Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 908: Star Platform

The rest were just miscellaneous items. Qin Sang’s gaze swept across the messy ground and finally settled on the stone platform. Among everything here, this was the only thing that caught his attention. Though it looked battered and broken, it radiated an unusual aura, clearly an ancient relic.

Was this what Black Snake Mountain had schemed so hard to steal? Qin Sang thought.

The Sky-Eyed Butterfly had been watching it the whole time. The black-robed man could not have passed it to anyone else unless he had failed.

Out of caution, Qin Sang first picked up the other items one by one, probing with spiritual consciousness and true essence to confirm they were all ordinary. In the end, only the stone platform remained.

He lifted the platform with his palm and poured true essence into it. All of it was absorbed. The platform was like a bottomless pit, taking in everything without resistance. As true essence continued to flow into it, a faint glow gradually lit up, casting its shine upon Qin Sang’s astonished face.

"This is the power of the cosmic orbit and stars..." Qin Sang’s expression was filled with surprise. "This thing can actually connect to the stars on its own!"

Then a realization struck him. His eyes flashed, and he suddenly increased the flow of true essence, pouring it endlessly into the platform. Yet, the glow only brightened slightly. The platform itself showed no change, but the power of the stars around him grew richer.

Bang! His true essence was nearly exhausted. Qin Sang stopped and set the platform back on the ground, his face alight with joy. This object might very well solve his greatest trouble. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Without resting, Qin Sang meticulously searched every corner over and over again. He even tried attacking the platform with Dao Techniques and astras, but it was all to no avail.

There were no runes within. The platform seemed like a pure piece of stone. Its only peculiarity was the ability to resonate with the cosmic orbit and the stars. Having exhausted every method, Qin Sang finally stopped, lost in thought.

"Landou Sect had stored the platform in the caverns beneath Dongming Island. Either this thing was too important to move, and removing it caused yesterday’s explosion, or they did not know its true worth and treated it as an auxiliary object for cultivating the Lightning Control Technique.

"But the grandmaster of Black Snake Mountain sent all his disciples for this. He must know the truth. Otherwise, the grandmaster of Black Snake Mountain would not go to such lengths.

"Could it be some kind of witch race treasure, one that does not respond to humans?

"So, the witch race also has similar secret techniques! In the ancient era, spiritual qi was dense, natural treasures were everywhere, and countless prodigies arose among all races. Unlike now, where every immortal cultivation world is locked away in its own little cage." Qin Sang shook his head as he looked at the platform.

He summoned the Sky-Eyed Butterfly and tried again, but it was still useless. The witch race cultivators possessed something beyond life-bound insect gu and bloodlines, and that was the divine patterns.

"If only Mute Girl could wake up and give it a try..." At the thought of Mute Girl, Qin Sang sighed, and the joy he had felt faded somewhat.

"I will find a chance later. After all, the witch race’s great Dao of divine patterns has almost disappeared. Catching any low-level witch cultivator should be enough. For most human cultivators, unless they train in star power, this thing is not of much use. But for me, it is invaluable. From now on, I’ll call it the Star Platform!" His eyes shone with excitement.

He had discovered that the more true essence he infused, the stronger the star power became. If he had enough true essence, it might meet the requirements for Star Essence Infusion.

"With myself, the Two-Headed Hou, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly, and the fat silkworm, I already have the strength of four Core Formation cultivators. Acting together, it should barely be enough. Pity the flying yaksha was left behind in Seven-Kill Hall. If it’s still not enough, I’ll just refine a few more. Soul-Guiding Grass is much easier to find than Scorpion Venom Grass..." Qin Sang silently weighed his options.

It was only for breaking through the third stage of the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement. The requirements should not be too harsh.

The Star Platform carried great implications. With Black Snake Mountain’s grandmaster before and now the Spiritual Infant cultivator of Landou Sect aware of its value, revealing it would bring certain death. He could not ask anyone for help.

Fortunately, his path had been full of diversions. He had learned many side methods and could assemble enough helpers on his own.

"Who would have thought, when I couldn’t find a way forward through cultivation arts, I would find one in a piece of stone."

Qin Sang studied the Star Platform carefully. Even its rough scars now seemed pleasing to the eye. Unconsciously, he smiled.

From this moment, cultivation no longer blocked his path. The heavy burden in his heart was finally lifted. He soon calmed down and thought about his situation.

"This is not a place to linger. I should recover quickly and head somewhere hidden.

"Now that I have a solution for Star Essence Infusion, I don’t need to run everywhere anymore.

"With Landou Sect and Black Snake Mountain both after me, I cannot go to large cities like Tianxing City. I need a remote or chaotic place, somewhere hard to expose myself. It must also have abundant spiritual qi, but not already occupied by a sect.

"In the Demonic Sea, that won’t be hard to find.

"In the Inner Sea, the good spirit veins are already taken. Forcing one would only expose me faster. Only the Rain Desert of the North Sea or the Windy Archipelago are suitable.

"The Rain Desert is too far north, and barren. If I run into trouble, buying materials, herbs, or finding help will be difficult. Looks like the Windy Archipelago is the only choice.

"The Windy Archipelago is chaotic, killing is everywhere, and neither righteous nor demonic sects can fully extend their reach there.

"As long as people don’t trouble me, I won’t trouble him. With my strength, I should be able to hold a place for myself. After a few decades, when the storm passes, I can move again.

"Besides, Senior Qingzhu’s cave dwelling is there too. I might even discover things I didn’t know before." His thoughts raced, and soon his decision was made.

Qin Sang could not help but sigh. Surely, Senior Qingzhu had faced the same predicament back then, forced to retreat to the Windy Archipelago and hide his identity for two centuries?

By a twist of fate, he was now walking a path so similar to Senior Qingzhu’s. Two people who had never met, yet their fates seemed entangled.

Qin Sang stored away the Star Platform, burned the worthless items, and destroyed the two Mustard Seed Pouches. Then he took out spirit stones, activated his cultivation art, and sat in meditation.

An hour later, Qin Sang had returned to peak condition. Beneath the moonlight, he set off westward. On the road, he and the Two-Headed Hou traveled tirelessly, taking turns to push forward.

Aside from cultivating the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement, he devoted himself fully to raising his external incarnation.

By the time he reached the seas around the Windy Archipelago, the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement had reached the late second stage, and his body’s toughness had risen again.

His external incarnation had also advanced to the middle stage of the Foundation Building Realm. Core Formation was within reach.