Chapter 1244: Trapping the Enemy

Qin Sang, despite possessing various divine abilities, found it no easy task to kill Dongyang Bo. Only by luring him into the demonic flames was there some chance of success. Therefore, before making a move, Qin Sang mentally rehearsed the plan several times.

First, he would use the Seven Souls Killing Formation to unexpectedly ensnare Dongyang Bo. Ideally, he could trap and kill him directly within the sword formation. If not, he could seize the opportunity to obscure Dongyang Bo's senses and unleash the Eighteen Demonic Banners.

The Ebony Sword was a top-tier magic treasure, and the Seven Souls Killing Formation was no ordinary sword array. Given more time to fully master it, Qin Sang could certainly use it to trap and kill enemies of higher cultivation levels. However, at this moment, it still had some unavoidable weaknesses. While easily dealing with cultivators of the same level, it could be easily seen through by higher-level cultivators. Furthermore, Dongyang Bo coincidentally possessed the Azure Lotus Treasure Lamp, which countered sword formations.

Seeing the sword formation indeed broken, Qin Sang quickly performed hand seals. Eighteen demonic banners silently materialized in the surrounding void, growing into massive three-zhang-tall flags. As the banners unfurled, even before the demonic flames were fully unleashed, the blood phantoms trapped within the banner formation grew restless, swimming erratically, instinctively sensing danger. Immediately after, the aura of demonic flames surged forth. The blood phantoms near the demonic banners stiffened, then silently melted away.

Dongyang Bo had used the Bronze Treasure Lamp to lure Qin Sang into releasing the Blood Filth Divine Light and then employed the Dragon-Phoenix Stone Pillars for a sneak attack, all while keeping his spiritual sense firmly locked onto the surroundings. Although the Dragon-Phoenix Stone Pillars couldn't damage the high-quality Ebony Sword, merely delaying it for a moment was enough, making the sword formation's flaws evident. In a battle between masters, every second counts. The flaw was seized by Dongyang Bo.

At this point, the Ebony Sword finally broke free from the Dragon-Phoenix Stone Pillars, but it was too late for Qin Sang to mend the flaw, change the formation, or stop Dongyang Bo.

"Boom!"

A brilliant light burst forth from the Adamantine Girdle, piercing through the sword formation's blockade like a white rainbow streaking across the sun. Instantly, the sword formation dissipated. A faint, delicate wisp of blood light shone in from the outside. Dongyang Bo seemed to make no discernible movement, yet in the next moment, his figure appeared at the sword formation's weak point, on the verge of successfully breaking out.

Just then, the Ebony Sword reappeared before him, giving a slight tremor before striking swiftly.

"Clang!"

However, this strike was once again blocked by the Adamantine Girdle. Seizing the opportune moment, Dongyang Bo's figure flickered and successfully broke free from the formation.

No sooner had he exited the sword formation than Dongyang Bo, about to seize the Talisman Puppet, sensed something amiss before him. Streams of black flames met his gaze, instantly incinerating the surrounding blood mist and phantoms, then surged towards him. Qin Sang, aware of his objective, had already set up the Demonic Banner Grand Formation, unleashing the demonic flames for a frontal assault!

Upon seeing these sights, Dongyang Bo's expression darkened, yet he remained completely unperturbed. He recalled that Qin Sang possessed a set of banner formations, about which information was incomplete as it had only been used once on the battlefield. Some suspected it was crafted by drawing inspiration from Ancestor Kuiyin's demonic banners, with two additional flags. Even if the demonic banners truly possessed power comparable to the original, Dongyang Bo was confident in his ability to protect himself. With a cultivation gap of one realm between them, Qin Sang would undoubtedly be the first to deplete his true essence if they continued to fight. Dongyang Bo simply didn't wish to prolong the entangled battle; he wasn't concerned for his own safety.

However, upon getting a clear look at his surroundings, Dongyang Bo's face instantly blanched with shock. Counting carefully, the demonic banners floating within the sea of fire behind him were not twelve, but a full eighteen! Qin Sang had only recently achieved the Nascent Soul stage, yet the power he had just displayed far exceeded Dongyang Bo's expectations. He hadn't anticipated that this wasn't even Qin Sang's true strength.

Facing the eighteen demonic banners, all trace of ease vanished from Dongyang Bo's eyes, replaced by an ominous premonition. "These are truly the Ten Directions Yama Banners!"

Dongyang Bo had previously dealt with Ancestor Kuiyin and knew the formidable power of his demonic banner formation. Now, Qin Sang possessed eight more banners than Ancestor Kuiyin did. At this very moment, the issue was no longer about whether he could seize the Talisman Puppet!

The eighteen demonic banners stood majestically in the void, like eighteen gaping mouths, continuously spewing forth demonic flames. Qin Sang controlled the demonic flames through the Fire Lotus Seed. In an instant, demonic flames surged sky-high, creating a terrifying momentum as waves of fire surged towards Dongyang Bo.

A warning sign flashed in Dongyang Bo's heart. A quick glance showed him engulfed in a boundless sea of fire with no escape. The Adamantine Girdle above his head rattled, its light and flames pushed back by the demonic fire, appearing dim and flickering precariously. "Although Ancestor Kuiyin’s magic treasures are powerful, they have a flaw. These demonic flames are external objects; they cannot be controlled with perfect precision. While they might defeat a powerful opponent, killing them is difficult."

Dongyang Bo, unexpectedly, had a considerable understanding of the demonic banners. However, even with this flaw, when the number of demonic banners reached eighteen, it represented a qualitative change; they were not to be underestimated. Dongyang Bo's mind raced. Though startled, he remained unpanicked and reacted with extreme speed, knowing that if he didn't escape soon, he would be incinerated by the demonic flames and suffer eternal damnation!

Immediately after, Dongyang Bo fully activated the Adamantine Girdle to protect himself, his figure flickering rapidly, visible only as a streaking white light hurtling through the void. For a moment, the demonic flames were thrown into disarray. This was because Dongyang Bo knew the flaws of the Demonic Banner Grand Formation; standing still and fighting head-on was absolutely suicidal. Qin Sang had to manipulate the demonic flames to strangle him, but since the flames weren't personally refined by Qin Sang, the faster Dongyang Bo moved, the easier it was to find weaknesses.

Seeing this, Qin Sang's expression subtly changed. Dongyang Bo's move truly struck his weak point. As expected of an old fox, he quickly discerned the formation's shortcomings. However, Qin Sang possessed the Fire Lotus Seed, using the subdued demonic flames as a conduit, making his control somewhat better than Ancestor Kuiyin's back then.

With no other choice, Qin Sang sat cross-legged in the void, fully activating the Demonic Banner Grand Formation, not daring to be distracted. The Heavenly Eye Butterfly also manifested, perching on Qin Sang's shoulder, its Heavenly Eye wide open, intently observing the grand formation. Firstly, Dongyang Bo was not yet at the end of his tether, and her thunder control divine ability couldn't temporarily break the Adamantine Girdle's defense. It was better to prepare her Heavenly Eye Divine Light to break any Daoist techniques Dongyang Bo might employ at any moment. Secondly, Qin Sang needed her to focus on using her Heavenly Eye divine ability to lock onto Dongyang Bo, anticipating his movements in advance.

The demonic flames raged, furiously assaulting the Adamantine Girdle. The Adamantine Girdle clanged incessantly, its light flickering between bright and dim. Dongyang Bo attempted to repeat his old trick, using the Dragon-Phoenix Stone Pillars to wildly smash the demonic flames. Unfortunately, the demonic flames were not physical entities and could disperse and gather at will. Seeing this treasure was useless and unable to approach the demonic banners himself, he had no choice but to put it away.

The eighteen demonic banners proved indeed formidable. Dongyang Bo's true essence was depleting rapidly, and he soon felt signs that he might not be able to maintain the Adamantine Girdle, causing him to burn with anxiety.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

As the demonic flames drew closer, Dongyang Bo felt his mind reeling from the impact, his primordial spirit becoming somewhat unstable. He hastily activated the Adamantine Girdle to keep the demonic flames at bay and then took out the bronze treasure lamp. The treasure lamp was sullied. But Dongyang Bo paid no mind to it, pouring all his true essence into it. The result of forcibly activating it was a series of 'crackling' sounds. The bronze treasure lamp became riddled with cracks, fragments fell off, and it was thus destroyed. However, a section of the wick in the center of the lamp was preserved, barely igniting a faint, yellowish flame.

Dongyang Bo's face twitched with intense pain; this treasure was rare, but to save his life, he had no choice but to do this. He had never imagined that a pawn from his past could force him to such a desperate situation. The lamp's flame could stabilize his mind, but it was still not enough for him to escape.