Chapter 1655: Mani Pearl

Above, clouds and mist shimmered, formed by the Five Elements Divine Restrictions. Below, dense fog swirled like a tide. Only the central plaza appeared calm and safe. Besides the avatar, no other figures were visible, nor was anything unusual detected.

The avatar remained tense, his sharp gaze sweeping every corner. He did not release the Fire Jade Centipede. The Fire Jade Centipede had rendered a great service this time. Its ability to sense treasures, unexpectedly, also served as a warning. Without it, the avatar might already have fallen into a trap. This was crucial information that absolutely could not be revealed to an enemy. If an enemy discovered the Fire Jade Centipede's origins, deduced the reason for his leaked movements, and sealed the treasure with a blocking divine ability, the avatar would be left without a warning and in an extremely precarious situation.

Even the slightest rustle of plants stirred his attention. As it turned out, these were just normal occurrences; there was no trace of an enemy. It felt as if he was fighting a phantom battle.

However, the Fire Jade Centipede was restless, its head constantly swaying. It couldn't pinpoint the treasure's location, leaving him unsure whether it was due to interference or if the enemy was moving at high speed. Though the avatar was still on the periphery, he could discern that the Five Elements Restrictions here were grand and rigorously structured, far surpassing the incomplete formation on Fire Rhino Island or the crumbling protective array of the Pure Ocean Sect. This powerful formation might very well be affecting the Fire Jade Centipede's perception. If it was the latter, the enemy's speed was astonishingly fast, startling Qin Sang. Something was definitely amiss!

The enemy, whose strength was unknown, possessed an exceptionally advanced stealth divine ability. They had already approached, yet the avatar remained completely unaware. Qin Sang knew that the first group to enter Emperor's Grant Mountain were generally Grand Cultivators with significant backgrounds, not to be underestimated. He knew too little about them to guess the identity of this particular individual. Had the opponent noticed the avatar's relatively low cultivation and lone journey, and decided to act with malicious intent? This thought flashed through the avatar's mind.

With his main body absent, the avatar's sole aim was self-preservation. He maintained his divine light body protection, and simultaneously, his arm vibrated slightly. A small seal, enveloped in cold light, flew to hover above his head.

The spiritual treasure appeared, unleashing the Teng Snake! The Four-fold Teng Snake Seal hovered above his head. The Teng Snake coiled and danced around the avatar, its cold light flickering like icy flames burning in the void, an astonishing display of power. Sheltered by the Teng Snake, the avatar's form flickered in and out of view. With both the spiritual treasure and divine light protecting him, no matter how high the opponent's cultivation, they would have to reconsider if they could easily subdue the avatar and if making a move here was truly worth the effort.

Inside the Five Elements Divine Restrictions, the Kun Daoist appeared silently. She stood suspended amidst the clouds and mist, her robes fluttering lightly, as if she were an immortal. There were no fluctuations of Daoist magic or true essence from her, yet she remained untouched by the omnipresent Five Elements Restrictions.

Through the shimmering clouds, the Kun Daoist watched the avatar. Upon seeing the spiritual treasure above his head, her eyes showed a hint of surprise. Then, she looked towards the boundary between the clouds and the outside world, the edge of the Five Elements Restrictions. Recalling how she had been forced to reveal herself and the discomfort she felt when she tried to cross it earlier, her delicate brows furrowed, clearly showing displeasure. She either couldn't or disdained to hide her feelings; all her emotions were clearly expressed.

Tilting her head, the Kun Daoist seemed to be weighing the pros and cons, then suddenly faded from view.

At the same time, the avatar noticed the Fire Jade Centipede had suddenly gone quiet. Inside his sleeve, the Fire Jade Centipede wriggled its plump body, struggling to lift a segment and sway it back and forth, its tiny eyes filled with confusion. Yet, it wouldn't bother itself with such matters, quickly settling back down, ready to fall into a deep slumber.

"They're gone?" The avatar grew suspicious. Logically, since the Fire Jade Centipede hadn't been exposed, it was unlikely that the enemy would so quickly pinpoint the source of the leak and take corrective action. It was more likely that the spiritual treasure had startled them away.

Nevertheless, the avatar dared not let down his guard. He glanced around, moved away from the prominent plaza, and found a concealed spot in the forest. He maintained the spiritual treasure's protective state while also setting up multiple layers of defenses around himself. He intended to wait and see whether the enemy had truly given up or if it was merely a feint before deciding on his next course of action.

The swirling mist intensified the mountain wind, causing the forest to rustle. The avatar sat cross-legged, remarkably seeming to enter a meditative state amidst such surroundings. Soon, the avatar's uncertainty vanished. Sensing his main body approaching to rendezvous, he simply remained where he was and waited.

Qin Sang's main body shook off his pursuers, swiftly left the Solar Flame Divine Restrictions, and continued outwards. Before long, he reached the edge of the cloud mist, returning to the plaza. As he stepped into the plaza, Qin Sang's footsteps involuntarily halted. On one of the jade staircases extending from the plaza, two figures emerged from the swirling mist. All six eyes met, and everyone froze in surprise.

The newcomers were none other than the Poison King and Master Huaiyin. They had entered the formation together, which was naturally much easier than for Qin Sang's avatar. However, with no one guiding them on the mountain, they had misjudged their direction several times within the array. Thus, although they had entered the array at the same time as the avatar, they were a step behind him.

Seeing Qin Sang, the Poison King scrutinized him, letting out a soft exclamation of surprise. In a flash, he appeared on the plaza, directly facing Qin Sang, and slightly cupped his hands. "Greetings, fellow Daoist," he said. Master Huaiyin followed closely, bowing with clasped palms. Unfamiliar with the experts of the Central Plains, he stayed half a step behind the Poison King, not wishing to overshadow him.

Qin Sang's expression remained neutral as he casually returned the greeting, but inwardly, he sighed: "Two more Grand Cultivators!"

While greeting Qin Sang, the Poison King simultaneously observed his surroundings. Seeing the cloud mist blocking the path above and Qin Sang being the only person in and around the plaza, he understood they had arrived too late. However, according to Old Devil Fan's message, any significant developments would be accompanied by further guidance, yet there was none here, indicating he had clearly failed to keep his word. After all, the so-called alliance was merely an expedient and very fragile arrangement. The Poison King had long anticipated Old Devil Fan's breach of the agreement and was not surprised in the slightest.

The Poison King's mind churned with thoughts, but his expression remained impassive, his etiquette flawless. Dismissing his myriad thoughts, the Poison King looked at Qin Sang with curiosity. "Is this fellow Daoist a stranger to me?"

Qin Sang's mouth twitched slightly, his tone flat. "The Poison King's mighty reputation precedes him; I have long heard of it. It's only natural that an unknown individual like myself would not register in your esteemed sight."

Gazing at the exquisite features before him, a face that rivaled any beauty in the world, Qin Sang was greatly surprised to have encountered the Poison King so quickly. Legends described the Poison King as peerlessly beautiful and alluring, with gender indistinguishable, and it seemed the rumors were true. Whether the Poison King was male or female had always been a hotly debated topic in the cultivation world. This individual, the esteemed master of Ten Thousand Poisons Mountain, was not in Gold Jade Province at the moment, which implied they were pursuing the grotesque-faced man.

Considering that the Jade Armor Beetle, which the Poison King so coveted, was currently slumbering within his own Dantian, Qin Sang couldn't help but hesitate. He subtly assessed the monk beside him. The monk was burly, his inner qi and blood so vigorous it was rarely seen in the world. Qin Sang, who also practiced body cultivation, could tell that this person must have cultivated a top-tier body refinement technique and achieved profound mastery, at least surpassing his own. He tutted in wonder, his mind cycling through the renowned Buddhist eminent monks of the Central Plains, but none matched this individual.

"'Mere fleeting fame, only inviting ridicule,' the Poison King replied. Unaware of Qin Sang's thoughts, and seeing his cold demeanor, the Poison King refrained from pressing further. Instead, he introduced, 'This is Master Huaiyin, a Holy Monk from the Western Lands. We were traveling together in the Southern Province when we witnessed the celestial anomaly and happened to arrive here. There are still many uncertainties, and we hoped to consult with fellow Daoist on a few matters.'"

"From the Western Lands, surprisingly. Had he perhaps encountered the Ghost Mother?" Qin Sang nodded briefly to the monk, then spoke languidly, "Ten Thousand Poisons Mountain reigns supreme in the Savage Province. Surely the esteemed Poison King knows what place this is?"

"'We only surmised it might be the ancient ruins of the Anicca Immortal Sect...'" The Poison King's words were cut short by Qin Sang.

"'That's enough!' Qin Sang interrupted. 'What other purpose could there be for coming here besides treasure hunting? I know no more than you do and cannot answer your questions.' He spread his hands, making as if to leave."

The Poison King furrowed his brow, revealing an unexpected, exotic charm. If Qin Sang's cultivation had been slightly weaker, the Poison King wouldn't have hesitated to subdue him. But with the enemy's whereabouts unknown, it would be unwise to rashly offend a Grand Cultivator.

Seeing Qin Sang about to depart, the Poison King's mind raced. He quickly spoke, "Forgive my presumption, but I wish to inquire about someone, this person..." As he spoke, the Poison King activated his true essence to form a water mirror, revealing a figure with a face covered in centipede-like scars.

As expected. Qin Sang's expression remained unchanged. He cast a seemingly casual glance at the mirror and coldly snorted, "You still dare claim complete ignorance? This person is one of the masterminds behind opening the ruins!"

"'To be honest, fellow Daoist, we truly are unaware,' the Poison King admitted, shaking his head frankly. Seeing that Qin Sang hadn't grasped his intention, he directly asked if Qin Sang had seen the man in the mountains, offering to pay for information about his movements."

Qin Sang shook his head and strode away. The Poison King sighed softly, unsure if Qin Sang meant he didn't know or hadn't seen the person. He exchanged a glance with Master Huaiyin and then began scrutinizing the Five Elements Divine Restrictions.

Qin Sang teleported out of the plaza, swept a short distance away, and after confirming he wasn't being followed, vanished into the mountain forest. The Poison King's rapid appearance had been unexpected. At heart, Qin Sang was unwilling to return the Jade Armor Beetle. Such an exotic insect was unique in the world. He hoped to subdue it himself, or perhaps let the Poison Pearl devour the Jade Armor Beetle. Improving his Anti-Poison Armor was secondary; he was more eager to see if the Poison Pearl would undergo any changes after consuming this unparalleled ferocious insect. If he could master the Jade Armor Beetle's venomous light, he could also cultivate the Heavenly Absolute Soul-Shaking Divine Needle based on it, effectively gaining two great poisonous divine abilities at once.

"I'll have to play it by ear!" Qin Sang mused inwardly. He had been disguised when he went to the Seven Fragrance Pavilion, so there shouldn't have been any leaks.

With these thoughts, Qin Sang concealed his presence and quietly approached the avatar's hiding spot. Their minds being connected, he already knew of the avatar's encounter. Before long, Qin Sang appeared beside his avatar. Under his Heaven's Eye, the surroundings were completely clear; no enemies lurked nearby.

"Who could it have been?" Qin Sang was puzzled. Calculating carefully, it couldn't have been Su Zinan or the Poison King's group. Zhu Wudao was being watched by the two Perfected Beings from Eight Scenery View. The greatest suspicion fell on Old Devil Fan. Demonic cultivation arts were notoriously strange and unpredictable, and Old Devil Fan's modus operandi certainly fit the description. Alternatively, other unknown experts might have entered the mountain.

Unable to figure it out, Qin Sang stopped pondering. He sat down on the ground and took the lotus seat from his avatar. The avatar then withdrew its defenses, flew higher, and observed the changes in the Five Elements Divine Restrictions, paying particular attention to the orientation of the Metal Element Divine Restrictions. With Old Devil Zhu holding the Metal Phase Token, the Metal Element Divine Restrictions were the most likely place for unexpected changes.

Before taking any further action, Qin Sang wanted to examine the mysteries of the newly acquired treasures. At this moment, he held the lotus pedestal in one hand and the Ruyi Pearl in the other. The groove in the lotus pedestal perfectly matched the size of the Ruyi Pearl—what a coincidence! Qin Sang narrowed his eyes, recalling the connection between the Pure Ocean Sect, Xiao Xiangzi, and the Anicca Immortal Sect. He brought his hands together, slightly rotating the hand holding the lotus pedestal to align the groove with the Ruyi Pearl. At that moment, he had an inexplicable feeling that the two treasures were drawing each other in.

A thought struck Qin Sang just as he was about to join them. He quickly projected his spiritual consciousness into his Thousand Jun Ring, from which several streams of light emerged, forming a flag array that sealed off the four directions. This was to prevent any unusual phenomena from arising and being noticed by outsiders. Then, Qin Sang pressed the Ruyi Pearl onto the lotus pedestal!

*Click!*

With a crisp click, the Ruyi Pearl embedded itself perfectly into the lotus pedestal. Half of the pearl was now above the pedestal, and half below. They were now a seamless whole! Qin Sang stared intently, noticing that the ring of red flames inside the lotus seat seemed to swell for an instant as the pearl embedded, then immediately returned to normal, encircling the Ruyi Pearl and making its luster appear even deeper. There were no other unusual phenomena.

Qin Sang hesitated for a moment, then guided a wisp of his spiritual consciousness into the object. To his surprise, he perceived that the Ruyi Pearl's name had changed; a new name appeared in his mind: the Mani Pearl! This was clearly its true name; 'Ruyi Pearl' was likely a name inscribed by later generations after the treasure had split apart.

Qin Sang had seen references to Mani Pearls in Buddhist scriptures. Some sutras described them as treasures of the Buddhas, possessing extraordinary divine powers. However, many Buddhist cultivators, when forging Dharma Treasures, liked to choose names from sutras, often in a far-fetched manner. Therefore, he couldn't definitively determine the treasure's origin purely from its name.

After being restored to its complete form, was it still a defensive Dharma Treasure? Qin Sang carefully sensed it and became even more surprised. Previously, Qin Sang had been unable to determine the Ruyi Pearl's rank. Now, he not only couldn't determine the Mani Pearl's rank, but he also couldn't even be sure if it was a Dharma Treasure at all. This treasure was completely unlike anything Qin Sang knew. In fact, Qin Sang even felt it could be considered a mere magical artifact, which sounded absurd. While this seemed somewhat absurd, the cultivation world always held various extraordinary existences, and unique magical artifacts were not uncommon. Still, Qin Sang dared not make a definitive judgment about the Mani Pearl.

"It seems my attainments in artifact refining are still too shallow," Qin Sang mused. He shook his head. He infused true essence into it, activating the Mani Pearl using the same method he had used for the Ruyi Pearl.

The next moment, a brilliant golden light erupted around Qin Sang. A familiar spiritual barrier appeared. The protective ability was still there, seeming a bit thicker, but otherwise no different from the Ruyi Pearl. Did the fully restored Mani Pearl possess no other power? Qin Sang secretly found it odd. After observing it for a while, he noticed the seemingly real, yet illusory flames within the Mani Pearl, and remembered that the treasure originated from the Fire Aspect Hall. Suddenly, an idea sparked within him.

Subconsciously, Qin Sang summoned the Fire Seed Golden Lotus and guided a wisp of demonic flame into the Mani Pearl. A strange sight unfolded. The Nine Nether Demonic Flame, surprisingly, integrated effortlessly into the Mani Pearl without any obstruction. Within the crystal-clear Ruyi Pearl, a cluster of black flame suddenly appeared, dyeing the pearl black. Then, the red flames on the lotus pedestal flickered, emitting a peculiar fluctuation. Simultaneously, the golden light of Qin Sang's protective barrier abruptly darkened, a layer of black flame having merged with it at some unknown point.

In an instant, the spiritual barrier transformed into a fiery shield! Qin Sang felt none of the demonic flame's familiar ferocity from the fiery shield; instead, there was a sense of profound solidity. He quickly drew more demonic flame from the Fire Lotus, which the Mani Pearl absorbed completely. The more demonic flame it absorbed, the more robust the fiery shield became. Qin Sang, splitting his attention, used the Gold Sinking Sword to attack himself. He found that while the fiery shield only possessed a straightforward protective ability, it far surpassed the Ruyi Pearl in durability, and the more demonic flame infused, the sturdier it became!