Chapter 474: Self-Created Cultivation Method

Rain pattered on the bluestone.

The Void Sky Thunder, supported by spiritual energy, floated towards Qin Sang.

Qin Sang looked at the Void Sky Thunder, resisting the temptation to reach out and take it. Instead, he turned a questioning gaze towards Elder Jing.

"I never intended to involve you," Elder Jing said. "Life is unpredictable, and it just so happened that they entered..."

Elder Jing spoke with a calm expression, her gaze sweeping over the Void Sky Thunder. "This is your spoils of war; it's only right that it belongs to you. The Void Sky Thunder is indeed an excellent magical artifact, immensely powerful. It can severely injure a mid-Core Formation expert, and even a late-Core Formation cultivator must be extremely cautious when facing it. Of course, that's assuming you can hit your target, as the Void Sky Thunder's effective range isn't very large..."

Qin Sang lowered his head and glanced at the stone platform beneath his feet.

The runes on the stone platform were identical to those on the other platform, merely inverted. The gate on this platform had now closed, and the runes had fallen silent.

Everything seemed normal, but he wondered if there was still a way back.

After a moment of hesitation, Qin Sang said, "Senior, if not for your timely intervention, I would have been swallowed by the spatial storm triggered by the Star-Grasping Elder. Moreover, you paid such a heavy price, with the divine beast Azure Luan perishing..."

Elder Jing suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

It was the first time Qin Sang had seen Elder Jing smile. Far from detracting from her demeanor, it added a touch of warmth, making her seem less aloof and distant.

Interrupting Qin Sang, Elder Jing extended her right hand forward, palm open and facing upwards.

Spiritual energy surged from her palm, undulating like water waves.

Once the surge subsided, an Azure Luan wood carving appeared, identical to the previous one.

Accompanied by a phoenix-like cry, the Azure Luan came to life, dancing gracefully around Elder Jing and chirping affectionately.

Then, the Azure Luan nimbly twisted its slender neck, spread its wings, and flew to Qin Sang's shoulder. It preened its feathers a few times before rubbing its cheek against Qin Sang's face.

Its azure feathers were fine and soft, like the finest silk brocade.

Qin Sang dared not move. After the Azure Luan flew away, he felt a soft, cool sensation on his cheek.

Noticing Qin Sang's shocked gaze, Elder Jing smiled, extended a slender, jade-like finger to tap the Azure Luan's head, and softly said, "She likes you very much..."

Qin Sang was certain that the Azure Luan on the other side had definitely been swallowed by the spatial storm.

Yet now, an identical Azure Luan had appeared!

"Is it really a puppet?"

Qin Sang couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Senior, your puppet mastery is so exquisite it can deceive anyone; I've never heard of anything like it!"

"It's not that my puppet mastery is particularly ingenious," Elder Jing explained. "I was fortunate enough to have seen the true form of an Azure Luan and personally experienced its aura, though it wasn't the true body of a divine beast."

Elder Jing offered an explanation, then ran her hand over the Azure Luan's elegant wings. Her vermilion lips parted slightly as she softly said, "Go!"

Although the Azure Luan's aura was suppressed to the level of a common demonic beast, just like Qin Sang's, its speed was still incredibly fast. It darted to the main hall's exit in the blink of an eye.

Watching the Azure Luan disappear, Qin Sang reached out and grasped the Void Sky Thunder. He cupped his hands and said, "Then, this junior will respectfully accept."

"I said it's your spoils of war."

Elder Jing nodded dismissively. Then, her eyes flashed, and she said calmly, "That was the Blood Impurity Divine Light, wasn't it? Given the characteristics of your cultivation method, fusing the Interminable Blood Mulberry into your lifeforce spirit sword is enough to elevate it to the level of a Dharma Treasure. You're truly lucky to have obtained one of the Ten Divine Woods. No wonder you've always been reluctant to use your lifeforce spirit sword—were you afraid I'd snatch your Dharma Treasure?"

As she spoke, Elder Jing showed a faint smile, seemingly mocking Qin Sang for his timidity.

Qin Sang had been mentally prepared, but when Elder Jing mentioned the Ebony Sword, his mind still grew incredibly tense.

However, Qin Sang had absolutely not expected Elder Jing to say such words.

Qin Sang couldn't help but repeatedly ask, "Senior, do you know about the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter'?"

Elder Jing stood with her hands clasped behind her back, gazing out of the main hall. Her gaze was distant, as if lost in thought. After a moment of silence, she softly said, "Not only am I familiar with the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter' treasured by Mount Shaohua, but I also know that cultivation method is incomplete. It only has the first five layers, allowing one to cultivate at most to the early Core Formation stage..."

The 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter' was a cultivation method treasured by Mount Shaohua. While disciples were not forbidden from studying it, others who hadn't truly cultivated it only knew its superficial aspects.

From Elder Jing's words and implications, her understanding of the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter' was no less than Qin Sang's. Such a profound grasp could only be achieved by someone who had truly cultivated it to a very advanced stage!

What exactly was Elder Jing's identity? Did she have some connection to Mount Shaohua? Or perhaps she herself had cultivated the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter'!

Just as Qin Sang was secretly astonished, Elder Jing's gaze fell upon his face. "Do you want the subsequent cultivation methods for the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter'?"

Even with Qin Sang's firm resolve, his heart abruptly trembled upon hearing these words.

How could he not want the subsequent cultivation methods for the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter'?

This cultivation method had truly transformed him and was crucial to his hope of reaching the Grand Dao. Qin Sang couldn't imagine a more suitable method for himself, yet it was unfortunately only an incomplete scroll.

When he cultivated to the fifth layer, with the path ahead cut off, Qin Sang faced only two choices: either stumble along the path of the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter,' trying to create the subsequent cultivation methods himself, or switch to cultivating another method.

The possibility of creating his own cultivation method was slim. Qin Sang was well aware of his own talent; the reason he could cultivate the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter' so smoothly was entirely thanks to the Jade Buddha.

Furthermore, when comprehending the Killing Talismans, he largely relied on the Jade Buddha to stabilize his mind, shield him from the erosion of killing intent, and allow him to proceed step-by-step according to the cultivation method itself.

His comprehension of the cultivation method and the path of killing was far from the level required to create his own cultivation method. This path was simply too difficult.

If he were to switch to another cultivation method, it would be tantamount to abandoning all his previous efforts. Not only would he lose his lifeforce spirit sword, but the speed enhancement from the Killing Talismans would also be lost.

Unless he could find another similar cultivation method.

For Qin Sang, this choice was a major hurdle, no less significant than forming a Core.

However, forming a Core had consumed too much of Qin Sang's energy. His entire focus was currently on forming a Core, leaving him no spare energy to think about what came next.

"Senior, do you perhaps have the latter half of the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter'?"

Qin Sang eagerly pressed the question, but inwardly, he was half-believing, half-doubting.

He secretly speculated about Elder Jing's origins, rapidly recalling prominent figures from Mount Shaohua's history to see if anyone matched her.

Given Elder Jing's appearance and temperament, she certainly wouldn't be an obscure figure.

"Not the latter half, but subsequent cultivation methods."

Elder Jing looked at Qin Sang, seriously correcting him. "Subsequent cultivation methods created by another person who cultivated the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter.'"

Created their own cultivation method!

Qin Sang was startled by her words.

Among Mount Shaohua's disciples throughout history, quite a few had attempted to cultivate the 'Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter.'

Almost all of them gave up at the very beginning. The pain of sword qi devouring the soul and the erosion of killing intent was something others couldn't imagine, so it was certainly impossible for such individuals to create their own cultivation methods.