Gateway of Immortality

According to Wu Shang's personal experience, attempting Core Formation by simultaneously channeling Earth Malevolent Qi and Celestial Gale Qi required a Golden Core that still retained its vitality. Only such a core could withstand the overwhelming impact.

Qin Sang had obtained Daoist Jiupao's Golden Core a year ago, but in another nine years, it would lose its vitality from being separated from its host body for too long.

If he wanted to attempt Wu Shang's method, it had to be done within these nine years. Otherwise, he would have to acquire a new Golden Core or a demonic core.

Defeating Daoist Jiupao had been challenging enough. How could obtaining another Golden Core expert's core be any easier?

Thus, this nine-year window might be his only opportunity. Once the matter of Ziwei Palace was concluded and the Spirit Tide dispersed, the four Golden Core cultivators of the Demonic Qingyang Sect would return to their sect and likely remain there indefinitely.

Although Qin Sang used the Core Formation method passed down by Wu Shang, he had no desire to turn himself into a living corpse. That meant both a vital Golden Core and Celestial Gale Qi were indispensable.

Wandering Man gave Qin Sang a long, deep look. "Seems like you've thought this through thoroughly... But have you considered this: even if we manage to handle the remaining Golden Core cultivator, what about the Demonic Qingyang Sect's protective array? That array was personally set up by their founding grandmaster over decades. It's protected the sect for generations and remains intact to this day. Even with the sect's decline, no other demonic sect has dared covet their territory and that array is a big part of the reason."

Qin Sang had been lying low in Qingyang Market for years and had long since uncovered the inner workings of the Demonic Qingyang Sect. He had heard of the great array many times.

It was said that when the sect's last Spiritual Infant cultivator passed into seated meditation, two other Spiritual Infant cultivators from rival sects attempted to attack.

At the time, the new sect leader was only at the late stage of the Core Formation Realm, and rather than seek help, he simply activated the grand array. That alone was enough to hold the line and repel both Spiritual Infant cultivators.

Afterward, neither of those two spoke of the encounter again.

From then on, the sect's protective array earned its fearsome reputation.

Qin Sang and even a hundred Wandering Man wouldn't be able to break through such a powerful array by force. That was exactly why Wandering Man raised the issue.

The protective array of the Demonic Qingyang Sect was the greatest obstacle.

If they couldn't get inside, everything else was moot.

"We'll need to come up with a way to get the two of us through that barrier..."

Wandering Man paced back and forth, racking his brain to help Qin Sang think of a strategy. But even he found the situation difficult. "The chaos in Yuncang Marshlands has settled. The sects may no longer be on edge like before, but that doesn't mean they've let down their guard, especially with the sect leader away. They'll be even more alert now. Outsiders will not be welcomed easily. Unless... you know someone close to the Demonic Qingyang Sect, someone who could smuggle us in. Once inside, we could find a way to slip away and enter the inner sect unnoticed..."

Qin Sang shook his head. "There's no need to worry, Senior. I've thought of a method. There's a decent chance I can infiltrate the Demonic Qingyang Sect myself. If I fail, we'll think of something else. And you don't need to sneak in with me. I'd like to ask you to take a Qingfu Coin to the Endless Valley..."

As he spoke, Qin Sang retrieved two copper coins from his Mustard Seed Pouch.

One large and one small. The smaller coin fit perfectly into the hollow of the larger.

When fitted together, the coins revealed carvings of two Qingfu spiritual insects—one large, one small—etched into the surface. They were lifelike and exquisitely detailed, a mother and child pair.

The Qingfu Coin was a special artifact made by refining the blood of a rare spiritual insect known as the Qingfu. The mother's blood was infused into the mother coin, and the child's blood into the child coin.

Two cultivators would each hold one. When the one holding the child coin crushed it and activated the blood with spiritual power, the mother coin would respond and generate a new child coin.

Naturally, there was a limit to the range of this effect. But it was still remarkably far-reaching, far enough that one could be in the Demonic Qingyang Sect and the other in Endless Valley, and they would still remain connected.

The Qingfu Coin functioned similarly to the One Heart Pendant that Wandering Man had once given them in Xihuang Town, though it wasn't quite as user-friendly. It couldn't transmit messages, but it also wasn't hindered by barriers or arrays.

As long as they were within the designated range, crushing the child coin would trigger the mother coin.

Its advantage lay in its greater range compared to the One Heart Pendant. Moreover, while the pendant was single-use, the Qingfu Coin could be reused several times—as long as the mother's blood wasn't depleted, a new child coin could always be reborn.

Though the Qingfu wasn't as rare as exotic insects like the Fire Jade Centipede, it was still incredibly difficult to find.

This coin wasn't something Qin Sang had made himself. He had stumbled upon it during a chaotic battle between the Tianxing Alliance and demonic sects in the Chaotic Island Waters. Impressed by its unique function, he had kept it.

The coin had already been used multiple times. The mother's blood was nearly exhausted—at most, it could be used three or four more times.

Qin Sang handed the mother coin to Wandering Man and kept the child coin for himself. "The Demonic Qingyang Sect is very close to Endless Valley. Most of their disciples train there. Once I crush the child coin, I'd like you to cause some trouble for the disciples in Endless Valley and create a distraction. If you could lure that Golden Core cultivator out of the sect, that would be even better."

Qin Sang had full confidence in Wandering Man's strength.

His artifact, the Flawless Orb, was extraordinary.

Qin Sang had noticed that the Flawless Orb grew stronger as Wandering Man's cultivation increased. Back when he was only at the middle stage of the Foundation Building Realm, the orb had already been remarkable. Now, it was undoubtedly far more potent.

Qin Sang had a hunch that Wandering Man's current power still wasn't the full extent of his strength.

He had come and gone from Heavenly Demon Hill unscathed. Qin Sang could no longer see through him.

Even if Qin Sang didn't summon the flying yaksha, he wasn't fully confident he could defeat Wandering Man.

The Foundation Building disciples of the Demonic Qingyang Sect were certainly no match for Wandering Man. Only he was suitable for this task. Mu Yifeng and Senior Brother Rong were both lacking in comparison.

The most reliable choice, of course, would have been Qi Yuanshou. But first, Qin Sang had never had a chance to bring it up with him, and second, Qi Yuanshou would undoubtedly question everything down to the root. He would never allow Qin Sang to walk the path of the living corpse.

Wandering Man accepted the Qingfu Coin, though his disapproval of Qin Sang's plan was plain on his face. Frowning, he asked sharply, "Are you planning to make a scene at the Demonic Qingyang Sect? How will you escape once things spiral out of control?"

Qin Sang shook his head. "I won't resort to force unless absolutely necessary. The goal of drawing away that Golden Core cultivator is simply to buy as much time as possible."

Wandering Man's expression eased slightly as he fell into thought.

"A diversion tactic, eh... Once all three Golden Core cultivators are gone, it'll be the sect's most vulnerable moment. They'll definitely be on high alert. If I directly target their disciples, it'll be too obvious, leaving too many traces. The moment they suspect someone is deliberately targeting them, their guard will rise. That Golden Core cultivator, unless he's a fool, won't take the bait so easily."

Qin Sang sighed. "If it proves impossible, I won't force it. As long as we can distract them and divide their focus, that alone would serve my purpose."

Wandering Man nodded. Then suddenly, a glimmer appeared in his eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he said with confidence, "Don't worry, Brother Qin. I know exactly what to do now..."