Chapter 1461: The Power of the Spiritual Treasure (4k, Two in One)

Mortal World

Seeing Qin Sang's skeptical expression, Tong Lingyu explained, "Regarding the sea chart, there are indeed rumors in the North Sea. It's said that the journey is extremely long, but even late-Nascent Soul cultivators can rely on the sea chart to navigate through the storm zone and reach the Central Continent. Fellow Daoist has extraordinary strength, and your vision is no longer confined to the four regions of the North Sea. You see the storm zone as a cage, which is why you've begun searching for a sea chart, wanting to explore the outside world to seek the Grand Dao. Our Palace Master's devotion to the Dao is no less than yours; if we had a sea chart, we would have already departed."

With a smile, she continued, "If Profound Heaven Palace controlled the sea chart, there would be no need to hide it. When top cultivators like yourselves visit, we would certainly grant your requests, provided you swear not to bring powerful cultivators from other regions to cause trouble in the North Sea. Your unwillingness to settle for a secluded life and your proactive departure from the North Sea would surely be a good thing for Profound Heaven Palace, wouldn't it?"

Indeed, her words were true.

Profound Heaven Palace was a colossal entity that dominated one region, the foremost power among the four North Sea regions.

If all the Great Sages of the Demon Race and Great Cultivators of the Human Race in the late transformation stage were to leave the North Sea and travel abroad, reducing destabilizing factors, then no one or no force would be able to threaten Profound Heaven Palace.

Qin Sang naturally understood this principle.

He had previously suspected that the Ghost Mother's purpose for infiltrating Profound Heaven Palace might not be, or might not solely be, the sea chart.

"Where did these rumors originate?" Qin Sang countered.

There's no smoke without fire.

Both the Palace Master and the Grand Elder of Profound Heaven Palace had heard the rumors. Coupled with the sea chart the Ghost Mother obtained in the Pure Sea Sect, it was evident that people had previously traveled between the Central Continent and the North Sea.

"It's no longer traceable," Tong Lingyu shook her head. "If Fellow Daoist Qin receives any good news in the future, I sincerely hope you won't forget Profound Heaven Palace; we will surely offer a generous reward. If I am fortunate enough to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage, I also wish to travel abroad and see the landscapes beyond the North Sea."

Qin Sang chuckled softly.

If even Profound Heaven Palace couldn't find it, what good method could he, an outsider, possibly have?

At least, there were no rumors of a sea chart in the Northern Star Realm.

Could he only start from the Pure Sea Sect?

Qin Sang mused to himself, but due to its connection with the Ghost Mother, he didn't reveal the Pure Sea Sect matter to Tong Lingyu. He planned to investigate it himself when he had time.

He had only recently broken through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage, so he had plenty of time and was not in a hurry.

Seeing Qin Sang lost in thought, Tong Lingyu cautiously probed, "Fellow Daoist Qin, we have already shown our sincerity, might I ask..."

Qin Sang looked up, swept his hand across his waist, and a crystal ice box appeared in his palm.

Tong Lingyu's beautiful eyes lit up. She gazed at the ice box for a long time, and seeing that the seal was intact, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Previously, when Liuli extracted power from the Ice Demon Crystal, the seal was not damaged. No changes were visible from the outside; only by opening the ice box would one know.

"Fellow Daoist Tong has treated me with courtesy, so I cannot push my luck."

Qin Sang held the ice box in his palm, allowing Tong Lingyu to inspect it carefully. "After I emerge from your esteemed sect's treasury, I will immediately present this item with both hands! However, I have one more presumptuous request..."

Tong Lingyu had already begun to smile, but upon hearing the change in Qin Sang's tone, as if he wanted to add another condition, her expression subtly darkened.

Qin Sang calmly stated, "I have long admired Profound Heaven Palace and Fellow Daoist Tong. Today's opportunity is rare, and I wish to seek some guidance and witness the legendary Spirit Treasure. What are your thoughts, Fellow Daoist Tong?"

His true intention was to experience the genuine power of a Spirit Treasure.

He wasn't sure if the Demon Suppressing Stele in the Seven Kill Temple was a Spirit Treasure.

Excluding the Demon Suppressing Stele, this was Qin Sang's first opportunity to directly face a Spirit Treasure since he began cultivating.

While at the Void Spirit Sect, Qin Sang had seen some textual descriptions in ancient texts, such as Spirit Treasures having no grade divisions, and different Spirit Treasures potentially having vastly different powers, and so on.

However, nothing was as intuitive as personal experience.

He had already set up arrangements on the island, so even if Tong Lingyu harbored malicious intentions, he could escape at any time. As for his own abilities, his Demonic Flame had already been exposed, allowing him to fight without reservation.

Tong Lingyu was somewhat surprised by his words.

For a master of his caliber, he wouldn't intentionally provoke an unnecessary fight; there must be an ulterior motive. It turned out to be for the Spirit Treasure.

It was no secret among top cultivators that Profound Heaven Palace possessed a Spirit Treasure inheritance.

After a brief thought, Tong Lingyu said, "Fellow Daoist Qin, by slaying the traitor of Profound Heaven Palace and helping us retrieve our sacred artifact, you are a friend of Profound Heaven Palace. Swords have no eyes; if, during our sparring, one of us accidentally fails to hold back, it might cause hard feelings. How about we limit it to three moves, stopping at a suitable point?"

Qin Sang understood the unspoken implication, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

This Grand Elder was worried that she might strike too hard and injure him!

Was the power of a Spirit Treasure truly so formidable?

Had he not displayed extraordinary escape techniques superior to those of Great Cultivators, Tong Lingyu probably wouldn't have agreed to these conditions so readily.

Qin Sang understood. He gave Tong Lingyu a profound look, his curiosity about Spirit Treasures deepening. He then flipped his hand, putting away the ice box, and said, "Very well! As Fellow Daoist Tong wishes!"

Tong Lingyu nodded with a smile, then turned to Liuli. "Liuli, be our lookout for me and Fellow Daoist Qin."

"Yes!"

Liuli summoned her escape light, flew to the periphery, and turned to watch them.

Two top masters sparring, possibly involving a Spirit Treasure—the chance to observe was a significant opportunity for her.

Qin Sang and Tong Lingyu exchanged glances, then simultaneously flew off the small island, hovering in mid-air.

Qin Sang showed no hesitation, waving his hand to summon the Demonic Banner.

'Whoosh! Whoosh!'

Demonic flames surged skyward.

A black flaming dragon circled high in the sky, then swooped down, circling majestically beside Qin Sang.

Qin Sang stood amidst the demonic flames, his expression composed, ready for battle.

Tong Lingyu's gaze was drawn to the demonic flames. Feeling the power they exuded, a deeper surprise appeared in her expression, and she couldn't help but glance at Qin Sang again.

She hesitated for a moment.

Tong Lingyu did not, as Qin Sang had expected, take out a magic treasure or a Spirit Treasure.

She clasped her hands together, looked at Qin Sang, and began to chant.

As she moved, Qin Sang suddenly felt a chill rise from nowhere, surging towards him. In the blink of an eye, it was everywhere, surrounding him.

"Not a magic treasure, but some kind of Daoist spell..."

Qin Sang recognized the technique Tong Lingyu was using and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. However, he didn't lower his guard and remained focused.

Three moves was the limit.

If Tong Lingyu dared to use this Daoist spell as her first move, she must be very confident in its power.

Based on his previous experience, Qin Sang silently channeled his demonic flames, forming a layer of fiery armor around himself. At the same time, he commanded the flaming dragon to shrink, and he himself became a ball of fire, quietly observing the situation.

Tong Lingyu paid no heed to Qin Sang's response, continuing her incantation and rapidly changing hand seals.

At this moment, the battlefield's heavens changed.

Cold winds howled, and intense chill descended.

Qin Sang instinctively looked up. Above his head, a dark light, like a black cloud, had appeared at some point. Within the dark light, streams of cold energy moved, forming a strange forbidden diagram.

The forbidden diagram formed in an instant, but the Daoist spell continued.

Forbidden diagrams rapidly condensed, each with a different image, but without exception, all were ice and snow phenomena. Nine such diagrams instantly materialized.

In the distance, Liuli watched the Grand Elder's movements with unblinking eyes, murmuring, "Nine Nether Cold Restrictions!"

"Fall!"

Tong Lingyu let out a soft cry.

The nine forbidden diagrams overlapped, bringing with them a terrifying chill capable of freezing the void, and plummeted towards Qin Sang!

At the same time, the Nine Nether Demonic Flame had already transformed into a flaming dragon, roaring skyward.

Qin Sang naturally wouldn't just stand by and watch Tong Lingyu attack. He recognized the key to this Daoist spell and struck without hesitation.

'Boom!'

Since it was a spar, neither of them made any evasive moves. The demonic flames and forbidden diagrams, without any embellishment, collided under the gaze of the three.

To Qin Sang's surprise, these forbidden diagrams shattered upon contact with the demonic flames.

Immediately after, he sensed something unusual. Reacting swiftly, he drastically changed his incantation, uncharacteristically recalling his demonic flames to surround himself.

The next moment, the cold aura around Qin Sang intensified dramatically, and he was suddenly enveloped by ice and snow.

The patterns within the forbidden diagrams inexplicably materialized around Qin Sang. With the nine diagrams stacked, various phenomena like blizzards and ice mountains continuously emerged. Yet, under Tong Lingyu's control, they only affected an area less than ten zhang in radius.

Inside the forbidden diagrams, Qin Sang showed no reaction, seemingly having lost the ability to fight back.

'Condense!'

Tong Lingyu shouted again.

The power of the forbidden diagrams furiously coiled inwards.

Just then, an astonishing fluctuation suddenly erupted from within.

'Boom!'

A torrent of black flames burst forth from the forbidden diagram's imagery, surging towards Tong Lingyu.

The forbidden diagrams reformed, raising residual ripples for a counterattack, but they couldn't restrain the demonic flames and barely affected Qin Sang.

Tong Lingyu's face paled slightly as she swiftly retreated, avoiding the attack. Looking at Qin Sang emerging, wreathed in demonic flames, she softly sighed, "I heard that the Winter Talisman of Listening Snow Pavilion and Elder Lan's Sun-Catching Loop were both restrained by Fellow Daoist Qin. It seems this Spirit Fire is the reason. I didn't expect this fire to be so extraordinary that even the Nine Nether Cold Restrictions couldn't trap you."

Qin Sang, for his part, retorted provocatively, "Fellow Daoist Tong, if you continue to use such methods, this spar's victor will be me."

Tong Lingyu responded with a smile, "It's merely a spar; who wins or loses truly doesn't matter."

Despite her words, a hint of seriousness entered Tong Lingyu's eyes. She extended her jade hand and lightly tapped the mustard seed pouch at her waist. A streak of white light shot out.

Within the white light was a small seal.

The seal appeared to be made of white jade, with no inscription on its base. On its knob, four ancient divine beasts, Teng Snake, were intricately carved, lifelike, each biting the tail of another, forming a continuous loop.

Upon seeing the seal, Qin Sang's gaze immediately became exceptionally solemn.

Tong Lingyu hadn't concealed it, and Qin Sang could naturally tell that this seal was incomparable to a magic treasure!

"This is a Spirit Treasure..."

Qin Sang's heart stirred slightly as he stared intently at the small seal.

The small seal spun rapidly, hovering in the void before Tong Lingyu.

Tong Lingyu glanced at Qin Sang and said gravely, "This is the Spirit Treasure, the Four-Mounted Teng Snake Seal. Fellow Daoist Qin, be careful!"

Before her words fully faded.

Tong Lingyu averted her gaze, fixed it on the Four-Mounted Teng Snake Seal, and silently chanted an incantation.

'Whoosh!'

The Four-Mounted Teng Snake Seal began to tremble restlessly. Invisible fluctuations emanated from it, causing the void to ripple and frequently flash with cold light, like transparent flames as pure as profound ice.

Legend had it that the Teng Snake was a divine beast of fire and flame, yet the Teng Snakes on the small seal were now bathed in cold flames, appearing as if they could come alive at any moment.

Unlike facing the Nine Nether Cold Restrictions, where he felt the chill eroding him, Qin Sang now felt a strong sense of alarm, an inexplicable feeling of danger, even greater than before!

Qin Sang dared not hesitate. He immediately activated the Fire Lotus, commanded the demonic flames to leave his body, and reform into a flaming dragon before him.

At the same time, he noticed that the physical form of the Four-Mounted Teng Snake Seal had vanished. The cold light in the void transformed into boundless cold flames, like a frigid sun, hanging high in the sky.

Suddenly, a strange hiss echoed across the sky.

The sound seemed to ring right beside Qin Sang's ear, like the shriek of an ancient divine beast, transmitted through vast expanses of time into the present.

Before Qin Sang could react, the cold flames within the frigid sun suddenly surged, and then a massive phantom shot out from it—it was a Teng Snake!

The Teng Snake, bathed in flames, its eyes formed of fire, gleamed with fierce light, staring intently at Qin Sang. Its cold flames transformed into fiery wings, and with a swing of its slender body, it shot straight towards Qin Sang.

In an instant.

Qin Sang felt as though he had been targeted by a true ancient fierce beast, his mind suddenly taut.

The Teng Snake's speed was astonishing; it traversed the void, flying swiftly.

Qin Sang didn't hesitate in the slightest. He immediately activated the Fire Lotus, commanding his demonic flaming dragon to charge head-on.

The two fierce beasts, formed of flames, collided head-on. In an instant, the world grew dim, and the bodies of both beasts almost simultaneously disintegrated piece by piece!

'Boom! Boom! Boom!'

The sky darkened, and colossal waves surged.

The two fiery beasts fought fiercely, stirring up the rivers and seas, perishing together, returning to their most fundamental power.

In the void, demonic flames and cold flames intertwined, indistinguishable from each other, creating a chaotic scene. The two forces continued to clash, their aftershocks lingering for a long time.

After a long while, sunlight finally began to penetrate the area.

Qin Sang and Tong Lingyu had already flashed away, retreating to avoid the aftershocks. Both of them were breathing somewhat rapidly, and their expressions varied as they looked at the center of the battlefield.

The difference was that Qin Sang frowned slightly, while Tong Lingyu's eyes held considerable surprise.

Although the Four-Mounted Teng Snake Seal was powerful, its might was not as formidable as Qin Sang had imagined; it was actually blocked just like that!

Qin Sang knew that while the power of the demonic flames, when wielded through the Eighteen Demonic Banners, surpassed that of top-grade magic treasures, it couldn't compare to a Spirit Treasure. A Spirit Treasure shouldn't have such limited power.

The aftershocks gradually dissipated.

Qin Sang couldn't help but look up at Tong Lingyu.

He saw Tong Lingyu, who had at some point recalled the Four-Mounted Teng Snake Seal and was holding it with her fingertips, remark with admiration, "Fellow Daoist Qin's Demonic Banner is truly formidable! It effortlessly blocked merely ten percent of the Four-Mounted Teng Snake Seal's power!"

"Ten percent?" Qin Sang was startled.

Tong Lingyu nodded and sighed softly, "Fellow Daoist, don't think ten percent is too little. Most top-grade magic treasures would struggle greatly against even ten percent of the Four-Mounted Teng Snake Seal's power."

Qin Sang found this somewhat incredible, staring intently at the Spirit Treasure on her fingertip. If ten percent of a Spirit Treasure's power was already like this, what if Tong Lingyu had used her full strength just now...

Tong Lingyu seemed to have guessed Qin Sang's thoughts. She shook her head and said, "Fellow Daoist Qin, you might be mistaken. How could a Nascent Soul cultivator fully control the might of a Spirit Treasure?"

She didn't hold back any information, actively explaining, "There are two ways to wield a Spirit Treasure. First, one's own spiritual essence is extremely compatible with the Spirit Treasure's, allowing for effortless recognition, but this situation is exceedingly rare. Second, one forcibly tames the Spirit Treasure, either by having exceptionally high cultivation to make the Spirit Treasure submit, or by cultivating a unique Treasure Control Art to control it. Each Spirit Treasure's Treasure Control Art is unique, created by the very person who refined that treasure. If the refiner did not inscribe the Treasure Control Art within the Spirit Treasure during its creation, outsiders would be unable to use it even if they obtained it, as they wouldn't understand the art. Regardless of the method, there are requirements for the user's cultivation. With my current cultivation, I can only unleash less than twenty percent of the Four-Mounted Teng Snake Seal's power."