Determination

The virulent poison entered his body. Qin Sang took the initiative to rein in the power of the poison pearl, suppressing his true essence and qi and blood. Offering almost no resistance, he immediately felt a wave of discomfort. Since this was not the original cultivation technique, many methods could not be deployed. With no buffer, Qin Sang bore the brunt of the virulent poison almost directly. His physical body rivaled that of a demon cultivator, so he could still endure it. Steadying his mind slightly, he exhaled a breath of turbid air and entered meditation. As the technique circulated, he completed a heavenly circuit in no time. His true essence enveloped the toxins, and his aura gradually steadied. Keeping his eyes closed, Qin Sang raised his hands and swiftly formed an incantation seal. A peculiar fluctuation immediately rippled within his body. This fluctuation was exceedingly strange; transmitted through his true essence, it affected the toxins, and gradually, the toxins began to vibrate in resonance. Through this fluctuation, Qin Sang gained preliminary control over the toxins. As he shifted his seal again, the toxins immediately began to separate. A small amount of impurities precipitated out, while the rest underwent a transformation, converting into the purest poison power. At this moment, the poison power and Qin Sang's true essence remained distinctly separate, yet signs of merging were already apparent. As time passed, the poison power was gradually refined and integrated into his true essence, proving that this path was indeed viable. Everything proceeded quite smoothly after that, and before long, all the virulent poison absorbed into his body was thoroughly refined. Qin Sang suddenly opened his eyes, pleasant surprise showing on his face. Perhaps because he had refined only a small amount of poison essence, or perhaps because the technique truly was as wondrous as anticipated, there were no signs of disorder in Qin Sang's true essence. After sensing it carefully for a moment, Qin Sang immediately spurred the poison pearl, separating out more virulent poison and refining it in succession. In a short span, his progress equaled several days of hard cultivation previously. During the refinement process, Qin Sang also sensed the presence of residual toxins accumulating between his blood and bones. If allowed to continue, this would inevitably become a hidden danger. Qin Sang guided the residual toxins and circulated the secret art of drawing poison to temper the body, mobilizing the residual toxins that had invaded his blood and bones. A sharper pain surged through him, as though virulent poison were washing through his entire body, even to his marrow; his flesh felt as if it were about to melt. Yet pain of this degree could not faze Qin Sang. He sat motionless on his prayer mat, the surging qi and blood inside him peaking before gradually settling down. Once he finished circulating the technique, a thoughtful look appeared on Qin Sang's face as he recalled the entire process of refining poison essence and drawing poison to temper his body. Looking inside his body again, he found that there were indeed residual toxins left behind. Although the leftover poison was minute after the dual refinement, it unquestionably existed—clinging like maggots on a rotting bone, deep in his marrow, and exceptionally difficult to purge. Since he had only just started cultivating it, he could still eradicate it through respiratory detox exercises, but that would inevitably consume time, defeating the very purpose of accelerating his cultivation and making it no better than standard practice. Qin Sang looked toward the poison pearl and circulated the poison-warding radiance. True to his hopes, it forced out more residual toxins, far more easily than doing so through standard breathing exercises. Focusing his senses, he felt that the residual toxins in his body had seemingly been cleared. From this, it was evident that the poison pearl was crucial to him; at least in the initial stages of cultivation, it could resolve the hidden perils of poison arts. Through repeated trials, each question was verified one by one, gradually unfolding just as Qin Sang had hoped. Next, Qin Sang opened his Qianjun Ring. A jade bottle flew out, containing a single drop of flower dew. According to the *Canon of the Poison God*, flower dew was one of the poisons best suited for cultivation. First, it was easier to refine, and second, it left behind fewer residual toxins than other virulent poisons. *Snap!* The jade bottle unsealed, and Qin Sang inhaled, drawing the flower dew into his stomach. *Boom!* Like swallowing a ball of raging fire, it erupted within his body at once. Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly; he had not expected the toxicity to be so ferocious, and he hurriedly focused his mind in meditation. To his surprise, after the initial outburst, the flower dew gradually mellowed. The refining process went exceedingly smoothly, just as recorded in the *Canon of the Poison God*. However, the power of resentment, which Qin Sang cared about the most, was nowhere to be felt during the refinement of the flower dew. "Is it exerting an imperceptible influence so subtle that even I cannot detect it? Or... is the flower dew truly so pure that it cannot be tainted by resentment at all?" Qin Sang was quietly astonished. After some thought, he took out the round bead and opened its seal. The bead was like water. As Qin Sang attempted to draw out the flower poison within, it immediately triggered a violent reaction. Fortunately, Qin Sang was well prepared and smoothly extracted a wisp of flower poison. Compared to the flower dew, this wisp of flower poison had long since melded inextricably with resentment. Qin Sang repeated his earlier method to refine the flower poison, immediately sensing the difference. Silently, the power of resentment in the flower poison spread through his body and invaded his Purple Palace. As if drawn by an attraction, it surged uncannily toward his primordial spirit. Even with all the methods at Qin Sang's disposal, he could not stop the encroachment of the resentment. Yet in the end, the resentment struck an impenetrable iron wall, kept completely at bay. Having failed to penetrate, the resentment lingered for a long time before gradually dispersing. Qin Sang clearly felt every subtle shift in the resentment and nodded inwardly; he had no need to worry about the power of resentment. Nonetheless, because of the resentment's presence, the refining process was not as smooth as with the flower dew and left behind more residual toxins. For cultivation, it was still best to choose the flower dew. At this point, Qin Sang's questions were all answered, and he could proceed with peace of mind. A flicker of fatigue passed through Qin Sang's eyes; the entire process was deeply taxing on mental energy. He slowly concluded his cultivation, rose, and walked out of the cave. Standing atop the peak, he gazed out across the mountains and the flower fields. The boundless world was indeed full of wonders; an ordinary person could hardly imagine that such marvelous flowers existed, or that a flower field lay hidden deep within the diocesan altar. "The flower dew does not ripen all at once; it must be harvested periodically at regular intervals. That would require frequent travel between both places..." Qin Sang realized an issue: harvesting the flower dew could not be entrusted to anyone else; he had to do it personally. If he continued to cultivate on Jianxin Island, setting aside the time needed for the round trips, the current situation was unstable. Guifang was vigorously promoting demon gods in the Sin Plains, while the Daoist Court bided its time. War could erupt at any moment, and the Sin Plains was not safe either. Looking around, an idea occurred to him: what if he stayed here to cultivate from now on? If the cultivators of this world learned of his idea, they would certainly think Qin Sang had lost his mind. Upon entering the Sin Plains, the world's perverse chaos corroded the primordial spirit with increased intensity. It was said that in the deepest reaches of the Sin Plains, even a Daoist register's stabilizing effect on true essence would fail—though naturally, most cultivators lacked the ability to travel that far. The Jushan Diocesan Altar was not located deep enough to compromise true essence, yet even a Dongxuan Real Person would dread losing their wits to confusion and would not dare linger in the altar for long. Qin Sang not only felt no fear, but found the idea all the more brilliant. For him, cultivating here was truly an optimal choice. Secluding himself here, no one would disturb him. As long as he did not leave, no matter how chaotic things became outside, it would not affect him. Guifang and the Daoist Court might still clash over the diocesan altar, but Void Refining stage experts dared not step foot inside. Once he found time to open a path between the poison lake and the jungle illusion, with both places to fall back on, Qin Sang was confident he could contend with any formidable foe. "Wait, I almost forgot about them..." Qin Sang suddenly thought of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly and the Fire Jade Centipede, which he had nearly overlooked. He had the jade Buddha, but the two spirit insects relied on the register altar and the inner true deities he visualized for protection. "The Heavenly Eye Butterfly can also enjoy the jade Buddha's protection to a certain degree, so there should be no need to worry. The inner true deities I visualize also carry the aura of the jade Buddha, incomparable to ordinary altar-guarding divine generals. It's just that I don't know how long the Fire Jade Centipede can endure. If it can hold out for three to five years, that would be fine. The art of artifact refinement cannot be abandoned midway, and I must consult Real Person Zhijian on the sword dao and fetch the Yinghua Pill for the Heavenly Eye Butterfly. I will certainly have to make return trips midway, which will give me a chance to help it recover. Otherwise... could I ask someone else to foster it?" Qin Sang summoned his register altar and called forth the Fire Jade Centipede. Over the past decade, the Fire Jade Centipede had consumed the leftover spirit herbs from the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, making notable progress. If it could successfully metamorphose, it might barely keep pace with him; otherwise, it would eventually become of little use. "We shall see how your fortune unfolds!" Qin Sang muttered to himself. He had already made up his mind: above all, his own cultivation took priority. Before that, he needed to return to Jushan Diocese once, as there were matters that had to be properly arranged. Qin Sang listed the tasks one by one in his mind. His hands flashed repeatedly with incantation seals, and sparing no spirit materials, he refined formation implements on the spot, doing everything he could to repair the array. This place would become his cultivation sanctuary, so it naturally called for meticulous arrangement. After a bout of busy work, the spirit array took on an entirely new look. Flying high into the air, Qin Sang looked down upon the land with satisfaction. With a slight shift of his will, he activated another layer of variations in the spirit array. Outside the space, the poisonous mist and violent gales intensified until even the outer poison waters were affected, churning with torrents and whirlpools while flickering with dangerous glows of poisonous restrictions—a sight that would deter anyone from approaching. Even someone as powerful as an immortal official of the Daoist Court, upon witnessing such a spectacle in the Jushan Diocesan Altar, would keep their distance and prefer to take a detour, unless there was an unavoidable reason to enter. Next, Qin Sang took out a number of formation flags and laid them out layer upon layer. Even if someone were to dive into the poison lake, they would lose their way within and find it impossible to locate this flower field space. Only after ensuring everything was foolproof did Qin Sang cease his work. Looking upon his new sanctuary, a smile formed on his lips. Selecting the highest peak in the realm, he carved out another cave dwelling and set up multiple layers of seals around the aperture. Qin Sang suspected that the extraordinary poison that had killed the true disciple of Mole Cricket Mountain originated from this aperture. So potent was this poison that even Qin Sang dared not take it lightly. The aperture would not erupt without cause, but the conflict between the Daoist Court and Guifang might trigger that golden light again and cause an upheaval in the aperture; precautions had to be taken in advance. Apart from this, he made virtually no other alterations. After regulating his breathing for a short while, Qin Sang flashed out of the space. All the bizarre phenomena here were generated by the spirit array and could not harm him. His figure flickered continuously; his objective, however, was not the exit of the poison lake, but to delve deeper. Before long, Qin Sang reached the opposite side of the poison lake, emerging at its edge. "Huh, there is actually a vast stretch of auspicious clouds here..." Stepping out of the poison lake, Qin Sang found that a bank of auspicious clouds separated the poison lake from the next illusory scene. The moment he stepped into the auspicious clouds, rumbling thunder roared into his ears. Passing through the clouds, Qin Sang saw pitch darkness ahead. The night was boundless, yet far from tranquil. Suddenly, lightning tore through the dark like a rift ripped open in the void, terrifying in its might. The instant the lightning appeared, Qin Sang's heart gave a violent thump from outside the illusory scene, struck by a foreboding sense of crisis. Having been conferred the High Shenxiao Register and having cultivated three types of thunder talismans in succession, Qin Sang was exceedingly sensitive to the power of thunder and lightning. He could tell that it was not real lightning, yet it was far more dangerous than true lightning. The 'lightning' vanished in a flash. Only after a long wait did another bolt strike, no less formidable than the first. For the rest of the time, the night remained completely calm—an eerie, unsettling silence. "I'll explore this later," Qin Sang mused. Cultivating in the poison domain, he would have plenty of time. This was also one of Qin Sang's reasons for staying: to forge a path deeper into the diocesan altar on his own while awaiting news from Mo Xingdao. His arrangements upon returning were also primarily connected to Mo Xingdao. After lingering nearby for a while to observe, Qin Sang flew back toward the exit. The two Real Persons had already set out on their return journey. Qin Sang retraced his steps, encountering no one all the way to the altar's entrance. He then journeyed alone across the Sin Plains without encountering any obstacles, and soon, Jushan Diocese came into view. Returning to Jushan Diocese, Qin Sang made some quick adjustments and headed straight for Jianxin Island. Jianxin orchids grew all across the island, brimming with vitality, while several halls lay nestled amid the dense woods. The moment Qin Sang appeared in the sky above Jianxin Island, he alerted Sword Slave. Sword Slave flew swiftly into the sky. Upon seeing Qin Sang, he was overjoyed. "Real Person has returned safe and sound!" Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. "Did Qingdan Yuanjun and Boxian Shanren come by?" Sword Slave nodded repeatedly. "Not long ago, the two Real Persons visited the island and said you had run into disaster..." As he spoke, Sword Slave took out a command token and crushed it, beaming with delight. "Master is not at his cave dwelling; he was gathering people to head into the Sin Plains to rescue you. Knowing you are unharmed, he will surely be greatly relieved." Qin Sang was taken aback. He had not expected Real Person Zhijian to go to such lengths for him. After a moment of silence, he returned to the island alongside Sword Slave. Before long, sounds of rushing wind rose outside the island as streaks of escape light sped toward them. Qin Sang stood up. Before anyone came into view, hearty laughter rang out, "Little Brother truly has heaven's favor on his side!" Before the words finished fading, three figures filed in. The speaker was none other than Real Person Zhijian, followed by Boxian Shanren and Real Person Youhuang. Boxian Shanren looked somewhat weary. Seeing Qin Sang, he showed a look of immense relief and bowed deeply with hands clasped. "It was we who dragged Real Person into danger. What a stroke of fortune! What a great blessing!" Real Person Youhuang glanced around with her beautiful eyes and chuckled behind her hand. "What did I say? I told you Real Person Qingfeng possesses extraordinary skills far beyond our own. How amusing that you two were in such a frenzy..." Turning to Qin Sang, she added, "The moment Real Person Zhijian heard the dire news, he contacted us at once and bustled about everywhere, sparing no cost to scour for poison-warding treasures to mount a rescue—determined to see you alive or retrieve your body! Had you returned any later, the poison-warding treasures of Jushan Diocese would have been swept clean by us." Boxian Shanren added, "Fellow Daoist Qingdan is currently making rounds among the Daoist sects and will be arriving shortly to join us." Straightening his expression, Qin Sang offered a solemn Daoist bow, a thousand words of gratitude condensed into a sincere thank-you. As the saying went, true character is revealed in adversity. It was evident that Real Person Zhijian was the driving force behind it all. His acquaintance with Qingdan Yuanjun and Boxian Shanren was casual at best; without Real Person Zhijian pressing the matter, they might not have exerted themselves so wholeheartedly. "The path of cultivation is arduous; it is only right that fellow cultivators watch over and help one another. Think nothing of it," Real Person Zhijian said, patting Qin Sang on the shoulder. "It is enough that you returned, Little Brother. Passing through such trials is not necessarily a bad thing." The group took their seats and asked about Qin Sang's experience. Qin Sang had naturally prepared an explanation, and when he recounted the perilous moments, even the fellow Real Persons turned pale. Real Person Zhijian ordered Sword Slave to prepare a banquet to calm Qin Sang's nerves. By the time the banquet concluded, it was late into the night, and the two Real Persons took their leave contentedly. Qin Sang and Real Person Zhijian lingered over wine beneath the moon. "To be frank with you, Brother, although this ordeal was fraught with peril, it also turned out to be an opportunity that will greatly benefit my future cultivation. However, I will no longer be able to stay and cultivate on Jianxin Island; I must leave for a long time." "Oh?" Real Person Zhijian drained the nectar in his cup. In the world of immortal cultivation, turning a misfortune into a blessing was by no means rare. He felt no surprise, nor did he inquire about what the opportunity was, merely stating, "Whatever you need, Little Brother, just say the word." Qin Sang shook his head and smiled. "Our pact to discuss swordsmanship is something this poor Daoist has always kept close to heart. I will still return often to impose upon you, Brother."