Chapter 1792: Hand tearing the demon marquis

The Human World

As the shout echoed, a lightning-fast meteor shot forth, pursuing him like the moon. Its evasion speed surpassed even Marquis Li's, blocking his path before he could escape the jungle.

This was the true art of lightning evasion. Qin Sang finally activated his genuine essence, drawing upon the Azure Luan thunder force within his Phoenix Wings.

Correspondingly, Qin Sang's genuine essence was being consumed at an astonishing rate. If he had only possessed genuine essence comparable to that of a late Nascent Soul cultivator, he likely wouldn't have lasted long.

However, Qin Sang had already consumed a Spirit Stabilizing Pill by this point.

Having decided to fight a major battle with Marquis Li, Qin Sang had secretly taken out the Spirit Stabilizing Pill, holding it in his mouth, ready to refine it at any moment.

The previous fight had given Qin Sang immense confidence. Seeing Marquis Li about to leave, he immediately swallowed the pill.

As the medicinal power entered his body, his Qi Sea was awakened from its dormancy.

A continuous flow of medicinal power transformed into pure genuine essence, quickly filling his Qi Sea. Qin Sang's aura surged steadily, and his strength rapidly recovered.

Moreover, this genuine essence was unaffected by external influences, showing no signs of disorder. His genuine essence was stable and flowed freely.

This long-lost feeling was intoxicating, and Qin Sang couldn't help but sigh with emotion, becoming even more eager to pursue ascension to the rank of a 'Lù'.

After all, he was essentially a spell cultivator, and the "Primordial Spirit Sword Nurturing Chapter" was his true foundation!

Therefore, Qin Sang swallowed the Spirit Stabilizing Pill without hesitation.

The golden light impacting the Altar of Mountain Governance was indeed a rare opportunity. Isolated demon marquises were not often encountered, and places abundant with wood spirit energy were even harder to find.

Once the golden light faded, these demon marquises would likely gather together again.

The subsequent development of the situation was still unclear. Since he saw an opportunity, he naturally had to seize it with all his might.

Marquis Li was exhausting him, but wasn't Qin Sang doing the same?

However, Marquis Li was more alert and decisive than anticipated. Qin Sang had initially planned to feign inability to withstand the impact of the wood spirit energy, gradually showing weakness, and then counterattack at the very end.

The longer the delay, the more advantageous it would be for Qin Sang.

Unexpectedly, Marquis Li unleashed a killing move midway. Sensing danger, he decisively abandoned his prey, which somewhat surprised Qin Sang.

The battle's progress wasn't as perfect as Qin Sang had envisioned, but there's nothing flawless in the world. Facing a dignified demon marquis at the middle stage of Soul Transformation, Qin Sang didn't expect to scheme against him to his death.

Ultimately, victory still depended on strength!

Marquis Li felt a blur before his eyes, and Qin Sang was already blocking his way, swinging both arms, his heavy fists like hammers, striking fiercely.

At this moment, Qin Sang was full of vital energy, his aura soaring like a rainbow, showing no trace of a shaky foundation.

If Marquis Li had harbored any doubts earlier, he was now certain: this was a complete conspiracy. The enemy had been feigning weakness all along, luring him into a trap step by step.

In haste, Marquis Li raised both claws to defend, and at the same time, sensed another aura erupting from Qin Sang.

"Dual cultivation of magic and body!" Marquis Li exclaimed in surprise.

He had always regarded Qin Sang as a Dragon-Tiger Altar cultivator, or a demon cultivator who had submitted to the Daoist court.

Aside from the Soldiers-and-Horses Altar, true persons of the Cavernous Profound realm rarely summoned altar talismans during combat, unless they were casting charms beyond their own cultivation level.

Dragon-Tiger Altar cultivators were even more so; their entire cultivation was tied to their physical bodies, making it unnecessary to summon altar talismans.

There were indeed cultivators who practiced both magic and body cultivation in this world, but most were those who had reached a bottleneck in their cultivation and couldn't progress for a long time, seeking inspiration through body refining. True dual cultivators were rare.

The Daoist path of talismans pointed directly to the Great Dao, boundless and profound, vast as the sea. One might not grasp even its surface in a lifetime, so who would dare to be distracted?

Sensing genuine essence fluctuations from Qin Sang that were in no way weaker than his physical cultivation, Marquis Li felt a great sense of foreboding.

A loud thump! Fists and claws collided.

Marquis Li was not injured, and seized the opportunity to retreat rapidly. He immediately changed direction, intent on escaping this jungle.

With Marquis Li's discernment, he clearly knew that Qin Sang's Spiritwood Body possessed immense power only within this jungle. Once he left this area, his strength would be greatly diminished.

Unfortunately, Marquis Li's premonition came true.

The moment Marquis Li moved, he felt the light between heaven and earth suddenly dim, turning dark. Then, stars began to rise, one by one.

The starlight was dazzling, and a multitude of stars hung illuminatingly.

Marquis Li felt as if he had been pulled into the depths of the starry sky. The bright starlight shining on him was like streaks of sword energy, chilling to the bone.

"A sword formation!" Marquis Li recognized at a glance that the stars were sword stars formed by sword intent, and his expression changed abruptly.

At this moment, his connection with heaven and earth seemed to be severed by the sword formation.

Ordinary formations found it difficult to trap Soul Transformation cultivators, precisely because these cultivators had initially achieved a connection with heaven and earth. As long as there was a single flaw in the formation, it could be easily detected by them.

However, the "Seven Mansions Field Division Sword Formation" was a true inheritance of the Golden Aspect lineage of the Formless Immortal Sect, possibly even originating from an immortal palace. It was by no means an ordinary sword formation.

In these years, although Qin Sang couldn't cultivate, it didn't affect his comprehension of the sword formation. Now that he unleashed it, its power was incomparable to before.

With seven sword souls presiding over the Seven Mansions, and the pseudo-spiritual treasure Grey Oriole Sword, even if Qin Sang's cultivation realm was inferior to Marquis Li's, it was not something he could easily break.

Perhaps Marquis Li possessed formation-breaking abilities, but Qin Sang wouldn't give him the chance to use them.

The sword formation appeared.

Sword intent sealed off heaven and earth.

The next moment, Qin Sang's true form swiftly approached. He didn't summon any magic treasures; his fist winds roared like thunder.

He still fought like a body cultivator, only this time, Qin Sang was actively attacking.

A loud thump!

Marquis Li was forced to engage. This time, he repeatedly retreated, his eyes darting quickly, taking in each sword star into his pupils, trying to find a flaw in the Seven Mansions Field Division Sword Formation.

Lotus Seal! Demon-Crushing Seal! Wheel-Turning Seal!

Buddhist seals emerged one after another. Relying on the keen instinct of the Vajra Great Freedom Seal, Qin Sang unleashed a torrent of attacks upon Marquis Li.

Facing such an intense assault, Marquis Li dared not be negligent and reluctantly fought back. Fortunately, the sword formation hadn't fully activated, seeming only to trap him here.

Marquis Li continuously swung both claws, leaving streaks of afterimages in the void. In an instant, countless claw shadows engulfed Qin Sang.

Boom!

The claw shadows shattered simultaneously.

Qin Sang stepped forward, charging wildly, showing no fear of being injured by Marquis Li.

A tearing sound ripped through the air!

Sharp claws left marks on Qin Sang, tearing through his bark-like skin, but Qin Sang paid them no mind. Wood spirit energy continuously supplied his body; unless it was a fatal wound, it would barely affect him.

His Spiritwood Body suddenly arched, and Qin Sang raised both fists, bringing them together, savagely smashing towards Marquis Li, who was caught in the middle.

Marquis Li's body was not even as large as Qin Sang's fist; a collision of two fists would likely crush him into a paste.

A muffled thud!

A muffled sound suddenly came from Qin Sang's body. The bone awl silently approached his abdomen.

Marquis Li refused to give up, and again conjured the bone awl, choosing an extremely tricky timing and angle.

Unfortunately, the result was the same. No matter how concealed or tricky the bone awl was, its trajectory could not escape the eyes of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly. Qin Sang only needed to mobilize the genuine treasure fragments according to the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's will to block it.

A loud thump!

The two fists collided, hitting empty air.

Qin Sang didn't stop for a moment, striding like a meteor, with the momentum to pull mountains and topple peaks. Countless ancient trees were broken by his collisions, his eyes fixed solely on Marquis Li.

Since entering the Cavernous Profound realm, Marquis Li had never fallen to such a state. Anger rose within him, and he suddenly let out a piercing shriek towards the sky, completely abandoning his defensive stance.

Seeing this, Qin Sang was not surprised but delighted. He straightened his upper body, showing no hesitation.

In an instant, man and beast engaged in a fierce melee.

This battle was even more intense than before, with the starlight from the heavens focusing on the battlefield.

The surrounding trees had long been torn to shreds by the chaotic and immense power. Man and beast engaged in the purest form of combat.

Qin Sang seemed to have never left his original position. In the void, badger shadows and fist shadows flashed rapidly, appearing everywhere like shadows following a body.

It was impossible to discern which was real and which was illusory.

Thump, thump, thump...

The sounds of collision were like a torrential downpour.

In an instant, Qin Sang endured countless claw strikes and bone awl attacks.

This wasn't enough.

Marquis Li then summoned the Xuntu Demon Thunder. Thunderballs continuously descended, exploding on Qin Sang's body. Intense lightning enveloped them, continuously bombarding Qin Sang.

Qin Sang stubbornly endured all attacks, completely disregarding his own consumption. Here, there was an endless supply of wood spirit energy, allowing him to constantly activate the Vajra Heavenly Cuirass Seal.

Fatal attacks were blocked by genuine treasure fragments. Other attacks, even if they could injure his Spiritwood Body, would quickly heal.

Marquis Li felt an increasing sense of dread.

The bone awl, refined by him for many years, could not only serve as a hidden weapon but also possessed powerful and strange abilities. However, the prerequisite was that it could injure the enemy. If it couldn't pierce through the genuine treasure fragments, all efforts were futile.

What made Marquis Li even more incredulous was that Qin Sang had absorbed an unknown amount of wood spirit energy into his body, yet showed no signs of chaotic qi and blood.

His foundation was exceptionally stable, as if he had merged with this jungle, never falling into weakness—something beyond Marquis Li's comprehension and against all logic!

If this continued, he would be the first to exhaust his strength!

Marquis Li could never have imagined that one day he would be exhausted to death by a cultivator whose realm was inferior to his own.

Boom!

Perhaps due to distraction, Marquis Li was struck by a punch, his body sent flying like a batted ball.

Qin Sang activated his lightning evasion technique, closely pursuing.

Unexpectedly, Marquis Li merged into the earth, vanishing from sight.

The Seven Mansions Field Division Sword Formation was not suspended in the air; as Qin Sang also needed to stand on the ground, it gave Marquis Li an opportunity for earth evasion. However, Qin Sang was not surprised by this, and his body abruptly disappeared.

Here, ancient trees were intertwined with roots, and sword intent permeated the ground. How could earth evasion escape his perception?

The next moment, an ancient tree in the distance withered, followed by a thunderous roar. The ground suddenly cracked open, sending broken roots and soil flying, and a small badger shadow shot out.

Qin Sang burst out of the ground almost simultaneously, carrying a massive chunk of earth and two towering trees on his shoulder. With a shake of his shoulder, he flung the debris away, then lunged forward, continuing his fierce assault on the badger shadow, exceptionally ferocious.

Unexpectedly, more than one badger shadow emerged from underground.

The surrounding earth simultaneously collapsed into a dozen large pits, and a badger shadow leaped out of each one.

All these badger shadows were real, not illusory, and their aura was identical to Marquis Li's true form. They scrambled to rush towards the sky.

Qin Sang, however, didn't bother to shift his gaze, ignoring the other badger shadows. He stared intently at the Gale Badger in front of him, convinced that this was Marquis Li's true form.

Marquis Li tried twice more, realizing that his carefully cultivated divine ability had failed; it was completely unable to confuse Qin Sang's judgment.

He was immediately shocked and enraged, no longer bothering with these useless actions. While he still had strength, he attempted to break the formation.

Unfortunately, with Qin Sang's relentless entanglement, his path to breaking the formation was not smooth.

Qin Sang multitasked, his genuine essence and vital energy working in tandem, continuously launching fierce attacks on Marquis Li. Even if Marquis Li used his divine abilities and made progress, Qin Sang could immediately alter the formation. Marquis Li could only seek an exit by discerning the formation's patterns, which would inevitably take a long time.

After several futile attempts, Marquis Li suddenly let out a piercing shriek, his eyes abruptly turning crimson.

Qin Sang then witnessed an astonishing scene: Marquis Li's fur also turned blood red, and his claws were a vivid, dripping crimson. His blood-colored fur danced wildly, and his aura became extremely violent.

At this moment, Qin Sang felt as if he were facing a great demon in the late stage of Soul Transformation, and his mind tightened involuntarily.

Whoosh!

The blood-colored badger appeared before Qin Sang.

It was only then that the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's warning reached him.

Swish!

The blood-colored claw swiped out, leaving a bloody claw mark in the void.

The blood claw had not yet hit Qin Sang, but Qin Sang felt a strange fluctuation from the claw mark.

Then, the qi and blood within his body began to stir restlessly.

For a body cultivator, the consequences of restless qi and blood were very serious. Qin Sang already perceived a sluggishness when casting the Seven Masters Buddhist Seals.

At the same time, Qin Sang also felt a stinging pain; the blood claw seemed capable of injuring him through multiple layers of defense.

Qin Sang's heart was chilled. The spiritual light on his body dimmed, and layers of demonic flames surged forth, instantly forming a fire shield that enveloped his entire body.

Ever since he had completely refined the Nine Nether Demonic Flames, Qin Sang could activate this fire solely with his spiritual sense, without consuming genuine essence.

However, he was refining the Qilin Source Seed, so his spiritual sense dared not move lightly, which restricted the use of the demonic flames.

However, if he integrated the demonic flames into the Mani Bead and activated the Aura Fire Shield, it would primarily consume genuine essence, with much less spiritual sense consumption.

As long as he withdrew the Mani Bead before his spiritual sense reached its limit, there would be no ill effect.

Enveloped in flames, cutting off inside from outside, he indeed felt better, his body returning to normal.

A soft thud!

The blood claw pierced into the demonic flames.

At this moment, the Vajra Heavenly Cuirass Seal, Parting-and-Combining Divine Light, and Aura Fire Shield were all operating simultaneously. The Whirlwind Armor was on high alert, and there was also the most crucial Spiritwood Body. Qin Sang truly wondered what kind of opponent could possibly injure him!

Marquis Li's eyes widened in disbelief. Qin Sang actually had other defensive treasures hidden.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The blood claw continuously swiped.

Flames flickered.

Qin Sang, entirely enveloped in flames, was completely unharmed, receiving all of Marquis Li's attacks.

Marquis Li discovered he couldn't injure Qin Sang at all. One could imagine his feelings. His only remaining option was to escape!

Whoosh!

Marquis Li transformed into a streak of bloody light and dashed towards the starry sea.

Qin Sang, covered in demonic flames, transformed into lightning, sticking close to Marquis Li, giving him no chance whatsoever.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Man and beast fought from one end of the starry sea to the other, having pierced through it countless times. Marquis Li's aura gradually weakened.

High above, the sword stars vibrated frequently, and the starry sea could not maintain stability.

Gradually, both sides sensed something amiss. The vibrations seemed to be coming from outside.

There seemed to be other auras outside, and they were fighting!

Someone had fought their way nearby!

Marquis Li, who had already fallen into despair, was ecstatic. Disregarding everything, he frantically rushed outwards.

Qin Sang gave him a cold glance, then suddenly transformed into a bolt of lightning, appearing before Marquis Li. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes, and a blood-colored needle, as thin as hair, pierced straight towards Marquis Li.

Heaven-Shattering Soul-Reaping Divine Needle!

Whoosh!

The divine needle hit a wound on Marquis Li's body, and a terrifying poisonous force instantly erupted.

Even though Marquis Li's physical body was powerful, his eyes became tinged with grey, and his body stiffened for a moment.

Swish!

The starlight converged, and sword light descended from the sky.

Qin Sang gripped Marquis Li's head with one hand and his body with the other, then twisted his crossed hands with force.

Crack!

Bones shattered.

Sword light passed through Qin Sang's fingers.

Life extinguished!