Chapter 2156: Rebattle

"Unexpected events are unavoidable in life," the Young Master stammered, giving a dry chuckle. He glanced at Ji Qiong and the other person fleeing for their lives. "Compared to them, we're quite fortunate. They are the truly unlucky ones, probably just happened to be in the path of that formidable beast, which explains their panic."

Qin Sang gazed at the source of the oppressive aura, then looked back at Ji Qiong and his companion, noticing some unusual signs. "They shouldn't be the target of that formidable beast's pursuit..."

As they spoke, both men fully concealed themselves and cautiously retreated. They weren't entirely sure how powerful a ferocious beast in the Integration Stage truly was, but they were certain that if such a formidable creature targeted them, their chances of survival would be slim. They dared not make any unusual movements, fearing they might attract the beast's attention.

"They aren't even worthy of being hunted by such a formidable beast!" the Young Master asserted. "A casual attack from it would force even you and me to retreat a good distance, let alone those two!"Qin Sang secretly nodded. What the Young Master said was true; if Ji Qiong and his companion had truly provoked the beast, they wouldn't have even had a chance to escape.

Considering this, Qin Sang pondered, "At this moment, there probably aren't many combinations in the sacred land that could confidently defeat us. Even gathering three or five people wouldn't dare provoke such a formidable beast. Time is short, and our fellow clansmen haven't had time to rendezvous, so organizing multiple experts to collectively hunt the beast is also unfeasible. If that's the case, who could have provoked it?"

Upon hearing this, the Young Master's expression subtly shifted. "Unless someone unfortunately stumbled into the beast's lair or was foolish enough to charge in, this formidable creature likely wasn't provoked! The first two scenarios are almost impossible. Could some unknown change have occurred, forcing the beast to leave its lair?"Qin Sang remained noncommittal.

They continued to retreat without slowing down, both closely monitoring the formidable beast's movements.

At this very moment, far to the east, a dense gray mist was rapidly spreading across the land. Wherever the mist passed, it brought with it an aura of death; flowers, grasses, and trees withered, growing gray fuzz that devoured their life force, instantly decaying them into a mass of sludge. Neither ordinary plants nor spiritual flora and trees were spared.

Ferocious beasts residing in the mist's path met with disaster. Some were still dormant in their lairs, completely unaware of the approaching death, and lost their lives in confusion. Their bodies became covered in fuzz, quickly decaying into stark white bones, transforming the area into a desolate wasteland.

"Roar!" A fierce roar echoed from within the gray mist. On the surface of a large lake, decayed white bones floated, their large frames indicating they were once exceptionally tall and mighty creatures. Among the piles of bones, a beast, half the size of the skeletons but with a similar outline, was still alive. It was the only surviving creature in the area, and the aura it exuded was comparable to that of a Void Refinement cultivator, perhaps explaining its survival.

However, this beast was trembling all over, its eyes filled with terror and pain. Fear had overcome its ferocious instincts, and it suddenly leaped onto the shore, sprinting frantically. But the mist's power continuously corroded it; patches of fuzz grew on its body, suppressed by its primal strength, only to quickly reappear elsewhere. This caused its movements to become erratic and eerie.

Just then, a colossal shadow appeared above the gray mist, obscuring the void. Suddenly, something dropped from the shadow; upon closer inspection, it was a gigantic bird's claw. The claw had three toes, and its skin was rough like tree vines. It descended like a pillar from the sky, landing precisely in the fleeing beast's path.

*Boom!*

Several mountain peaks shattered instantly where the bird's claw landed, leaving three long furrows and a deep claw mark on the ground. When the claw lifted, the ground was silent. The beast made no sound and no discernible resistance; it was crushed to death by a single stomp.This stomp seemed to be mere coincidence. The owner of the claw never revealed itself and didn't pause for a moment, as the shadow within the gray mist swiftly moved away.

In the distance, Qin Sang and the Young Master repeatedly confirmed that the formidable beast wasn't heading toward them, allowing them to finally feel a little relieved.

"Venerable Qin, what do you think happened in the formidable beast's lair?" the Young Master mused.

"It's unlikely another ferocious beast attacked it," Qin Sang said.The Young Master replied, "These formidable beasts each have their own territories and generally don't trespass into others. However, whatever could frighten away such a beast is certainly not ordinary; it might even conceal a fortuitous opportunity."He paused, then looked in the direction Ji Qiong and his companion had fled. "There would definitely be signs of a change in the formidable beast's lair. Perhaps they saw something."

"Does Fellow Daoist Si intend to capture them?" Qin Sang asked.Qin Sang also looked up. To avoid the formidable beast, they had retreated a great distance and dared not act rashly. Ji Qiong and his companion had already vanished from sight. However, knowing the direction Ji Qiong had fled, finding them again wouldn't be difficult.

"Doesn't that person have a past grievance with Venerable Qin? Surely, Venerable Qin won't try to stop me?" The Young Master glanced at Qin Sang. "Even if Venerable Qin lets them go, they won't be grateful. The struggle within the sacred land ultimately boils down to the conflict between the Celestial and Aquatic Divisions. Venerable Qin entered using our Si You clan's Mirage Jade, which means he bears the mark of the Celestial Division. Once experts from the Aquatic Division encounter Venerable Qin, they will show him no mercy, unless a greater benefit prompts them to form a temporary alliance."

Qin Sang already knew these principles; the Young Master didn't need to explain them. The so-called trials in the sacred land ultimately revolved around the rivalry between the Aquatic and Celestial Divisions. However, Qin Sang had only a passing understanding, careful not to inadvertently violate taboos, and had no intention of getting involved. These matters held little relevance for him, an outsider. No matter how precious the treasures, they might not suit an external cultivator, and even if he managed to acquire them, it would likely be difficult to take them out under everyone's watchful eyes. His identity, disguised by a spiritual pill, would be exposed as soon as he engaged in combat. Qin Sang's purpose in entering the sacred land was clear: to reunite with Liu Li as quickly as possible. If everything went smoothly, he could then observe from the sidelines and seize any opportunities that suited him.

His concern was that acting against Ji Qiong now might attract the formidable beast, or even a more terrifying entity behind it.

Knowing Qin Sang's worries, the Young Master said, "We might as well follow them discreetly first. We can make our move once we reach a safe area. There won't be too many cultivators in the same region, so we don't have to worry about someone beating us to it."Qin Sang nodded, and the two immediately changed direction, quietly heading after them.

In a mountain valley, Ji Qiong and another expert from the Quanfeng clan were still shaken. Ji Qiong stared intently out of the valley while his companion focused on sensing their surroundings.

"Well?" Ji Qiong couldn't help but ask. His cultivation was slightly weaker, and his spiritual perception wasn't as keen as his companion's."That oppressive aura has moved far away," his companion said softly, opening his eyes.

Ji Qiong breathed a sigh of relief, then couldn't help but complain, "Good thing it wasn't after us! Why are we so unlucky? We just entered the sacred land and immediately encountered a formidable beast possibly of the Saint Realm!"His companion sighed. "I don't know why that formidable beast left its lair; we merely suffered an unwarranted calamity! While escaping, we left too many traces. We don't know if that beast will return. It's not advisable to stay here long; we should leave as soon as possible.""Okay!" Ji Qiong nodded repeatedly. "The sooner we rendezvous with Elder Quan, the better!"

His companion glanced at him. "Aren't you going to retrieve the Elephant Soul Sand anymore? Refining it should allow you to break through to the mid-stage, and we'd be safer navigating the sacred land.""First, let's confirm our bearings. If it's on the way, I'll try to get the Elephant Soul Sand. Otherwise, I'll rendezvous with Elder Quan and ask for his assistance," Ji Qiong replied. That formidable beast had taught him a lesson; he only felt safe by Elder Quan's side."Elder Quan truly values you!"

A flicker of envy crossed his companion's eyes, and his figure blurred as he teleported out of the valley. Ji Qiong also activated his movement technique and followed. Unexpectedly, just as he flew out of the valley, his surroundings suddenly darkened. Day and night in the sacred land were as distinct as in the outside world, and it was currently daytime, yet it abruptly turned into night.

The mountains and rivers vanished into thin air, and he was pulled into an boundless starry sky, surrounded by dazzling starlight and countless suspended stars. The familiar sight caused Ji Qiong to freeze, stirring unpleasant memories, and he immediately found it unbelievable. "How is this possible! That person is either human or a demon, how could they appear here? Could it be that..."In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

However, Ji Qiong's reaction remained unaffected. The moment he fell into the sword formation, he threw out a black seed. It was almost a re-enactment of an old scene; Ji Qiong had previously attempted to use this treasure to break a sword formation and nearly lost his life. The vines sprouted roots and branches, previously resembling spiritual serpents, but now like colossal pythons, their power far exceeding their former state. This time, instead of allowing the vines to occupy the sword formation, he arrayed them around himself, layer upon layer, forming a solid barrier to prioritize his own defense.

However, Ji Qiong quickly realized something was wrong. In the previous sword formation, there were only stars in the west and south, but now the east also shone brightly with starlight, while only the north remained a chaotic nebula. This meant the enemy's strength had also improved!

What horrified Ji Qiong even more was that despite fully activating his Spiritual Ear Divine Ability, his ears trembled incessantly, yet he couldn't sense his companion's presence. Before entering the sacred land, he and his companion had jointly refined a treasure, controlled by his companion. Even if he were trapped, his companion could contact him through this treasure, and they could jointly activate it to break through enemy defenses. Now, his companion was completely unresponsive. Did they not even have a chance to bring out the treasure, or was his companion also trapped and killed? The opponent must also be traveling with a companion, and the other person was likely a Si You clan expert. What if his companion wasn't a match for that individual...?The more Ji Qiong thought about it, the more terrified he became, recalling scenes from years past. If he had already broken through to the mid-stage, he might have had a chance to fight, but now he had no confidence whatsoever in defeating Qin Sang.

Few who could cultivate to such a realm were indecisive, especially since Ji Qiong had suffered greatly at Qin Sang's hands before. An ominous premonition rose in his heart, and Ji Qiong no longer hesitated. Without waiting for the sword formation's true power to activate, his entire body's vital essence suddenly surged. His skin turned blood-red, blood seeped from his pores, and his body became a bloody mess.

*Boom!*

With a loud bang, Ji Qiong's physical body exploded, flesh and internal organs scattering.

Qin Sang had previously destroyed one of his physical bodies, but that was a passive destruction; this time, he actively self-destructed. With his cultivation, losing his physical body would incur a significant cost to recover. Last time, he was fortunate enough to receive a reward from Elder Quan, turning a misfortune into a blessing. This self-destruction would likely hinder his grand plan for breakthrough. However, matters had priorities. As long as he could escape now and obtain the Elephant Soul Sand, he would eventually achieve breakthrough.

Therefore, Ji Qiong decisively self-destructed his body. The blood and minced flesh contained astonishing power, exploding into a blood cloud that scattered across the starry sky, dyeing the starlight crimson. The vines transformed into countless blood pythons, brandishing their fangs and claws as they lunged towards the stars. As the blood cloud surged into the sword formation, a white light flashed at Ji Qiong's original location, revealing a naked, tiny figure. Ji Qiong immediately manifested his 'Ear Dweller' form where he stood. Instead of trying to break out of the sword formation, he remained motionless, opened his mouth, tilted his head skyward, and let out a long howl.

The howl was sharp and piercing, containing a peculiar power that created invisible fluctuations in the void, spreading rapidly. At this moment, the starry sky had just been impacted by the blood cloud, and the howl, seizing the opportunity, was about to break through the sword formation's blockade. Qin Sang watched Ji Qiong's every move, understanding his intention. He secretly admired the man's ruthless decisiveness; upon realizing something was wrong, he resolutely self-destructed his body and attempted to attract the formidable beast with his howl. If Ji Qiong succeeded, he and the Young Master would have to abandon their operation, giving Ji Qiong a glimmer of hope for survival. If neither could escape, taking an enemy down with him wouldn't be a loss.

Unfortunately, Ji Qiong didn't know what kind of enemy he was truly facing. Qin Sang watched Ji Qiong with cold eyes, making no move. Just as the howl was about to break through the blockade and echo through the heavens and earth, a cold snort sounded.

"He's quite a character!"

From the sky, a furry hand appeared, like a bear's paw, as vast as a mountain, and slammed down fiercely. With one strike, it dispersed the vibrations caused by the howl, then, under Ji Qiong's horrified gaze, it reached for him. Ji Qiong's fate was sealed.

Qin Sang withdrew his gaze and looked outside the formation. To achieve a swift victory, he and the Young Master had divided their tasks in advance, ultimately targeting Ji Qiong with the intention of capturing him alive, which led to this series of complications. The Young Master had brought the Eight Poles Diagram of Instability this time, and the other person was currently trapped within it. Although its power was damaged during the battle with King Lu, the Eight Poles Diagram of Instability remained a rare and precious treasure. Qin Sang no longer paid attention to the battle here. He deactivated the sword formation and flashed into the treasured diagram.

Before long, the two quietly left the valley and fled into the distance without looking back, stopping only when they could barely sense the formidable beast's oppressive aura. The Young Master successfully captured Ji Qiong alive and took him aside for interrogation. Qin Sang waited for a moment, then heard the Young Master say, "Our guess was correct; there must have been a change in the formidable beast's lair. This person saw a burst of ten thousand rays of colorful light erupting from where the beast came. We can be certain it wasn't another formidable beast pursuing it."

"Does Fellow Daoist Si wish to investigate?" Qin Sang asked in a deep voice.

Having inscribed his name on the Golden Book of Supreme Void, he had to fully assist Emperor Si and try to avoid unnecessary complications. However, since the Young Master was Emperor Si's confidant and wasn't anxious, Qin Sang wasn't worried about delaying important matters.

"Venerable Qin, aren't you curious about what could possibly frighten away such a formidable beast? Based on past experience, it could be a suddenly appearing secret realm or ancient dwelling, or perhaps even a future passage to leave the sacred land. Regardless, none of these should be missed. If we don't even dare to take a look, then what exactly did we come here for?" the Young Master countered.