Breakthrough

Years ago, Qin Sang and the Azure Fox Saint King had set up an altar and sworn an oath at Ganlu Zen Monastery. The scope of that oath had been limited strictly to the period before Qin Sang achieved Deity Transformation. Prior to his breakthrough, the Azure Fox Saint King could not bully the weak as a mighty cultivator; however, once he broke through to Deity Transformation, they became fellow Daoists of the same stage, and the oath dissolved naturally. Conversely, with Qin Sang’s breakthrough, the restrictions placed on him likewise vanished into thin air. Thus, Qin Sang felt no compunction whatsoever in acting against these demon Great Sages. In truth, even if Qin Sang had not broken through, there were plenty of loopholes to exploit. The Azure Fox Saint King had spoken of it as if in passing, never bothering to put much thought into it. The Azure Fox Saint King had declared that she had only enemies and no friends or kin left, and that even if Qin Sang slaughtered the demons of the Eastern Sea to the last, she would not bat an eye. Those words had truly been no exaggeration. After capturing and interrogating Great Sage Zishen, Qin Sang learned that the Azure Fox Saint King had never told them about the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao. These Great Sages and Demon Kings had taken refuge in the Saint King Palace, borrowing the Saint King’s prestige to bully others and seize benefits. In return, the Azure Fox Saint King regarded them merely as pawns to be picked up or discarded at will. The sword array sealed the heavens. In an instant, all four Demon Kings fell into the trap. In the blink of an eye, they could no longer tell what world they had plunged into. Great Sage Baixiao had experienced the battle of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect firsthand and witnessed the Five Elements Divine Restriction. Back then, however, the Five Elements Divine Restriction had been on the verge of collapse, its sword array shaken to its roots. It presented an entirely different atmosphere from how Qin Sang wielded it today. Both terrified and apprehensive, he looked around. Seeing sword-stars laid out across the starry expanse, an instinctual sense of insignificance welled up inside him, making him cower even before fighting. His two subordinates remained at his side, yet the black lion was nowhere to be seen. This was another marvel of the Seven Mansions Division Sword Array: it could draw enemies into different mansions and defeat them one by one. The black lion and Great Sage Baixiao’s party were not of one mind; when calamity struck, each fled for himself, and they had been quietly separated by the sword array without even realizing it. The black lion had fallen into the Kui Mansion. The three demons had been shifted to the Shen Mansion. Even if the array controller did not deliberately hinder them, reuniting would be no easy feat. “Do not panic! He is controlling the array alone, so there will inevitably be flaws. Once we find the main star, we can break the array…” Great Sage Baixiao turned out to possess a fair amount of understanding regarding the Seven Mansions Division Sword Array, hitting upon the crucial point in a single sentence. In truth, he had never obtained the manual for the *Seven Mansions Division Sword Array*. After the battle to subdue the demon in the past, upon witnessing the strange phenomena at Dishou Mountain, the Azure Fox Saint King and Saint Huiguang had exchanged words regarding the Five Elements Divine Restriction, and he had happened to overhear a few remarks. The Five Elements Divine Restriction was the pinnacle masterpiece of the five lineages of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. As the top-tier sword array of the Metal lineage, the Seven Mansions Division Sword Array typically required the combined efforts of multiple sword cultivators to produce such a grand, imposing presence. When driven by a single person, it was difficult to attend to every detail. Great Sage Baixiao’s eyes turned stark white as he secretly cast a secret art to search for flaws in the sword array. To his surprise, when he looked around, he found that all the stars were present, moving smoothly, and not a single star’s light within the Seven Mansions was dim. Unable to spot a flaw for the moment, Great Sage Baixiao looked grim and barked in a low voice, “Protect me!” *** Meanwhile, Qin Sang was in no hurry to deal with the three demons. He revealed himself at the position of the Kui Mansion. All alone in the Kui Mansion, the black lion lacked Great Sage Baixiao’s understanding of the Seven Mansions Division Sword Array. Staring at the sword-stars that seemed both distant and near, he was at a loss for where to strike. Yet this demon was undeniably ferocious. Black light flashed across his body, and his head transformed into a colossal black lion’s head. Opening a bloody maw bristling with fangs, he let out a furious roar toward the heavens. A black orb flew out from his mouth. This was not his demon core, but an exotic treasure he had acquired in years past. The treasure orb spun rapidly. Chaotic scenes surged within it, conjuring an illusory landscape of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. *Pfft!* Two plumes of black vapor shot from Great Sage Black Lion’s nostrils, darting into the orb. The illusory scenes within were swallowed by the black vapor. With a tremble of the orb, the black vapor coalesced inside it into a black saber. The black saber was small and dainty, yet exceptionally keen saber qi seeped out through the treasure orb. *Whoosh!* The interior of the orb suddenly cleared, turning crystal-clear and transparent. At the same time, the black saber manifested out of thin air in the starry void. Its tip curved slightly, leaving behind a sky-shaking wave of saber qi. Everywhere it passed, starlight dimmed, accompanied by the roar of a lion, slashing furiously toward a sword-star! *Buzz!* Pressed by the black saber, the sword-star looked as if it were about to be sliced in two. Right then, starlight blazed across the void, projecting down toward the Kui Mansion. Shooting stars streaked past, etching trails of astral luminescence. To Great Sage Black Lion’s eyes, the heavens seemed to be spinning, making him dizzy. These were not shooting stars, but streams of sword qi. *Swish! Swish! Swish!* The sword qi converged all at once. The sword-star targeted by the black saber instantly flared as bright as a blazing sun. The black lion’s eyes widened, watching blankly as the black saber slashed into the starlight, only to melt away like snow at a visible rate until it vanished without a trace. Even as the starlight gradually receded, the horror in the black lion’s eyes did not fade. The strike had been neutralized just like that, without causing the slightest ripple. Once the sword-star returned to normal, a Taoist appeared atop it. Qin Sang manifested his true form, standing with his hands behind his back upon the sword-star, looking down at Great Sage Black Lion. After inspecting him, he gave a pleased nod and remarked casually, “I happen to be lacking a mount…” Before the words had even finished echoing, Great Sage Black Lion’s eyes rolled, and he immediately threw himself to his knees. “I am willing to follow the True Monarch!” With that, Great Sage Black Lion rolled on the spot. His true form became an imposing, magnificent black lion. Dropping his head, he prostrated himself at Qin Sang’s feet. Qin Sang smiled, showing no hesitation as he formed an incantation seal and struck it toward the center of Great Sage Black Lion’s brow. A flicker of unwillingness flashed deep within Great Sage Black Lion’s eyes, but he dared not resist. He obediently allowed Qin Sang to plant the restriction, shuddering slightly as he bowed even lower. *** On the other side. Great Sage Baixiao had also manifested his demon form. In the starry void, a hideous white humanoid shadow bared its fangs and brandished its claws, enveloped in churning, deathly white vapor. Countless demon ghosts formed within the smoke, their bodies contorting in an eerie, sinister manner. From beginning to end, he never pleaded for mercy. Great Sage Baixiao knew well that their past blood feud left no room for reconciliation. This person had to be the master backing that Dragon Whale fellow—no wonder the Saint King Palace had crumbled so swiftly. For a newly ascended Deity Transformation cultivator to dare cause trouble for the Saint King Palace meant he did not fear even the Azure Fox Saint King. The only way out Great Sage Baixiao could think of was to flee. Break through the sword array, rally his subordinates, and rely on their battle formation—only then would there be a slim chance of survival. Fierce light gleamed in the white shadow’s eyes. Reaching out with both hands into the smoke, he grabbed dozens of demon ghosts, stuffed them into his mouth, and began devouring them frantically. Amidst wails like crying ghosts and howling wolves, the demon ghosts in the white smoke involuntarily threw themselves into the white shadow’s body. With every demon ghost absorbed, the white shadow became a fraction more solid, and the ferocity in his eyes grew a fraction sharper. The two Demon Kings beside him exchanged glances and gritted their teeth in secret. Plumes of white vapor rose from the crowns of their heads, and just as they were about to plunge into the white shadow, they sensed something amiss. The heavens glittered with stars, and massive astral bodies came shooting over in an instant. The sword-stars moved like a collapsing sky. An astonishing pressure surged forward, born of sharp sword intent. Before the sword light even arrived, they felt as though they had been struck by hundreds and thousands of blades. All three demons froze. The white shadow gave a hideous laugh. Manifesting a bone blade in his palm, he made a move to pounce, only to suddenly see a black shadow charge out ahead from the sword light. With a lion’s roar, bringing with it a vicious gust of wind, it leaped right at him. “This wretch switched sides on the battlefield!” Great Sage Baixiao was incensed. Seeing the black lion show no mercy, opening with a lethal move, hatred filled his chest. His bone blade carved out a white line, slashing straight for the black lion’s brow. The moment they clashed, two shrill screams came from behind him. His two capable subordinates could not withstand even a single clash against the sword array, both cleaved in two and slain on the spot. Above a sword-star, Qin Sang sat cross-legged with eyes half-closed, his expression shifting between contemplation and sudden realization as he deduced something. Having already trapped the three demons with the Seven Mansions Division Sword Array, he naturally had no need for help. But since the black lion was eager to render meritorious service and had volunteered, Qin Sang had let him have his way, allowing the black lion and Baixiao to fight one-on-one. Qin Sang focused on comprehending the sword array. Unlike his cultivation divine ability, the Seven Po Killing Array, trying out a new sword array inevitably brought a feeling of clumsiness. If his opponent were not a demon Great Sage but a master of the same stage, flaws would be exposed after an extended bout. Naturally, as Qin Sang’s comprehension of the sword array deepened, it would gradually become round and seamless; it could not be rushed. What Qin Sang was currently focusing on was not how to perfect the sword array, but a new insight. Previously, Qin Sang had merely regarded the *Seven Mansions Division Sword Array* as an ordinary technique for the Deity Transformation stage, advantageous for trapping enemies, fighting groups, and serving as a transitional measure before his Wandering Sword reached full mastery. Only upon using it did he realize that this sword array was not so simple. Its might was not limited to this, and there were other transformations he had not fully grasped. The manual did not state this explicitly, but presumably anyone who cultivated the sword array to a certain realm could comprehend it. Qin Sang had managed to control the array alone upon his very first attempt, which was why he had discovered it so early. Seizing that thread of inspiration, Qin Sang pondered for a long time before finally shaking his head. It went back to the old saying: one must not reach for what is beyond one’s grasp. Better to master the sword array first before contemplating anything else. Still, this showed that the Seven Mansions Division Sword Array possessed immense potential. Qin Sang could not help but feel anticipation; it seemed he would need to devote more effort to the Dao of the sword in the future. He raised his head to look at the battlefield. Seeing that the fight between the black lion and Baixiao remained undecided, and unwilling to waste more time, he waved his hand, bringing all the sword-stars crashing down together. *** Led by several Demon Kings, the demon soldiers of Mount Baiming were returning to their old lair, still unaware of the misfortune ahead. A streak of light rushed over in pursuit. Within the light was a demon bird, its flight speed as swift as lightning. Looking at its pace, even some Transformation Demon Kings could not match it. Seeing the newcomer, the demon soldiers parted to make way. The demon bird flew to the center of the army, stopping before a treasure carriage guarded by the demon host. Preening its plumage, it reported respectfully, “Reporting to the Great Kings, the rebel army did not pursue…” Having delivered the report, there was no response from inside the treasure carriage. Suspicious and puzzled, the demon bird called out a few more times. Gathering its courage, it opened the treasure carriage, only to cry out in shock. The inside was completely empty! At this moment, Qin Sang was riding the black lion, treading across the waves over the sea surface. The Demon Kings belonging to the Mount Baiming faction had been almost entirely slaughtered by him. These Demon Kings had once relied on the Azure Fox Saint King to throw their weight around in the Eastern Sea, wildly raking in benefits. Yet because of the formidable enemy provoked by the Azure Fox Saint King, their thousand years of painstaking cultivation had vanished in a single day. Truly, fortune rests upon misfortune; the world’s affairs are ever-changing. “Master, we are almost at the Saint King Palace,” The black lion trod the sea surface as if walking on flat ground, taking the initiative to report. “Setting aside the other Sacred Grounds, Master must not forget the Lishui Brightsand of Lihan River. I see that Master has vigorous blood and qi and also emphasizes body refinement. Once refined, that Lishui Brightsand can strengthen the physical body, and its benefits are not limited to demons.” The Saint King Palace had collapsed too quickly, and the Lishui Brightsand had not yet matured; the black lion was merely offering another’s gift to curry favor. “Oh?” Reminded of something, Qin Sang waved his hand to cast a strand of true essence, conjuring several images before the black lion. “Have you ever seen these treasures?” The black lion shook his head repeatedly, until he saw a strange object that was neither quite a tree nor a plant. “Eh? I seem to have seen this treasure among the Four-Winged Divine Steed clan, but they don't call it hundred-insect herb; they call it white water coral.” The hundred-insect herb was one of the primary ingredients for the Qingshuang Pill. With different heritages between the Witch Clan and the demon race, having different names was only natural. Qin Sang nodded and asked the black lion a few more questions, all of which the black lion answered truthfully. Gazing out over the azure sea, Qin Sang pondered the aftermath of the demon civil war. Before long, they arrived at the Saint King Palace. Great Sage Dragon Whale had merely encircled the palace with his demon troops, waiting for Qin Sang to arrive before entering together. The Saint King Palace could hardly be called luxurious. As the temporary palace of the demon Saint King, it appeared somewhat simple and crude. Walking through the Saint King Palace, Qin Sang felt a strange desolate chill. Led by the black lion toward the Azure Fox Saint King’s sleeping quarters, he was surprised to find that it was not a palace hall, but an unremarkable low hill, devoid of exotic flowers or rare herbs. The black lion said, “Back then, the Saint King ordered us to infiltrate the land to find this hill. I personally led troops to move it here, and transplanted the flora according to the Saint King’s commands…” The Azure Fox Saint King’s cave dwelling was on the back mountain, a cave located in a chilly mountain ravine. Inside the cave dwelling, Qin Sang saw a few crude stone tables and benches, as well as a thin quilt. One could easily picture a fox wrapped in a thin quilt, curled up here in solitude. Recalling how the Azure Fox Saint King had described her origins, Qin Sang thought to himself, *This must be her former cave dwelling on land. Who would have thought that ruthless fox had such a side to her…* Having raided the Azure Fox Saint King’s old lair, Qin Sang felt little joy. Naturally, there were gains, and lavish ones at that. The relics and bones of those Great Sages and Demon Kings were all rare treasures. However, a person’s perspective always changed with their realm. Had he obtained these before Deity Transformation, Qin Sang would have been ecstatic; now, there were very few treasures in this world that caught his eye. The Saint King Palace was no different; the most valuable treasures had already been taken away by the Azure Fox Saint King, leaving behind only scraps. As the mastermind behind the scenes, he had instigated the demon civil war to force the Azure Fox Saint King to reveal herself. From the looks of it now, this scheme had failed. “Did she really leave?” Qin Sang walked out of the cave and looked up at the blue sky, remaining silent for a long time. Great Sage Dragon Whale came to report at this moment. As the biggest winner of this battle, he could not hide the joy on his face. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Qin Sang say, “I shall temporarily borrow the Eastern Sea Eye for cultivation; the other treasures are of no use to me. Within a set deadline, swiftly gather Lishui Brightsand, white water coral… Consider it my compensation.” Qin Sang named several treasures in succession, all beneficial to his cultivation, and then flew toward the center of the Saint King Palace without looking back, where the entrance to the Eastern Sea Eye lay. Great Sage Dragon Whale’s expression flickered, feeling a pang of reluctance, yet he could only comply. *** *Crash, splash…* The Eastern Sea Eye lay in the deep sea, a realm of deep, tranquil blue. With Qin Sang occupying this Sacred Ground, none dared disturb him. Great Sage Dragon Whale had initially worried that Qin Sang would reside here permanently. Only after seeing that Qin Sang had no interest in the treasures produced by the sea eye did he breathe a sigh of relief, using every means to squeeze the items Qin Sang had specifically requested from the various clans. Qin Sang did not linger here for long. After crossing the tribulation, his physical body had advanced greatly. During this time, he concentrated on cultivating the *Heavenly Demon Refining Form*, utilizing miracle elixirs and the unique terrain of the Eastern Sea Eye. His progress was rapid, and before long he smoothly broke through into the middle stage of the fourth layer. Instead of pressing on in one breath to continue cultivating toward another breakthrough, he temporarily halted his training, flew out of the Eastern Sea, and departed without saying goodbye. Across the islands of the Eastern Sea, Unseen by human cultivators, a Taoist came riding a black lion from the Eastern Sea. Before long, land came into view.