"Siming Island is just ahead. If all goes smoothly, bypassing Siming Island means I'll reach Huntian Island in a little over two months!"
Ordinarily, taking a ship wouldn't have taken this long, but Qin Sang had taken many detours. Along the way, he had indeed spotted several skirmishes along the maritime routes. Each time, he had avoided them in advance, focusing primarily on making haste.
Naturally, he had also encountered attacks from great demons. He killed those he could, and for those he couldn't, he activated the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman to flee.
The reason he stopped here was twofold: first, Qin Sang was physically and mentally exhausted and planned to rest for a few days; second, after devouring countless spirit medicines, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had finally transitioned to the peak of the first metamorphosis and was ready to undergo its next metamorphosis!
A flash of light flared from his dantian, and the Heavenly Eye Butterfly fluttered out, circling Qin Sang before finally settling on his shoulder, conveying an aura of affectionate fondness.
The blue light on its wings shone even more brilliantly, and its patterns had grown even more exquisite.
Qin Sang smiled faintly, flipped his hand, and took out the Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold.
Catching the scent of the Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly abruptly took flight, speeding over to Qin Sang's hand and circling back and forth above the jade bottle, impatient to feed.
Since it could aid the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's metamorphosis, Qin Sang naturally wouldn't be stingy. He unstoppered the jade bottle and poured a single drop of Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold into his palm.
The Heavenly Eye Butterfly immediately pounced down with delight and began devouring it bit by bit.
The drop of Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold shrank at a visible pace, fully swallowed into its belly. Yet the Heavenly Eye Butterfly still lingered, reluctant to leave, so Qin Sang had no choice but to pour out another drop.
He remembered that back then, when Old Man Dique fed two Fire Jade Centipedes a single drop of Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold, both spirit insects had begun their metamorphosis. It seemed the Heavenly Eye Butterfly was far more gluttonous than them.
Or perhaps it was related to their own natures.
Before obtaining the Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold, the Fire Jade Centipedes had reached the peak of the first metamorphosis long before, stuck at the bottleneck for many years, which made their metamorphosis easier than the butterfly's.
After consuming the second drop of Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly grew sluggish. Slowly beating its wings, it landed in Qin Sang's palm and snuggled against his fingers, falling fast asleep.
Qin Sang held the Heavenly Eye Butterfly up and watched it for a while, seeing no immediate signs of metamorphosis. But he wasn't in a hurry. Taking advantage of the butterfly's slumber, he also entered meditation to adjust his breath.
For several days in a row, whenever the Heavenly Eye Butterfly woke, Qin Sang fed it Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold, along with several spirit medicines he had prepared long in advance to assist in metamorphosis.
On the evening of the third day, the eyes on the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's wings suddenly "opened," beaming an azure radiance as a misty blue glow enveloped the insect.
In the dead of night, the starlight rippled across the glistening sea surface, while the Heavenly Eye Butterfly seemed like a blue star itself.
The Heavenly Eye Butterfly slept within an azure cocoon of light, its wings folded together to form the shape of a cocoon as well.
Qin Sang grinned in a silent smile, marveling that the Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold was truly a miracle medicine, as the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had finally begun its metamorphosis! Shaking the jade bottle, he found plenty of Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold left—enough for the butterfly's third metamorphosis.
He had also rested enough. Stowing the Heavenly Eye Butterfly back into his dantian so it could undergo metamorphosis in peace, he set out to continue his journey.
***
Two months later.
In a desolate stretch of the sea, though the weather was clear with no tempestuous winds, towering waves surged up from time to time, accompanied by the clashing of metal and fierce shouts echoing from within.
Only upon closer inspection could one see that over a dozen figures were locked in combat at the center of the waves. All manner of magic tools clashed back and forth, interspersed with several bizarrely shaped insect silhouettes.
Evidently, human and Witch Clan cultivators had crossed paths and immediately engaged in a fight to the death over a disagreement.
The battle raged fiercely.
Across the distant horizon, a beam of flying light suddenly streaked toward them. Before long, the traveler seemed to notice the battle and halted abruptly, observing from afar.
The cultivators on the battlefield noticed this incoming light as well, and both sides grew hesitant and wary.
They had originally been evenly matched, each nursing their own hidden motives. Though the humans were slightly at a disadvantage, they were not without trump cards. If this suddenly arriving stranger proved powerful, they could easily tip the scales of the battle.
Thinking of this, both sides tacitly pulled their people closer together, wary of the mysterious figure in the distance.
Unexpectedly, at that moment, the light flared brightly once more and came surging aggressively toward the battlefield. The traveler's flying speed caused expressions to change on both sides.
"Core Formation stage... Not good, human reinforcements have arrived!"
Among the Witch Clan cultivators, the elderly man who was clearly the leader paled drastically. "Retreat!"
In contrast, the human cultivators' spirits soared. They attacked with everything they had, pursuing in close pursuit and dogging the Witch Clan cultivators relentlessly to prevent their easy escape.
The mysterious newcomer arrived in no time. The Witch Clan cultivators completely lost their will to fight, and after a chaotic clash, they left several corpses behind and fled in disarray.
The humans pursued them for a while, but seeing that they couldn't keep more from getting away, they finally gave up the chase.
"Many thanks to Fellow Daoist for your chivalrous assistance. I am Han Cuo. May I ask your esteemed surname?"
The leader of the humans was a square-faced, middle-aged man with an imposing air between his brows, commanding respect without needing to show anger. At this moment, however, he wore an amiable expression as he cupped his hands toward the young man before him. "Fellow Daoist possesses such profound cultivation at such a young age—I am truly full of admiration!"
This young man was Qin Sang.
After a long and arduous journey, he had finally arrived in the vicinity of Huntian Island. Sensing turmoil around Huntian Island as well, he had deliberated and decided to make contact with local cultivators first to probe into the situation here.
Earlier, he had observed that none of the combatants were extraordinarily strong—just a few early Core Formation masters while the rest were Foundation Establishment cultivators—so he had shown himself to scare off the Witch Clan.
"My surname is Qin. Fellow Daoist Han flatters me; my cultivation method is rather unique and has youth-preserving effects, which is why I appear young," Qin Sang replied placidly.
He wore no cloak or mask, revealing his true appearance.
Under these circumstances, concealing oneself could easily invite suspicion. Qin Sang had masked his face before to guard against the Li Witch Palace, but now that he was in the Demon Sea, he had no such worries.
Han Cuo was taken aback for a moment but did not pry further, proceeding to introduce the other cultivators to Qin Sang.
The others also thanked Qin Sang one after another and took the initiative to share a portion of the spoils with him, which Qin Sang accepted without standing on ceremony.
Once they became better acquainted, Han Cuo looked Qin Sang up and down. "You look unfamiliar, Fellow Daoist. You must have arrived near Huntian Island not long ago?"
"Indeed," Qin Sang smiled wryly, glancing at his surroundings. "I was originally hunting demons around another island, but chaos suddenly erupted there, so I decided to take the risk and head to Huntian Island. Little did I expect... it wouldn't be peaceful here either."
Han Cuo gave a dry chuckle. "In a war between our two races, where could there be any peaceful place left? If you want to find a safe haven, it's not difficult—just head onto Huntian Island itself. The Island Lord strictly forbids fighting; inside and outside the island are two different worlds."
"Oh?"
Qin Sang's gaze swept over the group. "If that is so, why haven't you Fellow Daoists gone ashore?"
Han Cuo said meaningfully, "Where there is risk, there is opportunity. What others fear like a tiger, I savor with relish. As for them... the waters outside Huntian Island are far more perilous, and their cultivation is too low. Having hesitated a step too late, they now dare not attempt to reach the island and are forced to stay outside. With your strength, Fellow Daoist, reaching Huntian Island safely won't be difficult."
Chapter 693