Chapter 1181: Recognition

"Fellow Daoist Mingyue, we cannot be careless. The reason the Sinister Abyss has been able to relentlessly press us is partly due to these Dark Crystal Towers. These objects can be moved at will, yet they possess power comparable to spirit formations, along with numerous other ingenious uses. This allows the Sinister Abyss's army to maneuver flexibly. Our carefully arranged defensive formations, which would normally require several times our troop strength or for them to identify weak points to breach, are much easier to break because the Sinister Abyss possesses Dark Crystal Towers..."

Jinglin cautioned.

Qin Sang recalled information related to the Dark Crystal Towers.

During his time in the Demon Sea, he had experienced the demon race's siege of Desolate Island. Although he quickly found a way to escape, he had also witnessed various human techniques and had not encountered any treasure comparable to the Dark Crystal Tower.

Such an item was undoubtedly a devastating weapon in battle formations, explaining why the Sinister Abyss held the upper hand. Even if the Two-Domain Alliance possessed similar treasures, they were vastly inferior to the Dark Crystal Towers.

"Did the Sinister Abyss suddenly deploy these Dark Crystal Towers after the last war? They hadn't used them before, had they?"

Qin Sang asked carefully.

There was no demonic energy on the Dark Crystal Towers, making him wonder if they were connected to ancient demons.

The Sinister Abyss also possessed secret realms like the Sin God Palace, rumored to hide numerous treasures. It was plausible that the Sinister Abyss had been fortunate enough to unearth the Dark Crystal Towers from within.

Jinglin paused, then remembered, "Oh! Fellow Daoist Mingyue, you had only recently advanced to the Form Transformation stage, so you probably weren't paying close attention to the conflicts between the three domains back then. In fact, even before the sneak attack on Ziwei Palace, the Sinister Abyss had been restless, repeatedly encroaching on our borders, and we engaged in several skirmishes with them. At that time, they did display items similar to the Dark Crystal Towers, but neither their power nor their numbers could compare to what they possess now. In those intervening years, the Sinister Abyss might have researched something new or unearthed additional materials..."

"Didn't you consider replicating this treasure?"

Qin Sang countered.

Jinglin offered a wry smile. "Of course, we wanted to replicate it! Fellow Daoist Zhenyi and the Red-Haired Ancestor from the Minor Cold Domain collaborated to set a trap, luring a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Sinister Abyss and capturing their Nascent Soul. After a thorough interrogation, we learned that the method for refining the Dark Crystal Towers is a top secret within the Sinister Abyss, known to only a handful of individuals apart from Old Demon Ye. We have even captured some Dark Crystal Towers, but to this day, we haven't even deciphered their material composition, let alone replicated them."

Their spiritual sense exchange occurred in mere moments.

As they conversed, the Sinister Abyss army was already steadily drawing closer.

"Found him, that's Old Demon Tan!"

Jinglin instinctively lowered his head, indicating the position to Qin Sang.

Qin Sang had already noticed a cultivator standing at the forefront of the Sinister Abyss's battle formation. This individual flew through the air, a red fire rope coiled around his left arm, commanding immense reverence from the surrounding cultivators.

"Old Demon Pei is hidden, but since he must control the Dark Crystal Towers, he won't be far from them."

Jinglin searched discreetly but found no trace of Old Demon Pei.

Qin Sang was also searching.

Meanwhile, behind the Dark Crystal Towers, two figures were concealed in the shadows, enveloped by a faint, ethereal ripple, like a transparent veil, concealing them.

Other cultivators passed by, and the veil merely trembled imperceptibly, yet they seemed entirely oblivious to the two hidden figures.

"With Daoist Master Chanling's support this time, we are sure to capture Three-Fold Pass!"

One of the figures, precisely Old Demon Pei whom Jinglin was searching for, looked at the misty sea ahead and spoke with complete confidence.

Beside him stood a gaunt Daoist priest.

This individual stood with his hands clasped behind his back; the azure veil was the treasure he wielded, perfectly concealing both their figures and auras.

The two gazed at the misty sea for a moment, and Old Demon Pei sneered, "As expected, it's that fellow named Si who has come out to face us. I know all his divine abilities intimately, save for his magical treasure, the 'Yuejin Mirror'; nothing else is a concern. This time, Fellow Daoist Tan has devised some methods to counteract him. As long as we lure him closer and strike together at the opportune moment, we can at least severely injure him and seize Three-Fold Pass before their reinforcements arrive..."

Surprisingly, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Sinister Abyss harbored similar intentions to Qin Sang and his companions.

"Three-Fold Pass isn't a particularly vital location; the outcome also depends on Fellow Daoist Ye and their group's battle results... As long as you two are confident, that's what matters."

Daoist Master Chanling nodded slightly. "With three Dark Crystal Towers deployed here, they will undoubtedly know that Fellow Daoist Pei is also present. You may as well activate the Dark Crystal Towers to attack directly, dispelling any suspicions from Si Di and Jinglin. I, meanwhile, will hide beneath this Lightless Veil and infiltrate."

Old Demon Tan expressed some concern. "They are bound to retreat into the Cold Bell Grand Formation and remain there. If you, Daoist Master, directly enter the formation, won't the individuals controlling it detect you...?"

Daoist Master Chanling smiled faintly. "My Lightless Veil is as soft as water, adept at drifting with the current and adapting to circumstances. Even if I blend into the grand formation, it won't be easily exposed. Unless someone on their side possesses spiritual sense superior to mine, they absolutely won't be able to discern my presence. However, achieving this effect requires me to fully concentrate on controlling the Lightless Veil, which will cause a momentary delay when I strike. This is a drawback of the Lightless Veil; this brief window is sufficient for the opponent to react, thus requiring your close cooperation with Fellow Daoist Tan."

Upon hearing this, Old Demon Tan's eyes lit up. "Daoist Master possesses mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation! Within the Two-Domain Alliance, those whose spiritual sense could surpass yours are truly few, and none of them would be present at Three-Fold Pass!"

The two exchanged whispers through spiritual transmission.

A flash of light emanated from Old Demon Tan's body, and he vanished into thin air.

Daoist Master Chanling, meanwhile, drifted slowly forward like a phantom, cloaked by the Lightless Veil.

After drifting some distance, Daoist Master Chanling seemed to sense something. He frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on the depths of the misty sea. He scanned the area, found nothing amiss, shook his head subtly, and continued with the pre-arranged plan.

Within the misty sea, Qin Sang's heart suddenly leaped.

Daoist Master Chanling's concealment technique was extraordinary, yet it could not elude the Celestial Eye Butterfly.

A single glance yielded an unexpected discovery!

Qin Sang meticulously searched the battle formation, and while locating Old Demon Tan, he also discovered this Daoist, which startled him. The Sinister Abyss had dispatched three Nascent Soul cultivators.

When he attempted to have the Celestial Eye Butterfly continue employing its divine ability to discern this individual more clearly, he was nearly detected by the other party. Their spiritual sense was likely far superior to his own!

Qin Sang felt an ominous premonition.

"Fellow Daoist Jinglin..."

Qin Sang, with a serious expression, immediately informed Jinglin beside him of the situation.

"What? Three Nascent Soul cultivators?"

Jinglin exclaimed. Upon hearing Qin Sang's description, he immediately recalled someone. "It's him! His Daoist name is Chanling. He's a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator and possesses a rare concealment magical treasure that has caused us significant losses in the past, and we've never found an effective way to counter him. He's always been active in Wangdong City to the east. The fact that he's appeared here indicates the Sinister Abyss plans to break through our Stone Bend Mountain!"

"A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator?"

Qin Sang's expression subtly changed.

He wasn't panicked by the opponent's cultivation level, but it was clear that Daoist Master Chanling was targeting Si Di, harboring the same intentions as their own side.

In a direct confrontation, their side would gain no advantage, and it seemed they would need to alter their strategy.