Chapter 1705: Hunting the Murderer

They traveled by boat through the Western Desert.Then, they teleported to the North Sea.They entered the storm zone.Hurricanes howled, and figures streaked through the tempest.

In a short while, a golden light flew towards them from the front, revealing a monk with a solemn demeanor. He clasped his palms in greeting to Saint Huiguang and the others.

"Xingzhi, is the luring of the fierce beast proceeding smoothly?" Saint Huiguang asked.

"Reporting to Senior Martial Uncle, good news keeps arriving from the front. The bait meticulously set by fellow Daoists from various sects has all been effective, and there have been no casualties yet. However, no one dares to approach the fierce beast, so its true strength remains unknown..."

Xingzhi reported the situation in detail.

Saint Huiguang nodded, glancing at Saint King Azure Fox.

"Old monk, ensure the formation is set up perfectly here; there must be no mistakes. In this battle, only victory is acceptable, not defeat!" Saint King Azure Fox stepped out from the crowd and vanished into the depths of the storm in the blink of an eye.

The others followed Saint Huiguang, flying forward for a while, and in the distance, they saw five celestial pillars standing upright on the sea surface. There were no islands beneath the pillars, and it was unclear what supported them, but cultivators were seated atop each one. The celestial pillars were made of extraordinary materials, forged by the combined efforts of both human and demon races. There were also five identical pillars and a group of formation guardians in the south, but they were not needed for now.

Even before getting close, the avatar discerned some details: "The Golden Rainbow Formation, the Elemental Earth Formation... these are all common Five Elements formations in the cultivation world." The avatar couldn't help but recall the Five Elements Divine Prohibitions on Emperor's Peak. While these formations weren't as mysterious as the Divine Prohibitions, their advantage lay in being human-controlled, making them more flexible, and those who set them up were all masters.

Saint Huiguang made the arrangements: the main operators of the Five Elements formations were all eminent Buddhist monks. Additionally, various spirit formations with different functions were set up in the outer perimeter, creating a net of traps. The formation was quickly arranged. Experts from various factions arrived successively, all following the Buddhist sect's arrangements. Some stayed on the periphery, where the pressure would be less. Others, however, wished to experience the fierce beast's power up close and reflect upon themselves, so they entered the Five Elements formation.

The avatar chose to stay outside, but then saw Mo Xingdao summoned by Saint Huiguang into the Five Elements formation. "This humble monk and the Saint King must control the Five Elements to wield the Five Elements Crown, making it difficult to be distracted. Once the fierce beast appears, fellow Daoist, we will need you to use your puppets to lure it into the trap," Saint Huiguang instructed Mo Xingdao. With the assistance of many cultivators here, several eminent Buddhist monks operating the main formations could share the pressure, allowing two Soul Transformation cultivators to manipulate the Five Elements Crown, thus freeing up Mo Xingdao. Unlike the beast hunt at Eight Views Peak, this time, the bait had to continuously entangle and adjust with the fierce beast. Others could only act once the beast was led to the nodal points where the grand formation's energy converged; there was no room for error if they wanted to achieve full success. Besides the two Soul Transformation cultivators, only puppets proficient in Yin-Yang escape techniques could accomplish this.

With the trap set, everyone focused on waiting for the fierce beast to appear.No one noticed that someone had quietly arrived nearby. Qin Sang was light as a swallow, bobbing gently on the water's surface, maintaining a safe distance, and gazing into the distance. After a moment of contemplation, Qin Sang gently closed his eyes, remaining still.

Days passed, but unexpectedly, a full month went by without any sign of the fierce beast. Just as everyone was lost in speculation, worried about potential mishaps, Saint King Azure Fox finally returned.

"Swoosh!" An azure figure parted the waves and rushed into the grand formation.

Saint King Azure Fox said with a grave tone, "Be careful, the fierce beast's cultivation might be beyond the early Soul Transformation stage!"

Saint Huiguang and Mo Xingdao's expressions turned serious upon hearing this, but they showed no intention of retreating. No matter how strong this fierce beast was, they had to face the challenge. No one knew when the next fierce beast would appear, and they couldn't afford to wait any longer.

"Fellow Daoist Mo..." Saint Huiguang shifted his gaze. Mo Xingdao nodded, listened to Saint King Azure Fox describe the fierce beast's divine abilities, and then flew out of the grand formation alone, heading in the direction indicated by Saint King Azure Fox, with a shadow closely following behind him.

'Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...' Gale-force winds and enormous waves continuously battered the celestial pillars, which slowly sank and plunged into the seabed. Everyone looked up into the depths of the storm, their minds tense.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar shook the heavens and earth. Judging by the sound, the fierce beast was still some distance away. Yet, the roar's oppressive power pierced through the storm and reached them through the water. Everyone felt incredibly suppressed, and many faces showed horror, witnessing such a terrifying fierce beast for the first time in their lives.

"Roar! Roar!" The roars grew closer and closer.

Soon, cultivators proficient in spirit-sight techniques observed an anomaly. In the distance, waves surged and swelled, and a colossal figure appeared within the storm. Among those present were not only human cultivators but also demon kings of the demon race. Seeing the fierce beast's enormous body, they all simultaneously thought of the renowned Dragon Whale Grand Saint of the Eastern Sea. The Dragon Whale Grand Saint, possessing the bloodline of the dragon whale, was hailed as the foremost Grand Saint of the demon race, existing independently of the Saint King's Palace. His true form was that of a dragon whale, and his size was unparalleled among the Eastern Sea demons, yet compared to this fierce beast, he seemed small and delicate.

They saw a wall of water advancing towards them at an astonishing speed, and the sea surface behind it was pitch black. The blackness was precisely the fierce beast's body, resembling a manta ray in appearance. Its two fleshy wings stretched boundlessly, and a gentle flap would generate colossal waves like mountains, creating a terrifying momentum comparable to the collapse of heaven and earth.

In front of the fierce beast, a human figure appeared and disappeared intermittently. Before the fierce beast, this figure appeared exceptionally tiny; a casual wave from the beast could shatter him, yet he was incredibly resilient. Whenever an attack approached, he would vanish into thin air, only to reappear ahead. The fierce beast was enraged by this elusive little "bug" and pursued it furiously.

"Activate the formation!" Everyone simultaneously received Saint Huiguang's reminder. The avatar's gaze slightly deepened as he looked towards the fierce beast, sensing that its oppressive aura was even stronger than the one encountered back then.

'Whoosh!' The figure attracting the fierce beast flashed again. When it reappeared, it was already very close to the grand formation, rushing into the intentionally left gap. As the puppet charged forward, it was suddenly enveloped by a shadow. Everyone looked up in astonishment, realizing with horror that the fierce beast had, at some unknown point, flown into the sky. Its wings, like clouds hanging from the heavens, with its left wing carrying astonishing wind pressure, were aimed directly at the puppet and slammed down fiercely. This was no ordinary wind pressure; it invoked the might of heaven and earth. Anyone else would have long lost the ability to resist, yet the puppet vanished into thin air once again.

The moment the puppet disappeared, a multicolored crown suddenly appeared above the fierce beast. The size difference between the two was immense, yet the fluctuations emitted by the crown were no less impressive. Saint Huiguang and Saint King Azure Fox stood on either side of the crown. Simultaneously, the five outer celestial pillars shot out of the sea. The Five Elements formation displayed five distinct phenomena, clearly separated yet connected through the Five Elements Crown. All these phenomena combined to form a colossal multicolored canopy, obscuring the sky and sun, and enveloping the fierce beast from above.

'Whoosh!' The Five Elements Crown burst forth with flowing light. It appeared similar to before but possessed different power. The positive and negative Five Elements Divine Lights: the positive was for restraint, and the negative was for annihilation. Back then, the ancient demon, intent on killing, used only negative Five Elements Divine Lights from beginning to end. Now, the priority was to imprison the fierce beast.

The five-colored flowing light instantly enveloped the fierce beast's entire body. Its black form suddenly became multicolored, and layers of light halos contracted, resembling successive cages. Furthermore, as the Five Elements Crown exerted its power, sounds of tearing air continuously echoed. Dragon-like iron chains shot into the formation, connecting two by two, crisscrossing and wrapping around the fierce beast's body, also possessing restraining power. The avatar was also among those controlling the iron chains. In addition, there were various other phenomena. Everyone proceeded in an orderly fashion, and all the arrangements successively took effect, sealing off this area of heaven and earth along with the fierce beast that had crashed into it.

Before this, anyone who knew the full extent of the trap would have believed the cage to be unbreakable. What they saw next was a shocking sight. Just as the cage took shape, the fierce beast roared like thunder, and suddenly, vast mist and waves surged skyward from its body, like a great river breaking its banks, with a momentum powerful enough to shake heaven and earth.

'Bang, bang, bang...' Over half of the iron chains snapped, the celestial pillars swayed, and while the Five Elements Crown remained relatively stable, the two Soul Transformation cultivators' bodies were shaking.

Mo Xingdao appeared in the distance, looking at the scene before him with lingering fear. During the luring of the fierce beast, he had several narrow escapes, exhausting all the treasures given to him by the two Soul Transformation cultivators. He consumed several elixirs, quickly recovered, and simultaneously flew towards the battlefield.

Just as he was about to merge into the grand formation, he suddenly heard a spiritual message: "Fellow Daoist Mo, do you have the Spirit Rhinoceros Immortal Fruit with you?" It was Qin Sang, who, seeing the opportune moment, decided to make the trade now!

Mo Xingdao's figure paused slightly, his eyes flashed, a bit surprised. "Fellow Daoist, have you brought the Five Elements Pills?"

After a brief exchange, Mo Xingdao remained on the periphery of the battlefield, remotely controlling the puppets to assist everyone. At this moment, the clash between the two sides had reached its most intense point. The fierce beast displayed immense power, but the other side had meticulously set up a trap, with Soul Transformation cultivators overseeing it. How could it be easily breached? After the initial scramble, they gradually figured out the fierce beast's attack patterns and quickly adjusted. The chains closed and snapped, over and over again, countless times. The avatar and others manipulating the chains were also greatly exhausted.

"Prepare to merge the formations!" Saint Huiguang reminded them in a deep voice. This was a crucial step that would determine victory or defeat. If successful, there would be a fifty percent chance of capturing the fierce beast alive. Of course, merging the formations also carried hidden dangers.

"Fellow Daoist Liu..." The avatar looked at a tall, thin Daoist next to him. This person was an elder of the Qiongying Sect, reportedly from an overseas immortal island. The cultivator surnamed Liu understood and took over control of the iron chains from the avatar. Similar rotations were happening in other areas as well.

Those who were relieved retreated to recuperate, but the avatar retreated further and further, then vanished into the depths of the storm zone without looking back, escaping completely. Some noticed his actions and were dumbfounded. Despite it being a critical moment for merging the formations, Saint King Azure Fox still cast a glance, a look of disdain flashing in her eyes, and she bothered no further.

Just as Mo Xingdao felt surprised and bewildered, a voice suddenly rang in his ear, "Fellow Daoist Mo, are you well?" The voice was close at hand. Mo Xingdao's spine tensed, a chill ran through his body, and he sharply turned his head, seeing a figure that had appeared beside him at some unknown moment.

"You..." He never expected that Qin Sang would dare to show his true form! No, it wasn't his true form; it was a phantom condensed from divine sense. This wasn't a simple transformation of divine sense; it had actually condensed into a solid form! Mo Xingdao fully extended his divine sense, growing even more alarmed. This person's true body must be nearby, yet he had not detected anything at all.

The phantom held a jade bottle in its hand, smiling as it looked at Mo Xingdao. Mo Xingdao remained silent, taking out the Spirit Rhinoceros Immortal Fruit. Both confirmed the authenticity of each other's treasures. The phantom flashed and vanished, unknown where it was taken, leaving only the words, "Thank you, fellow Daoist, for your assistance. We shall meet again!"

Mo Xingdao remained silent, looking at the intensely fought battlefield. He wasn't sure if the two Soul Transformation cultivators had discovered Qin Sang. Finally, he turned his head to gaze at the endless storm, then, after a moment of silence, let out a soft sigh.

In the distance, the main body and the avatar reunited, put away their treasures, and, without any hesitation, departed through the air.

"There were no demon kings ambushing us..." Qin Sang was somewhat surprised. To avoid future complications, he chose to trade now, shrewdly selecting the crucial moment when the formations were merging. He had expected Saint King Azure Fox might order her subordinate demon kings to set an ambush, and Qin Sang wouldn't have minded killing a few demon kings to enrich his treasury. Unexpectedly, Saint King Azure Fox truly kept her promise. Little did he know, while Saint King Azure Fox bore the title of Saint King, she did not truly wield the power of one. Her bloodlust was too great, and she neglected external affairs. The major clans among the Eastern Sea demon race feared her, but only openly submitted while secretly colluding and acting in defiance. The number of demons available to Saint King Azure Fox was limited, and other demon kings might not be willing to offend a powerful enemy for her sake.

The journey was unimpeded. After escaping the storm zone, Qin Sang stopped pondering and headed directly back to Luhua. Spirit gathering formations, elixirs, spiritual materials... All the various treasures were put away, but Qin Sang did not inspect them first. There was one matter he had long been impatient about, waiting only for the avatar's return.

Luhua changed course, heading directly west along the edge of the North Sea. It stopped near the storm zone, in an uninhabited area to the west. Qin Sang flew out of Luhua with his avatar and entered a barren mountain range. This was the location Qin Sang had specifically chosen to receive the Sky Demons.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!" Two figures flew above a basin. The Underworld Moon Guards stationed in the basin sensed their arrival and flew up to salute.

"Patrol the surroundings; no one is allowed to approach!" Qin Sang commanded in a deep voice and landed on the ground.

In the basin stood several black, square high platforms, whose material was indiscernible. There were a total of seven high platforms, arranged precisely according to the positions of the Big Dipper. There were no visible connections between the platforms, yet an inexplicable divine aura continuously flowed among them. This was precisely the ritual altar needed. More than an altar, it was a special formation capable of breaking through invisible barriers to summon Outer-Realm Sky Demons.

Qin Sang flashed and landed at the position directly opposite the Big Dipper's handle. The avatar also moved closer, standing behind Qin Sang, acting as a protector while also ready to take his place or intercept any misfortune at any moment.

Qin Sang sat cross-legged on the ground, his mind retracted, sitting still for a long time as he silently activated the secret technique. The next moment, one of the seven high platforms lit up with black light. Above the platform, within the black light, a mass of black energy twisted erratically. Then a second high platform showed an anomaly. The sequence of anomalies on the platforms did not strictly follow their proximity to Qin Sang; no clear pattern could be discerned. As more and more platforms displayed anomalies, masses of black energy surrounded Qin Sang. His consciousness subsequently sank into a haze, as if pulled by a strange force into the depths of infinite void. He heard strange sounds, not human voices, as if many peculiar energies were gurgling and flowing within the void. His spiritual platform remained clear, and he did not get lost because of this, focusing on recalling the scriptures.

According to the scriptures, when the secret technique was complete and touched upon Sky Demons, there would be a special sensation. However, as time passed, even after the secret technique was completed, Qin Sang did not sense anything unusual.

Just as the thought flashed through his mind, Qin Sang suddenly felt a chill descend. "It's here!"