Chapter 1659: Xin Jin Yuan Crystal

The Nine-Earth Magnetism originates from earth veins, flowing deep within the geological strata.

Even cultivators proficient in Earth Evasion techniques dared not venture too deep or move recklessly in unfamiliar territories, fearing they might accidentally stumble upon a convergence point of the Nine-Earth Magnetism and be ensnared by its power.

The Non-Phase Immortal Sect was clearly not just about harnessing the Nine-Earth Magnetism; the repeated explosions of the Sword Stars and Star Pavilions showed how violent the magnetic forces within the Earth Elemental Divine Prohibition were, making them no less dangerous than the Solar Flare Divine Prohibition and the Seven Mansions Constellation Sword Array.

The bright stars exploded as if actual celestial bodies were tearing apart.

Two dazzling light clusters appeared one after another within the Nine-Earth Magnetism.

Qin Sang's gaze was drawn to the second light cluster.

The first bright star was a normal Sword Star, but this one was different; it was a Star Pavilion.

He had previously guessed that the Five Elements Divine Prohibitions and the external mist surge together formed Emperor's Mountain's protective array, but his experiences upon entering, along with certain signs within the prohibitions, made him feel it wasn't quite like that.

The presence of a Star Pavilion within a sword array made him even more curious.

Was it perhaps prepared for the Non-Phase Immortal Sect's sword cultivators, for them to meditate and comprehend sword intent here?

As thoughts flickered through his mind, Qin Sang clearly witnessed the entire explosion of the Star Pavilion.

First, the starlight was torn apart by the magnetic force, twisting and deforming.

Four swords hanging in the upper section of the Star Pavilion reacted, their four striking sword lights visible within the light cluster, acting like pillars attempting to continue protecting the Star Pavilion, but they too immediately began to distort.

Having detached from the Seven Mansions Constellation Sword Array, these sword intents became like rootless duckweed; their power could only be consumed in their struggle against the magnetic force, with no means of replenishment.

The sword intents of the four suspended swords were immensely powerful, instinctively resisting for a time, but unexpectedly, the aftermath of the first Sword Star's explosion swept over, and one of the suspended swords shattered on the spot.

The other three swords didn't last much longer.

The internal balance of the Star Pavilion was lost, and without the support of the sword intents, the Star Pavilion exploded into countless fragments almost simultaneously with the last suspended sword, tearing apart!

It was truly a shower of debris.

Qin Sang watched intently, his eyes fixed on the fragments of the Star Pavilion.

The next moment, Qin Sang's pupils slightly contracted, a flicker of surprise and doubt crossing his face, as a human figure appeared among the fragments.

It was a female cultivator, dressed in a green robe, with a treasured sword at her side. Her bearing was extraordinary, instantly revealing her to be a peerless sword cultivator. Her vivid features clearly indicated she was a living person!

The Non-Phase Immortal Sect had been sealed for so long; the sudden appearance of a living person was undoubtedly a tremendous shock to any observer.

Just as Qin Sang was about to examine her more closely, the female cultivator's expression abruptly turned grotesque, and her limbs severely distorted. He paused, realizing it was the effect of the magnetic force.

Immediately after, the female cultivator's body exploded with a 'bang', following the fate of the Star Pavilion.

"Not alive!"

Qin Sang felt a slight easing of his tension.

Apart from ancient special existences like the Old Devil, Bai, and Ghost Mother, Qin Sang had never seen anyone live so long. The moment he saw the female cultivator, his guard had been raised to the extreme.

Fortunately, it was only a corpse.

The corpse was also far from ordinary; even after being torn apart by the magnetic force, it didn't turn to dust. There were remnants of bones, surprisingly hard as metal and stone, and a few points of precious light appeared with the corpse, even more eye-catching than the bones.

Noticing those points of light, Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly.

As expected, this woman was likely a cultivator from the Non-Phase Immortal Sect who, for unknown reasons, did not escape and perished here. Those light points were presumably her relics.

Considering this, Qin Sang immediately changed his mind and flashed towards the Nine-Earth Magnetism.

The treasures were secondary.

The woman's identity and the information contained within her belongings were what Qin Sang valued most.

He had only recently entered the array, and hadn't even seen a glimpse of the Wordless Jade Tablet yet, but the Five Elements Divine Prohibitions blocking his path were already this formidable. He wondered how many more dangers and obstacles lay ahead.

If he could find useful information from the relics, he would gain a significant advantage.

From another direction, Su Zinan and his group of four had also observed the entire scene, just like Qin Sang. Being decisive individuals, upon seeing the corpse and relics, they made the same choice as Qin Sang.

As the three parties rushed forward, the fragments of the Star Pavilion and the first Sword Star collided, merging into a chaotic torrent. Drawn by the magnetic force, they drifted towards the depths of the Nine-Earth Magnetism.

Simultaneously, two Sword Stars that had initially escaped were unexpectedly drawn back in due to the distortion of the magnetic force caused by the Star Pavilion's explosion, in a chain reaction. Perhaps because they had already absorbed the most violent initial impact of the magnetism, they didn't immediately explode.

The magnetic force had a powerful pull, causing the torrent and the Sword Stars to drift at extremely high speeds.

"Whoosh!"

Qin Sang arrived at the boundary between the sword array and the Nine-Earth Magnetism, pausing slightly. A contemplative expression appeared on his face as he glanced into the distance.

Just now, his Heavenly Eye Butterfly had warned him of fluctuations in the Nine-Earth Magnetism to his right, likely triggered by someone. He mused that it was normal; anyone within the sword array would undoubtedly be drawn in by the bright stars.

However, the other party had been a step faster than him, previously hidden from his view by the enormous Sword Star.

Clearly, the other party was also after the female cultivator's relics.

He didn't know the other party's background, but Qin Sang had no intention of backing down. Who would claim the prize was something they would have to contend for.

The magnetic force, however, was problematic.

The Nine-Earth Magnetism had a strong suppressive effect on Five Elements treasures, and this was his first time experiencing a divine prohibition integrated with Nine-Earth Magnetism. He wasn't sure how much of his full strength he could exert within it.

Having previously experienced the Solar Flare Divine Prohibition and the Seven Mansions Constellation Sword Array, he reasoned that the magnetic force's intensity shouldn't be much stronger, and its suppressive effect must also have its limits.

Qin Sang stepped in, and upon contacting the Nine-Earth Magnetism, his body instantly felt heavy, locked by a powerful suction force. He was pulled several *zhang* (measures of length) into the depths against his will, simultaneously feeling as if the magnetic force was about to tear him apart.

With a thought, the Nine Nether Demonic Flame flowed into his Mani Pearl, and the Adamantine Flame Shield vibrated with a hum. Black flames shimmered on its surface, resisting the Nine-Earth Magnetism. Qin Sang swayed slightly, then managed to steady himself.

He looked at the Adamantine Flame Shield covering him, a hint of delight appearing in his eyes.

The primary source of the Adamantine Flame Shield's power was the Nine Nether Demonic Flame, but having been transformed by the Mani Pearl, the shield's essence was no longer solely spiritual fire; it had formed a unique divine *gang* (a type of energy).

Through this transformation, and with the protection of the Adamantine Flame Shield, Qin Sang, though not entirely free to move, was affected far less than others.

With a silent smile, Qin Sang flapped his phoenix wings and pressed on, closely pursuing.

By the time Qin Sang entered, Su Zinan and his group of four were already inside the Nine-Earth Magnetism.

However, both parties maintained their distance. After entering the Nine-Earth Magnetism, they were drawn apart by the Nine-Earth Magnetic Divine Light, splitting into two sides.

Neither group had any intention of merging.

Previously, both groups wanted to break the sword array as quickly as possible, having a common goal that allowed for temporary cooperation. However, once they entered the array's core, found a way to disable it, and then saw rare treasures appear, such temporary alliances became difficult to maintain.

Both sides consisted of top-tier experts who were wary of each other, and they coincidentally took advantage of the magnetic force to tacitly separate.

The Poison King was still traveling with Master Huaiyin.

This time, however, Master Huaiyin was in the lead.

Master Huaiyin's demeanor had greatly changed.

Previously, he had been reserved and steady, a man of few words, seemingly a follower of the Poison King. Had it not been for the vigorous vitality within him, indicating his extraordinary nature, he would have easily been overlooked.

Now, Master Huaiyin's entire body shimmered with golden light, his skin appearing as if plated with gold foil, clearly indicating he was employing a Buddhist Golden Body divine ability.

Even more astonishingly, the vital energy within him boiled, steaming from his body. His vital energy, like mercury, transformed into a golden hue, as if he were bathed in Buddhist light.

When the Nine-Earth Magnetic Divine Light touched his Golden Body, it twisted and even bounced away. Master Huaiyin strode forward with the gait of a dragon and a tiger, moving swiftly like a Golden Body Arhat!

His Buddhist eyes, sharp as lightning, locked onto the torrent of fragments. His steps were heavy, one after another, yet seemingly slow but actually swift; it was unclear what movement technique he was employing.

His method was profoundly simple yet incredibly profound.

The Poison King pursued closely behind, surprisingly finding it somewhat strenuous.

Master Huaiyin was a body cultivator, not reliant on external items, thus able to remain composed within the Nine-Earth Magnetism. However, many of the Poison King's magic treasures were unusable here.

Left with no choice, the Poison King summoned his Poison Cloud once more and merged himself into it.

The outer perimeter of the Poison Cloud churned continuously, constantly being torn by the Nine-Earth Magnetism. As each layer was consumed, new Poison Cloud replenished it, so there was no immediate worry of it being breached.

"What could make Master so eager?" the Poison King called out.

The Poison King called out, filled with confusion, having never seen Master Huaiyin lose his composure like this before.

"Amitābha," Master Huaiyin replied.

Master Huaiyin's steps did not falter, and his voice boomed back, "This humble monk just saw a Xinjin Source Crystal! This treasure is something I must obtain; I have been searching for it for many years."

On the other side, four words also emerged in Qin Sang's mind.

"Xinjin Source Crystal!"

As the Star Pavilion disintegrated, a few points of precious light suddenly appeared. In a fleeting glance, Qin Sang noticed a golden bead the size of a dragon's eye. He felt a sense of familiarity, and after a brief recall, he remembered the treasure's name: the rare Xinjin Source Crystal.

Xinjin is Yin Metal, the counterpart to Gengjin (Yang Metal), naturally occurring in the form of small golden beads.

However, Xinjin is gentle, pure, and soft in texture; its shape can be altered with just a little force. When the Xinjin Source Crystal flew out of the Star Pavilion and encountered the magnetic force, it was stretched and distorted beyond recognition. Had it not been for its unique property of being outwardly soft but inwardly rigid, it would likely have torn apart on the spot.

This further corroborated Qin Sang's judgment.

Gengjin is an exceptionally precious spiritual material, renowned for its extreme hardness and resilience, making it the supreme choice for refining spiritual swords.

Xinjin Source Crystals could, of course, also be used for refining artifacts, but that wasn't their best application. Their true value lay in healing.

If the physical body suffered severe injuries, even to the point of imminent disintegration or tearing apart, refining a Xinjin Source Crystal into the body could repair the flesh and blood, allowing for rapid recovery.

It was said that body cultivators could also gain considerable benefits by refining Xinjin.

These secrets were precisely what Qin Sang had read in body cultivation-related texts.

As he also practiced body cultivation, he had always paid attention to collecting texts on the subject. Although he cultivated demonic clan techniques, he could still draw parallels, but unfortunately, he lacked a complete inheritance, and the texts were vague about these so-called 'benefits'.

Qin Sang didn't know this, but Master Huaiyin was perfectly clear about it.

When a body cultivator refined a Xinjin Source Crystal into their body, their physical form could gain a certain degree of ultimate flexibility, which was highly beneficial in battles and warfare.

However, for Master Huaiyin, the Xinjin Source Crystal was an indispensable item for another reason.

There was a secret art in his temple that required a Xinjin Source Crystal to cultivate.

Legend had it that the cosmos, from primordial formlessness to creation, passed through five stages of the Innate Five Tais, giving birth to tangible matter. Then, with the initial separation of Yin and Yang, all things evolved, and various forms of *qi* existed in the void, drifting unbound.

The same was true for Gengjin *qi*.

When Gengjin *qi* accumulated to a certain degree, it would condense into Gengjin; otherwise, it would forever circulate throughout the world.

However, compared to the boundless world, this Gengjin *qi* was too sparse; cultivators couldn't even perceive it, let alone collect it.

Cultivating this art allowed one to refine a Xinjin Source Crystal into their bone marrow. Then, utilizing the property of Yin and Yang attraction, they could use the Xinjin Source Crystal to draw the world's free-floating Gengjin *qi* into their body.

Gengjin is supremely hard and resilient. By using it to temper one's entire skeleton, cultivating to the extreme could transform one's bones into Gengjin.

At that point, shattering magic treasures with a bare fist would be effortless.

This secret art also held extraordinary significance for Master Huaiyin's path of cultivation. Unfortunately, Xinjin Source Crystals were even rarer than Gengjin and seldom appeared in the Central Plains. Among the successive generations of venerable monks in his temple, only a handful had ever encountered such an opportunity.

After entering the Non-Phase Immortal Sect, Master Huaiyin initially had little intention of contending for treasures, but finding a Xinjin Source Crystal here meant he absolutely could not miss this chance.

Hearing Master Huaiyin's brief explanation of the reason, the Poison King knew he was determined to obtain the Xinjin Source Crystal. Without hesitation, he readily agreed to assist him with all his might in securing it.

As they spoke, everyone pursued the Star Pavilion, entering deeper into the Nine-Earth Magnetism.

At this point, the two Sword Stars behind them finally gave out, their sword intents surging, and they exploded simultaneously!

These two Sword Stars were pulled together by the Nine-Earth Magnetism and exploded at the same time. This was more than a simple accumulation; the spectacle was far more terrifying than the single star's explosion earlier.

"Boom!"

Dazzling light bloomed within the Nine-Earth Magnetic Divine Light, like a grand sun shining brightly, engulfing the torrent.

In an instant, with the Sword Stars at the center, the surrounding Nine-Earth Magnetic Divine Light suddenly became turbulent.

The magnetic force there became violent, and the danger instantly increased by more than one level.

Qin Sang paused briefly. Seeing this, he didn't hesitate for long. He unreservedly poured all the spiritual fire from his Fire Lotus into the Mani Pearl, making his Adamantine Flame Shield even thicker, and then charged directly into the chaos.

On the other side.

Master Huaiyin and the Poison King were also forced to halt.

The Poison King was secretly astonished. From a distance, he hadn't fully grasped it, but up close, he now felt how truly astonishing the Sword Star explosions were.

Feeling the violent magnetic force within, the Poison King couldn't help but hesitate. Then, he heard Master Huaiyin's bones crackling violently inside him, his vital essence boiling, and a layer of golden light circulating on his skin, while powerful Buddhist light flared intensely around his body.

This was a manifestation of intensely concentrated vital energy.

Immediately after, to the Poison King's astonished gaze, the vital energy transformed into a golden dragon, coiling around Master Huaiyin.

Master Huaiyin held the Heavenly Dragon in his hand; the Heavenly Dragon roared, and the Nine-Earth Magnetic Divine Light couldn't even approach him. Without waiting for the Poison King, he stepped forward, charging into the center of the chaos, utterly fearless, and vanished into the starlight in the blink of an eye.

The Poison King couldn't move with such ease as Master Huaiyin; he could only slow his pace and proceed cautiously, step by step.

Su Zinan and Mo Xingdao were not far from them, moving at a similar pace, but due to the ubiquitous Nine-Earth Magnetism, they could only vaguely perceive each other.

As the Sword Stars exploded, Su Zinan narrowed his eyes to observe, but his movements didn't cease.

Mo Xingdao approached, frowned slightly, and like the Poison King, slowed down and stopped.

Su Zinan nodded at him and continued forward, the Dragon Tendon Silk Net above his head rattling loudly, seemingly nearing its limit and threatening to snap at any moment.

Once he was beyond Mo Xingdao's perception, Su Zinan secretly summoned his demonic banner. The two demonic shadows of Old Wu and Elder Yanshan appeared before him, then dissolved into nothingness, both plunging into Su Zinan's body.

Su Zinan's face flushed. He withdrew the Dragon Tendon Silk Net, yet remarkably, he was able to stand firm!