Chapter 829: Eighteen Demon Flags

Rain hitting bluestone

Back on Zhantian Peak, Qin Sang got involved in the conflict between Granny Jing and the Yuanshen Sect. After killing a young disciple from the Yuanshen Sect, he obtained a fragmented record of the 'Grand Profound Array', which contained descriptions of several intricate spiritual arrays.

Qin Sang wanted to adapt these arrays for his own use.

With more than ten Shifang Yama Banners, which possessed the power of top-tier magic treasures, he had to proceed with extreme caution to avoid wasting such valuable items.

After ensuring the spiritual array was correctly set up, he took out several mid-grade spirit stones, inserting them one by one into the array. Finally, he placed the high-grade spirit stone as well.

'Whoosh...'

The spirit stones settled into the array.

The five-elemental power in the air surged. Qin Sang then set up a restrictive spiritual array around the perimeter to prevent the commotion from alarming other cultivators on the mountain.

Then, he flashed into the air, sat cross-legged, and attempted to control the spiritual array.

Under his activation, the five-elemental power continuously converged towards the center of the array, forming a gray chaotic light. Simultaneously, the spirit stones within the array flickered brightly, depleting rapidly.

Qin Sang felt a pang of heartache, but he no longer hesitated. With a wave of his hand, the Mysterious Iron Pillar flew into his palm, and he then cast it into the spiritual array.

As the Mysterious Iron Pillar fell into the chaotic light, it immediately began to spin rapidly.

Qin Sang swiftly changed his hand seals, and the array's power continuously converged inward, striking the Mysterious Iron Pillar.

Initially, no changes were visible.

Qin Sang wasn't anxious; he observed patiently and finally noticed a subtle change.

A faint black light flickered on the surface of the Mysterious Iron Pillar. Qin Sang understood that this black light was the manifestation of the pillar's internal restrictions, resisting the array's erosion.

The restrictions within the Mysterious Iron Pillar were exceptionally profound and terrifyingly powerful. Even the faint black light they emitted caused Qin Sang to feel immense pressure.

He dared not 'provoke' the restrictions, so his movements were very slow.

Although the restrictions were powerful, the Mysterious Iron Pillar was unfortunately not intact; it had broken into two sections. A flaw existed at the break point, providing him with an opportunity.

The spiritual array's power, targeting the Mysterious Iron Pillar, impacted the flaw and began to integrate into it.

As time passed, the black light on the Mysterious Iron Pillar's surface grew denser. A closer look revealed that it wasn't black light at all, but the Mysterious Iron Pillar itself 'melting'!

Qin Sang's expression was grim. This step was extremely difficult, and his movements were incredibly gentle, fearing that a single mistake could cause the internal restrictions of the Mysterious Iron Pillar to run rampant.

Not only would the spiritual array be instantly destroyed, but he also risked severe injury.

During the refining process, Qin Sang couldn't help but feel admiration and awe.

Firstly, for the ancient cultivators who forged the Mysterious Iron Pillar.

The internal restrictions were exceedingly profound, an eye-opener for Qin Sang. Unfortunately, despite using the spiritual array, he only grasped a superficial understanding. However, he was certain that thoroughly comprehending even that superficial knowledge would significantly advance his artifact refining skills.

Patriarch Kuiyin had also attempted to decipher the restrictions within the Mysterious Iron Pillar back then, but ultimately gave up in helplessness.

He had once asserted that this item must have come from a top-tier ancient cultivator, incredibly intricate, and a supreme treasure of ancient cultivation. Even in its damaged state, a Grand Cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage would be unable to decipher it.

Patriarch Kuiyin deeply envied the brilliance of the ancient cultivation world and wished he had been born in that era.

Secondly, for Patriarch Kuiyin's extraordinary talent, to have conceived such a method to utilize this ancient cultivation treasure.

Unable to break the Mysterious Iron Pillar's restrictions, he instead started from its flaws, using ingenious methods to divide the pillar and refine it into banner poles, thereby manipulating the Nine Nether Demonic Flames.

The 'melted' Mysterious Iron Pillar resembled a black liquid column, its surface gently undulating.

Qin Sang's eyes were slightly closed, his spiritual sense locked onto the Mysterious Iron Pillar. He rapidly memorized the restrictions within, knowing they would aid his artifact refining, for him to slowly comprehend later.

Concurrently, he continuously changed his hand seals, activating a secret technique to divide the Mysterious Iron Pillar.

Several attempts failed consecutively; the Mysterious Iron Pillar merely rippled slightly, unable to separate into banner poles.

Qin Sang was mentally exhausted and had to pause to recover his energy.

'Indeed, my current cultivation is still somewhat insufficient,' he mused. 'I've wasted many spirit stones. If Patriarch Kuiyin had done this himself, three high-grade spirit stones would have been enough. But it's not entirely wasted; these failures provide valuable experience, and subsequent attempts will be smoother.'

Qin Sang's eyes gleamed as he sat cross-legged in silent meditation.

Soon after, he fully recovered and resumed the refining process.

With each successive attempt, Qin Sang's movements grew more proficient, and the fluctuations on the Mysterious Iron Pillar became more pronounced. However, the high-grade spirit stone's luster also noticeably dimmed.

'Condense!' Qin Sang suddenly let out a low roar.

The Mysterious Iron Pillar violently trembled. Under Qin Sang's anxious gaze, a small section of the pillar separated, oscillating continuously and attempting to merge back.

Qin Sang stared unblinkingly at it, his hand seals changing rapidly.

Finally, that section of the Mysterious Iron Pillar gradually stabilized and, under the array's influence, reshaped into a banner pole.

Witnessing this, Qin Sang felt a surge of joy. However, the process wasn't complete, so he didn't dare to slacken. He forcefully tossed out a jade bottle, which contained several trapped demon beast spirits.

'Roar!' The demon beast spirits broke free from the jade bottle, roaring furiously and attempting to lash out at Qin Sang.

Qin Sang was prepared. With a flick of his finger, countless transparent threads of true essence bound them. He then activated a secret technique to refine them. The demon beast spirits struggled powerlessly, transformed into a crystal, and were then absorbed into the banner pole.

A flash of luster, and the banner pole was successfully refined!

Qin Sang summoned it to his palm, turning it over admiringly. This could be considered the first magic treasure he had successfully refined, a crucial step on his path to artifact crafting.

'By my calculations, the Mysterious Iron Pillar is enough to refine fifteen banner poles, and the Nine Nether Demonic Flames are perfectly sufficient,' he mused. 'Adding the three I already have, I'll possess eighteen demonic banners!'

Qin Sang silently performed the calculation and was immediately astounded.

Ten demonic banners could barely touch the level of top-tier magic treasures. What would eighteen mean? Could they achieve the power of the most supreme artifacts?

Of course, Qin Sang understood that his cultivation was insufficient, limited by his true essence and spiritual sense, and he certainly wouldn't be able to control so many demonic banners simultaneously. He would have to wait until the magic treasures were complete to know how many he could wield.

'I must thoroughly study the 'Grand Profound Array' fragmented record later!' Qin Sang decided, filled with excitement.

He continued refining while the spirit stones were not yet exhausted, successfully forging another banner pole. Then, the high-grade spirit stone's spiritual energy was depleted, and it shattered on the spot.

The first high-grade spirit stone only yielded two banner poles, but Qin Sang was confident that at most three more high-grade spirit stones would be enough.

With a wave of his hand, he put away the Mysterious Iron Pillar and the spiritual array, then began to study the restrictions he had observed earlier.

Days passed.

Qin Sang continued his diligent cultivation, rarely leaving his cave dwelling.

More than half a year had passed since his return to the island, and Madame Liu finally made an appearance.

It was dusk that day.

Qin Sang was in the midst of tempering his body with starlight essence when he felt a sensation. He took out a jade pendant from his bosom. The pendant emitted a faint white light, indicating that the restriction he had left in the mortal courtyard had been triggered.

'Taking this long to arrive, I wonder if there's any good news…'

Qin Sang's heart stirred. He put away his cultivation technique, donned his cloak, and pushed open the door to step out.