OBS Chapter 1406 Mid-Nascent Soul Stage!
Chapter 1406 Mid-Nascent Soul Stage!
Chapter 1406 Mid-Nascent Soul Stage!
A year has quietly passed.
Deep in the vast ocean beyond the chaotic starry sky, far from the main areas of human activity, an island stands alone on the blue waves.
This island is called Silver Shark Island. Although the name contains "shark," it is not named after sharks, but rather after a silver-scaled sea monster that once occupied the island. As times changed and the wave of human cultivators venturing into the outer seas to hunt monsters and seek treasures grew stronger, this reasonably well-located island was gradually developed into an important outpost and supply point, and the name Silver Shark Island has remained to this day.
On this day, the sky above Silver Shark Island was clear and blue. A streak of dark green light streaked across the sky like a meteor, moving so fast that it left only a faint afterimage in the air.
The light faded, revealing a figure in a long, dark robe—it was Qin Hao. He didn't linger on the island, disappearing into the crowds of the market in a flash. He casually stopped at a few information stalls and teahouses, discreetly inquiring about the distribution of islands in the northern part of the Chaotic Star Sea, recent movements of the demon race, and certain specific rumors.
After a short while, the dark figure left Silver Shark Island as silently as it had arrived, transforming once again into a dark green streak of light and merging into the boundless sea and sky.
A month later.
In a sea area further north of the Chaotic Stars Ocean, the waves are turbulent and the sea breeze is biting.
An island that looked unremarkable, even somewhat desolate, came into Qin Hao's view.
The island is not small, but the vegetation is sparse, the rocks are rugged, and the concentration of spiritual energy is only slightly stronger than that of ordinary sea areas, far inferior to those well-known spiritual islands.
However, as Qin Hao hovered above the island, his sharp gaze swept over the island's mountains and rivers, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly, forming a satisfied arc.
"In the northern waters of Silver Shark Island, there is only one island that matches the description. There's no mistake, this is the treasure island that nurtured the high-grade spirit stone vein—Azure Spirit Island." Qin Hao muttered to himself, a hint of barely perceptible excitement in his voice.
For Nascent Soul cultivators, even ordinary low-grade spirit stones are worth significantly less. The rare and precious natural treasures and cultivation techniques they need for trade are usually bartered, and they generally do not accept spirit stones.
However, high-grade spirit stones are a completely different matter!
In the ancient times of the human realm, ancient demons invaded, and powerful beings from the spirit realm descended to fight them. The earth-shattering battle almost shattered the foundation of the human realm.
Since then, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has gradually thinned, resources have become depleted, and mid-grade spirit stone veins are already rare, while high-grade spirit stone veins are even rarer and almost extinct.
The reason why top-grade spirit stones are so precious is that the spiritual energy they contain is not only abundant but also extremely pure! Whether used to refine top-tier magic weapons, set up powerful ancient arrays, or serve as the driving core of certain special secret techniques, top-grade spirit stones are irreplaceable.
Its scarcity means that even at the Nascent Soul level, only a very few top-tier experts or those with extraordinary opportunities can possess one or two pieces, which they regard as treasures.
Beneath Azure Spirit Island lies a slumbering, unexplored high-grade spirit stone mine! This is undoubtedly a peerless treasure waiting to be unearthed!
Qin Hao's eyes narrowed, and he no longer hesitated. A terrifying pressure, vast as an abyss and boundless as the sea, suddenly erupted from his body, like an invisible curtain, instantly enveloping the entire Biling Island!
Every inch of land and every living being on the island was covered by this pure Nascent Soul stage spiritual pressure, and their hearts felt as if a giant mountain was pressing down on them, filled with suffocating fear.
"All humans and demons on this island are to leave this island within one incense stick's time! Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"
The cold, domineering voice, like a thunderclap from the heavens, clearly reached the ears of every living being on the island, carrying an unquestionable majesty and chilling killing intent.
In an instant, Biling Island erupted into chaos!
"Nascent Soul is powerful!"
"Run away!"
"My God, this senior wants to have this island all to himself!"
Exclamations and the sound of air being torn apart rose and fell. Whether human cultivators or low-level demonic beasts, they had no thought of resistance or doubt in the face of this oppressive force that was enough to crush their souls.
Streaks of light of various colors shot up from every corner of the island like startled birds, fleeing desperately towards the sea beyond the island.
Within a few breaths, the island, which had been somewhat vibrant, fell into a deathly silence, with only the howling wind remaining.
No one dared to look back even once as they fled, and no one dared to whisper among themselves. Before absolute power, any dissent was tantamount to suicide. The unfamiliar Nascent Soul stage monster had merely driven them away, refraining from widespread slaughter; in their eyes, this was already an act of immense mercy.
Only a few Core Formation cultivators who were a little bolder and faster could slow down slightly after escaping a long enough distance, and look at the figure standing with his hands behind his back above Biling Island, who looked like a god or demon.
At this moment, Qin Hao had already activated the "Shape-Changing Technique" from the "Mysterious Yin Scripture," completely altering his appearance and aura. In the eyes of those fleeing cultivators, this domineering Nascent Soul old monster who occupied Biling Island was a gray-robed old man with a withered face and sharp, eagle-like eyes, exuding a sinister aura that kept strangers at bay.
"This senior...I've never seen him before. Who is this reclusive master from some unknown place?"
"Hey, the Chaotic Star Sea is vast and boundless, and there are countless cultivators who have worked hard to cultivate! How many Nascent Soul stage ancestors can we, as Core Formation cultivators, know? This senior has a profound aura and astonishing pressure, he is definitely not an ordinary person."
“That makes sense. But… Biling Island has a thin spiritual energy and scarce resources. Why would this senior choose to settle here? It’s really puzzling.”
"How could we possibly fathom the thoughts of a Nascent Soul Ancestor? Perhaps he is refining some earth-shattering magic weapon, or cultivating a supernatural power that requires an extremely quiet place, and he just happens to have his eye on this remote and desolate place. In short, the less we know about such things, the better, lest we bring trouble upon ourselves."
"Alas, the Path to Nascent Soul... I wonder if we, in this lifetime, will have the chance to even glimpse a trace of its beginnings?"
"Stop dreaming. Being able to cultivate peacefully to the mid-stage of Core Formation is already a blessing for us..."
The murmurs faded into the sea breeze as the disappearing light vanished. An hour later, Biling Island returned to complete tranquility, but this tranquility was tinged with a sense of solemnity and mystery.
Without further delay, Qin Hao formed hand seals, and streams of pure magical power flew out from his fingertips like serpents, disappearing into the void surrounding the island.
Immediately afterwards, array flags and array plates were precisely driven into the earth's vein nodes. Accompanied by a deep hum, several layers of light screens of different colors and functions rose up one after another, nested together, and finally merged into one, forming a thick, substantial cloud barrier that completely enveloped the entire Biling Island.
The clouds and mist surged, and the concealment effects of the formation were fully activated. From the sea outside, the place where the island had once stood was now completely empty, with only a vast expanse of sea fog remaining. It was as if Biling Island had never existed, completely disappearing from the perception of this sea area.
In the center of Biling Island, a simple cave dwelling has been carved out of an inconspicuous stone mountain. Qin Hao sits cross-legged on a futon in the center of the cave dwelling, his expression calm.
He slapped an inconspicuous gray storage bag at his waist, and it flashed with light. Accompanied by a slight clicking of a mechanism, dozens of humanoid puppets, each made of an unknown metal and of various shapes but all radiating the spiritual pressure of the late Foundation Establishment stage, appeared in neat rows in the cave like well-trained soldiers. Their eyes gleamed with a cold red light, awaiting orders.
"Go!" Qin Hao gave a clear command with a slight thought.
Dozens of late-stage Foundation Establishment puppets, their eyes glowing brightly red, moved in perfect unison, immediately turning around and using both hands and feet to begin digging into the hard rock layer below the cave.
In an instant, rubble flew everywhere inside the cave, and the dull sound of digging could be heard all the while.
Using late-stage Foundation Establishment puppets to mine is an extremely extravagant affair in the human realm. This is because keeping these puppets running continuously requires a vast amount of low-grade spirit stones as energy, something ordinary cultivators simply cannot afford.
However, for Qin Hao, this expenditure was entirely within his means. Exchanging low-grade spirit stones for high-grade spirit stones that were hundreds or thousands of times more precious was an incredibly worthwhile deal.
Even so, Qin Hao still felt the excavation speed wasn't fast enough. He pondered for a moment, then took out a large number of broken metal parts and cores from another storage bag. These were the remains of the Core Formation stage puppets he had brought out from the inner hall of the Void Heaven Palace. He summoned the AI in his sea of consciousness to assist him, and its powerful deductive abilities began to rapidly analyze the structural principles, rune inscriptions, and driving cores of these remains.
A month later, thanks to the perfect deduction of the AI and Qin Hao's own superb crafting skills, a batch of brand-new early-stage Core Formation puppets were successfully crafted. These puppets were larger, more complex in structure, had more powerful driving cores, and their mining efficiency far exceeded that of Foundation Establishment puppets.
"Go!" Qin Hao waved his hand, and this group of newly recruited Core Formation stage "miners" joined the mining army.
Mining with Core Formation stage puppets! This is simply outrageous and extremely extravagant. If word got out, it would be enough to shock all the cultivators in the Chaotic Star Sea, who would secretly curse Qin Hao for being "inhumanly rich."
Time slipped away quietly amidst the clanging and clattering of the excavation. Three months later, the puppet army, having penetrated deep underground, finally made contact with their target—a high-grade spirit stone vein buried deep within the earth's veins, radiating a rich and pure spiritual energy!
However, the high-grade spirit stone veins are far more solid than ordinary rocks, and even with Core Formation stage puppets working day and night to excavate them, the mining speed is still quite slow.
Preliminary estimates suggest that only about two hundred high-grade spirit stones can be mined per month. As for the legendary top-grade spirit stones, which are said to contain even more refined spiritual energy, no trace of them has been found yet.
The good news is that the reserves of this mineral vein on Biling Island are astonishing! Preliminary exploration results show that even at the current mining speed, it might not be exhausted even after decades or even centuries of continuous mining! This is a huge treasure that is enough to support Qin Hao's long cultivation years to come.
Qin Hao carefully put the high-grade spirit stones he had mined into a specially made storage bag, feeling the pure spiritual energy emanating from the stones, and his heart calmed down slightly.
Then, he took out several jade bottles of different colors from a storage bag at his waist that shimmered with a faint golden light. This storage bag was the spoils of war he had obtained from the barbarian.
Upon uncorking the bottles, a refreshing fragrance of medicinal pills immediately filled the entire cave. These pills were all exquisite treasures collected by the Barbarian Beard over nearly a thousand years of roaming the chaotic star sea! Among them were not only several bottles of "Jade Marrow Pills" and "Haoyuan Pills" that could enhance the magical power of Nascent Soul stage cultivators, but also several bottles of precious body-refining pills specifically used to assist in the cultivation of the "Heavenly Demon Art"—"Bone Tempering and Tendon Strengthening Paste" and "Dragon Elephant Mighty Pill".
Now that he had obtained the "Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art," hailed as the number one body-refining divine art in the Chaotic Star Sea, Qin Hao naturally couldn't focus solely on cultivating his magical power. Cultivating both his physical and magical abilities simultaneously was the only way to become a true powerhouse!
He first took out a Dragon Elephant Mighty Pill and swallowed it. The pill melted instantly in his mouth, and a violent, scorching torrent rushed into his limbs and bones! This power was not a gentle nourishment, but rather like countless tiny steel needles, carrying a brutal tearing sensation, frantically impacting every inch of the muscle, fascia, and bone structure. Excruciating pain surged like a tidal wave; Qin Hao groaned, fine beads of sweat instantly appearing on his forehead, and his skin began to flush red.
He dared not delay and immediately began to circulate the technique according to the incantation of the first level of the "Heavenly Demon Art". A faint golden light emerged from his body, resisting the tearing medicinal power and guiding it to temper his physical body along a specific path.
Muscle fibers become more resilient through repeated tearing and repair by medicine and techniques; fascia is stretched and condensed, increasing its elasticity and toughness; subtle tingling and buzzing sensations emanate from within the bones, and density seems to be slowly increasing.
After the effects of the Dragon Elephant Mighty Pill were initially absorbed and his body had slightly adapted to the inhuman pain, Qin Hao took out a small ice jade box. Upon opening the lid, an extremely cold aura rushed out, and inside lay several pigeon egg-sized, snow-white inner cores radiating a dense chill—the very inner cores he had obtained from capturing the Ice Snow Toad on the outskirts of the Spirit Abyss of the Void Heaven Palace.
He took out an Ice Toad Inner Core and swallowed it without hesitation. In an instant, an extreme chill exploded in his abdomen! This chill clashed violently with the residual heat of the Dragon Elephant Mighty Pill! The extreme experience of ice and fire caused Qin Hao's body to tremble violently, his skin sometimes turning as red as burning coals, and sometimes covered with a layer of white frost.
This is not a simple alternation of hot and cold, but a process in which two extreme forces collide wildly in the meridians and flesh, annihilating each other and stimulating each other's potential! Each collision brings pain that penetrates to the bone marrow, as if the body is constantly disintegrating and rebuilding.
Qin Hao gritted his teeth, almost drawing blood from his gums. He circulated the Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art with all his might, the golden light on his body flickering but stubbornly maintaining its intensity. Under this extreme torment, he could clearly feel his physical body undergoing some kind of transformation.
Muscle density, bone hardness, fascia resilience, and even the deepest cellular activity are all slowly and steadily improved in this brutal tempering of ice and fire.
Each time he took pills and internal cores for cultivation, it was like walking on the edge of life and death. But the effects were also remarkable. Qin Hao could sense that his physical strength was increasing at a steady rate, and the defense of his skin was also increasing day by day, gradually moving towards the Golden Skin and Iron Bones realm described in the first level of the "Heavenly Demon Art".
……
Time flies, like the ceaseless flow of the sea outside Biling Island; in the blink of an eye, sixty years have quietly passed.
The heavy fog and protective arrays that shrouded Biling Island were like a giant cocoon, isolating this precious island from the world for a full sixty years.
Until this seemingly ordinary morning, a long roar that pierced the clouds and split rocks, containing unparalleled power and a sense of exhilaration, suddenly erupted from the center of the island!
"Roar--!!!"
The howling sound, like a tangible sonic wave, spread out from the cave where Qin Hao was located! The thick clouds that had shrouded the island for sixty years were torn apart and stirred by an invisible giant hand in this howling sound, which contained powerful magic and pure blood essence. In the end, it disappeared without a trace in just a few breaths!
The long-awaited sunshine shone unhindered on every inch of Biling Island, and this island, which had been silent for sixty years, finally reappeared in the vast sea.
Almost at the same moment the island reappeared, a fierce chase was taking place on the sea about a hundred feet away from Biling Island.
A group of about seven or eight human cultivators, all stained with blood and breathing erratically, were desperately fleeing in a direction far from the sea behind them, riding various magical artifacts. Their faces were filled with terror and despair. Behind them, a vast, sky-covering "red cloud" was emitting a piercing shriek, relentlessly pursuing them!
Those were not real clouds, but a massive flock of hundreds of strange birds, all blood red, with wingspans reaching over ten feet and beaks gleaming with a metallic sheen—level four demonic beasts, Bloodwing Eagles! They were incredibly fast, coordinated perfectly, and their sharp claws and beaks were enough to tear apart ordinary defensive artifacts, making them fearsome aerial hunters in this sea area.
"Faster! Faster!" The middle-aged late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator at the head of the group, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, frantically urged his flying sword while anxiously shouting to his companions behind him. He was already at his limit, and the light of his protective magic treasure was extremely dim.
"Master! There's an island ahead... there's an island ahead!" A young Qi Refining Level 10 cultivator in the group pointed to the outline of the suddenly appearing Biling Island and shouted in surprise.
"An island? How can there be an island here?" The middle-aged cultivator was stunned, but the flock of blood-winged eagles behind him was getting closer and closer, their chilling screech seemingly right behind him. In this life-or-death situation, there was no time to think. He made a decisive decision: "I can't worry about that now! Let's get on the island! We might be able to hold them off for a while by using the terrain!"
As if grasping at a straw, the group used their last bit of magic power to plunge headlong towards Biling Island.
However, just as they flew into an area less than ten feet outside Biling Island, a sudden change occurred! A layer of white mist, seemingly thin but actually incredibly tough, rose up without warning and instantly enveloped them!
"Not good! It's an array! This fog can block divine sense!" The middle-aged cultivator's expression changed drastically as he immediately realized that his divine sense was being severely suppressed, and he could only see a few feet around him.
"Everyone, stay together! Don't get separated!"
His warning came too late. Just as everyone panicked and tried to get closer to each other, the terrifying crimson "red cloud" behind them had already caught up! Hundreds of blood-winged eagles let out excited shrieks, like sharks smelling blood, and charged into the white mist without hesitation. Their sharp beaks and claws gleamed with a deadly cold light as they pounced on the human cultivators whose vision was obstructed and whose formation was broken!
"It's over!" A feeling of despair instantly gripped everyone's hearts.
At this critical moment——
"Evil beast! How dare you be so presumptuous!"
A thunderous roar suddenly erupted from the direction of the mountain range in the center of the island! The terrifying pressure contained in the voice made even the ferocious Bloodwing Eagles pause for a moment.
Immediately afterwards, a golden figure shot into the sky from the island like a cannonball! The speed was beyond the visual perception of the crowd. All that could be seen was a blinding golden light tearing through the mist and crashing into the very center of the Bloodwing Eagles!
"Fellow Daoist, be careful! The beaks of these Bloodwinged Eagles are comparable to magic weapons, incredibly sharp. Do not try to take them head-on!" The middle-aged cultivator instinctively and anxiously shouted a warning.
However, what happened next left the middle-aged cultivator and all his surviving disciples frozen in shock, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets and their mouths agape enough to fit an egg.
The golden figure charged into the flock of birds without using any protective magic treasures! He withstood the frenzied attacks of dozens of Bloodwing Eagles with just his body, which emitted a faint golden glow!
Ding! Ding! Dang! Dang!
A dense, rain-like pecking sound rang out—the sound of the Bloodwinged Eagle's indestructible beak striking the golden figure's body! There was no flying blood and flesh as expected, no broken bones or tendons as anticipated. The beak, powerful enough to pierce ordinary magical artifacts, struck the opponent's skin as if hitting ancient, black iron, only sending up a barely perceptible trail of sparks, leaving not even a faint white mark!
What shocked them even more was that the golden figure not only remained unharmed amidst the barrage of attacks, but also moved with ghostly speed. His palms flew like two golden divine hammers, each chop, slash, smash, and slap landing with pinpoint accuracy on the Bloodwing Eagle's neck or head.
Click! Click! Click!
The sickening sound of bones shattering rang out one after another. Those beaks, far harder than refined iron, were easily snapped off like fragile twigs by the terrifying power of the golden palm! The blood-winged eagles that were struck didn't even have time to scream before they fell from the sky like dumplings being dropped into a pot, dying instantly!
The golden figure darted left and right among the blood-red flock of birds, leaving nothing but devastation in its wake! He seemed to have transformed into a ferocious beast in human form, staging a one-sided massacre in the most primal and violent way!
"Is...is this even human?" a young cultivator murmured in a daze, his voice trembling.
"Master... Master, this senior... could he be a legendary late-stage Core Formation cultivator?"
The middle-aged cultivator swallowed hard, his face filled with disbelief and horror. He shook his head with a bitter smile, his voice dry: "The Bloodwing Eagle is a genuine Level 4 demonic beast, equivalent to the late Foundation Establishment stage! Not to mention this large group of over a hundred! Their combined attack, along with their terrifying beaks, would make even a late Core Formation stage cultivator choose to avoid them without a powerful magic weapon or special supernatural ability. Let alone... someone like this senior, who single-handedly withstood the attack and killed the enemy with his bare hands!"
"Then...could he be...an ancestor in the Nascent Soul stage?!" This thought exploded in everyone's minds like a thunderclap, making them tremble and their gazes toward the golden figure filled with boundless awe and fear.
Less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed before the agonizing screams ceased completely.
In the sky, the golden figure hovered silently, its golden light slowly receding. Below it, the sea and the edges of the islands were covered with the mangled corpses of Bloodwinged Eagles, and a thick stench of blood filled the air.
Qin Hao looked down at his palm, then felt the strength of his body, and nodded in satisfaction: "The first level of the Heavenly Demon Art, the initial formation of the Golden Skin, already possesses such defense and power, truly extraordinary. It was worth the sixty years of hard work and numerous precious pills I spent."
However, he then frowned slightly and muttered to himself, "Unfortunately, the path of body refinement requires even more patience and perseverance than Qi refinement; there are no shortcuts. That old monster with the barbarian beard was able to reach the peak of the third level, which, besides his extraordinary talent, probably took him hundreds or even thousands of years. Without the aid of other heaven-defying body refinement elixirs, relying solely on pills and arduous cultivation, it would probably take hundreds of years to reach his level..."
He stroked his chin, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "It seems that before leaving the Chaotic Star Sea, I need to find a way to get the 'Dragon Scale Fruit' from that old mudfish, the Golden Flood Dragon King."
With Han Li's little green bottle, there's no shortage of Dragon Scale Fruit; it can be exchanged for things like "Heaven-Mending Pill" and "Heaven-Supporting Demon Art".
Having witnessed the effects of the Barbarian Beard's "Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art," Han Li would likely find it hard to resist the allure of cultivating both body and magic.
Pulling himself back to reality, Qin Hao turned his gaze to the small group of cultivators below, shrouded in white mist and still shaken. With a casual wave of his hand, the white mist enveloping them quietly dissipated.
“Senior…we…we had no intention of offending you. We mistakenly entered your island and had no malicious intent whatsoever! We have disturbed your peaceful cultivation and deserve to die! We beg your forgiveness!” The middle-aged cultivator was the first to react. He knelt down with a thud, his whole body trembling like a leaf, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, his voice filled with endless fear and pleading.
His disciples behind him also seemed to wake from a dream, and they all knelt down, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Qin Hao hovered in mid-air, looking at them calmly: "Ignorance is no excuse. You may rise and answer."
The middle-aged cultivator felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He hurriedly led his disciples to stand up tremblingly, but his head was still bowed low, and he dared not look directly at Qin Hao.
"I have been in seclusion for many years, detached from worldly affairs. Now tell me, what major events have occurred in the Chaotic Star Sea in the past sixty years?" Qin Hao's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
The middle-aged cultivator dared not conceal anything and quickly organized his thoughts, reporting all the information he knew in detail:
"Reporting to Senior! The situation in the Chaotic Star Sea has been quite delicate over the past sixty years. The biggest change is that there has been constant friction and conflict between the righteous and demonic paths, which is far less restrained than before."
"Oh? It's not a united front between good and evil against the Star Palace?" Qin Hao raised an eyebrow; this was somewhat different from what he had expected.
"That's not the case," the middle-aged cultivator explained. "It's said that all of this stemmed from the Void Heaven Palace's treasure hunt. When the Void Heaven Palace opened, Senior Wan Tianming, the sect leader of the Myriad Laws Sect, Senior Barbarian Beard, and... a Senior Zhang who was suspected of forming his Nascent Soul on the Sacred Mountain of Tianxing City, as well as the Demonic Path's Extreme Yin Ancestor, and others, all entered the inner hall to compete for the legendary Void Heaven Cauldron. In the end, only Senior Wan Tianming was unharmed, while Barbarian Beard and that Senior Zhang disappeared together..."
He cautiously glanced at Qin Hao's face, and seeing that there was nothing amiss, he continued, "Both the righteous and demonic paths, especially the righteous alliance led by the Myriad Laws Sect, believe that Senior Barbarian Beard stole the Void Heaven Cauldron. The Myriad Laws Sect is therefore extremely dissatisfied with the demonic path, and the resentment between the two sides has deepened day by day. Friction has been constant in areas such as resource points, trade routes, and conflicts between disciples, and there have even been several small-scale conflicts involving Nascent Soul cultivators. The Star Palace is naturally happy to see this happen, and it is said that it has been stirring things up behind the scenes, intending to weaken the strength of both the righteous and demonic paths."
Qin Hao understood. He and Barbarian Beard had both "disappeared," the whereabouts of the Void Cauldron remained a mystery, and both the righteous and demonic factions were shifting blame and accusing each other, while the Star Palace reaped the benefits. This was completely different from the original story's plot of the righteous and demonic factions joining forces to attack the Star Palace.
"However," the middle-aged cultivator changed the subject, "Although friction is frequent, the two truly top-tier beings on both sides—Senior Six Paths Supreme Saint and Senior Wan Sangu, both late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators—seem to have maintained restraint. They have not directly intervened, nor have they explicitly supported either side in escalating the conflict. Therefore, although local conflicts continue, the fuse for a full-scale war between the righteous and demonic factions has never truly been ignited."
Qin Hao nodded slightly; this was to be expected. The will of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator was the key to determining the overall situation in the Chaotic Star Sea. As long as they didn't want to fight, no matter how much trouble the people below caused, they couldn't overturn the situation.
"What about Xingcheng that day? Was anything unusual?"
"Tianxing City..." The middle-aged cultivator pondered for a moment, "Overall, it's relatively peaceful, still under the control of the Star Palace, and orderly. However... there is one thing related to the missing Senior Zhang that is occasionally rumored among the lower-level cultivators."
Qin Hao's eyes narrowed: "Speak."
"Yes. I've heard that Senior Zhang, who successfully formed his Nascent Soul at the Sacred Mountain of Tianxing City, apparently had two concubines left in the city. Later, because Senior Zhang disappeared and was suspected of perishing, one of the female cultivators, named Yuan Yao, seemed to be under some pressure and ultimately chose to join the Star Palace..."
Qin Hao's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Yuan Yao joined the Star Palace?
The middle-aged cultivator racked his brains for a moment, and after confirming that there was no other valuable information, he respectfully said, "Senior, this junior's knowledge is limited, and that's all."
Qin Hao nodded, saying nothing more. Without moving, a gentle yet overwhelming force suddenly spread out, instantly sweeping over the people below. The middle-aged cultivator and his disciples didn't even have time to react before their vision went black, and they all collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Qin Hao used the "Dream Guiding Technique" from the Profound Yin Art, invading the consciousness of the group with his divine sense. He cleverly altered their memories of Biling Island, their appearance, and their specific conversations, leaving only a vague impression of encountering the Bloodwing Eagle, being casually rescued by a mysterious expert, and then being sent away.
After doing all this, he rolled up his sleeves and used his magic to lift the unconscious people, transforming them into a streak of light and sending them far away to another deserted island nearby.
……
After finishing his errands, Qin Hao returned to Biling Island. Although most of the island's spirit stone mines had been mined, the remaining parts were still extremely valuable, especially the deeper areas where top-grade spirit stones might be found. He reinforced the island's defensive array again and activated all the Core Formation stage combat puppets, placing them in key locations throughout the island to rigorously guard this unexploited treasure.
After everything was arranged, Qin Hao patted his storage bag. A streak of dark green light shot out, expanding in the wind and instantly transforming into a flying boat with an ancient design, smooth lines, and a body as if carved from black jade. This was none other than the "Ink Dragon Boat" that he had reforged!
The Ink Dragon Boat of today is vastly different from what it was sixty years ago. Qin Hao used rare materials collected from the Void Heaven Palace and the Chaotic Star Sea, especially the bones of an eighth-level venomous dragon, to reforge the hull, incorporating a large amount of materials to enhance speed, sturdiness, and stealth. Its internal spiritual energy fluctuations and flight speed have increased more than tenfold! In essence, it can now be called the "Venomous Dragon Boat." However, Qin Hao felt that the name "Ink Dragon Boat" was not very elegant, so he retained the name "Ink Dragon Boat."
Stepping onto the flying boat, Qin Hao's mind stirred. Instantly, the Ink Dragon Boat transformed into a thin, almost invisible dark green streak, cutting through the sea breeze and clouds, and shooting towards Silver Shark Island!
Ten days later, Qin Hao arrived at Silver Shark Island smoothly. Through the teleportation array on the island, he once again set foot on the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar land of Tianxing City.
"Sixty years have passed... This Tianxing City remains as bustling and prosperous as ever, seemingly unchanged by the passage of time." Qin Hao stood outside the teleportation array, gazing at the endless stream of people before him and the towering sacred mountain in the distance, a fleeting emotion crossing his mind. Without pausing, his body flashed with light, transforming into a dark green rainbow, and he sped unabashedly towards the sacred mountain!
Outside a secluded cave in the middle level of the sacred mountain.
The atmosphere, however, was unusually oppressive. A middle-aged cultivator in brocade robes, with a frivolous look in his eyes, followed closely behind a woman in palace attire, with stunningly beautiful features but a frosty expression. This woman was Yuan Yao. She was now at the late stage of Core Formation, and her temperament was even more aloof and otherworldly, but a lingering melancholy shrouded her brows.
"Miss Yuan Yao, why are you doing this?" The middle-aged cultivator's tone carried a self-righteous affection mixed with a barely perceptible hint of coercion: "Is it worth it to live a life of widowhood for a long-deceased man? My uncle is an elder of the Star Palace, holding a high position and great power! As long as you agree to become my Daoist partner, I guarantee that no one in this Star Palace will dare to show you the slightest disrespect! Wealth, glory, and cultivation resources will be within your grasp! Why waste your life here in solitude?"
Yuan Yao abruptly stopped and turned around, her beautiful eyes like icy swords, coldly staring at the other party: "Fellow Daoist Li! I, Yuan Yao, have said it countless times! Without your kindness and guidance back then, I wouldn't be where I am today! Your life is uncertain, and you dare to speak such wicked words here? What are your intentions? I, Yuan Yao, will never do anything to wrong you in this life! You might as well give up on your thoughts now!"
“Miss Yuan Yao…” The middle-aged cultivator surnamed Li’s face darkened, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes, as he was about to say something more.
Yanli, unable to contain her anger any longer, stepped in front of Yuan Yao, pointing at the Li-surnamed cultivator and shouting, "Li! Have you no shame? My junior sister has already clearly rejected you! Don't you even look at yourself in the mirror? With only a mere early-stage Core Formation cultivation, you dare to keep bothering me here just because you have a Nascent Soul stage uncle? If you dare to harass my junior sister again, don't blame us for seeking justice from Fellow Daoist Ling! Let's see if the Star Palace will really allow you to act so lawlessly!"
"Ling Yuling?" Upon hearing this name, a flicker of fear crossed the eyes of the cultivator surnamed Li, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper ruthlessness. The fake smile on his face vanished completely, replaced by a humiliated and enraged expression, his gaze turning ashen: "Hmph! You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences! My kindness towards Miss Yuan Yao is as clear as day! Since you're so ungrateful, then don't blame me for... using some ruthless methods!"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao's face instantly turned pale. Although she was in the late stage of Core Formation, her cultivation was simply no match for her uncle, a Nascent Soul cultivator! A deep sense of powerlessness and anger welled up in her heart.
"Oh? How are you going to be impolite?"
Just as tensions were running high and Yuan Yao was filled with despair, a calm yet icy voice rang out unexpectedly in the ears of the three people present!
This sound…!
Yuan Yao and Yan Li's bodies trembled violently at the same time! As if struck by an electric current! They turned around abruptly, looking incredulously towards the direction from which the sound came, their emotions a complex mix of ecstasy and terror.
A streak of dark green light appeared like a falling meteor, instantly landing on the open ground in front of the cave. As the light dissipated, it revealed the figure of a young man dressed in a dark robe, with a cold and stern face and unfathomable eyes.
"Senior?!" Yuan Yao exclaimed in shock, her voice trembling violently.
"Waaaaah~~~ Senior! It really is you! You...you're still alive!" Yanli burst into tears instantly, so excited that she couldn't speak coherently.
The cultivator surnamed Li seemed frozen in place, staring blankly at Qin Hao descending from the sky. The sinister look on his face was instantly replaced by boundless horror. His eyes bulged out of their sockets, and he screamed, "You...you...Zhang Tie?! You're not dead?! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could you survive that old monster, Barbarian Beard?! This is impossible!"
Before he could finish speaking, he was met with an extremely fast golden light!
Qin Hao didn't even glance at him, merely flicking his sleeve casually. A sharp, condensed golden light, almost tangible, appeared before the cultivator surnamed Li as if by teleportation, sweeping past him without any hindrance before his horrified eyes!
puff!
Blood spurts out!
The cultivator surnamed Li's face froze in horror as his body was neatly severed in two at the waist! He didn't even have time to let out a scream before his two severed bodies, along with gushing blood and internal organs, fell to the ground with two "thuds," killing him instantly! His soul was also pulverized by the sharp sword energy contained within the golden light!
"Senior!" Yuan Yao was shocked. Although she hated the cultivator surnamed Li to the bone, he was, after all, the nephew of the Star Palace Elder. To kill him in public like this would cause a lot of trouble.
"It's alright." Qin Hao didn't even glance at the corpses on the ground. His gaze shifted to the higher reaches of the sacred mountain, his eyes as cold as ice: "I'd like to see who dares to come here to die today!"
Less than ten breaths had passed!
Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!
Three streaks of light, each a different color but radiating powerful Nascent Soul stage energy, shot up from the palace complex on the higher level of the Holy Mountain with a mixture of shock and anger, like enraged wasps, and instantly descended upon Qin Hao's cave!
The leader was none other than Jin Kui, the Grand Elder of the Star Palace who had once presided over affairs in the Void Heaven Palace, and a cultivator at the peak of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm! Beside him were two people: one was an old man dressed in a gray robe, with a gaunt face, bloodshot eyes, and an aura of overwhelming rage and killing intent; the other was a middle-aged scholar with a refined appearance and sharp eyes.
"Who dares to commit violence on the Holy Mountain and kill my nephew?!" The gray-robed elder saw his nephew's gruesome two-part corpse on the ground at a glance. His eyes widened in fury and he was filled with grief and indignation. He pointed at Qin Hao below and roared fiercely. The terrifying pressure of the Nascent Soul stage crushed down on Qin Hao like a tsunami!
"So what if it's me?" Qin Hao stood with his hands behind his back, facing the pressure from the three Nascent Soul cultivators, his expression calm as still water, and even a hint of disdainful sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.
"You're courting death!" The gray-robed elder was furious. His magical power surged, and a bone knife magic weapon that shimmered with a ghostly light instantly appeared in his hand. He was about to make a desperate move!
"Wait!" A steady, powerful hand landed on the gray-robed elder's shoulder; it was Elder Jin Kui. His gaze was like lightning, fixed on the composed Qin Hao below, his face filled with disbelief and shock.
"Zhang Tie?! You...you're still alive?!"
Faced with the powerful pressure emanating from Elder Jin Kui, Qin Hao no longer concealed his strength, and a powerful aura burst forth from his body.
"Nascent Soul... mid-stage! You've actually advanced to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul!" The gray-robed elder was shocked.
Even Elder Jin Kui was shocked: "Could it be that you stole the Void Heaven Cauldron? And that barbarian... also died at your hands?"
After saying that, Elder Jin Kui was startled by his own subconscious thought. Who was Barbarian Beard? He was a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator who was even more senior than him, and at the peak of the mid-stage Nascent Soul. His "Heaven-Supporting Demon Art" had dominated the Chaotic Star Sea for nearly a thousand years. Apart from a few late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, who dared to say that they could easily suppress him?
Let alone killing him?
But if that's not the case, then how do you explain the terrifying speed of cultivation of the person in front of you?
A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator who is not yet three hundred years old, apart from the Void Heaven Cauldron, the number one secret treasure of the Chaotic Star Sea, he really can't think of anything else that could do this.