Chapter 1125: Venting

They stood on the surface of a deserted expanse of water, facing each other.

Bai had the appearance of a refined corpse, his face rigid. As a refined corpse, he was already a peak Flying Yaksha, just one step away from becoming a Corpse King.

He looked at Qin Sang, his gaze gradually becoming serious. Then, his shoulders twitched slightly, shaking his arms as if warming up for battle, and the corpse energy within him surged.

A chilling wind howled, preventing the water's surface from remaining still. Despite it being midday and the sun shining brightly, as Bai displayed the might of a Flying Yaksha, the temperature in the surrounding air plummeted, bringing waves of coldness, as if even the sunlight had dimmed slightly.

Suddenly, the corpse energy retracted, receding into Bai's body. Bai's physical body, like other refined corpses, was gaunt. His skin was bluish-black, faintly shimmering with corpse energy and emitting a metallic luster, making it incredibly tough. This body appeared stiff and rigid, yet it possessed powerful escape techniques and was exceptionally agile. Ordinary cultivators would find a Flying Yaksha extremely troublesome to deal with, let alone Bai, who was no ordinary Flying Yaksha.

On the other side, Qin Sang grew phoenix wings on his back. His hands were also empty, his fists tightly clenched. Having cultivated the *Heavenly Demon Refinement Art* to its third-layer peak, Qin Sang's physical body was no weaker than that of a Flying Yaksha. However, outwardly, his skin was no different from an ordinary person's, appearing fair and rosy. This seemingly ordinary body, however, contained astonishing explosive power.

A strong gust of wind suddenly rose. Qin Sang and Bai vanished simultaneously.

A massive wave surged skyward. Two figures appeared amidst the waves, their heavy fists meeting. Both trembled, flying back several yards. Before they could regain their footing, they quickly twisted their bodies and lunged at each other again.

Rumble...

It was hard to imagine that pure close-quarters combat could stir up such a storm and create such an astonishing spectacle. By this point, they were entwined, their figures almost indistinguishable. Only the dull thuds of heavy fists clashing could be heard, each sounding like thunder. At their current cultivation levels, they possessed more than just this one divine ability. Yet, both chose to engage in physical combat, as if by unspoken agreement.

Water splashed in all directions. The entire body of water was churned into chaos. Corpse energy and the azure light of phoenix wings intertwined. They fought without reservation, focusing entirely on their opponent.

Initially, Qin Sang, lacking experience in close-quarters combat techniques, was at a slight disadvantage. However, Bai wouldn't be able to defeat him so quickly. As time passed, Bai intentionally guided Qin Sang to unleash his true strength, and Qin Sang became increasingly composed. His heavy fists and phoenix wings worked together seamlessly. His figure was like lightning, his fists like thunder. The two gradually balanced offense and defense. This was a rare occasion for Qin Sang to fight so recklessly, relying purely on his physical body against an equally matched opponent like Bai. He couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration.

Boom!

After a powerful clash, the two figures separated instantly. Corpse energy vibrated. Bai's figure plummeted, then bounced up the moment it touched the water's surface. Qin Sang, on the other hand, fiercely flapped his phoenix wings, soaring high as a streak of azure light. After a single circling motion, he descended from the sky, his chest rising and falling slightly.

“Impressive! Your body refining technique truly has its unique aspects.”

After the intense battle, the crimson color in Bai's pupils intensified further. Unexpectedly, Qin Sang paid no heed to Bai's words. His eyes fixed intently on Bai, as if regarding him as a sworn enemy to be eliminated swiftly, and he charged forward again. The shadow of his fist rapidly enlarged in Bai's vision. Seeing this, Bai silently glanced at Qin Sang, a slight stir in his heart. He then responded without a word, swinging his fist to meet the attack.

Bang!

Bai forcefully pushed Qin Sang back. His figure flickered, retreating dozens of yards, before he took out a Corpse Soul Orb and, astonishingly, swallowed it. Immediately, corpse energy surged around him, and a bestial roar escaped his throat. The next moment, Bai's appearance underwent a bizarre transformation. His flesh twisted and contorted, his shriveled muscles clinging tightly to his bones. Corpse energy gathered in his hands, causing his spectral claws to lengthen dramatically, black as ink and imbued with terrifying corpse poison. His bones cracked loudly, and his body instantly grew several inches taller. At the same time, tusks sprouted from his mouth, giving him a ferocious appearance. At this moment, Bai's appearance was nearly as terrifying as that of the Corpse King from the Immortal Tomb.

Upon noticing Bai's transformation, a hint of surprise flickered in Qin Sang's eyes, but without any hesitation or fear, he launched another swift attack. A black light flashed. Bai crossed his arms. Before Qin Sang could discern his movements, numerous spectral claw shadows appeared in the air before him, leaving him nowhere to dodge. With a boom, the spectral claw shadows engulfed Qin Sang. Qin Sang was sent flying backward. Although he wasn't injured, his posture appeared quite disheveled.

Bai pressed on relentlessly, corpse energy swirling around him. He instantly closed in, moving even faster than Qin Sang. His spectral claws were exceptionally sharp, as tough as magic artifacts, and infused with potent venom, posing a significant threat to Qin Sang. Qin Sang had no doubt that if he were struck by the spectral claws, his defenses would be breached, and he would suffer severe injuries. In an instant, spectral claws covered the sky. Bai held the upper hand, his momentum growing stronger and showing no mercy. By this point in the intense battle, the commotion on the battlefield had subsided compared to before. Qin Sang was forced to defend, surrounded by swirling corpse energy, his maneuvering space increasingly restricted. The situation looked grim.

Just then, a roar of fury suddenly erupted from within the corpse energy! This roar sounded as if it had been suppressed for a long time. Accompanying it was the clear, lingering clang of a sword, its sound shaking the heavens! The next moment, the surging corpse energy was abruptly sliced open by a beam of sword light. The sword light was dazzling, imbued with infinite sharpness. Qin Sang stood tall and proud, bathed in the sword light. The Ebony Sword hung suspended, not striking down, but within the reach of its sword intent, the countless spectral claw shadows were instantly obliterated. This was the power of sword intent. Under a single sword, nothing could stand in its way. It purged the realm, bringing clarity to the heavens!

Witnessing this scene, Bai was also greatly surprised. There was no longer a need to continue the spar. He retracted his corpse energy, his form reverting to its previous appearance, and cupped his hands, saying, "Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on comprehending sword intent!"

Qin Sang retrieved his spiritual sword, slowly exhaled, and solemnly replied, "Thank you!"

The path of cultivation was ultimately a solitary one. Friends and family might not be able to keep pace, and perhaps after a single secluded cultivation session, they would already have turned to dust. Senior Sister Qing Jun's approach was very uninhibited: "All others are but passersby, except for me." Qin Sang had long understood this truth and had experienced much of it. However, the successive deaths of two seniors, who were both mentors and friends, in front of him, could not have left him untouched. Bai naturally sensed this, but as fellow seekers of the Grand Dao, he understood that Qin Sang didn't need guidance. Proposing a spar and giving Qin Sang a chance to vent was enough.

After the battle, the pent-up frustration in Qin Sang's heart dissipated. However, Bai hadn't expected that Qin Sang would, through this very battle, comprehend sword intent and advance further in the path of the sword!

Qin Sang's aura settled, and he landed before Bai. Remembering Bai's earlier transformation, he asked curiously, "Have you fully comprehended the Corpse Soul Orb, fellow Daoist?"

Bai shook his head, saying, "I can only borrow some of the Corpse King's power from the Corpse Soul Orb; I am still far from fully comprehending it."