Chapter 1004: Experience

Mortal Realm

The situation in the Demon Sea was volatile. Qin Sang spent a long time studying the situation and pinpointed his target.

He had initially intended to ask Yuan Zhu about the distribution of demon forces within the Demon Sea. Cultivators had only explored a limited area, confined to the region between Tianwu Island and Great Barren Island, and the surrounding waters. Yuan Zhu, being from the Flood Dragon clan, was certainly very knowledgeable about demons.

However, Qin Sang had a change of heart, realizing the question was too sensitive. He and Yuan Zhu were of different races – one human, one demon – and had only come together by chance, forming a slight acquaintance. Only the Flood Dragon King and other demon kings had betrayed Yuan Zhu, not the entire demon race. Qin Sang was there to hunt demons for experience. While Yuan Zhu wouldn't and couldn't stop him, he also couldn't actively assist or stand idly by while his own kind were slaughtered. Qin Sang decided to say nothing about it, to avoid creating any rifts.

Instead of boarding a ship, he left Great Barren Island, summoned his Flood Dragon Soul Flying Chariot, and flew alone deeper into the Demon Sea. En route, Qin Sang pondered the secret technique Yuan Zhu had given him. The most dangerous threats in the Demon Sea were beast tides and shapeshifting great demons. After mastering this secret technique and combining it with the *Heavenly Demon Refinement*, Qin Sang believed he could move freely within the Demon Sea, as long as he wasn't overly provocative.

At first, he occasionally encountered other cultivators. As Qin Sang ventured deeper, cultivators became increasingly rare, and the area gradually became dominated by demon beasts.

Several years later.

On a desolate island, the vegetation had withered, creating a desolate scene. Apart from the occasional chirping of insects from deep within the jungle, the vast desolate island was utterly silent; no sounds of birds or beasts could be heard.

The wild grasses swayed, and a figure slowly emerged – it was Qin Sang. The Sky-Eyed Butterfly perched on Qin Sang's shoulder, its 'heavenly eyes' on its wings wide open. After observing the desolate island for a moment, Qin Sang flicked his wrist. A shimmering ring flew out, releasing a demon beast that had been trapped inside the Primordial Concord Ring: a golden-scaled python.

Although Qin Sang's strength was far greater than before, capturing another spirit beast as intelligent, talented, and powerful as the Two-Headed Hou was incredibly difficult. In recent years, he had traveled the Demon Sea searching for a suitable spirit beast, finally capturing this golden-scaled python. Among demon beasts at the mid-stage of the Demon Core realm, this golden-scaled python's strength was decent. However, its intelligence was far inferior to the Two-Headed Hou's, making it incapable of fighting independently; its primary use was as bait.

The golden-scaled python was difficult to tame due to its ferocity. Immediately after being released from the Primordial Concord Ring, it reared its upper body, its vertical pupils fixed on Qin Sang with a chilling gaze. It was clear that if Qin Sang's strength were ever significantly diminished and he couldn't suppress it, the golden-scaled python would undoubtedly devour its master without hesitation.

“Go!” Qin Sang pointed forward, his voice like thunder, startling the golden-scaled python. Fierce light flickered in the python's eyes. Unwillingly, yet bound by the magic artifact, it could only submit, silently crawling deeper into the island.

Before long, suddenly, a tiger's roar echoed from ahead, like a clap of thunder. The small island trembled. Dry leaves rustled to the ground, and the wild grasses flattened under the sound waves. Simultaneously, the golden-scaled python's hissing roar also rang out.

Qin Sang had already stealthily followed, standing on an ancient tree. He saw a cloud of dust ahead, where the two demon beasts were already locked in combat. The golden-scaled python was clearly at a disadvantage; its opponent was a tiger demon.

“Late-stage Demon Core!” Qin Sang revealed a satisfied smile. “This tiger demon must be the overlord of this vicinity!” Deep in the Demon Sea, without sea charts to guide him, Qin Sang had to search for demon beasts on his own. He had spent a long time in this area, finally discovering clues and locating the tiger demon's lair.

The golden-scaled python gradually weakened, showing signs of defeat. Qin Sang no longer hesitated. His figure flashed out, rushing into the fray. He pointed two fingers at the tiger demon, true essence surged, and the Ebony Sword materialized. The sword hummed, and dazzling sword light transformed into a massive blade, striking down at the tiger demon!

“Roar!” The tiger demon realized Qin Sang was the greatest threat. With a shake of its paw, it forcefully swat the python away. Its maw gaped open, and a cloud of demonic mist billowed forth. Amidst the chaos, the tiger demon's form shifted, seemingly attempting to dodge the incoming sword. Its muscular body tensed, emanating a ferocious aura, as if it intended to cross the distance and pounce on Qin Sang's true body. As expected of a regional overlord, it was indeed formidable.

A rank stench filled the air. However, Qin Sang showed no panic. He easily anticipated the tiger demon's every move. With a composed expression, Qin Sang pointed virtually at the Ebony Sword, and the Sword Wheel reappeared! This time, the Sword Wheel was more solid and resplendent. While gaining experience, Qin Sang had also gained insights into sword techniques. Although he hadn't yet fully grasped the profundities of sword intent, he felt he was on the right track and continued to refine the Sword Wheel. Both the spirit sword and the Sword Wheel had improved, and the Sword Wheel's power was now incomparable to before.

Like a blazing sun, it illuminated the desolate island and spun towards the tiger demon, attempting to shred it. In an instant, blood splattered. Even cultivators at the late stage of Core Formation would find such a great demon troublesome and wouldn't easily provoke it. Yet, at this moment, the tiger demon's powerful physical body was injured by the Sword Wheel, its sharp claws bleeding profusely. Had the tiger demon not been alert, they might have been severed on the spot.

Stimulated by intense pain, the tiger demon nearly went berserk. Its roars distorted. The tiger demon roared wildly, its aura surging. Behind it, a massive shadow suddenly appeared, resembling a gigantic tiger several zhang tall, looking down on Qin Sang and exerting immense pressure. Seeing this, Qin Sang was not alarmed but rather secretly thrilled. The stronger the tiger demon, the greater the pressure it exerted, and the more effective his training would be.

‘Boom!’ The Sword Wheel erupted, colliding with the tiger's shadow. Qin Sang fought the tiger demon solely with his sword techniques, fully immersed in the battle. The battle caused a great commotion, raging from the island all the way into the sea. To Qin Sang's disappointment, apart from that massive demonic shadow, the tiger demon had no other powerful divine abilities.

‘Thud!’ The demonic shadow was shattered by the Sword Wheel. The tiger demon whimpered and turned to flee. Qin Sang was about to pursue with his sword when he seemed to sense something. He abruptly turned his head to look north, feeling a faint unease. Making a swift decision, he recalled his spirit sword and deployed the Star Conch.

‘Pfft!’ The tiger demon died on the spot. Qin Sang collected the demon's corpse, and three-colored escape lights appeared around him simultaneously. He fled without hesitation into the distance.

He had only just left. A fierce wind swept through. Amidst the ocean waves, a figure appeared faintly, then flickered a few times, landing on the island. Seeing the chaotic scene, it let out a cold snort. The newcomer had a human form with a beast tail – it was a shapeshifting great demon!

“Such fast escape technique! No wonder it dares to cause trouble everywhere! Hmm? This aura! Could the intelligence be wrong? Is it not a cultivator, but some shameless old coot bullying a junior?” The great demon's nostrils flared. It looked in the direction Qin Sang had fled, a mix of surprise and uncertainty in its eyes, and surprisingly, did not continue the pursuit.

By then, Qin Sang had already repeatedly changed direction, escaping far away. For the past few days, Qin Sang had sensed an unusual atmosphere, suspecting his recent actions were a bit too high-profile and that staying in this sea area for too long had drawn the attention of the demon race.

“A shapeshifting great demon personally made a move; it seems I was indeed discovered. It appears I can't stay nearby. It would be best to move to a more distant sea area…” Qin Sang murmured. It would be dangerous if he were cornered by a shapeshifting great demon. He found a place, quickly dismembered the demon's corpse, and continued south.