Chapter 1765: Refining the Void

## The Mortal World

The most magnificent manor in Demon City was the Marquis Liu’s residence. A palpable sense of grimness pervaded the manor. Generals and commanders under Marquis Liu meticulously deployed demon soldiers according to his orders, and troop after troop set out. At this moment, all of Marquis Liu’s forces were mobilized, making the Marquis Liu’s residence the most vulnerable it had ever been.

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared above a black stone hall in the forbidden area of the Marquis’s residence. By the time the demon guards discovered this person, a dazzling sword light had already descended from the sky.

"Boom!"

The sword light, like a waterfall, struck the stone hall directly. The protective enchantment of the stone hall shattered instantly, and the demon guards watched helplessly as the sword light sliced through the protective barrier and plunged straight into the hall. A sword mark appeared in the center of the stone hall, splitting it in two, and the subsequent impact caused the hall to collapse, sending fragments flying. The sword strike was too fast and too sharp; the demon guards had no time to stop it. All the demon guards were stunned.

This stone hall was not only a forbidden area of the Marquis’s residence but also its treasury, where all the treasures from Marquis Liu’s fiefdom were gathered. Without Marquis Liu’s permission, even General Ying dared not trespass, yet now it had been cleaved open by a single sword! Dust and smoke billowed from the ruins. The person who unleashed that sword strike was gone, clearly having entered the treasury. Thinking of the dreadful consequences of the treasury being plundered, the demon guards were seized with panic, their eyes bloodshot, as they rushed towards the stone hall, roaring furiously.

"Kill him!"

The fastest few demon guards had just rushed to the ruins. Suddenly, a white glow erupted, another sword light, tearing through the dust like lightning and passing right by the demon guards. These demon guards instantly stiffened and fell to the ground, their bodies inexplicably shattering into several pieces, perishing instantly. No one could clearly see how that sword light had slain these demon guards, causing the remaining guards to halt.

"Rumble!"

The Marquis’s residence shook violently as the sword light burst out, transforming into a dazzling rainbow and speeding away.

Meanwhile, Qin Sang was moving south according to his plan. As he sped along, Qin Sang encountered more and more demon soldiers, prompting him to marvel silently at Marquis Liu’s formidable military strength. This was just one demon marquis’s fiefdom; no wonder Gui Fang Kingdom had been able to contend with the Daoist Court for so long without falling behind. He didn’t encounter any difficult individuals along the way. The demon soldiers’ objectives were also clear, all heading northwest. Based on this, he inferred that he was moving away from the whirlpool of chaos and should not be affected. Qin Sang gradually relaxed, silently wondering what major event had occurred in Gui Fang Kingdom. Unfortunately, he had too little information to deduce anything, so he stopped racking his brain.

Gradually, the demon soldiers Qin Sang encountered became noticeably sparser. Just as Qin Sang thought he was safe, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly suddenly issued a warning. Qin Sang’s gaze narrowed slightly. He instantly appeared on the nearest peak, gazing into the sky. He saw the eastern sky ablaze with colorful clouds, a truly beautiful sight. Within the clouds, a white rainbow was streaking across the sky. This was clearly an escaping light, and its speed was incredibly astonishing, faster than a shooting star. Even before the light arrived, Qin Sang felt the surging, formidable aura emanating from the other party.

"A Spirit Transformation cultivator!"

Qin Sang’s heart jolted. Qin Sang didn't detect an overwhelming demonic aura from the other party, indicating it was likely a human cultivator. Moreover, the direction of their movement was directly towards his location.

"Could it be..."

Qin Sang’s expression suddenly changed as he immediately thought of something. Was this the person who had caused such a stir in Marquis Liu’s fiefdom? This person was being pursued and intercepted by countless demon soldiers, yet had managed to break out of the encirclement. Qin Sang recalled how he had specifically moved south to avoid the storm, never expecting the unpredictability of fate to lead him right into it. He felt secretly annoyed.

The situation didn't allow him to think further. Qin Sang immediately had one thought: he absolutely could not expose himself! The phenomenon caused by this person's escape was grand and attention-grabbing; the demon soldiers were certainly all drawn to it. Behind this escaping light, a mass of black clouds was faintly rolling in, likely his pursuers. As expected, the one approaching was certainly a Demon Marquis! At this very moment, this was the eye of the storm. If he were exposed, he would undoubtedly be identified as an accomplice. The Daoist Court and Gui Fang Kingdom had a deep, sea-like enmity. Qin Sang didn't expect a Demon Marquis to show him any mercy. Fighting a Demon Marquis in Gui Fang Kingdom was absolutely not a wise move. Even at his peak, Qin Sang wouldn't act without absolute certainty. Moreover, Qin Sang had no idea what this person had done to attract several Demon Marquises.

"The enemy’s attention is on this person. If I hide with all my might, I should be able to deceive them..." Qin Sang mused inwardly. It was too late to try to get away now; that escaping light was rapidly approaching. His Spirit Wood Body, while excellent for flexible and unpredictable combat, had only ordinary escape speed. Staying put and merging with the vegetation was the easiest way to hide. His thoughts racing, Qin Sang immediately vanished from the hilltop, swiftly leaping several times through the mountains and forests to avoid the approaching person's flight path. He reappeared in a secluded, low-lying valley, merging his body into an ancient tree, and instantly, silence fell.

"Swish!"

A white light, like a rainbow, tore through the air and arrived. Suddenly, the white light abruptly dimmed, paused in mid-air, and transformed into a descending sword light, landing on a peak to reveal a Daoist. A spiritual sword hovered around him. The Daoist's breathing was somewhat hurried, and his robes had several creases, as if he had just been through a fierce battle. He glanced back, saw the black clouds rolling in behind him, and his expression darkened further. He exhaled a turbid breath, took out a porcelain bottle, and poured out a jade-white pill. The Daoist swallowed the pill and was about to circulate his energy to refine it when his body slightly stiffened, and his eyes flashed with brilliant light.

"Who!"

As the shout escaped his lips, his spiritual sword trembled and lunged like a dragon!

"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"

With a single sword strike, the Daoist unleashed three thousand-zhang sword energies, their target surprisingly an inconspicuous valley. The valley was lush with vegetation; dense tree canopies formed a green carpet, covering the entire valley without leaving any gaps. The valley was not quiet now; insects and beasts, terrified by the dreadful pressure, were in a state of panic.

"Boom!"

As the sword energy descended, the vegetation in the valley was instantly shredded, countless wood fragments flew, creating a scene of devastation. Amidst the chaos, a clang of metal was heard, and the central sword energy dissipated, seemingly having struck something hard. Among the debris, Qin Sang was forced to reveal his figure, his gaze as dark as water. He hadn't expected this person to stop here to take medicine, nor had he anticipated such acute spiritual perception and an attack with no warning. Even his Spirit Wood Body couldn't elude this person's perception; he was forced out by a single sword strike.

The Daoist raised his sword, intending to strike again, when he saw Qin Sang in his treant form. Qin Sang also clearly saw the other party's appearance at this moment. Their eyes met, both stunned.

"It's you?"

The Daoist recognized Qin Sang at a glance; after all, this kind of Spirit Wood Body was too unique. Seemingly oblivious to Qin Sang's gloomy gaze, the Daoist recalled his spiritual sword and said happily, "It truly is a small world! Fellow Daoist showed mercy that day, and I have always been grateful. It's just that I've been preoccupied with various matters and haven't had time to visit Immortal City. I never expected to reunite with Fellow Daoist here."

"Indeed, our fates are deeply intertwined!"

Qin Sang stared at the Daoist, his face grim. The Daoist was actually the sword cultivator he had encountered in Star Valley! Since arriving at Crane Cry Mountain in Jushan Commandery, Qin Sang had only left the city twice, and both times he had encountered this person. Even without considering the boundless Karmic Plains and Karmic Sea, the two commanderies and two mountains were vast. What kind of fate was this? This time was even more absurd. He was on a long journey, obeying the Daoist Court's summons, secretly entering Gui Fang Kingdom to gather herbs, and yet he could still meet the Daoist outside Jushan Commandery!

Seeing Qin Sang's expression, the Daoist surveyed the surrounding terrain and showed an understanding look, apologizing, "I thought the one lurking in the shadows was a demon attempting a sneak attack. I never expected..."

Qin Sang glanced behind the Daoist. Behind him, black clouds billowed, revealing the unmistakable aura of a Great Demon comparable to a Spirit Transformation cultivator. The black clouds showed no signs of stopping. This was not the time to argue with the Daoist. Qin Sang said nothing, swiftly retracted his Spirit Wood Body, and with a flash of lightning on his person, unfurled his wings, instantly transforming into a bolt of lightning and fleeing. By this time, the Daoist had mostly refined the pill. He hastily summoned his sword light and pursued closely.

Qin Sang coldly glanced at the Daoist. He needed to ascertain the situation first; rationality made him suppress the impulse to unleash a sword strike. Their situation was extremely disadvantageous, arguably caused entirely by the Daoist. If he hadn't been exposed and had remained hidden, cooperating with the Daoist, there might have been a chance to slay this Demon Marquis. However, his strength had not fully recovered, and his means to threaten a Spirit Transformation powerhouse were limited. The Daoist, too, had clearly endured continuous battles and was not in peak condition. Facing an enemy head-on, in their current state, even if they fought together, they would be drawn into a prolonged struggle.

"It was my fault for involving Fellow Daoist," the Daoist said earnestly. "Since the situation has reached this point, we must first find a way to escape danger. This place is surrounded by demons; not just one Demon Marquis is pursuing me, and the nearby demon kingdoms in Gui Fang Kingdom have probably received orders. It will be difficult to move forward, but I have prepared a retreat path. If we work together, we can surely escape!"

Qin Sang frowned deeply. What exactly had the Daoist done to attract so many Demon Marquises in pursuit? He understood that the Daoist was not merely scaring him with empty words. The summons listed some information about Marquis Liu, stating that Marquis Liu was a nimble spirit bird who had attained Dao. This mass of black clouds was clearly not Marquis Liu's divine ability. This indicated there were at least two Demon Marquises here! The Daoist confirmed there were even more; when he was escaping, he was surrounded by two other Demon Marquises in addition to Marquis Liu. One of them possessed extraordinary innate escape techniques, and the Daoist, at the cost of mutual injury, severely wounded that demon to gain a moment of respite. Once that Demon Marquis suppressed his injuries, he would soon catch up. The Demon Marquis behind them was also very shrewd, merely hanging back at a distance, waiting for his companions to rendezvous. If he were at his peak, fully utilizing his lightning escape, he would have a chance to shake off the pursuers. Unfortunately...

Qin Sang glanced at the Daoist, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his words, and said coldly, "You dared to cause such a ruckus in a Demon Marquis’s fiefdom. Did you not anticipate being surrounded?" Qin Sang observed that even in this predicament, there was no sign of anxiety in the Daoist's expression. If the Daoist had run out of tricks, Qin Sang would only seek to escape alone, and would certainly not perish with him.

"Fellow Daoist's discernment is sharp. I indeed have one or two backup plans, but they are not easy to employ. I thought I might have to fight to the death today, but I never expected to reunite with Fellow Daoist..." As he spoke, the Daoist glanced at the pursuers, his tone turning cold. "I was just about to ask for Fellow Daoist's opinion: should we join forces and take a gamble, slaying this demon? Bringing a Demon Marquis's corpse back to the Daoist Court would be a remarkable achievement!"

Qin Sang's pupils slightly contracted. The Daoist was so fond of taking risks? He mused that he indeed had means to threaten a Demon Marquis, but all of them were extremely resource-intensive. Even if he could slay this demon, what if he encountered another formidable enemy afterward? He had only met the Daoist twice, and both times involved conflict. Although it was a misunderstanding, Qin Sang couldn't fully trust the Daoist. He hadn't forgotten that the goal of his journey was to retrieve the Four Seasons Dream-Transforming Flower. His own breakthrough was paramount. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future; why risk it now? Qin Sang firmly refused.

The Daoist couldn't help but praise, "Fellow Daoist is indeed cautious! In that case, let's find a way to scare this demon away." As they spoke, they had already flown over countless mountains. Ahead, they spotted traces of demon soldiers intending to surround them. The Daoist sent a voice transmission. Qin Sang showed a look of surprise, pondered for a moment, then assented.

Before long, both descended their escaping lights together. Below was a vast jungle. As fierce winds swept through, the sea of trees rippled with layers of green waves. The two plunged into the forest, disappearing from sight.

Immediately after, the black clouds caught up. Standing on the clouds was a majestic black-spotted leopard demon.

At this moment.

The Daoist sat cross-legged beneath a tree, his spiritual sword suspended upside down before his chest, its blade trembling slightly, as if resonating with something. The Daoist's eyes were closed, completely oblivious to his surroundings. Qin Sang stood beside the Daoist. Seeing this, he couldn't help but feel surprised. The Daoist had poured all his concentration into controlling his sword, leaving the outside world entirely to Qin Sang. Was he not worried about Qin Sang having ill intentions? However, since Qin Sang had given his word, he would not act faithlessly. He looked up, and his palm rose, held open. In his hand was an ancient, palm-sized bronze bell, clearly octagonal and faintly translucent. This was because the bell was not a physical object, but rather a manifestation of a spiritual talisman the Daoist had given him. Judging by the Daoist's tone, he had great confidence in this talisman. Most importantly, this talisman could be activated purely by qi and blood.

Just then, the black-spotted leopard demon opened its mouth and spat out a jet of black flames, incinerating the forest below. The black flames enveloped the two. Hidden by the raging inferno, an extremely fine black light formed a thin thread, silently attacking them. Although the black light was concealed, it couldn't escape the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's sight. Qin Sang hastily summoned the bronze bell, while also secretly remaining vigilant. The bronze bell flew high, instantly transforming into a gigantic bell that enveloped the two below.

"Dong!"

Amidst the earth-shattering clang of the bell, the bronze bell shook violently. The slender black light possessed an incomparably powerful force. Qin Sang grunted, a flush rising on his face, while his heart was amazed at the talisman's power; it had firmly withstood the Demon Marquis's attack. However, Qin Sang felt that the spiritual talisman's power could only be maintained for a limited time, and no matter how much qi and blood he poured into it, he couldn't stop its dissipation. The black-spotted demon leopard saw through the bronze bell's true nature, let out a cold snort, a faint glow flickering in its eyes. The black flames suddenly retracted, and scorching flames burned the bronze bell. The spiritual talisman's power rapidly dissipated.

However, this time was enough. The Daoist suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze like two sharp swords. His spiritual sword hummed and shot out. The sword light was blazing, causing heaven and earth to lose their color. Wherever it passed, the elemental energy intensely fluctuated. It wasn't merely being agitated. The surrounding heaven and earth elemental energy seemed to be drawn by some force, madly converging towards the spiritual sword. The sword light instantly magnified countless times, and its terrifying might struck fear into the hearts of both Qin Sang and the leopard demon. This single sword strike seemed to strip them away from heaven and earth. Seeing this scene, Qin Sang's eyes gleamed with surprise. The technique the Daoist displayed at this moment was akin to the legendary Void Refinement cultivators who could manipulate heaven and earth elemental energy! The black-spotted leopard demon displayed an even more incredulous expression, exclaiming in horror, "A Grand True Immortal?"