Chapter 1151: Qingluan Dharma Image

Qin Sang pondered.

Bai's guess might be correct; the Yin-Yang Armor on his nascent soul couldn't have shattered for no reason. When the azure luan's phantom entered his body, the scene he witnessed of the azure luan soaring through the Void Thunder Marsh might not have been a mere illusion.

The fact that he, with only Core Formation stage cultivation, could withstand the impact of the azure luan's essence blood showed how much power had been lost; otherwise, he would likely have exploded and died immediately. Correspondingly, even if a remnant of the azure luan's consciousness remained, it was likely on its last breath. Bai, hiding in the Soul-Nourishing Wood, was now just a wisp of a remnant soul, with almost all his memories lost.

The azure luan's consciousness, blocked by the jade Buddha, might have already been dispersed.

He searched himself inch by inch, including the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, finding no abnormalities.

For now, this was all he could do.

Bai, not thinking so deeply, admiringly looked at the Heavenly Eye Butterfly for a while. Then, remembering something, he asked, "Both your physical body and your spirit insect have broken through. You must have a good chance of forming a Nascent Soul now, right? When do you plan to attempt the breakthrough?"

"Of course, the sooner the better!" Qin Sang said solemnly. "After I return and settle the demon spirits of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea, I'll enter seclusion to sort out my past, adjust my state, and then head to the Cloud Vast Marsh to find a place for tribulation."

The situation was growing increasingly tense, and the cultivation world was in turmoil.

Although he now possessed combat power nearly equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator, it wasn't enough.

The threat from Marquis Dongyang was one concern. He had stolen treasures from the Myriad Snake Abyss, and although his identity was temporarily concealed, the Azure Luan Wings were too unique. If Demon King Qianji intended to investigate, there was a good chance she could uncover his origins.

Only after forming a Nascent Soul would he truly qualify to be a chess player.

Bai nodded and said, "I've also reached a critical juncture. After you undergo your tribulation, I'll continue my seclusion, which will likely take a very long time..."

Qin Sang's heart stirred, and he quickly asked, "After this seclusion, Brother Bai should be able to refine the Corpse Soul Pearl and advance to Corpse King, right? Have you thought of a way to undo the Heavenly Corpse Talisman?"

Bai hesitated, saying, "I can't be too certain yet, but I can say I have a certain degree of confidence. As for the Heavenly Corpse Talisman, I'll only know the outcome after fully refining the Corpse Soul Pearl, and the result is still very hard to predict. Didn't an old acquaintance of yours find a clue about the Heavenly Corpse Sect? That lead shouldn't be abandoned. It would be best to find the Heavenly Corpse Sect, even if it's just ruins."

"Are you talking about Tan Hao?"

Qin Sang nodded. "After forming my Nascent Soul, I'll have a good talk with Tan Yien and seek out Tan Hao's former friends; perhaps we can find some clues. From the tone of Tan Hao's letter, he seemed quite confident. The fact that the Heavenly Corpse Sect's main headquarters is within the Sinner's Abyss is indeed somewhat unexpected for me. In the future, whether I use a human or demon identity, I'll definitely go to the battlefield, and then I'll find a way to infiltrate the Sinner's Abyss to investigate."

The two chatted for a while.

Neither the Heavenly Eye Butterfly nor the Fat Chicken showed any signs of waking up.

Qin Sang returned the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to his Qi Sea, then, carrying the Fat Chicken, he sped toward their agreed meeting point.

A mountain cave in the wilderness.

After receiving Qin Sang's signal, the demons dismantled their formation, withdrew from their ambush points, and returned to this mountain cave to hide and await Qin Sang.

They had been lurking far away, only sensing the might of the lightning tribulation from a distance. They had no idea what exactly had happened or if Qin Sang had shaken off the demon king's pursuit.

They had spent the entire night on tenterhooks.

Qin Sang finally returned!

"Meow! Young Master Qin is back!" The white cat leaped out.

The demons were overjoyed and gathered around him.

Under their expectant gazes, Qin Sang smiled and said, "I've not failed in my mission! The harvest is even greater than expected. Let's discuss it further when we're back."

The demons, in high spirits, returned to the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea.

Qin Sang handed the Fat Chicken to the Willow Tree Spirit, instructing them to guard the grand formation well and not disturb him unless something major happened. He then sealed off his cave dwelling.

Several months passed.

Qin Sang did not leave his dwelling at all.

His primary task was to consolidate the fourth level of the 'Heavenly Demon Refinement Technique'.

The Azure Luan's essence blood was an external power. Although Qin Sang cultivated by visualizing the azure luan, he still felt a slight sense of detachment from the Phoenix Wings. He calmed his mind, simultaneously comprehending the fourth level of the 'Heavenly Demon Refinement Technique' and refining the Phoenix Wings until they were perfectly integrated.

At this point, the cultivation method was completely stabilized.

Qin Sang also gained some insights into the subsequent techniques of the fourth level.

"Dharma Aspect! Manifest!"

Qin Sang awoke from his meditation, letting out a low cry. Immediately, a blue light flashed around him, a gust of wind rose behind him, and the Azure Luan Dharma Aspect materialized out of thin air.

Though called a Dharma Aspect, it was in fact extremely ethereal, barely even a phantom.

It was like a reflection in a mirror or the moon in water, easily shattered with a touch.

Of course, he couldn't have any great expectations for such a Dharma Aspect.

"The Heavenly Demon Dharma Aspect divine ability requires continuous refinement to gradually display its power; it's a step-by-step process." Qin Sang examined the Heavenly Demon Dharma Aspect, recalling the technique's description: "At my current cultivation level, the Heavenly Demon Dharma Aspect's purpose is to amplify my strength after I activate the Heavenly Demon Transformation. The effect isn't obvious yet, but as the Dharma Aspect gradually solidifies, the benefits I receive will grow. Furthermore, the fourth level of the technique mentions that after comprehending the Heavenly Demon Dharma Aspect, there's a chance to gain some of the Heavenly Demon's divine abilities, but this Azure Luan Dharma Aspect doesn't seem to have anything special..."

Qin Sang thought to himself, "If a demon race cultivated this technique, the divine abilities they comprehended would likely come from their ancestors, inherited through their bloodline. I'm of a different race, and I'm cultivating an incomplete technique, so is that why it's missing?"

Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly. "Could it be a lightning evasion divine ability? Integrating the essence blood of a Thunder Luan and inheriting lightning evasion — that's highly possible!"

In Qin Sang's view, comprehending a lightning evasion technique was more gratifying than any other divine ability.

He had been adrift overseas, entered the Seven Kills Palace three times, and endured countless dangers. Many times, he had escaped peril by relying on sophisticated evasion techniques.

Advance to attack, retreat to defend!

After forming a Nascent Soul, the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman would be of little use. Lightning evasion was far superior to a mere secret talisman.

"The fourth level, like the previous three, only requires drawing upon the power of the surrounding stars to temper the body in a step-by-step manner. However, the bone flute still hasn't revealed the fifth level. I've already memorized the Azure Luan's divine aura; I wonder if I can break through to the fifth level with the next Star Essence Infusion? That would be combat power comparable to the Deity Transformation stage!"

Qin Sang took out the bone flute, and his spiritual sense probed it; the subsequent chapters were still shrouded in mist.

After some thought, Qin Sang put away his Dharma Aspect and the bone flute, then summoned the Heavenly Eye Butterfly.

During his period of quiet cultivation, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had also managed to control its newly acquired power. The Heavenly Eye Butterfly had grown larger, but it still preferred to shrink back to its previous small size, landing on Qin Sang's shoulder and lightly rubbing against his cheek.

"I wonder how the Heavenly Eye divine ability would have improved if the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had advanced naturally?" Qin Sang glanced at the spirit insect, doubting if it could still be considered a Heavenly Eye Butterfly, as its Heavenly Eye divine ability had merged with its lightning control ability, completely altered by his raising.

Qin Sang closed his eyes and entered meditation, his mind connected with the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, contemplating the Nascent Soul bottleneck.

'Creak!'

Qin Sang pushed the door open and stepped out, seeing the white cat guarding the outer hall.

"Young Master Qin..." The white cat stood up.

Qin Sang said, "Go call Fellow Daoist Liu and the others. I have something to announce."