Chapter 1230: Rest in Peace

At Shiqu Mountain, Qin Sang received a message and hurried over without delay.

"I’m not sure what the ancient cultivators used to carry the array, but I refined several array artifacts and a diagram. I was only able to restore part of it..." Qingjun walked out, took out several items, and handed them to Qin Sang.

Among them was an array diagram made from some unknown hide.

Before activation, it was only palm-sized. Lines had been inscribed across it with cinnabar, identical to the patterns Qin Sang had copied before.

A strange power flowed faintly within the diagram. The fluctuations it emitted resonated with the Devil-Binding Chain in Qingjun’s hand.

The other array artifacts had been designed to work in tandem with the diagram, maximizing the power of the Devil-Binding Chain.

"You mentioned before that I should consult your friend who cultivates the Corpse Dao. I made a special trip back to Yuanshen Sect to meet him. He gave me quite a few suggestions, many of which I hadn’t considered... Do you know his background?" Qingjun recalled something and asked with curiosity.

Before handing over the Devil-Binding Chain, Qin Sang had planned to wait until Bai completed his breakthrough and then ask him to restore it. He had mentioned to Qingjun that if the two of them worked together, the chances of success would be greater.

He did not know when Qingjun had gone back, and Bai had not mentioned it to him last time.

Qin Sang’s expression shifted slightly. There had never been any real connection between Bai and Qingjun. Even with him in between, trust between them would have been impossible.

When Bai had come out of Peach Blossom Valley to meet Qingjun, he had used a disguised identity. Qingjun did not know Bai’s true origins.

Since Bai was unwilling to reveal himself, Qin Sang could not expose his secret either. He replied vaguely, "When it comes to ancient secrets like these, Brother Bai would not speak without reason."

Qingjun pondered this, nodded, and did not press further.

Qin Sang examined the array diagram but could not judge its quality. He stepped outside, took out a devilish banner, and said, "Let’s give it a try..."

A strand of devil fire shot out from the banner.

Qingjun immediately understood. She tossed the Devil-Binding Chain into the air and formed a hand seal. The array diagram flew out from Qin Sang’s palm, instantly expanding to cover an area of several mu, while the array artifacts merged into it one after another.

The diagram spun rapidly and moved beneath the Devil-Binding Chain. The previously rigid chain came alive at once, twisting and shifting with a clattering sound.

Smoke rose within the courtyard. The array diagram itself vanished, transforming into a region of drifting clouds.

Qingjun changed her hand seal again.

Within the mist, dozens of identical phantom chains suddenly appeared. Like black serpents, they sprang forward and lunged at the devilish fire without hesitation.

Clatter! In the blink of an eye, the devilish fire was tightly bound by the Devil-Binding Chain and compressed into a small mass.

Qingjun waved her hand and recalled both the chain and the diagram. After a moment of thought, she said, "The Devil-Binding Chain does indeed restrain devilish fire, but this is far from its full power. It still needs improvement. Also, setting up the array and then activating the chain takes time. That delay is enough for an enemy to react, escape, or disrupt it. Unless it’s prepared in advance, it would be difficult to use in combat. That also needs improvement."

Qin Sang saw that Qingjun had already identified all the shortcomings, so he did not add anything further. Instead, he offered a few of his own ideas.

He had gained considerable insight into artifact refinement and had studied Yuanshen Sect’s collections. He was confident his suggestions could inspire his senior sister.

The two discussed at length, covering not only the Devil-Binding Chain but also matters concerning Blood Lake.

That very night, Qin Sang returned to Sandi’e Stronghold.

After that, he rarely left the stronghold. He cultivated day and night, temporarily halting his body refinement and devoting that time to refining devilish fire and nurturing the fire lotus seed.

He never stopped cultivating the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment. No matter how powerful these secret techniques were, they were only superficial. True advancement lay in raising one’s cultivation realm.

In this manner, a year passed quietly.

News continued to arrive from Endless Valley. Blood Lake’s seal had been constantly trembling, but there were still no signs of it loosening.

The war had entered a prolonged stalemate. Qin Sang could not help but admire the patience of the Sin Abyss cultivators. Despite achieving little, they remained entrenched on Tianxing Highland, occasionally launching harassment attacks as if treating the battlefield as a training ground.

He could not tell whether they were doing this to pin down the cultivators of the two domains. Unable to discern their intentions, Qin Sang chose not to dwell on it.

His purpose for entering Blood Lake had always been twofold. First, to find the Lightning-Devouring Falcon and search for any fragments of Infinite Blood Mulberry Wood scattered within the lake. Only secondarily was it to thwart Old Devil Ye’s schemes.

If things became impossible, he would never risk his life.

With the eighteen devilish banners protecting him, he could leave whenever he wished. Even Old Devil Ye would not be able to stop him. The old macaque and the others had already found a cave dwelling overseas. At worst, he could relocate his juniors and establish themselves on an island.

However, that would make it extremely difficult to enter Ziwei Palace again. Unless absolutely necessary, Qin Sang did not want to leave Small Cold Domain.

Several more months passed. At last, the cultivators stationed in Endless Valley sent back definite news. Blood Lake’s seal had begun to loosen and would soon break.

After deliberation, Devil Lord Tongyou and the others decided to act. They feared Old Devil Ye might have some method of deception, slipping in before the seal fully opened.

Qin Sang received a message from his senior sister. Instead of going to the ice crystal palace to meet them, he brought along the fat chicken and headed into Endless Valley ahead of time. For this, he had refined the Primordial Unity Ring once more using several precious materials so that it could carry the fat chicken.

The blood miasma at the outer edge of Endless Valley was no longer a concern to him, and there was plenty of time.

Qin Sang remembered that the Ghost-Headed Wasp, a strange insect, could be found within the miasma. He searched the area for a while.

Much of his success had come from the fat silkworm, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly, and the Fire Jade Centipede. Because of this, he paid special attention to spiritual insects listed in the Supernatural Insect Register.

Unfortunately, he did not even find a Blood-Winged Ghost-Headed Wasp, let alone the original species.

With no results, Qin Sang stopped searching and flew straight toward the inner valley. This time, he followed the same path he had taken with Wandering Man.

As he entered the inner valley, Qin Sang recalled how they had discovered traces of Wuji Sect's leader there, which had set off everything that followed. Memories surfaced one after another.

Moving steadily, he soon reached the frozen plains. The ice fissure was still there. Qin Sang descended beneath the ice and sped forward. Before long, an ice hall appeared ahead.

The moment he appeared inside, a black shadow lunged toward him. Corpse qi rushed at his face.

The attacker had an azure face, protruding fangs, and a ferocious appearance. It was Wu Shang, transformed into a flying yaksha.

In his pursuit of the Dao, he had refined himself into a living corpse. He had come here to search for the Night Lily, only for corpse poison to erupt within him. He had wandered here for countless years, muddled and lost, unable to enter reincarnation.

Qin Sang made no visible move, yet Wu Shang froze in place, unable to move.

"May you rest in peace and return to the cycle of reincarnation." Qin Sang bowed deeply with utmost sincerity, expressing gratitude for Wu Shang’s guidance on the path of cultivation.

His expression was solemn as he extended a finger and gently touched Wu Shang’s forehead.

Wu Shang’s aura rapidly faded. In the final moment, within those lifeless eyes, there seemed to pass a trace of peace...

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