Chapter 622: Stormy Demonic Sea

"Only when medicine aligns with its qi does form emerge; when the Dao conforms to mystery, it becomes natural. Swallow a Golden Core, and you’ll realize that your fate is yours to decide."[1]

Cui Xuanzi bowed deeply to the ground. His tone carried deep admiration, tinged with faint melancholy, but in the end, it all melted into a single word of congratulations. "Congratulations, Senior, on forming your core."

Qin Sang appeared very young, no older than twenty, while Cui Xuanzi had a head full of white hair.

If a mortal had witnessed this scene, they would surely have been shocked, thinking the roles were reversed.

But in the world of immortal cultivation, where strength reigned supreme, such occurrences were nothing out of the ordinary.

"Forming a Golden Core is but the first step in shedding one’s shackles. The immortal path remains treacherous, littered with formidable figures. I dare not speak of defying fate so lightly."

Qin Sang smiled faintly, withdrew the flying yaksha, and glanced toward the direction where the Five-Insect Sect disciples had left. "Does your sect’s Core Formation Daoists have any free time? I’ve only just formed my core and have many doubts. I hope to pay a visit and engage in discussion."

Cui Xuanzi’s eyes flickered at his words, but his tone remained steady as he explained, "Reporting to Senior Qin, my senior uncle left on a journey shortly after forming his core. He may have already departed from Xijiang. It’s said he was planning to invite fellow cultivators to hunt demons in the Stormy Demonic Sea, and likely won’t return anytime soon. If you are willing to stay a few more days, I’ll send word right away."

Just earlier, Cui Xuanzi had felt some relief upon noticing Qin Sang’s tone was cordial despite commanding a flying yaksha. He no longer seemed like some bloodthirsty fiend.

But hearing Qin Sang suddenly inquire after a Core Formation Realm cultivator, Cui Xuanzi’s nerves tensed once more.

The Five-Insect Sect had indeed produced such a cultivator. He was Cui Xuanzi’s own senior uncle.

But that senior uncle had departed on a journey not long after Cui Xuanzi took over as sect leader. Now that Cui Xuanzi had reached his final years, that man had yet to return. No Soul Lamp had been left behind either.

Whether he was alive or dead, no one knew.

Outsiders were unaware of these details. Borrowing his senior uncle’s name to add weight was a tactic Cui Xuanzi didn’t hesitate to employ, but he had no intention of volunteering the truth to Qin Sang.

Stormy Demonic Sea...

Qin Sang took note of the new name. From the sound of it, it resembled a place like Heavenly Demon Hill. It was likely a territory dominated by demonic beasts.

Yet if even Core Formation cultivators ventured there in groups to hunt demonic beasts, the beasts of the Stormy Demonic Sea were clearly not as friendly toward humans as those of Heavenly Demon Hill.

"Never mind. I came to Xijiang to search for a suitable spiritual insect to serve as my life-bound insect gu. I’ve heard that this wild region teems with such creatures. Forming my core here was purely a stroke of fortune. I won’t be lingering long in your Bear Mountain region."

Qin Sang gave Cui Xuanzi a long, penetrating look. His gaze was sharp. He could tell the old man’s words weren’t entirely truthful. Still, he made no effort to probe which parts were real and which were not. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Since that Daoist is not present, there’s no need to trouble yourself."

But before he could finish speaking, Qin Sang noticed Cui Xuanzi staring at him in shock, as if he had just heard something utterly unbelievable.

"Senior, you haven’t even chosen your life-bound insect gu, and you’ve already formed your core?"

Cui Xuanzi looked completely dumbfounded.

Qin Sang’s heart stirred.

Is there some hidden connection between forming a core and binding a life-bound insect gu?

He recalled his earlier exchange with Yuan Hu.

From that conversation, Qin Sang had learned that the witch race and the human race were deeply hostile, their animosity rooted in a history of war and bloodshed.

The witch race had long since been driven out, now exiled to the Witch God Continent. Even someone like Yuan Hu, who had never left the Bear Mountain region, harbored deep resentment toward the humans. Qin Sang thus judged it safer to continue posing as a member of the witch race.

Fortunately, from his recent interactions, Qin Sang had noticed that there was little outward difference between members of the witch race and humans.

The witch race referred to immortal cultivators as Witch God's envoys and had many strange customs.

But after meeting Yuan Hu and Cui Xuanzi, he realized those customs had largely faded. Their speech and behavior differed little from that of ordinary human cultivators. Qin Sang only needed to watch his words with care.

Only among the villagers’ Bimos and priests did those bizarre customs persist in full.

Qin Sang suspected it was a means of maintaining control over the common folk and reinforcing their own authority.

The witch race feared the power of Witch God's envoys, yet held unwavering faith in the Witch God. That faith, while intangible, could sometimes wield great strength.

Witch cultivators were adept at insect control, often refining spiritual insects into life-bound insect gu.

But Qin Sang was still unsure what path the local human cultivators followed.

Does it mirror that of the witch race?

His thoughts turned quickly, and Qin Sang replied with a calm expression, "I spent many years in seclusion, but never managed to find a suitable life-bound insect gu, which delayed my progress. Not long ago, I encountered a bottleneck in my Core Formation and decided to travel in search of spiritual insects, using the journey as training. Who would’ve thought a sudden inspiration would allow me to succeed mid-journey? Even I hadn’t expected it."

He spoke the lie with ease.

Yet in his heart, he mocked bitterly.

If only you knew the ordeals I endured for Core Formation.

"Senior, your talent is unlike anything I have ever witnessed..."

Cui Xuanzi was thoroughly astonished by Qin Sang and shook his head repeatedly. "To form a core without relying on a life-bound insect gu... not even the direct disciples of the great sects outside Xijiang can compare to you, Senior. While you’re training in Xijiang, if you require anything at all, please don’t hesitate to instruct us. My sect’s disciples and I will do all we can to assist."

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Now that he realized Qin Sang hadn’t even chosen a life-bound insect gu, Cui Xuanzi became even more convinced that Qin Sang’s origins were extraordinary. A desire to align himself with such a figure began to grow in his heart, wanting to form a favorable connection.

As for Qin Sang, with his thick skin, he certainly didn’t feel the slightest embarrassment.

On the contrary, Cui Xuanzi’s words only piqued his curiosity further.

Do witch cultivators form their Core not through the use of various spirit pills and rare treasures like the cultivators of the Small Cold Domain, but through reliance on a life-bound insect gu?

Qin Sang looked at Cui Xuanzi with a faintly amused gaze and chuckled lightly. "If I wished to borrow a look at your sect’s secret technique that was passed down, would you agree?"

"This..."

Cui Xuanzi’s expression shifted. He hadn’t expected Qin Sang to covet his sect’s teachings.

But with such a powerful background behind this man, what is the worth of a humble sect like ours?

"Senior, you must be joking, right?" Cui Xuanzi forced a smile. "The cultivation arts across Xijiang are more or less the same. My sect’s legacy is quite shallow; we fear it may not be worthy of your attention."

Qin Sang replied coolly, "Would I joke about such matters? Drawing analogies across disciplines, learning from all sources, as long as something aids my cultivation, I take an interest in it. Your sect has managed to stand firm in Xijiang and holds dominance over the Bear Mountain region. You’ve even produced a Core Formation expert. You must have your strengths. If I could take a look, it might grant me some insight. Of course, I won’t force you..."

Cui Xuanzi cursed inwardly. He hadn’t expected that borrowing his senior uncle’s name would backfire and bring on such trouble instead.

Qin Sang retrieved an item from his Thousand-Jin Ring and presented it to Cui Xuanzi.

"If you’re willing, I can exchange this item for it."

Cui Xuanzi focused his gaze and saw that it was a piece of talisman paper. He looked puzzled at first.

But the moment he clearly identified what it was, a look of shock overtook his face. "This is a talisman astra?"

1. This is from an ancient Chinese poem. ☜