Chapter 738: Separation

After killing the giant turtle, Qin Sang and Daoist Yuansan joined forces with the reinforcements. They rescued some cultivators from the beast tide, but facing an increasingly massive and overwhelming beast tide, they eventually had no choice but to retreat.

Upon returning to Tuyuan Island, they learned that cultivators from other islands had also noticed the anomaly and had already evacuated. Almost all the cultivators from the Five Elements Islands were now concentrated on Tuyuan Island. However, after witnessing the horrifying scene on Muyuan Island, the cultivators had lost confidence in their ability to hold back the beast tide. After some deliberation, they made the painful decision to evacuate.

Qin Sang looked back at the place where he had stayed for over two decades, filled with emotion. In the Monster Sea, such small islands being discovered and occupied by cultivators, only to be reclaimed by demonic beasts, was a common occurrence. Although these islands didn't have Nascent Soul Patriarchs overseeing them, they offered more opportunities. Some fell, but many others obtained fortuitous encounters that allowed them to soar. Giving up the Five Elements Islands saddened many cultivators, and they were reluctant to leave.

During the evacuation, the Wang sisters settled their subordinates and came to ask Qin Sang about his plans. The elder sister, Wang Shi, began, "Daoist Priest, we just heard Daoist Yuansan and the others discussing their plan to find another location to rebuild the Five Elements Islands after leaving this sea area. What are your thoughts, Daoist Priest? Should we join them?"

Rebuilding the Five Elements Islands was easier said than done. They would not only need to find an island with spiritual veins capable of supporting the cultivation of so many cultivators, but the demonic beasts near the island also couldn't be too powerful, or it would be a repeat of the tragedy. However, the cultivators from the Five Elements Islands were all battle-hardened veterans. Daoist Yuansan and the others had enough influence to rally many people. Not long ago, Daoist Yuansan had already asked Qin Sang for his opinion, but Qin Sang had politely declined.

Qin Sang shook his head and said, "I have only recently achieved a breakthrough and haven't yet had time to consolidate my cultivation. Furthermore, the Seven Kills Hall is set to open in five years. During this period, I plan to travel around, so I'm afraid I won't have the energy to participate in rebuilding the Five Elements Islands. If you two sisters wish to stay, that's perfectly fine. Having both reached the Core Formation stage, you've long been capable of standing on your own. It's been unfair to you to remain by my side all this time. I can write to Elder Zou to help you secure the support of the Chamber of Commerce."

This decision had been made by him long ago. In just five years, it would be difficult to significantly improve his strength through arduous cultivation alone. It would be better to travel around. On one hand, he could broaden his horizons. On the other, Qin Sang himself had many pressing issues that needed to be resolved, requiring him to gather information. Since teleporting to the Canglang Sea region, from the Western Borders of the Witch God Continent to Witch God Mountain, and then to Duyuan Island, Huntian Island, and the Five Elements Islands, Qin Sang had been either rushing on his journey or diligently cultivating, never truly taking the time to see the world.

He also had several unresolved issues. First, he had still been unable to awaken Mute Girl. While hunting demonic beasts and cultivating diligently, Qin Sang hadn't forgotten to use the channels of the Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce to collect secret arts related to the path of corpses and ghosts from both human and witch races. He could even say he spared no expense. As long as it was a relevant cultivation method or secret art, he would buy it, hoping to gain insights that would help him decipher the Heavenly Corpse Talisman and awaken Mute Girl. Unfortunately, the corpse and ghost secret arts circulating outside were either very shallow and unremarkable, or insignificant fragments, or extremely bold and insane, clearly speculative and utterly unfeasible. To this day, he still hadn't found a solution.

The good news was that Mute Girl's Nascent Soul was very stable. Despite several decades having passed, it hadn't succumbed to darkness. He wasn't sure if it was the effect of the warm jade, or if the existence of the fat silkworm had strengthened her Nascent Soul, helping her maintain her only connection to the living world, or perhaps a combination of both. As the fat silkworm grew, this connection would become more stable. As long as Mute Girl could, with immense willpower, firmly grasp this connection and not get lost, she would gain more time.

Collecting these secret arts would also benefit Qin Sang himself. His cultivation would grow stronger and stronger, but the Corpse Pill and the Flying Yaksha, unable to advance, would become less and less effective, eventually turning into mere liabilities. Both were products of the Corpse Dao secret art, the "Heavenly Yin Corpse Art." Qin Sang hoped to use other Corpse Dao secret arts to enhance the strength of the Flying Yaksha and bolster the Corpse Pill.

Then there was his Natal Dharma Artifact, the Ebony Sword. After breaking through to the mid-Core Formation stage, upgrading the Ebony Sword became an urgent matter. It could no longer be delayed, otherwise, once he cultivated to the late Core Formation stage, his cultivation would be unable to advance further. The Ebony Sword was his bottleneck. Only spiritual wood of the Ten Great Divine Woods caliber could upgrade it. Searching for such a divine object in the Canglang Sea was like looking for a needle in a haystack, but Qin Sang had no choice but to do it. Qin Sang chose to travel at this time precisely to gather information everywhere, hoping to encounter opportunities to resolve these problems.

Hearing Qin Sang's words, the Wang sisters' expressions both dimmed slightly. The two sisters exchanged a look. The elder sister, Wang Shi, spoke up: "Thank you, Daoist Priest. However, my sister and I just discussed it, and if you're not planning to stay, we also intend to return to the inner sea. Over these years, we have both been blessed by your protection, not only breaking through to the Core Formation stage but also accumulating a large sum of savings, enough for us to cultivate in peace for a while. Furthermore, our master is getting old, and it's time for us to return and fulfill our filial duties."

Wang Xiang, losing her usual playfulness, pouted and said, "Daoist Priest, our master's cultivation cave is on Lingchun Island, a very beautiful place where it's spring all year round. Here's a sea chart of the inner sea. Please don't forget us. If you ever go to the inner sea, be sure to visit Lingchun Island."

Qin Sang took the sea chart handed to him by the Wang sisters and nodded in response. "In that case, when you bid farewell to Elder Zou, please remember to explain on my behalf. I won't make a special trip over there. Also, the Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce is actually quite good and has considerable influence in the inner sea. If your sect doesn't require it, there's no need to leave the Chamber of Commerce; having that connection will provide another path for you in the future."

The Wang sisters nodded repeatedly. Wang Xiang looked at Qin Sang's cloak, eager to say something, but Wang Shi tugged at her. The two sisters then turned and departed, gradually receding into the distance. Qin Sang remained standing, watching the Wang sisters leave. He then lowered his gaze to the sea chart in his hand, shook his head almost imperceptibly, and put it away.

After leaving the sea area near the Five Elements Islands and getting away from the beast tide, the cultivators temporarily found a place to rest. Qin Sang bid farewell to those he knew and quietly departed.

A few days later, riding the Two-headed Hou, Qin Sang appeared on a small island. After circling the island once, he descended onto a chaotic rocky beach. The Ebony Sword transformed into a giant sword and dug a deep hole in the rocky beach. After Qin Sang entered, he sensed the spiritual energy within the cave, nodded in satisfaction, then sealed the entrance and set up a spiritual array.

Having just broken through, he had immediately encountered a great battle. His cultivation was not yet consolidated, and his true essence was restless. Otherwise, killing those two great demonic beasts would have been easier. Thinking of the great demonic beasts, Qin Sang flipped his palm, and a jade box appeared in his hand. Inside the jade box was a demon core. This was the demon core of the giant turtle. After killing the giant turtle, everyone divided the spoils of war. Daoist Yuansan, grateful for Qin Sang's assistance, insisted on giving his share to Qin Sang and even added some spirit stones to help him secure the demon core.