Chapter 64: Sixth Layer

The Mortal Realm

Here, even with a Warm Yang Bead on one's person, the bone-chilling cold was unbearable.

According to Senior Disciple Liang Yan, when he first acquired the Yama Banner, Yama's power was only equivalent to a Qi Refinement stage 1 cultivator. He only needed to absorb Yin Fiend Qi from the uppermost layer of the Yin Fiend Abyss. Once Yama's power gradually increased, he could then delve deeper bit by bit.

From this position, even using the Qi-Gazing Art, visibility was limited. Qin Sang could only discern a senior disciple in the distance, meditating on the cliffs on either side of the Yin Fiend Valley, controlling Yama to absorb the Yin Fiend Qi.

Each time Yama absorbed a wisp of Yin Fiend Qi, the senior disciple would immediately retract it into the Yama Banner, sinking his spiritual sense into the banner to suppress Yama. After some time, he would repeat the same action.

Others, lacking the Jade Buddha's protection, had to proceed cautiously, whether controlling Yama to absorb Yin Fiend Qi or cultivating with Soul Pills. Only Qin Sang dared to let Yama absorb recklessly and use Soul Pills one after another without interruption.

Finding an unoccupied corner, Qin Sang activated his Fiend-Avoiding Hood to its maximum, entered the Yin Fiend Qi, delved in for a certain distance, and took out the Yama Banner. He could clearly sense Yama's excitement.

The efficiency of absorbing Yin Fiend Qi was indeed much higher than devouring souls. It didn't take long for Yama's power to return to its original state. Qin Sang then ordered Yama to retrieve Soul Pills until a month's supply was accumulated. After waiting at the same spot for several hours, he finally deployed his Fiend-Avoiding Hood and returned to his cave dwelling.

From then on, Qin Sang's life became very regular. At the end of each month, he would visit Uncle-Master Yue for guidance and, while there, also enter the Yin Fiend Abyss to retrieve Soul Pills. Afterward, he would remain in his cave dwelling, as food was delivered daily anyway.

With no one to disturb him, he could cultivate without distractions, managing both cultivation techniques and spells.

In less than a year, Qin Sang finally cultivated to the peak of the fifth layer and felt the bottleneck of the sixth layer. The feeling of powerlessness returned.

Having received guidance from Uncle-Master Yue, he understood that the more challenging it became, the less he should be anxious. Thus, he only spent three or four hours daily cultivating his techniques, dedicating the rest of his time to practicing spells and the 'Song Family Sword Art'.

Another half year passed in a flash. Qin Sang became quite proficient with the Cloud Escape Art and Ten Thousand Miles of Ice Seal. Although he had not yet mastered them to the point of effortless use, they were sufficient for facing enemies.

By now, even without the Fiend-Avoiding Hood, Qin Sang could perform escape techniques and soar through the air for a period, solely relying on the Cloud Escape Art. However, the most crucial aspect of the Cloud Escape Art was its concealment technique, allowing him to vanish into clouds, mist, and water vapor when encountering powerful foes, serving admirably for both hiding and swift retreat.

Regarding Ten Thousand Miles of Ice Seal, what Qin Sang valued most was not the area or solidity of the profound ice it could condense, but rather focusing on training its application techniques: condensing ice into swords or knives, even transforming it into ice needle projectiles, and creating traps.

The profound ice condensed by this spell was exceptionally sturdy, and if used at the right moment, it could certainly produce unexpected effects in actual combat.

The 'Song Family Sword Art' progressed the slowest. Even after such a long period of nurturing, he still lacked the power to fully wield the Ebony Sword.

Today was again the time for Uncle-Master Yue to give his lecture. Qin Sang stopped his cultivation, exited his cave dwelling, and happened to run into Tan Jie coming out.

Of the seven people who entered the sect together, only four remained: Qin Sang, the Tan brothers, and Shi Hong.

One senior disciple died in his cave dwelling from Yama's backlash, while the other two never emerged after entering the Yin Fiend Abyss; their causes of death could be imagined.

Qin Sang secretly sighed, realizing why the senior disciples had seemed so indifferent when someone suffered Yama's backlash on the day he first entered the sect. It was because they had witnessed such incidents too often.

In the past year, Qin Sang had personally witnessed several instances of backlash, and countless more had mysteriously died in the Yin Fiend Abyss. For their batch of newly initiated disciples, more than half still being alive was quite rare.

Several subsequent batches of junior disciples had been completely wiped out.

The Kuiyin Sect, though said to have over a thousand disciples, in reality, each time Uncle-Master Yue lectured, there were only three to four hundred attendees. This was despite a continuous influx of new disciples.

Seeing only Tan Jie emerge, Qin Sang knew Tan Hao was once again in secluded cultivation.

Since entering the sect, Qin Sang had only met Tan Hao twice. Tan Hao had never attended Uncle-Master Yue's lectures; only Tan Jie went each time. Tan Jie explained that his elder brother was obsessed with cultivation, unwilling to waste time, and that he sought guidance on his brother's behalf if there were any questions.

Now, Qin Sang and Tan Jie had a considerable friendship, but he was still very unfamiliar with Tan Hao.

As they passed Shi Hong's cave dwelling, Tan Jie glanced at it and softly asked, "Brother Qin, is Senior Sister Shi Hong still in secluded cultivation in her cave dwelling?"

Qin Sang nodded. "She has been in seclusion for a full two months now," he said. "I estimate she will break through to the sixth layer upon emerging."

Shi Hong had the best innate talent among them, and, like Tan Hao, was a cultivation fanatic. Two months ago, she mentioned feeling a breakthrough opportunity and had been in seclusion ever since.

"If Senior Sister Shi Hong can break through to the sixth layer within half a year," Tan Jie said enviously, "she'll receive a top-grade magical artifact as a reward! Brother Qin, you must be close to breaking through too, right?"

Qin Sang smiled wryly. "It's not that easy," he said. "You know my aptitude isn't the best. I still have no clue right now; you'll definitely be faster than me."

In fact, he had felt the bottleneck loosen three months prior, and breaking through to the sixth layer wouldn't be difficult if he were to cultivate in seclusion for a period, but he held back.

The two exchanged cultivation insights as they walked toward Uncle-Master Yue's cave dwelling.

During this lecture, Qin Sang primarily sought guidance on spell cultivation. Uncle-Master Yue did not hesitate to impart his knowledge, explaining in great detail, which greatly benefited Qin Sang.

Just as the lecture was about to conclude, a red escape light suddenly streaked through the air below with considerable momentum. Qin Sang turned his head to look and saw that the person was none other than Senior Sister Shi Hong.

Shi Hong had possessed a red silk magical artifact even before entering the sect, which wrapped around her body, transforming into an escape light with astonishing speed.

The spiritual energy fluctuations around Shi Hong were noticeably deeper than before. Qin Sang's heart stirred; he stepped aside and cupped his hands, saying, "Congratulations, Senior Sister, on breaking through to the sixth layer of Qi Refinement!"

Although Shi Hong had a calm demeanor, excitement was hard to conceal in her eyes. She nodded to Qin Sang, then addressed Uncle-Master Yue, "Shi Hong pays respects to Uncle-Master Yue."

After Uncle-Master Yue carefully examined Shi Hong's cultivation, he clapped his hands and laughed. "Good! Good! Good! As expected of a dual spiritual root," he exclaimed. "All of you may leave first; Shi Hong, you come with me."

By evening, Qin Sang finally heard the sound of Shi Hong's escape light. As he exited his cave dwelling, he happened to see Tan Jie also pushing his door open. The two exchanged a smile and knocked on Shi Hong's cave dwelling door.

After all, they had entered the sect together. Although they didn't interact much on a daily basis, they were closer to each other than to other disciples. Whatever Qin Sang and Tan Jie inquired about, Shi Hong diligently explained.

It turned out that the sect's promised top-grade magical artifact was not given immediately upon breakthrough. Instead, after an agreed-upon time, it would be distributed simultaneously to all disciples who met the requirements.

During this period, Shi Hong was still to cultivate peacefully in her cave dwelling. Uncle-Master Yue had given her the latter half of the cultivation technique and had carefully guided and encouraged her, without assigning her any other tasks.