Chapter 1597: Ascension Land

Human World

Human World

Master Heguo, with his profound cultivation and steady temperament, still needed a long time to calm down.

The Soul Guiding Mirror was shattered.

This not only concerned the safety of True Lord Danyun, but would also have an immeasurable impact on the Eight-Scenery Palace and even the entire cultivation world!

Rumors of Nascent Soul cultivators encountering misfortune were widespread in the cultivation world.

Master Heguo scoffed at this, and the disciples of Eight-Scenery Palace were not affected by such rumors.

Nascent Soul cultivators stood at the pinnacle of the current era.

Only they truly understood how powerful Nascent Soul cultivators were.

Master Heguo was more inclined to believe that the Nascent Soul cultivators were planning something. His current cultivation and status were not high enough to be privy to a Nascent Soul conspiracy; he would naturally know when the time was right.

Moreover, during the beast hunt, True Lord Zilei produced a True Lord's decree.

He never expected that the decree was forged!

"I remember you saying, Senior Brother, that Uncle Master left with Saint Huiguang back then…"

Master Heguo still couldn't believe this fact, racking his brain to recall which of his Senior Brother's past words were true and which were false!

"Yes!"

True Lord Zilei confirmed that this statement was true.

Master Heguo immediately seized on the key point, "Could Saint Huiguang also have…"

Since then, Saint Huiguang had not shown himself. His ashram, the Small Square Inch Mountain, was even visited by thieves, yet Saint Huiguang still did not appear.

It was precisely because of this incident that the news of missing Nascent Soul cultivators spread widely, leading to a series of subsequent disturbances that have escalated to this day.

The Nascent Soul cultivators of both sects went missing together.

The Sect Master and Master Xingji, the abbot of Ganlu Zen Temple, should have had an early understanding.

Unexpectedly, True Lord Zilei shook his head, "I don't know."

Master Heguo was somewhat stunned.

What other hidden secrets were there between the two sects?

True Lord Zilei's tone was enigmatic, "Ganlu Zen Temple and Xingji are too calm."

Master Heguo suddenly understood his Senior Brother's meaning.

He wanted to say that, to outsiders, the Eight-Scenery Palace also appeared calm, and even he, the Junior Brother and Sect Master, only felt something amiss recently, after his Senior Brother forcibly entered the Hall of No Regrets and was injured, and then arranged for him to put on an act in front of Su Zinan.

Out of trust in his Senior Brother, Master Heguo diligently executed orders without ever questioning.

Now he realized that his Senior Brother had been silently bearing an immense burden, but he must have made many unknown arrangements.

"Ganlu Zen Temple... should also have soul-binding treasures, right?" Master Heguo asked hesitantly.

Such treasures have range limitations.

Ordinary soul lamps were confined to Zhongzhou.

The Soul Guiding Mirror, however, had a much wider range; even if True Lord Danyun left Zhongzhou and entered the depths of the storm zone, it could still reflect good or ill fortune. This was precisely why the two True Lords were so horrified.

Presumably, Ganlu Zen Temple also possessed similar treasures.

If Saint Huiguang's soul-binding treasure had also shattered, Master Xingji, even if he made the same decision as the Sect Master to seal the news, would surely be making secret moves.

For so many years, the Sect Master had been observing, so he would always find clues.

True Lord Zilei shook his head silently.

It was precisely because no signs of unusual activity from Ganlu Zen Temple were discovered that he couldn't be certain.

Cultivators varied in temperament, and not everyone in Eight-Scenery Palace was willing to leave behind a Soul Guiding Mirror or a soul lamp.

There were precedents of Nascent Soul cultivators leaving Zhongzhou to travel abroad, encountering opportunities, and being gone for hundreds of years.

If Saint Huiguang had not left a soul-binding treasure and met with an accident outside, Ganlu Zen Temple would be unaware.

If Saint Huiguang had left a soul-binding treasure and it hadn't shattered, his life would be safe, and Ganlu Zen Temple would be even less likely to act rashly!

After a moment of silence, True Lord Zilei recalled something and said, "I calculated that the rumor of someone discovering Saint Huiguang's whereabouts in the East Sea appeared after Uncle Master's Soul Guiding Mirror shattered. At that time, Saint Huiguang's companion should have been Saint King Qinghu. By then, Uncle Master was already missing…"

Master Heguo gasped, finally understanding what his Senior Brother was suspecting.

Nascent Soul cultivators traveling together, yet only Uncle Master's Soul Guiding Mirror shattered…

Was it an accident, or was it intentional?

Ganlu Zen Temple and Eight-Scenery Palace were both known as major immortal sects. It wasn't that they didn't want to dominate the cultivation world, but they simply couldn't overcome each other.

Moreover, the relationship between the two sects was not as simple as mere intertwined interests!

"That time in the Hall of No Regrets, Senior Brother, did you intentionally appear anxious and deliberately get injured?" Although Master Heguo was asking, his tone was assertive.

Back then, True Lord Zilei had aggressively forced his way into the Hall of No Regrets, suffering severe injuries. All the cultivators of Eight-Scenery Palace were extremely worried.

The severity of his injuries was alarming; a single mistake could have ruined his Dao foundation, and he would need at least a century of quiet recuperation to recover.

Now, looking at him, True Lord Zilei's aura was completely intact, with no trace of injury.

His intention was clear: to show it to Ganlu Zen Temple, and also to the world!

For now, no actions from Ganlu Zen Temple had been detected.

But the remnants of the Boundless Immortal Sect began to emerge.

Although, Master Heguo still didn't know what his Senior Brother's purpose was in luring them out.

"And the fierce beasts? Why did Senior Brother forge the beast hunt decree back then? Is the beast riot also related to Uncle Master's disappearance?" Master Heguo had too many questions and couldn't wait to ask them one by one.

"Before Uncle Master departed, he left three words—'The heavens have changed.'"

Before Master Heguo could decipher the hidden meaning of these three words, True Lord Zilei gently touched a fragment of the Soul Guiding Mirror with his fingertip and said in a deep voice, "Some secrets, it's time to tell Junior Brother. Haven't you always been curious about how to ascend, and why only Nascent Soul cultivators can ascend? Because the place of ascension is—the Guixu of the East Sea!"

After Qin Sang completed his transaction with the person in the shadows, he traveled north by land and returned to Feiyun Ferry.

He was not in a hurry to meet Jiang Mu to claim the Meteorite God Whip.

The Six-State Hall's investigation into the origin of the Meteorite God Whip would take time; he could simply ask for the results then.

Qin Sang was not worried that the Six-State Hall would discern the value of the Meteorite God Whip and keep it for themselves.

The Meteorite God Whip itself was not highly valuable. The Six-State Hall could research it however they pleased. It was only because it involved ancient devils and the ascension platform that Qin Sang valued it.

If the Six-State Hall made unusual moves, it would indicate they also knew about the ascension platform, which would actually be a great benefit, saving Qin Sang the trouble of traveling and investigating.

As long as one's cultivation was sufficient, anyone could cross on the ascension platform.

Would he, a great cultivator, not be able to obtain a spot by seeking them out?

Inside the cave mansion.

Qin Sang placed the Dragon Saliva Nectar and the Thousand Knot Divine Net before him.

He first set aside the Dragon Saliva Nectar and attempted to refine the Thousand Knot Divine Net.

The person in the shadows had voluntarily erased their mark from the Thousand Knot Divine Net, so Qin Sang only needed to refine it step by step.

When not activated, the Thousand Knot Divine Net automatically shrank into a silver sphere the size of a baby's fist.

As Qin Sang's divine sense touched the Thousand Knot Divine Net, the silver sphere burst into dazzling light, illuminating the entire cave mansion and Qin Sang's body as if they were coated in silver paint.

With a whoosh, the Thousand Knot Divine Net suddenly unfurled, transforming into a thin, large net that hovered above Qin Sang's head.

At this time, the Thousand Knot Divine Net was ownerless, and its form differed from before. One could clearly see individual silver threads woven into the net.

Qin Sang closed his eyes, sensing the magic treasure purely with his divine sense. The feedback he received was a comfortable sense of affinity, truly worthy of being a divine sense treasure.

After a brief initial sensing, Qin Sang attempted to refine the Thousand Knot Divine Net.

In just one hour, the Thousand Knot Divine Net began to change. Starting from the edges, the silver light gradually dimmed, and the silver threads took on an illusory appearance.

This was a sign of the Thousand Knot Divine Net integrating with Qin Sang's divine sense.

When the entire silver net transformed in this way, it would mean Qin Sang had completely refined the treasure.

At this moment.

Qin Sang suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of surprise in them. The process of refining the Thousand Knot Divine Net was smoother and faster than expected. The power of the Soul Nourishing Wood was showing its effect; he was twice as efficient when cultivating divine sense secret arts and refining divine sense magic treasures!

Having refined a corner of the Thousand Knot Divine Net, he could now store it in his Purple Mansion and summon it at will. Qin Sang temporarily paused the refinement and looked at the Dragon Saliva Nectar.

The nest of the Immortal Honeybee Dragon was woven into a silk pouch to prevent the Dragon Saliva Nectar's power from dissipating.

Qin Sang brought the silk pouch into his palm; it felt soft to the touch.

Mimicking the actions of the old man in the Daoist robe, Qin Sang made the silk pouch transparent, looked at it a few times, then unhesitatingly tore it open. At the same time, his divine sense surged in, tightly enveloping the Dragon Saliva Nectar and bringing it before him.

The golden-yellow Dragon Saliva Nectar was extremely pure, exuding a unique and enchanting Dao韵.

"This is the condensed essence of a Fifth-Transformation Spirit Insect!"

Qin Sang exclaimed in admiration.

Thanks to Xiao Xiangzi, without the Soul Calming Incense, he would have missed out on this treasure.

He didn't feel any immediate impact.

The old man in the Daoist robe wouldn't tell Qin Sang how to refine the Dragon Saliva Nectar, so he had to try little by little himself.

With his divine sense enveloping the Dragon Saliva Nectar, he guided it into his Purple Mansion. Qin Sang's thoughts touched the jade Buddha.

The Buddha's light rippled slightly, allowing the Dragon Saliva Nectar to enter Qin Sang's primordial spirit.

Inside the primordial spirit, there was also the Cloud Roaming Sword.

For many years, whenever Qin Sang had leisure, he would apply the 'Spirit Offering Art' to the Cloud Roaming Sword. Although it was still far from developing sentience, Qin Sang could feel that a subtle, indescribable connection had formed between himself and the Cloud Roaming Sword, making them closer than before.

The true spirit of Yunyouzi also seemed to have stabilized slightly.

This change was not obvious, only perceptible because the Cloud Roaming Sword was Qin Sang's innate magic treasure.

Next, Qin Sang focused all his attention on the Dragon Saliva Nectar, his divine sense like a knife, carefully peeling off a thin slice. Following past experience, he decided to use a simple and crude method to forcibly refine the Dragon Saliva Nectar.

In an instant, an anomaly occurred!

The Dragon Saliva Nectar was originally solid. When Qin Sang attempted to refine it, it immediately melted into a golden liquid, and the previously stable energy within it simultaneously surged violently.

For the descendants of the Immortal Honeybee Dragon, digesting Dragon Saliva Nectar was as simple as drinking water.

Qin Sang realized that he couldn't directly absorb the Dragon Saliva Nectar; he first had to restrain and sort out this energy. If he didn't, the energy of the Dragon Saliva Nectar would become increasingly chaotic until it exploded, rendering all his efforts futile.

Bang!

The silver light of the Thousand Knot Divine Net had only recently faded when the cave mansion was once again bathed in golden light.

Before Qin Sang, a burst of golden light suddenly erupted, as if fine golden lightning bolts appeared and vanished quickly.

Qin Sang couldn't calm these Dragon Saliva Nectar, nor dared he let them explode inside his body. He could only move them out of his body, watching helplessly as they dissipated.

Wasting such a precious treasure was heartbreaking for Qin Sang, but fortunately, his divine sense was strong, and after this attempt, he had a clear idea.

He wasn't in a hurry to make a second attempt. He calmly settled into meditation, recalling every subtle change in the Dragon Saliva Nectar, and began his deductions.

Time passed unknowingly in the cave mansion, and several days went by in a flash.

During this period, the Dragon Saliva Nectar exploded once more.

By the third attempt, Qin Sang was able to stabilize the energy.

As soon as Qin Sang breathed a sigh of relief, he discovered that the entire Dragon Saliva Nectar began to melt, on the verge of erupting. The speed of the change was far faster than what the old man in the Daoist robe had described!

Qin Sang had no time to curse the old man's sinister intentions. He exerted all his strength and finally stabilized the Dragon Saliva Nectar.

Eventually, a drop of golden liquid appeared in his primordial spirit, shimmering alongside the Cloud Roaming Sword.

But this was only the beginning; the greatest challenge lay in refining it.

When he attempted to refine it, Qin Sang finally sensed the strange energy that the old man in the Daoist robe had mentioned.

Just as he was about to refine the Dragon Saliva Nectar, he was met with an impact.

That energy was not merely a pure force; it seemed to contain the unique Dao韵 of the Immortal Honeybee Dragon. While it was a great tonic for its descendants, it was dangerous for outsiders and had to be expelled.

Allowing this energy to impact him would, at best, severely damage his primordial spirit, and at worst, collapse his Dao foundation.

A scene that delighted Qin Sang appeared.

At this moment, the jade Buddha finally exerted its power. His primordial spirit was as firm as a rock, indeed unaffected.

However, Qin Sang then discovered that even without this danger, refining the Dragon Saliva Nectar was not a task that could be accomplished overnight; the process of refining and absorption was a lengthy one.

By his estimation, he could save about half the time compared to others, but it would still take several decades.

After completely refining this piece of Dragon Saliva Nectar.

Qin Sang emerged from meditation, a thoughtful expression on his face.

The effect of the Dragon Saliva Nectar was truly remarkable; his divine sense had noticeably improved.

"First, I'll subdue the Thousand Knot Divine Net. Then, while absorbing the Dragon Saliva Nectar, I'll practice the 'Fire Seed Golden Lotus' to try and refine the source of the demonic fire as soon as possible…"

Qin Sang set his plan and proceeded step by step.

He paid no attention to external affairs.

Unbeknownst to him, Qin Sang had been in seclusion for half a year, and he had become very skilled at refining Dragon Saliva Nectar.

This time was different from before; Qin Sang summoned both the Sky Eye Butterfly and the Fat Silkworm. The energy containing the Dao韵 of the Immortal Honeybee Dragon, being human, Qin Sang couldn't absorb, but spirit insects might be able to!

This wasn't a sudden whim of Qin Sang's; he had this idea for a long time.

This was the true essence of a Fifth-Transformation Spirit Insect; it would be too wasteful to let it go!

The Fat Silkworm possessed the ability to devour, although for now, it only manifested in the way of poison.

The Sky Eye Butterfly, on the other hand, could counteract the divine abilities of the Immortal Honeybee Dragon.

All things in the world, if they can mutually generate and overcome each other, can form a connection.

After a moment of hesitation, Qin Sang, not holding much hope, also released the Fire Jade Centipede.

He instructed the three spirit insects to gather around him.

Qin Sang skillfully peeled off a wisp of Dragon Saliva Nectar and began to refine it, while simultaneously diverting part of his attention to observe the three spirit insects.

When that energy appeared and was expelled from his body by the Buddha's light.

The Fire Jade Centipede coiled up, indifferent.

The Fat Silkworm sensed the fluctuation, alertly raised its upper body, its eyes darting around. After staring at Qin Sang for a while, it lay back down, seemingly uninterested.

"Does this guy only eat poisonous things?"

Qin Sang frowned secretly; only the Sky Eye Butterfly remained.

He shared a telepathic connection with the Sky Eye Butterfly, and he keenly felt that when this energy appeared, the Sky Eye Butterfly had an eager-to-try thought, but also fear.

The fear was likely due to the disparity in their cultivation realms, as the power of a Fifth-Transformation Spirit Insect caused a hierarchical suppression. Qin Sang also had a similar feeling, just less pronounced.

"There's hope!"

Qin Sang was overjoyed and quickly appeased the Sky Eye Butterfly.

After all, the Dragon Saliva Nectar was inanimate. Sensing its master's encouragement, the Sky Eye Butterfly quickly suppressed its instinctive fear.