Chapter 2307: Taiyin Divine Sword

Qin Sang and the others quickly disengaged from combat, leaving the Yao clan's territory. Looking back, they saw no pursuers.

"It seems the Venerable One has indeed intimidated Elder Yun and the others." Jiomie emerged from the shadows, looking at Qin Sang with increased reverence.

Master Huixing and the others heartily concurred, offering their affirmations without resentment, even though Jiomie hadn't acknowledged their contributions. Anyone with discerning eyes could see who had contributed the most to this battle. Qin Sang had firmly held back the two strongest enemy cultivators, and Elder Wen had only defended without attacking. They themselves were only responsible for attacking Frost Valley, encountering almost no danger, and effortlessly reaped their rewards.

"These are the spiritual herbs this humble monk obtained from Frost Valley..." A rainbow light flew out from Master Huixing's monk robes, carrying various spiritual herbs.

Frost Valley was not only where the Yao clan cultivated spiritual insects, but it also contained numerous rare spiritual plants, making it an excellent medicinal garden. These spiritual plants could be refined into pills that enhanced the cultivation of spiritual insects, and some were also valuable medicines for cultivators. They had adopted the stance of plundering Frost Valley, indiscriminately scouring every spiritual flower and exotic plant, and their gains were considerable.

Fairy Huajing was somewhat reluctant, but seeing Master Huixing's action, she could only open the fragrant pouch at her waist and take everything out.

Jiomie stepped back, indicating his stance: "Fellow Daoists, please distribute these yourselves; they were originally part of the reward."

Under everyone's gaze, Qin Sang said indifferently, "Divide them equally."

Master Huixing and the others all breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Sang had contributed the most and rightfully deserved the lion's share; even if he had taken half, they wouldn't have been able to complain.

After dividing the spoils, Master Huixing said, "We have fulfilled our promise, Fellow Daoist Jiomie..."

Jiomie stepped forward, took out four pre-prepared mustard seed bags, and handed them to everyone. Qin Sang merely glanced at his and put it away, appearing distracted. His mind was still immersed in the sword array; this battle had been incredibly beneficial, especially the final transformation of the Grand Yin Divine Sword into a false moon, which was truly an inspired move. He was eager to go into seclusion and contemplate it.

Master Huixing and the others examined their portions one by one. Even the usually solemn Nun Heyun showed signs of joy, indicating substantial gains.

"If Fellow Daoist Jiomie has such tasks in the future, please don't forget this humble one," Fairy Huajing said with a smile.

"If it weren't for Daoist Master Qingfeng, this wouldn't have been so easy."

Master Huixing shook his head, "This matter is concluded; we should take our leave now."

Qin Sang, momentarily lost in thought, felt a peculiar sensation and realized everyone was looking at him. He said, "This humble Daoist still has some unfinished business and needs to stay in the Witch Tribe for a while. Fellow Daoists, please return first."

Interpreting Qin Sang's attitude as coldness and detachment, Master Huixing was secretly disappointed. He sighed inwardly, knowing that such a powerful individual would certainly be very proud, and it was normal for people like them to be disregarded. Swallowing the words he was about to say, Master Huixing bowed respectfully with clasped palms and said, "Venerable One, please be careful in all your endeavors."

After a moment of hesitation, he asked Jiomie, "May I ask about the progress of Fellow Daoist Wuyan?"

"Incredibly smoothly!"

Jiomie was in high spirits and made a joke, knowing what Master Huixing truly wanted to ask. "Perhaps the three of you should keep a low profile after returning." The implication was that the Yao clan's foundations were not fundamentally harmed, and things would be fine after this period passed. Qin Sang hadn't intended to kill, and Master Huixing and the others had maintained a precise degree of restraint when attacking Frost Valley, to avoid truly destroying it and thereby enraging the Yao clan into an endless feud. The key lay in what Wuyan had done. Of course, since they dared to accept this mission, they had ways to deal with the Yao clan's retaliation, but it was still best if there was no retaliation at all.

Master Huixing glanced at Qin Sang, thinking to himself, "Considering this one's methods, the Yao clan will have to think twice." Upon this thought, Master Huixing completely set his mind at ease.

The three bade farewell to Qin Sang and returned to Lizhou.

After seeing the three off, Jiomie cupped his hands towards Qin Sang and said, "The two young friends from the Haobo clan should have already been sent to Dongyang City. I invite the Venerable One to return to my clan with me, so I may fulfill my duties as a host."

Between Lizhou and the Witch Tribe lay a vast expanse of unclaimed land, which both sides had consistently maintained as a buffer. They had traveled by Green Nightmare Ghost Dragonfly, flying swiftly, whereas Shiliu and the other young one had followed a merchant caravan, their speed naturally far inferior.

"Very well." Qin Sang intended to do just that, and he also needed a quiet place for secluded cultivation. The two then flew off, enveloped in their escape light, towards the Dongyang clan.

Qin Sang was deep in thought. Jiomie, however, was somewhat restless. He was full of curiosity about the battle that had occurred within the sword array, but knowing it involved Qin Sang's secrets, he refrained from asking directly. His eyes darted before he said, "At the Venerable One's request, I not only ordered my clan to consult ancient texts but also had them contact several friendly clans to investigate the Haobo clan. I expect to have news soon."

"I appreciate your efforts, Fellow Daoist," Qin Sang bowed respectfully and thanked him sincerely.

Jiomie said, "If none of our clans have any records, we might have to rely on the Taihao clan. The Venerable One may not be familiar with our Witch Tribe customs; even if we do find them eventually, it won't be easy for them to recognize their ancestry and return to their clan. It would also stir up a lot of trouble, and as a human, your involvement in our internal affairs might cause many inconveniences... Does the Venerable One truly intend to fulfill this promise?"

Qin Sang raised an eyebrow, looking earnestly at Jiomie, and said, "This promise holds no binding force for this humble Daoist, but only by fulfilling it can my thoughts become clear and unimpeded."

"It is their good fortune to have met the Venerable One." Jiomie praised, looking thoughtful.

After a moment of silence, Jiomie spoke again, "Forgive my presumption, but is it true that the Venerable One's spiritual butterfly can devour and refine Thunderstruck Moon Orchid, and has it undergone some kind of mutation?"

"Indeed it has, and she gained a lot from this, thanks to you, Fellow Daoist," Qin Sang nodded. "Unfortunately, this humble Daoist's mastery of insect control is shallow, wasting her talent. I was just about to seek your advice."

Jiomie quickly replied, "I wouldn't dare. Each spiritual insect has its unique characteristics, and even its temperament can influence its cultivation direction. Only the master can truly understand these. If I were to say something wrong and mislead the Venerable One, it would be a grave sin."

"Whether it's right or wrong, this humble Daoist can discern it myself. Even if I make a mistake, I won't blame others," Qin Sang said.

Jiomie hesitated for a moment, then said, "Since the spiritual butterfly can refine Thunderstruck Moon Orchid, I do know a place where large patches of Thunderstruck Moon Orchid grow. I also know the whereabouts of several spiritual medicines with properties similar to Thunderstruck Moon Orchid, which might also be favored by the spiritual butterfly. However..."

"Oh?" Qin Sang pulled his attention away from the sword array, his gaze sharp as he looked at Jiomie. "Fellow Daoist, what are your conditions? Speak freely!"

Jiomie replied candidly, "To forge a good relationship with the Venerable One is beyond my greatest wish, and I have no personal demands, only considerations for my clan. Furthermore, revealing this to the Venerable One without clan approval might stir up trouble that I couldn't escape responsibility for. I need to return to the clan to discuss this and seek a decision from Witch Priest Lord. I hope the Venerable One can stay for a few more days."

During this time, Qin Sang had gained some understanding of the Witch Tribe's customs. The Witch Tribe was comprised of numerous clans. Like the human and exotic forces, their mighty cultivators were rarely seen, and the apparent decision-makers of the clans were Void Refinement cultivators, revered as Witch Priests. In the Witch Tribe, only mighty cultivators could be called 'Witch.' Jiomie and others were not qualified to be called Witch; even powerful figures like Elder Yun were merely 'Elders.' Integration stage mighty cultivators in the Witch Tribe were called Grand Witches, and Mahayana stage mighty cultivators were called Heavenly Witches. In ancient times, those who served ghosts and spirits were called Witches, and those who presided over sacrifices and offered eulogies were called Priests. Only the strongest could serve as Witch Priests, considered divine messengers on earth. Today, the meaning of Witch Priests in various clans was completely different from ancient times, as they primarily held this title because they presided over the clan's regular seasonal sacrifices.

What exactly was it that required the Dongyang clan's Witch Priest to decide?

Qin Sang's eyes gleamed; he thought to himself that his plan had worked. He had displayed his combat prowess before Jiomie precisely to show his value and attract the Dongyang clan's attention. As a major clan of the Witch Tribe, they would always encounter various troubles, and sometimes it was inconvenient for them to act personally, thus requiring outsiders to help resolve them. Gaining the favor of the Dongyang clan would be highly beneficial for his plan to infiltrate the Witch Tribe. Ideally, he could obtain a method from the Dongyang clan to disguise himself as a Witch clansman. Of course, if the Dongyang clan believed they could control him, they would be gravely mistaken; the sword array was merely the tip of his iceberg of strength.

"Then this humble Daoist shall trouble you for a while longer, and I hope to receive good news from you, Fellow Daoist," Qin Sang said with a smile.

"Venerable One, please look, that is Dongyang City ahead." Jiomie pointed forward.

Qin Sang gazed intently, seeing a magnificent city nestled amidst vast mountains, which was the capital of the Dongyang clan, named after the clan itself. The city was grand and imposing, emitting powerful fluctuations from its restrictive formations. Apart from that, there was nothing extraordinary. However, in the deep mountains outside the city, faint but powerful auras subtly emanated.

"I have a cave dwelling outside the city. Since the Venerable One prefers not to enter, you can stay there first. I will immediately send someone to bring the two young friends over..." Jiomie led Qin Sang towards the deep mountains. He considered Qin Sang a valuable asset and did not want him to interact with others before reporting to the Witch Priest. Qin Sang's request perfectly aligned with his intentions.

Before long, the two arrived before a mountain range. Jiomie waved his hand, and all the mist covering the entire range dispersed, revealing lofty peaks and abundant spiritual energy.

"How do you find this cave dwelling?" Jiomie was full of confidence.

"What a spiritually wondrous place!" Qin Sang praised it, expressed his thanks, entered the mountains, chose a place rich in spiritual energy, and sat down cross-legged.

Not long after Jiomie departed, the mountain's restrictions were triggered, revealing that Shiliu and Wuzhao had been brought over.

"Greetings, Senior!" The two had finally entered Witch Tribe territory and, upon seeing a 'kinsman,' could barely contain their excitement.

Qin Sang nodded, "Shiliu, you've also had a breakthrough."

"Senior's benevolence, this junior will never forget!" Shiliu's face was filled with gratitude. He had only been slightly slower than Wuzhao and had also broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Qin Sang bade the two stand up. He was thinking that his contact with the Dongyang clan was progressing faster than expected. If everything went smoothly later, these two would merely be a catalyst, and their cultivation levels wouldn't matter much.

"In these past few days, have you gathered any information from your interactions with the Dongyang clan members?" Shiliu and Wuzhao both looked downcast. They had found out that there was no Haobo clan among the current Witch Tribe clans. They had initially believed that upon entering the Witch Tribe, they would meet their clansmen and return to their ancestral roots, but only now realized it wasn't that simple and that they still had to rely on the senior before them. The two naturally knelt down again in earnest entreaty.

Qin Sang remained unmoved, offered a brief word of comfort, instructed them to go cultivate first, and then settled his own mind.

*Swish!*

The Gray Oriole Sword emerged, and the Four Symbols Sword Array manifested. At this moment, the entire mountain range plunged into darkness. Qin Sang maintained firm control, ensuring not a trace of its aura leaked, to prevent strong cultivators from the Dongyang clan from noticing and causing trouble. His mind was connected to the sword array; all four sword arrays were before his eyes. The four cardinal stellar regions, with countless sword stars, operated like a sky full of stars, appearing natural and fluid, without any dissonance. Yet, Qin Sang knew the sword array was not yet fully perfected.

The next moment, another stream of light shot into the sword array, and the Grand Yin Divine Sword fragment transformed into a bright moon hanging high. Qin Sang gazed at the bright moon, his mind filled with surging thoughts. He hadn't actually done anything; perhaps the Grand Yin Divine Sword sensed the aura of the four cardinal stellar regions evolving within the sword array and naturally activated the Grand Yin True Intent hidden within the divine sword, resonating with the array.

Grand Yin in place!

He was not the master of the Grand Yin Divine Sword and temporarily couldn't wield its power. Yet, when the Grand Yin Divine Sword entered the array, the sword array seemed to gain a backbone, giving Qin Sang a completely different feeling. The Four Spirits seemed to have encountered their sovereign, willingly circling around the Grand Yin. Yes, a sovereign! Qin Sang remembered that on the Dao Court's Divine Ranks Chart, the Grand Yin Star Lord was also revered as the Grand Yin Imperial Sovereign.

The Grand Yin Divine Sword pointing him in the right direction was no exaggeration. With Grand Yin as their foundation, the Four Spirits naturally found their positions, saving Qin Sang the biggest trouble of having to painstakingly adjust them. Qin Sang had a premonition that, henceforth, he would only need to maintain the sword array's current state and diligently comprehend it to eventually achieve the unity of the Four Spirits and complete the sword array! At that time, with the Four Symbols Sword Array as his foundation, and further comprehension of the sword domain, both his cultivation and swordsmanship would no longer be obstacles. It would be like water flowing into a channel, much easier to achieve.

As for the Grand Yin Divine Sword... Qin Sang began to let his thoughts wander ambitiously, contemplating how he could truly utilize the power of the Grand Yin Divine Sword. If such a divine artifact merely served as a false moon, wouldn't it be a pity?

After obtaining the Grand Yin Divine Sword fragment, Qin Sang had once asked the Ziwei Boy how to deal with this sword. When he first saw the Grand Yin Divine Sword fragment, the Ziwei Boy had seemed very sad; the sword spirit of this sword might have been an old friend of his. If the Ziwei Imperial Sword could be restored, perhaps the Grand Yin Divine Sword could too. However, the Ziwei Boy did not ask him to restore the Grand Yin Divine Sword, merely saying indifferently that he could dispose of it as he wished. Perhaps this sword had no sword spirit and was merely a true treasure.

"In that case, could it be refined into the Gray Oriole Sword?" The moment this thought arose, it spread like wildfire, refusing to dissipate. If the precious Grand Yin True Intent could be integrated into the Gray Oriole Sword, it would create a true Grand Yin Star, and perhaps in the future, the Grand Yin Divine Sword could even be reforged! Using this sword to control the Four Symbols Sword Array would truly complement each other.

It wasn't his first time refining true treasure fragments, but those fragments were far from comparable to the Grand Yin Divine Sword fragment, not just in terms of quality. As the personal sword of the Grand Yin Palace Lord, the Grand Yin Divine Sword must rank among the top true treasures. Qin Sang had once tried to comprehend the Grand Yin Divine Sword fragment and found that it not only contained mysterious Grand Yin True Intent but also lingering, chilling sword intent! Sensing this sword intent, Qin Sang felt a shiver run through his body and had no idea how to proceed. The Four Symbols Sword Array resonating with the Grand Yin Divine Sword might offer an excellent starting point. Of course, to refine the Grand Yin Divine Sword fragment, the prerequisite was the complete mastery of the Four Symbols Sword Array. Additionally, his current skill in artifact refining was insufficient and needed improvement.