When they reached the vicinity of that beam of light...

"You’ve been inside Zhitian Peak before. You should know what it’s like in there. After you go in, focus on cultivating your secret technique. Do not act recklessly..." Qingjun called Qin Sang forward. Her hand seals shifted rapidly as she drove layer after layer of restrictive barriers into Qin Sang’s body.

Qin Sang did not resist at all. The moment the barriers entered his body, he felt his cultivation suppressed to the Foundation Building Realm.

After finishing, Qingjun stopped. Jiugu and the devilish cultivator still felt uneasy, so they each added another layer of seal on top of Qin Sang.

Suddenly, Qin Sang’s expression changed. His Mustard Seed Pouch, Spirit Beast Pouch, Thousand-Jin Ring, and other treasures had all been sealed by Jiugu and the devilish cultivator.

"You are not allowed to take even a single Elemental Star Stone out of Zhitian Peak! After you come out, I will personally remove these seals." Jiugu fixed his gaze on Qin Sang, his tone cold and stern.

He had clearly spent years on the battlefield. His eyes seemed steeped in a dense, blood-soaked killing aura.

Qin Sang glanced at his senior sister. This move was clearly meant to guard against Yuanshen Sect and Qingjun.

Yuanshen Sect specialized in array arts. With the sect’s treasured collection now in Qingjun’s hands, there must have been ancient arrays that required Elemental Star Stones to activate. Otherwise, Leng Yuntian would not have schemed so carefully to seize the immortal residence, nor sent people to infiltrate Zhitian Peak to steal Elemental Star Stones.

If Qingjun offered those ancient arrays to the Two-Domain Alliance to resist the Sin Abyss, they would welcome it. But if she secretly hoarded Elemental Star Stones, that was obviously not something the other factions wanted to see.

"Go!" Qingjun spoke lightly, unconcerned.

Qin Sang nodded, said nothing, and turned to fly toward the entrance.

A whirlpool and storm formed over the water’s surface. Without hesitation, Qin Sang dove straight into the whirlpool.

At this point, the storm at Zhitian Peak’s entrance posed no threat to him. With his powerful physical body, the suction that clung to him was something he broke free from again and again.

Soon, Qin Sang entered Zhitian Peak.

The scenery inside remained unchanged. The radiant glow formed by ancient barriers spread in patches and merged with the Elemental Star Stones. Abundant star essence filled the entire space, densest at the summit.

Unexpectedly, Qin Sang moved in the opposite direction and headed straight down the mountain.

Before leaving for Cangheng Island, he and Qingjun had already anticipated this. They had made a trip to the immortal residence in advance, where Qin Sang had stored the Star Spirit Net, the Star Platform, and other treasures.

The Star Spirit Net was meant to capture Elemental Star Stones.

Qingjun helped him, but she also harbored thoughts of secretly acquiring some Elemental Star Stones herself.

As for the Star Platform, it was the crescent stone platform that Qin Sang had seized at Landou Sect from a witch race cultivator. He had relied on it for Star Essence Infusion when breaking through the third stage of the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement.

This treasure could gather star essence. It might assist him again. With his powerful body, Qin Sang did not even need to use true essence. He traveled unimpeded and soon arrived at the teleportation array.

Qingjun had tampered with the area, concealing the array. Qin Sang activated it with ease, suppressed his cultivation to the Qi Refining Realm, teleported to the immortal residence, and retrieved his treasures.

After that, he collected Elemental Star Stones in large quantities while flying back toward the peak.

"So dense... The star essence here is incredibly rich!" The joy on Qin Sang’s face grew stronger and stronger.

At this rate, he might not even need to reach the summit before meeting the requirements for Star Essence Infusion.

Soon, Qin Sang stopped and sensed his surroundings. "Here should be good."

After circling Zhitian Peak once, he found an open area without barriers. He took out the Star Platform, sat cross-legged, and silently recited the art.

As he activated the secret technique, the drifting star essence around him seemed drawn by an invisible force and began gathering toward him.

The ethereal and mysterious energy flowed into his body, mixed with a dark and indistinct stellar malevolence.

Just as he had expected, the star essence inside Zhitian Peak carried the same sinister stellar malevolence as outside. It could be used for Star Essence Infusion.

Whoosh! As he was sitting down, star essence surged toward him like flowing water, endlessly drawn in, aided by the Star Platform’s gathering power.

Yet once it entered his body, it became raging waves, crashing violently within him. Thunderous roars echoed deep in his mind with each impact.

His skin and flesh trembled as they endured the tempering of star essence.

Having experienced Star Essence Infusion before, Qin Sang had already anticipated the pain. He endured it with sheer willpower.

The star essence around him grew denser and denser. He sat bathed in starlight, his entire body shining.

The gathering speed increased steadily until it finally reached the requirement described in the art.

Qin Sang’s expression tightened. His hand seals changed abruptly.

Boom! A torrent of star essence rushed into his body, tearing through him with unstoppable force. It rampaged wildly, shredding flesh. His bones felt as though they would be crushed into dust beneath the overwhelming current.

Qin Sang let out a muffled groan. His face flushed red as he clenched his teeth. Ignoring the agony, he continued activating the art.

Blood seeped from his body. Fresh impurities were refined out. While the star essence’s cleansing brought unbearable pain, it also brought transformation.

His bones felt as though they had shattered. His marrow was scoured clean. His flesh seemed to have been replaced again and again.

He did not know whether all body cultivators had to endure such suffering, or whether it was because he cultivated a demon technique.

His will remained firm. Wave after wave of searing pain struck him, yet the art did not falter for even an instant. His body was destroyed repeatedly, then reconstructed again and again.

Boom! Star essence surged like a roaring tide.

Qin Sang’s body trembled violently.

"Why haven’t I broken through yet?" Qin Sang was puzzled.

The star essence he had drawn in had long surpassed the limit described in the art. He was already close to his own limit, yet there was still no sign of a breakthrough.

Ignoring the pain, he visualized the Azure Luan again and again, but he still failed to grasp the most crucial element: the Heavenly Demon Dharma Lakshana.

He could clearly feel that his body had grown stronger. At the peak of the third stage, he had advanced another step. The fourth stage felt within reach, yet it remained separated by an insurmountable chasm!

"Ah!" he suddenly roared in fury.

Star essence scattered in all directions. With a sharp crack, his palm slammed against a star stone. Blood flowed from the fissures in his skin.

His hair hung loose. His body was covered in wounds. Yet he had no mind to heal himself.

The breakthrough had failed!

Qin Sang frowned. Though Star Essence Infusion had brought him benefits, he still could not condense the Heavenly Demon Dharma Lakshana. He could not break through to the fourth stage.

"So it truly isn’t enough to merely visualize a puppet. The true intent of the Azure Luan is insufficient..." he murmured to himself.

He had worried about this from the beginning. Now it had indeed become the obstacle blocking his path.

After resting, he tried several more times. He gained no further benefits, and the bottleneck remained immovable.

"At the end of the day, it's a demonic art..." Qin Sang sighed softly. "When an immortal cultivator forms a Spiritual Infant, it is a great transformation that requires enduring tribulation. The fourth stage of the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement must likewise involve more than just the strength of the flesh. It concerns the Heavenly Demon Dharma Lakshana. It cannot be forced. If visualizing a puppet is not enough, would seeing the true phantom of an Azure Luan make the difference?"

Worry stirred in his heart. If this path proved unworkable, he might never be able to continue cultivating the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement.

Qin Sang shook his head and prepared to rise, intending to put away the Star Platform.

Then he suddenly froze. While he had been fully focused on breaking through, the Star Platform beneath him had undergone an unexpected transformation. It was absorbing star essence on its own!