Chapter 162: Encounter

After Wu Yuesheng left, Qin Sang returned to the intersection, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Although Wu Yuesheng remained hidden and didn't actually launch a sneak attack, Qin Sang was certain his intentions weren't simple, mentally categorizing him as dangerous.

Qin Sang hoped to team up with others to navigate the crisis, but he also didn't want to make a deal with a tiger.

Walking alone with Wu Yuesheng meant not only facing potential dangers at any moment but also covertly guarding against Wu Yuesheng, which would be counterproductive.

In his haste to evade the flame's detection, Qin Sang hadn't seen which of the other four paths Wu Yuesheng ultimately took. However, he also had no intention of fighting Wu Yuesheng to the death.

Wu Yuesheng was stronger than him and skilled in escape techniques. Unless Qin Sang could launch a fatal sneak attack, the situation would quickly turn into a stalemate. Moreover, the imminent dangers in the cavern made it no time for a life-or-death struggle.

Even if they met again later, Wu Yuesheng was unaware that Qin Sang had seen through his movements. This would put Qin Sang in a position of concealed advantage, making it much easier to handle the situation.

With this thought, Qin Sang returned to the path he had initially chosen.

His luck held; Qin Sang encountered no Malevolent Corpses blocking his way. After passing through several stone passages, he suddenly heard roars and sounds of collision from ahead.

Someone was fighting a Malevolent Corpse?

Qin Sang's heart stirred. He concealed his presence and stealthily approached. Soon, he saw two entangled figures in a stone chamber. As expected, one was a Malevolent Corpse, and the other was Liu Jiang, the elder of the Liu brothers.

Qin Sang moved closer, glancing around. He didn't see Liu Shan, indicating the two brothers had also been separated.

The Malevolent Corpse's strength was similar to the one Qin Sang had previously killed. Its physical defense was quite formidable; Foundation Establishment cultivators would find it troublesome but could eventually defeat it given enough time.

However, Liu Jiang's cultivation was only at the thirteenth level of the Qi Condensation stage. Without Liu Shan's cooperation, his strength was comparable to a normal cultivator at that level, making it difficult for him to handle the situation.

Liu Jiang's magical artifact was half of an Iron Lotus. Its petals were fully unfurled, resembling a dozen sharp flying daggers bound together. They continuously attacked the Malevolent Corpse, shooting out streaks of blade light.

The Iron Lotus was powerful; each blade streak left a deep wound on the Malevolent Corpse. But Liu Jiang couldn't suppress the corpse enough to continuously attack one spot. These wounds would quickly heal due to the Earth Fiend Qi, yielding minimal results.

Liu Jiang could only hope to deplete the Earth Fiend Qi within the Malevolent Corpse before he could kill it.

Qin Sang could see Liu Jiang wanted to escape, but his path was blocked by the Malevolent Corpse. Furthermore, the corpse moved as fast as Liu Jiang, exceptionally agile. Its spectral claws were imbued with corpse poison, unleashing an extremely chilling surge of Earth Fiend Qi with every swing.

Liu Jiang dared not test the poison, so he could only struggle to dodge within the narrow stone chamber. This allowed the Malevolent Corpse to gain the upper hand, and his expression grew increasingly anxious.

Witnessing this, Qin Sang quietly retreated back along his path. Then, revealing himself, he darted forward. Sweeping his gaze across the stone chamber, he asked in a deep voice, "May I ask which Fellow Daoist Liu this is?"

Seeing Qin Sang, Liu Jiang was filled with both surprise and joy. He quickly said, "Liu Jiang greets Senior Qin. I am currently entangled with this Malevolent Corpse and cannot pay proper respects. Please forgive me, Senior Qin."

Qin Sang nodded slightly to him, then looked at the Malevolent Corpse and said, "I will first help Fellow Daoist Liu eliminate this fiend."

As he spoke, Qin Sang summoned the Five Elements Spell-Breaking Sword. The sword transformed into a swimming dragon, and before long, it completely suppressed the arrogant Malevolent Corpse.

Seeing this, Liu Jiang secretly sighed in relief. He quickly followed Qin Sang's instructions, activating the Iron Lotus to fly behind the Malevolent Corpse. Streaks of blade light rapidly shot out, striking the corpse's back neck.

The wound on the Malevolent Corpse's back neck grew larger and larger, the Earth Fiend Qi unable to heal it quickly enough. Finally, Liu Jiang decapitated it. Like the Malevolent Corpse Qin Sang had encountered before, once the Earth Fiend Qi dispersed, it transformed into a gaunt cultivator before crumbling into a pile of ashes.

Qin Sang mused that the refined corpses in the cavern were likely made from cultivators' bodies. He had only traveled this short distance and already encountered dozens of them. How could there be so many cultivators' bodies through normal channels? This demonic sect must have harmed countless people.

"Many thanks for your assistance, Senior Qin."

Liu Jiang's breathing eased slightly, and he bowed to Qin Sang with respectful words.

Qin Sang sensed Liu Jiang's restraint but wasn't surprised. He considered that if their positions were reversed in such a place, he too would worry about the other party's hidden intentions.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, were you and Liu Shan also separated?"

Liu Jiang gave a bitter smile and said, "The suction came too suddenly. Before we could react, we were drawn into the sinkhole, almost getting scattered then. Later, after the Fire Crow Array self-destructed, my brother and I were hit by the impact and couldn't maintain our cultivation techniques anymore. I was lucky and was flung into a cavern. Liu Shan kept falling downwards; the last I saw him, he seemed to have been pulled by Senior Qing Ting. Because we cultivate the same technique and have had a mental connection since childhood, I can sense that Liu Shan is still alive. I was just about to go and meet up with them when I unexpectedly encountered this troublesome Malevolent Corpse."

Qin Sang had seized the opportunity early and was the first to escape into the cavern, so he hadn't seen Qing Ting rescuing Liu Shan.

However, Qin Sang remembered everyone's positions when the Fire Crow Array exploded. If Liu Shan had continued to fall, he would indeed have been closest to Qing Ting.

"Can Fellow Daoist Liu pinpoint Liu Shan's location?" Qin Sang pressed.

Liu Jiang nodded and said, "I can sense Liu Shan is to our lower-left, but the signal is very vague. There's a considerable distance between us. He can certainly sense my position too, but unfortunately, the stone passages change direction frequently, so we haven't been able to meet up. It might take a long time before we run into each other."

Qin Sang hummed in acknowledgment and said, "Fellow Daoist Liu must have also noticed that the deeper we go, these passages converge towards a certain point. We are bound to meet up. In that case, please lead the way, Fellow Daoist Liu, and we will try to descend as much as possible. This is the demonic sect's stronghold; there are surely many refined corpses. Currently, you and I can barely handle them, but we are very likely to encounter stronger Malevolent Corpses later. It's best to meet up with other fellow Daoists as soon as possible and jointly face the dangers."

Although Liu Jiang's strength was not comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was still a good helper who would make dealing with Malevolent Corpses much easier. Even if he didn't have the ability of mental connection, Qin Sang was prepared to bring him along.

After the recent battle, Liu Jiang also realized that he wouldn't get far on his own. Encountering even a slightly stronger Malevolent Corpse could cost him his life.

Moreover, Qin Sang had saved him once. Hearing Qin Sang's suggestion, Liu Jiang readily agreed.

A rumbling sound echoed from the stone passage behind them; the Earth Fiend Qi was still aggressively surging. They dared not delay too long, so after Liu Jiang briefly recovered his breath, they hurriedly set off.

With the two of them working together, dealing with Malevolent Corpses became much easier. They successively encountered two Malevolent Corpses, one of which was extremely powerful and would have been troublesome even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Yet, they managed to kill it without major incident.