Chapter 88

He concealed his figure and searched the valley for a long time, eventually finding a place with a broad view that was also sufficiently hidden, where he raised the Yama Banner.

As he infused it with his spiritual power, the Yana Banner fluttered without wind, and the demonic eye on it came to life, appearing on the surface of the banner. The eye blinked a few times, casting a sly smile over Qin Sang, emitting a black mist that obscured his figure.

Finally, the demonic eye opened wide, facing the easternmost part of the starry sky. The eye was filled with chaos, with a strange radiance flickering within.

In less than an hour, Qin Sang's face turned pale, and he was drenched in sweat, having been drained of the last bit of his spiritual power. He retracted the demonic eye into his body, returned to his cave, and held a soul pill, entering a meditative state to cultivate.

Throughout the night, Qin Sang activated the demonic eye twice, and it always gazed eastward, unmoving, as if trying to thoroughly understand the changes in the array formation of Huizhao Valley, which would not be accomplished in a short time.

Qin Sang nodded inwardly, feeling that he was safe for the time being.

Now, he could guess that the Kuaiyin Sect was likely planning a large-scale attack on the Yuanzhao Sect.

The demonic eye was not just probing the changes in the Huizhao Valley array but was also likely investigating the changes in the protective array of the Yuanzhao Sect, which was located near Huizhao Valley.

Qin Sang did not know and did not care about the reasons for the enmity between the two major sects.

The Kuaiyin Sect had three Golden Core elders, while the Yuanzhao Sect had only two. Their only reliance was the protective array set up by the founding master of the Yuanzhao Sect, which was said to have been established by two Nascent Soul elders.

Once the protective array of the Yuanzhao Sect lost its effectiveness, it would inevitably be overthrown by the Kuaiyin Sect.

If this were true, Qin Sang felt even safer.

The major battle between the two sects would primarily involve Foundation Establishment and Golden Core experts. Cultivators at the Qi Condensation stage like them could only go with the flow.

After the situation became chaotic, no one would pay attention to them. As long as they did not foolishly run to the center of the battlefield, escaping in the chaos should not be difficult.

Moreover, he had the identity of a disciple from both sects, giving him considerable room to maneuver.

...

Twelve days later.

Late at night, in the cave.

Qin Sang sat cross-legged on a water heart bamboo mat, slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing in them, and a look of joy appeared on his face. Then he yawned and lay down on the ground, falling into a deep sleep.

After twelve days of continuous work—tending to the medicinal garden, manipulating the demonic eye, and refining the Qi Gathering Pill—he had not rested for a moment. Although cultivators could use meditation to replace sleep, he still felt exhausted from the bottom of his heart.

Now that he had finally refined the Qi Gathering Pill, his realm had unexpectedly advanced to the late sixth layer. Qin Sang naturally needed a good rest.

He slept soundly without dreams. When he woke up, he felt refreshed and noticed that it was already bright outside. He hurriedly left the cave and continued his daily routine.

After refining the Qi Gathering Pill, Qin Sang took out the stone milk.

Yang Yuancang had already refined most of the impurities out of the stone milk. Qin Sang did not spend much effort and obtained five drops of pure stone milk. After swallowing and refining it, he broke through to the seventh layer with ease.

Several days passed, and Qin Sang sensed that the restriction at the valley entrance had been triggered. When he opened it, he saw Meng Ruhui standing at the entrance with another equally elderly senior. The two were chatting and laughing, clearly very familiar with each other.

Qin Sang straightened his clothes and greeted them with a smile.

Seeing Qin Sang, Meng Ruhui's smile became a bit colder. He pointed to Qin Sang and introduced him to the two, "Senior Jiang, the Huizhao Valley medicinal garden is now tended to by Junior Brother Qin Sang. This is Senior Jiang, who works at the Longevity Hall and is extremely knowledgeable about alchemy. He is responsible for harvesting the spiritual herbs. Junior Brother Qin, please lead us to the medicinal garden... Hmm, Junior Brother Qin, you've broken through to the seventh layer?"

Meng Ruhui was extremely surprised. He clearly remembered that a month ago, when Qin Sang first entered the valley, his spiritual power fluctuations were still very weak, indicating that he had just broken through to the sixth layer of the Qi Condensation stage.

When Qin Sang flew out with his flying tool just now, he felt something was off. Upon a closer look, he realized that Qin Sang had directly advanced to a higher realm.

"Junior Brother Qin Sang greets Senior Brother Meng and Senior Brother Jiang."

Qin Sang led the way and said calmly, "It was a stroke of luck. During the Ascension Conference, I discovered an underground demon nest in the Eight Trigram Forbidden Area and found over ten drops of century-old stone milk. I didn't expect to break through after taking it."

Hearing this, Senior Brother Jiang said enviously, "Century-old stone milk is a divine medicine. Its effects are long-lasting. After taking it, the medicinal power nourishes the meridians, benefiting one for one or two years. I didn't expect Junior Brother Qin to have such good fortune. Perhaps in a few years, Junior Brother Qin's cultivation will surpass ours."

Hearing this, Qin Sang's heart stirred. No wonder he felt his cultivation speed up after breaking through. He had thought it was due to the higher realm, which allowed him to absorb spiritual power faster, but it turned out to be the aftereffects of the century-old stone milk.

Qin Sang also understood that Senior Brother Jiang's words were just polite. They were already at the peak of the thirteenth layer of the Qi Condensation stage, stuck due to the bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment stage. If he did not have any mishaps, it would be quite an achievement to catch up with them in a dozen years.

Immediately, Qin Sang began to seek advice from Senior Brother Jiang.

Meng Ruhui had said that Senior Brother Jiang was extremely knowledgeable about alchemy, which was not an exaggeration. After a few pointers from him, Qin Sang understood the properties of the century-old stone milk and knew how to use it to maximize its effects without wasting the medicinal power.

"Who would have thought that the Eight Trigram Forbidden Area still had century-old stone milk. It's time to request the sect master to search it, though such a spiritual medicine is rare and hard to come by..."

Senior Brother Jiang asked for the location and said regretfully, "Unfortunately, Junior Brother Qin was too hasty and wasted a lot of the medicinal power by taking it directly. With so much stone milk, if it were taken to the Longevity Hall to be refined into a pill, it might help Junior Brother Qin advance to the late seventh layer."

Qin Sang smiled frankly. Who knew if he would still have a share if he handed over the century-old stone milk?

Besides, he had very few spirit stones and could not afford to have someone refine a pill for him. He was already very satisfied with the current results.

The two walked and talked, while Meng Ruhui followed behind in silence. Looking at Qin Sang's back and thinking of his age, he felt a pang of jealousy, but he quickly shook his head and returned to his usual self.

When they arrived at the medicinal garden, Senior Brother Jiang, who had been enthusiastically guiding Qin Sang, suddenly stopped speaking, his expression displeased.

Qin Sang smiled apologetically.

Cultivation was the foundation. To cultivate, he had no spare energy to tend to the medicinal garden. Sometimes he would just sprinkle some Nine Spirit Sand and leave it alone. The spiritual herbs in the garden, lacking proper care, were not in a state of scarcity, but they were far from meeting the requirements of the Longevity Hall.

Meng Ruhui frowned and thought for a moment before speaking, "Senior Brother Jiang, Junior Brother Qin has just taken over Huizhao Valley and may not be familiar with it yet. Moreover, the affairs of Huizhao Valley are indeed more complicated than other places. Perhaps we should give him more time."

Meng Ruhui's willingness to help was unexpected. Qin Sang thanked him with a bow.