Chapter 1510: Deadly Trap (4k)

Outside lay an endless expanse of white mist.

Below that was a rapidly expanding sea of flames.

The sea of flames was vibrant and colorful, though its fiery gusts were gradually weakening. Its vivid hues were still no match for the radiant, haloed Pagoda of Exquisite Light hovering in mid-air.

Deeper within was a flow of scarlet flames, just beginning to erupt.

And tucked away in one corner was black spiritual fire.

Everyone felt as if they had entered a realm of spiritual flames. The scene before them was breathtakingly beautiful, almost unreal, yet within this beauty lurked a danger that sent shivers down everyone's spines.

*Puff!*

The Southern Bright Lihuo, like a newborn red sun, dyed a swath of void crimson, consuming everything in its path.

The illusory landscape and the hundred-zhang phantom were destroyed by the scarlet flames.

The next moment, a black light was propelled outward by the impact of the Southern Bright Lihuo, flying off into the distance.

Clearly, within the black light was the Fiend Command Medallion.

The Fiend Command Medallion tumbled through the air, its precious glow extremely dim, as if it had been struck by an immense force. Its speed was even greater than before.

Before anyone could ascertain if the medallion's true form was damaged, it vanished with a *whoosh* into the depths of the mist.

At the same time, keen-eyed individuals caught a glimpse of white light flashing within the Southern Bright Lihuo.

It had to be the Great Sage Heavenly Roc's Mountain River Pearl!

Having learned from experience, everyone focused on the Mountain River Pearl, but the white light merely flickered and disappeared. The pearl itself plummeted from mid-air, pale and dim, sinking into the depths of the void in an instant.

In its final moments, someone faintly saw a crack appear in the center of the Mountain River Pearl, almost spanning its entire length.

This artifact had a unique function, and its physical form was not as hard as blades, swords, or armor; it was far less durable than the Fiend Command Medallion. A direct collision with the Southern Bright Lihuo made its survival nearly impossible.

The magical artifacts of two of the world's top cultivators were instantly defeated.

At the edge of the sea of flames, the Bi Fang was stomping its feet and cursing furiously.

Upon seeing the Nine Nether Demonic Flame, it immediately recognized Qin Sang.

The past decade or so had been truly unlucky for it.

It all began with its pursuit of Qin Sang, alongside the Cunning Fox and the Frog Fish, spanning thousands of miles.

Since then, first, the treasure coveted by all the demons mysteriously vanished. Next, it was hunted by Qin Sang and barely escaped by using a self-damaging divine ability, forced to abandon its overseas territory and return to the demon realm to heal. Then, inexplicably, disaster struck when Tong Lingyu arrived and killed the Cunning Fox after a disagreement.

The Bi Fang was severely wounded and fled again, forced to seek refuge with the Great Sage Heavenly Roc, feeling utterly humiliated.

Enemies meeting always leads to heightened animosity!

It harbored deep hatred for Qin Sang and Master Feng. Seeing Qin Sang dare to act so brazenly before so many demons, it believed its chance for revenge had arrived.

Although its cultivation was not as high as that of the Great Sage Heavenly Roc or Old Fiend Hunmo, its innate divine ability specialized in fire manipulation. Facing the impact of the fiery gusts, it had some means of defense and quickly found its footing, not long after the other two. Without hesitation, it burned its essence blood, preparing to personally slay its enemy.

The Bi Fang directly manifested its demon body; its demonic flames were like blood, and its presence was formidable.

What it saw next was an astonishing scene.

"Ugh!"

The Bi Fang's eyes bulged, and it froze in mid-air, its curses caught in its throat as if it were being strangled.

The hatred in its eyes was replaced by terror.

A profound fear of the Southern Bright Lihuo.

There were several other demons, like the Bi Fang, who relied on special divine abilities or magical artifacts to resist the fiery gusts and were among the first to recover.

They were all renowned masters, battle-hardened and quick to react. Before fully stabilizing, they activated their magical artifacts, or manifested their demon bodies and unleashed divine abilities, launching attacks right after Hunmo and Heavenly Roc.

If Qin Sang had hesitated even slightly, or been obstructed by Hunmo and others for just a moment, once all the demons had recovered their senses, he would have been overwhelmed. Being turned into a pulp would have been a luxury; under concentrated fire, any spiritual treasure would have been useless, and he would have simply evaporated from existence, sharing the same fate as Liu Li.

The Sun Divine Tree unleashed its power, the Mountain River Pearl cracked, and the whereabouts of the Fiend Command Medallion were unknown.

This was the deterrence!

The Moon Demon was as renowned as Primordial Lady Yu Yi in the Boundless Sea. He was dashing and elegant, his appearance making it difficult to distinguish his gender.

A crescent moon pattern on his brow gave him the name Moon Demon. This was due to his unique cultivation method, which required his innate magical artifact to constantly absorb moonlight, leaving a mark on his forehead.

As the fiery gusts surged, the crescent moon on the Moon Demon's brow glowed, spreading a clear radiance.

The clear radiance acted like a transparent cloak, shielding the Moon Demon. It rippled slightly, forming layers of waves, and when flames touched it, some would slide away, effectively dissipating their force.

The Moon Demon gracefully retreated, then twirled a finger on his brow. The crescent detached itself, transforming into a crescent scimitar that spun rapidly, incredibly sharp, and slashed forward with great speed.

Seeing the fate of the Fiend Command Medallion and the Mountain River Pearl, the Moon Demon was utterly shocked and couldn't help but hesitate, causing his crescent scimitar to pause.

There were still six firebirds on the Sun Divine Tree, and where three had flown away, scarlet flames circulated, rapidly condensing. Clearly, it possessed more than just one-strike power.

If they provoked the opponent, who could withstand several firebirds hurled their way?

Unlike the Mountain River Pearl, this was his innate magical artifact, intrinsically linked to his cultivation.

If his innate magical artifact were destroyed, the backlash would be severe, a serious injury being the least of his worries. What then of seizing the treasure?

What difference did it make if the treasure in the Pagoda of Exquisite Light fell into the hands of this mysterious person, or was taken by Hunmo or Heavenly Roc?

The Moon Demon would never willingly do another's bidding.

Other demonic cultivators harbored similar thoughts, each with their own agenda. While the demon kings were slightly more united than the demonic cultivators, their gathering at Heavenly Roc Mountain was for spoils, not to sacrifice their lives.

In fact, Old Fiend Hunmo was indeed affected by the damage to his Fiend Command Medallion.

Simultaneously with the explosion of the Sun Divine Bird, not far from the battlefield, a flash of bloody light appeared, and ghostly mist swirled as Old Fiend Hunmo's figure gradually solidified, about to step forth.

He still vividly remembered Qin Sang's endless array of techniques and his Thunder Escape Art, so he immediately employed his Transposition divine ability to rapidly close the distance.

The consumption of ghostly energy for this divine ability depended on the distance, but it was still tolerable.

Even if his magical artifact couldn't kill Qin Sang, it could intercept him in time.

If he could kill him outright, that would be even better; he could then claim the Pagoda before the Great Sage Heavenly Roc.

However, Old Fiend Hunmo never imagined Qin Sang had another trump card. The Fiend Command Medallion's crushing defeat left him pale and his body trembling.

Just then, another anomaly occurred!

The Southern Bright Lihuo had spread widely. While its power diminished significantly away from the explosion's core, the intense flames would not vanish anytime soon.

From within the scarlet flames, a ball of faint blue cold light suddenly burst forth, surprisingly concealing a Teng Snake!

The stark contrast between cold and heat was striking.

The Teng Snake, clawing and baring its fangs, was ferociously aggressive. The spiritual treasure's power, previously forcibly compressed by Liu Li, erupted fully at this moment, launching it without warning toward Old Fiend Hunmo.

Qin Sang used the Sun Divine Bird to clear a path, first, to avoid being trapped and ensure a swift engagement, and second, to use the aura of the Southern Bright Lihuo to conceal the Four-Rider Teng Snake Seal.

When the Sun Divine Bird attacked, its presence was impossible to hide.

Liu Li, however, was different. Practicing the *Treasury Scroll*, she had at least some degree of control over the Four-Rider Teng Snake Seal. With the Sun Divine Bird drawing attention, it provided the perfect cover for the Four-Rider Teng Snake Seal.

With their minds captivated by the Sun Divine Tree, how could those demons have imagined that Qin Sang possessed another spiritual treasure?

This was a deadly trap Qin Sang had prepared for Old Fiend Hunmo!

It was designed to exploit Old Fiend Hunmo's greed for the Pagoda.

Of course, if Old Fiend Hunmo hadn't fallen for it, Qin Sang would have lost nothing. With no one to stop him, he would have simply entered the Pagoda of Exquisite Light directly.

Liu Li closed her eyes tightly, oblivious to herself and her surroundings, her mind immersed in the spiritual treasure. She fully activated the *Treasury Scroll*, rapidly changing her hand seals to unleash the most powerful transformation that Yin Changsheng had once used.

The Teng Snake soared through the air, its fierce gaze locked onto Old Fiend Hunmo. Cold flames condensed in its mouth, then its body merged with the cold flames!

Naturally, Liu Li's execution could not compare to Yin Changsheng's.

However, its power was still incomparable to that of any magical artifact.

Another spiritual treasure!

All the demons stared blankly, their minds reeling in disbelief.

Who exactly was this person?

*Whoosh!*

The cold flames were as swift as a meteor.

Old Fiend Hunmo bore the brunt of the attack.

As the crisis approached, Old Fiend Hunmo's scalp tingled, and he could even sense the aura of death.

His eldest disciple, still reeling from the fiery gusts, saw this scene and was instantly filled with dread, crying out in alarm.

"Master!"

At this critical moment, Old Fiend Hunmo let out a long cry. The ghostly mist around him seemed to boil, and his physical body, which was about to fully materialize from its ethereal state, was forcibly halted.

Then, Old Fiend Hunmo reversed back into an ethereal form, and the ghostly mist surged back, engulfing him.

At the edge of the sea of flames, a mass of ghostly mist also emerged where Old Fiend Hunmo had originally stood. Before the ghost spirit could fully materialize, a shriek echoed from within the mist.

The scream was incredibly shrill, filled with despair and unwillingness.

The ghost spirit, possessing intelligence, knew what Hunmo intended to do.

However, the ghost spirit could do nothing; it couldn't resist Old Fiend Hunmo's will and could only obediently serve as a scapegoat.

*Boom!*

The cold flames pierced through the ghostly mist.

The ghost spirit's scream ceased abruptly.

Old Fiend Hunmo's figure reappeared at the edge of the sea of flames. Countless dense black demonic markings appeared on his face at some point, making him look exceptionally eerie.

The moment the ghost spirit perished, all the demonic markings shattered simultaneously!

Old Fiend Hunmo's face was bloodless and pale, and wrinkles rapidly spread across it, visibly aging him. Not only did he resemble an octogenarian, but there was also barely any vitality left in his body.

Qin Sang inwardly sighed with regret, pressing down on the Golden Submergence Sword.

He knew well how troublesome grand cultivators could be.

Even with Liu Li wielding the Four-Rider Teng Snake Seal, targeting an unsuspecting Old Fiend Hunmo, it would likely be difficult to completely kill him.

He had originally prepared to activate the Seven Souls Killing Array after the Teng Snake successfully struck, seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to slay the demon!

Both spiritual treasures had been exposed; henceforth, Old Fiend Hunmo would be wary, and such a favorable opportunity would not arise again.

Taking Old Fiend Hunmo's head amidst a myriad of cultivators was a thrilling thought.

For the other demons, it would be an even greater deterrent.

After that, who in the Three Northern Sea Realms would dare to act presumptuously in front of him?

He had never expected such a deep scheme would fail to kill Old Fiend Hunmo, or that the demon's Transposition divine ability could actually be reversed.

Fortunately, eliminating the ghost spirit and crippling Old Fiend Hunmo was not in vain.

Judging by Old Fiend Hunmo's appearance, the ghost spirit was likely more than just a mere right-hand man. After such a severe blow, Old Fiend Hunmo would at least pose no threat to him within the holy land.

"Haha..."

Qin Sang burst into laughter.

His laughter, reaching Old Fiend Hunmo's ears, was nothing short of mockery, filling him with rage that nearly made him spit blood.

Hearing the laughter, the other demons felt their hearts tremble, and they couldn't help but ask themselves: who truly was the demon?

Amidst the roaring laughter, Qin Sang's movements remained unhindered. He shifted his gaze to another formidable opponent, observing a golden light rapidly approaching.

The Great Sage Heavenly Roc had only performed a simple refining ritual on the Mountain River Pearl, so the damage to the artifact did not significantly affect him.

Qin Sang knew well that while spiritual treasures were powerful, two fists couldn't contend with four hands.

The previous exchange had been instantaneous, but the other demons were on the verge of escaping the fiery gusts. He absolutely could not afford to be entangled by the Great Sage Heavenly Roc.

Therefore, Qin Sang made a decisive move: his clone used its remaining true essence to command three divine birds, sending them directly towards the Great Sage Heavenly Roc, while his main body took control of the Sun Divine Tree.

By this point, both his outer clone and Liu Li were nearing exhaustion.

Qin Sang, however, was not worried.

First, Old Fiend Hunmo was severely wounded, reducing the number of formidable enemies. As long as his main body could still command the Sun Divine Birds, the other demons would be hesitant to act.

Second, he possessed the Pagoda, allowing him to enter the Pagoda of Exquisite Light first, while the other demons would have to break through the barrier.

Third, the emergence of the Pagoda of Exquisite Light would undoubtedly alert Tong Lingyu and others.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The divine birds, lifelike, spread their wings and flew forward.

Facing these Sun Divine Birds, the Great Sage Heavenly Roc felt an inexplicable pressure, even an urge to prostrate himself in worship.

Seeing Old Fiend Hunmo's miserable state, the Great Sage Heavenly Roc's pupils contracted. Without time to ponder, he let out a long cry and spat out a ball of golden light.

The unknown was always the most terrifying.

The Great Sage Heavenly Roc had dealings with Tong Lingyu and understood the Four-Rider Teng Snake Seal.

Although he didn't know why this spiritual treasure had fallen into the hands of an unknown young woman, he did know one thing: Liu Li, being only at the early Nascent Soul stage, could not sustain its prolonged consumption.

As for the Sun Divine Tree, the battle-hardened Great Sage Heavenly Roc could discern some clues.

Once witnessed firsthand, a countermeasure could be found!

The golden light was a small golden roc.

Unlike the golden roc that had appeared at the holy land's entrance, this golden roc didn't resemble the Great Sage Heavenly Roc himself; instead, it bore a striking resemblance to the legendary Golden-Winged Great Roc, possessing a portion of its divine aura!

The golden roc spread its wings and, with unyielding speed, collided with the Sun Divine Birds!

*Boom!*

The golden light was dazzling, gradually dissipating within the Southern Bright Lihuo.

Layers of fire waves surged forward.

The Great Sage Heavenly Roc's gaze was calm. His escape light swiftly turned back, and with a masterful escape technique, he evaded the impact of the Sun Divine Birds, losing only a few feathers.

However, he thereby missed his last chance to stop Qin Sang, and could only glare at them with grim eyes from across the vast sea of flames.

Qin Sang withdrew his clone, took Liu Li's hand, and flew towards the Pagoda of Exquisite Light. Before leaving, he subtly directed the Sun Divine Tree towards another direction, feigning an impending attack.

At the edge of the sea of flames, General Gui's face showed alarm.

A black light sprang from the ground, quickly fleeing. It was a puppet, indistinguishable from a human.

General Gui didn't know how his puppet had been exposed, but he dared not risk it, watching helplessly as Qin Sang departed.

There were no more obstacles ahead!

Qin Sang and Liu Li flashed repeatedly, passing through layers of flames unharmed. They arrived beneath the Pagoda of Exquisite Light, touched its golden light barrier, and indeed passed through it with ease!

The demons finally recovered, roaring repeatedly and concentrating their fire.

Unfortunately, most of these attacks were blocked by the flames. Even those that managed to penetrate the flames met the golden light barrier, hitting it like a solid wall and being firmly kept out.

Under the gaze of all, the two entered the Pagoda of Exquisite Light without looking back!