Chapter 1245: Monster

Rumbling!

The bottom of the Blood River became a sea of fire.

Even the bewildered blood phantoms sensed danger from the towering demonic flames and dared not approach.

Qin Sang and Dongyang Bo each displayed their divine abilities, battling for countless rounds.

Dongyang Bo was desperate to escape, and Qin Sang was not having an easy time either. He poured all his energy into controlling the demonic fire to trap and kill Dongyang Bo. This not only consumed a tremendous amount of his mental energy but also drained his true essence like flowing water, absorbed by the Eighteen Demonic Banners.

Unfortunately, Dongyang Bo reacted too quickly, making the optimal counter-response. Qin Sang was never able to fully enclose Dongyang Bo with the demonic fire; otherwise, the situation would have been somewhat easier.

Next to the battlefield, the Nascent Soul Puppet, trapped deep within the blood mist, incessantly pounded the jade bottle, causing the spiritual array to waver.

Beneath the grand array, the blood mist silently churned, as if something hidden beneath it had been startled awake by the fierce battle.

Following this, a small vortex appeared within the blood mist, generating a suction force that encompassed both the grand array and the Nascent Soul Puppet, threatening to drag them all down.

Initially, the suction force was not strong.

Soon, the vortex grew larger, and both the Nascent Soul Puppet and the jade bottle's spiritual array were involuntarily pulled, beginning to descend.

At this moment, Qin Sang and Dongyang Bo were deep in battle, neither noticing the unusual phenomena appearing around them.

With the treasured lamp's physical form destroyed, the duration of its flame was limited.

Before the lamp's flame extinguished, Dongyang Bo had to escape. Otherwise, the situation would undoubtedly worsen; even if he could flee, seizing the puppet would be utterly impossible.

After this period of maneuvering, Dongyang Bo confirmed that Qin Sang was stronger than Patriarch Kuiyin, but his control over the demonic fire also had limits.

Dongyang Bo steeled his resolve, suddenly letting out a muffled groan. His face flushed, and he spat out a mouthful of vital blood onto the Vajra Ring. His complexion immediately paled somewhat.

Upon seeing this, Qin Sang inwardly knew trouble was brewing.

The Vajra Ring then shot out ten thousand rays of light, like a blazing sun.

At that moment, Dongyang Bo's figure vanished, as if he had merged with the Vajra Ring. The surrounding demonic flames, like other artifacts previously ensnared by the Vajra Ring, became somewhat sluggish.

Qin Sang was startled and spared no effort in urging the remaining demonic flames forward.

Just then, the great sun suddenly split into eight identical light clusters, each containing a Dongyang Bo. Qin Sang quickly ordered the Heaven-Eyed Butterfly to scrutinize them, but the butterfly felt a sharp sting. Its vision was obstructed by the light, making it difficult to distinguish real from fake for a moment.

Dongyang Bo had previously heard rumors of Qin Sang's ability to discern hidden figures, so he naturally guarded against this move.

Qin Sang then realized that these eight Dongyang Bos did not seem to be illusions. The Vajra Ring clanged chaotically, and each figure possessed a certain power, leaving streaks of light in the void.

For a moment, Qin Sang was flustered, only managing to eliminate half of them with the demonic fire.

Then, he heard a cold snort as the other four figures successfully broke free from the demonic fire!

Qin Sang's face turned ashen. Dongyang Bo had sacrificed vital blood to activate his innate magical artifact, a feat even the Heaven-Eyed Butterfly couldn't see through. With Dongyang Bo solely focused on escape, Qin Sang realized he could no longer trap him.

He made an immediate decision, abandoning the demonic banners altogether. He secretly formed hand seals, and thunder rumbled within his body.

Boom!

Dongyang Bo burst out of the fire, ignoring Qin Sang. One of his figures lunged directly towards the Nascent Soul Puppet.

Seeing this, Qin Sang nearly laughed out of exasperation.

That old rogue, even in such a desperate situation, hasn't forgotten to take the Nascent Soul Puppet!

A sharp crack!

Suddenly, a clap of thunder.

Dongyang Bo was secretly alarmed, knowing he couldn't withstand this thunder strike head-on.

Boom!

The Lightning Command Art struck straight down.

That figure endured the heavenly lightning in place, making no struggle, and instantly turned to dust—it was an illusion.

Simultaneously, a large hand shot out from another figure, reaching directly for the Nascent Soul Puppet.

To make matters worse, as the thunder struck, the large hand conjured by Dongyang Bo was pierced by a hair-thin silver thread, instantly dissipating. Following that, the figure itself was impaled by a sword.

In the blink of an eye, six figures were shattered.

Sword light sliced through the air, targeting the last two.

Dongyang Bo froze, knowing that Qin Sang had once again unleashed his Ebony Sword, making any attempt to seize the puppet hopeless.

Only two of his secret technique-conjured figures remained, and with his vital blood greatly depleted, he feared that any further delay would risk his own life. He couldn't help but sigh, lamenting a hero's twilight years, willing but unable.

The two figures, one left and one right, dispersed and plunged into the Blood River, flashing continuously with astonishing speed.

Qin Sang was unable to stop them in time and frowned deeply.

Just then, he suddenly heard the Nascent Soul Puppet let out a strange shriek, finally noticing its unusual state.

A vortex had appeared in the blood mist at some unknown point. The jade bottle's spiritual array was tilted, and the Nascent Soul Puppet swayed precariously, unable to resist the vortex's suction, on the verge of being pulled in.

Upon a brief sensing, he faintly perceived an unusual aura within the vortex, seemingly awakened by their battle and in the process of stirring. This gave Qin Sang a feeling of trepidation.

Qin Sang's face showed hesitation as he glanced in the direction Dongyang Bo had fled.

Confident in his escape art, he believed he could catch one, but it might not be Dongyang Bo's true body. Dongyang Bo's figures seemed to be able to shift between real and illusory, truly a mystery.

Even if he caught up, Dongyang Bo was already alerted, making it exceedingly difficult to draw him into an array again.

Furthermore, prolonged entanglement with Dongyang Bo here could lead to unforeseen complications. At the very least, the Nascent Soul Puppet would certainly be swallowed by the unknown entity below.

A puppet with Nascent Soul strength was indeed rare.

Qin Sang didn't understand the art of puppetry, but he could give it to Qing Jun, who might be able to gain another formidable general in the future.

This hasty engagement, compounded by Bai not having advanced, meant that failing to trap and kill Dongyang Bo was already expected. As a sect master and someone near a place like the ancient immortal battlefield, Dongyang Bo was indeed more formidable than an average mid-Nascent Soul cultivator.

To force Dongyang Bo to spit blood, destroy his magical artifact, and seize the Nascent Soul Puppet—this certainly vented some frustration.

Henceforth, he would only need to be wary of Dongyang Bo's retaliation. If he could get assistance from Bai and the puppet, he wouldn't fear it.

Considering this, Qin Sang decided to abandon the pursuit.

With a wave of his hand, he recalled the Ebony Sword, summoned the Eighteen Demonic Banners to his front, reignited the demonic fire, and then flashed to the Nascent Soul Puppet's side.

The suction force in the vortex grew stronger and stronger, almost causing Qin Sang to lose his footing.

He dared not hesitate. He glanced at the jade bottle array, seeing that it was merely for trapping the puppet, and paid it no further mind.

"Away!"

Qin Sang pointed a finger, and the Nine Nether Demonic Fire surged towards the puppet.

The puppet sensed danger, but it was unfortunately restrained by the jade bottle array, its movements restricted.

Qin Sang did not understand puppetry and didn't know how to suppress the puppet. With the monster below on the verge of waking, he had no time to try each method. He could only use the demonic fire to envelop both the array and the Nascent Soul Puppet, then shoot rapidly upwards towards the Blood River's surface.

As he ascended, Qin Sang dared not relax in the slightest. He used a secret Witchcraft technique to enhance the Heaven-Eyed Butterfly's vision while simultaneously forming hand seals in secret.

If Dongyang Bo dared to come up and entangle him again, Qin Sang would not hesitate to abandon the puppet and ensure Dongyang Bo's life ended here!

However, until Qin Sang flew out of the Blood River, there was no sign of Dongyang Bo.

Qin Sang looked down and saw the blood mist churning below, agitated by some unknown creature. A chill went down his spine, and he swiftly left the perilous area.