Chapter 1002: Falling Flowers Are Intentional, Flowing Water Is Heartless

Afterward, the two exchanged insights on cultivating the *Celestial Demon Refining Form* and had a very pleasant conversation. One was an immortal cultivator; the other, a flood dragon descendant. Their understanding of cultivation methods differed significantly, each possessing unique strengths. After their discussion, they surprisingly gained insights from each other.

“Since there’s no need to go to the sealed land, this humble Daoist will take his leave,” Qin Sang said, bowing slightly.

Then, he recalled something else and retrieved a Profound Armor Talisman from his Thousand Jun Ring. “In just over ten years, the Seven Kill Hall will emerge. King Nine-Phoenix sent her long plume into the inner hall, and I suspect she might bring others into the Seven Kill Hall. Do you have a way to infuse my essence blood into this Profound Armor Talisman? If I encounter a similar situation again, it could provide some room for maneuver…”

Qin Sang was also preparing for unforeseen circumstances. No one knew how many demon kings had infiltrated the Inner Sea, or what their intentions were. He suspected King Nine-Phoenix might not be the only one. If he were to encounter other demon kings in the Seven Kill Hall, Yuan Zhu wouldn’t be able to help him conceal his identity this time.

Yuan Zhu paced back and forth, contemplating for a long time. He then shook his head, saying, “These Profound Armor Talismans were personally crafted by the Flood Dragon King. Although I’ve subtly tried to learn about them, I actually don’t know much. Recklessly tampering with the restrictions could easily damage the talisman itself. It would likely be very difficult to deceive a demon king with this method.”

Qin Sang was somewhat disappointed, but he understood that such things couldn’t be forced. He put away the Profound Armor Talisman, preparing to take his leave.

Yuan Zhu hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said, “If you’re concerned about being exposed by a demon king, I do have a method that could make them apprehensive about acting against you rashly.”

Qin Sang’s spirits lifted. “Please tell me, Daoist friend.”

“I possess an unnamed secret art that I obtained by chance. Since you’ve cultivated the *Celestial Demon Refining Form*, your demonic aura is exceptionally pure. Employing this secret art could very likely lead demon kings to mistakenly believe you are also a shapeshifting great demon. After all, King Nine-Phoenix and her kin come from the Demon Sea and are unfamiliar with the demon forces of the Canglang Sea. Surrounded by enemies here, they would prioritize winning over a fellow demon rather than easily offending one. By stabilizing the situation, you could then seize an opportunity to make your escape.”

As Yuan Zhu spoke, he retrieved a jade slip and handed it to Qin Sang.

“This secret art is merely for show, allowing one to feign shapeshifting stage cultivation; beyond that, it holds little practical use. When employing the secret art, you must not rashly use true essence; if you make a move, your deception will immediately be exposed. Such subtle differences are only discernible to us demons and have no effect on Nascent Soul cultivators among immortal cultivators. Furthermore, whether it can deceive a demon king’s eyes is still unknown, so do not be careless, Daoist friend.”

Qin Sang activated his spiritual consciousness, reviewing the contents of the jade slip. Indeed, as Yuan Zhu had said, it was a rather useless secret art. Upon activation, it would only cause a peculiar change in one’s demonic aura, making it resemble that of a shapeshifting great demon—profound, restrained, and unfathomable. However, it offered no enhancement to one’s strength whatsoever. It could, however, be easily seen through. Even so, it was still a viable method.

“Many thanks, Daoist Yuan.” Qin Sang put away the jade slip, resolved to master this secret art when he had the chance.

Yuan Zhu chuckled, “If you can cause some trouble for King Nine-Phoenix and her kin, that would certainly count as revenge for me.”

After bidding farewell to Yuan Zhu, Qin Sang returned to the Inner Sea. Ten years was neither a long nor a short time. He aimed to prepare as much as possible for his next trip to the Seven Kill Hall, and to gather resources he could utilize upon his return to the Minor Cold Domain.

“I should still go to the Demon Sea…” Qin Sang pondered for a while, then made his decision. Continuing his comprehension of the Killing Talisman also necessitated engaging in combat with demonic beasts in the Demon Sea. These ten years would serve as a foundation for his future.

However, Qin Sang did not head directly to Tianxing City. He took a long detour, opting to visit Lingchun Island first. Lingchun Island was the location of the Wang sisters’ sect. They had been implicated because of him and forced to live incognito. He wondered how they were faring.

Although Tianfeng Island had been destroyed, the crisis had not been entirely resolved. Qin Sang subtly inquired with Ning Wuhui about the outcome of the Battle of Tianfeng Island. He learned that even within the Heavenly Dao Sect, rumors were rampant, and no definitive conclusion had been reached. No one knew what fate had befallen Old Demon Mou. If Old Demon Mou had been killed on the spot, why wouldn’t both the righteous and demonic factions announce it to the world and awe the multitude? There had to be a hidden truth behind this.

Lingchun Island was small in area and picturesque. The Wang sisters’ sect was actually a small, insignificant one; otherwise, they wouldn’t have needed to venture into the Demon Sea during their Foundation Establishment stage to earn and exchange Fiend Demon Pills. The inhabitants of Lingchun Island were all mortals.

Upon landing on the island, Qin Sang followed the information previously left by the Wang sisters. He passed through several mortal cities and located their sect within a perilous mountain range, inaccessible to ordinary mortals. Two mountains cradled the area, with a gently flowing river. A beautiful scene unfolded before him.

Standing atop a mountain peak, Qin Sang used his Celestial Eye ability and easily discerned the anomalies of the place. His figure flickered, and he landed before a stone wall. He pressed his hand against it, and true essence surged into the stone wall. The next moment, the restriction hidden within the stone wall was activated.

Inside a bamboo pavilion, a beautiful woman, dressed in brocade, was meditating with her eyes closed. Suddenly, the mirror beside her flared with light, startling the woman awake. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. She waved her sleeve over the mirror’s surface, and upon seeing the scene revealed within, she abruptly covered her mouth, letting out a soft gasp.

“Sister! Sister! Look who’s here!” This woman was Wang Xiang.

Moments later, two charming women, resembling twin lotus flowers, hastily flew out of the bamboo pavilion, their faces flushed with eagerness. Outside the bamboo pavilion, several young girls were playing. Seeing their two Martial Aunts so flustered, they were all utterly astonished.

A rumbling sound echoed. The stone wall parted to both sides, and two delicate exclamations rang out from within.

“Daoist Priest!”

The two women stood side by side, their faces wreathed in smiles like blooming flowers. The elder sister, Wang Shi, was reserved, while the younger sister, Wang Xiang, laughed freely.

Under the two women’s surprised gazes, Qin Sang removed his hood and said with a smile, “My surname is Qin, and my given name is Sang. The identity of Daoist Qingfeng has attracted powerful enemies and can no longer be used, having also implicated you sisters. I have come this time to offer my apologies to you, and I am relieved to see that you are well.”

“Indeed! Indeed!” Wang Xiang patted her chest, a look of lingering fear on her face, and said with lingering fear, “We only found out later that the one pursuing you, Daoist Priest, was none other than the ferocious Old Demon Mou! Even the Qiongyu Merchant Guild was destroyed by that old demon. Fortunately, my sister and I rarely interacted with outsiders after returning, otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. How did you, Daoist Priest, manage to provoke such a powerful demon?”

Wang Shi was somewhat silent, a hint of resentment in her eyes, and then said something unexpected: “So, if this hadn’t happened, Daoist Priest, you wouldn’t have come to see us sisters?”

Wang Xiang’s apricot eyes darted around, darting between her sister and Qin Sang. Qin Sang rubbed his nose, momentarily speechless. Wang Shi’s expression, however, returned to normal, and she invited Qin Sang inside as a guest.

Watching Qin Sang’s retreating figure, a trace of disappointment flickered in the depths of her eyes. Finally, she let out a soft sigh inwardly, as if a long-held knot in her heart had been untied and she had ultimately found peace.