At the thought of magic treasures, Qin Sang retrieved Yu Hua's mustard seed bag.
Yu Hua's Ten Directions Yanluo Array had been destroyed by Qin Sang, but the magic treasure was unharmed.
Now Qin Sang possessed two identical magic treasures, both originating from the same source.
From Yu Hua, he had learned that before Patriarch Kuiyin passed away, he had bequeathed five Ten Directions Yanluo Banner magic treasures, entrusting them to his five primary disciples.
When the Kuiyin Sect met its demise, Daoist Jiupao and another Golden Core cultivator each held one, while the whereabouts of a third remained unknown.
Qin Sang knew that Sun De had carried that one with him when infiltrating Shaohua Mountain.
Yi Tiannie had held two of the magic treasures; he kept one for himself and entrusted the other to Zhao Yan to steal the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid. That banner later fell into Yu Hua's hands, and after many twists and turns, it now belonged to Qin Sang.
On the night of the calamity, Yi Tiannie and the other Golden Core cultivator were slain on the spot. If the Ten Directions Yanluo Banners in their hands hadn't been destroyed, they had likely fallen into the possession of the Yuanzhao Sect.
Yu Hua had witnessed with his own eyes that Daoist Jiupao's life magic treasure was shattered by the self-detonation of the Yuanzhao Sect's sect master, and that he had only escaped with his life thanks to his Ten Directions Yanluo Banner—which had also been left battered and severely damaged.
Afterward, Daoist Jiupao had faced relentless pursuit until his physical body was severed and his golden core grievously wounded. The likelihood that his magic treasure had been destroyed was by no means small.
Even if it hadn't been destroyed, repairing such a treasure would be exceptionally difficult, scarcely easier than healing Daoist Jiupao's own injuries. Otherwise, the Kuiyin Sect would have long since reassembled all ten Yanluo Banners to restore Patriarch Kuiyin's formidable renown.
As things stood among the five Ten Directions Yanluo Banners, Qin Sang held two, the Yuanzhao Sect kept two sealed away, and Daoist Jiupao possessed one.
The Ten Directions Yanluo Banners were a set of magic treasures into which Patriarch Kuiyin had poured his life's blood. It was said that once all ten were assembled to lay down the demonic array, its might was formidable enough to rival even top-grade magic treasures!
Generally speaking, Golden Core cultivators made use of magic tools, talisman treasures, or low-grade magic treasures. Those with substantial wealth or great fortune might obtain a middle-grade magic treasure, while having a high-grade magic treasure was reserved for a tiny handful of exceptional figures.
High-grade and top-grade magic treasures were supreme treasures that only Nascent Soul cultivators could possess.
Across all the major sects of the Lesser Cold Domain, top-grade magic treasures could be counted on one hand!
It was by relying on this treasure that Patriarch Kuiyin had carved out his demonic notoriety, reigning supreme over the Lesser Cold Domain and striking terror into the hearts of its cultivators. Sadly, he had no worthy successors, and now the sect's heritage had been severed.
Even a single Ten Directions Yanluo Banner stood at the absolute pinnacle of low-grade magic treasures!
Holding the two Ten Directions Yanluo Banner magic treasures, Qin Sang pondered in silence. He wondered whether, like the magic tool versions, it required gathering six banners before they could coordinate with one another to form a demonic array.
Yu Hua had not known the answer to this either.
*It seems I will have to break through to the Golden Core stage before I can test this,* Qin Sang thought to himself.
Those main souls had devoured the greater part of his essence blood just to shoulder a single magic treasure, exerting nearly every ounce of their strength to barely pull it off. Driving two magic treasures at once was completely out of the question.
Putting away the magic treasures, Qin Sang continued searching through the mustard seed bag.
In the end, he found only three top-grade magic tools worthy of note.
One resembled a vajra pestle, but it had been twisted like a cruller and thoroughly ruined, beyond any value of repair.
Looking at the deep handprint stamped into the vajra pestle, one could tell at a glance that it was the handiwork of the Flying Yaksha.
Another was called the Myriad Crows Pot. Qin Sang had initially assumed it was a magic tool with a specialized function, but after refining it, he discovered it was a defensive tool.
The Myriad Crows Pot released billowing smoke that transformed into thousands of ravens to form a defensive array. Moving according to its master's will, it could be yielding or unyielding, full of endless variations.
Its power surpassed the seven-colored parasol, and it moved at will, proving exceptionally handy.
However, the smoke inside the Myriad Crows Pot was depleted at present—likely exhausted while defending against the Flying Yaksha. It would require some time to nurture before it could fully recover.
There was also a flying sword. Qin Sang placed it on his palm and examined it closely.
The flying sword bore a handprint where corpse poison had yet to dissipate, another mark left by the Flying Yaksha. Several cracks ran across the middle of the blade, but fortunately, the sword had not snapped, leaving open the possibility of repair.
Once his skill in artifact refinement improved, it would serve as good practice.
*The Flying Yaksha's physical body is simply terrifying!* Qin Sang muttered inwardly as he stowed the magic tools away.
Among those Qin Sang knew of alone, the top-grade magic tools Yu Hua had lost to the Flying Yaksha included three: the breastplate mirror, the vajra pestle, and the flying sword.
Tempered by a corpse core and earth fiend qi, the Flying Yaksha's body possessed a hardness far exceeding magic tools; it could no longer be regarded as mere flesh and blood.
It was a pity that Qin Sang had no desire to tread the path of corpses or truly become a refined corpse. He dared not draw earth fiend qi to temper his flesh, striving instead to avoid it at all costs. Otherwise, with such a formidable body, wouldn't he be free to roam anywhere between heaven and earth?
He continued searching, but found no talisman treasure.
Qin Sang was not disheartened. Since both required preparation time, the Ten Directions Yanluo Array and magic treasures far surpassed talisman treasures in power, and he didn't need to worry about exhausting their finite might.
Finally, Qin Sang took out two jade bottles, a look of pleasant surprise surfacing in his eyes.
They were actually two bottles of Lilong Pills!
The effects of a Lilong Pill were similar to a Qi Gathering Pill, but its medicinal potency was beyond compare, making it a top-tier pill for consolidating the foundation and cultivating the origin.
No wonder Yu Hua's cultivation speed had been so rapid.
Qin Sang had left the Yuanzhao Sect at age twenty-five and was now seventy-two, barely under fifty years in total.
One had to realize that Yu Hua's talent was by no means top-notch; otherwise, he wouldn't have reached such an advanced age before breaking through to Foundation Establishment, nor would he have betrayed his sect to serve as an inside agent for the demonic sects just to achieve it.
In fifty years, Yu Hua had gone from newly reaching Foundation Establishment to the False Core stage. Across the entire cultivation world, that was considered quite fast.
Evidently, Yu Hua had consumed no small number of miraculous pills and spirit medicines, and he still had a surplus left over.
Delighted, Qin Sang pocketed the two bottles of Lilong Pills, offering a silent word of thanks to Yu Hua for allowing his own cultivation pace to advance a step faster.
The greatest harvest was the magic treasure and the two bottles of Lilong Pills, along with several thousand spirit stones. Qin Sang sorted the remaining items into categories and tucked them away into his own mustard seed bag.
Having sorted through his spoils, Qin Sang felt thoroughly satisfied. Trading his losses for such a harvest had undoubtedly been worth it, though he certainly had no desire to experience it a second time.
Reviewing the ordeal, from the moment Yu Hua forced him to show himself, every step had been taken on the edge of a blade. A single misstep would have meant utter ruin. Qin Sang would much rather never encounter such an ordeal again.
Learning that Yu Hua had entered Wuya Valley solely in search of spirit herbs, only pursuing him after sensing the fluctuations of the Heart-Devouring Insect, and that he had no other accomplices, Qin Sang felt at ease.
When he tried questioning further, Yu Hua's origin soul had begun to decay.
The ice hall was far from quiet. Outside the ice walls, violent winds and blizzards continuously battered the frozen barrier with sharp clatters.
Qin Sang looked up and glanced outside the ice wall. Yunyouzi was still nowhere to be seen. He wondered how the old Daoist was faring, and whether he had obtained the Nightbloom Lily.
With his injuries severe, Qin Sang simply stayed inside the ice hall to adjust his breathing and recuperate.
He was in no hurry to remove the Heavenly Corpse Talisman; when leaving, he would still need to rely on it to mislead the Flying Yaksha.
Qin Sang sat cross-legged in the ice hall, motionless. The chaotic spiritual power within his body gradually calmed. Under the restorative effects of the spirit pills and his cultivation method, the damage to his dantian and meridians began to mend.
Minutes and seconds ticked away.
After an unknown period, Qin Sang woke from his meditative trance and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
Turning his inner vision upon himself, he saw that while his injuries were not yet fully healed, fortunately, they had little impact on his strength.
Chapter 397