Chapter 1400: The Tide-Drawing Horseshoe Crab

Could someone have refined the witch race's inheritance and resolved its hidden dangers, making it possible for the human race to cultivate? Qin Sang marveled inwardly.

He had possessed a life-bound insect gu since shortly after forming his core, and had since nurtured the Sky-Eyed Butterfly through its fourth metamorphosis. He considered his attainments in this path to be far from shallow. Yet if he were asked to modify the technique, he still would not know where to begin.

The secret technique of the life-bound insect gu was an ancient inheritance of the witch race. Every part of it was bound to every other; a single change would ripple through the whole. It was not something one could alter at will. Unless the person in question possessed a profound understanding of this Dao, even a world-shaking genius could not have done it.

Lan Jingsi and Master Feng chatted and laughed as they went, while Qin Sang followed quietly behind.

Before long, a mountain peak appeared before the three. Lan Jingsi raised a hand and cast a hand seal, and the peak abruptly twisted. It had been an illusion all along, concealing another world within.

This was the headquarters of Hundred Flowers Valley.

Lan Jingsi gestured gracefully. "After you, fellow Daoists."

As they flew into Hundred Flowers Valley, a rich floral fragrance rushed over them, intoxicating the senses.

The valley lived up to its name. The entire basin was carpeted in flowers blooming in splendid profusion, and among them stood a large number of spiritual flowers, graceful and elegant, each giving off its own distinctive scent.

Disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley wove through the blossoms, now and then startling an insect from the flower beds. The insects showed no fear, circling them with evident affection before darting back into the flowers.

Crystal Ants, Azure-Backed Mantises, Three-Horned King Insects...

Qin Sang could hardly take it all in. Within moments, he had spotted more than ten kinds of spiritual insects. None were at the level of supernatural insects, but all were spiritual insects rarely seen in the outside world, each born with its own subtle supernatural ability.

They all appeared to be raised by Hundred Flowers Valley. The sect clearly knew what it was doing.

Nor was the valley only a sea of flowers. It held other terrains as well, suited to the survival of all kinds of spiritual insects, venomous ones included. Rather than Hundred Flowers Valley, Insect Valley might have been the more fitting name.

The three finally arrived at a bamboo pavilion beside a lake, where Lan Jingsi had attendants serve flower tea.

They made small talk for a while. Master Feng brought up the recent great war between the two races, sparing no words of praise for Qin Sang. Lan Jingsi seemed to believe him, growing ever more respectful toward Qin Sang.

Master Feng complimented the tea's mellow fragrance, exchanged a glance with Qin Sang, set down his cup, and asked, "May I ask where Daoist Mu is at?"

Lan Jingsi made no attempt to conceal it. "Senior Brother was invited by a Daoist to Boundless Sea."

"Boundless Sea?" Master Feng paused briefly. "Your sect's founder also came from Boundless Sea..."

"Senior Brother even told you that? Indeed. Though our grandmaster left Boundless Sea, many old friends remain there, and the one who invited Senior Brother is the descendant of one of those old friends. The matter is of great importance, and until it's resolved, Senior Brother cannot pull himself away," Lan Jingsi explained solemnly, though she revealed nothing of Valley Master Mu's true destination.

It was not Master Feng's place to press further. He glanced at Qin Sang and stated their purpose. "To be honest with you, Daoist Lan, I owe Daoist Ming Yue a favor. I promised to introduce him to Daoist Mu and ask Daoist Mu for guidance on the Dao of insect control."

Lan Jingsi seemed to have expected as much and showed no surprise. She turned to Qin Sang. "Are you also versed in insect control, Daoist Ming Yue?"

"I wouldn't dare claim mastery here in Hundred Flowers Valley," Qin Sang said modestly. "I have a deep interest in the Dao of insect control and have tried rearing a few kinds, but the results left much to be desired."

At the mention of insect control, Lan Jingsi's interest was piqued as well, and she began trading insights with Qin Sang.

Qin Sang had been steeped in this Dao for many years. Even with everything related to the witch race concealed, he still offered flashes of brilliance that sometimes gave Lan Jingsi pause for thought. She returned his candor in kind, which only further convinced Qin Sang that Hundred Flowers Valley's inheritance was anything but ordinary.

Master Feng could not get a word in, but he listened with great relish, not finding it dull in the least.

When the conversation turned to the spiritual insect Qin Sang valued most, Lan Jingsi could not wait to ask, "May I have a look?"

Qin Sang opened his Spirit Beast Pouch and called out the Fire Jade Centipede.

Until he uncovered the full truth of Hundred Flowers Valley, he could not expose the fact that he possessed a life-bound insect gu, and the fat silkworm was Mute Girl's spiritual insect. The Fire Jade Centipede would have to serve as his front.

The centipede was on the verge of breaking through the late stage of its third metamorphosis, already a rarity in the immortal cultivation world.

"A Fire Jade Centipede!" Surprise flashed through Lan Jingsi's eyes. "Such a rare treasure-hunting spiritual insect! Among spiritual insects, the Fire Jade Centipede ranks near the top in difficulty of advancement. I never thought I would see a third-metamorphosis Fire Jade Centipede in this day and age! No wonder you cherish it so much!"

She was indeed well-versed in the Dao of insect control, seeing through the Fire Jade Centipede's nature in a single sentence.

"Your erudition is admirable, Daoist Lan," Qin Sang praised with a fist-and-palm salute. "No doubt you've also seen my predicament. I've only managed to raise it to the late stage of its third metamorphosis, but I have no idea how to help it advance again."

The Fire Jade Centipede was a stone thrown to test the waters. Qin Sang's aim was to probe just how much Hundred Flowers Valley really knew.

The sect boasted two Spiritual Infant cultivators, its master was at the middle stage of the Spiritual Infant Realm, and he was on good terms with Master Feng. It would be best if Qin Sang could obtain what he wanted through fair exchange; unless it became necessary, he had no wish to resort to other means. ℯ

After a pause, Qin Sang continued, "I've heard Daoist Mu possesses a fourth-metamorphosis Tide-Drawing Horseshoe Crab. Surely he could offer me a pointer or two."

The fact that Valley Master Mu possessed a fourth-metamorphosis spiritual insect was no secret among Spiritual Infant cultivators, though Qin Sang had not expected it to be the man's life-bound insect gu.

"That..." Lan Jingsi looked troubled. "Senior Brother succeeded partly by luck, and his method is tied to his own cultivation art, impossible for outsiders to replicate. Besides, it's his secret. Without his permission, I cannot reveal it to others."

Master Feng counseled Qin Sang, "We've come at a bad time. Shall we visit again once Daoist Mu returns to the valley?"

Qin Sang deliberated inwardly. Advancing the Fire Jade Centipede was no urgent need, and Hundred Flowers Valley wasn't going anywhere; he could return whenever he wished. Better to use this time to search Boundless Sea for Pure Lake first and see whether he could dig up anything related to the witch race, then decide his next step.

His mind made up, Qin Sang was about to speak when Lan Jingsi suddenly said, with some hesitation, "If you have no pressing business, Daoist Ming Yue, why not stay in the valley for a while? I will try to send word to Senior Brother and let him decide."

Master Feng said with delight, "Nothing could be better than reaching Daoist Mu!"

Qin Sang quietly studied Lan Jingsi, a glint passing through his eyes. After a moment's thought, he decided to change his plan and nodded. "Then I'll impose on your hospitality for a time. Thank you, Daoist Lan."

The three continued savoring tea and discussing the Dao. Two hours later, Master Feng, eager to call on old friends, rose to take his leave. Unable to persuade him to stay, Qin Sang and Lan Jingsi saw him out of the valley.

From then on, Qin Sang remained in Hundred Flowers Valley.

Lan Jingsi settled him in a quiet bamboo tower. Perhaps thanks to Master Feng's kind words, the valley showed no excessive wariness toward him, at least on the surface. He was free to move about, and with permission granted, he entered the first floor of the valley's scripture repository to peruse a portion of its texts.

For the next ten-odd days, Lan Jingsi never showed herself, and Qin Sang had no idea what method she was using to contact Valley Master Mu. Having resolved to play the long game, he was in no hurry.

In that time, his understanding of Hundred Flowers Valley deepened further. Even without obtaining the sect's handed-down secret technique, Qin Sang could now say with certainty that it was inextricably linked to the witch race!