Chapter 921: Mark

The Human Realm

He continued to cast secret arts to resolve the inner demons of his outer body avatar.

A short while later, Qin Sang opened his palm. Streaks of light enveloped several jade slips, which then appeared before him. These were the various corpse-refining arts he had collected during this period. He had only briefly scanned them before, but now he intended to study them thoroughly.

A month later, Qin Sang slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the row of jade slips before him, a hint of confusion in his expression. "The corpse-refining arts I've collected over the years are quite numerous, covering various schools, yet none share anything in common with the *Heavenly Yin Corpse Art*. Is the *Heavenly Yin Corpse Art* too unique, carving a path unprecedented and unmatched, or have I been searching in the wrong direction? Could it be that the *Heavenly Yin Corpse Art* isn't purely a corpse cultivation legacy after all..."

Qin Sang lightly tapped a jade slip. After pondering for a moment, he stood up. He surveyed his cave abode. Everything in this place, where he had cultivated in seclusion for over thirty years, seemed so familiar. Over the years, not only had his strength visibly improved, but these undisturbed years of focused cultivation were also a rare and precious memory.

Now, it was time to leave. With a wave of his hand, Qin Sang stored the items in his cave abode into his Thousand Jins Ring.

Just then, his outer body avatar also awoke from meditation. With Qin Sang's continued application of secret arts, the demonic soul had temporarily stabilized and returned to normal. The outer body avatar pointed a finger at the black coffin. With a series of clicks and clacks, the black coffin split into several pieces. After a transformation in mid-air, it reassembled into a perfectly fitting black battle armor, which then enveloped the avatar. Then, the avatar's protective spiritual light flashed, concealing the armor beneath its outer robes. Its eyes shifted, looking towards Qin Sang's main body.

A faint smile appeared on Qin Sang's face. Just as he was about to speak, his heart suddenly stirred, and he looked down at the spirit beast pouch at his waist. The Fat Silkworm had awakened.

"That fellow has digested another piece of purple crystal," Qin Sang mumbled. "Since breaking through to the mid-stage of the Third Transformation, its eating speed has become faster and faster, and I have very little purple crystal left. This time, when I go to the Seven Killings Hall, I'll need to collect a few more pieces to feed it. I wonder if the owner of that place has changed..."

Both the Fat Silkworm and the Sky-Eyed Butterfly had broken through, advancing to the mid-stage of the Third Transformation. However, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly's cultivation speed was much slower than the Fat Silkworm's. He wondered about the origin of the purple crystal. The Fat Silkworm, by simply eating and sleeping, cultivated faster than Qin Sang had anticipated. However, these two little creatures hadn't changed much physically since their breakthrough; perhaps their divine abilities would be more formidable.

After feeding the Fat Silkworm a small piece of purple crystal, Qin Sang stepped out of his cave abode. He activated the restrictions with his divine sense, waking Bai Zhongqiu and the others.

"May I ask, Senior, what instructions you have for us?" Bai Zhongqiu and his wife hurried out of their cave abode.

At the same time, a ripple passed through the mist outside, and Bai Ying'er and the Two-headed Hound returned. Bai Ying'er seemed to have a premonition; she clung close to the Two-headed Hound, her brows furrowed, lips pressed together, nervously watching Qin Sang.

Qin Sang flipped his palm, took out a jade bottle, and tossed it to Bai Zhongqiu. Inside the jade bottle were two oddly colored pills. The moment he saw the pills, Bai Zhongqiu's eyes were fixed on them, his expression unable to hide his excitement.

"Over the years, you two have been diligent in your work," Qin Sang said indifferently. "I previously promised to give you two Fiend Demon Pills, and I naturally wouldn't go back on my word. These two are ones I acquired by chance long ago; the fiendish demonic energy within them has been meticulously refined, making them top-grade Fiend Demon Pills."

"Thank you for your generous gift, Senior! My wife and I are endlessly grateful!" Bai Zhongqiu and his wife were overjoyed. Although they had some savings, it would be extremely difficult to purchase such top-grade Fiend Demon Pills. The medicinal power of top-grade Fiend Demon Pills was purer, with less residual fiendish demonic energy, which would significantly increase their chances of forming a Golden Core.

After their initial joy, Bai Zhongqiu suddenly realized something and asked softly, "Senior, are you now planning to..."

Qin Sang nodded slightly. "Since you know I acquired the jade talisman for the Seven Killings Hall, you must have already guessed. This poisonous island was merely a temporary abode I chose. The Seven Killings Hall will open in a few years, so it's time to leave here and prepare in advance for entry. Ying'er has been by my side for so many years, managing this cave abode. Although I have no intention of taking disciples, there is a certain bond between us, so I'll leave this place to her. In the future, do not act too conspicuously; others will find it difficult to discover the island's secrets. This jade slip contains the methods for controlling the island's illusion formations and restrictions..."

Qin Sang flicked his sleeve, and the jade slip flew towards Bai Ying'er.

Bai Ying'er clutched the jade slip tightly, her eyes suddenly reddened. She knelt on both knees. "Although Senior does not acknowledge Ying'er, Ying'er has received guidance from Senior many times and has always regarded Senior as her benevolent teacher in her heart..."

Bai Zhongqiu and his wife looked at their daughter, their hearts filled with mixed emotions. Previously, they had been terrified when facing Qin Sang. After so many years, they had long understood that encountering him was perhaps the greatest fortune for their family.

"Senior, will you return in the future?" Bai Zhongqiu asked. "Please allow your juniors to guard your cave abode for you..." There was a genuine sincerity in his words.

Qin Sang chuckled and slowly shook his head. "You must have heard of the Seven Killings Hall's reputation. My path ahead is uncertain; whether I can return alive is still unknown, so discussing future matters is premature. Moreover, the spiritual vein on this island is merely satisfactory for me, and it's in such a remote location..." His implication was that they would likely not meet again.

Qin Sang, long accustomed to partings and reunions, maintained his usual expression. He beckoned to the Two-headed Hound, ready to leave. The Two-headed Hound walked to Qin Sang's side, then turned its head to glance at Bai Ying'er. Bai Ying'er's face was full of reluctance, and her tears flowed unrestrained, choking her sobs. She had been left on the poisonous island to cultivate, never having seen outsiders for many years. The Two-headed Hound was arguably her only friend. After this parting, she didn't know when they would meet again.

Qin Sang nodded to Bai Zhongqiu and his wife and was about to turn and leave when he saw the Two-headed Hound let out a whimper, leaping in front of Bai Ying'er. Suddenly, a bright green light erupted from its body, and then a green ethereal shadow detached itself. The ethereal shadow rapidly shrank, eventually becoming no bigger than a fingernail, and settled on Bai Ying'er's hand. The green light receded, the green shadow vanished, leaving a tattoo-like mark on her hand.

After accomplishing this, the Two-headed Hound's aura visibly weakened. It retreated to Qin Sang's side, appearing drowsy.

Qin Sang's face showed surprise. He glanced at the Two-headed Hound, then explained to Bai Ying'er and the others, who were still bewildered: "This is a protective measure it left for you, at the cost of its own weakening. When you encounter a powerful enemy, you can activate the power within this mark with your divine sense, and it will protect you once. Even a cultivator in the mid-stage of Golden Core formation would suffer greatly if caught off guard."

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhongqiu and his wife were overjoyed, repeatedly urging Bai Ying'er, "Ying'er, hurry and thank Lord Divine Hound!"

The next moment, everyone's vision blurred. Amidst the rolling poisonous mist, Qin Sang and the Two-headed Hound had vanished.