Chapter 526: Qingyang Gangying

Golden Core!

After the light and flames vanished, Qin Sang immediately stood up from the bushes. His eyes flickered, and without hesitation, he activated his movement technique, heading stealthily towards Divine Core Peak.

The Azure Sun Demonic Sect’s Golden Core cultivator was the only person he feared. Since this individual had already left, Qin Sang didn't have to worry about being easily exposed. Therefore, without waiting for others to move, he began to stealthily approach Divine Core Peak. He wanted to save as much time as possible!

Given the strength and escape speed of a Core Formation stage cultivator, traveling at full speed from the Azure Sun Demonic Sect to Boundless Valley and then entering its second layer would take at most two hours. The demonic beasts, monsters, and ghosts in the first layer of Boundless Valley couldn't impede his progress.

Before coming, Qin Sang and Cloud Wanderer had agreed that Cloud Wanderer should withdraw immediately after succeeding, not staying put. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't contend with an entire sect. They had already meticulously calculated every detail.

The sudden beast tide might buy Qin Sang more time. Counting the round trip, even with the time spent rescuing people... Qin Sang decided to set a four-hour limit. He absolutely had to complete the secret technique and leave the Azure Sun Demonic Sect within four hours!

"Four hours should definitely be enough, as long as nothing unexpected happens..." Qin Sang mused inwardly.

As he got closer to Divine Core Peak, Qin Sang suddenly paused, darting behind a large rock. He then saw several figures emerge from the green mist one after another, rushing down the mountain.

One of them summoned a flying boat with two pointed ends. It was slender and long, shaped like a pea pod, with layers of green flames rising from its surface. The flying boat expanded with the wind, and those individuals eagerly entered it. A moment later, two more people arrived.

At that moment, the flying boat suddenly flared with intense flames, trembled slightly, and transformed into a streak of light, soaring towards the horizon. Its speed was astonishing, only slightly slower than the Core Formation stage cultivator's escape technique. Qin Sang estimated that the boat's remarkable speed was likely the result of the cultivators on board collectively controlling it.

These were turbulent times. Disciples of the Azure Sun Demonic Sect had been dispatched to various assignments, including the Chaotic Isles waters, leaving only a handful of experts remaining in the sect. Qin Sang estimated that this group comprised most, if not all, of them.

Watching them leave, Qin Sang no longer had any reservations.

At the entrance of the Azure Sun Demonic Sect. The flying boat arrived abruptly, and just as it was about to depart, it suddenly halted sharply in front of the stone monument. An unequivocal order came from inside: "Senior Brothers, after we leave, the sect will be vulnerable. Temporarily seal the mountain gate; no one is allowed to enter or exit!"

At this moment, eight cultivators, all at the Foundation Establishment stage, were seated around the stone monument. Hearing this, a black-robed elder replied, "Junior Brother Li, rest assured. Just before Uncle-Master Wu left, he already instructed us to immediately activate the grand formation after you depart, leaving no opportunity for villains! Oh, and..." As he spoke, the black-robed elder seemed to recall something. He hastily took out a jade slip from his robes and tossed it towards the flying boat: "The scout report from Boundless Valley has arrived; there is indeed a beast tide causing chaos. Uncle-Master Wu wants you to go directly to rescue people according to the markings in the jade slip once you enter Boundless Valley, without needing to rendezvous with him first."

"Good!" A shadowy hand abruptly extended from the flying boat, snatched the jade slip, and retracted. The flying boat then trembled slightly, and with a whoosh, shot swiftly towards the east.

After they had left, the black-robed elder looked around and said solemnly, "Junior Brothers, activate the grand formation!"

"Activate!"

"Activate!"

Accompanied by furious shouts, the eight individuals formed a circle, simultaneously pressing their palms onto the stone monument in front of them. As they continuously infused spiritual power, the stone monument seemed to shed its impurities, gradually transforming into a transparent jade stele. The characters 'Azure Sun' on it radiated dazzling brilliance. Prompted by the monument's ethereal display, winds suddenly swept through the green mountains on both sides, and a sea of clouds closed in. Before long, the Azure Sun Demonic Sect was completely sealed off. The stone monument at the foot of the mountain and the eight cultivators were also hidden within the cloud sea.

For the other disciples, the sealing of the mountain gate by the Azure Sun Demonic Sect had little impact beyond restricting entry and exit. Seeing that no major enemy was attacking, they felt relieved and continued their cultivation as usual.

At this time, Qin Sang infiltrated Divine Core Peak!

Upon entering Divine Core Peak, Qin Sang realized the extent of the chaotic spiritual energy here. No wonder there were no restrictions or spirit formations around the mountain; they simply couldn't be maintained. His figure quietly emerged. He stood before a stone pillar, which remarkably resembled a withered ancient tree, with branches extending outwards from its top.

Qin Sang tilted his head slightly, examining the blue 'lanterns' hanging from the branches. What Shi Ying had brought back was already refined Azure Sun Divine Core Qi. This was Qin Sang's first time seeing the raw form of Azure Sun Core Essence, and he found it quite novel. It looked like a wisp of light, ethereal energy, yet it could condense without dissipating, firmly clinging to the branches. Despite being so close, he couldn't detect the slightest fluctuation from it.

Not far from Qin Sang, a Qi Condensation stage disciple was absorbing Azure Sun Core Essence, completely unaware that he was being observed. Qin Sang took a few steps, silently arriving behind the disciple, watching his actions. He saw the disciple activate his internal Azure Sun Demonic Flame, gently touch a mass of Azure Sun Core Essence, and then consecutively cast dozens of hand seals. Immediately after, his Azure Sun Demonic Flame actually grew stronger, as if it had drawn nourishment from the Azure Sun Core Essence.

However, the consequence was that the previously docile Azure Sun Demonic Flame suddenly became violent. The disciple was clearly not experiencing this for the first time; he showed no panic. Spiritual power surged in his palm, and he finally suppressed the restless flames, then returned to his cave abode to cultivate.

Watching the disciple leave, Qin Sang shook his head slightly. He did not cultivate the Azure Sun Demonic Flame, so he couldn't directly absorb the purest Azure Sun Divine Core Qi as they did.

Glancing around, Qin Sang found a relatively concealed mass of Azure Sun Divine Core Qi. Standing before it, Qin Sang slowly closed his eyes, extended his right hand, and cautiously reached out. Simultaneously, he activated his spiritual sense to perceive every subtle change.

A moment later, Qin Sang opened his eyes, staring at the Azure Sun Divine Core Qi with a furrowed brow. No wonder the Azure Sun Core Essence at the foot of the mountain was in this form. Qin Sang discovered that the core qi within these Azure Sun Core Essence masses was not pure enough. To cultivate with them, one first had to refine out impurities to obtain pure core qi.

Refining impurities wasn't difficult, and Qin Sang had already thought of a method. However, it would take some time because the Azure Sun Divine Core Qi was extremely unstable and would dissipate if not handled carefully! His time was limited; he couldn't waste it on such things.

Qin Sang's mind stirred as he recalled some information he had previously investigated: Azure Sun Divine Core Qi existed in various forms, and it was highly probable that the core qi purity differed among the various forms of Azure Sun Core Essence! With this thought, Qin Sang no longer hesitated. He directly activated his escape technique and swiftly moved towards the mountain peak. Indeed, the higher he ascended, the more solid the Azure Sun Core Essence became, and the purer its core qi. Qin Sang was secretly delighted and increased his speed.