Realization

Boom! Carried by the sword light, Marquis Li was driven hard into the ground. His head twisted at an unnatural angle, and the breath of life left him entirely. Qin Sang exhaled softly, his blood and vitality churning violently within his chest. Formidable as the true treasure fragment was, its drain on true essence was terrifying, far beyond what an ordinary cultivator could bear. No matter how much Wood Spirit Qi the Dao Manifestation Tree had absorbed, it could not completely ward off the tremendous recoil. His blood and qi were already showing signs of instability; this battle had been anything but easy. What constrained him most was still his divine consciousness. Deploying such an airtight sword array to seal heaven and earth and trap a mid Deity Transformation demon marquis placed immense demands on his divine consciousness as well. As time had dragged on, Marquis Li had battered the sword array again and again, constantly analyzing its patterns. Little did the marquis know that beneath Qin Sang's impassive expression, his mind had been strung taut with tension. He had to reserve ample divine consciousness to suppress the Qilin source seed; otherwise, all his efforts would have come to naught. The remainder had to be budgeted with absolute precision. Not only did he have to maintain the sword array and the astral fire barrier, but he also had to keep enough strength in reserve to summon the spirit treasure Fourfold Tengshe Seal at a moment's notice to guard against a desperate death-throes retaliation from Marquis Li. The energy a mid Deity Transformation powerhouse could unleash when pushed to the brink of death was bound to be staggering. Even if Marquis Li had possessed some mutually destructive trump card, Qin Sang would not have been surprised in the least, and he had maintained vigilant guard against it the entire time. *Once I am promoted to the Five Thunders Secret Talisman, my true essence will be fully restored. But before I refine the Qilin source seed, I still have to rely heavily on my physical body...* Qin Sang mused inwardly, then raised his gaze toward the sky. Though he had successfully hunted and killed Marquis Li, the crisis was not yet resolved; uninvited guests were still nearby. His battle with Marquis Li had ended, yet the tremors rocking the jungle domain had not ceased. Thunder roared incessantly across the heavens, growing increasingly violent. Long fissures ran across the azure celestial barrier, streaking from horizon to horizon—clear proof of violent impacts tearing through the firmament. From the aura seeping through, he could sense that the source of the shaking was not chaos created by the golden light, but cultivators locked in battle nearby! There was no telling who had arrived or which side held the upper hand. To avoid complications from undue delay, Qin Sang had not dared drag things out and had harbored no thought of taking his foe alive, striking with full force to eliminate Marquis Li. Even without any outside accidents, the chance of capturing him alive had been slim anyway, and the corpse of a mid Deity Transformation demon marquis was more than enough to earn qualification for a talisman promotion. In truth, he also had those uninvited guests outside to thank. Their presence had given Marquis Li a glimmer of hope, allowing the desire for survival to gain the upper hand and extinguishing any impulse toward a suicidal counterattack. Then, shaken by the razor's edge between life and death, the marquis had left an opening for the Heaven-Severing Soul-Shaking Divine Needle to strike. With lethal poison penetrating his body, he had been left defenseless and met a gruesome end on the spot. Rumble... The sky barrier was composed of swirling clusters of azure mist, which roiled under the powerful shockwaves from the outside. The moment Qin Sang looked up at the celestial barrier, a section of it caved downward, as though struck by an immense force from beyond the heavens that sought to bring the sky crashing down. Fractures instantly spiderwebbed across the depression. Through the crumbling fissures, Qin Sang glimpsed a familiar petite figure slamming violently against the barrier, letting out a sharp cry. "Real Person Youhuang!" Qin Sang's eyes narrowed slightly. Beneath Real Person Youhuang's feet bloomed a spiritual flower as large as a silver basin. It grew amidst countless thick vines that writhed like serpents around her. When she crashed into the sky barrier, the vines drew tight into a protective sphere, shielding her within. With the naked eye, one could see that what had sent Real Person Youhuang flying was a terrifyingly overbearing streak of gray qi. Though she was unhurt, some of the vines protecting her snapped while others withered, losing nearly half their mass in a single blow. Immediately afterward, the vines dug deep into the celestial barrier, forcibly steadying her in the void. Real Person Youhuang dared not hesitate, instantly casting a blue pearl from her hand. The pearl transformed into a long ribbon that coiled through the empty air. Seemingly light and delicate, its movements produced the rumble of wind and thunder. With a fierce snap, it scattered the pursuing gray qi. At the same time, another figure streaked over, stepping in front of Real Person Youhuang. Clad in armor, with blood and vitality surging like a tidal wave, the man stood in the void like a pillar supporting the heavens, his spiritual spear angled forward. *Real Person Guyun. To think the two of them weren't separated...* Just as Qin Sang recognized the pair, Real Person Youhuang caught sight of Qin Sang below. A flicker of joy crossed her taut, pretty face, but it was quickly replaced by gravity. Her lips parted slightly, as if about to say something. At that moment, the gray qi that had been repelled by the ribbon swirled back together, condensing into a gray orb that landed in the hand of a burly, muscular man. The man possessed eerie grayish-white eyes and webbed fingers, revealing at a glance that he was not of the human race. Beside him stood an extraordinarily glamorous woman. She wore a jeweled crown and colorful robes, with a pristine crystal embedded in her forehead. Five-colored radiance circulated within the crystal. Though she was even more striking than Real Person Youhuang, her almond eyes brimmed with terrifying killing intent. Both sides were evenly matched in numbers, yet Real Person Youhuang's side was at a clear disadvantage. "Let's see how far you can run!" the crowned woman snarled. The crystal on her brow flared brilliantly, shooting forth five beams of spiritual light. The five beams of light split into five distinct colors, transforming into five dazzling rainbows that radiated an exceedingly sharp aura. Like five spiritual blades, they slashed swiftly toward the two Real Persons. Not to be outdone, the burly man swallowed the gray orb, leaped into the air, and puffed out his cheeks. His throat rippled as he opened his mouth and spat a plume of breath toward the two Real Persons. In an instant, gray clouds gathered above the two Real Persons' heads, and an eerie power permeated the void. The two Real Persons were struck with the illusion of plunging into the depths of the ocean. The surrounding light and even the void seemed to warp, giving rise to an inexplicable, terrifying sense of having nothing to rely on. Real Person Guyun straightened his posture. His spiritual spear split into ten thousand spear shadows before snapping back into a single point, stabbing fiercely toward the oncoming five-colored rainbow while ignoring the gray clouds overhead. The ribbon still coiling in midair linked head to tail, twisting into the shape of a talisman before rebounding high into the air. With a booming crash, the gray clouds shuddered violently. One practiced the Dragon Tiger Altar while the other cultivated the Golden Seal Altar; they complemented each other seamlessly and fought in perfect coordination. Unfortunately, their opponents were simply stronger. The burly man possessed an aura on par with theirs, but the woman was a mid-Dongxuan demon marquis! Initially, the two Real Persons had shared Qin Sang's idea: upon discovering they had been separated from their companions, they had moved toward this area, reuniting along the way, only to run straight into formidable foes. It was fortunate they had joined forces; otherwise, escaping death would have been nearly impossible. Even so, the two had been hunted down in a rather wretched state. They could only do their utmost to hold off the enemies, hoping the golden light would fade quickly so they could call upon their companions for aid. While activating her ribbon, Real Person Youhuang quietly dispersed the mist clusters of the celestial barrier, mending the fissures to conceal the scene below. She simultaneously sent a hurried voice transmission: "Fellow Daoist Qingfeng, adjust your breath at once! We can still hold out for a while!" Qin Sang had only just slain Marquis Li and was severely depleted, with no time yet to recover. Even through the sky barrier, Real Person Youhuang could sense his abnormal state. To have attained her current cultivation, Real Person Youhuang was naturally not the sort to shift misfortune onto others. By buying time for Qin Sang to recover quickly, they might stand a chance of repelling the enemy once he joined the fray. To her surprise, the moment the fissures in the sky barrier closed, a ripping sound tore through the air behind her. Two withered, colossal hands punched through the sky barrier, grasping the wind and clouds, and wrenched them apart to both sides. Riiip! The celestial barrier was torn wide open on the spot! A gash hundreds of feet long was cleaved open. The violent tremors drew everyone's gaze, and they beheld a treant-like giant bursting through the heavens, leaping out beyond the sky. Its eyes fixed firmly upon the two demon marquises, radiating a savage, bloodthirsty aura. At the same time, they caught sight of the scene inside the jungle domain. Most eye-catching of all was the deep pit at the center of the jungle, where a badger-beast lay motionless, caked in mud. The two demon marquises' expressions changed drastically. "Marquis Li!" The burly man's puffed cheeks froze, his face filled with shock, unable to believe his own eyes. Feeling the aura rushing toward him, the burly man actually shivered and retreated immediately. Seeing the badger-beast in the pit and confirming it was indeed Marquis Li, the crowned woman was equally incredulous. Marquis Li's cultivation was on par with hers, and he had come here bearing heavy responsibilities, only to die here so mysteriously. *This person...* The crowned woman's gaze turned razor-sharp, staring intently at Qin Sang. This figure—neither human nor demon—clearly possessed lower cultivation than Marquis Li. Was his divine ability truly that formidable, or did he have other helpers? A jolt went through the crowned woman's heart. Exchanging a glance with the burly man, she did not hesitate for a moment, turning around and fleeing on the spot. Qin Sang came to a halt as well, not giving chase. He had no ambition to continue hunting demon marquises. For one, his divine consciousness was stretched thin, and the effects of the Dingzhen Pill would not last much longer. For another, utilizing the Spirit Wood Body required staying within the jungle domain, which imposed severe limitations. Using Marquis Li's corpse to frighten off the enemies had been the best choice. After confirming that the two demon marquises had truly retreated rather than feigning a withdrawal, Qin Sang nodded to the two Real Persons and returned to the jungle domain. The two Real Persons flew down after him, clasping their hands in gratitude. Qin Sang had already retracted his Spirit Wood Body, revealing his true form. He moved swiftly through the jungle, picking up several treasures. They were all Marquis Li's belongings, deployed during the desperate struggle. Unfortunately, even his bone spikes had failed to pierce Qin Sang's defenses, so these had served only to slow Qin Sang's offensive. Having cleared the battlefield, Qin Sang flew to the edge of the deep pit. By now, saplings had already sprouted near the pit, growing with astonishing speed and forming a patch of green shade in the blink of an eye. Hovering above the pit, the two Real Persons watched Qin Sang busy at work and exchanged a glance. After weighing her words for a long time, Real Person Youhuang asked softly, "Is this... truly Marquis Li?" Qin Sang stored away the demon corpse and said with a smile, "It was good fortune on this poor Daoist's part. I happened upon Marquis Li when he was already heavily wounded. Speaking of which, I must thank the two of you as well; your arrival distracted him at the crucial moment, allowing this poor Daoist to take advantage." "Is that so? Congratulations, then, Fellow Daoist Qingfeng..." Real Person Guyun let out a dry laugh. He scanned the surroundings. The vegetation here grew at an incredible pace, and in this short time, much of the evidence of battle had already been erased, making it seem as though it truly had not caused too much devastation. This explanation was one they could barely accept. Marquis Li rarely appeared on the battlefield and was not particularly renowned, yet he was still a mid-Dongxuan powerhouse, on equal footing with the female demon who had pursued them. To believe that Qin Sang had slain a peak-condition Marquis Li all on his own was simply too hard to swallow. Still, from the true essence fluctuations on Qin Sang's body, they could tell he had consumed a Dingzhen Pill, proving the fight had not been easy. To be capable of finishing off an injured Marquis Li was ample proof of his extraordinary strength. It was hard to tell how much the two Real Persons truly believed, but neither pressed the matter further. Real Person Youhuang said, "The demons might gather reinforcements; we cannot linger here! This poor Daoist recalls a relatively safe illusionary scene nearby. Why don't we take shelter there, wait for the golden light to recede, and then contact the other Real Persons? If we cannot reach them, we will leave the Jushan Diocese Altar first before deciding whether to stay or go." "Very well!" Qin Sang agreed. The three immediately flew out of the jungle domain. With allies to help withstand the fluctuations of the illusions this time, Qin Sang had the Heavenly Eye Butterfly focus solely on keeping watch. The journey went smoothly. Eventually, the trio arrived at a peculiar location. It resembled a gray wind sack with its opening facing downward. Air currents visible to the naked eye were being drawn into its interior, emitting howling wind sounds. "It is right here. A fellow Daoist was once accidentally sucked into this wind sack and discovered it was merely a space formed of wind, completely devoid of danger. Anyone unfamiliar with the place would certainly not dare enter, making it an excellent hideaway..." Real Person Youhuang pointed at the wind sack and explained. The three then conducted an investigation. After confirming there were no anomalies within, they flew inside. The piercing howl of the wind echoed in their ears. The wind here was merely ordinary wind. Though fierce, it was of little consequence to Deity Transformation cultivators. After a brief exchange with the two Real Persons, Qin Sang chose a spot, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. The two Real Persons looked at the seated Qin Sang with varied expressions before also sitting down to regulate their breath. The wind sack domain could hardly be called quiet. Qin Sang guarded his mind, beginning by reviewing the details of the battle, but soon immersed his consciousness entirely in his cultivation. What commanded such undivided attention was naturally the *Essence Cultivation and Sword Nurturing Chapter*. This was no place for cultivation, yet Qin Sang discovered that after the fierce battle with Marquis Li, he had gained a deeper comprehension of both the technique and the Dao of Slaughter—and the harvest far exceeded his expectations! It was vastly greater than what he had gained from hunting the Thunder Turtle or the Wood Dragon. *Why was the gain so immense this time?* Qin Sang felt somewhat puzzled. All three had been mid Deity Transformation beings, but the difference was that Marquis Li had been at the peak of his strength and had been slain by him alone. In that battle, he had gone all out. *Could it be...* A spark of realization flashed through Qin Sang's mind as he recalled his journey of cultivating this technique. Before the Golden Core stage, he had comprehended the intent of slaughter from endless killing, his murderous aura soaring to the heavens. Upon breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, the technique's bloodthirsty nature had begun to diminish, rendering indiscriminate slaughter useless. Now, at the Deity Transformation realm, did one have to constantly challenge powerhouses and hone oneself amid life-and-death struggles to comprehend the true meaning of the Dao of Slaughter? As this thought arose, cross-referenced with the scripture of the cultivation method, Qin Sang felt he had found the correct path. This caused him to frown slightly. Throughout his cultivation journey, he had always prioritized stability. Unless competing for pivotal opportunities, he rarely took risks, and when facing powerhouses of a higher realm, he would never strike unless he had absolute certainty. Yet if he wished to comprehend the true meaning of the Dao of Slaughter quickly and elevate his cultivation, he would have to continually challenge stronger opponents. His conduct ran counter to the demands of this technique. How to strike a balance in the future would require careful consideration. Fortunately, he was by no means weak among Deity Transformation cultivators. After pondering for a while, Qin Sang set his thoughts aside. Sensing the medicinal power of the Dingzhen Pill beginning to wane and his true essence showing signs of disorder, he could only suppress his true essence back to the late Nascent Soul level. During this time, Real Person Youhuang exited the wind sack from time to time to release talismans. After using several in succession, she finally received a response! "It's Real Person Zhijian and Real Person Zhang." Real Person Youhuang flew back into the wind sack and displayed the talisman to the other two. "They are together not far from us and asked us to rendezvous with them as quickly as possible, mentioning that other fellow Daoists are there as well." "Who else could still be here at a time like this?" Real Person Guyun asked. "The golden light hasn't completely faded, so there wasn't time to go into detail, but it seems to be people from the Daoist Court," Real Person Youhuang replied. Qin Sang awakened from his meditation. Sensing the inquiring gazes of the two Real Persons, he pondered briefly and said, "Let us head over."