Time passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, Qin Sang had been in seclusion at Peach Blossom Valley for eighteen years.

Fortunately, the immortal cultivation world had remained relatively calm. Qin Sang cultivated in peace. Aside from occasionally visiting the markets to retrieve resources gathered by the merchant guilds, he had scarcely stepped outside the valley.

One year after he entered seclusion, Qingjun left the valley. Her whereabouts became elusive, appearing and vanishing like a divine dragon. Over more than a decade, Qin Sang saw her return only once before she hurried away again.

Li Yufu and the other two sent messages every year to seek his guidance. What worried Qin Sang was that there had been no word at all from Wandering Man.

However, Li Yufu mentioned that this was Wandering Man’s usual habit, which eased Qin Sang somewhat.

On one hand, he had devoted eighteen years single-mindedly to cultivation. On the other hand, Qin Sang spent lavishly. The resources he had brought back from Canglang Sea flowed away like water. Naturally, his progress advanced by leaps and bounds.

During these years, Qin Sang focused primarily on cultivating his core art. He set the Qingzhu Sword Scripture aside for the time being and did not deliberately divide his attention to comprehend it.

With the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment chapter laid as a foundation, once he successfully formed the Spiritual Infant, comprehending sword force and sword arrays would come naturally. At that time, studying the Qingzhu Sword Scripture would be far easier.

Meanwhile, the progress of Fire Seed Golden Lotus had also plateaued. After condensing a few fire lotus seeds, Qin Sang found himself limited by his cultivation and unable to proceed further. He had no choice but to set it aside along with the Qingzhu Sword Scripture.

The number of devilish banners he could wield was tied to the Fire Seed Golden Lotus. The array with twelve devilish banners was even more powerful than the Lightning Control Technique and currently stood as Qin Sang’s strongest method.

His secret arts were difficult to refine further, and the Soul-Cleansing Liquid had been completely consumed. He could only seek alternative methods, such as pills capable of temporarily enhancing spiritual consciousness.

After entering seclusion, Qin Sang quickly restored his previous cultivation. Thereafter, after weighing his options, he decided to focus primarily on Heavenly Demon Body Refinement, with Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment as a supplement. He would first temper his physical body to its peak.

Even during his ten years of training in the Demonic Sea, he had never neglected body tempering. Fortunately, through various merchant guilds and factions, he had managed to purchase several spiritual fruits recorded in ancient demon texts. Though their medicinal potency was inferior to Tyrant Blood Fruit, they were still highly beneficial.

They were exceedingly expensive, and each purchase made his heart ache. Thanks to those spiritual fruits and years of arduous cultivation, Qin Sang’s physical body grew increasingly powerful. Heavenly Demon Body Refinement was on the verge of reaching perfection in its third stage.

Of course, he had not ceased cultivating Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment, though its progress lagged slightly behind. The true killing symbol did not disappoint him.

After breaking through to the late stage of the Golden Core Realm and successfully inscribing the sixth killing symbol, Qin Sang’s cultivation speed had surpassed that of even dual spiritual root prodigies. If he completed all seven killing symbols, he would not be far from the prodigies possessing a Heavenly Spiritual Root.

It was precisely this astonishing speed, coupled with the absence of minor realm bottlenecks, that allowed Qin Sang to maintain two cultivation arts simultaneously.

Both he and his life-bound insect gu achieved breakthroughs. With a steady supply of spiritual herbs, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly successfully advanced to the late stage of its third metamorphosis.

It was only a minor realm increase, so the Sky-Eyed Butterfly’s outward appearance changed little. Only the Sky Eyes upon its wings appeared deeper and more spirited, their power rising another level.

The lightning-controlling supernatural ability it had gained from its earlier mutation remained modest.

Perhaps upon completing its fourth metamorphosis, new changes would occur. But the Crimson Fire Gilded Gold had nearly been exhausted, and Qin Sang had no idea how to help it achieve its fourth metamorphosis.

There were also the Fire Jade Centipede and the fat silkworm. After consuming the Crimson Fire Gilded Gold, the Fire Jade Centipede failed to metamorphose, though it had grown somewhat more affectionate toward Qin Sang.

The fat silkworm’s condition was even more troubling. Qin Sang had initially believed it was merely in a state of exhaustion-induced slumber, as before, and would recover in time. Yet even after so long, it remained dormant within Mute Girl’s body, showing no signs of awakening, just like its master.

Externally, there was no visible change. Qin Sang did not know what state the girl and the insect were in and dared not forcibly awaken the silkworm. He could only wait patiently for it to rouse on its own.

Under the starlit night, Qin Sang sat cross-legged upon the Star Platform, drawing down the power of star essence to temper his body.

Stellar malevolence was blocked by the Jade Buddha and expelled outward.

Qin Sang revealed his demonic-transformation body. Phoenix wings spread from his back. Bathed in star essence, his body shone like translucent jade, faintly luminous. The phoenix wings appeared solid and seamless with his flesh.

An outsider seeing the wings would find it hard to believe they were formed through supernatural ability.

Threads of star essence seeped into his body, purging impurities from flesh and strengthening bone and tendons.

Though the cool and ethereal star essence felt like tearing pain during the tempering process, Qin Sang’s body was far stronger than before and remained unmoving.

Time passed unnoticed. Suddenly, the glow around him dimmed. The tide of star essence receded.

With a soft exhale, Qin Sang awakened from meditation and unconsciously clenched his fist.

"Excellent!" A satisfied expression appeared on his face. "Cultivating both spells and body, each advancement brings tremendous improvement... At this rate, I will reach the peak within two years."

He retracted the phoenix wings and rose, glancing toward Bai’s cave dwelling.

When Qingjun had returned to the valley, Bai had emerged once to pay respects. Otherwise, it had remained inside, never appearing. Qin Sang did not know how its comprehension of the Corpse Soul Orb had progressed.

Eighteen years have passed. Time truly flies. From rumors gathered in markets and merchant guilds, the immortal cultivation world remains restless. Stability is far from achieved. They say tensions along the border are rising. War could erupt at any moment. To learn the truth, I must ask Senior Sister, but her whereabouts are never known...

With such thoughts turning in his mind, Qin Sang stepped out of his cave dwelling.

A crane’s cry sounded. A white figure descended before him, revealing a majestic celestial crane.

During seclusion, Qin Sang had left the crane outside to tend the peach grove. He did not restrict its cultivation.

If the crane could break through to the late stage of the Demonic Core Realm on its own, he would not mind granting it freedom.

However, unlike the Two-Headed Hou, the crane lacked such lofty ambition. It showed no strong desire to break free from control.

Its only complaint was being confined to the valley and forbidden to leave. It could neither roam freely nor find a companion.

Landing before Qin Sang, the crane threw a tantrum, scratching and fidgeting in agitation.

"This is territory of immortal cultivators. Are you not afraid of being captured, plucked, and roasted?" Qin Sang scolded it lightly. "Enough nonsense! Any recent news?"

The crane drooped in dejection, cried mournfully, and shuffled back to its nest, staring blankly at the vast blue sky. Qin Sang nearly laughed in exasperation.

Just as he was about to return to his cave dwelling to continue cultivating, a ripple suddenly passed through the array outside the valley.

His expression shifted slightly. He flashed out of Peach Blossom Valley. Standing outside was Li Yufu.

Upon seeing Qin Sang, Li Yufu bowed and said with delight, "Senior Uncle, Great Grandmaster has returned! Upon learning that you have safely come back, Great Grandmaster was overjoyed. He originally wished to see you in person, but urgent seclusion prevents him from leaving. He has sent me to invite you over!"

Qin Sang’s face lit with joy. "Let's go!"