Chapter 1687: A Trace of Fragrance

Mo Xingdao fell utterly silent. When Saint King Azure Fox spoke, he recalled the past incident at the treasure exchange fair.

That day, disguised, he attended the fair, discerned the secret of the Yin-Yang Puppet Crystal, and intended to trade his Thousand-Knot Divine Net for it with Qin Sang. Fearing the Grand Elder of the Jade Shadow Sect, he arranged for the exchange to happen outside. Unexpectedly, Qin Sang was ambushed by a Demon King. He had originally intended to help, to build goodwill and make it easier to persuade Qin Sang. However, after seeing Qin Sang in action, he realized Qin Sang might be the Fire Demon Su Zinan was searching for, which made him change his mind.

Although he had been recruited by Su Zinan, he had no intention of risking his life for him, much less forging a mortal enmity with a powerful foe on Su Zinan's behalf. Thus, he decided to remain hidden. Mo Xingdao only acted when an opportunity arose, and he deliberately used obscure Taoist techniques. The Azure-Furred Rat Demon abandoned two subordinates and fled. Of the two crocodile demons, one died and one was injured; the latter was captured alive.

Ultimately, they used soul-searching techniques on the captured crocodile demon and found some memory fragments. This demon held a respectable position among the East Sea demon tribe, but its memories contained no mention of a Saint King's disciple! Mo Xingdao secretly glanced at Saint King Azure Fox; it no longer mattered whether those two crocodile demons were truly Saint King's disciples. Saint King Azure Fox had publicly declared, under the gaze of everyone present, that even a falsehood could be turned into truth! On closer inspection, Mo Xingdao was also an accomplice. He would never be foolish enough to argue on Qin Sang's behalf and would keep that matter buried forever, never mentioning it to anyone.

Of those present, only Saint Huiguang could stop Saint King Azure Fox. Thinking this, Mo Xingdao looked towards Saint Huiguang, only to see that the Demon-Sealing Stake, encircled by heartfire, had inexplicably taken on a bloody hue. Saint Huiguang was apparently using a secret technique similar to blood refining to repair the artifact, likely unable to spare any attention for others.

In the mountains, Qin Sang, hearing Saint King Azure Fox's cry, also knew there was no room for negotiation in the situation. He had personally soul-searched the crocodile demons earlier and knew perfectly well that the possibility of them being Disciples of the Deity Transformation stage was extremely low. But what did that matter? Even if he had been ambushed first and forced to retaliate, he had no chance to speak up and defend himself. Saint King Azure Fox's strike was too decisive, a direct killing blow. She had also sealed off Emperor's Grant Mountain, deliberately masking the connection between him and his avatar. Refutation was useless, just as the Ghost Mother once said, "Whatever I want, I always take directly." A Deity Transformation stage Demon King naturally possessed such power and confidence.

"Whoosh!"

The Saint King's oppressive aura formed a tangible storm, and the golden clouds, which were about to converge, showed signs of solidifying. All three Saint King Azure Fox figures stepped into the sword array. With the same peerless beauty and demonic allure, their brows revealed three distinct expressions, making it impossible to discern whether they were real or illusions. The avatar dragged Qin Sang's true body down rapidly. Trapped in the sword star by Su Zinan, the avatar's true essence was also running low. Qin Sang's true body was in an even worse state. He struggled to bring order to the chaotic vital energy within him and, with a shudder, looked up, his gaze meeting that of the three Saint King Azure Fox illusions.

"This junior just offered a demon-subduing treasure, turning the tide, and now you want to burn your bridges, senior? Aren't you afraid of universal condemnation?!" Qin Sang, rousing his true essence, shouted in unison with his avatar.

"Cease your resistance and explain what happened that day. Considering your merits, this King will only execute the primary culprit. I advise you to quickly sever ties with the villain, lest you jeopardize yourself."

Everyone knew Saint King Azure Fox's words were directed at the avatar, unaware that the avatar and Qin Sang were one and the same. It was a blatant distortion of truth. Despite her words, Saint King Azure Fox struck without mercy. The eyes of the three illusions were pure white, lacking pupils. There was no murderous intent in their gaze, only a chilling indifference, like gazing at an ant.

The next moment, the three illusions shot forward, looking down at Qin Sang. They simultaneously raised their right hands, slender as snow, skin like congealed fat, and pointed their delicate, jade-like fingers at Qin Sang. A faint azure light gathered at their fingertips. Bathed in this light, their already slightly transparent bodies gained a pure glow, as if carved from beautiful jade.

"Swish!"

The azure light was like lightning. Qin Sang's pupils constricted. A sudden sharp pain shot through his brow. Without hesitation, he spurred the barely gathered vital energy within him, frantically pouring it into the Mani Pearl.

"Whoosh!"

Black flames, faintly tinged with gold, surged from Qin Sang's body, instantly enveloping him. The moment the Fiery Aura Shield formed, the azure lightning struck.

"Boom!"

Three waves of fire erupted on the Fiery Aura Shield. Azure light and fire mingled, exploding outwards. The aftershocks were immense, and Qin Sang's figure was swallowed by the chaotic phenomenon. Amidst thunderous roars, the Fiery Aura Shield swayed, enduring a terrifying impact. Unexpectedly, the Fiery Aura Shield was remarkably resilient. Under the combined attack of Saint King Azure Fox's three illusions, it did not shatter, and the azure lightning was blocked outside. Only Qin Sang knew the immense pressure he was under. Inside the Fiery Aura Shield, his body trembled as he exerted full effort to maintain it. His recently recovered true essence was rapidly depleting, but the good news was that it coincidentally lightened the burden on his meridians.

Seeing their attack fail to break through, the three illusions' eyes flashed with cold light. The three streams of azure lightning converged abruptly, yet without any ripple or sound. In an instant, the three azure lightning streams merged into one, transforming into a drop of cerulean-green liquid in mid-air. Inside, faint interwoven azure lightning could be seen, suggesting traces of their fusion. Once the fusion was complete, a flawless jade seal, perfectly integrated, appeared. The jade seal was small, about the size of a baby's fist, with alternating flashes of azure and white light within. Dense azure and white spiritual light emanated, forming concentric halos around the jade seal. The white light resembled clouds and mist, creating countless illusions, while the azure light continuously transformed into various forms of demon foxes, chasing and playing amidst the clouds and mist, presenting a vibrant scene of an immortal mountain.

This was no mere spiritual light; it was an external manifestation of the jade seal's power, firmly locking onto Qin Sang, descending with an exceptionally terrifying oppressive force! Qin Sang felt a suffocating pressure in his chest, his entire body stiff, his blood congealing, as if an immortal mountain had pressed down on him. His vision was filled only with azure and white spiritual light, with nothing else discernible.

At the same time, Saint King Azure Fox's laughter reached Qin Sang's ears, as clear as bells, captivating his soul.

"You have quite a few treasures on you..."

The voice descended alongside the jade seal. The bodies of the three illusions gradually became transparent. This was clearly a full-power strike from the three illusions.

"Boom!"

The jade seal struck with the force of a thousand thunderbolts! A jade seal suddenly appeared on the surface of the Fiery Aura Shield, deeply embedding itself within. Azure and white spiritual light spread across the sky, and the raging demonic flames on the Fiery Aura Shield seemed to be suppressed. The scene was like a colossal boulder being thrown into a lake. Centered around the jade seal, the demonic flames were churned into massive waves. A creaking sound emanated from the Fiery Aura Shield, and in an instant, the area facing the direct impact was reduced to little more than a thin layer of protective aura.

By integrating the Fire Lotus into the Mani Pearl, its defensive capabilities were rarely matched in the world; even a powerful cultivator would find it difficult to break through the Fiery Aura Shield. Yet now, feeling the danger of the Fiery Aura Shield shattering, Qin Sang was horrified. He hastily immersed his consciousness into the Mani Pearl, touching the origin of the demonic flames. He exerted himself to draw as much of the controllable demonic flame origin as possible, channeling it into the Fiery Aura Shield. Although he couldn't fully control this power yet, he could guide it through the Mani Pearl to simply reinforce the shield. Qin Sang could discern that Saint King Azure Fox's three illusions were not like his own external avatar; they were likely formed from divine abilities and magical power, not meant to last long. As long as he endured this attack, he would have a chance to escape. Qin Sang had considered using the Solar Divine Tree again, but there was no opportunity. Saint King Azure Fox would surely be on guard, making it difficult to succeed.

As expected, the demonic flame origin proved extraordinary once unleashed. Like a dense ink stain spreading within the aura shield, the previously precarious Fiery Aura Shield suddenly became much more stable, firmly resisting the jade seal. Correspondingly, Qin Sang's true essence was depleting at an alarming rate.

"Rumble..."

The peak of Emperor's Grant Mountain was tilting, about to snap in half. The mountaintop was almost engulfed by five-colored clouds. These clouds were no longer distinct but interwoven in a kaleidoscope of colors. Beneath this strange beauty, the Five Elements Divine Restriction was entering its final destruction. Despite such immense commotion, it still couldn't mask the fluctuations from the collision between the jade seal and the Fiery Aura Shield. The cloud fissure remained open for a long time, and three faint figures flickered within. Judging by the fluctuations inside the fissure, they hadn't managed to subdue that person immediately. The onlookers were stunned. That person was clearly severely wounded, his robes stained with blood, his true essence chaotic. A Deity Transformation stage powerhouse striking, with three powerful illusions besieging him, and yet that person still had the strength to resist? Cultivators who prided themselves on their extensive knowledge and wide connections racked their brains but couldn't recall the person's origins. Even after checking all the major sects, no such individual was known. Who exactly was this mysterious figure?

No sooner said than done. The three illusions became increasingly ethereal, even giving off a fleeting sensation, more like three shadows. Similarly, Qin Sang again felt that familiar sense of emptiness, though it was slightly better than before. His face pale, he maintained his upward gaze, staring fixedly at the three illusions. His eyes flashed, and his thoughts merged with his avatar; he was about to make a move.

Among Saint King Azure Fox's three illusions, one suddenly blinked. With that blink, her demeanor changed dramatically. The white eyes became normal, and her beautiful gaze flowed like rippling water, embodying infinite allure, like two deep pools that would unconsciously draw one in, making escape impossible. Other than that, the illusion's face remained unchanged, yet because of these captivating eyes, her spirit instantly soared, making her seem like a completely different person! The illusion seemed able to see his weakened state through the Fiery Aura Shield. Her lips curved slightly into a smile, beautiful as a blooming flower, of unparalleled allure. Qin Sang heard faint laughter again. It was still bell-like laughter, but unlike before, it wasn't distant; it was right by his ear, incredibly close!

In the sky, ever since Saint King Azure Fox made her move against Qin Sang, Old Demon Fan and the others had been hesitant to speak. They had all heard more or less about the demonic unrest in the Six Prefectures Hall, and while their thoughts varied, none intended to advocate for Qin Sang. Instead, they worried that Saint King Azure Fox being distracted would affect the current situation, allowing the ancient demon to exploit it and cause their efforts to fail. However, Saint King Azure Fox had only released three illusions, her true body remaining still. Her judgments and reactions remained as precise as before. While Qin Sang was resisting the three illusions, the battle here had not paused for a second. They circled Saint King Azure Fox, gathering and dispersing, their battle formation scattered but not chaotic.

"Disperse!"

Saint King Azure Fox's command entered their ears. After some coordination, Old Demon Fan and the others understood the meaning of this command: the demon's true body was about to unleash its might and could not be met head-on. They had to retreat far away, so they scattered without hesitation.

"Whoosh!"

The demonic claws multiplied into thousands, covering the sky and earth. Thumping sounds came from Old Demon Fan and the others. Although they dodged quickly, some demonic claws were unavoidable. They each displayed their divine abilities, unleashing various defensive treasures to resist the claws. Before the demonic claws dissipated, another command came: "Converge!" This was an order for a joint counterattack. Although they were in a desperate situation, they weren't entirely without a chance to retaliate. While the demon's true body had exhausted its old strength and new strength hadn't yet emerged, an active attack, if lucky, could disrupt its rhythm and buy them a few precious moments. However, such opportunities were rare. Saint King Azure Fox's command was unequivocal. Without time to ponder, everyone activated their respective magical artifacts, and their formation shifted, forming a combined attack. Instantly, streaks of spiritual light shot out from everyone, merging into a single stream of light at the center of the suspended lake, piercing directly down towards the demon's true body in the lake! At the same time, the bright moon suddenly became incomparably brilliant. Moonlight poured down like a waterfall, instantly merging with the stream of light. This unprecedented, immense momentum caused Old Demon Fan and the others to momentarily freeze.

No one noticed. At that moment, Saint King Azure Fox's main body showed a subtle, almost imperceptible stiffness.

In the mountains, the illusion whose aura had dramatically changed took a step downward. The laughter Qin Sang heard grew louder, seemingly piercing his eardrums, invading his Purple Mansion, and echoing beside his Nascent Soul. He also seemed to catch a faint, ethereal fragrance.

"It seems to be some kind of illusionary technique..." These words instantly appeared in Qin Sang's mind.

This was the Heavenly Fox Allure Art. Ordinary individuals, once struck, would immediately be consumed by lust, their minds filled with countless illusions, disturbed by the allure. Those with weaker willpower would instantly sink into a boundless sea of desire, becoming walking corpses. Even those with strong mental fortitude couldn't avoid being affected, their thoughts wavering. When employed by a Deity Transformation stage Saint King Azure Fox, only a handful in the world could resist it! Unfortunately, the ancient demon's mind was chaotic, rendering the allure art completely ineffective.

Clearly, the three illusions were merely probing, forcing Qin Sang to unleash that powerful spiritual flame, then taking advantage of his weakened state. Even if they didn't force out the spiritual flame, they could still deplete Qin Sang, adding insult to injury. Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit, let alone facing one of the world's few grand cultivators. Even with her true body restrained by the ancient demon, Saint King Azure Fox could still orchestrate such a meticulous plan! At this moment, Qin Sang was weakened, and the illusion's arrival, even for just a moment, would be enough. The true killing intent arrived!

However, Saint King Azure Fox could not have imagined that someone in the world could be completely immune to her allure art. A thought flashed through his mind. Qin Sang's body suddenly stiffened, his eyes unfocused, and the Fiery Aura Shield's power greatly diminished, as if on the verge of dissipating. Saint King Azure Fox's smile deepened. She extended her jade hand, and spiritual light surged, forming an illusory fox claw that tore through the air towards Qin Sang. The void trembled in its wake, its power surpassing that of the jade seal. Success was imminent. Saint King Azure Fox's smile suddenly faded, and her brow furrowed slightly. She felt an inexplicable unease.

The next moment, Qin Sang's eyes suddenly cleared, and a fierce expression appeared on his face. The vital energy within him roared. Previously, only small meridians had ruptured, but now even his main meridians were tearing. He had already received another Boiling Snow Pill from his avatar and held it in his mouth as a precaution, swallowing it without hesitation. The impact of a single Boiling Snow Pill would overwhelm any user. With two consumed one after another, Qin Sang's entire body convulsed, his flesh and blood tearing apart. Dazzling crimson flames, like the newborn sun, illuminated the mountains of the ancient abode. This time, all the cultivators could witness the sight of the six birds emerging simultaneously.