Chapter 1502: Eight-Character Admonition

Mortal Realm

The "Ji Yuan Art" was likely not created by Yin Changsheng; it is a legacy recorded in the Xuan Tian Token.

Yin Changsheng had monopolized this secret art, refusing to teach it to Tong Lingyu and others. By wielding the spiritual treasure, the Four-Armed Teng Snake Seal, and the pseudo-spiritual treasure, the Hanging Sword Tower, he was able to easily capture them alive and refine them into Blood Servants.

Qin Sang felt that the "Ji Yuan Art" was incredibly complex and profound, aligning with the Great Dao. It didn't seem to be the work of a contemporary cultivator.

The difference in power between Dharma Treasures and Spiritual Treasures was immense, virtually a chasm.

This secret art was designed to bridge that gap, completing a crucial link in cultivation.

From this perspective, a sense of immense grandeur arose. It was unclear which powerful entity created it.

Perhaps, in ancient times, the "Ji Yuan Art" was not so mysterious.

Or perhaps, there were other secret arts similar to the "Ji Yuan Art" that didn't necessarily require a Natal Dharma Treasure, allowing pseudo-spiritual treasures to be refined from ordinary Dharma Treasures.

What a magnificent world that must have been!

What the Beichen Realm had unearthed from the ancient immortal battlefield was merely scratching the surface.

Qin Sang sighed, his heart filled with yearning.

He silently memorized the "Ji Yuan Art" and then handed the Xuan Tian Token to Liu Li.

Qin Sang wasn't sure if this art could accelerate the Cloud Roaming Sword's development of spiritual sentience; he would only know by trying. The "Ji Yuan Art" was too difficult to cultivate for him; while his spiritual sense met the requirements, his cultivation was still too low.

Liu Li was also awakened by the tribulation lightning.

Her expression had calmed, returning to her usual serene and aloof demeanor. However, no one knew the full extent of this incident's impact on her.

"Rumble!"

The tribulation lightning, like a greenish-blue waterfall, cascaded down from the tribulation clouds.

The mere residual force of the escaping lightning caused the edges of the sinkhole to continuously crumble.

The terrifying spectacle of the heavens rending and earth splitting unfolded before them.

Yin Changsheng's figure had completely vanished.

With such terrifying tribulation lightning, his survival was impossible.

The tribulation clouds showed signs of dissipating rather than continuing to gather, confirming that Yin Changsheng, once a formidable figure in the North Sea, had truly perished.

Even at this final moment, his demise remained astonishing.

Tong Lingyu gazed blankly into the distance.

Her feelings toward Yin Changsheng were profoundly complex, encompassing respect, hatred, and pity.

Just then.

Tong Lingyu suddenly remembered something, turning to Qin Sang and asking, "Fellow Daoist Qin, do you still recall the eight-character maxim left by Senior Xiaoxiangzi that I mentioned earlier?"

Qin Sang nodded, confirming he had not forgotten.

After a brief silence, Tong Lingyu turned her head, staring fixedly at the place where Yin Changsheng had vanished, her voice soft and distant.

"The maxim is: 'Upon reaching the Spirit Transformation Stage, one will know their true destination!'"

Spirit Transformation!

Upon reaching the Spirit Transformation Stage, one will know their true destination!

Qin Sang's heart trembled, stirring up a maelstrom of thoughts and a myriad of questions.

What is this "destination"?

Does it refer to ascension, the realm beyond the storm belt, or merely the enigmatic Middle Continent?

Qin Sang had personally witnessed the phenomenon of 'ascension,' so his thoughts inevitably turned in that direction.

Why would one automatically gain this knowledge after reaching the Spirit Transformation Stage?

Could it be that reaching a higher realm brings about a mysterious metamorphosis, where Spirit Transformation cultivators deepen their understanding of the Heavenly Dao, enter a higher plane, and comprehend its rules?

If one knows the destination, how does one reach it?

Is the storm belt not boundless, allowing Spirit Transformation cultivators to freely traverse the storms and easily depart?

Or can Spirit Transformation cultivators ascend directly without needing an ascension platform?

If that were the case, the Jade Bone Devil's previous cultivation must have been unfathomable. It would have been far easier for him to recover to the Spirit Transformation Stage than for contemporary cultivators, so why did he insist on ascending the platform precisely when the Ziwei Palace was undergoing its ascension?

Why didn't the Ghost Mother recuperate and restore her cultivation, instead insisting on traveling everywhere to seek out the Witch Clan bloodline?

Qin Sang had a feeling that matters were not so straightforward.

"You don't need to look at me, Fellow Daoist," Tong Lingyu said with a bitter smile. "Senior Xiaoxiangzi left only this one maxim, without any explanation, leaving endless room for future generations to ponder."

At a time like this, Tong Lingyu truly had no reason to conceal anything.

Qin Sang furrowed his brow, remaining silent.

For someone to utter such a statement, Xiaoxiangzi must undoubtedly have been a Spirit Transformation cultivator, and the eight-character maxim represented his personal enlightenment.

If so, other Spirit Transformation cultivators should be no exception.

The other Spirit Transformation cultivators Qin Sang knew hailed from the Four Sacred Palaces of Canglang Sea. These palaces possessed complete inheritances, and since he had forged good relations with them, they should not be stingy with information.

Unfortunately, that path was now severed.

"Has the North Sea produced any other Spirit Transformation seniors?" Qin Sang asked.

Tong Lingyu replied, "None after Senior Xiaoxiangzi, but it's not impossible that some seniors, being reclusive by nature, never publicly revealed themselves. If such a 'destination' truly exists, they would have quietly departed. As for anything before that, those are ancient legends, and the North Sea's structure back then was vastly different from today's, making it impossible to investigate."

"Feasting on wind and dew, untouched by the mundane world, then gracefully departing to ascend to immortality once their cultivation is complete—surely, that's what mortals imagine an immortal to be."

Qin Sang recalled the various sects of the Beichen Realm.

The Beichen Realm was small, yet its conflicts were relentless, no less fierce than those in the North Sea. Immortal cultivation sects rose and fell; among those he knew, the Shangyuan Pure Palace boasted the longest lineage.

The new palace master of the Shangyuan Pure Palace had chosen to ally with the Qingyang Temple. Qin Sang had previously examined the palace's treasured classics but found no records of Spirit Transformation cultivators.

In any case, this was good news.

It suggested that there might be a path beyond the Spirit Transformation Stage!

At least a glimmer of hope to escape his predicament had appeared.

Xiaoxiangzi didn't offer extensive explanations, perhaps because such explanations would be meaningless to cultivators below the Spirit Transformation Stage. One must first break through to the Spirit Transformation Stage to even qualify to contend for the Great Dao!

As Qin Sang understood this, his spirit was suddenly invigorated!

The higher contemporary cultivators advanced, the more bewildered they became.

When ascension to immortality became a legend, when trapped by endless storms with no path forward, even the highest cultivation offered no escape. Longevity became a mirage, and what then was the meaning of arduous cultivation?

Qin Sang had once harbored such doubts, but he forced himself to disregard them, steadfastly treading his path, advancing step by step toward his goal!

The Ascension Platform.

Spirit Transformation.

Now, he knew two paths!

Qin Sang's fighting spirit soared. He suddenly looked up, just in time to see the tribulation clouds dissipating, and felt a profound sense of clarity.

Dazzling blue light filled the sinkhole like vast, misty waves. The power of the tribulation lightning had not yet subsided, and countless threads of lightning still snaked within.

With the aid of his Heavenly Eye divine ability, Qin Sang could faintly discern the scene within the sinkhole.

The sinkhole was utterly transformed, and Yin Changsheng's remains were nowhere to be found.

Just then, Qin Sang noticed a reflection at the edge of the sinkhole. Uttering a soft exclamation, he flashed down into the sinkhole, activating the Ruyi Orb's protective barrier, and plunged into the lightning.

It was a damaged coffin.

Specifically, the ice coffin Yin Changsheng had been lying in.

The ice coffin was severely damaged, split into two halves with numerous fragments, yet it had not been completely annihilated by the tribulation lightning.

"Yin Changsheng had been lying in this ice coffin all along, so it must be a rare treasure. Despite such severe damage, I wonder if it can be restored."

Qin Sang rubbed his chin, then unhesitatingly stored the damaged coffin, carefully collecting all its fragments.

The fragments felt icy cold to the touch.

Qin Sang didn't examine them closely, hastily putting them away. He then searched the grotto thoroughly but found nothing else.

"The tribulation lightning was too fierce!"

Qin Sang shook his head with a sigh, then flashed out of the sinkhole. He saw that Tong Lingyu's complexion had grown rosier, and her external injuries were completely healed. Most of the internal restrictions on her had been lifted, and she had taken healing pills to forcibly suppress her wounds, restoring 50-60% of her strength.

"Fellow Daoist Qin," Tong Lingyu said, "Hall Master Jiang and the others are still locked in a bitter struggle with Shang Lu and his faction outside the mist. We should quickly recover our strength. I hope you can assist me once more in purging our sect!"

Tong Lingyu's face was etched with killing intent.

Yin Changsheng had left behind the Xuan Tian Token, and Tong Lingyu, considering his final act, could choose not to hold Yin's descendants accountable. However, Shang Lu and Hall Master Yin had to be eliminated.

It wasn't just that these individuals had sided with Yin Changsheng and ambushed them.

What truly solidified Tong Lingyu's resolve to kill was that blood pool.

The blood in the pool had all come from fellow disciples.

For years, acting under Yin Changsheng's command, they had harmed countless fellow disciples.

As a hall master and head of the main lineage, they had too many means at their disposal. Had they not aided and abetted him, Yin Changsheng could not have maintained his flawless facade.

Whether they acted willingly or were swayed by Yin Changsheng, their sins were unforgivable.

No sect could tolerate such individuals.

After a pause, Tong Lingyu glanced at Liu Li before speaking to Qin Sang: "I will tell them that Yin Changsheng attempted to break through to Spirit Transformation, failed his tribulation, and that the Four-Armed Teng Snake Seal was destroyed by the heavenly tribulation. Upon our return, I may still require your assistance, Fellow Daoist Qin."

She was now extremely wary of Qin Sang and never once inquired about the whereabouts of the Four-Armed Teng Snake Seal.

It was already fortunate to have escaped with her life; she dared not hope to reclaim the spiritual treasure.

Furthermore, with the "Ji Yuan Art," as long as the Xuantian Palace continued to produce Grand Cultivators, it would not lack pseudo-spiritual treasures, which were sufficient to replace true spiritual treasures in importance.

Yin Changsheng had fallen, and in his final moments, only managed to send out the Xuan Tian Token. The latter half of the "Tongbao Art" remained a mystery, meaning its power would never reach its peak.

Unless Qin Sang were to hand over the spiritual treasure to Liu Li and allow it to recognize her as its master.

After all, wouldn't it just return to Xuantian Palace in the end?

Tong Lingyu had calculated well.

Qin Sang pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Very well!"

Helping Tong Lingyu manage the aftermath was something he had already decided to do.

Once they left the sacred ground and purged the remaining loyalists within the Xuantian Palace, the danger would be minimal, and it would present an excellent opportunity to acquire treasures. Qin Sang was naturally pleased to participate.

Tong Lingyu breathed a sigh of relief, immediately closing her eyes to meditate and break the last few remaining restrictions.

Qin Sang and his avatar then shared the remaining Feixue Pills.

This was different from when he first arrived in the North Sea. Back then, trapped in the storm belt with nowhere to meditate, he could only continuously absorb spiritual energy from spirit stones and had consumed too many pills, leading to an accumulation of impurities in his body that he first had to refine.

Now, having only consumed a few pills, the impact was negligible.

By the time Qin Sang's true essence had recovered to 70-80%, Tong Lingyu also stood up.

"Are you not going to unseal Fellow Daoist Luo Yun?" Qin Sang asked, curious.

Tong Lingyu shook her head, gazing steadily at the ice sculpture for a moment before softly saying, "Senior Brother Luo has been sealed by Yin Changsheng's dark arts for too long and was severely wounded in the blood pool. We must wait until we return to the Xuantian Palace to place him in the Undying Spring for a period of recuperation. Otherwise, even if we could awaken him now, it would damage his foundation and cause his cultivation realm to drop."

Leaving Luo Yun there, the three entered the ancient restriction and navigated through the black mist.

Qin Sang fell back a step, returning the Eight-Winged Heart Cicada's exuviae to Liu Li, and asked via spiritual transmission, "Can you still use the Ice Soul Divine Light now?"

"Yes," Liu Li replied, taking the exuviae, her tone betraying no emotion.

Qin Sang became thoughtful and asked no more questions.

Tong Lingyu didn't look back, seemingly unaware of their subtle exchange.

The ancient restriction within the black mist was extraordinarily complex, but since Yin Changsheng was dead and no one was controlling it, and Tong Lingyu knew the way because she had been captured by him, the three quickly found their way out with Qin Sang's assistance.

By this time, the fighting outside had ceased.

Everyone wore varied expressions, gazing into the depths of the black mist.

The sudden dissipation of the tribulation clouds moments ago seemed unusual.

However, with the ancient restriction obscuring their view, they couldn't see clearly. Moreover, none of them had ever witnessed a Spirit Transformation tribulation, so no one dared to make a hasty judgment. Thus, a strange stalemate had ensued.

Upon seeing the figures outside the ancient restriction, the three halted.

Qin Sang noticed one person, a strange look in his eyes, and asked, "Should we kill the one surnamed Yue as well?"

The cultivator surnamed Yue had no Corpse Flower Blood Amber or Nascent Soul Talisman Puppets, yet he had broken through to the Mid Nascent Soul stage with just over a hundred years of arduous cultivation, making him a true genius.

Yin Changsheng had needed Qin Sang to touch the exuviae to achieve his purpose.

However, the cultivator surnamed Yue had appeared at the Cleansing Pool. Unless it was an act, he was likely not the mastermind.

However, he had been personally groomed by Shang Lu, and the two were both mentor and friend. Later, he had also participated in the siege of Tong Lingyu.

Killing Shang Lu while sparing this person would surely leave a formidable potential enemy for their side.

If blame was to be assigned, it could only be for choosing the wrong side.

Tong Lingyu took a deep breath and declared resolutely, "Though a fragrant orchid blocks the path, I must remove it!"

Qin Sang nodded.

Outside the black mist.

"Why is there still no news from the Palace Master? Could it be that..."

Shang Lu and Hall Master Yin exchanged glances, feeling an inexplicable unease.

However, having both experienced breakthroughs, they knew that one needed to cultivate in seclusion afterward to stabilize their realm.

Moreover, regardless of the Palace Master's success or failure, Tong Lingyu was surely dead, with no chance of turning the tables. So they suppressed their anxious feelings and awaited the outcome.

Just then.

Unnoticed by them, a flicker of joy appeared in Hall Master Jiang's eyes, and he suddenly made his move.

Hall Master Jiang's Dharma Treasure was an ice jade cauldron.

The ice jade cauldron, reduced to palm size, hung inverted above Hall Master Jiang and the others. Its mouth emitted a faint, cold light, forming a robust barrier that had always been used for defense.

At that moment, the ice jade cauldron suddenly flipped, instantly transforming into a colossal cauldron that brutally smashed toward Shang Lu.

"Boom!"

The colossal cauldron's momentum was astounding.

Hall Master Jiang's cultivation was also at the Mid Nascent Soul stage. With his full power unleashed, a terrifying pressure immediately materialized.

Simultaneously, Elder Mei stomped his foot, and a path of profound ice rapidly spread out in a fan shape, also targeting Shang Lu and the other highest-cultivated individuals.

The others also launched their attacks.

They held nothing back, appearing to be making a desperate, all-out assault.

Seeing this, Shang Lu erupted in fury. "Old fool, are you still so stubbornly misguided!"

Before his words even finished, Shang Lu conjured his Dharma Treasure, a jade ruler, and unleashed his full power.

The jade ruler's surface immediately transformed into a mountain shape, weighing a thousand jun, its momentum no weaker than that of the colossal cauldron. This treasure was inherently extremely hard and feared no collision.

However, Shang Lu was clearly focused on self-preservation and did not genuinely wish to engage them in a battle to the death.

If Hall Master Jiang and the others wished to flee, they could.

In the vast North Sea, where could they possibly escape to?

Once the Palace Master emerged from the sacred ground, the situation would be entirely under control, and that would be the day of reckoning for these traitors!

Fighting to the death with these desperate individuals carried the risk of an unforeseen accident if one wasn't careful, which would lead to unbearable regret.

Hall Master Yin and the others shared similar thoughts. They defended while simultaneously dodging and creating an escape route for their opponents.

Unexpectedly, however, Hall Master Jiang and the others showed no intention of fleeing; instead, they attacked with frenzied abandon.

Witnessing their peculiar actions, Shang Lu was suddenly struck by an ominous premonition.

The next moment, Shang Lu felt a sudden chill at the back of his head, and his eyes widened in profound horror.