Back at Heaven-Pointing Peak, Qin Sang had been swept up in the battle between Granny Jing and the Yuanshen Sect. After killing a youth from the sect, he had obtained a jade slip titled *Incomplete Records of Taixuan Formations*, which recorded several exquisite spirit formations.
Qin Sang wanted to adapt and put these formations to use.
Once the Ten Directions Yanluo Banners exceeded ten in number, they would possess the might of a top-grade magic treasure. He naturally had to proceed with utmost caution and not ruin such fine treasures.
After verifying that the spirit formation had no flaws, he retrieved several middle-grade spirit stones and drove them into the formation one by one, finally placing the top-grade spirit stone into it as well.
*Whirrr...*
The spirit stones settled into the formation.
The power of the five elements in the air surged like rising wind and gathering clouds. Qin Sang laid out a Severing Spirit Formation around the perimeter as well, lest the commotion grow too grand and alert other cultivators on the mountain.
Then, he flashed up into the air and sat cross-legged in midair, attempting to take control of the spirit formation.
Under his direction, the five-element power converged continuously toward the formation's center, coalescing into an expanse of gray chaotic light. At the same time, the spirit stones within flickered with light as their energy was rapidly consumed.
It pained Qin Sang to see them depleted so fast. Hesitating no longer, he raised a hand and beckoned; the dark iron pillar flew into his palm, whereupon he cast it into the spirit formation.
The moment the dark iron pillar plunged into the chaotic light, it began to spin rapidly.
Qin Sang's hand seals shifted continuously as the formation's power surged toward the center in an endless stream, pounding against the pillar.
At first, no change was visible.
Qin Sang was in no hurry either. He observed patiently, and finally spotted a subtle change.
A faint black light flickered across the surface of the dark iron pillar. Qin Sang understood that this black light was the manifestation of the pillar's internal restrictions resisting the formation's erosion.
The restrictions inside the dark iron pillar were exceedingly profound and terrifically powerful; merely rousing that faint black light subjected Qin Sang to an immense pressure.
He did not dare to "provoke" the restrictions, keeping his movements very slow.
Powerful though they were, the dark iron pillar was unfortunately incomplete, having broken into two pieces. At the jagged fracture lay a flaw, giving him an opening to exploit.
The power of the spirit formation enveloped the dark iron pillar, striking at the flaw and seeping inward.
As time passed, the black light on the surface of the pillar grew increasingly dense. Only upon closer inspection did one realize that this was not black light, but the dark iron pillar itself "melting"!
Qin Sang looked solemn. This step was extraordinarily difficult, and his movements were extremely gentle, dreading that the slightest slip might cause the restrictions within the dark iron pillar to run wild.
Not only would the spirit formation be obliterated, but he would also face the risk of severe injury.
Throughout the refinement, Qin Sang could not help feeling a surge of admiration and praise.
First, for the ancient being who had crafted the dark iron pillar.
The restrictions inside were wondrous beyond measure, broadening Qin Sang's horizons. Unfortunately, even with the aid of the spirit formation, he had only grasped the barest surface. Yet it was certain that merely mastering that surface knowledge would dramatically elevate his artifact refinement attainments.
Back then, Patriarch Kuiyin had also attempted to comprehend the restrictions within the dark iron pillar, but was ultimately forced to give up in helplessness.
He had once asserted that this item was unquestionably the work of a top-tier ancient cultivator, exquisitely crafted and a supreme ancient treasure; even damaged, not even a great cultivator of the late Nascent Soul stage could hope to fathom it.
Patriarch Kuiyin had deeply envied the brilliance of the ancient cultivation world, lamenting that he had not been born in ancient times.
Second, Qin Sang admired Patriarch Kuiyin's heaven-sent genius in actually devising such a method to utilize this supreme ancient treasure.
Unable to break the pillar's restrictions, Patriarch Kuiyin had instead started from the flaw in the restrictions, cleverly dividing the dark iron pillar and forging it into banner poles to manipulate the Nine Nether Demonic Fire.
The "melted" dark iron pillar resembled a column of black liquid, its surface rippling faintly.
With eyes half-closed, Qin Sang locked his spiritual sense onto the dark iron pillar, quickly committing its internal restrictions to memory. These would all benefit his artifact crafting, to be digested slowly in the future.
At the same time, his hand seals shifted repeatedly as he channeled the secret technique to divide the dark iron pillar.
After several failed attempts in succession, the dark iron pillar merely rippled slightly, refusing to yield a banner pole.
Exhausted in mind and spirit, Qin Sang could only pause to recover his energy.
"Sure enough, with my current cultivation, this is still a bit forced, wasting many spirit stones. If Patriarch Kuiyin had done this personally, three top-grade spirit stones would have been enough. Still, it isn't a total waste. With the experience from these failures, each subsequent attempt will go smoother than the last..."
His eyes flickered as he sat in quiet meditation.
Before long, he had fully recovered and resumed the refinement.
With each attempt, Qin Sang's movements grew more practiced, and the ripples across the dark iron pillar grew increasingly pronounced, though the luster of that top-grade spirit stone visibly dimmed as well.
"Congeal!"
Qin Sang suddenly let out a low growl.
The dark iron pillar shuddered violently. Under Qin Sang's tense gaze, a small section separated from the pillar, vibrating ceaselessly in an attempt to rejoin it.
Unblinkingly, Qin Sang stared fixedly at it, his hand seals shifting like lightning.
Finally, that section of dark iron pillar gradually stabilized, reshaped into a banner pole under the effects of the spirit formation.
Seeing this, Qin Sang felt a surge of joy, but the process was not yet finished. Daring not be negligent, he threw out a jade bottle with force, inside of which several demonic beast spirit souls were imprisoned.
*Roar!*
Breaking free of the jade bottle, the demonic beast spirit souls let out furious roars, turning to attack Qin Sang in backlash.
Qin Sang was well prepared. Flicking his fingertips, his true essence formed countless transparent threads that trapped them, and he then channeled the secret technique to refine them. Helpless to struggle, the demonic beast spirit souls were refined into a crystal and driven straight into the banner pole.
A sheen of light flashed, and the banner pole was successfully refined!
Qin Sang beckoned it into his hand, turning it over and over fondly. This could be considered the first magic treasure he had ever crafted, a crucial step onto the Grand Dao of artifact refinement.
"By this calculation, the dark iron pillar is enough to refine fifteen banner poles, and there is more than enough Nine Nether Demonic Fire. Add to that the three already in my possession, and I'll have eighteen demonic banners in total!"
Calculating silently, Qin Sang was astonished.
Ten demonic banners could barely touch the realm of a top-grade magic treasure—what did eighteen even mean? Could they reach the power of the absolute peak among magic treasures?
Naturally, Qin Sang understood that with his limited cultivation, constrained by his true essence and spiritual sense, he certainly would not be able to manipulate so many demonic banners at once. He would only know how many he could control once the treasures were in hand.
"I must definitely study the *Incomplete Records of Taixuan Formations* thoroughly when I have the chance!"
Amidst his excitement, Qin Sang made up his mind.
Taking advantage of the remaining spiritual energy before the spirit stones were depleted, he pressed on and refined another banner pole. Then, its spiritual power exhausted, that top-grade spirit stone shattered on the spot.
The first top-grade spirit stone had only produced two banner poles, but Qin Sang was confident that at most three more top-grade spirit stones would suffice.
With a wave of his hand, he stowed away both the dark iron pillar and the spirit formation, then began to contemplate the restrictions he had observed earlier.
Days slipped by, one after another.
Qin Sang cultivated diligently in seclusion, rarely leaving his cave dwelling.
More than half a year had passed since his return to the island, and Madam Liu finally showed herself.
As night fell on this day, Qin Sang was drawing upon astral essence to temper his body when a premonition stirred in his heart. He retrieved a jade pendant from his robes. It was emitting a faint white glow—the restriction he had placed in the mortal courtyard had been triggered.
"Took her long enough to arrive. I wonder if she brings any good news..."
His interest piqued, Qin Sang ceased his art, donned his cloak, pushed open the door, and walked out.
Chapter 829