Chapter 1369: Planning the Path

Rain on the Bluestone.

The Jade Buddha could not respond to Qin Sang.

Qin Sang looked at the unmoving Buddha light, feeling helpless.

He recalled his three previous entries into Ziwei Palace but found nothing unusual about the Jade Buddha.

“Sword Spirit…”

Qin Sang suddenly remembered that he still had a living entity with him from Ziwei Palace – the Slaughter Sword Spirit!

The Slaughter Sword Spirit possessed independent consciousness and might know the secrets of Ziwei Palace.

Perhaps through Ziwei Palace, he could uncover the origin of the Jade Buddha.

At this thought, Qin Sang felt an even greater urgency to find the Slaughter Sword fragments and awaken the Sword Spirit.

Three years later.

Cave abode in Peach Blossom Valley.

Qin Sang awakened from his meditation, slowly opening his eyes. His True Essence gently surged before quickly settling, leaving his aura profound and completely undisturbed.

“Hmm, my cultivation has stabilized.”

Qin Sang lowered his head, glancing at his Dantian. His gaze held no self-satisfaction, only solemnity.

“There are no shortcuts ahead; cultivating on one's own is indeed arduous. In fact, my cultivation speed isn't slow at all. No wonder Grand Cultivators are so rare…”

Qin Sang knew well that he couldn't rush the next stage, so he might as well travel for a bit; he was still young anyway.

He still had over two hundred years before his first Heavenly Tribulation.

Given his cultivation level, the first Heavenly Tribulation was nothing to worry about; there was no need to rush.

After much thought,

Qin Sang mused that if he wanted to improve quickly, ascetic cultivation wouldn't suffice. He needed to focus on other divine abilities.

In recent years, due to his dedicated cultivation, he hadn't had time to focus on "Fire Seed Golden Lotus" and "Heavenly Demon Refinement Form," both of which had stagnated.

"Heavenly Demon Refinement Form" was still far from breaking through to the mid-fourth layer.

After forming his Nascent Soul, Qin Sang had weighed his options and almost shelved "Heavenly Demon Refinement Form," causing its progress to be exceptionally slow. He could now resume body refinement.

However, Qin Sang planned to first focus his main energy on cultivating "Fire Seed Golden Lotus" to break through to the second layer as quickly as possible.

According to the cultivation method's description, after breaking through to the second layer of "Fire Seed Golden Lotus," the cultivator's divine sense would experience a significant leap, with obvious benefits.

His divine sense was already strong.

Optimistically, after breaking through, his divine sense might even be able to manifest a physical form, reaching a level comparable to Grand Cultivators!

Back then, Old Demon Mou, with at most two layers, managed to escape under the siege of both righteous and demonic cultivators and feigned death right under the eyes of the Ancient Devil's separated soul, which showed how powerful his divine sense was.

Qin Sang's ambition, of course, did not stop there.

Cultivating Essence, Qi, and Spirit simultaneously was beneficial for forming a Nascent Soul, and it would certainly be no exception when breaking through to the next realm, or even the Soul Transformation stage.

Building a solid foundation step by step was the only way to achieve significant breakthroughs later.

And he had the means to do so!

Having planned his future cultivation path, Qin Sang summoned the Fire Lotus Seed.

The Fire Lotus Seed appeared as if it were a physical object.

He needed to continuously refine the Nine Nether Demonic Flames until a qualitative change occurred before he could break through.

Qin Sang took out his demonic banner and attempted to refine the demonic flames. To his pleasant surprise, the cultivation speed was faster than when he was in the early Nascent Soul stage, significantly reducing the time required.

With no one to consult, Qin Sang wasn't sure how much longer it would take to see results.

He could still refine the demonic flames while traveling; there was no need to stay confined to the cave abode.

After refining a wisp of demonic flame, Qin Sang, feeling satisfied, concluded his practice and then tried cultivating "Heavenly Demon Refinement Form."

His improved cultivation realm also aided body refinement, but it still required arduous self-cultivation, and the breakthrough time would certainly be much later than that of "Fire Seed Golden Lotus."

Next, Qin Sang summoned his magical treasures: the Wandering Cloud Sword and the Sun Divine Tree.

The Wandering Cloud Sword showed no change; it remained in the form of a sword embryo.

Qin Sang carefully extended his divine sense into it, sensing a faint true spirit. After a careful examination, a wry smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

After all these years, he couldn't detect the slightest sign of the true spirit growing stronger.

Indeed, nurturing a spiritual essence and refining a spirit treasure was a long and difficult process! Qin Sang wasn't sure which would come first: his breakthrough to the late Nascent Soul stage or the Wandering Cloud Sword's advancement.

“As long as I can successfully nurture the senior's true spirit, any wait is worth it.”

Qin Sang lightly stroked the sword embryo, then shifted his gaze to the Sun Divine Tree.

The changes in the Sun Divine Tree were very significant.

The moment he took out this magical treasure, the entire cave abode was illuminated, and Qin Sang's face glowed red.

The Sun Divine Tree was entirely crimson, even more dazzling than before, like a ball of fire, increasingly resembling the legendary Fusang Divine Tree. Around the divine tree, the air rippled with intense heat waves.

Currently, Qin Sang dared not try to subdue the Southern Bright Lihuo with "Fire Seed Golden Lotus," nor was it necessary.

He would consider it after refining the Nine Nether Demonic Flames.

What Qin Sang was focused on was the flame power on the Sun Divine Tree's nine flower buds.

Unlike the main body, these flame powers had condensed into dark red, introverted orbs, less dazzling but even more impossible to ignore.

Qin Sang extended his hand, carefully supporting the Sun Divine Tree, and examined it closely for a long time.

“Excellent!”

Qin Sang nodded.

The magical treasure had not slipped from his control and was transforming in the direction he anticipated.

Once these flame powers condensed to their peak and transformed into nine divine birds, then the magical treasure and the Southern Bright Lihuo would stabilize and become usable by him.

The Sun Divine Tree should complete its transformation earlier than the Wandering Cloud Sword, and its power was highly anticipated!

With these treasures in hand, he would have no fear when encountering powerful enemies in the future and wouldn't need to rack his brains searching for other magical treasures. He could instead focus on cultivation and finding the Slaughter Sword fragments and the Guiding Platform.

Putting away his magical treasures, Qin Sang then summoned his three spirit insects and Dumb Girl.

With a continuous supply of Fire Melting Pills, the Fire Jade Centipede feasted to its heart's content, breaking through to the mid-third transformation twenty years ago, with the late stage now within reach.

Unfortunately, unless it encountered a great opportunity, the Fire Jade Centipede would find it difficult to advance further.

The Celestial Eye Butterfly's potential was certainly far greater than the Fire Jade Centipede's, but its improvement speed was too slow.

Having experienced the benefits of a natal spirit insect, Qin Sang naturally wanted to improve the Celestial Eye Butterfly as quickly as possible. He had tried every method, but with minimal success.

This time, on his trip to the Three Realms of the Northern Sea, he would also look for secret techniques related to insect control.

The Fat Silkworm was fast asleep.

Qin Sang valued it no less than the Celestial Eye Butterfly, but this fellow was even pickier than the Celestial Eye Butterfly. Once the poisonous algae fruits were eaten, it would simply go hungry.

The Fat Silkworm was Dumb Girl's natal spirit insect, so there was a layer of separation between it and him.

As for how to help the Fat Silkworm advance, Qin Sang had no clue at all and could only proceed step by step.

Qin Sang flicked his finger, waking the Fat Silkworm.

Upon seeing food, the Fat Silkworm forgot its discomfort, swallowed the poisonous algae fruit in one gulp, and then, with a flip of its belly, continued to snore in its sleep.

Qin Sang shook his head, his gaze falling on Dumb Girl.

Following Bai's guidance, Qin Sang had inscribed several bone curses on Dumb Girl's arm. He wasn't sure if it was the effect of the bone curses or some benefit gained from sleeping together with her natal spirit insect.

Dumb Girl's condition was getting better and better.

Her aura was complete, her cheeks rosy, and apart from being in a deep sleep, she was no different from an ordinary person.

Even more surprising was that seven-colored light surrounded Dumb Girl's primordial spirit, enveloping her like a cocoon of light and adding a touch of mystery.

Qin Sang couldn't discern the purpose of the light.

Undoubtedly, this unusual transformation must have come from the Fat Silkworm.

He just didn't know if it was a unique ability of the Fat Silkworm or a result of its active recognition of her as its master.