Chapter 1742: Law Appearance

Pain enveloped Qin Sang, but instead of alarm, he felt a surge of delight. From the Divine Transformation Yin Fire Tribulation to the Dazzling Gold Sword Cavern, and now the Dragon Transformation Pool, in just a few decades, Qin Sang had already undergone three bone and marrow cleansing processes, enduring suffering that ordinary people could not bear. Had it not been for these experiences, his Heavenly Fiend Refinement art would not have advanced so rapidly.

The spiritual liquid in the Dragon Transformation Pool seemed to contain an unknown power. Unnoticeable from the outside, once it entered his body, drastic changes occurred. Qin Sang felt currents of thunder coursing through his limbs and bones, penetrating his marrow and meridians, passing through his internal organs, bringing with them inhumane agony. His bones cracked continuously, his vitality surged, and his entire skin turned crimson. In an instant, his vital energy erupted, forming an intensely dense blood mist that merged with the spiritual mist in the pool. At the boundary, the blood mist and spiritual mist intertwined, creating a strange phenomenon. Immediately, the blood mist swirled back, pouring into Qin Sang's body. This cycle repeated endlessly.

Each time the vital energy flowed back, Qin Sang felt the intense pain in his body subside slightly, as if improving for a brief moment. However, this respite was short-lived. The recovery rate lagged far behind the rate of destruction. While the Dragon Transformation Pool's spiritual liquid might not be as fierce as the Dazzling Gold Sword Cavern's, it was perfectly attuned to the flood dragon bloodline, delivering an instantaneous and relentless impact, leaving no chance to catch one's breath. Only a flood dragon's physique could withstand such an assault. If this continued, Qin Sang would likely be forced to leave the pool, and frustratingly, the ancient restrictions of the pool allowed only this single opportunity.

The Flood Dragon King stood guard by the Dragon Transformation Pool, observing Qin Sang's uncontrollable trembling. He stroked his beard and smiled. His smile had barely formed when it froze on his face. The Flood Dragon King stared intently at Qin Sang. He saw Qin Sang's body shake, emitting an incredibly pure demonic energy. A flash of green light behind him revealed a pair of green wings. He nearly snapped his beard, filled with doubt and astonishment.

Then an even more astonishing sight appeared: an inexplicable aura gathered above Qin Sang's head. Moments later, a phantom image of a Qingluan emerged, lively and nimble, with a slender form and jade-like green feathers, exquisitely beautiful. The moment the phantom appeared, the spiritual mist seemed to shrink back in fear, retreating outwards. The Flood Dragon King did not recognize it as a Qingluan Dharma Aspect, only assuming it was an anomalous manifestation due to Qin Sang's overflowing vital energy—a phenomenon not uncommon among demon races. However, he couldn't fathom why Qin Sang's vital energy would manifest as a Qingluan. After a few more glances, he realized something was amiss. The Flood Dragon King's expression suddenly changed. He abruptly recalled a tribal legend, his pupils dilating with immense shock. “A Dharma Aspect?”

Although the Qingluan above Qin Sang's head was incredibly ethereal, its outline indistinct, and barely even a phantom, his demeanor suggested he couldn't yet control it. It certainly bore some resemblance to the Dharma Aspects mentioned in their tribal legends! Yet, with Qin Sang's mastery of the physical body path, it was utterly impossible for him to condense a Dharma Aspect. Moreover, he was clearly a human. The Flood Dragon King instinctively took two steps forward for a closer look, when he suddenly felt the spiritual pool beneath his feet vibrate. Looking down, he was aghast. A whirlpool had appeared in the pool's spiritual liquid at some point, and a suction force, like that of a bottomless pit, emanated from Qin Sang, wildly drawing the liquid into his body. The water level visibly dropped, and even the spiritual mist thinned somewhat.

In just a moment, a hearty laugh rang out, and a green light shot out of the Dragon Transformation Pool, leaving only a thin layer of spiritual liquid where a significant portion had been. Qin Sang, with wings on his back and his Dharma Aspect still manifested, landed beside the Flood Dragon King. He cupped a hand in salute, saying with a smile, “Many thanks for your esteemed clan's precious pool. I must immediately enter seclusion. Please keep these spiritual items for now; once you've found the treasures, you may send them all together.” With that, Qin Sang, without waiting for the Flood Dragon King's reply, eagerly departed the Flood Dragon Ancestral Land and returned to his Dharma Vessel.

The Flood Dragon King's expression was unreadable. He looked at the jade box before him, without a hint of joy, and finally sighed, sweeping it into his sleeve. With so much spiritual liquid from the Dragon Transformation Pool taken at once, his clan's strength would undoubtedly be affected. He could only console himself that, thanks to Qin Sang's mediation, there should be no warfare for the next few centuries.

Back on his Dharma Vessel, Qin Sang sat cross-legged and entered a meditative state. It wasn't out of fear that the Flood Dragon clan would renege; rather, having absorbed such a vast amount of spiritual liquid at once, he needed to immediately regulate his vital energy. At the last moment, an inspiration struck him: he imitated the Dharma Aspect to draw upon Qingluan's thunder power, attracting the spiritual liquid in the pool. To his surprise, it actually succeeded, and he was now using the Dharma Aspect to contain the spiritual liquid. “Who knew the Dharma Aspect possessed such divine abilities? I must properly study it when I have time…”

Several months later. The Flood Dragon King boarded the Dharma Vessel again, presenting a jade box. Inside were treasures that could aid Qin Sang's cultivation. The Flood Dragon clan alone couldn't procure so many; some came from other tribes, and having passed through his hands, he had no doubt received some benefits. He wished to meet Qin Sang's true self, but Qin Sang was too occupied to see him at the moment. His avatar inspected the items, then cupped a hand in salute and said, “Thank you for your troubles, Daoist friend. I have inconvenienced you for many days and should not linger. I bid you farewell.” With that, the Dharma Vessel vibrated and cut through the waves, departing. From the Flood Dragon Ancestral Land, heading directly east would lead to Tianwu Island.

Currently, the Witch Clan could only defend Tianwu Island, surrounded by demon soldiers. Witch cultivators barely dared to leave the island, confined as if in a cage. As he neared Tianwu Island, Qin Sang finally emerged from seclusion, and an inward examination of himself filled him with astonishment. Within the spiritual liquid, the unknown energy that he had initially thought useless and might need to expel had barely dispersed at all; it had all been refined and absorbed by him—something even the Flood Dragon clan couldn't achieve! He surmised this was due to the Qingluan Dharma Aspect. This meant he wouldn't even need to fully absorb all the spiritual liquid to reach the late stage of the fourth layer! Following a rigid cultivation routine truly paled in comparison to gathering the resources of an entire realm to strengthen oneself. Regrettably, among the missing spiritual herbs for the high-grade Spirit-Suppressing Incense, he had only found one in his search across both realms. Completing the recipe was no easy task. “I hope the Witch Clan can provide me with some pleasant surprises…”

After calculating the distance, Qin Sang put away his Dharma Vessel and avatar, then straightened the sleeve of his right arm. The Vermilion Bird was unwilling to return to the Thousand Weight Ring, so Qin Sang had to keep the Sun God Tree in his sleeve. Fortunately, the Vermilion Bird could somewhat restrain it, preventing its aura from leaking out and being detected by those with discerning senses, thus sparing him the trouble of concealment. He quietly passed through the demon clan's defenses and landed on Tianwu Island.

The layout of Tianwu Island had changed little since centuries ago, yet Qin Sang felt a sense of melancholy, as if everything was the same but people had changed. Soon, he arrived at a pavilion. An old Witch Clan man came out, and seeing Qin Sang produce a token, immediately bowed low, “Your humble servant greets the Emissary.” Though this man was from the Witch Clan, he was a secret agent for the Four Sages Palace.

“Have you found the person?” Qin Sang asked.

The elder nodded repeatedly. “Only one true successor of the Black Snake lineage remains. He is currently in seclusion on the island. Although he has deliberately concealed his origins, he couldn't escape my notice. I've had people watching him continuously.”

Qin Sang said no more. After confirming the address, he vanished in a flash.

In a courtyard within the city, a black-robed youth sat cross-legged in meditation. He suddenly sensed something amiss, opened his eyes, and saw a person standing before him, who had appeared at some unknown moment. The surrounding restrictions showed no reaction whatsoever. The youth was greatly alarmed, and hastily conjured a long saber, holding it horizontally in front of him. “Who are you?”

“Are you the true successor of Elder Black Snake's lineage?” Qin Sang asked, standing with his hands behind his back, looking down at him.

The youth seemed to have anticipated this, and gave a bitter smile. After Elder Black Snake disappeared, his Black Snake Mountain lineage swiftly declined, and even their sect's ancestral grounds were seized. It was also related to Qin Sang: almost all of Elder Black Snake's true disciples had been slain by him, including the grand disciple he valued most. Later, though Elder Black Snake had taken in more disciples, finding those of good quality and talent was not easy. While he was alive, the lineage could still endure, but since his demise, the Black Snake Mountain lineage rapidly deteriorated. Their mountain gates were attacked, and the survivors became like stray dogs. Had it not been for Elder Black Snake having few enemies in his lifetime, and the Witch Clan's internal strife and external threats, the Nascent Soul patriarchs would not have paid them any mind, and their lineage would likely have been extinguished long ago.

Private duels were forbidden on Tianwu Island. Though the surviving disciples sought refuge here, they could not escape the Three Clan War. People continuously fell on the battlefield, and their numbers dwindled daily, until only this youth remained. He had assumed that after several centuries, the commotion from those days would have passed, and he had grown somewhat complacent. Unexpectedly, someone had come knocking. Judging by the bearing of the person before him, this was likely a Nascent Soul Patriarch, and no rules could constrain such an individual. If this person killed him, would the Grand Witch Priest truly seek justice on his behalf? Knowing he was doomed, the youth, in his desperation, became ferocious. He gripped his spiritual saber tightly, hardening his resolve, determined to fight no matter what.

Qin Sang ignored the youth's readiness to fight. A ray of light flew from his right hand, and he asked, “Have you seen this object?”

The youth was slightly taken aback. He focused his gaze, seeing a circular stone platform. He had never seen it before, yet it felt strangely familiar. After a moment of thought, he suddenly remembered. Seeing the change in his expression, Qin Sang said, “Tell me everything you know.”

Realizing the other party wasn't seeking revenge, the youth quickly prostrated himself, not daring to conceal anything. “Reporting to senior, this junior once overheard my master casually mention this matter. Grandmaster once instructed disciples to search for half of a similar stone platform. It is rumored to be an ancient treasure that drifted out from the sacred land of Mount Wushen. The Grand Witch Priest and the elders are also looking for it. Grandmaster personally ordered us not to publicize it, but this junior's status is low, so I don't know the truth of it…”

Back then, when the Seven Kills Hall ascended and broke through the realm, many Witch Clan experts were trapped inside and pulverized by spatial storms. Elder Black Snake was one of them. Elder Black Snake died in the Seven Kills Hall, leaving no relics or even a single word behind. The youth racked his brain but could offer no further details. Fearing he might anger Qin Sang, he hastily brought out all the sect's ancient texts he had, requesting Qin Sang to examine them closely. After scanning through the various texts and finding nothing useful, Qin Sang looked up toward the direction of the Transmission Hall, deep in thought. “Mount Wushen…” The youth remained prostrated for a long time before daring to look up. He found that the room was empty. His mind relaxed, and he slumped to the ground, his entire body drenched in cold sweat.

In front of the Transmission Hall. Qin Sang did not conceal his identity. With his wide sleeves flowing, he ascended the steps. The guards were about to block him but were suddenly stopped by a shout. Then, three streaks of light descended from above—all Witch Clan elders. They cast a glance at Qin Sang, their faces revealing astonishment, and hastily landed to bow in reverence: “Greetings, True Monarch Qin.”

In recent days, the human and demon clans had been active, and these movements had not escaped their notice. The Four Sages Palace had also sent someone to inform them. Unsure when Qin Sang would arrive, Mount Wushen had sent elders to guard this spot early. Qin Sang's gaze swept over them, but he did not see Elder Fang.

One elder bowed and said, “The Grand Witch Priest is hosting a banquet on Mount Wushen and has instructed us to respectfully welcome your esteemed presence, True Monarch.” The three elders, like stars surrounding the moon, accompanied Qin Sang to the transmission array and then to Mount Wushen.

Stepping out of the Transmission Hall, Qin Sang saw a group of Witch Clan Nascent Souls waiting respectfully in front of the hall. Leading them was a lean, clean-cut elder in a black robe. Qin Sang recognized at a glance that he was a transformed spiritual body, with a spiritual cicada nestled in his brain palace. The spiritual cicada's entire body was as translucent as jade, and its thin wings glittered with starlight. A Starwing Cicada!

Qin Sang remembered that scene vividly and mused, *Could this elder be Elder Fang's original appearance?*

“Greetings, True Monarch Qin. I apologize for not coming out to meet you sooner; it is a great oversight! A great oversight!” Elder Fang, now holding the esteemed title of Grand Witch Priest, stepped forward, bowed in greeting, and looked at Qin Sang with a complex gaze. His demeanor and actions were no different from an ordinary person's; one would barely detect anything unusual unless they possessed Qin Sang's keen insight. Qin Sang secretly assessed Elder Fang. His aura was no weaker than that of a late-stage Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator. He hadn't expected that Elder Fang's cultivation would increase rather than decrease after losing his native Gu worm. Now that he could assume a human form, Qin Sang wondered if he had gained new divine abilities due to a great leap in cultivation, or if he might even be able to reshape his physical body in the future.

Looking at the composed elder before him, Qin Sang was surprised. He recalled their first meeting, when Elder Fang was so untamed and unruly. Human Nascent Souls would blanch at the sound of his cicada's chirping, and even the Witch Clan's Grand Witch Priest couldn't restrain him. It seemed that Elder Fang's title as Grand Witch Priest was not merely ceremonial. Qin Sang had also heard Bao Zhengnan and others discuss Elder Fang, how he had led the Witch Clan, turning the tide multiple times, and could be considered utterly devoted, just, and selfless. The Witch Clan had suffered continuous calamities, and Elder Fang's contributions to their survival until today were immeasurable. The Grand Witch Priest's entrustment with his life back then had finally touched this man.

In a change of thought, Qin Sang returned the bow, saying, “We are old acquaintances, having shared adversities. There's no need for such formality, Daoist Fang.”

“Indeed, I and True Monarch are old friends. It is rare for True Monarch to still remember this old one…” Elder Fang sighed deeply. After receiving Bao Zhengnan's message, he had to recall for a moment to remember who this person was. Back then, he had dismissed everyone. Qin Sang hadn't even reached the Nascent Soul realm, so how could he have paid him any mind? Who could have imagined that with the passage of time, among the younger generation, Bao Zhengnan being his equal was one thing, but this person had actually surpassed him, entering a realm countless cultivators only dreamed of, freely roaming the world. “True Monarch possesses extraordinary talent. It is laughable that I was so short-sighted back then…” Elder Fang shook his head with a bitter smile, and gestured to the side, “I have prepared some humble wine, though I fear it may not be to True Monarch's liking.” Qin Sang cupped a hand in polite acknowledgment.

A light drizzle was falling. The Transmission Hall was located below mid-mountain. Further up lay the Witch Clan's forbidden ground, the Grand Witch Priest's residence, which even Witch cultivators required permission to enter. Qin Sang intended to observe Mount Wushen and did not use his movement techniques. Elder Fang and the others had no choice but to follow closely by his side, ascending the steps. Raindrops pattered on the leaves, creating a crisp, natural sound, a scene of freshness and serenity. Qin Sang looked up at the sky. Mount Wushen's summit was shrouded in dark clouds. Outside, night had fallen, but the mountain itself was as bright as day. A hundred-mile radius above was covered by dark clouds, with lightning wildly dancing and silver bolts streaking across the sky. Terrifying thunderbolts flashed constantly, their roars blocked by the mountain's restrictions, just as Qin Sang remembered from his first visit years ago.

He had heard legends of Mount Wushen before. This mountain had always been revered by the Witch Clan as a sacred mountain, its clouds and thunder never dispersing, which Witch cultivators believed to be a divine miracle of the Witch God. Qin Sang perceived that the dark clouds and thunder here were ordinary celestial phenomena, seemingly without any extraordinary qualities. Yet, this was precisely what was most abnormal! The Witch God Continent was not an area rich in water vapor; ordinary clouds could not possibly remain indefinitely. He glanced at Elder Fang. With many eyes and ears present, he said no more, deciding to ask for clarification after the banquet.

Upon entering the guest hall, host and guests took their seats. Maids gracefully arrived, bearing immortal fruits and precious nectar. Qin Sang joined them for a few cups, then spoke formally, “Have you all been informed of my purpose in coming?” The high-ranking Witch Clan members set down their jade cups and sat upright, looking at him with solemn expressions. Elder Fang said solemnly, “Palace Master Bao sent a secret message. We know a little, but many details remain unclear. Please enlighten us, True Monarch.” Qin Sang nodded and explained his entire statement.