Recovery

The tremors in the cave mansion's protective grand array lasted for a long time. As the tremors gradually subsided, Qin Sang's aura receded, finally settling down. Opening his eyes, he could hardly conceal the gleam of excitement within them. Before this, he had never imagined he would break through to the mid-fifth transformation of the Heavenly Demon Refining Form in a mere thirty years. Calming his emotions, Qin Sang inspected his body internally. The breakthrough had left no hidden ailments. Clenching his fists lightly, he felt as though his physical body held an inexhaustible wellspring of power. Just then, a thought struck him, and he looked up at the Qingluan dharma idol above his head. With this breakthrough, the change in the Qingluan dharma idol was evident. Its phantom form had condensed further, gradually transitioning toward tangible reality, though it was still far from comparable to the fleeting glimpse he had caught of a Demon King's dharma idol. What Qin Sang wanted to know was what benefits each metamorphosis of the Qingluan dharma idol could bring him. The cultivation method did not specify. Perhaps different dharma idols served different purposes, or perhaps it was tied to bloodlines—demon cultivators blessed with bloodline inheritances might comprehend it intuitively, whereas he could only grope forward on his own. Cultivating the Heavenly Demon Refining Form with a human body inevitably brought all sorts of troubles. Qin Sang had long grown accustomed to it; he at once reined in his mind and tuned his senses to the dharma idol. ... One year later. A faint golden light flickered inside the cave mansion, illuminating the outline of Qin Sang's figure. His hands formed an incantation seal—precisely the first seal of the Seven Master Buddha Seals, the Auspicious Seal. As the saying went, hands forming covenant seals, mouth chanting true mantras, heart visualizing the revered Buddha. Qin Sang's mastery had long reached the level of forming the seal within his heart, yet he still formed it with his hands. However, while both were the Auspicious Seal, this was worlds apart from before. "Still not quite..." A sigh resonated. Qin Sang opened his eyes, staring at his hands in deep contemplation. Evidently, he was comprehending and deducing the Seven Master Buddha Seals in pursuit of unifying all seven seals into one. There were still five years left before his appointed time with Venerable Zhenru. Back then, Qin Sang had thought a fifty-year pact was generous enough and that he would certainly grasp the unification of the seven seals. Unexpectedly, he obtained the Poison God Canon by chance, so he devoted himself to cultivating that and set the Seven Master Buddha Seals aside. Raising his cultivation realm first would surely make comprehending the Buddha seals easier after the breakthrough. As expected, during the year following his breakthrough, Qin Sang advanced by leaps and bounds, already achieving the fusion of five seals. Only the final two remained: the Vajra Heavenly Cuirass Seal and the Vajra Great Ease Seal. He was currently working on integrating the Vajra Heavenly Cuirass Seal, only to hit a bottleneck at the final hurdle. The more Buddha seals one attempted to merge, the harder it became. Qin Sang was mentally prepared for this, murmuring to himself, "Knowledge gained from paper is always superficial; it still must be verified through actual combat..." To verify his Buddha seals, the best opponents were vicious beasts; it would also allow him to comprehend the slaughter dao and acquire precious spiritual materials—truly killing multiple birds with one stone. Qin Sang rose, and the Heavenly Eye Butterfly immediately landed on his shoulder. Leaving the mansion, he gathered the matured flower dew and arrived at the two premium flower fields. Catching sight of the stone aperture, Qin Sang paused. Gazing at it for a moment, Qin Sang blurred into motion, crossing the flower field for the first time to draw near to the aperture. Dense poisonous miasma swirled around the aperture, as if terrifying perils lurked within the murk. Though Qin Sang had the poison pearl protecting his body and cultivated a poison art himself, he still felt an inexplicable discomfort upon drawing close. In the end, he halted atop a hill several li away, gazing toward the aperture. According to the records of the Poison God Canon and deductions from the spirit array, the aperture lay deep beneath the mountain. Activating his Heavenly Eye divine ability, he could see a circular stone cave at the foot of the mountain. Billows of toxic mist surged endlessly from the cave mouth, thick and impenetrable. Normally, an aperture would not accumulate such an immense quantity of toxins; once it reached a certain threshold, it would be purged. Heaven knew how long these flower fields had existed. Qin Sang had inquired in secret throughout Jushan Diocese. Within Jushan Diocese and the Daoist sects, certain factions passed down poison dao techniques, but few specialized solely in the poison dao like Mole Cricket Mountain, and none shared any lineage with the Poison God Canon. Nor were there any legends concerning the "Poison God" in Jushan Diocese. Standing there, Qin Sang hesitated, ultimately choosing not to approach the cave entrance. 'I should wait until I break through to mid-Deity Transformation at least before exploring it,' Qin Sang mused. Firstly, he sensed extraordinary danger inside the cave and lacked sufficient strength; secondly, the power of the poison pearl was not great enough. When the fat silkworm had separated the poison pearl, it was merely a fourth-transformation spirit insect. After coming into his possession, the pearl had only upgraded by devouring and reconstructing the Bloodthirsty Miasma Spirit's poison—and that had been harvested from a dead insect corpse. During this recent period, Qin Sang had focused entirely on his own cultivation. The poison pearl had been used primarily as an aid, receiving only a small portion of the floral poison, so its enhancement was slow. As his cultivation advanced and the rate at which he consumed poison accelerated, he would inevitably need to elevate the poison pearl as well to suppress any residual poison. However, doing so would stretch his supply of flower dew even thinner. Sooner or later, he would have to enter the aperture to uncover the truth. Taking a final look at the stone cave, Qin Sang withdrew and left the poison lake entirely. Habitually checking his secret markers, he found them all intact. Without realizing it, over forty years had passed, and Guifang Country and the Daoist Court seemed to have forgotten about the Jushan Diocesan Altar. Guifang Country was vigorously promoting the divine dao, wholly devoted to gathering believers, with demon temples springing up everywhere, while the Daoist Court held its troops in place. Perhaps the two great powers were wrestling in unseen corners. Shaking his head inwardly, Qin Sang departed the diocesan altar and flew deeper into the Sin Plains. ... "This is the place." Amidst an endless black marsh, Qin Sang perched upon a tree branch, gazing at the mire ahead. Focusing his perception, he confirmed that the vicious beast was still there. Previously, Qin Sang had discovered this beast, but with two other beasts' lairs nearby, he had not dared to act rashly. With his recent breakthrough, his confidence was bolstered. After scouting around the marsh in stealth, he discovered that the other two beasts had left at some point. Having no further reason to hold back, he released his aura without reserve and charged straight for the mire. *Splash!* Surges of mud vaulted skyward as a vicious beast with a serpent's head and a turtle's body burst forth, its savage glare locked onto Qin Sang. ... Two months after leaving the diocesan altar, Qin Sang returned cloaked in bloody, baleful qi, with two more Deity Transformation vicious beast demon cores in his Qianjun Ring. Though he had not encountered any beast requiring his full might, the two fierce battles were enough to test his comprehension of the Buddha seals. The bottleneck was loosening; before long, he would surely be able to merge six seals. Qin Sang was in no hurry to return to his cave mansion. After being in seclusion for so long, it was time to make a trip back to Jushan Diocese. Galloping southeast for a stretch, Qin Sang concealed his aura and hid his form. Guifang Country was growing increasingly rampant; demon temples had expanded across the Sin Plains along the northern border of Jushan Diocese and reached north of Star Island Immortal Lake, blocking Jushan cultivators from entering and exiting the Sin Plains. It was said that the Daoist Court's armies held the southern front, deterring them from crossing the line, but the sects in northern Jushan had no strength to contend with Guifang Country and could only swallow their grievances, awaiting the Daoist Court's next move. Familiar with the route, Qin Sang slipped through the territories of several demon gods and arrived at the snake demon's temple. The temple was constructed from rough stone slabs, sturdy and brimming with an archaic aura. Before the temple stood an idol of the snake demon, lifelike and exuding an imposing presence capable of swallowing the sun and moon. The snake demon gathered worshippers within its fief—not only Ghost People, but also mountain imps and tree spirits. After coming into being, such spirits were typically tainted gradually by the ancient qi of the Six Heavens, turning into vicious beasts. Yet after becoming the snake demon's worshippers, receiving divine will just like the Ghost People, their intelligence slowly opened up, and their bloodlust lessened considerably. To some extent, the existence of the demon gods had revitalized the Sin Plains. As for the snake demon itself, after becoming a demon god and receiving the veneration and kowtows of its followers, it profited immensely. Driven by curiosity, Qin Sang had investigated the matter and discovered that it was accomplished through the idol before the temple. When worshippers sincerely prostrated and prayed before the idol, a curious power arose from them, which the idol absorbed and funneled into the snake demon's body. The snake demon only needed to recline in its divine hall and grant some worshippers' wishes every now and then. Both temple and idol had been constructed by Guifang Country; the snake demon merely reaped the rewards without understanding the underlying principles. Qin Sang had once studied the idol, yet failed to grasp its crux. The snake demon, initially somewhat averse, had begun to relish the sensation of being a deity. Inside the temple. The snake demon lounged half-asleep upon a plush daybed, draped in brocade quilts and silk canopies, its table laden with spirit fruits—the very picture of ease. "A pity this isn't Guifang Country," the snake demon hissed, extending its tongue to coil around a spirit fruit. It munched vigorously, filling its mouth with fragrance. Civilizing them by hand was far inferior to reaping pre-existing benefits. These Ghost People and spirits possessed limited intellect, able to offer only natural spirit fruits as tribute. Suddenly, a figure coalesced before the daybed. The snake demon's jaws froze. Gulping down the fruit whole, it tumbled off the bed and fell to its knees in prostration: "This humble god was unaware of Immortal's arrival and failed to receive you properly. I beg Immortal's forgiveness!" By now, the snake demon had completely styled itself as a serpent god, showing none of its former drive for vigorous cultivation. No one nearby competed with it for believers. Assuming godhood, founding a temple, and gaining a steady influx of power simply by granting worshippers' wishes— With power coming so effortlessly, most people would grow indolent. Qin Sang shook his head inwardly but said nothing. Mere words would hardly snap the snake demon out of its complacency; only a cataclysmic upheaval would jolt it awake. As the saying went, water can float a boat, but it can also capsize it. Qin Sang believed the divine dao was by no means so simple. Once the Daoist Court counterattacked, felling mountains and crushing temples, what would become of gods who lost their worshippers? "Any news lately?" Qin Sang asked coolly. The snake demon replied respectfully, "This humble god has been gathering news on spiritual herbs and has made some headway; I will contact them upon my next return... Also, three months ago, that bei demon delivered a talisman letter." With that, the snake demon produced a yellow talisman. Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. Drawing it into his hand, he probed it with his spiritual sense; it was indeed a secret letter from Mo Xingdao. The letter conveyed only a single piece of news: Hongyuzi had secluded himself for decades, his injuries were fully healed, and soon after exiting seclusion he had begun preparing various magic treasures and spirit talismans. Mo Xingdao judged that within three years at most, Hongyuzi would explore the Jushan Diocesan Altar once again! "Three years..." Qin Sang wore a contemplative look. It was said Hongyuzi had been gravely wounded last time; as expected of an immortal official of the Daoist Court, he had fully recovered after forty years of seclusion. Had Qin Sang not obtained the Poison God Canon, his strength would be far below what it was now, forcing him to tread carefully. Now, however, his options were vastly expanded. His and Mo Xingdao's previous plan had been for Mo Xingdao to stall Hongyuzi and buy Qin Sang time, working together to gradually explore the path of ascension. With Qin Sang's cultivation progressing far faster than expected, the plan naturally had to change to secure greater advantages. He could even consider helping Mo Xingdao break free from control; that way, the initiative would firmly rest in their hands. Crushing the talisman letter, Qin Sang paced back and forth, weighing his strength. Although Hongyuzi held the exalted rank of a primary fourth-rank immortal official, if Qin Sang laid out preparations in advance, using the terrain of the diocesan altar to strike an unsuspecting foe, it was not impossible. In three years, Qin Sang believed he should be able to integrate the seventh seal. The timing was somewhat inconvenient, however; he had originally intended to visit Jingtai Temple once he merged all seven seals. Breaching the Pagoda of Stupas might not succeed in a single attempt, and even if he obtained some fortunate encounter, he could not digest it in a short time. More importantly, he needed to explore the diocesan altar ahead of Hongyuzi's move, striving to delve deeper so he could handle any unexpected shifts with composure. He could only postpone the trip to the temple. Pausing his steps, Qin Sang immediately produced a spirit talisman, inscribed a cipher upon it, and commanded, "Deliver this to the bei demon without delay." The snake demon assented, daring not dillydally. As soon as Qin Sang departed, it whipped up a demonic gust and sped toward Jushan Diocese. Qin Sang also traveled south. Upon entering Star Island Immortal Lake, he noticed a large number of cultivators gathered along the lake's borders. These were disciples dispatched by various sects, guarding the border to prevent demon gods from causing havoc and drawing the armies of Guifang Country. Qin Sang quietly slipped through the defensive line and first visited Real Person Zhijian on Sword Heart Island, deliberately suppressing his aura so as not to cause undue shock. This time, Qin Sang stayed on Sword Heart Island longer, consulting Real Person Zhijian on swordsmanship and sparring with him repeatedly. He needed to master the sword technique he had gained from the swordsmanship inheritance as soon as possible. Every bit of strength gained meant another sliver of opportunity. After leaving Sword Heart Island, Qin Sang visited Master Qi on Pot Island, where he received a second talisman letter. This letter had been sent by Master Gu. Over the past forty years, Master Gu had sent two letters in total, both containing insights she had gained while studying the broken drum, written in cipher. This was the agreement between her and Qin Sang. Repairing the broken drum had to be done by Qin Sang personally, so Master Gu could only assist him to the best of her abilities by sharing what she learned. Interspersed within these insights was Master Gu's profound comprehension of artifact crafting, something any artifact refiner would treasure as a priceless boon. Unfortunately, Qin Sang had no mind for artifact crafting at present; he skimmed through it and stowed it away for the time being. He conferred with Master Qi for several days, bringing out the demon beast carcasses he had amassed to re-refine the gauntlet and the Wind Returning Armor. Regrettably, the Wind Returning Armor failed to undergo a qualitative transformation; both treasures merely received modest enhancements. Feeling the press of time, Qin Sang hurried back to his cave mansion almost without stopping to resume his seclusion. During this seclusion, Qin Sang cast everything else aside, concentrating solely on comprehending the Seven Master Buddha Seals. Thereafter, Qin Sang visited the snake demon's temple at regular intervals, exchanging talisman letters with Mo Xingdao. Three years slipped by in the blink of an eye. On this day, Qin Sang was not in his cave mansion. Venturing deep into the diocesan altar alone, he pushed through one phantasmal realm after another. Along the border between Baishi Diocese and the Sin Plains, two figures sped steadily forward: Hongyuzi and Mo Xingdao. Trailing slightly behind, Mo Xingdao looked at Hongyuzi's back, his eyes flickering. Having been kept under restriction within the Daoist Court, he was unsure whether there would be other helpers. He could only hope it was Hongyuzi alone; only then would he and Qin Sang, joining forces, have a chance to escape. Flying for a distance, they swept past a narrow valley. Hongyuzi glanced down, his gaze narrowing slightly as he shook his head with a soft sigh. "These demons and monsters grow more brazen by the day." Following his gaze, Mo Xingdao saw an idol erected within the valley, before which several Ghost People and spirits knelt in prostration. A demon god had actually dared to build a temple right next to the Daoist Court. ... Not long after their departure. Along the border of Guifang Country and the Sin Plains, inside a mountain cave mansion, an alluring woman was quietly cultivating. Suddenly, a streak of light flew into the cave mansion, and a voice rang out: "They have made their move." The woman's almond eyes snapped open, and the corners of her lips curved into a smile of breathtaking beauty.