Chapter 2076: Retreat Path

Wuxia Xianxia

Consider defeat before victory. Facing a Nascent Soul Ancestor, there was no room for even a shred of carelessness. Qin Sang's primary concern was how he could safely withdraw and avoid pursuit if the treasure hunt failed and angered Venerable Ye. Ming Wei and the Life Talisman in her possession represented the safest escape route. However, the Life Talisman might not guarantee their complete safety, so he needed to carefully consider how to best utilize it.

“Do you mean...?” Ming Wei hesitated.

She didn't entirely believe Qin Sang's words. A Nascent Soul Ancestor breaking through an immortal restriction and traversing the trial realm was unheard of, a complete fantasy. But Qin Sang's cautious demeanor forced her to consider the possibility. The secret grotto was a complex web of various forces, including top experts like Blood Bat and Daoist Xiaoyun. Each posed a greater threat than herself. Qin Sang had nothing to gain by deceiving her; it would be tantamount to cutting off his own arm.

Qin Sang turned to glance at the cave entrance on the edge of the grotto. "Once Venerable Ye makes his move, everyone else will be awestruck and unable to react quickly. Our only opponent will be him. As long as we can shake him off, we'll be safe. Daoist friend, keep the Life Talisman hidden. When I succeed, activate it immediately..."

Ming Wei remained silent. She understood that by doing so, Qin Sang would bear the greatest risk, directly facing the Nascent Soul's wrath, while she would merely observe from a safe distance. If the situation turned unfavorable, she could easily withdraw, and indeed, the danger to her would be minimal. However, this also meant she would be too far from the Soul Cleansing Liquid, leaving her no choice but to trust Qin Sang's strength and place all her hopes on him.

Ming Wei looked up, fixing her gaze on Qin Sang's eyes. "At that time, Daoist friend, you won't just look out for yourself, take your bottle of Soul Cleansing Liquid, and abandon me, will you?"

"Since we've chosen to offend Venerable Ye, what's the difference between one bottle and two? The Life Talisman is in your hands, so of course I'll seize a bottle for you. Otherwise, if you were to furiously tear up our agreement, leaving me with no escape, wouldn't I be utterly helpless? If you're still uneasy, I can swear an oath using my Heart Demon."

The Soul Cleansing Liquid was their shared interest, and it was also why Qin Sang could trust Ming Wei. Facing such a formidable enemy, they had no choice but to bind themselves tightly together.

"Alright! I only hope Daoist friend will uphold your promise!"

Ming Wei deeply understood that the situation was dire, with many contenders for scarce resources, and her hopes were already slim. After receiving Qin Sang's promise, she stepped back, withdrawing from the secret grotto. But then she saw Qin Sang also emerge. Noticing Ming Wei's puzzled expression, Qin Sang said, "Venerable Ye surely knows the function of the Life Talisman. We cannot use it directly under his nose. If he stays put, we'll have no way to escape. We need to make some arrangements to mislead him..."

The stone walls surrounding the grotto were riddled with countless openings. They searched thoroughly and found the most intricate entrance, which branched into several tunnels. To create a diversion, Qin Sang patted his Corpse Puppet Pouch. Several fiend corpses leaped out, each entering a different tunnel and lying in wait under Qin Sang's command. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, nine small demonic banners flew out, swirling in the air! For over ten years, Qin Sang had been trying to master the Nine Demonic Banners Formation, and he had achieved considerable success.

Ming Wei watched the demonic banners, her heart filled with surprise. She could vaguely sense that these seemingly unassuming black banners were far from simple. Having served alongside her Ancestor, her insight surpassed that of other cultivators of the same rank, yet she couldn't discern the true nature of the black banners. They appeared to be formation flags, yet also like magic artifacts, very peculiar. Ming Wei knew this treasure must be Qin Sang's secret and suppressed her curiosity, asking nothing further.

'Whoosh! Whoosh!'

The nine demonic banners flickered rapidly, instantly forming a complex array before Qin Sang. On the banners' surfaces, black demonic flames seemed poised to burst forth. Qin Sang surveyed the Demonic Banner Formation, assessing its power, then pressed his palm downwards.

'Puff, puff, puff...'

The nine demonic banners sank into the ground, vanishing completely beneath the earth. Qin Sang nodded to Ming Wei, then turned and returned to the secret grotto.

Ming Wei had vaguely surmised the purpose of Qin Sang's arrangements. Seeing his figure disappear into the earthen spirit army, she mused for a moment, then retrieved several puppets from her mustard seed pouch and commanded them to enter the deep tunnels. She herself held the Life Talisman, her eyes fixed intently on the sealed light barrier in the center of the grotto. Her hand was clenched tightly, her mind taut.

Returning to the grotto.

Qin Sang rode his sword into the earthen spirit army, rapidly pushing forward. The various cultivators were besieging the sealed light barrier; it would soon be revealed who would claim the Soul Cleansing Liquid. Along the way, Bai emerged from the Corpse Puppet Pouch. After a brief exchange, he parted ways with Qin Sang. The situation in the grotto was utterly chaotic, and no one noticed the identity of the refined corpse, Bai.

'Bang!'

With a single sword strike, an earthen spirit was flung away, and Qin Sang broke through the encirclement. More earthen spirits then swarmed him. The closer he got to the sealed light barrier, the stronger the earthen spirits became. Qin Sang, wielding his sword alone, drew closer and closer to the sealed light barrier, barely able to make out the full view within the barrier.

A tall platform stood prominently in the center of the light barrier. Its surface was intricately carved with strange patterns, resembling runes. The platform was large, yet only four bottles of Soul Cleansing Liquid were placed upon it, making it appear rather empty. Qin Sang observed carefully but found no mechanisms on the platform. He wondered how these bottles of Soul Cleansing Liquid had appeared there and where they originated from.

The seal was not yet broken; it was not yet time for the true battle. However, all the cultivators harbored ulterior motives, and each person's position was carefully chosen, with undercurrents of tension flowing. No one knew who had secretly conspired with whom. Had it not been for Venerable Ye, the situation would undoubtedly have unfolded into a magnificent drama of trust and betrayal.

Qin Sang's gaze swept across Venerable Ye. Venerable Ye, like Blood Bat and the others, was diligently attacking the seal, giving no indication of his true power. No one would have suspected that a Nascent Soul Ancestor had infiltrated their ranks. Qin Sang did not use his Heavenly Eye Butterfly to spy on Venerable Ye, fearing detection. However, Qin Sang did pay attention to Venerable Ye's actions and indeed noticed some peculiar details. Facing the earthen spirit army, Venerable Ye consistently exuded a sense of effortless control. Although disguised, he inadvertently displayed an extremely precise mastery over his true essence, which secretly astonished Qin Sang.

Behind Venerable Ye, Maiden Su and the others had formed a battle formation, engaging the earthen spirit army. Maiden Su's eyes showed no excitement, only deep worry. She didn't know how confident Qin Sang truly was. If Qin Sang were to perish at Venerable Ye's hands, she would lose all hope of struggling and would only be able to await her demise. The long-bearded old man and his two companions had already begun communicating telepathically, fantasizing about their future with relaxed tones, full of confidence in Venerable Ye. Hearing their transmissions, Maiden Su forced a smile and politely dismissed them.

"Boom! Boom!"

Sword energy, saber gleams. Daoist techniques, magic artifacts—a continuous barrage of attacks fell upon the sealed light barrier. The sealed light barrier trembled incessantly, its light gradually dimming and becoming increasingly thin. The cultivators stared intently at the Soul Cleansing Liquid within the seal, poised for action. Qin Sang chose not to get too close to the seal. From the periphery, while fending off the earthen spirits, he activated his Ebony Sword, directing streaks of sword energy and sword light towards the seal. His complete attention was fixed on Venerable Ye.