Chapter 1293: Good News

"I never thought I'd have the chance to see you again, Daoist Priest!"Shangguan Lifeng's expression was complex, showing joy at reuniting with an old acquaintance, yet also a hint of restraint. Remembering something, he quickly asked, "Where is the other Daoist Priest now?"Qin Sang sighed, "Senior Yunyouzi ascended many years ago."Shangguan Lifeng fell silent. The feeling of self-reproach in his heart faded somewhat; at least he was still alive.

*Boom!*Suddenly, thunder rumbled in the distance, shaking the earth.Within the dark clouds, electric serpents danced wildly. A burst of lightning, like a great sun, exploded with a deafening roar, nearly tearing the storm clouds apart.Amidst the lightning, the shadowy form of a colossal falcon was faintly visible, its wings like clouds hanging from the sky. It resembled a divine bird commanding thunder, its head raised, soaring skyward with a sharp, piercing cry.The sight was unsettling, and the sound struck fear into one's heart.Qin Sang gazed intently, recognizing it as Jing Yu unleashing a divine ability. Such an astonishing display surely meant encountering a formidable foe. His expression shifted slightly, and he said gravely, "Now is not the time for pleasantries. You can use this token to find me later... Be careful, Daoist friend."Qin Sang tossed a token to Shangguan Lifeng, then flapped his lightning wings, transforming into a bolt of electricity, and shot towards the dark clouds.

Shangguan Lifeng opened his mouth, wanting to speak but hesitating, until Qin Sang's figure vanished from sight. Only then did he remember that he had forgotten to ask about Daoist Qingfeng's true identity.Daoist Qingfeng must have been an alias, otherwise, he surely would have heard of him before.He quickly flipped the token in his hand, seeing the character 'Qin'. He then recalled the impossibly beautiful phoenix wings on Qin Sang's back.Shangguan Lifeng suddenly thought of someone, his eyes widening."It's him!"

The Sinister Abyss had long plotted this, setting up a deadly formation here, to lure their adversaries into a trap. The Alliance of Two Domains fell into the snare, and defeat seemed imminent. Unexpectedly, Qin Sang and his companions unexpectedly joined the battlefield, and with this variable, the situation quickly changed. After a fierce battle, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Sinister Abyss, seeing no greater advantage to be gained, quickly retreated their troops.After the great battle, Qin Sang and his two companions were recovering."Thanks to the three of you, Daoist friends, otherwise not only would we have suffered heavy casualties, but the two of us would likely have been in grave danger."There were two Nascent Soul cultivators commanding this army. One of them, after gathering the remaining troops, came before them and cupped his hands in thanks. This man was an elder of the Heavenly Path Alliance, surnamed Zuo.

Elder Zuo was filled with lingering fear. The Sinister Abyss had been incredibly ambitious this time, not only aiming to annihilate this army but also intending to capture both of them."The previous situation was too smooth; we almost forgot that the Sinister Abyss is a man-eating tiger. The slightest lapse allowed them to exploit a weakness," Elder Zuo explained with shame.Qin Sang stood up, and said gravely, "Old Devil Ye still seems unwilling to give up. This attack must have been a premeditated counter-attack. It's certainly not just Daoist Zuo's army that was ambushed. However, the tide of the war is unstoppable; their attempt to halt our advance with this is merely wishful thinking!"Before he finished speaking, another Nascent Soul cultivator flew over hurriedly. "Just now, we received a message from Daoist Zhenyi. Several armies, just like ours, were ambushed. Daoist Zhenyi ordered us to hold our ground and not retreat; reinforcements will arrive soon..."Everyone exchanged glances.

Old Daoist Zhenyi's judgment aligned with Qin Sang's: this was the Sinister Abyss's last gasp. As long as this offensive was crushed, the Sinister Abyss would no longer have the strength to counterattack!The overall situation was paramount. There was no time to meet Shangguan Lifeng.Upon receiving the news, Qin Sang and the others left Elder Zuo to clean up the aftermath, while the rest immediately set off to provide support elsewhere.Qin Sang and Jing Yu moved almost non-stop, shuttling between several battlefields.The Alliance of Two Domains advanced with unstoppable momentum and overwhelming force. Even when facing temporary setbacks, they were not easily defeated. Most armies managed to hold their ground until reinforcements arrived, then organized counterattacks, preventing a full-scale rout.This was a major battle that lasted two days and two nights.After the battle, torrential rain poured down. The rain washed away two days' worth of bloodshed.The Sinister Abyss's final wave of attacks was repelled. Seeing that they had no more opportunities, they finally ceased their hostilities.In this battle, the Alliance of Two Domains suffered its heaviest losses since the counteroffensive began, but this also ignited their ferocity, and they soon launched an even more ferocious counterattack against the Sinister Abyss.

Two months later.Since the great battle, the situation had rarely seen any significant changes.Before the Sinister Abyss launched its invasion, the central region of the Great Plains was a buffer zone between the Sinister Abyss and the Heavenly Path Alliance, always a disputed territory. Now, the Alliance of Two Domains' army had crossed this area and was advancing deep into the Sinister Abyss's territory.Wherever the army passed, cities, spirit mines, and other properties belonging to the Sinister Abyss changed hands. Seeing the advantages, the Alliance of Two Domains naturally had no intention of stopping.After deliberations among the Nascent Soul cultivators, they concluded that the Sinister Abyss intended to retreat to its stronghold. They decided to continue the relentless pursuit, driving the Sinister Abyss completely out of the plains.As for forcing their way into the Sinister Abyss's stronghold, everyone knew it was unlikely. It would undoubtedly provoke the Sinister Abyss cultivators into a fight to the death, and even if the Alliance of Two Domains won, they would pay an extremely heavy price.The Heavenly Path Alliance and the Sinister Abyss harbored deep hatred, and some were eager to press on, but the cultivators from the Minor Cold Domain remained calm, showing little interest in such a suicidal move.The greatest winner of this war was undoubtedly the Minor Cold Domain. Aside from other benefits, the Minor Cold Domain, which originally had no say in the resources of the plains, now directly acquired half, and could also open a passage into the desert. Moreover, the Minor Cold Domain's homeland had never suffered from war; the Sinister Abyss had always been blocked at the Heavenly Path Plateau, so they merely contributed manpower and resources.An unknown small city. An army had attacked and entered, driving out the Sinister Abyss cultivators, and was now resting in the city.The City Lord's Mansion.Li Yufu held a token in his hand and hurried into the quietest small courtyard of the mansion.After his last seclusion, Li Yufu had successfully broken through to the mid-Golden Core stage.Despite continuous battles recently, Li Yufu felt no fatigue. During this period, he even had a smile on his face while meditating.Li Yufu recalled his grandmaster's evaluation of his martial uncle back then and was filled with admiration. When both were only in the Foundation Establishment stage, his grandmaster had already seen his martial uncle's potential.After this war, Qin Sang was sure to receive a significant share of the spoils acquired by the Alliance of Two Domains. Just a few mines on the plains would be enough to support the development of a sect.Under Qin Sang's instruction, he and Aunt Mei had also been searching for disciples for Qingyang Temple among rogue cultivators. By mentioning Qin Sang's name, few were unmoved, and they indeed found several promising talents.It was conceivable that once Qin Sang announced the establishment of his sect, Qingyang Temple would instantly become a force no one could ignore!This was all created by his martial uncle!

"I never thought Grandmaster's last wish could be fulfilled so quickly..."With his wish accomplished, Li Yufu no longer worried about gains and losses, focusing entirely on cultivation.He understood in his heart that these achievements were temporary. In the long river of time, how many sects had bloomed for only a fleeting moment?Qingyang Temple's foundation was still shallow, but a foundation was not something that could be built overnight; even his powerful martial uncle couldn't achieve that. The responsibility lay with their generation of descendants!Li Yufu gripped the token tightly, his expression resolute. He approached the small courtyard, gently activated the restrictive formation, and softly said, "Martial Uncle, the old acquaintance you mentioned is currently outside the City Lord's Mansion and wishes to visit you."Qin Sang's voice came from inside, "Oh? He's finally here. Bring him in...""Yes!"Qin Sang emerged from the meditation room, condensing earth into stone to form a table and chairs.This was Shangguan Lifeng's first visit since their last meeting.Qin Sang hadn't sent anyone to look for him, as if he had forgotten about the man. However, he had secretly ordered an investigation and had gained some understanding of Shangguan Lifeng's character.A moment later, Li Yufu led Shangguan Lifeng in, bowed, and quietly retreated."Qin... Senior."Shangguan Lifeng hesitated, then leaned forward to bow, but felt a gentle force hold him up."We knew each other from humble beginnings. Why be so formal? In the future, Daoist friend, you can still call me Daoist Qingfeng; it sounds more natural..."Qin Sang smiled and gestured to the stone stool opposite him, "Sit!""Thank you for the seat, Daoist Priest."Shangguan Lifeng sat down as instructed, his demeanor still very reserved.

Qin Sang sighed inwardly. The gap in their cultivation levels was evident; their relationship could not return to what it once was. Even if he wished to show respect to a talented junior, Shangguan Lifeng wouldn't dare accept it.He observed his old acquaintance.Shangguan Lifeng sat upright. His attire did not resemble that of a Golden Core cultivator, but rather a worldly swordsman. He wore tight-fitting clothes, and his precious saber was not sheathed within his body, but instead hung diagonally across his back. Though the saber was in its sheath, one could faintly sense an extremely sharp saber intent emanating from it, as if it craved blood the moment it was drawn!This was Shangguan Lifeng's unique secret technique: cultivating saber intent."Daoist friend, have you encountered something?"Qin Sang noticed the hesitation in Shangguan Lifeng's eyes and asked.Shangguan Lifeng's expression tensed, as if his thoughts had been laid bare, catching him off guard.After deciding to visit Qin Sang, Shangguan Lifeng had been wavering, unsure how to begin their conversation. Although they were old acquaintances, they had only collaborated once.After two hundred years without meeting, how much different was it from meeting a stranger?Shangguan Lifeng didn't believe that such a small bond would make a Nascent Soul Grandmaster look at him differently, especially since he had just recently been saved by the other party.If the other party were temperamental, taking advantage of the situation would lead to an unimaginable outcome.Shangguan Lifeng steeled his resolve, abruptly stood up, and said, "Please forgive my presumption, Daoist Priest, but I wish to ask for your guidance once more."

Qin Sang looked thoughtful; he had long seen through Shangguan Lifeng's intentions.Before Qin Sang could ask, Shangguan Lifeng voluntarily recounted his experiences. "When we parted that time, Daoist Priest personally demonstrated that sword technique to me, and the killing intent imbued within it utterly captivated me. Since then, it has been etched in my memory, unforgettable. Later, I happened upon a great battle, and I proactively entered the battlefield to fight, pursuing it for a hundred years, finally grasping a fraction of it. If not for this reason, I wouldn't have encountered so many twists and turns, nor would I have formed my Golden Core so late, but I have no regrets! However, after breaking through to the Golden Core realm, I can no longer see the path ahead..."Shangguan Lifeng summoned his precious saber into his palm, gently stroking it, his eyes filled with confusion.After listening, Qin Sang nodded slightly, looked at Shangguan Lifeng, then at the saber in his hand, and suddenly asked, "You said you pursued it for a hundred years. Were you captivated by the Way of Killing, or were you devoted to the saber?"Upon hearing this question, Shangguan Lifeng's face suddenly froze. He opened his mouth but couldn't speak, instantly breaking out in a sweat that streamed down his face, his lips trembling."I..."

*Clang!*Without any warning, a sword suddenly hummed.Shangguan Lifeng was startled. All scenery in heaven and earth vanished, including Qin Sang. In his vision, only a single flying sword remained!The flying sword was so perfect; every curve was just right, light, transparent, like glazed glass.This was his first thought.Then, to his horror, he realized that this flying sword had appeared before him at some unknown moment, incredibly close! He hadn't even seen the sword's trajectory before its tip was pressed against his glabella.This experience was completely different from the last time. There was no sword qi crisscrossing the eight directions, nor even the slightest ripple of killing intent.It was a return to simplicity!Yet, Shangguan Lifeng felt as if he was severed from everything in the world. No matter how he exerted himself, he could not escape this sword; of course, he had no ability to escape.His bones popped throughout his body, his hands felt as heavy as a thousand tons, his eyes were bloodshot, and his face was flushed crimson. He was unable to move.At the brink of death, the terrible pressure did not break Shangguan Lifeng's dao heart. He roared inwardly, his eyes wide, staring fixedly at the flying sword before him."Ah!"Shangguan Lifeng's veins bulged all over his body, his expression ferocious, and he finally let out a roar, his voice exceptionally hoarse.He used all his strength, his true essence surging madly into his precious saber, and he fiercely unleashed a strike!*Swish!*Amidst his roar, the saber's light cleaved through the air like a startling rainbow, striking the flying sword precisely.The next moment, both the saber's light and the flying sword vanished silently. Along with them, the pressure on Shangguan Lifeng also disappeared."Hoo... hoo..."Shangguan Lifeng leaned on his saber, panting heavily, feeling completely drained, as if all his true essence had been sucked dry by that last strike."Chirp, chirp..."Birdsong came from the sky. A few birds cheerfully flew across the sky, completely unaware of the abnormality in the courtyard.

Shangguan Lifeng seemed to awaken from a dream, returning to reality. He put away his precious saber, bowed respectfully, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Priest."This strike didn't dispel all his confusion, but it carved a slit through the endless mist, allowing him to glimpse a different scenery.However, this experience seemed somewhat different from the last time, yet he found it hard to pinpoint the exact difference. Shangguan Lifeng attributed it to the change in their cultivation levels.Nevertheless, Shangguan Lifeng truly liked this feeling; it seemed to be exactly what he had been desperately searching for."An old friend of mine cultivated the same cultivation method as I did. Based on that method, he created a sword scripture. This was the first form of that sword scripture," Qin Sang said blandly.Shangguan Lifeng was taken aback.Qin Sang stood up and walked towards the meditation room. "As for that question I asked earlier, come find me when you've figured it out."Shangguan Lifeng understood Qin Sang's intention to dismiss him. He cupped his hands slightly and exited the small courtyard.Li Yufu was waiting outside the door. Seeing him emerge, he gestured and said, "Martial Uncle ordered me to prepare a meditation room for you, Daoist friend. Please follow me.""Thank you for your trouble, Daoist friend."Shangguan Lifeng thanked him distractedly.Li Yufu noticed the abnormality and was curious about what his martial uncle had done to him.He wondered if this person would join Qingyang Temple in the future. If so, Qingyang Temple would have three Golden Core cultivators, and this person had some renown. His martial uncle also seemed to value him highly, indicating potential for the Nascent Soul stage.

After that day, Shangguan Lifeng did not seek out Qin Sang again.Qin Sang did not press him, giving him time.Since ancient times, saber and sword have been mentioned together. Among low-level cultivators, the distinction between saber and sword is not significant; both are instruments of killing. However, the higher the cultivation level, the more profound the difference between the two becomes.If Shangguan Lifeng was unwilling to switch from saber cultivation to sword cultivation, passing on the *Green Bamboo Sword Scripture* would be difficult to achieve anything meaningful, unless he possessed the astonishing talent of Senior Green Bamboo, who could study sword scriptures and comprehend saber techniques simultaneously.But Qin Sang believed the chances were slim because, limited by lifespan, Shangguan Lifeng did not have much time left. To diligently cultivate for over two hundred years to prepare for Nascent Soul formation, and also create his own saber technique—how difficult that would be!Shangguan Lifeng's strength lay in his extreme focus, which was also a kind of talent. If he could continue along the sword path pioneered by Senior Green Bamboo, he might indeed achieve something, which is why Qin Sang was willing to give him a chance.However, the most difficult thing in the world is making a choice, especially when it concerns one's own path of cultivation.The Alliance of Two Domains advanced relentlessly, capturing cities and pushing forward.During this period, news spread frequently, and the Alliance of Two Domains had more or less figured out the Sinister Abyss's intentions: they were prepared to completely abandon the plains, retreat all at once to their stronghold, and firmly defend Yu City.

Late at night.Inside the grand hall.Qing Jun sat before a magical sand table covering three domains, engrossed in its display.Just then, the restrictive formation outside the hall was triggered, and Qin Sang pushed the door open. Seeing Qing Jun's posture, he smiled, "Are you still troubled by the war, Senior Sister?"Not long ago, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Alliance of Two Domains had a meeting to discuss what to do after driving the Sinister Abyss back to Yu City.Qin Sang walked over to Qing Jun's side, found their current location, and estimated, "If all goes well, in about ten more days, we can reach the foot of Yu City. It's said that Old Devil Ye has fortified the area around Yu City like an iron barrel. Attacking or bypassing Yu City to penetrate deep into the Sinister Abyss's territory is unrealistic; we don't yet have the power to crush the Sinister Abyss."Qing Jun nodded, agreeing with Qin Sang. Her red lips parted slightly, and she revealed another piece of news: "The Sinister Abyss has proposed a truce. The desert faction has already agreed to peace talks, so the Sinister Abyss can deploy all its forces to the north.""As expected!"Qin Sang snorted coldly, looking at the sand table. He drew a line north of Yu City, "It seems we'll have to station troops here for a prolonged confrontation from now on. This is good too, lest our descendants become too complacent and forget about future troubles.""You're quite determined to become a patriarch. Where do you plan to build your sect's mountain gate?"Qing Jun glanced at him, then continued, "The Primordial Mirage Sect is quite good. It's adjacent to the Heavenly Demon Mound and not far from the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea, both of which are under your command, allowing for mutual support. I'll play the villain and hand over the Primordial Mirage Sect to you. With your prestige, no one will dare to object. As for the Primordial Mirage Sect itself, I've made arrangements long ago. Among the newly admitted disciples, several talented ones acknowledge me, not Leng Yuntian. You can take them into Qingyang Temple; there's no need to worry about hidden dangers. As for the other Golden Core cultivators, they are quite pragmatic; you can deal with them as you see fit. Although they are descendants of my enemies, they have obeyed me implicitly all these years; give them a place to belong."Qin Sang was surprised by this and quickly asked, "Where are you going, Senior Sister?"

Qing Jun said calmly, "My masquerade as Leng Yuntian was always to use the Primordial Mirage Sect for my own purposes; I don't want them to become a burden. Now, the Primordial Mirage Sect can hardly help me, and the great war is about to end, so I can concentrate on returning to seclusion. Since you have this idea, it's perfect to hand it over to you.""I am also doing this to fulfill a friend's dying wish... There's no rush for this matter; let's discuss it once the situation stabilizes. The Ziwei Palace is about to open; Senior Sister might still need help."Qin Sang thought to himself that Qingyang Temple would become quite lively. In the future, the sect would not only have the Qingyang Temple lineage but also the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea lineage, the Demonic Flame Sect lineage, the Primordial Mirage Sect lineage, and the successors of Green Bamboo and Qing Jun.However, while the Primordial Mirage Sect was good, it wouldn't be easy to absorb; careful discernment was needed. Otherwise, if he were not present and no one suppressed them, it was inevitable that some would harbor rebellious intentions, making it difficult to control.Qing Jun said nothing more; in her view, these were minor matters.

"I called you over because I've made some progress with the talisman puppet."Qing Jun waved her hand, closing the grand hall's restrictive formation, and led Qin Sang into a quiet room. The Nascent Soul talisman puppet was no longer in its diminutive form; it had reverted to its original appearance, standing silently there.During this time, the Nascent Soul talisman puppet had been with Qing Jun.Qing Jun raised her hand and pointed towards the talisman puppet's glabella; a faint glow flashed from her fingertip.The Nascent Soul talisman puppet suddenly opened its eyes, its gaze still wild and fixed on Qing Jun. If it were unleashed, it would probably first attack its master rather than an enemy!"That senior from the Shangyuan Pure Palace had ingenious ideas. Using talismans, they condensed talisman seals within its body, refining it into something akin to a talisman soldier, thereby controlling the puppet. I have a secret technique for puppet seals, and one type of puppet seal is quite similar to the talisman seals. It will only take some time to convert the talisman seals within the puppet's body into these puppet seals, and then you'll be able to control it just like the Shangyuan Pure Palace did."Qing Jun struck the puppet's chest from the air, and numerous talismanic shadows flickered across its body.Qin Sang was delighted by this news.Although he possessed the Nascent Soul talisman puppet, he didn't know how to control it. If he were to scheme for the Shangyuan Pure Palace's secret technique, Duke Dongyang would surely interfere and create complications.As expected, Senior Sister, with her profound mastery of puppet arts, had found a solution."However..."Qing Jun's tone suddenly shifted. "Even if the seals are converted into puppet seals, it won't change its inherent nature as a fierce puppet. This is why successive patriarchs of the Shangyuan Pure Palace have been helpless against it. With your cultivation, Junior Brother, controlling it will still be very dangerous. It's best to find a secret treasure that can protect your soul."Qin Sang nodded, frowning. "Even Senior Sister can't resolve the chaotic soul fragments within the talisman puppet? If all the soul fragments could be refined and merged with the puppet, its strength should be able to increase, right?""What Junior Brother says is correct, but it's almost impossible. Unless we can understand why this puppet is so special, why it can seal soul fragments, and why it has existed until now."Qing Jun examined the puppet for a long time, then helplessly said, "I've contemplated for a long time, but I can't discern any clues. In my opinion, the reason is most likely not the restrictive formations within the puppet's body, but the puppet itself!"This thought coincided with Qin Sang's; he had a similar feeling.The immortal cultivators had countless wondrous artifacts. There were too many treasures they hadn't seen, and the puppet was heavily restricted and already unrecognizable, making it difficult to ascertain its origins.

Qing Jun formed a hand seal, and the puppet rapidly shrank, flying into Qin Sang's hand."I've already completed a portion of the transformation using a secret technique. Now I'll teach you this puppet seal. You just need to spend some time, systematically converting the talisman seals into puppet seals. Take it back and refine it yourself; these soul fragments are of no use to me. However, Junior Brother, if you sense as many soul fragments as possible, it will definitely help you overcome bottlenecks. You might even break through to the mid-stage soon.""I'll take Senior Sister's auspicious words to heart."Qin Sang looked at the talisman puppet in his hand. Whether he could progress as smoothly as his Senior Sister said depended on the puppet and the Corpse Flower Blood Amber.Next, Qing Jun imparted the puppet seal technique to Qin Sang.The Way of Puppetry, like the Way of the Sword or the Way of Alchemy, is complex and profound. Without dedicating effort to comprehend it, it's difficult to achieve anything.Fortunately, Senior Sister had laid the foundation. Qin Sang didn't need to learn the complete secret technique; he only needed to remember that specific puppet seal and keep a few precautions in mind.Having learned the puppet seal, Qin Sang was about to stand and take his leave when his expression suddenly shifted. He seemed to sense something, then abruptly stood up, surprised. "Brother Bai is here!"The Heavenly Corpse Talisman inside Bai was made by Qin Sang, so there had always been a connection between them. When close, they could sense each other.Qin Sang was filled with doubt and surprise.Bai coming out of seclusion at this time and suddenly appearing on the battlefield—had he encountered some difficulty?Or had he successfully broken through to become a Corpse King?Qin Sang quickly bid farewell to Qing Jun, flashed out of the grand hall, and swept towards the city limits.The army was stationed in the city, with strict security. Bai dared not infiltrate and only triggered a restrictive formation outside the city, which is how Qin Sang sensed him.Qing Jun saw him out of the grand hall, watched Qin Sang's retreating figure, and slightly furrowed her brows, seemingly deep in thought. She then looked towards the direction of the Sinister Abyss before returning to her quiet room to meditate.

"Senior Qin!""Greetings, Senior Qin!"Not wanting to break the rules he had set for himself, Qin Sang did not fly directly out of the city but swiftly moved through the city streets. Cultivators he encountered along the way, upon seeing Qin Sang, promptly made way and bowed in greeting.Qin Sang, preoccupied with his thoughts, quickly reached the city gate. He looked at the soldiers on either side, pulled out his token, and waved it. "Open the city gate's restrictive formation!""Understood!"The gate-keeping soldiers did not dare to delay and immediately complied.It was the middle of the night. The sky was heavily overcast; not a single star could be seen.Qin Sang flew out of the city, his gaze sweeping around. He activated his escape light and flew dozens of miles, but unexpectedly, something went wrong; he suddenly lost his spiritual connection to Bai.Immediately after, an anomaly abruptly occurred.*Boom!*The grassland below suddenly exploded, creating a large crater, with earth, stones, and grass fragments scattering everywhere.Amidst the chaotic debris, a black shadow silently darted towards Qin Sang.Qin Sang was first startled, then greatly delighted. He laughed heartily, "Brother Bai, I am no longer the same as I once was. Do you still think you can ambush me with such petty tricks?"Before he finished speaking, eighteen demonic banners suddenly flew out from his sleeve. They circled in mid-air, expanding with the wind, and then demonic flames surged out, instantly forming a sea of fire.The black shadow was caught off guard and plunged into the demonic flames, immediately letting out a series of shouts of surprise. "When did you become able to control all the demonic banners?"Qin Sang did not answer, merely continued to laugh, playfully saying, "Dare to ambush this old man? Let me give you a taste of demonic fire!"With that, he formed a hand seal, and all the demonic flames swarmed towards Bai, instantly forming a fireball around him."What kind of hero relies on external objects? Come down here and fight me in close combat if you dare!"Trapped in the demonic fire, Bai showed no weakness, shouting defiantly."I'm not necessarily afraid of you in close combat either!"Qin Sang scoffed, yet his eyes held a hint of surprise.Within the demonic fire, Bai wore a Daoist robe and appeared no different from an ordinary person, except for his somewhat pale complexion.After sensing the true power of the demonic fire, he used some unknown secret technique. Corpse qi surged throughout his body, but his physique remained unchanged. He didn't become green-faced with tusks, overgrown nails, and black fur all over, unlike the Corpse Kings in the Immortal Tomb, which were incredibly ugly.Only his eyes turned crimson, filled with bloodlust.For a moment, the demonic fire was actually held at bay. Even when a wisp of flame got close, it caused him no harm.An ordinary Corpse King would not be so relaxed facing demonic fire. It seemed Bai had gained many benefits from the Corpse Soul Pearl and the Bone Curse.

"I won't fight anymore! Your demonic banners are too sneaky!"Bai shouted.Qin Sang put away his demonic banners, and the two flashed down to the ground."Congratulations, Brother Bai, on advancing to Corpse King!"Qin Sang cupped his hands in congratulation.Bai waved his hand lightly, looked around, and sighed, "I broke through too late. I wonder how many good things I've missed."Qin Sang chuckled, "Since returning from the Abyss Ruin, we've gone through countless battles, and directly confronting Old Devil Ye at the Blood Lake was even more perilous. What's 'good' about that?""Exploring secret realms is certainly a good thing! Tell me all about your experiences at the Blood Lake," Bai said impatiently."Come back to the city with me, and we can discuss it in detail there."The two flew towards the city.Qin Sang said happily, "I wanted to guard you during your tribulation, but you were quite bold, undergoing the heavenly tribulation without a sound. Were there any anomalies?""I barely sensed the opportune moment and didn't dare wait for you to return, so I had to find a place and forcibly undergo the tribulation. It was indeed different from yours; I nearly fell to the Heart Devil Tribulation, but it was a close call."Bai grimaced, still somewhat shaken."Your strength is clearly superior to that of an ordinary Corpse King, so you must have been confident in overcoming the heavenly tribulation," Qin Sang nodded, remembering the strange phenomenon earlier, and quickly asked, "Now that you've advanced to Corpse King, has the Heavenly Corpse Talisman in your body been fully deciphered? Why was my sensing of you intermittent just now?""It's been deciphered, in a way! Because the Heavenly Corpse Talisman has merged with my nascent soul, it's difficult to break it apart, but it no longer affects me. The reason I was in seclusion for so long was precisely to resolve the trouble with the Heavenly Corpse Talisman."Bai spread one hand, and his flesh gradually became transparent, revealing the bones within, which were inscribed with strange patterns."Bone Curse!"Qin Sang recognized it at a glance.Bai nodded. "While studying the Bone Curse, I found that although the Bone Curse and the Heavenly Corpse Talisman are completely different, they have subtle connections, seemingly originating from the same source. So, I used the Bone Curse to draw upon the power of the Heavenly Corpse Talisman. After countless failures, I finally succeeded.""The Heavenly Corpse Talisman is only a Foundation Establishment-level treasure; I never thought it would be so troublesome!"Qin Sang sighed with emotion; the Heavenly Corpse Talisman was even more difficult than he had imagined."The Heavenly Corpse Talisman can at most refine flying nightfall demons, but that doesn't mean it's only a treasure of that level. The power displayed by the Heavenly Corpse Talisman and the Bone Curse is just the tip of the iceberg, and their methods are incredibly bizarre. None of the corpse dao secret arts you collected correspond to them. I racked my brain to discern some connections. The true origin will only be known when we find that mysterious person in the water prison. These two secret arts definitely have a great background!"Bai saw the joy on Qin Sang's face, understanding his thoughts, and his tone suddenly shifted. "Don't be happy too soon. My method can only be used on myself. Dumb Girl's cultivation level is too low to withstand the complete Bone Curse."Qin Sang's smile stiffened. He had thought that Bai could help Dumb Girl resolve the Heavenly Corpse Talisman, which would settle a burden on his mind."But you don't need to worry. I've thought of a way that can solve the immediate problem. Although it won't fully awaken her, it can provide some relief, at least pulling her out of the darkness and restoring her to her state before the exhaustion, perhaps even better. To what extent she can recover, I can't say for sure. That fat silkworm is a variable; perhaps it can help us. Of course, to fully awaken Dumb Girl, we still need to find the mysterious person and obtain the complete secret art."Bai explained.Qin Sang breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good news. Once the war is over, I'll send people to search for Tan Hao's whereabouts. We're almost at the city gate. Daoist friend, please don't show yourself publicly for now. Enter the Corpse Puppet Bag."