Chapter 911: Dual Breakthrough

The external incarnation consolidated its cultivation. Two days later, it slowly opened its eyes, looking at Qin Sang who was seated cross-legged in front of it. Qin Sang had already summoned his corpse core and was ready to reforge it.

The

Seeded Devil Embryo

taught that by reforging the corpse core and then passing it to the external incarnation, much time could be saved. This was a path even Senior Qingzhu had never walked before. Qin Sang had only one chance, and failure would likely destroy the corpse core entirely.

For the past two years, he had pondered it countless times in his heart.

As the external incarnation’s cultivation improved again and again, Qin Sang gained new insights each time. After numerous corrections, he felt there was little room left for improvement. He decided to seize the moment and begin.

The corpse core floated between them. Having fused with the Celestial Gale Qi and the Earth Malevolent Qi, it glowed with an azure-black hue.

The external incarnation focused all its attention, activating its art. Qin Sang also activated the secret technique from the

Seeded Devil Embryo

, forcing out blood and essence, weaving them into incantations, and imprinting them into the corpse core.

Although the corpse core was an External Core, it had been nourished in Qin Sang’s body for decades, already inseparable from him. It had only stagnated because Qin Sang never had spare energy to refine it further, and he had found no way to advance it.

The

Seeded Devil Embryo

provided an opportunity. Once reforged, the corpse core could break through its shackles and advance further.

However, if the external incarnation used the corpse core to improve, it would almost certainly never break into the Spiritual Infant Realm. But such concerns were distant. Even Qin Sang’s own breakthrough to the Spiritual Infant Realm was nowhere in sight, so he could not afford to worry about that now.

The process began smoothly. The corpse core proved docile, absorbing Qin Sang’s blood and essence and transforming into a blood core.

From the heavy loss of blood and essence, Qin Sang’s face paled slightly. Immediately after, the external incarnation gave a low shout, activating the secret technique, firing incantations that turned into streams of devilish light which struck the corpse core, attempting to fuse with it and seize it.

The corpse core erupted in violent resistance. True essence surged chaotically, and even the long-stable Celestial Gale Qi and Earth Malevolent Qi began to waver. Qin Sang seemed prepared for this and intervened swiftly, suppressing the resistance.

His eyes never left the corpse core. He dared not relax for even an instant. This was the most critical step. Once the external incarnation completed the secret technique, its unity with Qin Sang would allow the core to be subdued.

The corpse core continued to resist, but with Qin Sang acting as a "spy", the secret technique finally breached it.

"Retrieve!" The incarnation opened its mouth wide. With a flash of crimson, the corpse core shot into its body.

At the same time, Qin Sang flashed before his incarnation, pressing his palm lightly against its dantian. True essence surged wildly into the incarnation’s Qihai, helping to subdue the corpse core.

After a short while, Qin Sang slowly withdrew his hand, thoughtful. "The first step has gone smoothly. Next, my incarnation and I must employ blood-feeding and the

Seeded Devil Embryo’s

secret technique to refine the Gale Malevolent Qi[1] inside the core, transforming it into his own devil core. That process may last for several months. In the meantime, I can begin preparing for my own breakthrough to the third stage of the

Heavenly Demon Body Refinement

..."

The external incarnation sat rigid and motionless. Qin Sang glanced down at it, then stepped out of the cave dwelling.

***

One year later, in the open clearing before the cave dwelling, separated by a spiritual array...

Two figures clashed, blood light flashing, and immediately split apart. One of them staggered backward seven or eight steps before barely steadying himself, body trembling.

Qin Sang withdrew his palm, his eyes narrowing slightly. He suppressed his surging blood and qi with surprise in his heart. "The art cultivated by the external incarnation can actually affect the opponent’s blood and qi. Perhaps this is the effect of constant blood feeding?"

These two were none other than Qin Sang and his incarnation. By now, the external incarnation had refined the devil core and reached the Core Formation Realm!

Out of caution, Qin Sang had advanced slowly, only proceeding when every step was secure. Thus, the entire refinement process lasted a year.

Twice there had been mishaps, but since the corpse core had originally belonged to Qin Sang, he resolved them successfully, and in the end the incarnation refined it into a devil core.

Now the incarnation possessed genuine early-stage Core Formation strength. Moreover, because of devilish art, its attacks could catch opponents off guard, perhaps forcing them to suffer losses.

After testing its strength, Qin Sang showed satisfaction. He sent the incarnation back to stabilize its foundation, while he began preparing for his own matters.

Not long after the incarnation’s successful breakthrough...

At midnight.

Qin Sang arranged a large spirit-gathering array, filling it with middle-grade spirit stones. Around him sat several jade bottles containing healing and true-essence-restoring herbs, as well as jade boxes holding Tyrant Blood Fruit and Azure Reed Root.

The Star Platform rested before him, with the external incarnation cross-legged opposite it.

The Sky-Eyed Butterfly, the silkworm, and the Two-Headed Hou were summoned as well.

Altogether, five beings of the Core Formation Realm or comparable presence filled the cave dwelling. Of course, the silkworm and Sky-Eyed Butterfly relied on supernatural abilities rather than strength matching their realm.

Qin Sang had already cultivated the

Heavenly Demon Body Refinement

to perfection of the second stage, waiting only for the Star Essence Infusion. To increase his chance of success, he had waited until his incarnation’s breakthrough before acting.

Everything was prepared.

Qin Sang swept his gaze around and whispered, "Let us begin."

He leapt onto the Star Platform, seating himself. The incarnation, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly, and the others moved closer, pressing against the platform and pouring their true essence into it.

Qin Sang himself divided his attention, preparing his art while also channeling true essence into the Star Platform to amplify its starlight.

Thud! Thud!

The Sky-Eyed Butterfly and the silkworm were the first to collapse.

The butterfly wrapped its wings around itself as if asleep. The silkworm flipped its body and lay sprawled like a dead dog.

Next, the incarnation’s essence was exhausted, leaving it motionless.

Only Qin Sang and the Two-Headed Hou continued to endure.

In truth, the Two-Headed Hou possessed the highest cultivation of them all. Qin Sang soon felt his body growing hollow and quickly grabbed a jade bottle, swallowing all the pills within.

The Star Platform was like a bottomless pit, devouring every shred of true essence without restraint.

Its surface gleamed faintly. The power of the stars and cosmic orbit was drawn down by the Star Platform.

The instant the Two-Headed Hou also fell back in exhaustion, a pillar of light appeared above the island, piercing the heavens and linking to the stars. Star essence poured down in torrents. Fortunately, the island’s remote location meant no one would witness the anomaly.

Bathed in starlight, Qin Sang hastily circulated his art with all his strength.

At once, his heart quaked. An ethereal, mysterious power cascaded from the heavens, crashing into his body like a torrent, unstoppable. Within it lurked the shadowy presence of stellar malevolence.

Qin Sang let out a muffled groan, his body shuddering violently, a grimace twisting across his face as he forced himself to remain steady.

His entire body flushed crimson, veins bulging as though blood was about to spill from his skin.

More terrifying still was the turmoil within. The immense star essence scoured his flesh as if shredding it, cutting with countless blades, while his bones felt gnawed by a swarm of ants.

The pain he endured this time far exceeded what he had suffered when breaking through to the second stage.

1. This term is used to describe the fusion of Celestial Gale Qi and Earth Malevolent Qi. ☜