Chapter 64

In this place, even with the Warm Sun Pearl on him, he couldn't ward off the bone-chilling cold.

According to Senior Brother Liang Yan, when he first obtained the Yama Banner, Yama's strength was only equivalent to that of a cultivator at the first level of the Qi Condensation stage. He needed to absorb Yin Sha Qi from the uppermost layer of the Yin Sha Abyss. As Yama's strength gradually increased, he could delve deeper bit by bit.

Even at this position, even if he used the Qi Perception Technique, his field of vision was very narrow. Qin Sang could only see a senior brother sitting cross-legged on the cliff on either side of the Yin Sha Valley, controlling Yama to absorb Yin Sha Qi.

Every time Yama absorbed a strand of Yin Sha Qi, the senior brother would store it in the Yama Banner, submerge his divine consciousness into the Yama Banner to suppress Yama, and then repeat the same action after a while.

Without the protection of the Jade Buddha, everyone had to be extremely cautious, whether controlling Yama to absorb Yin Sha Qi or cultivating with Soul Pills. Only Qin Sang dared to let Yama absorb Yin Sha Qi recklessly, using Soul Pills continuously.

Finding a secluded corner, Qin Sang activated the Yin Sha Hood to its maximum, entered the Yin Sha Qi, and moved a certain distance deeper. He took out the Yama Banner and could clearly feel Yama's excited mood.

The efficiency of absorbing Yin Sha Qi was indeed much higher than devouring souls. It didn't take long for Yama's strength to recover. Qin Sang then ordered Yama to take out Soul Pills until he had accumulated a month's worth. He waited for several hours in the same spot before returning to his cave with the Yin Sha Hood.

Since then, Qin Sang's life became very regular. At the end of each month, he would go to Uncle Yue for guidance and take the opportunity to enter the Yin Sha Abyss to collect Soul Pills. Then he would stay in his cave, as food was delivered to him daily.

With no one to disturb him, he could focus entirely on cultivation, balancing both his cultivation techniques and spells.

In less than a year, Qin Sang finally cultivated to the peak of the fifth level, feeling the bottleneck of the sixth level, and the feeling of helplessness returned.

Now that he had received Uncle Yue's guidance, he understood that the more anxious he became, the worse it would be. So he only spent three to four hours each day cultivating his technique, using the rest of the time to practice spells and the Song Family Sword Technique.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. Qin Sang had become quite proficient in the Cloud Escape Technique and the Ten Thousand Li Ice Seal. Although he hadn't reached the level where the technique could be used at will, it was sufficient for combat.

Now, even without the Yin Sha Hood, Qin Sang could use the Cloud Escape Technique to perform an escape and fly for a period. However, the most important aspect of the Cloud Escape Technique was the concealment technique, which allowed him to hide in clouds and mist, making it useful for both hiding and fleeing.

For the Ten Thousand Li Ice Seal, what Qin Sang valued most was not the size or the strength of the mystic ice it could form, but the techniques for using it, such as turning the ice into swords, knives, or even ice needles as hidden weapons, and setting traps.

The mystic ice formed by this spell was exceptionally strong. If used at the right time, it could have unexpected effects in actual combat.

The Song Family Sword Technique progressed the slowest. Despite the long period of cultivation, he still found it difficult to control the black wood sword.

Today was the time for Uncle Yue to give a lecture. Qin Sang stopped his cultivation and left the cave, just as Tan Jie was coming out.

Of the seven who entered the sect together, only four remained: Qin Sang, the Tan brothers, and Shi Qing.

One senior brother died in his cave due to Yama's backlash, and the other two never returned after entering the Yin Sha Abyss, their deaths easily imagined.

Qin Sang sighed inwardly. No wonder on the first day of entering the sect, the senior brothers and sisters were so indifferent when they saw someone suffer from Yama's backlash; they had seen it too many times.

In the past year, Qin Sang had personally witnessed several backlashes, and countless others had died mysteriously in the Yin Sha Abyss. For their batch of new disciples, it was quite rare that more than half were still alive.

Later batches of new disciples had been completely wiped out.

The entire Guiyin Sect, with over a thousand disciples, actually had only three to four hundred people attending Uncle Yue's lectures, even with a steady stream of new disciples entering.

Seeing that only Tan Jie had come out, Qin Sang knew that Tan Hao was in a closed retreat.

Since entering the sect, Qin Sang had only seen Tan Hao twice. Tan Hao never attended Uncle Yue's lectures, and Tan Jie always went alone, saying that his elder brother was obsessed with cultivation and didn't want to waste time, and that he would ask questions on his behalf.

Now, Qin Sang and Tan Jie had a deep friendship, but he was still unfamiliar with Tan Hao.

Passing by Shi Qing's cave, Tan Jie glanced over and said softly, "Senior Brother Qin, is Senior Sister Shi Qing still in closed retreat in her cave?"

Qin Sang nodded, "She has been in retreat for two months. I estimate she will break through to the sixth level when she comes out."

Shi Qing was the most talented among them and, like Tan Hao, was a cultivation fanatic. Two months ago, she said she felt the opportunity to break through and had been in retreat ever since.

Tan Jie said enviously, "If Senior Sister Shi Qing can break through to the sixth level within half a year, she will receive an excellent magical tool as a reward. Senior Brother Qin, you are about to break through, right?"

Qin Sang smiled bitterly, "It's not that easy. You know my talent. I still have no clue, and you will definitely break through before me."

In fact, three months ago, he had felt the bottleneck loosening. If he went into a closed retreat for a while, breaking through to the sixth level wouldn't be difficult, but he held back.

The two exchanged cultivation insights as they walked toward Uncle Yue's cave.

This time, Qin Sang focused on asking about the cultivation of spells. Uncle Yue was generous with his teachings, explaining in great detail, which greatly benefited Qin Sang.

Just as the lecture was about to end, a red light suddenly shot through the air, making a loud noise. Qin Sang turned to see that it was Senior Sister Shi Qing.

Shi Qing had a red silk magical tool before entering the sect, which wrapped around her body, forming a light, and her speed was astonishing.

The spiritual energy fluctuations from Shi Qing were clearly stronger than before. Qin Sang's heart stirred, and he stepped aside, bowing and saying, "Congratulations, Senior Sister Shi Qing, on breaking through to the sixth level of the Qi Condensation stage!"

Even though Shi Qing had a calm personality, the excitement in her eyes was hard to hide. She nodded to Qin Sang and then said to Uncle Yue, "Shi Qing pays respects to Uncle Yue."

After carefully examining Shi Qing's cultivation, Uncle Yue clapped his hands and laughed, "Good! Good! Good! As expected of a dual spiritual root. You all go down first, Shi Qing, come with me."

It wasn't until evening that Qin Sang heard the sound of Shi Qing's light. He left the cave and just happened to see Tan Jie coming out. The two smiled at each other and knocked on Shi Qing's cave door.

After all, they had entered the sect together. Although they didn't communicate much in daily life, they were closer to each other than to other senior brothers and sisters. Whatever Qin Sang and Tan Jie asked, Shi Qing would explain in detail.

It turned out that the excellent magical tool promised by the sect was not given immediately upon breaking through but was distributed to all qualified disciples at a set time.

During this period, Shi Qing still needed to focus on cultivation in her cave. Uncle Yue had given her the second half of the cultivation technique and provided detailed guidance and encouragement, without assigning her any other tasks.