Chapter 1718: Breakthrough

The Human World

Years ago, Qin Sang and the Qinghu Sage King made an oath at Ganlu Zen Temple. The content of the oath was limited to the period before Qin Sang achieved the Transformation God stage. Before Qin Sang's breakthrough, the Qinghu Sage King was forbidden from bullying a junior; however, once Qin Sang achieved the Transformation God stage, they would be considered peers, and the oath would automatically dissolve. Conversely, with Qin Sang's breakthrough, any restrictions on him also vanished, which is why he now attacked several demon great sages without hesitation. In fact, even if Qin Sang hadn't broken through, there were still loopholes. The Qinghu Sage King had mentioned it almost as an afterthought, clearly not having put much thought into it. The Qinghu Sage King claimed to have only enemies, no friends or family, and stated that he wouldn't bat an eye if Qin Sang slaughtered all the demons in the East Sea. This was no empty boast. Qin Sang captured Zi Shen Great Sage and learned after interrogation that the Qinghu Sage King had not informed them about the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao. These great sage demon kings had aligned themselves with the Sage King's Palace, leveraging the Sage King's influence to their own advantage, while the Qinghu Sage King simply used them as disposable pawns.

The sword array sealed the sky. In an instant, the four demon kings were ensnared. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves in an unknown realm. Bai Xiao Great Sage had personally experienced the Battle of the Wuxiang Immortal Gate and witnessed the Five Elements Divine Prohibition, but at that time, the Divine Prohibition was on the verge of destruction, and the sword array was fundamentally unstable. The way Qin Sang wielded it now presented an entirely different spectacle. He was both shocked and terrified, looking around to see sword stars arranged in the starry sky, which immediately filled him with a sense of insignificance, making him afraid before even fighting. Two of his subordinates were with him, but the Black Lion was nowhere to be seen. This was another profound aspect of the Seven Constellations Divided Sword Array: it could draw enemies into different constellations, allowing them to be attacked separately. The Black Lion and Bai Xiao Great Sage's faction were not unified; when disaster struck, they scattered, and the sword array subtly separated them.

The Black Lion was pulled into Kui Su. The three other demons were shifted to Can Su. Even if the array master didn't intentionally obstruct them, reuniting would not be easy.

"Don't panic! This person is controlling the array alone, so there must be a flaw. If we find the main star, we can break it..." Bai Xiao Great Sage, surprisingly, had a considerable understanding of the Seven Constellations Divided Sword Array and immediately pointed out its key weakness. In truth, he had never obtained the secret manual for the "Seven Constellations Divided Sword Array." After the Fumo War, upon seeing the anomaly at Disi Mountain, the Qinghu Sage King and the Hui Guang Sage had discussed the Five Elements Divine Prohibition, and Bai Xiao happened to overhear some of their conversation. The Five Elements Divine Prohibition was the pinnacle creation of the Wuxiang Immortal Gate's five lineages, and the Seven Constellations Divided Sword Array, as a top-tier sword array of the Metal Phase lineage, usually required multiple sword cultivators to collaborate to achieve such a grand scale. A single person controlling the array would find it difficult to manage everything thoroughly. Bai Xiao Great Sage's eyes turned pale as he secretly employed a forbidden technique, attempting to find a flaw in the sword array. However, after surveying the surroundings, he found that all the stars were present and operating smoothly, with no dimmed starlight in any of the seven constellation positions. Unable to find a flaw immediately, Bai Xiao Great Sage's expression darkened, and he let out a low roar. "Protect me!"

At this moment, Qin Sang did not rush to deal with the three demons. Instead, he appeared in the Kui Su position. The Black Lion, alone in Kui Su, unlike Bai Xiao Great Sage, had little understanding of the Seven Constellations Divided Sword Array. Seeing the sword stars, seemingly near yet far, it was at a loss for how to proceed. This demon was quite fierce. With a flash of black light on its body, its head transformed into a massive black lion's head, opening its blood-red maw to reveal fangs, and letting out a heaven-shaking roar. A black spherical bead shot out from its mouth. This was not its demon core, but a rare treasure it had acquired in the past. The treasure bead spun rapidly, its interior a chaotic jumble, manifesting illusions of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Two streams of black gas shot from Black Lion Great Sage's nostrils, flashing into the treasure bead. The illusions within the bead were engulfed by the black gas, and with a tremor of the bead, the black gas condensed into a black saber inside. The black saber was small and delicate, yet an extremely sharp saber aura emanated from the treasure bead. Suddenly, the inside of the bead emptied, and the treasure bead became clear and transparent. At the same time, the black saber manifested out of thin air in the starry sky. Its tip slightly upturned, it left behind a shocking saber aura. Where it passed, starlight dimmed, and the sound of a lion's roar accompanied its swift strike towards a sword star!

'Buzz!' Under the pressure of the black saber, this sword star seemed as if it would be cleaved in two. Just then, the starlight in the void brightened considerably, casting its glow upon the Kui Su position. Instantly, meteors streaked across, leaving trails of starlight. In Black Lion Great Sage's eyes, the sky seemed to spin, making him dizzy. These were not meteors, but streams of sword qi. 'Swish! Swish! Swish!' The sword qi arrived simultaneously. The sword star targeted by the black saber instantly shone as brightly as the sun. The Black Lion's eyes widened, staring blankly as the black saber, after cleaving into the starlight, visibly melted away like ice and snow, disappearing without a trace. Even as the starlight gradually faded, the terror in the Black Lion's eyes had not vanished. That single saber strike had been neutralized so effortlessly, without a ripple. Once the sword star returned to its original state, a Daoist appeared above it. Qin Sang's true form materialized, standing with his hands behind his back on the sword star, looking down at Black Lion Great Sage. He observed him, nodded in satisfaction, and said calmly, "This humble Daoist happens to be in need of a mount..."

Before his words had even faded, Black Lion Great Sage's eyes darted, and he prostrated himself, kneeling. "I pledge allegiance to True Lord!" As he spoke, Black Lion Great Sage rolled on the ground, transforming into his true form—a majestic black lion—and lowered his head, prostrating at Qin Sang's feet. Qin Sang smiled, showing no politeness, and formed a hand seal, sending it towards Black Lion Great Sage's glabella. A flicker of unwillingness passed through Black Lion Great Sage's eyes, but he dared not resist, obediently allowing Qin Sang to impose a restriction. His body trembled slightly, and he prostrated even lower.

Meanwhile, Bai Xiao Great Sage also revealed his demon form. In the starry sky, the hideous white figure, humanoid in shape, clawed and gnashed, surrounded by rolling, ghostly white mist. Innumerable demonic ghosts materialized within the mist, their forms twisted, appearing bizarre and eerie. He did not beg for mercy from beginning to end. Bai Xiao Great Sage knew in his heart that the mortal enmity forged years ago left no room for reconciliation. This person was the master behind that fellow Long Jing. No wonder the Sage King's Palace fell so quickly. A newly ascended Transformation God daring to challenge the Sage King's Palace indicated that this person feared even the Qinghu Sage King. The only option Bai Xiao Great Sage could think of was to escape. Breaking out of the sword array, regrouping his subordinates, and relying on a battle formation might offer a slim chance of survival. The white figure's eyes flashed with fierce light. With both hands, it grabbed dozens of demonic ghosts from the mist, shoving them into its mouth, and frantically devoured them. Amidst the wailing and howling, the demonic ghosts in the white mist involuntarily plunged into the white figure's body. With each demon ghost consumed, the white figure became more solid, and the ferocity in its eyes intensified. The two great demon kings beside him exchanged glances, secretly gritting their teeth. A stream of white gas rose from the crown of each of their heads, ready to enter the white figure's body, when they suddenly sensed something amiss. The stars across the sky shone brightly, and massive stars suddenly shot towards them. The sword stars moved as if the firmament itself was collapsing, an astonishing pressure assailing them, stemming from sharp sword intent. Before the sword light even arrived, they felt as though they had been struck a hundred or a thousand times by swords. The three demons froze in unison. The white figure let out a grim laugh, a bone blade manifesting in its palm. It was about to pounce when suddenly, a black shadow charged forth from the sword light, accompanied by a lion's roar, bringing a gust of ill wind as it lunged forward. "This scoundrel defected mid-battle!" Bai Xiao Great Sage was enraged. Seeing the Black Lion show no mercy, unleashing a killing move, his heart filled with hatred. The bone blade cut a white line, swiftly slashing towards the Black Lion's glabella. The moment they engaged, two miserable screams echoed from behind him. His two capable subordinates were no match for even a single strike of the sword array, both cleaved in half and perishing on the spot.

On a sword star, Qin Sang sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, his expression alternating between deep thought and sudden realization, as if deducing something. He had already trapped the three demons with the Seven Constellations Divided Sword Array, so he naturally didn't need assistance. However, the Black Lion was eager to prove its worth and volunteered, so Qin Sang let it go. He allowed the Black Lion and Bai Xiao to fight each other. Qin Sang focused on comprehending the sword array. Unlike his cultivation technique, the Seven Souls Killing Array, a new sword array, when first used, inevitably felt somewhat sluggish. If his opponents weren't demon great sages but equally skilled cultivators, they might be able to spot flaws after prolonged combat. Of course, as Qin Sang's comprehension of the sword array deepened, it would become more fluid, and he couldn't rush it. Qin Sang was not currently focused on how to perfect the sword array, but rather on a new insight. Previously, Qin Sang had merely regarded the "Seven Constellations Divided Sword Array" as a common technique for the Transformation God stage, valuing it for its suitability in trapping enemies and group combat, as well as serving as a transition before mastering the Wandering Sword. Only now, in actual combat, did he realize that this sword array was not so simple; its power was not limited to what he knew, and there were other variations he hadn't yet grasped. The secret manual didn't explicitly state this, implying that anyone who cultivated the sword array to a certain level would comprehend it. Qin Sang, being able to control the array alone right after using it, discovered this early. Qin Sang seized that spark of inspiration, pondered for a long time, and finally shook his head. It was still the same principle: one should not be overly ambitious. First, master the sword array, then consider other possibilities. However, this showed that the Seven Constellations Divided Sword Array had great potential, and Qin Sang couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. It seemed he would have to dedicate more effort to the Way of the Sword in the future. He looked up at the battlefield and, seeing that the Black Lion and Bai Xiao had yet to determine a victor, and unwilling to waste more time, he casually waved his hand, and the sword stars descended in unison.

The demon soldiers of Bai Ming Mountain, led by several demon kings, were returning to their lair, unaware of the upheaval that had occurred ahead. A streak of light swiftly pursued them. Inside the streak of light was a demon bird, its evasion speed like lightning. Observing its swiftness, even some transformed demon kings couldn't match it. Seeing the approaching demon, the demon soldiers quickly cleared a path. The demon bird flew to the center of the army, stopping before a treasure carriage guarded by a group of demons. It tidied its feathers and respectfully reported, "Reporting, Your Majesties, the rebels did not pursue..." After delivering its report, there was no response from inside the treasure carriage. The demon bird's eyes showed surprise and doubt. It called out a few more times, then bravely opened the carriage, letting out a gasp of alarm. The interior was completely empty!

At this moment, Qin Sang rode the Black Lion, walking upon the waves of the sea. Almost all the demon kings of the Bai Ming Mountain faction had been slaughtered by him. These demon kings had once relied on the Qinghu Sage King to lord over the East Sea and amass vast benefits, yet because the Qinghu Sage King provoked a powerful enemy, their thousand years of arduous cultivation were lost in a single day. Indeed, misfortune lurks within good fortune; such is the impermanence of worldly affairs.

"My Lord, we're almost at the Sage King's Palace." The Black Lion moved over the sea as if on flat ground, actively reporting, "Leaving aside other sacred lands, my Lord, please don't forget the Lishui Mingsha from Lihanchuan. I observe that your Lordship's vital essence is abundant and that you also focus on body refinement. That Lishui Mingsha, once refined, can strengthen the physical body, and it's not just effective for demons." The Sage King's Palace had fallen too quickly, and the Lishui Mingsha hadn't matured yet. The Black Lion was trying to curry favor. "Oh?" Qin Sang remembered something. He waved his hand, projecting a stream of true essence to conjure several images before the Black Lion. "Have you ever seen these treasures?" The Black Lion shook its head several times in succession until it came across a peculiar object that resembled a tree but wasn't. "Huh? I think I've seen this treasure among the Four-Winged Divine Steed tribe, but they call it White Water Coral, not Hundred Insect Grass." Hundred Insect Grass was one of the main ingredients for the Qing Frost Pill. Different naming conventions between the Witch Clan and the Demon Clan were normal. Qin Sang nodded, then asked the Black Lion a few more questions, to which the Black Lion answered everything it knew.

Gazing at the azure sea, Qin Sang pondered the aftermath of the demon civil war. Before long, they arrived at the Sage King's Palace. Long Jing Great Sage had only used demon soldiers to surround the palace, waiting for Qin Sang to arrive before entering together. The Sage King's Palace was not luxurious. As the Sage King of the demon race's temporary palace, it even appeared somewhat humble. Walking through the Sage King's Palace, Qin Sang felt an inexplicable sense of desolation. Guided by the Black Lion, he approached the Qinghu Sage King's bed-chamber, surprised to find it wasn't a palace, but an inconspicuous small mountain, devoid of exotic flowers or rare herbs. The Black Lion said, "Back then, the Sage King ordered us to infiltrate the land and find this mountain. I personally led my subordinates to move this mountain here, and then, according to the Sage King's orders, transplanted the flora..." The Qinghu Sage King's cave abode was in the rear mountain, a cave located in a cold, damp ravine. Inside the cave, Qin Sang saw some rough stone tables and stools, as well as a thin quilt. One could imagine the lonely scene of a fox curled up there, wrapped in the thin quilt. Recalling the Qinghu Sage King's self-disclosure of her origins back then, Qin Sang thought to himself, "This must be her cave abode from her days on land. I never expected that ruthless fox to have such a side..." Having seized the Qinghu Sage King's lair, Qin Sang felt little joy. There were indeed gains, and they were substantial. The relics and bones of those great sage demon kings were all rare treasures. But one's perspective always changes with their cultivation realm. If he had obtained these before the Transformation God stage, Qin Sang would have been ecstatic. Now, there were few treasures in this world that caught his eye. The same applied to the Sage King's Palace; its most valuable treasures had been taken by the Qinghu Sage King, leaving behind only leftovers. As the mastermind behind the scenes, he had instigated the demon civil war, hoping to force the Qinghu Sage King to appear. Now, it seemed this plan had failed. "Has she truly left?" Qin Sang walked out of the cave, gazing at the clear sky, remaining silent for a long time. Long Jing Great Sage then came to report. He was the biggest winner of this war, unable to suppress the joy on his face. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Qin Sang say, "This humble Daoist will temporarily borrow the East Sea's Sea Eye for cultivation. Other treasures are of no use to me. You are limited to swiftly gathering the Lishui Mingsha, White Water Coral... consider this my reward." Qin Sang listed several treasures that were beneficial to his cultivation, then, without looking back, flew towards the center of the Sage King's Palace, which was the entrance to the East Sea's Sea Eye. Long Jing Great Sage's expression flickered, feeling a pang of reluctance, but he could only agree.

'Splash, splash...' The East Sea's Sea Eye was located in the deep sea, a scene of profound blue. With Qin Sang occupying this sacred site, no one dared to disturb him. Long Jing Great Sage initially worried that Qin Sang would reside there permanently. Later, seeing that Qin Sang had no interest in the treasures produced by the Sea Eye, he finally relaxed and used various methods to gather the specific items Qin Sang had requested from different tribes. Qin Sang did not stay there for too long. After transcending his tribulation, his physical body advanced greatly. During this time, he diligently cultivated the "Heavenly Demon Refining Form," and using spiritual elixirs and the unique terrain of the East Sea's Sea Eye, his progress was swift. Soon, he smoothly broke through to the mid-stage of the fourth layer. He did not press on in one go, continuing to cultivate and break through, but rather temporarily ceased, flying out of the East Sea without saying goodbye.

Among the East Sea Islands, human cultivators could not perceive him, but a Daoist riding a Black Lion emerged from the East Sea. Soon, land was in sight.