Chapter 182: Seizure

The two Soul-Devouring Cones forged from the Black Tiger's remains were an unexpected bonus. Shopkeeper Wu admitted that he wouldn't have been able to refine two such cones if he hadn't made such rapid progress in artifact crafting recently.

These two Soul-Devouring Cones were almost as powerful as the previous one, but without the demon snake's venomous fangs, they lacked the insidious and hard-to-guard-against methods.

Nevertheless, Qin Sang was very satisfied.

Afterwards, Qin Sang stayed a few more days in Wen Yue Market, attending a Secret Shop gathering. Not all members of the Secret Shop attended every meeting; this time, including Qin Sang, there were only eleven people present. Among them were three Foundation Establishment cultivators, one rogue cultivator, and two cultivators from other immortal sects. Most of the Qi Condensation cultivators, like Shopkeeper Wu, possessed a notable skill.

Qin Sang made himself known. After inquiring with Shopkeeper Wu, he found that everyone present had a good reputation and no past misdeeds. He found it even more surprising that Granny Jing had let him in so easily.

Shopkeeper Wu explained, "Among the various sects in the Cloudmist Great Lake, Shaohua Mountain, as one of the Eight Orthodox Sects, is widely respected. Granny Jing probably felt that with the sect's discipline, Fellow Daoist Qin would certainly not dare to cause trouble."

Qin Sang thought it made sense. His background was clear and easily verifiable.

Shaohua Mountain prided itself on being an orthodox sect. If its disciples committed misdeeds and covered their tracks cleanly, the sect might ignore it. However, if they tarnished the sect's reputation in the cultivation world, Shaohua Mountain would deal with them itself, without Granny Jing needing to intervene.

At the Secret Shop, some participants sought help with demon hunting or treasure exploration, while others were looking to buy treasures or artifacts. One Foundation Establishment cultivator invited Qin Sang to hunt demons deep within the Cloudmist Great Lake, but Qin Sang politely declined.

Finally, Qin Sang asked a few fellow daoists to help him search for items related to depleted spirit springs, offering a reward. He then left Wen Yue Market and returned to his sect. This time, he finally met Senior Brother Wen and, just as before, asked for his help in inquiring among their acquaintances about any relevant information, assuring him that the price was negotiable.

The Earth Abyss Cavern.

Rolling Yin Fiend Qi relentlessly hammered at the various restrictions, but the atmosphere inside the Earth Abyss Cavern was filled with desolation and stillness.

Qin Sang, knowing the way well, avoided the restrictions and slipped into an inconspicuous crevice. A sweep of his spiritual sense revealed that the Earth Abyss Cavern's dwelling had its restrictions activated, indicating someone was cultivating inside.

He collected Earth Fiend Qi for corpse refinement, and it was best not to alarm anyone. So, he quietly concealed himself and moved towards the most secret corner he remembered.

Before long, Qin Sang arrived before a stone wall with tiny, almost invisible fissures. He pressed his hand against the wall, and after confirming the location, silently activated his escape art. His body flickered, then he 'squeezed' through the cracks.

Unexpectedly, deep within the stone wall, the fissures widened, eventually becoming large enough for two or three people to pass through. The cracks led directly to the depths of the earth. Upon emerging, Qin Sang didn't pause, rapidly descending. The further he fell, the denser the Yin Fiend Qi became, and the more bone-chilling the cold grew. However, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could endure this level of chill.

He finally broke free from the Yin Fiend Qi, emerging into a blank space between the Yin Fiend Qi and Earth Fiend Qi. The two types of frigid malevolent energy were distinctly separated and had not merged.

This was because Yin Fiend Qi was merely a concentration of sufficient death qi, resentment qi, and Yin qi, evolving over long years; it was essentially just a more sinister form of Yin qi. Earth Fiend Qi, however, was the ultimate Yin and malevolent energy nurtured by heaven and earth. The two were incomparable; Yin Fiend Qi would undoubtedly be easily consumed upon encountering Earth Fiend Qi.

Qin Sang scanned his surroundings, found a stone platform, and landed. He activated the Warm Yang Pearl and several other warming artifacts. Feeling some warmth return, he took out over a dozen long-necked silver bottles from his mustard seed pouch.

These silver bottles, called Lesser Yin Magnetic Bottles, were special artifacts whose rank couldn't be measured. Inside, they generated magnetic light, capable of collecting and calming the violent Earth Fiend Qi without being ruptured by it.

Of course, Lesser Yin Magnetic Bottles weren't only for collecting Earth Fiend Qi; they also had numerous other wonderful uses.

Qin Sang had found the refining method for Lesser Yin Magnetic Bottles on Pagoda Peak. Only one type of special lodestone was difficult to find; the other spiritual materials were not precious. He bought all the lodestones from Sky Scar Tower and asked Shopkeeper Wu to refine a dozen or so at once, planning to collect as much Earth Fiend Qi as possible.

After returning from the subterranean cave, Qin Sang consulted ancient texts and carefully learned about Earth Fiend Qi. He then realized that this type of malevolent energy was actually quite rare, only forming under specific circumstances, and was even harder to find than Five-Element Yin objects. If he didn't prepare some Earth Fiend Qi beforehand, he would have to distract himself searching for it after entering the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, and whether he could find any was uncertain.

Arranging these Lesser Yin Magnetic Bottles in a row before him, Qin Sang reached out and grasped one. Opening the magnetic bottle, he projected spiritual power behind him, forming a hand that reached into the abyssal darkness below.

A wisp of Earth Fiend Qi was pulled out by the spiritual power hand, struggling violently like a living creature and battering against it. Immediately, a terrifying chill permeated Qin Sang's body through the connection between him and the spiritual power hand.

Qin Sang's expression flickered; he now truly understood the terrifying nature of Earth Fiend Qi. He quickly activated the Warm Yang Pearl and other items with full force, then, without hesitation, cast successive restrictions onto the Earth Fiend Qi. With layer upon layer of suppression, the wisp of Earth Fiend Qi finally became docile, transforming into a ball of black mist.

But Qin Sang still dared not touch the Earth Fiend Qi directly with his body. With a wave of his hand, he conjured the Lesser Yin Magnetic Bottle, pointed its opening at the ball of Earth Fiend Qi, and collected it into the bottle.

A flash of silvery-white magnetic light appeared inside the bottle. After the Earth Fiend Qi entered, the bottle vibrated slightly, then quickly settled.

Qin Sang waited patiently for a moment, confirming that the Lesser Yin Magnetic Bottle could subdue the Earth Fiend Qi. He then repeated the process, collecting the Earth Fiend Qi little by little.

Time slowly passed. Qin Sang sat motionless on the stone platform like a statue. After most of the day, Qin Sang suddenly opened his eyes and recalled a Lesser Yin Magnetic Bottle into his hand.

Looking through the bottle's opening, he saw it filled with silvery-white magnetic light, with faint black mist visible deep within. Although the magnetic bottle was not yet completely full, Qin Sang decided not to collect any more, to avoid any unexpected issues.

At this point, his face had become somewhat pale. He quickly flew upward to expel the cold qi from his body before returning to continue collecting Earth Fiend Qi.

Ten days later.

A translucent figure suddenly appeared from a crevice in the Earth Abyss Cavern. The disciple guarding the cavern was still in seclusion in his dwelling, completely unaware.

Qin Sang filled all dozen or so Lesser Yin Magnetic Bottles. Once his corpse refining technique became proficient, he would succeed every time. One bottle of Earth Fiend Qi would be enough to refine two or three fiend corpses, and as long as he wasn't refining living corpses, it would last for a considerable period.

After all, the corpses of Foundation Establishment cultivators were not easily acquired.