Chapter 2075: Mid Refined Void Stage

Somewhere in the East Sea.

Dark clouds hung heavy, and demonic energy surged skyward.

Amidst the demonic energy, fully armored demon soldiers patrolled back and forth, radiating murderous intent.

Qin Sang and Li Yufu arrived stealthily, standing on a cloud. Li Yufu released a wisp of aura, and moments later, a subtle fluctuation appeared in the demonic energy below. A burly figure flashed before them, letting out a hearty laugh.

“Sect Master Li, if you have any instructions, just send a talisman message. Why bother… uh…”

The newcomer was none other than the Black Lion Grand Saint, now the Black Lion Saint King. From his cave dwelling, he had only sensed Li Yufu’s aura and had no idea there was another person.

Upon seeing Qin Sang, the Black Lion Saint King froze, his eyes widening like copper bells. He quickly reacted, rolling on the cloud to transform into his Black Lion demon form, prostrating himself at Qin Sang's feet and exclaiming loudly.

“This humble demon greets my Lord!”

This series of actions was as smooth as flowing water, leaving Li Yufu in awe and marveling at such a flexible and adaptable Saint King.

Little did he know, the Black Lion Saint King was now drenched in cold sweat, immensely grateful for his wise decision back then: never to cause trouble for Qingyang Temple after leaving it, thus maintaining their past connection.

His large, furry head was practically buried in the cloud, wishing he could rub against Qin Sang’s feet. His tone was fawning: “This humble one knew that my Lord, being a person of great fortune, would surely…”

“Enough!”

Qin Sang interrupted the Black Lion, a flash of spiritual light sending him away. “Since Yufu has lifted the restrictions on you, you are no longer my mount. Considering you have been relatively well-behaved these past years, I will not make things difficult for you. You may continue to be your Saint King.”

Hearing Qin Sang disavow him as a mount, the Black Lion Saint King felt a surge of anxiety, but finally relaxed. He transformed back into his human form, bowing deeply to Qin Sang, still addressing him as ‘My Lord.’

“Thank you for your clemency, My Lord!”

He then added, “Without my Lord and Fairy Liuli, this humble demon would not be where I am today. Should my Lord have any command, this humble demon will strive to fulfill it.”

“You are quite astute,” Qin Sang smiled.

Qin Sang smiled, “What is your standing among the demon race?”

The Black Lion Saint King understood that Qin Sang was inquiring about the entire demon race, not just the East Sea. Several suspicions immediately arose in his mind. His eyes darted around as he complained, “My Lord, you are truly discerning. All demons under heaven know that this humble demon is closer to humans and Qingyang Temple. Both openly and covertly, they have always been wary of this humble demon, excluding me from every important discussion. Those fellows from the Demon Sea never show this humble one a good face. If it weren’t for the need to contact Sect Master Li through this humble demon, the Dragon Whale Saint King would have probably driven me out of the East Sea long ago!”

He portrayed himself as utterly miserable.

Qin Sang, however, knew well that with the Black Lion Saint King's cunning nature, his situation would never be too bad anywhere.

“I merely happened to be passing by today, intending only to meet an old acquaintance. In the future, I might have tasks for you to undertake, but for now, there’s no need to make a fuss.”

“This humble demon understands!”

The Black Lion Saint King bowed respectfully, then suddenly felt his vision blur. Qin Sang and Li Yufu were gone, and only then did he finally relax.

He gently rubbed his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face. Although Qin Sang hadn't given specific orders, it wasn't hard to guess a thing or two. He might as well make arrangements and prepare in advance.

If he handled things splendidly in the future and pleased his Lord, it would not only erase any lingering reservations but also surely bring rewards.

At this thought, the Black Lion Saint King cast a cold glance towards a cave dwelling. It was one of the Dragon Whale Saint King’s palaces, deliberately built near his own cultivation ground.

If Liuli was not taken into account, Central Plains remained the most powerful among all regions. The Tri-Sect Alliance, formerly formed by Ganlu Zen Temple, Bajing Temple, and Tianhao Pavilion, had not only remained intact but their ties had grown even stronger. Other forces in the Central Plains could only exist at their mercy.

Among these Central Plains powerhouses, the ones Qin Sang had the most contact with and was most familiar with were Lu Zhang, the current Mountain Master of Bunian Mountain, and the Poison King of Wandu Mountain.

The Poison King was said to have overcome his heavenly tribulation by relying on his sect’s sacred artifact, the corpse of the Five-Transformation Bloodthirsty Miasma Spirit. The sacred artifact was destroyed in the process, shielding him from disaster. Although Wandu Mountain still maintained a mysterious image in the eyes of the world, its sect’s power was actually gradually waning.

Qin Sang only had a general understanding of the Central Plains’ situation and didn’t meet anyone there. The reason was that the Central Plains was quite complex and required careful consideration.

Several major sects in the Central Plains, especially the Buddhist, Daoist, and Demonic sects, had produced ascended cultivators, some even more than one. Any day now, one of those past ascendants might come calling.

Qin Sang habitually left a path open when doing things; he wouldn't sever the lineages of these sects. Allowing them to exist was precisely due to this consideration. Otherwise, if an ascended cultivator discovered their lineage cut off, he would inexplicably gain an enemy.

Of course, if an ascended cultivator wished to take their descendants away, Qin Sang wouldn't obstruct them; he might even gain another ally. However, if they harbored any ulterior motives regarding the Storm Realm, a confrontation would still be inevitable.

Passing through the Central Plains, they arrived at what was once the edge of the storm. The lava and flames were gone, replaced by a vibrant and prosperous land.

From the Central Plains to the Western Land was a single landmass. After the relocation of the Demon Sea and Canglang Sea, they were settled on the southern side of this landmass, between the Central Plains and the Western Land.

The Central Plains landmass now stretched from west to east, sequentially housing the Western Land human race, the Demon Sea demon race, the Canglang Sea human race, the Wu Tribe, and the Central Plains human race.

This arrangement was made after careful consideration. Since the Changyou Tribe army couldn't cross the defense line and silently attack from the northern side of the landmass, the primary defense was against attacks from the south. Placing them here was also to have them form a long defensive line to guard this area.

The demon race and the Wu Tribe were separated by the Canglang Sea human race to prevent secret collusion. At the same time, being sandwiched between human territories meant that any unusual movements would be noticed by humans.

The leader of the Wu Tribe was still Old Devil Fang.

Old Devil Fang, whose soul resided in an insect body, couldn't have been entirely unimpeded. Qin Sang was actually somewhat surprised that he managed to break through to the Soul Transformation stage.

When they were in Canglang Sea, the Wu Tribe, unable to contend with the human race, had to retreat and confine themselves to the Wushen Continent. The Changyou Tribe's attack was another major blow. Among the three tribes, the Wu Tribe was the weakest in strength, yet paradoxically more unified, with over ninety percent of its members concentrated in one area, centered around Wushen Mountain.

Within the Wu Tribe, Old Devil Fang's prestige was unparalleled; his commands were absolute.

As long as Old Devil Fang was persuaded, the Wu Tribe would be the easiest to handle.

Qin Sang kept the Wu Tribe for a significant purpose. Both he and the Heavenly Eye Butterfly were nearing a breakthrough, approaching the Integration stage. Before reaching Integration, he would definitely need to find the Ghost Mother to seek her secret art for aiding the Heavenly Eye Butterfly’s metamorphosis.

Next, Qin Sang did not go to meet Old Devil Fang. Instead, he only visited the Four Saints Palace and met with Palace Master Bao Zhengnan.

The Four Saints Palace's position was becoming increasingly unstable. Firstly, they were sandwiched between the Wu Tribe and the demon race, with whom they shared a deep blood feud. Secondly, after relocating here, the righteous and demonic factions that had originally been subdued by the Four Saints Palace, along with the remnants of the three major trade alliances, became restless. They secretly colluded with Central Plains forces, each harboring their own schemes.

Central Plains forces had no fear of the Four Saints Palace. Bao Zhengnan was powerless to stop them and had felt the impending crisis early on.

Precisely because of this, the Four Saints Palace, like Xuanyuan Palace, had consistently stood firmly with Liuli and Qingyang Temple.

Qin Sang’s arrival served as a reassurance for Bao Zhengnan.

Having the Four Saints Palace and Xuanyuan Palace cooperate with him was sufficient. Too many people knowing would only complicate matters.

“Palace Master Bao, there’s no need to see me off. I will visit again another day,” Qin Sang said, cupping his hands in farewell, and continued west.

The Western Land.

The mountain gate of Dabe Zen Temple had become scorched earth.

Back then, the Western Land also suffered fierce attacks. Master Huaiyin led the Western Land cultivators in a proactive retreat, abandoning most of the region and falling back to the teleportation array. With support from the Central Plains, they managed to keep the Changyou Tribe at bay here. (Last time I misremembered; it was Master Xingji of Ganlu Zen Temple who perished under the heavenly tribulation.)

The situation remained the same, with both sides in a standoff in the Western Land. The Western Land was one of the most brutal battlefields, long since reduced to ruins.

Qin Sang stood atop a sand dune, hands behind his back, gazing at the Changyou Tribe army opposite him. A fierce, malevolent aura immediately washed over him.

By this point, he had essentially toured all major regions of the Storm Realm and had a clear understanding of the situation.

After observing for a while, Qin Sang slowly turned, manifested a ray of light, and returned to Luye.

Sensing his return, Silu emerged from the quiet chamber.

Jihong was nowhere to be seen, having vanished to an unknown location.

Silu had been continuously healing and stabilizing her foundation. Previously, she had only suppressed her injuries; a complete recovery would require further quiet recuperation.

Qin Sang cupped his hands in a bow. “The time is nearly right. I cannot leave at the moment, so I must trouble you, fellow Daoist, to make a trip and bring Su Nü and the others back.”

Silu affirmed, "Alright," and without hesitation, immediately set off.

After seeing Silu off, Qin Sang ordered Luye to move. After drifting eastward for a period, it stopped above a vast mountainous wilderness.

A boundless land with rivers crisscrossing.

Towering peaks rose, and continuous, lofty mountain ranges undulated, stretching to the horizon like galloping dragons and serpents.

This area was located on the western side of the Northern Barrens in Central Plains, originally within the storm region.

Due to the extremely treacherous terrain, no mortals had been willing to migrate here yet, leaving it sparsely populated.

After the Storm Realm rejoined the Great Thousand Worlds, spiritual energy recovered. While there were differences in density in various places, the Central Plains region remained the holy land for cultivation.

Nourished by the primordial energy of the Great Thousand Worlds, the 'barren mountains and harsh waters' of the Northern Barrens transformed into beautiful mountains and clear waters. The Nine Disasters of the Northern Barrens vanished, and the Demonic Sects of the Central Plains were living very comfortably.

This place was also not far behind; its aura was extraordinary to behold, undoubtedly a blessed land of immortal mountains. Qingyang Temple even had a branch temple built here.

However, the spiritual veins here were too scattered, and the spiritual energy chaotic. To establish a sect's main gate, spiritual veins would have to be relocated and the spiritual energy reordered. This was undoubtedly a massive undertaking, unaffordable for minor sects. Since Qingyang Temple had already claimed it, major sects were unwilling to contend with them, so it remained deserted for now.

Li Yufu had claimed this place, considering that Luye was merely a temporary measure. After Qingyang Temple grew stronger, it would surely need to re-establish its main gate, and this location was one of the prime candidates.

“From now on, the main gate of Qingyang Temple shall be here!”

Qin Sang pointed to the earth, deciding with a single word.

Li Yufu bowed in acceptance, returned to Luye, gathered the disciples of the sect, and began issuing a series of commands.

Qin Sang stood silently in place, his spiritual sense spreading out, sweeping over countless mountain ranges and rivers, penetrating deep underground, encompassing every spiritual vein into his perception, reaching into the most minute details and extending into the endless distance.

A vision appeared in his mind: even the most minute spiritual veins were reflected within it. Countless spiritual veins were first dispersed, then underwent repeated reorganization.

Qin Sang deduced with all his might, losing count of how many times he reorganized, yet still remained unsatisfied.

If it were merely to establish a sect's main gate, it wouldn't be so troublesome. But he also intended to build the main altar of the Lightning Altar here.

He chose this location for two reasons: firstly, it was considered the center of the entire Storm Realm; secondly, it could intimidate the Central Plains forces, ensuring that Qingyang Temple disciples would not lack opponents in the future.

After an unknown period, Qin Sang's eyes flickered, and he finally stopped his deductions, a hint of weariness flashing in his gaze.

Li Yufu had been quietly waiting beside him for a long time. Qin Sang took out a blank jade slip, inscribed the results of his previous deductions onto it, and instructed, “From now on, the spiritual veins will be relocated according to this. You can first set up the first layer of the mountain protection array, and entrust the refining of this portion of the array artifacts to Shen Chen.”

Li Yufu’s spiritual sense entered the jade slip. Seeing the mountain protection array, he felt it was incredibly complex, and trying to comprehend it forcefully made him dizzy. He was both surprised and delighted.

Even just the first layer of the mountain protection array was unparalleled among all sects in the Storm Realm. He couldn't imagine what power the complete array would possess!

Little did he know, Qin Sang had incorporated major arrays he had acquired in the past, such as the Heavenly River Reverse Killing Array. How could a mere Storm Realm compare?

This place would not only be Qingyang Temple’s main gate but also his future cultivation ground. He was determined to make it absolutely perfect.

These tasks would keep Qingyang Temple busy for a while. Qin Sang dismissed Li Yufu and, without rushing to do anything else, flew alone into the North Sea, landing on a desolate island and setting up array flags around it.

During his travels through the Storm Realm, Qin Sang had not neglected his cultivation.

During this period, his understanding of the Saint Image’s divine will deepened, and he vaguely sensed a tremor in the ethereal realm.

He realized this might be the opportunity for a breakthrough.

The spiritual energy he gained from the Wu Tribe's incantations was also nearing full refinement. Once his foundation was completely stable, he could attempt to break through to the mid-stage of Void Refinement!

After setting up the restrictive array, Qin Sang released the Vermilion Bird and the two demon marquises to guard the surroundings.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, immersing himself in meditation. His aura only showed subtle fluctuations occasionally.

The island was utterly tranquil.

Gradually, even the subtle fluctuations ceased. Qin Sang felt the last trace of disharmony within his body being smoothed out, signifying that he had completely assimilated the Wu Tribe's incantation!

Whoosh!

A fierce wind suddenly rose, and Qin Sang, like a whale swallowing, voraciously absorbed the primordial energy of heaven and earth, gradually pushing his cultivation to its peak.

After another period of silence, Qin Sang had fully sorted out his own Dao, and he could now attempt to break through!

He awakened the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to assist him in breaking through. Before long, a faint fluctuation appeared on his body, vanished instantly, then reappeared, repeating this process endlessly. Each time it reappeared, the fluctuation grew a bit stronger.

The Vermilion Bird and the two demon marquises had been watching intently. Sensing the anomaly, they all looked over.

In an instant, the primordial energy of heaven and earth surged violently, rushing madly towards the small island. The void here seemed to have been punctured, and the speed of absorption was so terrifying that a massive spiritual energy vortex appeared in the sky.

At this moment, the Vermilion Bird and the others vaguely saw a phantom figure within the spiritual energy vortex—it was Qin Sang’s Dharma Body!

Qin Sang completely forgot everything. He felt only a thin membrane ahead; as long as he broke through with all his might, a brand new world would open before him.

Boom!

The clouds and mist dispersed, and the vortex suddenly vanished, instantly swallowed by the phantom figure. The Dharma Body stood fixed in the void, glowing with multicolored light, which then quickly faded, returning to normal as it retreated into his main body.

Qin Sang suddenly opened his eyes, a smile gracing his lips. He had finally broken through to the mid-stage of Void Refinement!