Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 827: Decision
"It looks like it has been quite some time..." Qin Sang murmured.
Qin Sang entered the small courtyard and reached out to draw the Sound Transmission Talisman into his hand. As expected, it had been left two years ago. It did not state exactly what the matter was, only that once he returned, he should inform the contact and they would meet again at another date.
It was likely that, because he had been away, the best opportunity had been missed. In Qin Sang’s eyes, however, Senior Qingzhu was far more important than Xiang Yi, and he did not regret his choice. Since his return, he had also been keeping an eye on news from Windy Archipelago.
At this time, Qin Sang was already wearing his hooded cloak. Crushing the Sound Transmission Talisman, he left the courtyard and headed toward the shop they had agreed upon.
The shop’s owner was still the same white-haired elder. Seeing Qin Sang, the man’s face lit with joy. "Senior, you have finally returned. Madam came back once two years ago, but left again the next day."
"I had urgent matters to deal with, and did not expect to be delayed for so long. Before she left, did Madam Liu leave any message?" Qin Sang said in a low voice.
The shopkeeper lowered his voice. "Before leaving, Madam said that once you returned, I should inform her. She would then personally come to visit you. Since you are back, I will send word to her at once."
Qin Sang nodded. "In the next few years, I am unlikely to leave Tianxing Island. When Madam Liu returns, have her go directly to the courtyard to see me."
After handling these small matters, it was already night by the time Qin Sang returned to his cave dwelling. The stars shone brilliantly overhead.
Without pause, he began cultivating the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement. Shortly after midnight, Qin Sang let out a soft whistle, his body crackling, and a thin sheen of sweat seeped from his pores.
"I have reached the middle of the second stage!" Joy appeared on his face. He threw a punch, sensing his strength, and indeed his body had grown significantly stronger. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
During the trip to Windy Archipelago, he had either been on the move or investigating information, cultivating only in short intervals, yet he had finally broken through to the middle second stage.
"With the pills I recently bought to strengthen the body, I should be able to reach the late second stage in just over ten years, and then I can prepare for a breakthrough." He calculated the time, planning ahead.
"Breaking through to the third stage requires extremely high standards for the Star Essence Infusion. Even an astra like the Star Spirit Net would not be enough. I must find a place that meets the requirements, or else obtain the other two spiritual herbs and use their medicinal energy to force the breakthrough. Both must be prepared at the same time..." Thinking of the herbs, Qin Sang took out the Tyrant Blood Fruit and summoned the Two-Headed Hou.
"This fruit is called the Tyrant Blood Fruit. It is especially effective for your demon race. Take it. Its medicinal effect is fierce and the pain will be bone-piercing. Remember to use your bloodline power to refine the medicinal energy. With your cultivation, you should be fine..." Keeping his promise, he handed the spiritual fruit to the Two-Headed Hou and explained its effects.
The Two-Headed Hou’s eyes shone brightly. It hastily took the fruit in its mouth and swallowed it whole. After eating the fruit, it lay still on the ground.
Qin Sang stood guard beside it, adding several more layers of protective barriers while watching its condition.
The Two-Headed Hou was one of the outstanding demonic beasts at the middle stage of the Demonic Core Realm. After taking the Tyrant Blood Fruit, it might reach the peak of the middle stage in one leap, though breaking through was unlikely.
Before the Transformation Realm, it was even harder for the demon race to break through than for cultivators.
The Tyrant Blood Fruit was not a herb meant to refine the bloodline or assist in a breakthrough.
The calm did not last long. Not long after swallowing the fruit, the Two-Headed Hou suddenly let out a roar, its body arching sharply before slamming to the ground. A faint blood-red glow rose over its body.
Beneath the blood-red light, countless worm-like ripples seemed to move under its skin. Its bones shifted with cracking sounds, and the pain grew more intense. Its roars became broken and fragmented.
It clawed at the ground, both heads swinging aimlessly, vertical pupils shut tight in agony. Its body then curled in on itself, trembling violently.
"What a domineering medicinal effect. And this is still unripe... It's truly a herb as fierce as tigers and wolves."
Seeing its suffering, Qin Sang felt a chill in his heart. If he took it himself, he might fare even worse.
The medicinal power continued to surge through its body. The beast’s voice turned hoarse as it curled up into a ball, resisting the Tyrant Blood Fruit with all its might. From the outside, it was impossible to tell whether its cultivation was changing.
Qin Sang was not worried as there was no way the Two-Headed Hou would fail to endure a mere spiritual fruit.
After a while, seeing that its condition did not worsen, Qin Sang prepared to resume cultivation. But a flicker in the corner of his eye made his expression change.
Between the Two-Headed Hou’s two heads, a small bulge had appeared.
When a Two-Headed Hou reached the late stage of the Demonic Core Realm, a large swelling would form there. Once it became a third head, it would mean the beast had stepped into the Transformation Realm.
The small bulge meant it was attempting to break through to the late stage.
Qin Sang stood up, his gaze flickering. He now faced a decision.
If the Two-Headed Hou advanced to the late stage, it would exceed the control limits of the Primordial Unity Ring and break free. He had not expected that the Tyrant Blood Fruit would allow it to make such an attempt in one go.
If he stopped the breakthrough, he could keep control over it.
Finding another great demon at the peak of the middle stage would not be easy, especially one with such exceptional talent, otherwise he would have considered replacing it long ago.
His expression shifted repeatedly, but in the end, he did nothing, quietly watching.
Thinking back on all the years they had spent together, the Two-Headed Hou had worked hard even if it had not accomplished great feats. If it truly could break through, that was fate’s will, and he would return its freedom. His own strength now was not as dependent on it as before.
Time passed little by little.
By dawn, the swelling at its neck was growing and shrinking, but it could not break through, and its aura had weakened considerably.
Another failed attempt.
The Two-Headed Hou opened its eyes, gave a pitiful whine, and looked at Qin Sang with weakness in its gaze, as if pleading. He understood that it wanted his help.
With a sigh, he said, "You know well that if you succeed, you will be free of all restraints. Don’t blame me for taking advantage of your weakness. If you can break through on your own, I will let you go. Otherwise..."
He took out another Tyrant Blood Fruit and placed it before the beast.
"You can have this fruit, but you must acknowledge me as your master. For decades, you have followed me through countless dangerous places. You have seen my conduct. I dare say I am no worse than any Core Formation cultivator and am determined to reach the Spiritual Infant Realm. Serving as my spirit beast is no disgrace to you. I can also help you find demon race cultivation arts. Besides, humans have far shorter lifespans than demonic beasts. Even a Spiritual Infant cultivator lives little more than a thousand years. I promise that before I die, I will remove the barrier."
Qin Sang stepped back. "Consider it carefully."
Once it acknowledged him as master, it would be one of his own, and he could pass on the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement to it. But he did not say this aloud. He suspected the art carried many secrets, and if such knowledge reached the ears of a Transformation Realm demonic beast, it might bring disaster.
The Two-Headed Hou’s eyes burned red as it stared fixedly at the Tyrant Blood Fruit, caught in deep struggle.
