Chapter 1855: Surprise

Human World

Bloodlight of Defilement!

The divine light, dormant for years since my natal spiritual sword merged with the Scorched Wood True Spirit, finally reappeared today.

As a spiritual treasure, the Jade Gourd wouldn't be instantly ruined by the Bloodlight of Defilement as lesser items might have been in the past. However, even a spiritual treasure tainted by this bloodlight would have its spiritual essence clouded, its spiritual embryo veiled as if by a cataract, and its power diminished. Its owner could cleanse the defilement and restore its spiritual essence by refining it, or temporarily suppress the corruption with significant effort. But on the battlefield, there was no time for such refinement!

As the bloodlight abruptly appeared, the Jade Gourd's own radiant glow offered no resistance. The bloodlight effortlessly pierced through it, scattering across the gourd's surface. Half of the Jade Gourd turned crimson, as if filled with blood or splattered with it externally, giving it an eerie, demonic appearance. The Jade Gourd vibrated violently and flared with light, yet it couldn't stop the Bloodlight of Defilement. The bloodlight instantly penetrated and merged with the gourd, causing its brilliant glow to abruptly dim.

Around the Jade Gourd, white smoke formed a ribbon, one end connected to its mouth, dancing like a streamer. This ribbon had previously entangled the Wandering Cloud Sword. No matter how sharp the spiritual sword, the white ribbon would instantly regenerate and coil around the blade, even if severed repeatedly. Had Qin Sang's swordsmanship been slightly less refined, or the Wandering Cloud Sword of a lower grade, it might have been ensnared by the ribbon.

The instant the Jade Gourd was corrupted, the dancing white ribbon lost its agility. Though not entirely gone, its smoky form visibly dispersed.

This was the moment!

The Wandering Cloud Sword rang out, its light blazing and sword aura surging hundreds of feet. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! With a single strike, the white ribbon snapped into several pieces, its smoke drifting away in wisps. With the Jade Gourd's power diminished and the sword's power amplified, it was too late to stop the Wandering Cloud Sword. The sword light wasn't aimed at the Jade Gourd, but remotely at Marquis Dingxiang's true form within the dream. It grazed the gourd, its aura like a rainbow.

In an instant, a sword, as if from another realm, streaked forth with a thunderous roar, tearing open the dream sky!

A sky-rending sword, a golden sun suspended in the heavens. The sword's radiance and the golden light were equally imposing. The Wandering Cloud Sword and the Sun Wheel Seal erupted almost simultaneously, assaulting Marquis Dingxiang's dream with two devastating impacts. The dream's power was already struggling against the Golden Sun, a mess under its luminous assault. With the arrival of this earth-shattering sword, an even greater collapse began. Wherever the sword light passed, dreamscapes vanished with little resistance, leaving a striking rift in the sky. The sword, with overwhelming momentum, swiftly struck Marquis Dingxiang!

The Sun Wheel Seal shattered the dream. The sword struck the enemy's true form. The spiritual sword and divine ability worked in perfect concert!

Qin Sang held down the frantically struggling tapir demon, the Golden Sun hovering above him, divine light blazing from his eyes. Marquis Dingxiang's hiding place had transformed into a mountain again—this time, a magma-filled volcano, created to counter the Golden Sun. Inside the crater, a fiery red glow illuminated the sky as magma churned, radiating scorching heat. Marquis Dingxiang slept deep within the mountain's core, surrounded by the molten rock, yet unharmed.

Boom! The sword light descended from the sky, swift as a meteor. Even before the sword struck, the mountain's magma rippled from an unseen force, parting to form a fissure where the blade would land. The sleeping Marquis Dingxiang twitched uneasily. He never could have anticipated that his famed spiritual treasure would be breached by an opponent's sword, especially with such precise timing.

In alarm, Marquis Dingxiang, though unaware of the specific spell he cast, caused plumes of black smoke to rise from his body. The black smoke swiftly drifted into the magma. With a series of cracking sounds, the red glow receded, and the molten rock solidified into black stone. In an instant, the entire mountain became a monolithic black mass, seemingly forged from profound iron, its immense hardness obvious at a glance.

Almost as the magma solidified, the sword light struck! Thud! Thud! Thud! The sword light plunged straight into the mountaintop. The peak was instantly cleaved in two. As the sword light continued its descent, a fissure ran from the peak deep into the mountain's core, causing the entire mass to tremble violently.

The black mountain, indeed tougher than steel, visibly weakened the sword's momentum before it reached the core. Its remaining power suggested that even if it could cleave the mountain, its speed would significantly diminish. Even a brief delay would allow Marquis Dingxiang to evade the blade. But before Marquis Dingxiang could sigh in relief, the Wandering Cloud Sword lightly vibrated, and a shocking sword hum suddenly resonated from deep within the mountain. Simultaneously, an unprecedentedly terrifying sword intent, along with a sword light sharper and more blinding than before, erupted from the bottom of the fissure!

Rip! The fissure emitted a strange, tearing sound, indicating the mountain itself was being rent apart. It was the Seven Souls Killing Array, and Qin Sang no longer held back, wielding the Wandering Cloud Sword directly rather than a mere sword shadow. The Wandering Cloud Sword had been dormant for years, and while sword arrays could be cast through other spiritual swords, their power was inherently diminished. This was the first time since the Wandering Cloud Sword's metamorphosis that it truly unleashed its full power in battle! While the black mountain could resist sword shadows, before the true Wandering Cloud Sword, it was as fragile as silk. The fissure rapidly expanded, instantly piercing the mountain's core!

Inside the mountain, Marquis Dingxiang abruptly rose, his eyes still closed, but his face etched with terror.

Boom! The cave's ceiling tore open, filling the chamber with sword light. The spiritual sword hovered directly above him, its terrifying intent and killing aura assailing Marquis Dingxiang's mind. He felt the breath of death in his dream.

A choked cry escaped him! In sheer terror, Marquis Dingxiang unhesitatingly bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of vital blood. The vital blood twisted into the shape of a tapir demon. Simultaneously, the external dreamscape roared and rapidly collapsed, no longer able to resist the Sun Wheel Seal. The dream was swept away by a golden tide of light, crumbling into countless fragments. These fragments continued to splinter into dust-like motes, carried away by the golden light, leaving the entire dreamscape unrecognizable.

Qin Sang felt the struggle beneath him cease. The tapir demon's expression first dulled, then it transformed into a wisp of white smoke and vanished. The dream Jade Gourd, previously entangled with the four Teng Snakes, also vanished. Only the black mountain remained, though the glaring sword mark in its center had nearly split it in two.

Boom! The sword light pierced through the mountain's base, the fissure now completely bisecting the black mountain. The cleaved mountain halves toppled outwards, revealing the interior: a cave large enough to house Marquis Dingxiang's demonic form. The cave was filled with sword light, from which a dense mass of blood-red light erupted. Beside the blood light, there also appeared to be a shimmering bubble. From the scene, it seemed Marquis Dingxiang had succumbed to the spiritual sword, instantly slain and reduced to a blood mist, leaving no trace of his body.

Qin Sang knew just how terrifying the Seven Souls Killing Array, when unleashed by the Wandering Cloud Sword, could be. However, despite the sight, Qin Sang's face showed no joy. He abruptly turned his head, scanning the edge of the dreamscape. There, a faint white shadow silently emerged, then solidified into a tapir demon—Marquis Dingxiang's true form.

Marquis Dingxiang's eyes snapped open; roused from the dream, a lingering horror remained in his gaze. Had his divine ability not been unique, he would have perished by the sword. This was the unique aspect of his dream path ability: he could forcibly awaken upon sensing danger and instantly teleport anywhere within the dream's bounds, though it came at the cost of vital blood, severely depleting his energy. This dream-escape ability was incredibly difficult to counter. No trapping method—be it formations or Daoist spells—could prevent his dream-teleportation, even if his true form was securely confined. Of course, knowing his ability beforehand might have offered a counter, but Qin Sang was unaware of Marquis Dingxiang's unique power. Thus, he escaped, and most of the spiritual sword's might struck empty air.

Marquis Dingxiang, still shaken by the sword's power, felt blood oozing from his back, staining his snow-white fur and causing stinging pain. He was indeed injured; the Wandering Cloud Sword had left a long gash on his back, its intent piercing deep into his flesh. The pain wasn't just from the wound; his internal organs also throbbed, as if his entire body had been cleaved apart. Though the external wound appeared minor, Marquis Dingxiang knew his internal organs were damaged. Coupled with the vitality loss from using his divine ability, it was truly an injury compounded by another.

Moreover, the spiritual tree was lost! The bubble, enveloped in sword light, floated calmly in the spot where the cave had been. Marquis Dingxiang's escape ability allowed him to carry familiar items—those he'd had for years, deeply connected to his energy, or other low-grade, inconspicuous articles. The bubble clearly wasn't among them; he hadn't even fully understood the blue restriction on its surface. Marquis Dingxiang was desperate to escape; he had no time for external objects. At this point, Marquis Dingxiang knew that, in his current state, reclaiming the spiritual tree from Qin Sang was impossible. He dreaded explaining his failure to the Prince. He hesitated, wondering whether to press on, unaware that his fighting spirit had withered. He secretly conceded that continued struggle would likely lead to his demise.

No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than Marquis Dingxiang sensed something was amiss. A strong warning flared in his heart, and his face instantly drained of color. The sword intent, far from missing him due to his escape, clung to him like a shadow. The deadly crisis followed, inescapable!

"What kind of swordsmanship is this?!"

Marquis Dingxiang, horrified, felt his entire body turn cold, his vital energy nearly freezing. Without a moment to deliberate, he frantically activated a token from his spiritual platform. Black water gurgled forth from between his eyebrows. A blood token surfaced from the water, then exploded with a bang, unleashing a sweeping wave of crimson light. The bloodlight washed over his body, fiercely clashing with the murderous sword intent. The sword's hum resonated in Marquis Dingxiang's ears. His heart leaped, then relief flooded him as he finally gained a moment's respite. His body swayed, merging into the bloodlight, and burning his vital energy, he executed a blood-escape.

This blood token was an extraordinary treasure. Marquis Dingxiang had once received it as a reward from King Lingyou, who had personally refined it, embedding the demon king's vital blood within, making it a supreme escape artifact. Having been forced to use even the blood token, Marquis Dingxiang dared not linger, regardless of any remaining abilities. His fighting spirit extinguished, he only sought swift escape. Not only had he lost the spiritual tree, but he hadn't even had time to recall the spiritually damaged Jade Gourd, fearing Qin Sang would entangle him. A crimson rainbow tore through layers of light waves, piercing the air and fleeing with astonishing speed.

A flash of lightning, and Qin Sang appeared where Marquis Dingxiang had been, frowning as he watched the crimson rainbow recede. The blood-escape was swift, but Qin Sang's own escape speed was not inferior. Moreover, his opponent was already wounded, so the blood-escape couldn't be sustained for long. Were it not for the threat of the demon king, pursuing him would have offered a significant chance to slay the demon. After a moment's thought, Qin Sang gave up the pursuit, sighing inwardly. As expected of a demon king's confidant, he possessed life-saving measures.

He felt his strategy for this battle had been flawless; he had deployed nearly all his trump cards, with the exception of the Five Elements Crown. Nevertheless, Qin Sang was highly satisfied with the outcome: the Sun Wheel Seal had shattered a divine ability, the spiritual sword had severely wounded a powerful foe, and most importantly, he had secured the spiritual tree. As for the spiritual treasure Jade Gourd, its fate was inconsequential. Unless the gourd was inscribed with the Tongbao Art, it would likely be useless to him.

Gazing in the direction Marquis Dingxiang had fled, Qin Sang saw only a chaotic sea of light, yet a faint unease stirred within him. Remembering the earlier escaped demon marquis, he feared the demon king's imminent arrival. Daring not to linger, he casually placed the dimly glowing Jade Gourd into his Qianjun Ring, then flew toward the bubble. Grabbing the bubble, Qin Sang flapped his phoenix wings and fled in the opposite direction, examining the bubble as he flew.

Extremely pure wood spirit energy emanated from the bubble, which was entirely covered by a colossal tree canopy. Though the trunk was unseen, the leaves were identical to those of the Vajra Bodhi Tree, and perched atop the canopy was a single Vajra Fruit, drawing Qin Sang's gaze. The blue restriction on the bubble's surface was more potent than any he had encountered before, making it no easy task to break. Fortunately, with the aid of his Heavenly Eye Butterfly and accumulated experience from breaking previous restrictions, Qin Sang was better equipped. Qin Sang immediately activated secret techniques from the *Panhu True Scripture*, fully aiding the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to analyze the restriction's intricate network, aiming to break it swiftly and retrieve the Vajra Fruit. While working to break the restriction, Qin Sang flew directly towards the outer reaches of the Hidden Valley, hoping to weaken its power.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, Qin Sang's unease intensified. He spun around. Behind him, the monotonous sea of light stretched on, yet Qin Sang felt the distant light waves appeared strangely somber. At his cultivation level, illusions were rare. There was only one explanation: King Lingyou had set his sights on him! Before even seeing his approaching foe, the suffocating pressure emanating from the demon king was overwhelming. Qin Sang's heart hammered; he dared not pause for an instant, fleeing with all his might.

Meanwhile, behind him.

Marquis Dingxiang, having escaped with his life, dared not cease his blood-escape until he saw King Lingyou. Only then did his mind relax, feeling as though he had finally escaped from the jaws of death.

Whoosh! King Lingyou appeared, blocking the crimson light. The bloodlight instantly halted, revealing Marquis Dingxiang. Sensing Marquis Dingxiang's weakened aura, King Lingyou's eyes blazed, and he asked in a deep voice, "How many opponents?"

Seeing Marquis Dingxiang's pitiful state, King Lingyou couldn't help but be startled. He knew his subordinate's strength well, and his dream path ability was truly profound. Even King Lingyou, in his weakened state after self-mutilation, would have faced considerable difficulty without knowing Marquis Dingxiang's unique abilities.

"Only one!" Marquis Dingxiang said, his face etched with shame, his voice urgent. "This subordinate is incompetent, I was no match for him, and I lost the spiritual tree and the spiritual treasure." Knowing the urgency, he quickly recounted his recent encounter. Marquis Yuan, who had been swept away by Youbo earlier, now caught up. Seeing Marquis Dingxiang, he was both shocked and filled with lingering dread.

"This person is extremely powerful, Your Majesty, be careful!" Finally, Marquis Dingxiang couldn't help but offer a warning.

King Lingyou gazed into the distance, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent. With a cold snort, he suddenly transformed into his Fish Demon Dharma Form and surged away on a wave.

"Let Marquis Yuan take you to rendezvous with them."

With King Lingyou's words left hanging, the two demon marquises exchanged glances, keenly aware that they wouldn't even be able to keep pace. They had no choice but to obey.