Chapter 1649: Initial Battle

The main hall had no windows on all four sides. The Ruyi Pearl’s protective aura was the sole light source, dispelling the darkness and casting shifting shadows throughout the room.

Qin Sang was secretly vigilant. He looked around, found he was alone, and inwardly muttered how strange it was. He recalled the sudden incident. He was certain the anomaly wasn’t caused by him; something must have gone wrong elsewhere, but he didn't know why he had been teleported here, and why he was the only one. “What did Zhu Wudao do?” Qin Sang instinctively thought of Zhu Wudao. This individual knew the Formless Immortal Sect best. Judging by the time, he likely hadn't waited for the Crying Spirit Cave Master and was already on the mountain.

His gaze shifted. The hall was spacious and devoid of extra furnishings, with only a two-tiered jade platform in the center, resembling some kind of altar. However, there were no signs of spiritual light on the altar; it appeared to be abandoned. He was about to approach the altar to examine its purpose, but then paused. With the situation unclear, he shouldn't act rashly. He needed to first figure out where he was and find an exit.

“No doors…” Qin Sang was surprised; the entire hall had no doors. Restrictions flickered on the walls, making it clear they couldn't be easily broken. He looked up at the ceiling; there was no skylight either. A slight tremor came from the ground; it seemed things were not peaceful outside the hall. This confused him further. The exit might still be connected to the altar.

Qin Sang moved swiftly towards the altar. Just as he was about to examine it closely, a bright light suddenly flared, not from the altar itself, but from its other side. The light illuminated the hall, then vanished instantly. But the hall didn't plunge into darkness, as new light clusters immediately flared up. *Swish! Swish!* In a blink of an eye, four light clusters lit up in sequence. As the light extinguished, four figures appeared out of thin air, each with a powerful aura, no weaker than Qin Sang's.

Recognizing the four, Qin Sang's expression stiffened, and he inwardly groaned. Su Zinan, Mo Xingdao, and Zhu Wudao joining forces was somewhat expected. But when did Old Demon Fan enter and team up with them? The newcomers were indeed Zhu Wudao and the other three. Qin Sang had some past grievances, not minor, with two of them. At another time, it wouldn't have been a life-and-death struggle, but now they were outnumbered and trapped in the hall with no escape. How could ill intentions not arise? Even if Qin Sang didn't underestimate himself, he wouldn't dare face four Grand Cultivators alone.

“Where is Old Daoist Zilei?” Qin Sang's thoughts raced as he quickly scanned around. But after the four appeared, there were no more light flares. Were the three Grand Cultivators of the Daoist Sect not on Emperor's Decree Mountain? Simultaneously, eight gazes simultaneously fell on Qin Sang, the four individuals displaying varied expressions.

“Fire Demon!” Su Zinan blurted out, then was overjoyed, exclaiming that what he had sought tirelessly was found effortlessly, a great gift presented right after ascending the mountain. If the Fire Demon were cornered and killed here, they could not only seize the Tribulation Transcending Treasure but also secure the third main soul for the Demon Banner! Seeing no doors in the hall, Su Zinan laughed heartily, looking up, “Did you ever imagine this day would come?”

Qin Sang found it quite strange. He and Old Man Wu had fought to a draw back then, so why did Su Zinan look as if he hated him to the bone? Either he was blamed for Yue Fei's death, or Su Zinan knew something about the tomb of the Water Phase Master!

Old Demon Fan had been observing Qin Sang with a faint smile. Hearing Su Zinan's laughter, he asked curiously, “Daoist Su also has a grudge against this fiend? Heaven has eyes; truly, evil deeds bring ruin upon oneself, and when there's no way to hell, one comes knocking!” Killing intent was fully revealed in his eyes. Dark light permeated his palm, with nine Shadow Demon Nails secretly clenched. In the battle outside the Immortal Gate, Old Demon Fan suffered a hidden loss, with three Shadow Demon Nails instantly broken, a memory still fresh. So this time, he used all nine.

Su Zinan had been secretly sending voice transmissions, urging the others to act. He and Mo Xingdao already had an alliance, but Zhu Wudao and Old Demon Fan's intentions were deep and hard to fathom. Others might not recognize the Ice Ceremony Divine Disk on Qin Sang, but it certainly wouldn't escape Zhu Wudao's keen eyes. Su Zinan didn't want two demonic cultivators to reap the benefits after the battle. Seeing Old Demon Fan persuaded with little effort, Su Zinan was delighted. Suddenly, he saw a slight curve at Qin Sang's lips; not only was there no fear, but a cold sneer.

The next moment, Qin Sang's hand resting on the altar's edge turned black. The Nine Nether Demonic Flame surged out without reservation, slamming violently into the altar!

“Kill him!” Su Zinan's expression drastically changed. Black light erupted from his palm, suddenly transforming into a black ruler. The ruler's shadow, without any embellishment, tore through space and struck towards Qin Sang's glabella. Old Demon Fan's face darkened, and nine Shadow Demon Nails shot out from his hand. But Qin Sang was too close to the altar. Though they moved fast, the demonic flames were faster.

When the four appeared, Qin Sang had already scanned the altar with his spiritual sense. Since the Formless Immortal Sect built this hall, it was impossible for them not to leave an exit, which must be related to the altar. Upon scanning, he indeed found the mystery: the altar was the crucial point of the hall's restrictions. Moreover, a powerful force from outside was continuously impacting the hall, causing vibrations, making the altar unstable.

*Boom!* The demonic flames poured into the altar. Runes on the altar flashed intensely. Under the impact of the demonic flames, the restrictions immediately fell into disarray. This was undoubtedly adding insult to injury. Under the internal and external assault, the entire hall vibrated with a buzzing sound. The five people inside felt their feet shaking violently, and then saw the altar shatter into pieces, leaving behind a dazzling white light.

Qin Sang had anticipated this, retreating quickly. Immediately after, he heard a loud crash behind him; a section of the stone wall had actually hit the Ruyi Pearl's protective shield. Unbeknownst to them, the hall had already collapsed. The dome was torn off first, with clouds and mist continuously pouring in, followed by the four walls. Finally, the hall's foundation was also torn apart by immense force, turning into a torrent of rubble swept into the depths of the clouds.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh...* The five people inside reacted quickly, flying into the air before the hall collapsed, unharmed. The only things affected were the attacks launched by Su Zinan and Old Demon Fan, both disturbed by the fluctuations from the altar, allowing Qin Sang to easily dodge them.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!* Gale winds roared, clouds churned and mist surged. The five stood atop the clouds, their bodies shimmering with various colored precious lights, clearly having activated their protective treasures to resist the turbulent currents within the mist. Qin Sang was still facing a one-against-four situation.

During the standoff, they all silently observed their surroundings. Above and below, clouds and mist were everywhere, limiting visibility. Above, they could vaguely see the shadow of a divine mountain, towering majestically, grander than any mountain scenery they had seen before. Upon seeing this, everyone realized: this was the true Emperor's Decree Mountain! They had entered, but were still within the range of a grand formation, the churning clouds and mist caused by its disarray. Though it sounds complicated, with their cultivation levels, understanding the situation took only an instant.

Su Zinan and the others were in no hurry to ascend the mountain, still glaring at Qin Sang. Zhu Wudao and Qin Sang had no past grievances. After entering the hall, he had been wary of the Daoist masters. One reason he gathered allies was to prevent being cornered by the Daoist Sect here. The Daoist Sect had entered Emperor's Decree Mountain earlier than them. Surprisingly, Master Zilei had not appeared until now.

Zhu Wudao felt slightly relieved. He glanced around, then looked at Qin Sang with surprise, also curious about this person's identity. “May I know your esteemed name, fellow Daoist? Are you a descendant of the Fire Phase? It's a pity that in the teleportation hall, you weren't willing to form a good connection. Otherwise, I might have been able to mediate and resolve the grievances between you all. As long as it's not a deep-seated hatred, I believe Daoist Su and Senior Brother Fan would show me some deference...”

“Why bother with him! Even without a grudge, it doesn't hinder eliminating this person, one less competitor for treasures!” Old Demon Fan had lost nine Shadow Demon Nails for nothing and was in pain, attributing it all to Qin Sang.

Su Zinan remained silent, holding the black ruler before him. A fine net slid from his sleeve into his hand. He silently chanted an incantation, and the Dragon Tendon Silk Net tore through space, expanding greatly. The Dragon Tendon Silk Net could be large or small; when small, it was almost invisible, when large, it could seal off heaven and earth! Capturing Old Man Yanshan's nascent soul alive was partly due to the silk net. The silk net might not stop Qin Sang, but delaying him for a moment would be enough. Even if Zhu Wudao didn't take a stance, they still had three people. Su Zinan didn't believe they couldn't defeat Qin Sang!

*Swish!* The Dragon Tendon Silk Net vanished into thin air, and grid-like lines of light appeared in space. The light lines crisscrossed, about to close in. Behind Qin Sang, a pair of magnificent phoenix wings appeared at some point. He aimed for the depths of the clouds, merged with his sword, and transformed into lightning, escaping swiftly! A thunderclap from nowhere.

“What incredible speed!” Su Zinan and the others were all startled, watching helplessly as the lightning bolt passed through a gap in the silk net. After the lightning bolt passed through the net, a black lotus bloomed at the gap, its core brimming with demonic energy, forming a cage that, however, captured only a wisp of cloud.

Old Demon Fan's expression stiffened, then he became enraged. He flipped his left palm, and the black lotus rapidly ascended into mid-air. The lotus inverted, shooting out endless black light. Wherever the black light reached, black lotuses bloomed one after another. In an instant, thousands of lotuses appeared in the sea of mist, rising and falling in the clouds, clearly forming a lotus pond.

Qin Sang's transformed escape light landed in the lotus pond. An abnormally cold aura permeated the surroundings. He was surrounded by black lotuses from all directions, unable to break free no matter how he moved. *Whoosh whoosh whoosh!* The black lotuses surged frantically, sharp as knives. If entangled, Qin Sang would instantly be minced. At this moment, Qin Sang had a protective shield and carried demonic flames. His momentum was like a rainbow, annihilating countless black lotuses. But Old Demon Fan's goal was merely to delay Qin Sang, forcing him to divert his attention. Su Zinan and Mo Xingdao acted in unison, flanking him from left and right.

Just then, a stern shout suddenly echoed from the depths of the cloud sea, “Myriad Illusory Nether Lotus!” The voice carried an inherent murderous intent. Hearing the voice, Zhu Wudao and the others all changed their expressions. Immediately after, a more startling thunderclap than the lightning escape sounded from the depths of the cloud sea. Five lightning serpents entered their vision, charging into the lotus pond, cooperating with Qin Sang's demonic flames to clear all obstacles ahead. Behind the lightning serpents, two figures approached, stepping on clouds, none other than the two Venerable Masters of Eightfold Scenery.

“The two Venerable Masters have finally arrived!” Qin Sang nodded from a distance. After breaking out of the hall, he no longer worried about his situation. His Divine Eye ability pierced through the clouds and mist, revealing the traces of Master Zilei and Master Hegao. They must have entered early, having already breached the Jade Pavilion space before the anomaly, thus not being teleported into the hall. As for why there were only the two Venerable Masters of Eightfold Scenery and no Yue Lingtian, Qin Sang wasn't sure. But with these two present, Zhu Wudao's side would definitely not target him anymore. In the teleportation hall, Qin Sang had attacked them, but now he had to rely on them to escape. How time changes and circumstances shift.

“It's you.” Seeing Qin Sang, Master Hegao was displeased. Qin Sang had just attacked them, so he didn't have a good impression of Qin Sang.

“The teleportation hall incident was a misunderstanding. I apologize to both fellow Daoists now. These Formless Immortal Sect villains intentionally disrupted the grand formation, aiming for something significant, which must be investigated!” Qin Sang pointed his finger at Zhu Wudao, his figure flickering, landing not far from the two Venerable Masters. Behind him, Su Zinan and Mo Xingdao were in hot pursuit. Seeing this, they had to stop, hesitating.

Master Zilei's gaze shifted to Old Demon Fan, “Daoist Fan, are you also colluding with the remnants of the Formless Immortal Sect?”

Old Demon Fan chuckled, put away his Myriad Illusory Nether Lotus, and instead retorted with an accusation, “Old Ox-Nose, I heard they could open the Formless Immortal Gate because you deliberately indulged them?” The anger on his face had long vanished; Qin Sang was no longer in his eyes.

“After we get out, this humble Daoist will give you an explanation,” Master Zilei said indifferently.

“No, no, no...” Old Demon Fan shook his head repeatedly, “I don't need any explanation. You just need to tell me what anomaly occurred in the Immortal Hall!”

Master Zilei frowned, knowing it couldn't be hidden. He sighed inwardly and said, “If I knew the full details, I wouldn't have gone through so much trouble. After this is settled, this humble Daoist will join hands with the Sweet Dew Zen Temple to open the Immortal Hall. At that time, I will invite your sect and various Central Plains sects to witness it.”

Seeing them about to reach an agreement in a few words, Zhu Wudao felt a great sense of unease, his gaze growing darker. He glanced at Su Zinan and Mo Xingdao. Ever since the Daoist Sect appeared, these two had remained detached, as if uninvolved. Earlier, Mo Xingdao had forced him to reveal the Wordless Jade Tablet. Now, having used his Gold Phase Token to enter, he had lost his value. The intentions of these two were obvious. The only good news was that Yue Lingtian was not present.

Seeing Master Zilei so straightforward, Old Demon Fan found it hard to press further. He subconsciously glanced at Zhu Wudao, some hesitation in his eyes. At this moment, Zhu Wudao's voice reached his ears like a murmur. A look of surprise and suspicion flashed in Old Demon Fan's eyes. He righteously declared, “Junior Brother Zhu openly violated sect rules, presumptuously colluding with the remnants of the Formless Immortal Sect. This is an outrageous act! This elder will personally take him back to the sect to enforce clan law...”

Before he finished speaking, Master Zilei's figure suddenly blurred. Old Demon Fan inwardly cursed. Then he heard thunder crackling loudly beside him. Lightning surged where Zhu Wudao stood, his figure becoming indistinct. Immediately after, a clear crane cry echoed, and an immortal crane soared into the nine heavens! The two Venerable Masters of Eightfold Scenery, sharing a telepathic understanding, acted immediately upon realizing they couldn't persuade Old Demon Fan!

At the same time, Qin Sang bowed to them from a distance, rapidly flapped his phoenix wings, and flew towards the mountain without looking back. Su Zinan and Mo Xingdao exchanged glances. Ignoring Zhu Wudao behind them, they gave chase, “Where do you think you're going!” Old Demon Fan was left alone, cursing incessantly.

Below the sea of clouds, two figures lurked in a corner, sensing the grand cultivators' chaotic battle above, daring not to move an inch. “So many Grand Cultivators,” the female cultivator sensed the intense auras in the clouds above and, expressing her relief, was grateful for her senior brother's decisive action. The white-robed Daoist stared intently upwards, sensing three auras fleeing into the distance, while the others became a tangled mess. “Let's go!” The two concealed their auras and carefully moved through the area.