Chapter 1130: Star Platform

He approached the beam of light.

"You've been to Zhantian Peak before and should know the conditions inside. Once you enter, focus on cultivating your secret arts; do not act without caution..."

Qing Jun called Qin Sang forward. Her hand seals changed rapidly as she cast one restriction after another into his body.

Qin Sang did not resist. As the restrictions settled, he immediately felt his cultivation suppressed to the Foundation Establishment stage.

After applying the restrictions, Qing Jun stopped. Jiugu and the demonic cultivator, still uneasy, also intervened, adding more layers of seals to Qin Sang's body.

Suddenly, Qin Sang's expression changed. His Mustard Seed Pouch, Spirit Beast Bag, Thousand-Weight Ring, and other treasures had all been sealed by Jiugu and the demonic cultivator.

"You are not to bring out even a single Star Essence Stone from Zhantian Peak! Once you return, I will personally remove these seals." Jiugu stared into Qin Sang's eyes, warning him in a low, stern voice. Having endured many battles, the man's gaze seemed to carry a potent aura of bloodlust.

Qin Sang glanced at his senior sister. This move was clearly a precaution against the Yuan Mirage Sect and Qing Jun. The Yuan Mirage Sect excelled in array formations, and their treasured collections had fallen into Qing Jun's hands. There must be ancient arrays that require Star Essence Stones for their activation. Otherwise, Leng Yuntian would not have gone to such lengths to contend for the immortal dwelling and send people to infiltrate Zhantian Peak to steal them.

If Qing Jun offered the ancient arrays to the Two Regions Alliance to resist the Sinful Abyss, they would gladly accept. However, if she privately hoarded the Star Essence Stones, it was clearly not what the other forces wished to see.

"Go," Qing Jun said, unconcerned.

Qin Sang nodded silently, then turned and flew towards the entrance. Vortices and a storm appeared on the water's surface. Without hesitation, Qin Sang plunged into the vortex. The storm at Zhantian Peak's entrance no longer troubled Qin Sang, given his powerful physical body. Though the suction force pulled at him, he easily broke free each time.

Soon, Qin Sang entered Zhantian Peak. The landscape within this space remained unchanged. Hues of light, formed by ancient restrictions, merged in vast patches with Star Essence Stones, and abundant Star Essence power permeated everywhere, especially concentrated at the very summit of Zhantian Peak.

Unexpectedly, Qin Sang did the opposite, heading directly down the mountain. Before traveling to Cangheng Island, Qin Sang and Qing Jun had already anticipated this and had visited the immortal dwelling in advance. There, Qin Sang had hidden a Star Spirit Net, a Star Platform, and other treasures. The Star Spirit Net was for capturing Star Essence Stones. While helping Qin Sang, Qing Jun also harbored intentions of secretly acquiring Star Essence Stones.

The Star Platform was the crescent-shaped stone platform Qin Sang had taken from a shaman cultivator at the Lan Dou Sect. He had relied on it for a Star Essence infusion to break through the third layer of the *Heavenly Demon Refining Form* technique. This artifact could gather Star Essence and might further aid him.

With his powerful physical body, Qin Sang didn't need to expend any true essence. He traveled unimpeded until he reached the teleportation array. Qing Jun had previously manipulated this area to conceal the teleportation array. Qin Sang easily activated the teleportation array. Suppressing his cultivation to the Qi Refinement stage, he teleported to the immortal dwelling on the opposite side to retrieve his treasures. Afterward, while collecting a large quantity of Star Essence Stones, he ascended towards the peak.

"Such abundant Star Essence power!" Joy blossomed on Qin Sang's face. At this rate, he realized he might not even need to reach the summit to meet the requirements for a Star Essence infusion.

Soon after, Qin Sang stopped, sensed his surroundings, and murmured to himself, "This is sufficient." After circling Zhantian Peak, Qin Sang found a clear area free of restrictions. He took out the Star Platform, sat cross-legged, and silently recited the secret formula of his cultivation technique.

As he activated the secret art, the ambient Star Essence power was drawn by an invisible force and began to converge around him. An ethereal and profound energy flowed into his body, accompanied by a dark, elusive star malevolence. As he had anticipated, the Star Essence power within Zhantian Peak contained a chilling star malevolence, indistinguishable from that outside, making it suitable for his Star Essence infusion.

A surging sound filled the air. Qin Sang remained motionless. Star Essence power flowed continuously, like water, drawn towards him, while the Star Platform aided in its condensation. However, upon entering Qin Sang's body, it transformed into a turbulent tempest, violently crashing within him. Thunderous roars resonated deep in Qin Sang's mind with each impact. His skin and flesh began to tremble subtly, undergoing the tempering of the Star Essence. Having undergone Star Essence infusions before, Qin Sang had anticipated the pain and endured it with sheer willpower.

The Star Essence power around Qin Sang grew denser, bathing his entire body in shimmering starlight. The Star Essence power converged at an increasing speed, eventually reaching the requirements of the cultivation technique. Qin Sang's expression grew serious as his hand seals abruptly changed.

A deafening boom reverberated! A torrent of abundant Star Essence power surged wildly into his body, wreaking havoc within Qin Sang. His flesh tore, and his bones felt as if they would be crushed to dust by the immense force. Qin Sang let out a muffled groan, his face flushing crimson as he clenched his teeth tightly. Ignoring the pain, he continued to circulate the technique. Blood seeped from his skin, and new impurities were refined. The Star Essence baptism, while agonizing, also brought about a profound transformation. His bones felt as if they were being broken, his bone marrow scoured by the Star Essence, and his flesh seemed to be replaced repeatedly. He wondered if all body-refining cultivators endured this pain, or if it was unique to him because he cultivated a demonic art.

Qin Sang's will was firm. Despite the successive waves of intense pain, his cultivation technique remained uninterrupted. His physical body was repeatedly destroyed and then reshaped. Another roar resounded. Star Essence surged forth. Qin Sang's body trembled violently. He cried out inwardly, "Why haven't I broken through yet?" The Star Essence power he had drawn in clearly exceeded the limits described in the cultivation technique. Qin Sang was nearing his absolute limit, yet there were still no signs of a breakthrough. He ignored the agony, visualizing the Azure Luan, but he still couldn't comprehend the most crucial element: the Heavenly Demon Incarnation!

Qin Sang distinctly felt his physical body grow stronger than before, progressing even further at the peak of the third layer. The fourth layer seemed within reach, yet it remained an insurmountable chasm! He let out a guttural cry. With a sharp crack, Star Essence scattered. Qin Sang propped one hand on the Star Stone, blood oozing from the cracks in his skin. His hair was disheveled, and his body was covered in wounds, but he paid them no mind. The breakthrough had failed!

Qin Sang's brows furrowed. Although he had benefited from the Star Essence infusion, he still couldn't form the Heavenly Demon Incarnation and thus couldn't break through to the fourth layer. "So, visualizing only a puppet isn't enough to grasp the true essence of the Azure Luan?" he mused. He had harbored this concern since he began cultivating, and now it had indeed become a formidable obstacle. After a period of rest, he attempted it a few more times. Not only did he fail to gain further benefits, but the bottleneck remained stubbornly firm.

"It truly is an exotic cultivation technique!" Qin Sang sighed. "For cultivators, forming a nascent soul is a profound transformation that demands enduring tribulations! The fourth layer of the *Heavenly Demon Refining Form* is clearly more than just a matter of physical strength compared to the first three layers; it involves the Heavenly Demon Incarnation, and it cannot be forced. If visualizing a mere puppet isn't enough, would seeing a true Azure Luan phantom be sufficient?"

Qin Sang was deeply worried. If this path proved impassable, he might be unable to continue cultivating the *Heavenly Demon Refining Form* in the future. Qin Sang shook his head, about to rise and put away the Star Platform. Unexpectedly, he discovered that the Star Platform beneath him had undergone an astonishing change while he was focused on breaking through: it was autonomously absorbing Star Essence power!