Chapter 176: Five Elements and Yin Objects

"Three spiritual eyes, and yet no spiritual spring?" Qin Sang murmured, not without disappointment.

The forbidden area of the Heavenly Corpse Sect's sub-altar was vast, and the treasure vault, used to store precious items, was also built here. What was surprising was that three spiritual eyes coexisted within the forbidden area.

The spiritual vein occupied by the Heavenly Corpse Sect was much smaller than Mount Shaohua's sect gate. It was normal for there to be one spiritual eye, but for three to exist, and so close to each other, it was not an exaggeration to call it a naturally formed cave-dwelling.

What disappointed Qin Sang, however, was that even though there were three spiritual eyes here, and the spiritual energy concentration subtly surpassed that of his own cave-dwelling, no spiritual spring had been born.

If there had been a spiritual spring, he would have moved back here without hesitation.

After breaking through to the second layer of the "Spirit Cultivating Sword Chapter," the difficulty of comprehending the killing talismans increased sharply. Even understanding each stroke was harder than comprehending the entire first killing talisman. The sooner he went to the ancient immortal battlefield, the better.

Hearing Qin Sang's complaints, Yu Daiyue, who was studying the array artifact nearby, looked up and laughed at his wishful thinking. "Junior Brother Qin, you're thinking too much. For a spiritual eye to form on a spiritual vein is already a blessing from heaven and earth. How could spiritual springs be born so easily? Since our sect was founded, we've only managed to draw in six spiritual springs. It's not just about concentrated spiritual energy or a vast spiritual vein. They must harmonize with mountains and water veins, gather the essence of all directions, and only under various coincidences is there even a minuscule possibility."

"Senior Brother Yu, have you studied spiritual springs extensively? Could you tell me more about it?" Qin Sang asked curiously. He had visited Pagoda Peak and found very few related records there. From Yu Daiyue's tone, it seemed he had thoroughly researched the topic.

"Junior Brother Qin, are you really interested in these things?" Yu Daiyue was somewhat surprised. Hearing Qin Sang mention Pagoda Peak, he said, "Junior Brother Qin, if you're looking for these records at Pagoda Peak, you're looking in the wrong place. The most comprehensive records concerning spiritual veins, spiritual eyes, and spiritual springs are not at Pagoda Peak, but at Daoist Peak."

"Daoist Peak?" Qin Sang was stunned.

"That's right," Yu Daiyue nodded. "Daoist Peak has a library that houses many classical works passed down in the mortal world, as well as some writings by cultivators that aren't considered very valuable. They're not particularly useful for us cultivators, which is why not many people know about them. When I hadn't broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, I served as a handyman at Daoist Peak, organizing those records. I found many mortal classics quite interesting and became engrossed in them. I wasted a lot of time on it, only breaking through to Foundation Establishment near the age of fifty, almost ruining my chances. The library does have some jade slips containing works by cultivators who specialized in geomancy and miscellaneous studies. Some of these discuss spiritual springs. Junior Brother Qin, you can go and look for them. Wealth, companions, techniques, and location – these are all essential for cultivators. It's said that there was once a trend in the cultivation world to seek out spiritual springs. However, cultivators later discovered that while spiritual veins were easy to find, the formation of spiritual springs had no discernible pattern, and spiritual springs themselves were too rare. The theories they researched had no way of being verified. Once that trend faded, these works gradually fell into obscurity and were all relegated to Daoist Peak."

Hearing Yu Daiyue comment on mortal classics, Qin Sang nodded in considerable agreement. Although mortals lived and died like mayflies, intelligent people were as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. They simply lacked spiritual roots or immortal destiny, and thus were not destined for the immortal path.

The "Scripture of Purity and Tranquility" he obtained from Daoist Jixin was a scripture from a mortal Daoist priest. It not only helped him enter meditation for cultivation but also now he occasionally recited and pondered it.

Qin Sang noted down the library's location, deciding to check after returning to the sect whether anyone had researched methods to accelerate the formation of spiritual springs.

The Heavenly Corpse Sect's array artifact was a piece of white jade, about the height of a person. It was exquisitely clear and translucent, without a single blemish. Although it had some damage, when the two of them operated it together, golden patterns lit up from the center of the white jade, indicating the restriction was still effective.

After the golden patterns covered the white jade, a powerful suction suddenly emerged, as if it had become a black hole, devouring the spiritual energy in the forbidden area at an astonishing speed.

So fast was the consumption that a visible vortex appeared above the white jade.

Immediately after, these golden patterns extended like a spiderweb beyond the forbidden area and rapidly spread outwards. Golden light filled the cave-dwelling, sweeping away the cold and making it feel warm and pleasant.

It was clear that the restriction's purpose was indeed to ward off the baleful earth qi. Only under the protection of the restriction could the disciples of the Heavenly Corpse Sect cultivate in such a place.

With the restriction activated, Qin Sang and Yu Daiyue's anxious hearts finally settled. They only needed to wait for the baleful earth qi to recede before they could leave this troublesome place.

Bored, the two began searching through a large expanse of ruins once more. To their surprise, they actually found some treasures.

A palm-sized piece of cold iron, a few grains of stardust, some remnant beast bones, a small bottle of Yin spirit water, and a section of golden-thread cedar wood—all were excellent spiritual materials for artifact refining. In addition, there were also two damaged magical artifacts.

The two placed the items on the ground. Yu Daiyue gestured with his hand, saying, "Junior Brother Qin eliminated the baleful corpses blocking our way, which is the greatest contribution. I didn't exert any effort, so Junior Brother Qin should choose first."

Qin Sang didn't stand on ceremony. He directly took the most valuable golden-thread cedar wood into his hand. Seeing Yu Daiyue's expression stiffen slightly, he said, "Senior Brother Yu, I am refining my Natal Spirit Sword and specifically need the purest spiritual wood, so I won't be modest. However, the golden-thread cedar wood is too valuable; I wouldn't dare be greedy. I'll also take this bottle of Yin spirit water, and all the other items can go to Senior Brother Yu. What do you think, Senior Brother?"

The combined value of the golden-thread cedar wood and the Yin spirit water was still slightly less than the other items. However, these two spiritual items were precisely what Qin Sang urgently needed.

The golden-thread cedar wood goes without saying. After breaking through to the second layer of the "Spirit Cultivating Sword Chapter," Qin Sang discovered that the power of the killing talismans was far greater than he had imagined. His Ebony Sword might not be able to withstand the second killing talisman, so preparing spiritual wood in advance was a precautionary measure.

Yin spirit water, on the other hand, was essential for refining baleful corpses.

The "Heavenly Yin Corpse Art" used baleful earth qi to refine baleful corpses. It not only had unique secret techniques but also required the cooperation of special spiritual materials: five Yin-attributed Five Elements materials, namely Nine-Aperture Stone, Azure Nether Gold, moon locust wood core over five hundred years old, ghost eagle feathers, and Yin spirit water.

Gathering all five Yin-attributed Five Elements materials would require considerable effort. Finding a bottle of Yin spirit water here was an unexpected boon, and Qin Sang certainly wouldn't miss it.

Seeing Qin Sang speak like this, Yu Daiyue naturally had no further objections. He gladly accepted the other spiritual items, saying, "Junior Brother Qin is actually preparing to refine his own Natal Spirit Sword and requires the purest spiritual wood. Its power will undoubtedly be extraordinary. Your elder brother can also keep an eye out for you in the future."

Qin Sang cupped his hands and said, "Then I thank Senior Brother Yu very much."

After making the arrangements, the two patiently waited in the forbidden area, thinking that other companions might still be alive. They did not completely close off the forbidden area.

Unexpectedly, as time passed, the rumbling sound grew louder and louder. Soon, a wisp of black, extremely cold qi surged into the hall, but Li Zai still did not appear.

Yu Daiyue sighed deeply, saying, "Junior Brother Qin, Junior Brother Li and the others are likely in great peril. We should close the restriction now, or it will be too late."