Dual Breakthroughs

The external incarnation consolidated his cultivation. Two days later, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at Qin Sang, who was seated cross-legged across from him. By then, Qin Sang had already summoned the corpse core and was fully prepared to re-refine it. Using the *Seed-Origin Demon Fetus* to re-refine the corpse core and transfer it to the external incarnation would save a great deal of time. Even Senior Qingzhu had never trodden this path. Qin Sang had only one chance; failure in the re-refinement could destroy the corpse core entirely. Over the past two years, he had turned this over in his mind countless times. As the external incarnation's cultivation rose step by step, Qin Sang gained fresh insights each time. After innumerable revisions, feeling there was little room left for improvement, he decided to carry it through in one breath and begin directly. The corpse core hovered between the two. Having fused with gang-sha, it displayed a deep, greenish-black luster. Concentrating fully, the external incarnation circulated his cultivation method. Qin Sang likewise cast a secret art from the *Seed-Origin Demon Fetus*, forcing out essence blood that transformed into incantation marks before sinking into the corpse core. Although the corpse core was an external core, it had been nurtured in Qin Sang's body for several decades and had long become inseparable from him. It had only stagnated because he lacked the surplus energy to devote to it and had found no method to advance it. The *Seed-Origin Demon Fetus* provided an opportune breakthrough; once re-refined, the corpse core could shatter its shackles and ascend further. However, with the external incarnation relying on a corpse core to advance, his chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm in the future were virtually nil. But that was a concern for the distant future; Qin Sang forming his own Nascent Soul was itself far out of reach, so he could not afford to fret over that. This step proceeded very smoothly. Docile and receptive, the corpse core absorbed Qin Sang's essence blood and turned into a crimson blood core. Having depleted excessive essence blood, Qin Sang's face paled slightly. Right after, the external incarnation let out a low growl and spurred the secret art, rapidly casting hand seals that manifested as streaks of demonic light. They descended upon the corpse core, seeking to merge within and subjugate it. The corpse core immediately began to resist violently. Its true essence roiled, and the long-quelled gang-sha showed signs of instability. Qin Sang had seemingly anticipated this and intervened promptly to suppress it. Qin Sang fixed his gaze on the corpse core, not daring to let his guard down in the slightest. This was the most critical step; so long as the external incarnation successfully completed the secret art, given that he and Qin Sang were one and the same entity, subjugating the corpse core would not be difficult. The corpse core kept fighting back, but with Qin Sang acting as an inside agent, the secret art finally penetrated it. "Absorb!" The incarnation opened his mouth wide, and the corpse core turned into a streak of red haze with a whoosh, vanishing into his body. At the same time, Qin Sang's figure flashed as he appeared before the incarnation. Pressing his palm lightly over the incarnation's dantian, a torrent of true essence surged into the incarnation's qi ocean to help him suppress the corpse core. Before long, Qin Sang slowly drew back his hand, deep in thought. *The first step can be considered a success. Next, the external incarnation and I must work together, using blood-feeding along with the secret art from the Seed-Origin Demon Fetus to gradually refine the gang-sha qi within the corpse core and transform it into his own demon core. This process will likely take several months. In the meantime, I can also begin making preparations to break through to the third layer of the Heavenly Demon Form Refining...* The external incarnation sat motionless like dried wood. Qin Sang glanced down at him, then exited the cave dwelling. One day, a year later. In the clearing before the cave dwelling, sectioned off by a spirit formation. Blood-red light abruptly flared. Two figures clashed and instantly parted; one of them staggered back seven or eight steps, his body trembling before he barely managed to steady himself. Withdrawing his palm, Qin Sang narrowed his eyes slightly and suppressed the churning blood and qi within him, thinking in surprise, *The cultivation method my external incarnation practices can actually affect an opponent's blood and qi. I wonder if that's because he has been nurtured on blood-feeding all along...* These two figures were none other than Qin Sang and his external incarnation. By now, the external incarnation had successfully refined his demon core and stepped into the Core Formation stage! Exercising prudence, Qin Sang had moved with extreme caution at every step, proceeding only after ensuring nothing could go wrong. As a result, the entire refinement process had taken a full year. Two mishaps had occurred along the way, but because the corpse core was originally Qin Sang's possession, they were successfully resolved, ultimately helping the incarnation form his demon core. The external incarnation now possessed the genuine strength of an early Core Formation master. Furthermore, due to the demonic art, an opponent caught unprepared might easily suffer a setback. Having tested the external incarnation's strength, Qin Sang wore a satisfied expression. He instructed the incarnation to return and keep consolidating his cultivation while he set about his own tasks. Not long after the external incarnation's breakthrough. Dead of night. Qin Sang laid out a large Spirit Gathering Array, studded with medium-grade spirit stones. Beside him sat several jade vials containing elixir medicines capable of healing wounds and rapidly replenishing true essence, as well as jade boxes holding the Dominant Blood Fruit and Qingwu root. The Star Platform was placed before him, with the external incarnation seated cross-legged on the opposite side. Qin Sang also summoned the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, the fat silkworm, and the two-headed hou. Surprisingly, five beings at the level of Core Formation were gathered in the cave dwelling at once. Of course, the fat silkworm and Heavenly Eye Butterfly excelled in extraordinary innate divine abilities, rather than combat prowess matched to their realm. Qin Sang had already cultivated the *Heavenly Demon Form Refining* to the perfection of the second layer, waiting only for the astral essence body infusion. To ensure a higher chance of success, he had waited until the incarnation's breakthrough before taking action. Everything was in place; all that remained was the final spark. Qin Sang glanced around at everyone and said softly, "Let's begin!" With that, he flashed onto the Star Platform and sat cross-legged upon it. The external incarnation, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, and the other insect and beast sprang into motion as well, gathering around the platform and pouring in their true essence with all their might. Qin Sang was not idle either. Dividing his attention, he primed his cultivation technique while simultaneously channeling true essence into the Star Platform to augment the starlight's potency. *Puff, puff!* The fat silkworm and Heavenly Eye Butterfly were the first to run out of strength. The Heavenly Eye Butterfly folded its wings as if asleep, while the fat silkworm rolled onto its fleshy back and sprawled on the ground like a dead dog. Next was the external incarnation; his true essence depleted, he sat rigid and still. Only Qin Sang and the two-headed hou held on. The one with the highest cultivation present was actually the two-headed hou. Qin Sang soon felt empty inside as well. He hastily snatched up the jade vials and dumped the spirit pills into his mouth all at once. Like a bottomless pit, the Star Platform greedily swallowed every bit of true essence without hesitation. Across the surface of the Star Platform, faint light shimmered. The astral energy of the heavenly circuit was stirred by the Star Platform. At the exact moment the two-headed hou exhausted its strength and withdrew its paws, a pillar of light suddenly appeared above the island, connecting straight into the starry heavens. Astral essence poured down like a deluge; fortunately, the island lay in a desolate, remote spot, or such an anomaly would certainly have been noticed. Bathed in starlight, Qin Sang urgently circulated his cultivation technique with all his might. The next instant, a tremor seized Qin Sang's heart. He felt an ethereal, profound force descend from the heavens, flooding through the crown of his head. Like a crashing tempest, it rushed into his body in an instant, interspersed with dark, inscrutable astral fiend power. Qin Sang let out a muffled groan as his body violently shuddered. A ferocious grimace twisted his features, but he forcibly held his posture steady. His entire body turned crimson, blue veins bulging as though blood were about to seep from his pores. Far more terrifying was the torment within. Battered by such an immense surge of astral essence, his flesh felt shredded, sliced away bit by bit with tiny blades, while thousands of ants seemed to gnaw at the marrow inside his bones. The agony he endured this time was vastly more horrific than when breaking through the second layer.