Chapter 2429: Chenxing

As the Black Tortoise's form overlapped with his own, Qin Sang felt the immense pressure on him significantly decrease.

"It worked!"

Qin Sang was secretly pleased. He hadn't been certain it would work, but he had deduced that the location was connected to the Black Tortoise clan, prompting him to summon the Black Tortoise Star Fiend as an experiment.

The Black Tortoise Star Fiend completely enveloped Qin Sang, making him appear like a Black Tortoise propelling itself forward with all four limbs.

In truth, the Black Tortoise Star Fiend didn't fundamentally change the situation, but it did make Qin Sang feel more at ease. Within the Star Fiend, Qin Sang held the clam pearl, focusing his mind. Through the pearl, he seemed capable of directly sensing the vast waters, yet his perceptions remained profoundly chaotic, failing to form any clear images.

Given more time, the situation would likely improve significantly. However, since arriving, he hadn't had the opportunity to thoroughly study the clam pearl. Despite receiving guidance from Qingyuan, perhaps his cultivation wasn't sufficient, or he lacked some necessary condition, as Qin Sang had yet to fully comprehend the pearl.

The clam pearl's guidance, however, was clear, though he remained uncertain about the dangers that might lie ahead.

As Qin Sang was pondering these thoughts, he silently acknowledged, "Here it comes." Through the clam pearl, he vaguely sensed an obstruction ahead, causing him a sense of unease.

"Should I avoid it?"

The thought crossed Qin Sang's mind, but he ultimately decided against changing direction for the moment.

If such dangers were widespread, it was better to encounter them sooner rather than later. Further in, there might be more than one type of threat. For now, he could at least focus on devising a countermeasure.

The Black Tortoise Star Fiend swam a short distance forward. Qin Sang then saw what he had sensed: a patch of mist.

The mist was a pale, eerie vapor, barely visible in the darkness. Like water, this strange vapor was perfectly still and didn't flow, resembling a massive white boulder.

Qin Sang stopped, observing the strange vapor. He detected no obvious signs of danger within it, yet an inexplicable impulse urged him to distance himself from it as quickly and thoroughly as possible. It was a primal fear and aversion, originating from a creature's instinct.

"What is this?" Qin Sang wondered, perplexed, having never encountered anything so peculiar before.

Just as Qin Sang hesitated, wondering whether to test it, a school of fish entered the clam pearl's detection range. Their direction of travel clearly indicated they were headed this way.

A thought stirred in Qin Sang's mind. He waited for a moment, and soon the school of fish appeared in his vision. He watched as they swam directly towards the strange vapor, then, led by their alpha, plunged straight into it.

As the fish were engulfed by the strange vapor, Qin Sang was astonished to see the mist begin to contract. Soon, the school of fish reappeared, and the strange vapor had vanished entirely, apparently consumed by the fish.

This sight greatly astonished Qin Sang.

He had previously sensed that the fish resembled scavengers, but now it seemed they were guardians specifically created by the owner of this place. Though he didn't understand the nature of the mist, it was undoubtedly malevolent. He could deduce that if the strange vapor accumulated to a certain extent, it would disturb the tranquility of the area. The owner must have foreseen this, refining the fish using star spirits to clear the vapor, thus ensuring this place's eternal preservation.

"Is there a formation here?"

Qin Sang mused that for it to operate flawlessly until now, it must be supported by some hidden power.

Observing the fish swim deeper into the waters, precisely the direction he intended, Qin Sang quickly followed. He soon encountered similar mist patches, which the fish again cleared. Following them made Qin Sang's journey remarkably easy.

As he followed the fish deeper and deeper, Qin Sang observed another sight at the bottom of the water.

At the edge of his vision, a dark shadow appeared. It wasn't the strange vapor; something was genuinely there. Yet, when Qin Sang used the clam pearl to sense it, the area registered as completely empty.

Clearly, something was amiss. Qin Sang heightened his vigilance. Unfortunately, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly was asleep, so he had to rely on his spiritual eye for observation.

As the distance closed, Qin Sang realized the dark shadow was truly enormous, resembling a vast, rounded mountain. As he gazed at it, his heart pounded more fiercely, and an invisible pressure washed over him.

"So this is the source!"

Qin Sang's heart chilled; he suddenly sensed something was amiss.

His speed and direction hadn't changed, yet the dark shadow ahead was no longer growing larger or smaller. To his eyes, it remained perpetually the same size, like a distant mountain that could be observed but never reached.

He moved towards the dark shadow, but it continuously receded, preventing him from getting closer. Qin Sang found this peculiar. He glanced at the school of fish and noticed them changing direction. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to continue following the fish, even though it wasn't the path indicated by the clam pearl.

The fish swam in an arc, perfectly circumventing the dark shadow. Qin Sang kept his gaze fixed on it, watching it fall behind him, gradually shrinking after a certain distance, and eventually vanishing from sight. From start to finish, Qin Sang was unable to discern the true form of the dark shadow.

Throughout the remainder of his journey, Qin Sang encountered several more dark shadows, each as immense as the last.

Qin Sang could see the dark shadows, aware of their presence, yet he found himself utterly unable to approach them.

While here, the grim, deathly silence, and the shiver brought by the invisible pressure became increasingly pronounced. Qin Sang recalled his earlier conjecture: "Could this truly be the burial ground of the Black Tortoise clan?"

Those motionless dark shadows strikingly resembled the corpses of colossal tortoises!

Demon beasts are invaluable, and divine beasts like the Black Tortoise are especially so. Their carapaces are world-renowned for their formidable defense. If he could acquire a genuine Black Tortoise shell, he was certain he could forge it into a supreme protective treasure!

Greed stirred within Qin Sang, drawing his attention even more to the dark shadows. Yet, he found himself utterly unable to approach them, nor did the circumstances allow him to pause and deliberate. Various Taoist arts and treasures he attempted proved futile. Powerless, Qin Sang was about to try using the Black Tortoise Star Fiend when he surprisingly discovered an unexpected change within it.

Whoosh!

Qin Sang emerged from the Black Tortoise Star Fiend, his gaze fixed on the four limbs beneath its carapace.

The Black Tortoise Star Fiend was a lethal technique manifested from a sword formation. Its body, ethereal and radiant, was formed from condensed starlight, making the Star Fiend inherently an illusory entity.

Now, the tips of its four tortoise-like limbs had solidified, becoming opaque, as if they had grown flesh and blood.

"What's happening?"

Qin Sang's face registered surprise. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that an unknown force was silently merging into the Black Tortoise Star Fiend's body as it endured the surrounding pressure.

If his conjecture was correct—that this was indeed the burial ground of the Black Tortoise clan—then this power must emanate from the corpses of Black Tortoises!

"This shouldn't be a bad thing, should it?"

Qin Sang stared at the slowly 'growing' tortoise limbs.

Theoretically, the Black Tortoise Star Fiend was formed from the power of the sword formation; it should cease to exist the moment Qin Sang retracted the formation.

Qin Sang wasn't certain whether this change was beneficial or detrimental, but it made him think of the Vermilion Bird.

He had partnered with the Vermilion Bird against enemies on more than one occasion. When integrated into the sword formation, the Vermilion Bird, as one of the four spirits, significantly amplified the formation's power.

Could this trigger another qualitative transformation in the sword formation?

At this thought, Qin Sang felt a surge of anticipation and decided to observe calmly.

Naturally, Qin Sang understood the urgency of the situation. Throughout this process, he never stopped, continuing to follow the school of fish as they navigated between the dark shadows.

Before long, the Black Tortoise Star Fiend's four limbs had fully developed. Qin Sang touched them, noting that their texture, color, and pattern were indistinguishable from real flesh and blood. Even the Star Fiend's overall aura was changing.

"It's not going to become a living Black Tortoise, is it?"

Qin Sang's heart pounded with trepidation.

For the Black Tortoise Star Fiend to become a genuine Black Tortoise sounded like a preposterous fantasy, yet the cultivation world was replete with wonders. Qin Sang focused his mind to sense the sword formation, confirming the Star Fiend wasn't out of control and that he could dispel it with a mere thought, which somewhat eased his worries.

Just then, the school of fish ahead suddenly changed direction. Qin Sang paused, choosing not to follow them further.

Proceeding alone, without the path-clearing fish, Qin Sang became exceptionally cautious. Not only were there peculiar dark shadows here, but the strange vapor was also ubiquitous. Each time he neared the pale vapor, alarm bells rang in his heart, as he knew he absolutely could not allow it to touch him, or the consequences would be dire.

Before long, Qin Sang encountered another school of fish. He traveled with them for a while before they again parted ways.

With his speed fluctuating, Qin Sang gradually gained a deeper understanding of this place. Strange vapor was abundant, and so were the fish schools. The fish diligently consumed the vapor, yet it seemed endless, constantly accumulating.

If not for the current disturbance, this place would also face disaster once the strange vapor accumulated to its limit. Nothing in the world is eternal; no matter how powerful a seal, it will eventually break. Perhaps that would mark the day the seal collapses.

As the strange vapor grew denser, some areas became impassable for Qin Sang. He now had to actively seek out nearby fish schools and leverage their abilities, which inevitably led to detours.

The good news was that the Black Tortoise Star Fiend remained unaffected; its body continued to grow, and the carapace on its back had almost become real. Seeing the Star Fiend nearing completion, Qin Sang dedicated more of his attention to it, observing its long, serpentine head slowly solidify.

Eventually, the Black Tortoise Star Fiend had almost fully materialized, possessing a genuine physical body, with only its eyes remaining as two clusters of starlight within their sockets.

Qin Sang stopped, nervously staring at the Black Tortoise Star Fiend's eyes, fearing a pair of lively, intelligent eyes might meet his gaze. However, this didn't happen. The Star Fiend lay quietly before him, apparently having reached its limit, no longer able to absorb the unknown power. Its gaze remained as dull as ever.

Its external appearance was convincing enough to deceive; opponents would undoubtedly assume Qin Sang had tamed a Black Tortoise. However, a glance into its eyes would reveal its illusory nature.

Whoosh!

The starlight flickered faintly, then vanished abruptly, transforming into a streak of sword light that settled into Qin Sang's palm.

As Qin Sang recalled the Taiyin Spirit Sword, the Black Tortoise Star Fiend simultaneously dissipated.

With a hum of the sword, the starry sky reappeared, and a beam of starlight descended. The Black Tortoise Star Fiend materialized before Qin Sang once more, as solidified as before. The northern star region, too, seemed subtly changed.

The sword formation was the fundamental essence of the Black Tortoise Star Fiend. With a mere thought from Qin Sang, the Black Tortoise Star Fiend instantly transformed into a star sword, its sharp edge fully apparent. Its power was now comparable to that of the Vermilion Bird Star Fiend when fused with the Vermilion Bird itself!

While the Vermilion Bird's cultivation might be slightly lower, it was a living entity.

This was undoubtedly a fortuitous encounter. The benefits derived from the Black Tortoise Star Fiend ultimately reflected upon the Four Symbols Nine Luminaries Sword Formation. This wasn't surprising; after all, who could understand the Seven Mansions of the Black Tortoise better than the Black Tortoise Saint Clan itself?

"In the future, could this method be employed to leverage the other three great Saint Clans, allowing all four Star Fiends to undergo qualitative transformations?" Qin Sang already had a Vermilion Bird by his side, offering some hope for the Vermilion Bird Star Fiend. However, the other two Star Fiends would pose a significant challenge.

With a flicker, Qin Sang landed on the Black Tortoise's back.

This unexpected fortuitous encounter, however, couldn't alter the immediate situation. Qin Sang paused briefly, then resumed his journey, winding through the dark shadows and strange vapors. After navigating past several patches of vapor, a point of light finally appeared in the distance.

Qin Sang's gaze was immediately drawn to the light. It hovered above a dark shadow, not intensely bright, but clearly visible. Looking at the light, then at the clam pearl in his hand, Qin Sang felt a surge of delight, realizing this was precisely what the pearl had been guiding him towards!

His ability to perceive the light with his naked eye confirmed he was very close to Mo Yan.

Qin Sang let out a soft sigh of relief and accelerated towards the light, but his brief joy soon faded. Suddenly, he stopped, frowning as he stared at the light. After traveling for so long, the light had remained perpetually ahead of him, neither close nor distant.

His greatest fear materialized: the light, like the dark shadows, remained unapproachable.

Qin Sang fully activated his divine sense, striving to comprehend the clam pearl, but his brow furrowed deeper. He began circling the point of light. Having been in this place for so long, he had already discerned some clues: the precise placement of these dark shadows collectively formed a grand formation, with the light acting as its core.

However, this grand formation was too vast, far exceeding Qin Sang's comprehension. Even with the clam pearl, something crucial was missing.

"Fellow Daoist Mo Yan... Fellow Daoist Mo Yan..."

Time was pressing, and in his helplessness, Qin Sang resorted to calling out loudly for Mo Yan.

This was clearly a futile effort. The point of light hung quietly above the peak, like a star in the sky – seemingly close, yet in reality, separated by countless miles.

Wait... a star!

Qin Sang suddenly realized something, his expression shifting slightly. Staring intently at the point of light, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if he had encountered it somewhere before.

"This is... Mercury!"

Qin Sang finally understood the reason for this phenomenon.

To comprehend the Four Symbols Nine Luminaries Sword Formation, Qin Sang had observed the celestial stars countless times at night. Among the Nine Luminaries were the five planets representing Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, known in the cultivation world as Taibai (Venus), Suixing (Jupiter), Chenxing (Mercury), Yinghuo (Mars), and Zhenxing (Saturn), respectively.

Ordinarily, Qin Sang would have found it easiest to begin comprehending the Nine Luminaries through these five planets. However, having obtained the Taiyin Divine Sword, he had instead started with the Taiyin Star.

Whoosh!

As the Black Tortoise Star Fiend returned to its position, the starry sky abruptly unfurled above Qin Sang, with stars arrayed. When the Twenty-Eight Mansions aligned with the corresponding celestial timing, another star appeared in the sky, which was precisely the point of light.

The light's position was precisely that of Mercury, a perfect fit!

Mercury and the Taiyin Star illuminated each other, and all the stars of the Twenty-Eight Mansions seemed to become their companion stars.

The Black Tortoise, associated with water, governs the Northern Darkness.

Water manifests in the north, correlating with Mercury above!

Qin Sang fell into deep thought.

This was likely not the true Mercury. Perhaps the owner of this place had used some method to conjure an illusionary star, or perhaps they had simply drawn Mercury's starlight from the outside world into this place.

But even with this knowledge of it being Mercury, how could he leverage this truth to find Mo Yan?

Recalling the Black Tortoise Star Fiend's previous transformation, a thought stirred in Qin Sang's mind. He gazed at the point of light, then silently began to circulate his sword art.