Chapter 920: Return Journey

The Wind-Hidden Island was one of the most mysterious islands of Windy Archipelago, precisely because of the existence of its auction. Rare treasures that were nearly impossible to obtain elsewhere, such as Seven-Kill Hall jade tokens, could sometimes be purchased there.

It was said that behind Wind-Hidden Island stood not only Spiritual Infant grandmasters, but also the hidden influence of the three great merchant alliances.

A month later, the Wind-Hidden Island's auction concluded. At the Core Formation Realm session, three jade talismans from Seven-Kill Hall appeared, each taken away at a sky-high price by three mysterious cultivators.

Several months later, Qin Sang, travel-worn and weary, returned to Poison Island. The Bai Zhongqiu family was cultivating on Poison Island. When they learned that Qin Sang had come back, they hurried out to pay their respects.

Nearly twenty years had passed. Bai Zhongqiu and his wife had changed little in appearance, while Bai Ying’er was no longer an immature young girl. Though she had always lived secluded on Poison Island, away from worldly affairs, her demeanor had grown calmer and more mature than in years past. The greatest change lay in their cultivation.

Bai Zhongqiu had already reached the Fake Core Realm. Bai Hong remained trapped at the bottleneck of the late stage of the Foundation Building Realm, though he was said to have gained some insight, and his breakthrough was only a matter of time.

The most astonishing was Bai Ying’er. By virtue of her Water Jade Body, she succeeded in reaching the Foundation Building Realm without taking a Foundation Building Pill, which even left Qin Sang deeply moved.

The moment he returned to the cave dwelling, the Two-Headed Hou broke free of Qin Sang, dashed over to Bai Ying’er, and lay down at her side, demanding that she comb its fur.

Bai Ying’er covered her mouth with a laugh. She first bowed respectfully to Qin Sang, then sat cross-legged, resting the beast’s heads on her lap. A layer of water-elemental power surfaced on her palm as she gently stroked its fur, whispering softly into its ear. The Two-Headed Hou squinted in pleasure, its tail wagging as it hummed contentedly.

"This fellow..." Qin Sang raised his brow.

The Two-Headed Hou had failed to break through for years. Perhaps disheartened, it had spent its days idling beside Bai Ying’er. Once, it nearly caused serious trouble, and Qin Sang had been the one to clean up the mess.

Seeing his daughter with the beast, Bai Zhongqiu could not help but smile. He turned and bowed to Qin Sang, asking curiously, "Senior, may I ask, did you manage to secure Seven-Kill Hall jade token at the auction?"

After over ten years together, he and his wife had come to know Qin Sang’s temperament. They no longer feared him quite so much.

Qin Sang gave a brief nod. "I was fortunate enough to obtain everything I needed, though the struggle for the jade token was fiercer than I had expected. The final price was much higher than what I had prepared for." With that, he let out a sigh, his heart aching at the cost.

Fortunately, he had relied on spiritual items seized from Black Snake Mountain cultivators. Without them, he might not have succeeded. To force entry into Seven-Kill Hall was all but a death sentence. Yet for the sake of breakthroughs and the immortal path, many cultivators would gamble their very lives.

"I have recently acquired some corpse refinement techniques and must go into seclusion for a time. There is nothing that requires your assistance for now. Remain here and focus on cultivation. When I emerge, I will give you further instructions."

After a single command, Qin Sang walked into the cave dwelling alone. Bai Zhongqiu and his wife exchanged glances, their hearts mixed with joy and worry.

They were glad to be allowed to stay on Poison Island, a hidden sanctuary brimming with spiritual qi. Countless cultivators would have killed for such a place.

Yet they feared what dangerous task Qin Sang might entrust them with once he emerged.

Qin Sang stepped inside the cave dwelling, sealed the barriers, and with a

thud

, lowered the black coffin from his back. He lifted the coffin lid, revealing his external incarnation lying within.

Suddenly, its eyes snapped open, revealing a pair of blood-red pupils. A murderous, bloodthirsty gleam shot forth, locking onto Qin Sang. In an instant, the cave dwelling seemed to fill with a suffocating stench of blood.

Qin Sang frowned slightly and quickly used several incantations. The blood color in the incarnation’s eyes gradually faded, returning to normal. It rose from the coffin and sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion.

"The shortcut secret techniques indeed carry grave dangers." Qin Sang’s expression was solemn as he studied the incarnation.

When he saw that the incarnation’s own cultivation could not keep pace, he had forced it to swallow the blood bead, employing the shortcut secret technique from the

Seeded Devil Embryo.

The consequences were swift to appear.

"Before, although my cultivation was lower than that of the incarnation, I could still command it by relying on the Jade Buddha’s power, without fear of backlash. Yet now, after only one blood bead, signs of rebellion are already showing. I must constantly employ the secret technique of the

Seeded Devil Embryo

to calm its devil soul. Once it reaches the peak of the Core Formation Realm, if I wish to wield it in battle, I may have no choice but to use the Heavenly Demon Transformation. At other times, I can only keep it asleep." His gaze shifted to the black coffin.

Though unremarkable at first glance, its metallic luster betrayed its nature as an astra, one forged by Qin Sang himself.

Apart from the ebony sword, this was the first true astra he had personally crafted. He had named it the Heavenly Corpse Coffin. He had derived its design from the Heavenly Yin Corpse Art, which described the refinement of corpse coffins.

After deciphering some of the runes from the black iron column, his artifact refinement skills had greatly advanced. Using precious demonic beast bones and rare materials he had long saved, he successfully created the Heavenly Corpse Coffin.

The Heavenly Corpse Coffin could seal the incarnation’s aura and block spiritual consciousness from probing. As long as the incarnation lay inside, none would discern its secrets. Of course, that was only one of its uses.

In battle, the Heavenly Corpse Coffin could transform into armor for the incarnation. Qin Sang had also found a long saber astra among his spoils and given it to the incarnation for combat.

Since the incarnation lacked powerful supernatural abilities, only suitable astras could strengthen it.

"I just purchased a piece of Black Origin Gold at the Wind-Hidden Island auction. If I forge it into the Heavenly Corpse Coffin, its defense will soar, second only to the Golden Radiance Armor of old. However, Black Origin Gold is too hard. Even with the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells, I can only barely temper it, leaving me no energy to refine it into an astra. I will have to wait until I return to Tianxing Island. I remember that island has a top-grade artifact refinement chamber. With the help of the city-guarding array, I can draw upon the underground fire vein’s power."

Qin Sang had already conceived a plan for enhancing the Heavenly Corpse Coffin. He had decided to return to Tianxing Island.

The battle of Dongming Island was more than thirty years ago. No matter how fierce the storm had been, it should have long subsided.

Landou Sect's leader could not possibly remain on Tianxing Island forever. As long as he did not encounter a Spiritual Infant grandmaster, even if he ran into Abbot Lu, with Qin Sang’s current strength, the outcome of a fight would be uncertain.

The chaos of the Demonic Sea had been quelled over twenty years ago. As for the final events within the Demonic Sea, how the furious demon race had been driven back, Qin Sang had no clear news, having stayed in this remote place all along. Two decades later, the Demonic Sea had likely returned to normal.

"A man's revenge need not be rushed. I wonder, do you still remember me?" His eyes flickered.

He had not forgotten that he stole away the treasure coveted by the Black Snake Mountain grandmaster.

To avoid exposure and being targeted by a Spiritual Infant cultivator, he would only have one chance to strike.