The battle of demonic chaos was so catastrophic that his remains might have been torn to pieces and his relics looted; the likelihood of them surviving to this day is vanishingly slim. I come from the Human Clan, so my opportunity for Deity Transformation should be sought among my own people. Remember, you must live for yourself..."
Qin Sang laid out the risks to Yagu word by word, unconcerned if Ghost Mother overheard.
Ghost Mother still remembered Tan Hao's life-saving grace, so she was likely not an utterly wicked person. Yet she was entangled with far too many unknown secrets; if Yagu was drawn in, the outcome would be impossible to foresee.
In truth, Qin Sang had little interest in the Witch Clan Deity Transformation relics; even if he obtained them, they might not be useful to him.
What Ghost Mother surely could not guess was that what he truly valued was the South Sea Immortal Palace itself.
By downplaying the value of Ghost Mother's chips, he could easily negotiate an alternative trade to gain entry to the South Sea Immortal Palace—such as offering to help Ghost Mother search for the Deity Transformation relics.
Hearing this, Ghost Mother's expression shifted slightly, but she did not refute him.
She had to admit that Qin Sang was speaking the truth. The chances of finding the Deity Transformation remains were exceedingly low; otherwise, she wouldn't have clung so stubbornly to Yagu.
Even if they found the Deity Transformation corpse, they might not obtain a sea chart. There was almost no contact between Zhongzhou and the Canglang Ocean, showing that the distance between Zhongzhou and the Canglang Ocean was definitely greater than to the North Sea.
Presently, fierce beasts ran rampant in the Storm Belt, and perils abounded; crossing the sea was fraught with immense danger.
There was another reason she had not disclosed.
She was Yagu's lifesaver, but the reverse was true as well.
The demise of the ancient demon beneath the Jinghai Sect was not simply a matter of the ancient seal grinding away its true nature.
Breaking free from the seal had merely allowed Ghost Mother to live a little longer. She had a premonition that her time was running out; though she could not be certain how much longer she could endure, returning sooner was undoubtedly better.
Qin Sang could not imagine the ecstasy that had surged in her heart when she saw Yagu. Had it not been for her formidable willpower, she would have burst into wild laughter.
After a long time, Yagu's second response finally came.
"...I... want to... grow... stronger!"
Qin Sang was rendered speechless.
A smile touched Ghost Mother's face.
After a long silence, Qin Sang said to Ghost Mother, "Take her as your disciple."
Ghost Mother smiled and said, "Taking the master of a divine silkworm as a disciple is a blessing that countless Witch Clan grandmasters could only dream of. It is this palace master who is taking advantage. In the future, you will be glad for today's choice. This palace master will surely treat her as my own, and this can be included in the oath."
"When the time comes to return, I must witness it with my own eyes."
"I must first choose a suitable location to set up the formation. Once I have selected it, I will tell you the location." Ghost Mother agreed to everything.
An inner demon oath was simple.
A karma oath, however, required the erection of an altar first.
Preparing the altar took an entire day and night. Before they knew it, dawn had arrived once more. The Grand Auction was about to begin, but Qin Sang had no time to attend.
During this period, Qin Sang carefully weighed the wording of the oath to ensure no loopholes remained. He called out to Yagu multiple times, but received no response.
Those two short phrases seemed to have exhausted all of Yagu's strength.
The altar was completed.
Qin Sang and Ghost Mother burned incense and bowed nine times, completing the oath. He then had Ghost Mother swear before Yagu to accept her as a disciple.
Ghost Mother fulfilled her promise, handing Qin Sang a jade slip. "This is the insect-controlling secret art, the *Panhu True Scripture*. This palace master cultivates this very art, and it is definitely far superior to what you learned in the Canglang Ocean. In addition, I recall a high-ranking spirit insect known as the Water-Fire Divine Centipede. You can guide your insect's cultivation in this direction."
Qin Sang skimmed through it; the *Panhu True Scripture* was indeed profound, and both the Spirit Ascension Rite and the Three Spirits Pan King Formation were secret techniques within it.
Yet the Fire Jade Centipede presented a dilemma.
Water and fire were incompatible. How was he supposed to guide the Fire Jade Centipede to mutate in such a direction?
Ghost Mother was generous, imparting her cultivation experience to Qin Sang without reservation. Finally, she said, "Alright, entering the South Sea Immortal Palace is simple. I will teach you the bone-seeking secret technique. Go swiftly to the Taiyue Sect in Nanzhou; if you set out now, you will still make it in time."
"Now?"
Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. "The Ullambana Festival is in three days. Who would open the South Sea Immortal Palace at a time like this?"
"Those plotting for the South Sea Immortal Palace are the remnants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. They secretly formed the Gu God Cult and gathered their old followers. Their goal is precisely to take advantage of the Ullambana Festival drawing the top experts of sects like the Eight Views Abbey north, allowing them to stir up trouble in the Southern Frontier." Ghost Mother paused. "However, the Eight Views Abbey is not simple either. Having succeeded the Wuxiang Immortal Sect as hegemons alongside the Buddhist path, they surely possess some knowledge of the South Sea Immortal Palace. This palace master tailed the Eight Views Abbey's entourage to Jinyu Prefecture, intending to capture an important figure for questioning, but unfortunately, they stuck close together the entire time, leaving no opening to strike. It wasn't until the day I encountered you that I realized the Abbot of the Eight Views Abbey might be an impostor. Heh, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. If you head over, you'll certainly be in for a good show."
The Gu God Cult, the Eight Views Abbey, the Taiyue Sect...
The cultivation world, seemingly calm on the surface, had long been churning with undercurrents.
The Gu God Cult was actually the remnants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect!
Because Qin Sang had been occupied with his incarnation's breakthrough, he had not contacted the Gu God Cult, nearly missing out on the South Sea Immortal Palace.
"That lot from the Gu God Cult is very cautious and didn't leak much information. Through covert means, I discovered that the entrance to the South Sea Immortal Palace is not at the Taiyue Sect. Instead, one must first enter the former site of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, where there is a teleportation formation leading to the palace. Back when the Wuxiang Immortal Sect fell, its surviving masters fought desperately to seal the mountain gate, saving it from being usurped by outsiders; only successors of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect know how to open it. The survivors of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect were hunted down and scattered in all directions, which is another reason for this," Ghost Mother explained everything she knew to Qin Sang.
The more Qin Sang listened, the more something felt off. "You aren't going?"
"Now that I have her, why would this palace master risk getting involved in the struggle over the immortal palace? To me, nothing is more important than returning. No matter how extraordinary the treasures of the immortal palace are, they are of no use to me. The Deity Transformation cultivators may have vanished, but my cultivation is constrained; I am not immortal."
Ghost Mother made no secret of her reluctance to court danger.
The Deity Transformation remains were secondary; the South Sea Immortal Palace and the Wuxiang Immortal Sect were tied to the *Essence Cultivation and Sword Nurturing Chapter*. Qin Sang was determined to obtain it, making a trip inevitable.
The Taiyue Sect was far away in Nanzhou, so a decision had to be made quickly.
Hesitation now would only breed future trouble!
Qin Sang looked deeply at Yagu, let out a long sigh, and said solemnly, "I entrust her to Senior. Senior might as well take Yagu to settle at Mount Pu in Zhuo Prefecture. I will depart for Nanzhou at once."
Before he left, Ghost Mother suddenly called out to him.
Under Qin Sang's surprised gaze, Ghost Mother summoned the fat silkworm.
Sensing something amiss, the fat silkworm squirmed frantically, whimpering continuously, only to receive a sharp flick on its head from Ghost Mother.
Ghost Mother chided, "Behave! What a slothful temper—not a shred of a divine silkworm's grandeur! I will certainly discipline you thoroughly in the future, lest you tarnish the illustrious name of the divine silkworm!"
The fat silkworm's eyes turned dull and glazed, completely resigned to its fate as it allowed Ghost Mother to handle it.
A cluster of white light appeared in Ghost Mother's palm, enveloping the fat silkworm. The light grew denser and denser. Occasionally, the fat silkworm let out a shriek of misery, but terrified of further punishment, it swallowed the cry back down at once.
Before long, a seven-colored radiance began to shimmer in her palm, and a poison bead was separated from the fat silkworm's body.
The fat silkworm collapsed like a dead bug, limp all over, barely breathing.
Ghost Mother extended the poison bead toward Qin Sang. "To awaken the divine silkworm's bloodline, all interfering factors must be eliminated. The separated poison bead will inherit part of its divine abilities and is quite a fine treasure in its own right. As for what powers it holds, you will have to comprehend that yourself."
Qin Sang furrowed his brows.
Seeing that Qin Sang did not move, Ghost Mother gave Yagu a sympathetic look. "This is also her wish. You stood by her for five hundred years without forsaking her—how else could she repay such kindness? This poison bead is the only thing she can do for you. You certainly know the power of inner demons; surely you wouldn't want her setting out on her journey weighed down by such a burden?"
Qin Sang fell silent. He accepted the poison bead, walked up to Yagu, placed his hands on her shoulders, and gazed at her closed eyes. "Stay strong!"
Wriggling its plump body, the fat silkworm crawled onto Qin Sang's hand and clamped its jaws onto his finger. With a sharp crack, several of its teeth chipped and flew off, leaving it with a pitiful expression.
Qin Sang was speechless. He cultivated body refinement, possessing copper skin and iron bones with a physique rivaling a monster king, to say nothing of the fact that the fat silkworm was at its absolute weakest.
Seeing how pathetic the fat silkworm looked, Qin Sang softened the skin of his finger to see what it actually wanted to do.
The fat silkworm bit open a small wound, licked up Qin Sang's blood, and, seemingly aware that it was about to part ways with him, rubbed itself against his hand again and again, utterly reluctant to let go.
"Raising you all this time wasn't in vain after all."
Qin Sang felt no change within himself. He reached out, stroked the fat silkworm's head, and steeling his heart, handed it back to Ghost Mother.
The morning light was still dim.
Qin Sang's figure sped across the mountains.
Inside the cave.
Ghost Mother lowered herself beside Yagu, supporting her to face the cave entrance. Brushing a hand over Yagu's eyes, she whispered, "'Look' at him once."
Yagu's eyes opened. Her expression remained blank, but deep within her pupils, a flicker of divine light seemed to flash.
"Why didn't you confess your feelings to him? Once you follow me to the other realm, you may never have the chance to see each other again," Ghost Mother asked curiously.
"I... do not... have the right."
Yagu's response was still halting, though no longer as arduous as before, yet her voice was filled with bitterness.
Ghost Mother sighed softly. "I thought I would have to waste much breath, but you are sharper than I expected. Yagu..."
"My name... is Jin Liuying!"
"Good! I will help you become Jin Liuying again! Tell me, what are you thinking?"
"I... hope... this is the last... time... I look... at Brother Qin's... retreating figure..."
Ghost Mother understood. "If you wish to stand proudly before him as an equal, it will not be easy. Your Brother Qin was able to reach the pinnacle in this ruined world. Once the dragon returns to the vast ocean, his future will be boundless. Your determination is not yet enough."
"I swear it!"
Chapter 1606