Chapter 2380: Star Spirit

Host and guest took their seats.

Qin Sang noticed that at this banquet, it was only him and the Three Friends of the Flying Immortals. The flower spirit maidservants from last time were gone. The absence of their melodious chatter made the atmosphere seem desolate.

Thinking back to the Three Friends of the Flying Immortals' excessive warmth towards him just now, Qin Sang vaguely felt something strange.

"This is the renowned Azure Nectar," Duan Qiao, the Third Brother, said. "To thank fellow Daoist, our Eldest Brother specially sought out and acquired a jar this time."

With no maidservants present, Third Brother Duan Qiao personally poured wine for Qin Sang.

*Pop!*

As the wine jar was unsealed, an intoxicating aroma wafted forth. The scent was not overpowering, yet it lingered, and the mere fragrance of the wine was enough to make one's mouth water. Duan Qiao lifted the wine jar. As the liquid poured into the cup, it sounded like a clear spring, and its color was as emerald as the clear sky.

"Please, fellow Daoist!" The Three Friends of the Flying Immortals raised their jade goblets and toasted Qin Sang first.

Qin Sang was flattered. He raised his goblet and drank it all in one gulp. He felt as if he had swallowed a mouthful of icy spring water; the cool liquid flowed down his throat into his stomach. Then, it strangely reversed, like a ball of fire exploding in his belly, and waves of heat surged through his limbs, circulating endlessly.

Qin Sang closed his eyes, savoring the taste. The fragrant aftertaste lingered, endless. He couldn't help but exclaim, "What excellent wine! It truly lives up to its reputation as the famous Azure Nectar!"

However, he felt increasingly strange inwardly.

This Azure Nectar was hailed as the finest wine in the Northern Lands. The division of North and South was based on the Lotus Crossing Marsh, with all regions north of the Lotus Crossing Marsh, up to the ice plains, being called the Northern Lands.

The one who brewed the Northern Lands' finest wine was a Demon King, but his nickname, the Wine Bug, was far more widely known than his formal title. It was said that before this Demon King rose to prominence, he was a notorious drunkard, earning him the nickname "Wine Bug" from other demons. Whenever he was called the Wine Bug, he not only didn't take offense but savored the name. Over time, he became known as the Wine Bug Demon King. The Wine Bug Demon King not only enjoyed drinking but also loved brewing, and his brewing techniques were unparalleled. The fine wines he brewed were highly sought after. Even wines that offered no benefits to cultivation could fetch prices comparable to rare heavenly treasures, and often, a single jar was hard to come by.

Azure Nectar was one of the Wine Bug Demon King's proudest creations. During the last banquet, when this fine wine was mentioned, Mo Yan and Chi Lian, who had the good fortune to taste it, both praised Azure Nectar profusely. Qin Sang had originally expressed curiosity about it, and he hadn't expected the Three Friends of the Flying Immortals to not only remember but also specially seek out a jar. This made Qin Sang increasingly suspect that the Three Friends of the Flying Immortals had ulterior motives. However, he had sufficient confidence; even if they harbored ill intentions and caused trouble at the banquet, he had no fear at all. So, he put away his suspicions, focused on savoring the fine wine, and quietly observed the situation.

His praise was not merely polite formality; Azure Nectar truly lived up to its name as a peerless fine wine.

With fine wine and delicious food to set the mood, coupled with the Three Friends of the Flying Immortals' obsequious flattery towards Qin Sang, the atmosphere quickly became lively. Goblets clinked and laughter filled the banquet hall.

The attitude of the Three Friends of the Flying Immortals subtly put Qin Sang on alert, but it was also a good opportunity. Qin Sang seized the moment to directly ask Mo Yan for guidance on the Dao of painting. When cultivators discuss the Dao, they usually only treat each other with sincerity if they have a deep friendship or are highly compatible. Qin Sang and Mo Yan were meeting for only the second time, and it wasn't a case of instant familiarity. This request was originally a bit presumptuous, but Mo Yan unhesitatingly expounded upon his understanding and insights into the Dao of painting. When he spoke of profound concepts, not only Qin Sang, but also Wu Xian and Duan Qiao quieted down and listened attentively.

"Last time, when I painted portraits for fellow Daoist Chi Lian and Third Brother, it wasn't truly what I excel at," Mo Yan explained. "I prefer to depict the heavens and earth, sun and moon, mountains, rivers, and lakes, seeking the Heavenly Dao from nature itself..." Mo Yan drank a cup of wine. Holding his jade goblet, he gazed blankly at the bright moon high in the sky, lost in thought. He murmured, "To capture the Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth within an eighteen-foot scroll is my lifelong aspiration. Unfortunately, my aptitude is dull; I am limited by technique and have not yet truly entered the Dao."

"Seeking the Heavenly Dao from nature itself..." Qin Sang repeated softly. The Dao of painting and the Dao of talismans truly had similar underlying principles.

Daoist scriptures recorded that the earliest talismans and their forms in the Dao of talismans evolved from ancient sages observing and recording various celestial phenomena. Hence, there were concepts like 'cloud seals and thunder edicts,' and 'dragon script and phoenix chapters.' Man models Earth, Earth models Heaven, Heaven models the Dao, and the Dao models nature. To continue progressing in the Dao of talismans, one must also return to nature and seek the essence of the Dao.

Seeing Mo Yan's candor, Qin Sang didn't hold back. He asked several questions in succession, some even touching upon hidden aspects of cultivation, and he received answers to all of them. Qin Sang held his chopsticks silently. This discussion with Mo Yan had yielded far greater gains than expected.

Mo Yan's painting skills were beyond doubt. The portrait he drew last time had not been put to use, and that painting was still in Chi Lian's possession, treasured by her. Despite such mastery, Mo Yan himself admitted he had not yet fully grasped the 'Dao.' After breaking through to the Void Refinement stage, Qin Sang had cultivated the *Purple Micro Sword Scripture* and comprehended the Grand Slaughter Dao. Was what he had comprehended truly a 'Dao,' or merely what he *thought* was a 'Dao'? Qin Sang, of course, would not doubt himself, but he had a premonition that if he could solve this puzzle, he might glimpse a path to the Body Integration stage.

He fell into deep thought, momentarily forgetting his surroundings. When he came to, he found that the table had grown quiet, and all three demons were looking at him.

Since it was a discussion of the Dao, one couldn't just listen without speaking. Qin Sang dared not directly comment on the Dao of painting, but he used the Dao of talismans to explain his own views and offered some unique insights. Mo Yan felt greatly enlightened and couldn't help but exclaim, "Fellow Daoist is indeed extraordinary, no wonder you possess such cultivation!"

The smile on Qin Sang's face stiffened. He glanced around at the three demons. Mo Yan calmly met Qin Sang's gaze. Wu Xian and Duan Qiao both put down their jade goblets, and their expressions showed no surprise whatsoever. For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense.

"When did you three fellow Daoists discover this?" Qin Sang frowned and asked in a low voice. Judging by the behavior of Mo Yan and the other two demons, they had already seen through his true cultivation level. Recalling his previous actions, when he traveled with them, they had returned without seeing the treasure, so he had almost no opportunity to display his strength. Qin Sang couldn't figure out when he had been exposed.

"Please do not be angry, fellow Daoist!" Mo Yan hastened to explain, "We had no intention of prying into your secrets. It's just that I cultivate a special divine ability of the Dao of painting. With this ability, I can capture the imperceptible spiritual essence in all things and beings. Only then can my paintings achieve both form and spirit. Thus, I can discern some hidden things. You possess a spiritual essence that other fellow Daoists do not. I noticed it the very first time we met. And this kind of spiritual essence, I have only ever seen on supreme powerhouses..."

"The Dao of painting actually has such a divine ability? It seems I have underestimated the heroes of this world," Qin Sang said, surprised. He had deliberately restrained his aura and suppressed his cultivation, confident that cultivators of the same rank would not be able to discern his true strength. He hadn't expected to reveal himself through this so-called 'spiritual essence.'

The Three Friends of the Flying Immortals had not shown any malice, so Qin Sang did not immediately take offense. He looked deeply at Mo Yan and said, "This kind of divine ability, I'm afraid it's not something just anyone can use, is it?"

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan's Dharma robe shimmered slightly, and he instantly erupted with an overwhelmingly powerful aura. Cups and plates trembled, the bamboo forest rustled, and bells chimed. Qin Sang's eyes narrowed slightly. As expected, Mo Yan was indeed a late-stage Void Refinement realm expert. Otherwise, even with such a profound divine ability, it would have been difficult for Mo Yan to see through his true strength.

"Oh?" Immediately after, Qin Sang was slightly surprised, because Mo Yan's aura suddenly began to rapidly diminish, dropping back to the mid-Void Refinement stage within moments. And he was certain that Mo Yan wasn't deliberately hiding it; his cultivation had truly fallen.

"As fellow Daoist can see." Mo Yan said with a bitter smile, "I have always concealed my aura, not to be mysterious, but because I once encountered an unforeseen event that left a hidden danger, making me unable to stabilize my realm. It fluctuates, sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker, cycling endlessly. No matter how I cultivate, I cannot stop it."

The world is vast and full of wonders. Qin Sang clicked his tongue in wonder. It was no wonder Mo Yan's tone was sorrowful. In such a situation, when he engaged in battle, he would first have to choose the right moment. It was like being trapped in a cycle; anyone caught in such a predicament would feel despair. Qin Sang couldn't imagine what kind of hidden danger could cause such a situation. Cultivation should be a step-by-step progression for a cultivator; how could it fluctuate like tides, and with such a significant amplitude?

Mo Yan revealing this secret was clearly an act of goodwill, to resolve any lingering doubts in Qin Sang's mind. What did he seek? If Qin Sang were to leak the secret, then if anyone wanted to deal with Mo Yan, they would only need to time it perfectly and strike when he was at his weakest, which would be akin to Mo Yan handing over his own vital weakness. Of course, a decline in cultivation didn't mean Mo Yan's strength was insufficient. Even if Qin Sang were to return to the early Void Refinement stage now, his strength would undoubtedly far surpass what it once was.

"Could that 'clam pearl' be able to resolve the hidden danger in your body, fellow Daoist?" Qin Sang recalled Mo Yan's decisiveness back then.

Mo Yan retracted his aura once more. His previous action was merely to show sincerity to Qin Sang, not truly to expose the pattern of his cultivation fluctuations. "Not entirely. To be frank, fellow Daoist, that incident left hidden dangers for all three of us brothers. So we each have our own troubles. The 'clam pearl' relates to a secret and holds great significance for us three brothers."

"I heard that celestial phenomena appeared there again after we left. Did you obtain what you wished for, fellow Daoist?" Qin Sang asked.

"We did obtain that clam pearl," Mo Yan admitted.

Qin Sang offered his congratulations.

Mo Yan suddenly sighed. "I don't know if it was affected by the battle of powerful beings, but that clam pearl turned out to be very different from what we had imagined."

Qin Sang looked at Mo Yan, then at Wu Xian and Duan Qiao. "You invited me here for this very matter, didn't you? Please speak frankly."

Mo Yan did not answer directly. His tone shifted as he said, "Actually, I not only saw that you possess a special spiritual essence, but I also discerned something else... Third Brother!" Mo Yan looked at Duan Qiao.

Duan Qiao rose and took out a wooden box from his sleeve. A crack opened in the wooden box, and light shone through the gap. This ray of light was not intense, but gave a feeling of lightness and etherealness, like starlight. Duan Qiao reverently held the wooden box, offering it to Qin Sang and signaling him to open it.

The moment he saw that glimmer of light, Qin Sang felt an inexplicable stir, and his eyes were fixed on the wooden box. He slowly opened the wooden box, and saw a cluster of light, the size of a longan fruit, resembling a firefly, floating out. This cluster of light was as light as a feather, and like a living creature, it danced up and down.

"This is..." Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. This was actually a cluster of starlight, and his earlier stir was indeed caused by his cultivation technique. However, this starlight was different from the starlight he was familiar with; it seemed to possess sentience. The starlight hovered unsteadily in mid-air, flying around him and the Three Friends of the Flying Immortals, like a mischievous firefly.

"We call this item a Star Spirit! In ancient cultivation methods, practitioners cultivated the Grand Dao of Stars, eventually intending to entrust their souls to the stars. Therefore, the power of stars was more important to ancient cultivators than to modern ones. This Star Spirit contains the purest star power within it. It also seems to have other characteristics. Unfortunately, we do not cultivate ancient methods and cannot comprehend its full potential. Keeping this item would be akin to wasting a heavenly treasure. This Star Spirit is for you, fellow Daoist. You might as well give it a try."

Mo Yan raised a finger. The Star Spirit landed on its fingertip, and then was pushed towards Qin Sang.

The Three Friends of the Flying Immortals had not only seen through Qin Sang's true cultivation level, but also discerned that he cultivated ancient demon methods.

"In that case, I will humbly accept!" Qin Sang did not decline. He unleashed a bolt of lightning, enveloped the Star Spirit, and drew it into his palm, concentrating on comprehending it.

The Three Friends of the Flying Immortals sat by, not uttering a word, fearing they might disturb Qin Sang. Held by Qin Sang, the Star Spirit gradually settled down and began to faintly shimmer. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, it suddenly dimmed slightly as Qin Sang absorbed a sliver of its light. Qin Sang quickly became familiar with the Star Spirit's properties and accelerated his absorption. The Star Spirit grew smaller and smaller, finally vanishing in his hand, leaving nothing behind.

"Where did you obtain this item?!" Qin Sang opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing within them, and asked impatiently. Just now, upon refining that Star Spirit, his cultivation had actually advanced by a sliver. Although it was an insignificant amount, for someone at his level, it was astonishing enough.

Moreover, unlike other heavenly treasures, this kind of Star Spirit seemed tailor-made for demon cultivators practicing ancient methods. The Three Friends of the Flying Immortals could not comprehend the Star Spirit's properties because they cultivated modern methods. The ultimate goal of ancient methods was for the demon soul to anchor itself to a star; during cultivation, merely absorbing star power was not enough. One needed to gradually draw closer to a star. Since modern cultivators no longer pursued this path, they naturally could not grasp its profound mysteries. In the eyes of Qin Sang, who cultivated the *Heavenly Demon Refinement Art*, the Star Spirit's properties were clear at a glance: they were perfectly suited for ancient demon methods! Not only did his cultivation advance, but he also felt a slight connection to the star he had sensed in the ethereal realm. Such peculiar beings could not possibly be born naturally between heaven and earth; they must have been created artificially!

If he could obtain enough Star Spirits, he could effortlessly push the *Heavenly Demon Refinement Art* to its peak. Of course, refining too many Star Spirits might also carry hidden dangers, though Qin Sang hadn't discovered any yet. But compared to the immense gains, as long as the hidden dangers weren't too significant, Qin Sang was willing to try.

"This item is indeed of great use to ancient cultivators?" Mo Yan asked.

"It is truly a treasure!" Qin Sang nodded. The Three Friends of the Flying Immortals were not fools; concealing the Star Spirit's effects from them would be pointless.

"Excellent!" Mo Yan was overjoyed. "To tell you the truth, obtaining the 'clam pearl' was just the first step of our objective. Although we successfully acquired the clam pearl, an unexpected turn of events occurred, and our insufficient preparation led to successive setbacks. However, it wasn't without any gains; this Star Spirit is one of them... We suspect that besides these Star Spirits, there might be other treasures suited for ancient cultivators there. Are you interested, fellow Daoist?"