Cultivation

"A heavenly treasure!" Qin Sang’s expression shook. He knew in his heart that Yunyouzi’s hidden injuries required an elixir on the level of a heavenly treasure, and that the old Daoist had once again begun rushing about in search of a cure. He hurried to ask, "What is Senior’s current cultivation?" Li Yufu said with a relaxed expression, "Grand Master’s cultivation has already reached perfection. Three years ago, when he exited seclusion, he was already at the False Core stage. Grand Master originally intended to come in person to catch up with you, Martial Uncle, but the matter seemed urgent, and he left in great haste, so he could only entrust the task to me." Hearing this news, Qin Sang was inwardly shocked. Twenty-eight years ago, Yunyouzi had only just broken through to the middle Foundation Establishment stage. Yet now, he had overtaken him from behind, stepping into the False Core stage a step ahead of him! Could Yunyouzi’s innate talent truly rival that of Senior Qingzhu, who had cultivated the Origin Soul Sword-Nurturing Chapter? Of course, the greatest hurdle was Core Formation; who knew how many breathtakingly brilliant talents had been trapped before this threshold, unable to advance a single inch for the rest of their lives! Such were the benefits of high talent. Yunyouzi had been able to establish his foundation at the advanced age of a hundred—his talent went without saying. Were it not for the constraints of his hidden injuries, it was hard to imagine what astonishing achievements Yunyouzi might have reached! Even with his painstaking efforts cultivating the Origin Soul Sword-Nurturing Chapter and the aid of the killing talismans, he had failed to catch up. Breaking off his cultivation and distracting himself with other matters upon breaking through to the False Core stage meant Yunyouzi’s premonition was very likely coming true: the hidden injuries on his body would have a profound impact on his Core Formation. Otherwise, based on Qin Sang’s understanding of Yunyouzi, the old Daoist would surely have endured the loneliness, remaining in closed-door cultivation until he formed his core before emerging. "Major matters take precedence!" Qin Sang waved his hand without minding in the least. "When you return to the sect and see your Grand Master, tell him that if he needs any help, he only has to send word." He was no longer the novice he used to be. Facing a Flying Yaksha again, he would have some power to contend with it, rather than being utterly helpless like last time. To his surprise, Li Yufu gently shook his head and said, "In reply to Martial Uncle: Grand Master instructed me that after delivering the Heyun Pill into your hands, Martial Uncle, I am to go to the Yuncang Great Marsh to temper myself." The Yuncang Great Marsh? The Yuncang Great Marsh of today was not what it used to be; describing it as a tiger's den or dragon's lair was no exaggeration. Qin Sang frowned upon hearing this and asked, "What arrangements does Senior have for you?" Li Yufu answered honestly, "Grand Master told me to accompany several senior martial brothers to familiarize myself with the Yuncang Great Marsh, and to decide my future matters on my own." Qin Sang nodded slightly. Li Yufu was already a Foundation Establishment cultivator; he needed to forge his own path to achieve anything of note. Yunyouzi likely had this exact intention, which was why he decided to let go. How grand a fortune he would attain depended on Li Yufu's own destiny and ability. Having guessed Yunyouzi’s intentions, Qin Sang naturally would not rashly interfere. After a moment's thought, he retrieved a pair of male-and-female swords from his mustard seed bag. Although the quality of these paired male-and-female swords was only high-grade, the blades were alloyed with cold metal, making them not a whit inferior to top-grade magic tools. They were among Qin Sang's proudest creations, kept on hand specifically to be given as gifts. Even setting aside his ties to Mingyue in the mortal realm, Yunyouzi treated Li Yufu like a direct disciple, so gifting this pair of spirit swords was well worth it. Li Yufu took the paired swords, his excitement plain to see. "Thank you, Martial Uncle!" "Go on," Qin Sang did not detain Li Yufu further. "The situation in the Yuncang Great Marsh is growing increasingly chaotic, so remember to act with caution... I expect that before long, I will also be drafted by my sect into the killing grounds. We will meet again then..." Qin Sang was not speaking hollow words. The situation in the Yuncang Great Marsh was growing tenser by the day. The Lesser Cold Domain and the Heaven-Traversing Alliance had not openly torn off all pretenses yet, but small-scale skirmishes broke out constantly with casualties on both sides, causing animosity to run deeper and deeper. In recent years, the Foundation Establishment disciples of Shaohua Mountain were either stationed to guard Xuanlu Pass or drafted into the Yuncang Great Marsh. Qin Sang had also received missives from his sect several times. Fortunately, with Qi Yuanshou mediating on his behalf, Qin Sang had used the excuse of being at a critical juncture of a breakthrough to stall until now. He reckoned he couldn't delay it much longer. Having seen Li Yufu off, Qin Sang could hardly wait. He returned to his cave dwelling and took out the Heyun Pill. Holding the crescent-white spirit pill between his fingertips, Qin Sang caught a whiff of its rich medicinal aroma, intoxicating his mind! The potency of the Heyun Pill was also formidable, but it fell short of the Xuanwen Heyun Pill in one respect: if the pill proved ineffective for Qin Sang, its medicinal power could not be converted into cultivation, leaving him no choice but to watch helplessly as it went to waste. Yet this concerned his very foundation, so even if the Heyun Pill was completely wasted, he would spare no cost! Qin Sang took a deep breath, tilted his head back, and swallowed the pill! As the pill entered his abdomen, Qin Sang's heart was as calm as still water as he slowly refined it. The cave dwelling was extraordinarily quiet; Qin Sang sat motionless like an ancient pine. A long time later, a prolonged sigh suddenly echoed within the cave dwelling. Qin Sang had awakened from meditation at some point, opening his eyes to stare blankly at the cave wall. The efficacy of this Heyun Pill was not even half that of the previous Xuanwen Heyun Pill. The greater part of its potency had gone to waste. Though Qin Sang had anticipated this, he still could not help feeling dejected. Yet recalling how Yunyouzi had met with defeat time and again, suffering setback after setback while his Dao heart remained unshakable, Qin Sang cast aside those stray thoughts, his expression returning to composure. Exhaling a long breath of turbid air, Qin Sang entered meditation once more, sinking his mind into his origin soul space. Upon the ebony sword, three and a half killing talismans shone in mutual radiance, constantly absorbing spiritual energy and advancing Qin Sang's cultivation. Nowadays, Qin Sang's cultivation speed was actually a cut above that of three-spiritual-root cultivators! Previously, he had only refined the Blood-Dripping Ghost Mushroom, leaving two bottles of Lilong Pills untouched. After breaking through, he had cultivated bitterly for another seven years. Barring any accidents, in a little over ten more years, he would catch up with Yunyouzi and begin preparations for Core Formation! What Qin Sang hoped for most was that the Lesser Cold Domain and the Heaven-Traversing Alliance would maintain restraint, at least until he reached the False Core stage. Regrettably, things in the world rarely went entirely as one wished. After three months in closed-door cultivation, Qin Sang held a missive from his sect, a helpless expression on his face. The letter was not from just anyone—it was penned personally by Qi Yuanshou and delivered by messenger. It ordered Qin Sang to drop everything at hand and return to the sect in the near future to await assignment, regardless of whether he had achieved a breakthrough. The phrasing of the missive was stern, brooking no objection from Qin Sang. In order to buy time, Qin Sang had been suppressing the matter, never reporting his true cultivation. Only a few months ago, he had mentioned this very possibility to Li Yufu; he had not expected his words to prove prophetic so soon, being summoned back by Qi Yuanshou like this. Qin Sang had no intention of betraying Shaohua Mountain. Though he was neither favored nor pampered there, the benefit was that no one restricted him, leaving him completely free. When facing difficulties, he could still seek aid from the sect—so why not stay? Since he had no intention of defecting, he could only obey orders. Qin Sang took stock of his cultivation and various magic tools. He was not worried about the dangers of the Yuncang Great Marsh; as long as he did not run into a Core Formation cultivator of the Heaven-Traversing Alliance, he could come and go freely. His only fear was that heavy sect duties would disrupt his cultivation. He hoped the mission Qi Yuanshou arranged for him would be relatively light. Qin Sang relinquished his cave dwelling, bought out the Sword Pavilion shop entirely to give to Ning Youwei to manage, and departed Qingyang Market all alone. Before leaving, Qin Sang turned around and took a deep, lingering look in the direction of the Qingyang Demonic Sect, as well as Wuya Valley. For now, he had made no move against the peak Demon Spirit stage flood dragon, as he lacked sufficient certainty in extracting its spirit soul. Failing to obtain the flood dragon's spirit soul would render all his efforts in vain. Qin Sang intended to make another trip here once he reached the False Core stage.