Chapter 1592: Nine Refinements Return to Spirit Pill

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A crisp sound echoed.

The Yin Puppet Crystal lay on the platform, its lifelike puppet drawing astonished gazes.

Puppet crystals are divided into Yin and Yang.

The Yang Puppet Crystal was a gift from Earl Dongyang before his death, while the Yin Puppet Crystal was obtained from the Bewitching General’s life-bound puppet after his defeat.

The Bewitching General had refined the Yin Puppet Crystal into his life-bound puppet, and a part of them had already fused. Qin Sang had no choice but to seal the entire puppet.

“A puppet?”

After a brief silence, a question arose from below.

Qin Sang shifted his gaze, seeing that the speaker was hidden in shadow, having applied a double disguise, just like himself.

Even with the seal still on the puppet, it had been recognized.

Indeed, there was no shortage of experts in this field in Middle State.

Top-tier spiritual materials are exceptionally rare in the current era. Crafting high-grade puppets often requires a dozen or even dozens of materials, making it extremely difficult.

Some cultivators who specialize in puppets wisely choose to abandon this path after reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

Throughout his cultivation, among the Nascent Soul cultivators Qin Sang had encountered, Senior Sister Qing Jun was undoubtedly the foremost expert in the art of puppetry, with the Bewitching General also counting as one.

“This is a secret treasure of the puppet path, obtained from an ancient secret realm. It is incomparable to ordinary current-era artifacts. If I did not forgo the puppet path myself, I would never part with it. Fellow Daoists proficient in this art should be able to discern its value without me elaborating further…”

Qin Sang unsealed the puppet, generously displaying it, allowing everyone to examine it with their spiritual sense.

He could not accurately determine the puppet crystal’s value. The Yin Puppet Crystal had already fused with another’s life-bound puppet, and whether it could be separated intact, and the extent of any impact, remained unknown.

He could only speak vaguely and wait for a destined buyer.

Pausing slightly, Qin Sang stated his conditions in a deep voice, “I wish to exchange these Yin and Yang Puppet Crystals for pills or secret treasures that can enhance spiritual sense, and they must be effective for the Divine Sense Manifestation stage.”

The puppet crystals did not cause a great stir.

Instead, Qin Sang’s request triggered a commotion.

Various expressions were directed at Qin Sang.

Even if one were to underestimate him, for a cultivator at the mid-Nascent Soul stage to reach the Divine Sense Manifestation stage, he must be an exceptional individual among his peers, his strength not far from that of a Great Cultivator.

“Is Your Excellency perhaps being a little fanciful?”

A female cultivator chuckled lightly. “How crucial is spiritual sense to cultivators like us? If one were to obtain such a pill, they would immediately consume it. Who would be willing to trade it away?”

The speaker was the same female cultivator who had just acquired the ‘Spirit Confinement Technique’.

Before Qin Sang could respond, the person in the shadows also chimed in, echoing the female cultivator, “Precisely! And the value of these two puppet crystals hasn’t reached such a level. If they were intact puppet crystals, it would be a different matter. One of the puppet crystals has already fused with the puppet. If I am not mistaken, this puppet is a rare life-bound puppet…”

This individual was clearly highly knowledgeable about the puppet path, discerning the puppet’s origins and speaking fluently.

Upon hearing that it was a life-bound puppet, everyone glanced at Qin Sang. It was highly likely that the puppet crystals were acquired from someone else, but this was generally insignificant unless a relative of the original owner was present.

“To obtain the puppet crystal, it must first be separated from the puppet. A life-bound puppet can be compared to a life-bound magic treasure, becoming largely valueless after its owner’s death—that is one point. Secondly, the separation process requires immense effort, and there’s no guarantee the puppet crystal can be fully separated. Such a treasure, even slightly damaged, would be greatly diminished. To exchange for a high-risk item with such a high price… Your Excellency’s demands are too high.”

Qin Sang stood on the platform, not interrupting the other party, his expression unchanged.

“Your Excellency is mistaken. A life-bound puppet cannot be simply compared to a life-bound magic treasure. If utilized properly, obtaining a Nascent Soul-level puppet is by no means difficult. This puppet is merely an extra. The value of these two puppet crystals alone is certainly no less than the treasures I seek. I am not boasting, but I have some achievements in the puppet path myself; it's merely that I need to focus on my fundamental Great Dao and cannot attend to both…”

When he subdued the Nascent Soul talisman-puppet, Qing Jun had patiently guided Qin Sang.

Qin Sang was not completely ignorant, otherwise it would have been difficult to refute the other party.

He refuted each point with reason and evidence.

The person in the shadows continued to argue with him, but Qin Sang was not annoyed.

The more this person spoke, the more it indicated their interest in the puppet crystals.

No matter how eloquently the other party spoke, Qin Sang remained firm. Finally, he looked around at everyone present and asked, “Which fellow Daoist is interested in trading?”

Seeing no room for bargaining, the person in the shadows fell silent.

While they argued, others watched with interest.

The female cultivator glanced at the shadows and said to Qin Sang with a serious expression, “Such treasures are rare and hard to come by, Your Excellency must know this well. Rather than waiting idly, why not first exchange for something useful? Does Your Excellency not have other needs?”

Qin Sang smiled faintly, his tone ambiguous. “Can fellow Daoist produce a method for Divine Transformation? If so, I would not only offer the puppet crystals but also other supreme treasures as gifts.”

His persistence in enhancing his spiritual sense was, in fact, preparation for Divine Transformation.

The ‘Blazing Golden Lotus’ was about to reach a bottleneck.

Overcoming this bottleneck in one go would be immensely significant, leading to an all-encompassing improvement!

If his spiritual sense could advance further, rivaling that of Divine Transformation cultivators, the benefits would be immeasurable.

Not only could he refine all nine nether demonic flames, but it might also be possible to leverage more of the Sun Divine Bird after significant advancements in secret arts and spiritual sense, causing a leap in the power of both divine abilities.

At his words, everyone was somewhat speechless.

The female cultivator chuckled, shaking her head repeatedly.

Next, others tried to exchange the puppet crystals for other treasures.

Qin Sang saw the subtle hints: the puppet crystals were indeed very valuable, as these people were still unwilling to give up.

If they could present a treasure that appealed to Qin Sang, he wouldn't mind making a trade, but unfortunately, they could not.

Just then, an aged voice suddenly came from a corner. “I have a Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill. I can offer it, but I don’t want your puppet crystals.”

As the voice spoke, a robed old man, who had been sitting cross-legged on a futon at the edge of the forest, stood up. He walked past the crowd and stepped into the pool, holding a jade bottle in one palm.

The jade bottle glowed with a faint green light.

Inside was a spiritual elixir, like a drop of liquid, crystal clear as a water bead and utterly pure, captivating everyone’s attention.

Seeing the robed old man approach, Jiang You’s expression subtly shifted, then returned to normal, not stopping him.

“The Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill, I presume you all have heard of it. A thousand years ago, a traitor emerged from Tianhao Tower—the Old Demon White Ghost. This person betrayed Tianhao Tower, but with his superb alchemy skills, he thrived in the Northern Barrens. Tianhao Tower pursued him multiple times but was repeatedly outwitted, becoming a momentary laughingstock. Back then, Old Demon White Ghost would auction a Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill every hundred years. Although most were consumed by people, occasionally some circulated. This one eventually came into my possession. I have no connection with Old Demon White Ghost, so if any fellow Daoists from Tianhao Tower are here, please do not direct your anger at me.”

The robed old man walked up to Qin Sang, nodded to him, placed the pill down, and addressed the crowd, “This pill has the effect of strengthening one’s spiritual sense. Even fellow Daoists who have already manifested their spiritual sense will gain some benefits from refining this pill. Otherwise, the Northern Barrens Demonic Sect would not have vigorously protected Old Demon White Ghost back then…”

Qin Sang scrutinized the Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill.

He had seen records of this pill when consulting the Six-State Hall’s archives.

In the current era, among spirit pills known for strengthening spiritual sense, the Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill ranked high in reputation.

More precious spirit pills were either monopolized by major sects, making their outflow nearly impossible, or lacked one or even several key spiritual herbs, making them impossible to refine.

The robed old man looked at Qin Sang. “Unfortunately, I don’t know how to refine puppets. If Your Excellency can produce one of these treasures, you can take this pill.”

As he spoke, he took out a jade slip.

Qin Sang took it and, after reading it, gasped.

“Celestial Crow Spirit Crystal, Four-Symbol Earth Mud, Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Cloud Dew…”

The treasures listed in the jade slip were all extremely rare and unique heavenly materials, impossible to acquire except by chance. Even renowned sects might not possess a few of them.

Below, some people were already clamoring, “Why doesn’t fellow Daoist display the contents of the jade slip?”

“Exactly! We might have the treasures you need!”

The Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill was clearly more popular than the puppet crystals.

The robed old man bowed to all, smiling, “According to the rules of the Treasure Exchange Assembly, this fellow Daoist should be given priority. All fellow Daoists, please be patient; I have prepared several other treasures no less valuable than the Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill!”

Under everyone's gaze, Qin Sang remained unhurried. He noticed the last item on the jade slip, which stood out from the others: it was a request for a pseudo-spiritual treasure specializing in breaking formations, its value determined by its power.

“Formation breaking?”

Qin Sang’s expression shifted slightly.

He didn’t have a pseudo-spiritual treasure, but he had a Heavenly Eye Butterfly, which was superior to any pseudo-spiritual treasure.

After a moment of thought, Qin Sang pointed to the last item and said in a deep voice, “I cannot produce a pseudo-spiritual treasure, but I believe I have some proficiency in the art of spiritual formations, a skill rarely matched in this world!”

The robed old man’s gaze narrowed, examining Qin Sang from head to toe. “What does Your Excellency mean?”

“Where does fellow Daoist intend to break formations? I can personally accompany you on a journey. If the formation breaking fails, I will not take a single coin. If it succeeds…”

Qin Sang’s gaze fell upon the jade bottle.

The robed old man frowned. “I am not doubting Your Excellency’s ability, but… would Your Excellency be willing to part with it? I have also prepared several treasures for this Treasure Exchange Assembly, which will surely not disappoint Your Excellency.”

How could the Heavenly Eye Butterfly be entrusted to others?

Qin Sang refused without hesitation.

The robed old man stared at Qin Sang for a long time, seemingly trying to see through his disguise, before finally sighing and shaking his head. “I do not lack helpers. My apologies!”

He clasped his hands, then used his spiritual sense to publicly display the jade slip.

Qin Sang fell silent but did not immediately descend.

“I have a bottle of Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Cloud Dew!”

The speaker was the Taoist nun Qin Sang had encountered earlier.

She hurried to the edge of the pool, gripping a bottle of spiritual dew in her jade hand, and placed it on the water platform, causing another stir.

The robed old man's eyes lit up. With the nun's permission, he picked it up for a closer look and joyfully exclaimed, “It is indeed Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Cloud Dew, without a doubt. This Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill…”

“Wait!”

Halfway through his sentence, Qin Sang suddenly interrupted.

The nun snapped her head around, her starry eyes wide as she glared at Qin Sang.

The robed old man’s expression changed abruptly.

Jiang You flashed between the two, his face showing vigilance. “Please reconsider, fellow Daoist!”

At the same time, the formation within the spiritual array shifted, and a powerful aura, faint yet palpable, locked onto Qin Sang.

Qin Sang’s pupils contracted, and he let out a strange chuckle. “Where did Vice Hall Master Jiang’s thoughts wander? Who would dare to spoil Six-State Hall’s affairs in Tianzhong Prefecture? I never said I didn’t want the Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill; I merely wish to continue the transaction.”

Jiang You and the robed old man exchanged glances, their expressions visibly relaxing.

The robed old man reluctantly set down the Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Cloud Dew but didn’t want to miss out on Qin Sang. “Has Your Excellency decided what treasure you wish to exchange for?”

Qin Sang waved his sleeve, putting away the puppet crystals, and said calmly, “I do not possess those treasures, but I do have a supreme treasure that fellow Daoist absolutely cannot refuse. However… one Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill may not be enough!”

A collective gasp arose.

At ordinary Treasure Exchange Assemblies, exotic treasures of the Nine Refinement Spirit Returning Pill’s caliber were rare.

This person spoke with such boldness!

The robed old man’s eyes flickered with a strange light; he was also a decisive person and immediately responded, “As long as Your Excellency is not exaggerating, I will certainly meet all your demands! Fellow Daoist Jiang can bear witness!”

As he spoke, he nodded to Jiang You.

“This fellow Daoist is the host of this Treasure Exchange Assembly,” Jiang You confirmed the man’s identity to Qin Sang. “The few treasures he casually produced earlier were all extremely valuable supreme treasures, truly an eye-opener for me… Everyone, just wait and see.”

So, he was the host!

No wonder he was so wealthy.

Qin Sang’s palm shimmered with a faint green light, and a jade box appeared. He reached out and opened it.

Everyone was guessing what kind of treasure it was—a spiritual medicine, a pseudo-spiritual treasure, or even a true spiritual treasure.

What they saw, however, was a single stick of incense.

Spirit Suppressing Incense!

Shaped like a jade slip, it was made entirely of green jade, crystal clear and flawless. Its unique herbal fragrance was suppressed by a restriction, preventing it from emanating, but its appearance alone indicated its extraordinary nature.

Subsequently, apart from a handful of individuals, most cultivators displayed confused expressions, not recognizing this treasure.

The robed old man’s expression froze. He stared intently at the jade box, his face full of shock, and blurted out, “Spirit Suppressing Incense!”

“Fellow Daoist has good discernment!”

Qin Sang nodded slightly, secretly on guard.

Though precious, the Spirit Suppressing Incense was useless to him. It was better to exchange it for something more beneficial, and he had happened upon a major client.

Hearing their conversation, others seemed to recall something, their confusion turning to surprise.

“It is said that the Spirit Suppressing Incense was created by an unknown senior. After that senior disappeared, the Spirit Suppressing Incense was completely lost, with only legends remaining, which everyone considered mere tales. It wasn't until two thousand three hundred years ago that someone unexpectedly found two sticks of Spirit Suppressing Incense in a secret realm, confirming the truth of the legends. It is rumored they were eventually divided by two mysterious masters. Is this stick of yours…”

The robed old man stared at Qin Sang, his gaze subtly scrutinizing.

Qin Sang smiled without responding, his thoughts turning.

Could the person this man spoke of be Xiao Xiangzi, who left legends in both Middle State and the North Sea?

Xiao Xiangzi's cultivation was not only exceptional, but his alchemy was also unrivaled.

To have independently created the Spirit Suppressing Incense—how brilliant and outstanding!

“The legend says Spirit Suppressing Incense can suppress inner demons. Is that true?” someone urgently pressed.

“Are its medicinal effects really as good as the legends claim? How effective is it during Divine Transformation?”

“Fellow Daoist is truly willing to part with it?”

All eyes converged on Qin Sang.

Qin Sang looked at the robed old man, now holding the bargaining power. “That depends on what price all fellow Daoists offer. For Nascent Soul cultivators, the medicinal effect will certainly be considerable. As for whether it can be effective during Divine Transformation, you all can try it to find out, can’t you?”

Having slept until noon, for over ten hours, I feel much better.

Anyway, my antigen test is still negative.

Sigh, never mind that.

Since I’m feeling good, I’ll continue writing.

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