In this place, even carrying the Warm Yang Bead could not ward off the bone-chilling cold.
According to Senior Brother Liang Yan, when one first obtained a Yanluo Banner, the Yanwang's strength was merely equivalent to a cultivator at the first layer of the Qi Refinement stage. One only needed to absorb yin baleful qi in the uppermost reaches of the Yin Baleful Abyss, waiting until the Yanwang's power gradually grew before venturing deeper bit by bit.
Even with the Qi-Watching Technique active, visibility at this vantage remained extremely narrow. Qin Sang could only glimpse a senior brother sitting cross-legged far off on the cliffs lining the Yin Baleful Gorge, controlling a Yanwang to draw in yin baleful qi.
Each time the Yanwang absorbed a wisp of yin baleful qi, that senior brother would draw it back into the Yanluo Banner, sinking his spiritual sense inside to suppress the creature and waiting quite a while before repeating the process.
Lacking the protection of the jade Buddha, the others had to proceed with utmost caution whether they were commanding their Yanwang to absorb yin baleful qi or relying on Soul Pills to cultivate. The only person who dared give his Yanwang free rein without restraint, taking one Soul Pill after another in an unbroken stream, was Qin Sang.
Finding a deserted corner, Qin Sang pushed the baleful-warding pouch to its limit and plunged into the yin baleful qi. Once he had traveled a fair distance inward, he drew out the Yanluo Banner and immediately felt the Yanwang's excited stirrings.
Absorbing yin baleful qi was indeed far more efficient than devouring souls. Before long, the Yanwang's strength was fully restored. Qin Sang then ordered it to produce Soul Pills until he had accumulated a month's supply. After waiting on the spot for several more shichen, he finally raised the baleful-warding pouch and returned to his cave dwelling.
From then on, Qin Sang settled into a strict routine. At the end of every month, he went to consult Martial Uncle Yue, stopping by the Yin Baleful Abyss to harvest Soul Pills, and then holed up in his cave dwelling without stepping outside. In any case, food was delivered daily.
With no one to disturb him, he could cultivate wholeheartedly, giving equal attention to his cultivation art and incantations.
In less than a year, Qin Sang finally reached the peak of the fifth layer and ran against the bottleneck of the sixth layer. That familiar sense of powerlessness returned once more.
Having received Martial Uncle Yue's guidance, he knew that the more this happened, the less he could afford to grow anxious. Thus, he limited his daily cultivation practice to three or four shichen, dedicating the rest of his time to drilling incantations and the Song Family Sword Art.
Another half-year passed in the blink of an eye. Qin Sang had grown quite proficient with both the Cloud Escape Technique and Ten Thousand Li Freeze. Although he had not yet reached the point where the spells answered effortlessly at a mere thought, they were more than enough for combat.
By now, even without the baleful-warding pouch, Qin Sang could cast the Cloud Escape Technique alone to ride the air for a short stretch. Yet the technique's true strength lay in concealment: when facing a powerful foe, he could melt into clouds, mist, and water vapor, an art equally marvelous for hiding or slipping far away.
As for Ten Thousand Li Freeze, what Qin Sang valued most was not the sheer span or toughness of the profound ice he could summon, but rather practical application—condensing ice into swords and blades, or even fashioning ice needles, concealed weapons, and traps.
The profound ice produced by this incantation was extraordinarily hard. With the right timing, it would surely catch opponents off guard in actual combat.
The Song Family Sword Art showed the slowest progress. Even after nurturing the ebony sword for so long, wielding it remained beyond his reach.
Today was once again the day Martial Uncle Yue held a sermon. Qin Sang halted his cultivation and stepped out of his cave dwelling, just in time to run into Tan Jie emerging from his own.
Of the seven who had joined the sect together, only four remained: Qin Sang, the Tan brothers, and Shi Hong.
One senior brother had died from a Yanwang's backlash inside his cave dwelling, while two others had descended into the Yin Baleful Abyss and never returned. Their fates were not hard to imagine.
Qin Sang sighed inwardly. No wonder the senior brothers and sisters had looked on so coldly that first day when someone suffered a Yanwang's backlash; they had simply seen it far too many times.
Over the past year, Qin Sang had witnessed several backlashes with his own eyes, and those who perished mysteriously in the Yin Baleful Abyss were beyond counting. For more than half of their cohort to still be alive was an exceptional rarity.
Among the junior disciples who entered later, several entire groups had been wiped out.
The Kuiyin Sect was said to have over a thousand disciples, yet whenever Martial Uncle Yue preached, only three to four hundred gathered to listen—and that was despite a steady stream of newcomers joining the ranks.
Seeing Tan Jie emerge alone, Qin Sang knew that Tan Hao was in secluded cultivation again.
Since entering the sect, Qin Sang had seen Tan Hao only twice. Tan Hao had never once attended Martial Uncle Yue's lectures; Tan Jie went alone every time. Tan Jie explained that his elder brother was obsessed with cultivation and refused to waste a moment, so Tan Jie always asked questions on his behalf.
By now, Qin Sang and Tan Jie had forged a solid friendship, but Tan Hao remained a stranger to him.
Passing Shi Hong's cave dwelling, Tan Jie cast a glance toward the door and asked softly, "Brother Qin, is Senior Sister Shi Hong still in seclusion?"
Qin Sang nodded. "She's been shut away for two whole months now. She'll likely have broken through to the sixth layer when she comes out."
Shi Hong had the best natural talent among them, and like Tan Hao, she was a cultivation fanatic. Two months ago, she had sensed an opportunity for a breakthrough and had remained behind closed doors ever since.
Tan Jie said enviously, "If Senior Sister Shi Hong breaks through to the sixth layer within half a year, she'll receive a top-grade magic tool as a reward. Brother Qin, are you close to breaking through as well?"
Qin Sang gave a wry smile. "How could it be that easy? You know my aptitude. I still haven't found a single lead. You're bound to be faster than me."
In truth, three months ago he had already felt the bottleneck loosening. Had he entered seclusion to cultivate for a period, breaking through to the sixth layer would not have been difficult, yet he had held himself back.
Exchanging cultivation insights, the two walked toward Martial Uncle Yue's cave dwelling.
During this sermon, Qin Sang focused his questions on practicing incantations. Martial Uncle Yue gave his instruction freely, explaining every detail with great care and benefiting Qin Sang immensely.
Just as the lecture was drawing to a close, a streak of red flying light suddenly surged up from below, tearing through the air with considerable momentum. Qin Sang turned to look and saw that the arrival was none other than Senior Sister Shi Hong.
Before entering the sect, Shi Hong had possessed a red damask magic tool that wrapped around her body and condensed into an escaping light, granting astonishing speed.
The spiritual power fluctuations around her were noticeably deeper than before. Stirred by the sight, Qin Sang stepped aside, cupped his hands, and said, "Congratulations, Senior Sister, on breaking through to the sixth layer of the Qi Refinement stage!"
Quiet and reserved though Shi Hong was, she could not hide the excitement in her eyes. She nodded to Qin Sang, then addressed Martial Uncle Yue, "Shi Hong pays respects to Martial Uncle Yue."
After examining her cultivation base closely, Martial Uncle Yue clapped his hands and laughed. "Good! Good! Good! As expected of a dual spiritual root! The rest of you may leave. Shi Hong, come with me."
Not until dusk did Qin Sang hear the sound of Shi Hong's flying light returning. Stepping out of his cave dwelling, he ran into Tan Jie opening his door at the same moment. Exchanging a smile, the two went over and knocked on Shi Hong's door.
After all, they had entered the sect together. Though they did not talk much day to day, they were closer to one another than to the other disciples. Whatever Qin Sang and Tan Jie asked, Shi Hong answered to the best of her knowledge.
It turned out the top-grade magic tool promised by the sect would not be granted upon breakthrough. Instead, it would be distributed to all disciples who met the requirement once the designated deadline arrived.
For the time being, Shi Hong was to continue cultivating peacefully in her cave dwelling. Martial Uncle Yue had given her the latter half of the cultivation manual, along with thorough guidance and words of encouragement, assigning her no other duties.
Chapter 64