Chapter 2223: Star Soul

Following Reverend Tong Shen's finger, Qin Sang saw only a faint layer of mist. Knowing it was the effect of a formation, she grumbled, "Master, you're tricking me again. Where's the mountain?"

Reverend Tong Shen laughed heartily, pointing his staff into the air. "Isn't the mountain right there?"

Suddenly, a mountain appeared in the mist. It wasn't very tall, and from a distance, it offered a magnificent view of cascading waterfalls, flowing springs, and lush greenery.

Several palaces, nestled within the woods, stood quietly on the mountain.

Reverend Tong Shen activated a spirit formation and led Qin Sang into one of the palaces. The interior was simply furnished with an offering table, incense, and a few prayer mats. On the table stood a single memorial tablet, inscribed with "Patriarch Yuan Jing."

"Our sect is not a famous great faction," Reverend Tong Shen explained. "I was fortunate enough to obtain a lineage of cultivation methods here on Yuan Jing Mountain. I don't know its origin or the name of our patriarch, so I established this tablet, naming it 'Yuan Jing.' Once you've paid your respects to the patriarch, you will officially be a part of our sect."

Reverend Tong Shen instructed Qin Sang to bow to the patriarch's tablet. After performing three bows and nine kowtows, Qin Sang officially became a disciple of Yuan Jing Mountain.

According to Reverend Tong Shen, besides Qin Sang, he had two other disciples, one male and one female. The entire sect consisted of only the four of them: master and disciples.

"Your senior brother isn't on the mountain, and your senior sister is in secluded cultivation," Reverend Tong Shen said. "You can visit them when there's an opportunity. Your senior brother's monastic name is Qing Yan, and your senior sister's is Qing Hong. What kind of monastic name would you like?"

Reverend Tong Shen asked with a smile.

According to sect rules, masters typically bestow monastic names upon their disciples, leaving no room for the disciples to chime in. However, Reverend Tong Shen was so fond of his new disciple that he allowed Qin Sang to choose his own.

Qin Sang spoke without hesitation, "Master, since I was a child, I've always wanted to be as free as the wind. Can I be named Qing Feng?"

"Qing Feng..."

Reverend Tong Shen frowned slightly, somewhat regretting letting Qin Sang choose his own name. But as a master, he had to set an example and couldn't go back on his word in front of a disciple. He could only nod and say, "Very well, you shall be known as Qing Feng from now on."

Next, Reverend Tong Shen introduced the sect's inherited cultivation methods to Qin Sang.

"Yuan Jing Mountain has three inherited traditions," Reverend Tong Shen explained. "The first is the 'Profound Darkness Transformation,' which allows control over rivers and streams, exhaling as clouds, and breathing out as rain. The second is the 'Cloud Azure Twelve Thunder Art,' possessing twelve thunder commands that can manifest in countless ways and summon heavenly lightning. The third is the 'Clear Dew Reverting Elixir Art,' which, when supplemented by alchemy, cultivates both inner and outer aspects with remarkable efficacy. Which one would you like to choose?"

Ordinarily, Qin Sang had only just sensed the vital energy of heaven and earth and was not yet initiated, so there was no need to rush his choice.

However, the cultivation methods of Yuan Jing Mountain were unique. All three traditions shared the same introductory cultivation method, but subtle differences within it branched out into three distinct paths, making an earlier choice more beneficial.

Qin Sang could tell that all three traditions were related to the water element, and he presumed that the 'Cloud Azure Twelve Thunder Art' also cultivated water-based lightning.

His master had mentioned that his senior brother chose the 'Cloud Azure Twelve Thunder Art,' while his senior sister practiced the 'Profound Darkness Transformation.' Even Reverend Tong Shen himself cultivated a thunder art.

Reverend Tong Shen naturally wanted Qin Sang to choose the 'Cloud Azure Twelve Thunder Art' so that both he and his eldest disciple could guide Qin Sang. Moreover, thunder arts sounded incredibly powerful, something a young person would likely find hard to refuse.

Unexpectedly, Qin Sang made a surprising choice, selecting the 'Clear Dew Reverting Elixir Art.'

"You want to learn the Elixir Art?"

Reverend Tong Shen's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. He realized that Qin Sang might not be as docile and obedient as he appeared, and since taking him as a disciple, a few more wrinkles had appeared on his forehead.

Qin Sang nodded emphatically. "Master said that the 'Clear Dew Reverting Elixir Art' allows one to improve cultivation by consuming spirit elixirs. Your disciple wants to help Master as quickly as possible!"

This was a well-considered decision by Qin Sang. With his proficiency in lightning arts, cultivating the 'Cloud Azure Twelve Thunder Art' would be effortless and lead to rapid progress, but he still found it too slow!

By cultivating the 'Clear Dew Reverting Elixir Art,' he could use this pretext to learn alchemy, refine elixirs, and elevate his cultivation through external elixirs.

Ordinary alchemists had to be cautious when consuming elixirs, following strict rules and not acting recklessly. Otherwise, accumulating elixir toxins would be a minor issue; if their realm couldn't keep pace, there was a danger of falling into qi deviation.

Qin Sang, however, was different. His only lack was cultivation level, and he could consume elixirs as if they were meals without issue.

Moreover, what Qin Sang wanted to refine was not spirit elixirs, but poison elixirs!

Although he had lost the poison bead, as long as he had detoxification elixirs prepared, he could still rapidly increase his cultivation by relying on the 'Poison God Scripture.'

Reverend Tong Shen opened his mouth, wanting to say that he didn't need his help yet, but then feared dampening his disciple's enthusiasm. He used an excuse, "There's no rush to choose a tradition. First, focus on comprehending the cultivation scroll I just gave you..."

He also dabbled in the alchemy within the 'Clear Dew Reverting Elixir Art,' but it wasn't his fundamental cultivation method. He was afraid that even a slight mistake could lead such a promising disciple astray, which he would deeply regret.

Just as he was speaking, Reverend Tong Shen looked up towards the outside of the hall and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Lu has arrived. Disciple, rise and follow me to greet Senior Lu."

"Your disciple obeys!"

Qin Sang dutifully followed Reverend Tong Shen to the welcoming pavilion on the mountain, where he saw a cultivator in a green robe standing with his hands behind his back, admiring the mountain scenery.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you arrived so quickly!"

The green-robed cultivator turned around. He was a slender old man with a topknot and a long beard that reached his chest, gently swaying in the mountain breeze, giving him an ethereal, immortal demeanor. This was none other than Reverend Tong Shen's friend, known as Mister Lu.

"Reverend Tong Shen summoned me here with a talisman, so how could I delay?"

Mister Lu smiled faintly, then noticed Qin Sang and scrutinized him. "This young man has such a refined and handsome appearance. Why haven't I seen him before? Could he be your new disciple, Fellow Daoist?"

"Indeed," Reverend Tong Shen said with a full smile, feigning sternness. "Disciple, why aren't you greeting the senior?"

Qin Sang stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "This junior, Qing Feng, greets Senior Lu!"

Hearing Qin Sang state his own monastic name, Reverend Tong Shen couldn't help but inwardly smile wryly, regretting his decision even more.

Fortunately, Mister Lu's expression remained normal. He stroked his beard and smiled, "What a fine talent! I won't let you call me senior for nothing. Here's a gift for you, as a token of our first meeting. In the future, listen to your master's teachings and cultivate diligently."

Saying this, Mister Lu took out a jade ruyi scepter and presented it to Qin Sang.

Qin Sang looked at Reverend Tong Shen, and only accepted the gift after receiving his master's permission, which pleased Reverend Tong Shen even more.

Noticing Reverend Tong Shen's expression, Mister Lu transmitted a message to him: "When you accepted Qing Yan and Qing Hong previously, you didn't look this overjoyed. Is there anything particularly special about this new disciple?"

Reverend Tong Shen smiled without speaking.

Mister Lu sighed helplessly, then changed his tone. "Fellow Daoist, you urgently summoned me here. What's the important matter?"

Reverend Tong Shen chuckled, "This time, during my travels down the mountain, I obtained three jars of excellent wine. Isn't that worth your personal trip, Fellow Daoist?"

"Are there truly excellent wines in the mortal world?"

Mister Lu's eyes lit up, and he urged repeatedly, "Of course! Of course! Where is the wine? Bring it quickly!"

"The wine is in the room, and delicious dishes are ready. Please, Fellow Daoist!"

"Please!"

Qin Sang hadn't expected his master and Mister Lu to be such 'alcoholics.' Seeing his master motion for him to follow, he also went to the front of a pavilion.

Unexpectedly, as they ascended the pavilion and closed the door, both men immediately dropped their smiles, their expressions turning solemn.

Qin Sang was surprised by the change in their demeanor.

Looking around the room, the doors and windows were tightly shut, and a faint spiritual glow indicated the presence of a restrictive formation capable of isolating the inside from the outside.

The so-called 'excellent wine' was likely a secret code between them. Qin Sang wondered why Reverend Tong Shen was so cautious even within the sect.

Mister Lu glanced at Qin Sang, then gravely said to Reverend Tong Shen, "Have you encountered some trouble, Fellow Daoist?"

"Indeed, I've encountered something, but it won't be a problem for now."

Reverend Tong Shen gestured for Mister Lu to sit down and asked, "These past few days, have you noticed any changes in the mortal world, or received any unusual news?"

Mister Lu shook his head. "Please enlighten me, Fellow Daoist."

Reverend Tong Shen then recounted his observations in Fengcheng and his various conjectures to Mister Lu.

"The Little Eagle King is actually posting wanted posters for human cultivators in the mortal world?" Mister Lu exclaimed in surprise.

"That's right. I suspect those fellow Daoists were already injured when they fled here and were forced to hide among mortals," Reverend Tong Shen said.

Mister Lu pondered, "You want to save them, Fellow Daoist?"

Reverend Tong Shen remained noncommittal. "If they are our human brethren, they might have been persecuted for resisting oppression. Saving them would preserve some strength for our human race. Furthermore, I worry that if the Golden Eagle Clan cannot find these fellow Daoists, they might resort to widespread slaughter in the mortal realm to force them out!"

Then, Reverend Tong Shen changed his tone. "Of course, we have no personal connection to them, so we shouldn't act rashly. We must investigate the full circumstances before making any plans. Fellow Daoist, your connections are extensive. Could you perhaps inquire with the Golden Eagle Clan to ascertain the origins of these fellow Daoists?"

"That won't be difficult!"

Mister Lu was decisive and prepared to leave immediately.

"Don't rush, Fellow Daoist!"

Reverend Tong Shen quickly called him back and pulled out wine jars. "The fine wine is here. Why not have a taste before you go? Disciple, pour us some wine!"

With good wine and delicious food, host and guest enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

Before Mister Lu departed, Reverend Tong Shen cautioned, "Fellow Daoist Lu, please be extremely careful when gathering information. If you arouse the suspicion of the Golden Eagle Clan, it could be disadvantageous to you."

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, I understand the risks. I'll take my leave now!"

Mister Lu clasped his hands in farewell and departed.

After Mister Lu left, Reverend Tong Shen summoned Qin Sang to the quiet room and thoroughly explained the cultivation method to him. Qin Sang, naturally, grasped it immediately and began his true cultivation that very evening.

After a night passed, Qin Sang felt completely at ease, all aches and pains gone from his body. Reverend Tong Shen, after checking Qin Sang's progress, was even more delighted.

From then on, Qin Sang became a disciple of Yuan Jing Mountain and settled there.

Reverend Tong Shen grew increasingly pleased with his disciple. Not only was Qin Sang exceptionally intelligent, but he also studied diligently and practiced assiduously, cultivating tirelessly in the quiet room whenever not resting. He had never seen him slack off in the slightest. The only thing that troubled him was that his disciple was absolutely determined to cultivate the 'Clear Dew Reverting Elixir Art.'

In a few days, Mister Lu visited again.

Reverend Tong Shen once again entertained Mister Lu in the same pavilion, calling Qin Sang to pour wine.

Just before entering the pavilion, Qin Sang looked up at the sky.

As night approached, thick clouds covered the sky. Faint moonlight pierced through gaps in the clouds, but the starlight was obscured and barely visible.

Now, Qin Sang understood why Reverend Tong Shen and Mister Lu were so cautious, always using this pavilion, dense with restrictive formations, when discussing important matters.

This was related to the cultivation methods of the demon race.

The first realm of ancient demon cultivation was called the Spirit Enlightenment Realm, sometimes referred to as the Spirit Demon Realm by Reverend Tong Shen and Mister Lu.

As the name suggests, demon cultivators in this realm gradually gained wisdom from their ignorant beast forms, becoming enlightened and fully intelligent demon cultivators. The cultivation process was largely similar to later eras, though later periods had more detailed classifications.

Above the Spirit Enlightenment Realm was the Transformation Realm, which was similar to later eras. However, ancient demon cultivators disdained humans and generally would not proactively transform into human form; even if they did, it was to imitate deities, not because of the later popular belief that humans were the essence of all beings, causing demon cultivators to deliberately imitate them.

The meaning of 'transformation' referred to demon cultivators in this realm consuming the "Emperor's Nectar," fully awakening their intelligence. Their spiritual beast bodies no longer bound them, allowing them to change freely and infinitely.

Above the Transformation Realm, it differed from later eras; it wasn't the Nascent Soul stage but directly called the Dharma Aspect Realm.

From their conversation, Qin Sang deduced that the Nascent Soul stage was likely split into the Transformation Realm and the Dharma Aspect Realm, with the peak of the Dharma Aspect Realm being equivalent to the peak of the Void Refinement stage.

This indicated that in ancient times, the major realms were defined by distinct characteristics, making them more intuitive but less uniform. The power gap between cultivators of the same realm could be vast, unlike the step-by-step progression of later eras.

Above the Dharma Aspect Realm was the Star Soul Realm, which Reverend Tong Shen referred to as 'Demon Soul Entrusted to Stars'!

Hearing the name of this realm, Qin Sang's heart trembled, and suddenly many of his previous doubts vanished.

Powerful demon cultivators in the Star Soul Realm could actually entrust their demon souls to the stars.

As long as the starlight persisted and the star soul remained undying, even if their physical body was destroyed, they could be reborn, essentially achieving immortality and being revered as saints!

At night, countless stars filled the sky, and the galaxy shimmered. Some were light emitted by stars, while others might actually be demon stars!

Starlight illuminated the earth, as if everything happening on the ground was being observed by Star Soul Realm grand powerful beings, and no secret could escape their eyes.

Of course, these grand powerful beings might not be able to monitor everything in the world, but Reverend Tong Shen and Mister Lu, being human, always felt uneasy and wished to avoid such scrutiny.

Besides this, there was another astonishing effect: the descendants with bloodlines illuminated by the starlight of demon stars would, over time, subtly and gradually improve their talents and aptitudes, even undergoing mutation. Powerful demon grand powerful beings could even cause the bloodline of an entire race to transform, giving birth to powerful innate divine abilities that would be fixed within their bloodline and passed down through generations.

Thus, once a top-tier grand powerful being emerged within a clan, the entire lineage would benefit, elevating their bloodline!

This was likely one of the origins of the demon race's innate bloodline talents.

The 'Heavenly Demon Refinement' clearly followed this path, originating from the ancient demon cultivation grand dao!

For some unknown reason, later generations of the demon race abandoned the path of 'Demon Soul Entrusted to Stars'; at least Qin Sang had never heard of 'demon stars' existing in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

With demon souls entrusted to stars, demon stars scattered throughout the galaxy, looking down from above, like deities.

Could this be the true nature of the Demon Court?

Previously, Qin Sang had always wondered why, despite humanity's strength, many star names used demon race designations, such as the star officials of the Four Spirits and Twenty-Eight Mansions. Even the star officials derived by the Dao Court's Department of Constellations followed this rule.

It turned out the origin was here!