"A poison spring covering such a vast area is indeed rare. Unfortunately, the toxicity is too weak; it requires an extra step of purification, making it inferior to the small springs controlled by the Yuling Sect."
Standing beside the lake, Qin Sang swept his spiritual sense outward, taking in the entire surrounding area.
Though it was a poison spring, the water looked no different from an ordinary spring—exceptionally clear and cool.
The origins of poison springs were complex. Many formed when sudden, violent upheavals in worldly spiritual energy caused toxins to accumulate; even after the spiritual energy returned to normal, the poison springs could no longer revert.
Qin Sang probed deep underground and into the rock fissures with his spiritual sense, searching inch by inch.
"Did Senior discover anything?"
Only then did Cui Xuanzi arrive, panting for breath. Without waiting for him, Qin Sang flickered away, diving straight into the deepest part of the mine shaft to search through it one last time.
At the mouth of Black Wind Valley, a streak of sword light cleaved through the dreary wind, circled once in the air, and shot toward the heart of the Western Frontier, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
A moment later, Cui Xuanzi returned to the valley entrance.
He cupped his hands in the direction of Qin Sang's departure, his expression full of reverence.
Only after a full quarter of an hour did Cui Xuanzi finally straighten up. Withdrawing his gaze, he glanced back into Black Wind Valley with a look of hesitation, before shaking his head slightly and barking toward the interior, "Seal the entrance! No one is permitted to enter or leave without my explicit command!"
"Understood!"
Spiritual power surged within Black Wind Valley, sealing off the entrance.
Cui Xuanzi rode the wind away, returning all the way to the Five Insects Sect.
As soon as he entered the Five Insects Sect, Junior Brother Tong emerged from the shadows. Seeing Cui Xuanzi alone, he stepped forward with an anxious expression. But just as Tong was about to speak, Cui Xuanzi glared sharply at him.
Junior Brother Tong realized at once and kept his mouth shut.
One after the other, the two flew silently back to the Sect Master Hall. After drinking tea and making idle conversation for a while, they activated a mechanism and entered a secret chamber.
Activating the restrictions within the secret chamber, both men let out a long sigh of relief in unison.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Junior Brother Tong asked, "Senior Brother Sect Master, he didn't discover the Thousand Hands Spider Fruit in the poison spring, did he?"
Cui Xuanzi closed his eyes in thought, then shook his head. "No. Until the Thousand Hands Spider Fruit ripens, the fruit's spiritual power will not leak past the ancient restriction, and no unusual activity can appear in the spirit spring. Ever since Black Wind Valley was discovered, immortal cultivators have come and gone in an endless stream, yet none ever noticed that ancient restriction. No matter how high his cultivation is, he couldn't have detected it easily. If Martial Uncle hadn't had extraordinary luck—happening to enter Black Wind Valley to refine the poison spring right when the fruit was ripening—our Five Insects Sect would have missed out on this spiritual fruit entirely."
"Indeed!"
Junior Brother Tong nodded repeatedly. "The Thousand Hands Spider Fruit can actually help venomous spirit insects trigger a third metamorphosis! In the past, we treated that as mere legend, but now we know it's true. Martial Uncle truly had astounding luck to encounter such a monumental opportunity, enabling his natal insect gu to undergo metamorphosis and subsequently allowing him to achieve Core Formation in one go. Moreover, there were actually three Thousand Hands Spider Fruits on that tree. It's just a pity they don't ripen at the same time. Nearly a century has passed since the first one ripened, and only now is the second showing signs of maturity..."
Junior Brother Tong went on for a bit without getting a response. Seeing Cui Xuanzi lost in thought with his eyes closed, Tong couldn't help asking curiously, "Senior Brother Sect Master, what are you thinking about?"
"I'm looking back over everything I said and did during this time to see if there were any slips, especially when facing Old Ghost Qin," Cui Xuanzi said in a heavy voice. "That man is by no means an ascetic who spent his whole life cooped up in a cave abode. If we showed even a single flaw, we'd risk being found out."
Junior Brother Tong felt the same and sighed. "This truly was a series of twists and turns. My heart has been in my throat the entire time. Fortunately, we managed to protect Black Wind Valley and the Thousand Hands Spider Fruit. Otherwise, with the fruit about to ripen, once Black Wind Valley changed hands, it would have fallen to outsiders. Thankfully, Senior Brother dared to take such an enormous risk to win Old Ghost Qin over... But for Jinglei Stockade and Hundred Flowers Palace to launch a joint attack right while Old Ghost Qin was present—could such a coincidence have been guided by you as well, Senior Brother?"
Cui Xuanzi snorted. "If I had truly orchestrated that, the overlord of the Bear Mountain region would have changed hands long ago! Junior Brother Tong, do not take Core Formation stage cultivators for fools, constantly plotting against them. I merely sensed the gathering storm from outside and, knowing Thunder Ghost Elder's nature, nudged things along with the flow. He is the most devout worshiper of the Witch God, praying for the Witch God's blessing in all things, so it was highly probable he would choose the Witch God Festival for such a major undertaking. Even if he hadn't attacked this time, I would have found another way to seek shelter under Old Ghost Qin's banner. As long as I willingly act as an unswervingly loyal and useful dog, would he have the heart to cast me aside?"
Junior Brother Tong looked pained. "You've suffered too much humiliation, Senior Brother Sect Master."
Cui Xuanzi shook his head. "We went through all these machinations just to buy a few more years until the Thousand Hands Spider Fruit ripens. What humiliation is there in that?"
Junior Brother Tong said resentfully, "The spiritual fruit will ripen soon. Once your natal insect gu consumes it, Senior Brother, our sect will possess a third-transformation spirit insect! We won't have to look at anyone else's expression ever again!"
"Absolutely not!"
Cui Xuanzi barked, cutting Junior Brother Tong off. "Setting aside the fact that the Thousand Hands Spider Fruit only increases the chances and cannot guarantee a metamorphosis, even if the metamorphosis succeeds and I smoothly form my core, we still must not show the slightest disrespect to Old Ghost Qin! If I attach myself to him with a Core Formation stage cultivation, surely he won't refuse."
Junior Brother Tong's face was full of reluctance. "Once you achieve Core Formation, Senior Brother, we could dominate the region. Why must we remain subservient..."
Midway through his sentence, a look of shock crossed Tong's face. "Senior Brother Sect Master, do you mean to leave the Five Insects Sect after Core Formation as well?"
"What are you thinking? What future does the Five Insects Sect have huddled away in the Western Frontier? That man has an extraordinary background and is bound to have a powerful faction behind him. This may very well be the chance for our Five Insects Sect to step out of the Western Frontier. Swallowing our pride and playing subservient offers us everything to gain and nothing to lose."
Cui Xuanzi glared sharply at him, then frowned as something occurred to him. "Are you still harboring resentment toward Martial Uncle?"
Junior Brother Tong pursed his lips and said nothing.
Cui Xuanzi sighed. "Back then, Martial Uncle and the sect were never on good terms. He was an orphan brought back by Grandmaster, but the fact that he became an orphan in the first place had everything to do with Grandmaster... I never told you these secret matters before."
Junior Brother Tong was utterly shocked.
"...Before Martial Uncle left, leaving the Thousand Hands Spider Fruit Tree to the sect and suppressing all surrounding forces to ensure the Five Insects Sect's prosperity for a hundred years was already going above and beyond. It is we who were too useless, letting down our past ancestors."
Cui Xuanzi looked thoroughly ashamed.
"Enough!"
Cui Xuanzi waved his hand. "The past is like smoke; there is no need to speak of it again. As long as I can achieve Core Formation, none of that matters. Listen to me, and harbor no stray thoughts from now on. As for that woman Old Ghost Qin left behind, settle her in well and spare no expense in nurturing her."
"Her?"
Junior Brother Tong hesitated. "Senior Brother Sect Master, what kind of relationship do you think Yagu has with Old Ghost Qin? Arranging for her to cultivate in the sect's finest cave abode has already stirred dissatisfaction among some disciples..."
Cui Xuanzi couldn't help frowning slightly as well.
He had initially assumed that since Yagu caught Old Ghost Qin's eye, she had to possess extraordinary talent. Only upon checking did he discover that she actually possessed four spiritual roots.
In the days since joining the sect, Yagu had done nothing but cultivate diligently, speaking with no one. Even he, her nominal master, couldn't get half a word out of her.
Anyone who didn't know better would think she was truly mute.
Chapter 640