Chapter 625: Witch Clan Talent

The Mortal Realm

This world is truly mysterious! Qin Sang was filled with emotion.

He wondered if the storms on the periphery of Canglang Sea, much like the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, were also remnants from the great wars of ancient powerful beings. Were there secret realms, ancient cultivation legacies, or treasures left behind within? If an opportunity arose, he might go and observe the edge of the storm. After studying the topographic map, Qin Sang felt as if an anchor had dropped in his heart, bringing him a sense of calm. As for the sea map of Canglang Sea, it shouldn't be difficult to obtain once he left the Western Frontier and came into contact with experts from the Witch God Continent or the human race; there was no rush for now. Witch God Continent, Canglang Sea, Storm Demon Sea... Qin Sang was still unsure where to go. He currently had no plans to leave the Western Frontier and would slowly strategize his future.

Withdrawing his divine sense from the topographic map, Qin Sang opened another jade slip. This jade slip contained the true transmission of the Five-Beetle Sect's insect-controlling arts. After reading its contents, Qin Sang showed a surprised expression. He then immediately opened the last jade slip and meticulously examined it for a long time. Finally, he put away the jade slips, deep in thought.

The Witches' gu insect system was entirely different from that of the Minor Cold Region. This wasn't just due to the distinction between the Witch Insect List and the Strange Insect List; even the identification and transformation of spirit insects differed completely. In the Minor Cold Region, cultivators generally believed that a spirit insect's first transformation after birth constituted its 'First Change,' akin to a cultivator establishing their Foundation. After this transformation, their strength would greatly increase, matching Foundation Establishment cultivators or Demon Spirit stage demon beasts. However, the Witches referred to a spirit insect's birth as its 'First Change.' While humans had a mortal stage before Qi Refinement, these spirit insects could directly possess extraordinary power, implying they must have undergone a transformation before hatching. After the First Change, it was similar to a cultivator's Qi Refinement stage; the Second Change was akin to Foundation Establishment, the Third Change to Core Formation, and so on, up to the Ninth Change, which culminated in transcending tribulation and becoming an immortal!

In Witch mythology, there was a legend of a spirit silkworm undergoing nine transformations to achieve immortality. That spirit silkworm was precisely the Witch God's gu insect. As for whether it was the Witch God's vital gu, there was no definitive statement. Comparing the two differing accounts, Qin Sang felt that the Spirit Control Sect and the Minor Cold Region's understanding of spirit insects was inferior to that of the Witches. After all, few cultivators specialized in insect-controlling arts, and spirit insects themselves were rare in the Minor Cold Region. Although much knowledge was gleaned from ancient texts, with no lack of brilliant insights, it lacked a coherent system. It was more like a hodgepodge, pieced together by later generations. In comparison, the Witches' system was more comprehensive, their insect-controlling techniques more detailed, and their lineage long-standing, making it more credible.

Qin Sang decided to follow the Witches' system from now on, then integrate the Spirit Control Sect's information into it. Although this information wasn't as complete as the Witches', much of it came from ancient texts found at the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, encapsulating the wisdom of ancient cultivators, which the Witches did not possess. Among these, the methods for cultivating and assisting the transformation of several precious and rare insects were the most valuable. These rare insects had become extinct in the Minor Cold Region, and it was uncertain if they could be found on the Witch God Continent.

However, all of this was within expectations. What Qin Sang found most novel was the vital gu. Previously, Qin Sang's understanding of the Witches was superficial. He thought they were no different from the human race; even their cultivation methods were largely similar, requiring them to absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth, following the same path of Foundation Establishment and Core Formation. Only the Witches' vital gu was something he had never encountered.

Only after reading the contents of the jade slip did he learn that Witches were born with a peculiar affinity for nature. This talent allowed them to communicate with nature and easily interact with spirit insects, a trait humans lacked. Even Witch mortals were proficient in insect-controlling arts, almost as if self-taught. While hiding in Qianhu Village, Qin Sang had seen mortals raising venomous insects. Some mortals, by chance, might even gain recognition from transformed spirit insects. If an immortal cultivator were careless, it wouldn't be surprising for them to be counter-killed by a mortal. It was thanks to this talent that the Witches were able to create the secret art of the vital gu.

By cultivating the vital gu secret art, one could subdue a spirit insect at the sixth level of the Qi Refinement stage, take it into their Qi Sea, connect with it mentally, and nourish it with their vital blood. Some cultivation methods required refining a special magical artifact before the Core Formation stage to aid in cultivation. These could be considered vital artifacts, similar to the Ebony Sword. However, the 'Divine Soul Sword Cultivation Chapter' was unique, as it dared to cultivate a sword with one's divine soul at a low realm, which was unprecedented. There were also cultivators like Mu Yifeng, who dedicated themselves to a single magical artifact, keeping it by their side, and doing everything possible to enhance it, continuing to upgrade it to a magical treasure after Core Formation, making it their vital magical treasure.

But if one chose a vital gu, none of these options were available. After Core Formation, the vital gu would also occupy the position of a vital magical treasure. A vital magical treasure was extremely important to cultivators. Without a vital magical treasure, if the vital gu couldn't be properly cultivated, the cultivator's strength would be greatly affected, making them far weaker than others at the same stage. Furthermore, there was an even greater hidden danger.

After refining a spirit insect into a vital gu, it needed to be nourished with the cultivator's vital blood, hence it was also known as a 'Blood Gu.' Over time, the more vital blood the vital gu consumed, the fiercer and more volatile its nature would become, making it prone to turning on its master. The original consciousness of the gu insect could not be erased; otherwise, it would become a 'dead gu,' losing its vitality and inability to improve further, rendering it useless. Witch cultivators, due to their innate talent, could appease the gu insects and had stronger control over their vital gu. Human cultivators could also practice the Witches' vital gu art, but they lacked this innate talent, leading to significant limitations. Once their vital gu reached the same cultivation stage as them, they could no longer suppress it. In this way, the effort spent cultivating a vital gu would not yield its most valuable benefit, making it a mere 'chicken rib' – something of little value despite the effort.

This was because the vital gu offered an astonishing benefit: a miraculous effect in assisting breakthroughs! It even had an effect during breakthroughs to major realms like Foundation Establishment and Core Formation! When a cultivator reached the False Core stage, if their vital gu was also cultivated to the peak of its Second Change, the union of human and gu during the attempt to form a Core could significantly increase the chances of success. The vital gu's cultivation must be on par with the cultivator's; otherwise, there would be no effect. Furthermore, if the vital gu could complete its Third Change before its master, the effect would be even better. Naturally, the risk of it turning on its master would also be greater!

Even human cultivators who secretly learned the Witches' vital gu secret art dared not allow their vital gu to transform beyond their own level. Only a very few Witch cultivators, relying on their innate talent, dared to do so, constantly vigilant against the vital gu's backlash. It was said that this effect persisted even during Nascent Soul formation!

There was even a Witch senior who, based on the vital gu, forged another path – a very sinister one. This was a rumor that had circulated from outside. Because it was so sensational, cultivators in the Western Frontier doubted its veracity. The person in the rumor was named Fang. His vital gu completed its Fourth Change ahead of him. However, he himself had poor luck. Despite the vital gu's assistance, he repeatedly failed to form his Nascent Soul. Finally, with his lifespan nearing its end and no hope of achieving Nascent Soul, he astonishingly abandoned his physical body and merged his Divine Soul with his vital gu!