Chapter 918: Night Shadow Insect

The Human World

Three days later.

Two streaks of light flew out of Poison Island. After a rapid journey, they landed on a distant deserted island. It was Bai Zhongqiu and his wife. They looked back towards Poison Island, their eyes filled with reluctance and worry.

“Brother, Ying’er...” Recalling the possibility of her daughter being offered to a demon, Bai Hong couldn't help but shed tears.

“Don't worry, Junior Sister. The cultivation method the senior gave Ying'er is an orthodox Water-attribute technique from the Xuanmen sect, perfectly suited for her. It's not a demonic cauldron art. Although the senior acts ruthlessly, he doesn't seem like a demon who harms the innocent. Otherwise, if he had occupied Poison Island for so long, he wouldn't have remained completely unknown; nearby cultivators wouldn't even know of his existence. He's likely a reclusive ascetic. Ying'er might even turn this misfortune into a blessing...” Bai Zhongqiu could only use these words to comfort his wife and himself. Finally, he couldn't help but sigh, “It's a pity. I wanted to ask the senior to accept Ying'er as a disciple, but he flatly refused.”

“Brother, your judgment has always been exceptionally keen. Since you say he's an ascetic, how could he easily accept a disciple? That cultivation method is probably just our reward. As for the Fiend Demon Pill the senior promised, I wouldn't dare to hope for it.” Bai Hong wiped away her tears and said softly. Having cultivated for many years, Qin Sang had encountered many powerful enemies and seized numerous cultivation methods, mostly related to the Five Elements. Any one of them would be immeasurably superior to what Bai Zhongqiu and his wife had gathered for their daughter.

Bai Zhongqiu nodded and, with a flick of his wrist, produced several items. “Even without the Fiend Demon Pill, the senior hasn't treated us unfairly. Not only did he re-refine our flying shuttle for us, but he also gave us these Soul-Devouring Cones. As long as we don't provoke powerful enemies above the mid-Core Formation stage, we'll have some means of self-preservation.” In Bai Zhongqiu's palm lay more than ten Soul-Devouring Cones, precisely those originally crafted for the clone. Besides these, there was also a flying shuttle, their original magical artifact. This item was originally only of medium quality among top-grade magical artifacts. Qin Sang took the flying shuttle and spent two days meticulously refining it, using the artifact-refining techniques he had comprehended from the Profound Iron Pillar and adding some spiritual materials. After its re-refinement, when jointly propelled by the couple, the flying shuttle's escape speed could rival that of ordinary early-Core Formation cultivators. Had Bai Zhongqiu and his wife not merely been Foundation Establishment cultivators, it wouldn't have been difficult to upgrade the shuttle to a true magic treasure.

Bai Hong also nodded lightly and said, “I didn't expect the senior to also be skilled in artifact refining. With this item, we'll be much safer, as the Cracking Wind Archipelago is certainly not a peaceful place. Moreover, the senior isn't asking us to risk our lives, only to gather useful spiritual materials and information, which significantly reduces the danger...”

“Indeed,” Bai Zhongqiu nodded, giving half of the Soul-Devouring Cones to Bai Hong. “Spiritual materials are easy enough; we can just buy them from various trade guilds and shops. But the senior actually wants us to inquire about auctions for jade pendants that grant access to the Seven Kills Hall. Legends say the Seven Kills Hall is extremely dangerous, with countless powerful cultivators having perished within. Is the senior planning to go there as well?” Clearly, Bai Zhongqiu had also heard of the Seven Kills Hall's infamous reputation. To enter the Seven Kills Hall, one must possess a jade pendant capable of withstanding the immortal arrays. Having had the previous experience, Qin Sang had no desire to associate with members of the Eastern Extremity Alliance again. He had long heard that the Cracking Wind Archipelago was home to many cultivators with formidable powers and mysterious origins. Before the Seven Kills Hall last opened, jade pendants had indeed appeared for auction. Qin Sang was unsure when such auctions would commence, so he instructed the couple to keep an eye out and report back promptly.

“Also, the senior actually wants us to investigate the demonic cultivators in the Cracking Wind Archipelago who are most proficient in corpse refinement. This...” Bai Hong's delicate brows furrowed. Most of their worries stemmed from this.

“Forget it, overthinking won't help. Let's not presumptuously speculate on the senior's intentions. He asked us to report back periodically, and we can also check on Ying'er then. As long as Ying'er is safe and sound, whatever his purpose, it has nothing to do with us. We just need to do our best.” Bai Zhongqiu grasped his wife's hand, conjured a streak of light, and in a short while, they were soaring over the vast sea.

On Poison Island.

Bai Ying'er watched her parents leave, then returned to the cave abode feeling uneasy. Seeing that no one paid her any mind, her fear gradually subsided. She recalled her past days of wandering with her parents, constantly anxious, and even began to feel that being able to cultivate peacefully without disturbance was quite good. Poison Island was far from a place of green mountains and clear waters; instead, it was filled with poisonous miasma, terrible demonic beasts, and exuded a foul stench. She could only move within her cave abode and a large valley area in front of it. Bai Ying'er dared not disturb Qin Sang, but she frequently saw the Two-Headed Hou. Initially, she was terrified of the Two-Headed Hou, but later she discovered it wasn't as fearsome as she thought. Its intelligence was far superior to any demonic beast she had previously encountered, and she even attempted to greet it. The Two-Headed Hou was single-mindedly focused on breaking through and regaining its freedom. However, the more anxious it became, the more lost it felt. It would howl at the sun and moon daily. Only now did it realize how rare opportunities were. It was extremely annoyed by this and initially didn't want to bother with the girl. Later, perhaps due to boredom, it gradually became familiar with her. After all, the girl would stroke its fur, while that other person only used it as a shield. But these are stories for another time.

Qin Sang sat cross-legged in his cave abode, counting his gains from the Devil Worship Cave expedition. Then, he took out a pouch—it was precisely the Devil Worship Cave Master's spirit beast bag. This person was skilled in insect manipulation, and his spirit beast bag contained seven or eight types of spirit insects. “The one the old devil sent out for communication is called a Night Shadow Insect. The other spirit insects are also like the Night Shadow Insect, serving only as auxiliary tools. They aren't rare spirit insects, nor are there any exotic insects among them. They have little combat power, only special abilities, which is why he wasn't seen controlling spirit insects during our fight. It seems the old devil understood very well that cultivating exotic insects consumes immense resources and energy. If not for the Crimson Flame Gilded Gold, I definitely wouldn't dare to take the Heavenly Eye Butterfly as my natal insect-gu...” Qin Sang withdrew his divine sense from the spirit beast bag. These spirit insects were carefully selected and cultivated by the Devil Worship Cave Master for an unknown number of years. In certain special situations, they might have miraculous effects. Of course, they couldn't be as formidable as the Fat Silkworm, which could counteract any potent poison. “It wouldn't hurt to keep these spirit insects. The old devil's insect control strategy is decent, and rearing them won't consume many spirit stones. Perhaps they'll even come in handy. The old devil's insect manipulation art also differs somewhat from the Spirit Control Sect's; it can leave a certain mark within the spirit insects, allowing for forced command. However, with my cultivation level, I can only control Second Transformation spirit insects...” Qin Sang mused internally, discovering that the spirit beast bag was of better quality than his insect basket, so he moved the Fat Silkworm into it. For the next few days, he kept an eye on the outside of Poison Island. Seeing that the matter of the Devil Worship Cave had not stirred up a larger commotion, he sealed off his cave abode once more and dedicated himself to arduous cultivation.

Thereafter, every few months or once a year, Bai Zhongqiu and his wife would return to the island, either bringing news or returning with the spiritual materials Qin Sang required. Seeing that their daughter remained safe and sound, with her cultivation steadily improving and even becoming friends with the island master's spirit beast, they finally felt completely at ease. Thus, more than a decade quickly passed.