Chapter 718: The Road Ahead

“Having been here for fifteen years, it's almost time to go back.”

A soft sigh echoed from the cave dwelling. Qin Sang looked around. The cave dwelling was simply furnished but not crude; what was especially valuable was its abundant spiritual energy, which was no less than that of premium cave dwellings. Finding such an excellent cave dwelling in the vast Demon Sea was incredibly fortunate. Over the years, he had been very content with his life in the Demon Sea, enjoying himself so much that he forgot to return home.

Thanks to the early warning from the Primordial Harmonious Heart Ring, Qin Sang had encountered genuine danger only a handful of times. Many of the elixirs and other provisions he had prepared before his journey were still left. Given his nature, it wouldn't be too late to return after exhausting his supplies. However, he only had two six-petal butterfly violets left, and they were nearly gone. If he didn't go back soon, his Celestial Eye Butterfly would run out of food. The six-petal butterfly violets on Red Leaf Island must have matured by now, but Qin Sang knew nothing of the outside world. He was unaware of how far the conflict between the two races had escalated, and whether he could reach Red Leaf Island smoothly remained unknown.

Over the years, as Qin Sang's cultivation progressed steadily, his two spirit insects also grew at an astonishing pace. Shortly after settling in, the Fat Silkworm absorbed all the poison pills, and as expected, successfully transitioned to the middle stage of its second transformation. What Qin Sang hadn't anticipated was that after reaching the middle stage, its absorption rate of the poison pills accelerated, but the pills' effects became less pronounced. After absorbing all the poison pills Qin Sang had prepared for it, it was still a hair's breadth away from breaking through to the late stage, and the poison pills' efficacy was waning. Seeing this, Qin Sang gave it real demon cores from venomous beasts. After some initial struggles, the Fat Silkworm genuinely became capable of directly absorbing these demon cores, which made Qin Sang secretly sigh in relief. Otherwise, he wouldn't have known what to feed it.

The Fat Silkworm's abilities were proven in several battles against venomous beasts. The seven-colored halo transformed into the Pestilence Armor, which could now withstand the potent venom of early-stage demon core venomous beasts. The Pestilence Armor was as thin as a cicada's wing; when Qin Sang wore it, it was almost invisible to the naked eye. In future encounters with cultivators skilled in using poison, he would have a significant advantage. Hugging a venomous beast's demon core, the Fat Silkworm was sound asleep in its insect basket, having successfully broken through to the late stage of its second transformation.

In comparison, the Celestial Eye Butterfly's growth wasn't as rapid. Although it had also broken through to the middle stage three years ago, the timing for its third transformation would likely be later than the Fat Silkworm's.

'Jingle... jingle...' The Primordial Harmonious Heart Ring flew up, and a ball of white light surged forth, revealing the Double-headed Hound before Qin Sang. Its injuries had improved, and the wounds were beginning to heal. After being released, the Double-headed Hound abruptly flipped over and stood up, its fur bristling, eyes glinting fiercely, and teeth bared, letting out a low growl at Qin Sang.

Qin Sang's expression darkened. As the Primordial Harmonious Heart Ring tightened, the Double-headed Hound immediately felt terrible pain at the soul level. It shrieked, collapsing to the ground, trembling all over. At times, it curled into a ball, oblivious to its wounds tearing open. When the pain became unbearable, it even slammed its head against the cave dwelling's stone wall. Qin Sang watched with cold eyes, his expression utterly unmoved. Finally, when the Double-headed Hound lay like a heap of mud, barely breathing, Qin Sang paused the punishment.

“I know your intelligence is far superior to that of those barbaric sea beasts, so you should understand what I mean.” Qin Sang walked over, grabbed the Double-headed Hound by the scruff of its neck, and stared directly into its vertical pupils. Facing such an unruly demon beast, Qin Sang also felt a headache. Along the way, similar situations had occurred multiple times, yet none had managed to subdue the Double-headed Hound. It was worth noting that the previous Azure Jiao had succumbed to Qin Sang after only the second time.

The Double-headed Hound had no strength left in its body, but it still stubbornly glared with its eyes. However, deep within its gaze, there was a profound weariness, which Qin Sang keenly noticed.

“It's impossible for me to release you or kill you. Whether you like it or not, the Primordial Harmonious Heart Ring will eventually make you submit, so you might as well accept your fate. There are countless demon beasts taken as mounts by cultivators; you are not the only one. You've also seen the fate of the Azure Jiao. I won't bind you for life. When I find a better demon beast, or when you are no longer useful to me, I will grant you your freedom... provided you obey my commands!”

The Double-headed Hound's eyes flickered. Qin Sang fed it another spiritual elixir and put away the Yang Ring again.

Two months later.

Qin Sang's figure appeared on the sea surface. Holding a sea chart, and having ascertained his direction, he decided to head north, returning via the same path he had taken previously. The southern route would not be easy to restore. The evil cultivators were powerful and strange, so after weighing his options, Qin Sang decided to take the northern route instead. Additionally, he was curious whether the cold flame was still in its original place or if it had already been taken by the transformed great demon.

After discovering that a transformed great demon had been drawn by the cold flame and appeared in this sea area, Qin Sang had been very uneasy and extremely cautious in his actions during that period. Only when he later found no unusual activity in the Demon Sea did he finally relax. During this period, only two years ago, there had been a brief commotion among the demon beasts. Qin Sang was already deep within the Demon Sea then, and by the time he noticed the anomaly, it was already subsiding. Qin Sang ventured north to investigate, suspecting it was caused by another passing transformed great demon. However, this time was different from the last; after an interval of over a decade, the transformed great demon had finally left. No one knew what that transformed great demon had been doing while lurking near Huntian Island for over a decade. Qin Sang suspected that since the transformed great demon was willing to return, it had likely succeeded in its objective.

Having spent fifteen years here, Qin Sang was now very familiar with this sea area. He easily found the optimal route, and with a wave of his arm, the Double-headed Hound appeared beside him. The Double-headed Hound crouched low on the water surface. Green light shimmered between its ribs, transforming into a pair of exceptionally graceful wind wings. Judging by its aura, its injuries had clearly healed. Qin Sang straddled the Double-headed Hound. After pointing out the direction, he slightly closed his eyes and began meditating. The Double-headed Hound shook its head, reluctantly stood up, flapped its wings, and rode the wind.

Half a month later, Qin Sang saw the large island marking the exit of the Thousand Demon Sea. Although the sea surface west of the large island appeared normal, Qin Sang decided to err on the side of caution. He put away the Double-headed Hound and proceeded alone. When alone, it was easier to conceal oneself and escape in times of danger. Entering the Thousand Demon Sea and returning by the original path, he encountered no groups of demon beasts. Qin Sang's tightly strung heart gradually relaxed, and he smoothly arrived near Cold Flame Island.

A phantom figure appeared on the open water. Qin Sang turned to look north, in the direction of the cold flame. After a slight hesitation, Qin Sang chanted the Spirit Evasion Art. With a flip of his hand, a scroll appeared in his palm—an artifact he had seized from the young shaman, which possessed illusionary effects. The scroll gently unfurled, floating above Qin Sang's head and slowly opening to reveal an exceptionally exquisite painting of mountains and forests. It depicted a boundless forest, adorned with blooming flowers, a scene of absolute beauty. Falling petals and leaves showered down from the painting, swirling around him before subtly vanishing without a trace.