Chapter 2176: Heavenly Rift

Qin Sang recounted his earlier observations, speculating that the Heart Lake might have fallen into that desolate space. Hearing this, Liuli and Liao Chen both found the idea plausible, but whether to immediately go to the location Qin Sang described was a decision they, including Qin Sang himself, hesitated over.

After all, the journey was too long; it would take many days to travel there, and even then, they might not find Heart Lake within that space. Moreover, if a new opportunity arose here, they would miss it.

This presented a dilemma.

Fortunately, few people likely knew about the desolate space at this time. If Heart Lake had indeed fallen there, even if they arrived later, they would still be ahead of most.

After some deliberation, they decided to stay and observe for a while before making a final decision.

They had no idea how far they had fled during their escape. The sea of light had expanded far behind them, greatly exceeding Heart Lake's original boundaries.

After the initial fury, there were signs of a receding tide. They retreated further, landing on a mountain, where they closely monitored the changes in the sea of light.

After the Blood Shadow was forced back, they encountered no other enemies, but they dared not lower their guard. Qin Sang remained secretly vigilant, joining Liuli in protecting Liao Chen.

Liao Chen's condition was not optimistic; his injuries were severe, and this attack had only worsened his plight.

In Qin Sang's view, if Liao Chen couldn't recover quickly and an opportunity suddenly arose, taking him into Heart Lake would be more detrimental than beneficial. Not only would he be unable to help Liuli much, but he would also require Qin Sang's diverted attention and care.

Liao Chen was the helper True Man Ning had chosen for Liuli. Before the critical moment, Qin Sang could not voice these thoughts and simply abandon Liao Chen. However, he had no deep friendship with Liao Chen; they were merely allies in name. His decision to help was for Liuli's sake. When the time came, he would not hesitate to act decisively.

Qin Sang didn't know how many spirit pills Liao Chen had brought. He took three more bottles of elixirs consecutively, slowly refining their medicinal power within his body.

Once Liao Chen showed slight improvement, they gazed at the fluctuating sea of light and discussed their theories about the anomalous changes in the Holy Land.

The most crucial question was whether these anomalies were intentionally caused by the Elder Ancestors of the Yiren tribe, or if there was a genuine problem with the Holy Land itself.

If it was the former, then this was part of a trial. With patience, the rules would eventually become clear, and then it would be a contest among many contenders.

If it was the latter, it implied a major calamity for the Elder Ancestors of the Yiren tribe, and a significant upheaval would sweep through the entire Yiren race. In that scenario, their priority would not be seeking opportunities, but finding an escape route.

Generations of eminent monks from Ziyun Mountain had frequently entered and exited the Holy Land and understood it well. Liao Chen also mentioned that while the Holy Land trials often had varying rules, they had never been as grand and destructive as this, starting with the annihilation of Heart Lake and numerous secret realms and ruins, seemingly aiming to destroy the entire Holy Land.

It was likely that the Yiren cultivators were just as bewildered as they were, with everyone awaiting a signal, whether good or bad.

"I wonder where Patriarch Yuan Xiang is now?" Qin Sang asked.

Within the Holy Land, only the Zhu Yan tribe and Patriarch Yuan Xiang harbored goodwill toward them. Seeking refuge with Patriarch Yuan Xiang was undoubtedly the safest option.

"The Zhu Yan tribe does not interfere in conflicts between outside tribes. Our monastery and Patriarch Yuan Xiang had agreed to jointly decipher an ancient formation, but only after the Heart Lake situation was resolved," Liao Chen said, gently shaking his head. "This monk also doesn't know which secret realm Patriarch Yuan Xiang is currently tackling."

After a brief discussion, Qin Sang elaborately recounted his experiences in the desolate space.

When Qin Sang mentioned the toxins drifting in the space, Liao Chen's expression suddenly shifted. He quickly asked, "Is the toxin True Man spoke of a kind of poisonous mist? And what color was it?"

"It was a pinkish poisonous mist, or perhaps peach-colored..." Qin Sang recalled his previous encounter and described it in detail, noticing that Liao Chen seemed to remember something.

"Did True Man personally come into contact with the mist, and how potent was the poison?" Liao Chen pressed, asking repeatedly.

At the time, Qin Sang hadn't considered that it might be connected to the Heart Lake conflict, so he hadn't thoroughly analyzed the toxin.

"This humble Taoist was likely still some distance from the source of the mist, and it was quite thin. When I tried to inhale a wisp, my True Essence showed signs of disorder, indicating its potent toxicity."

Liao Chen nodded, his gaze sweeping over Qin Sang and Liuli. He then solemnly stated, "The poisonous mist True Man Qin described reminds this monk of a particular place."

Qin Sang said seriously, "I'd like to hear more."

Liao Chen continued, "Among the Yiren tribes, many specialize in using poison, so the Holy Land has no shortage of places where poisonous miasma gathers. Even if miasma permeates a location, its toxicity can vary greatly. Sometimes, the type of poison can indicate which tribe's Elder Ancestor left behind a secret realm or ruin. These are often exclusive to a specific tribe, and outsiders, without special detoxification methods, find it difficult to claim their legacies. The ancient texts left by our monastery's ancestors record a place filled with a peach-colored poisonous miasma mist, very similar to what True Man described. It's called the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace..."

"Holy Monk, are you suggesting that the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace might have been breached by the radiant light, causing the poisonous miasma to seep into the desolate space?" Qin Sang mused.

"Precisely," Liao Chen nodded, regretfully adding, "Unfortunately, that ancestor did not thoroughly investigate the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace, so there's no record of the peach-colored miasma's toxicity."

Qin Sang pondered for a moment, then asked, "Holy Monk, do you know the location of the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace?"

Liao Chen took out a jade slip, displaying a topographical map. He first located their current position, then gestured on the map for a while before finally circling an area, asserting, "The Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace is nearby!"

Qin Sang looked at where Liao Chen pointed, noting that it was much closer than the Thunder Palace, only about a three-day journey.

Ordinarily, the poisonous miasma from the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace couldn't drift to the Thunder Palace. However, the desolate space and the Holy Land space were disordered. Ji Xia, who was clearly in the northern part of the Holy Land, appeared near the Thunder Palace after falling into the desolate space.

"Azure..." Qin Sang was interrupted by a dull thunderous sound. The three looked towards the source of the sound, which came from deep within the sea of light. The sight there made their expressions change drastically. From the depths of the sea of light, radiant light surged, and another massive wave was about to form.

*Swish!* Qin Sang abruptly stood up, stared for a moment, and shouted, "Quick, let's go!"

Liuli and Liao Chen also realized the gravity of the situation. The next immense wave of radiant light was forming so quickly, indicating that the Holy Land's anomalies were accelerating. They had to leave immediately to avoid a repeat of their previous predicament.

Liao Chen allowed Qin Sang to use his True Essence to sweep him up, while Liuli followed closely behind, flying away without looking back.

This time, they reacted promptly. By the time a cataclysmic roar erupted behind them, they were already far from the edge of the sea of light, out of the most dangerous zone.

Qin Sang glanced back, seeing radiant light erupting in various places, spreading out like glowing orbs.

Within the sea of light, a new tide of light was brewing, overwhelming and powerful, no less imposing than the previous one, perhaps even more so.

Qin Sang continued to fly without stopping. Even if they stayed to observe, they needed to be as far from the sea of light as possible, otherwise, they risked being swept in.

As they fled, Qin Sang transmitted a message, "Given this situation, it's unlikely a favorable turn will occur anytime soon. This humble Taoist wishes to first visit the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace. What are your thoughts?" He wanted to scout a path ahead, so they could enter the desolate space quickly if necessary.

Liao Chen and Liuli both nodded in agreement. For now, there was no other option but to forge a new path; the more prepared they were, the greater their hope for what lay ahead.

However, this approach also carried risks. Liao Chen asked, "The peach-colored miasma's toxicity is unknown. Does True Man possess detoxification skills?"

Qin Sang modestly replied, "I know a little! However, if the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace was breached by the radiant light, its formations and restrictions must have also been damaged. In such secret realms, poisonous miasma is often connected to formations, working in conjunction. If the formations are destroyed, it might reduce the miasma's power."

He paused, then asked, "Did the Holy Monk from your temple record which tribe the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace is associated with?"

"An ancestor once encountered a powerful cultivator of the Jiegou tribe near the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace, so perhaps this secret realm was created by a Jiegou Elder Ancestor..." Liao Chen revealed everything he knew about the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace, though it offered little help for their immediate plans.

"Jiegou..." Qin Sang's expression turned thoughtful. He remembered the Jiegou tribe was a water-elemental tribe, not one of the high-ranking tribes.

It was certain that the Jiegou tribe was highly skilled in the path of poison, particularly adept at using poisons in battle formations. Once unleashed, their poisons would spread like a plague, causing countless deaths.

Such poisons posed little threat to top experts like them, but the Jiegou tribe's cultivators surely possessed more than just these abilities.

While contemplating these thoughts, Qin Sang's gaze inadvertently swept over a cluster of radiant light. His pupils abruptly constricted, and his speed slowed.

"Fellow Taoist Qin?" Liuli asked, her voice tinged with doubt, thinking Qin Sang had discovered another danger.

Qin Sang gestured to the two. Naturally, when they saw the cluster of radiant light, astonishment and doubt flickered in their eyes.

Previously, apart from the sea of radiant light, all bursts of light would rapidly recede after reaching their peak, eventually vanishing completely. However, this particular cluster of radiant light did not dissipate. It flickered erratically, surging and subsiding, seemingly brewing a tide of light itself.

"This..." The three exchanged glances, all feeling a sense of foreboding.

Compared to the sea of radiant light, this cluster was insignificant, encompassing only a few nearby hilltops, more like a luminous lake. However, its implications were vastly different!

Following Heart Lake's fate, other areas were now beginning to develop persistent radiant light. Once such luminous lakes appeared, there would surely not be just one. As these luminous lakes spread throughout the Holy Land, constantly expanding outwards, they would eventually engulf the entire Holy Land, seizing their last foothold!

At this thought, Liao Chen's face grew even paler. His old injuries had not healed, and now he had new ones, yet he couldn't rest and recuperate. The gray-robed figure also possessed formidable power. If such a situation arose, he would be in the most danger, and he couldn't always rely on others for rescue.

"When soldiers come, repel them with generals; when water comes, block it with earth. Overthinking it now is pointless!" Qin Sang couldn't afford to demoralize himself at this moment. He comforted them, "The truth will eventually surface. Perhaps the radiant light won't affect the desolate space. Once we reach the place this humble Taoist mentioned, Holy Monk, you can rest assured and heal your injuries."

Taking a deep look at the luminous lake, Qin Sang's escape speed dramatically increased as he headed straight for the Azure Scorpion Ancient Palace.

Unexpectedly, after flying for only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Qin Sang suddenly stopped, frowning as he looked ahead. Liuli and Liao Chen also became fully vigilant.

Directly ahead of them stood a majestic peak. Radiant light blocked the path on both sides of the peak, but the central peak itself was not yet engulfed. At its summit stood a person, watching them with an enigmatic, half-smiling expression.

This person wore a long robe, with only their face visible. The robe itself was surprisingly a spirit treasure. With the person deliberately concealing themselves, it was impossible to discern which tribe's expert they were.

"This path is closed!" the robed figure declared, their voice reverberating.

Qin Sang scoffed, "Hiding your face! Who are you, and why are you blocking my path?" He glanced to either side but made no move. Liuli and Liao Chen understood Qin Sang's intent: they needed to avoid conflict if possible, but also couldn't appear too weak, as that would only invite covetousness.

"Hmm?" Before he finished speaking, Qin Sang let out a soft exclamation. His gaze swept past the peak, looking behind the robed figure. There seemed to be fluctuations from a battle. Using his Heavenly Eye ability, Qin Sang indeed discovered a large formation; despite its concealment, some signs were still visible.

Noticing Qin Sang's actions, the robed figure's expression subtly changed, and their gaze turned cold, staring icily at Qin Sang. It seemed as if Qin Sang dared to take another step, they would erupt in violence.

Just as both sides were in a standoff, a rift suddenly tore open in the void behind the mountain, and a figure flew out. This person's robes were stained with blood, and their breathing was ragged, clearly injured, yet their expression was greatly invigorated as they held two corpses in their hands.

"This trip was certainly not in vain! Hmm, who are they?" He narrowed his eyes, looking at Qin Sang and the other two, his killing intent still evident.

The robed figure subtly shook their head, then flashed to their companion's side. They exchanged a silent communication, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, before finally staring into Qin Sang's eyes and slowly retreating.

Qin Sang did not pursue, feeling fortunate that the other party had just endured a fierce battle and sustained injuries, otherwise, another major conflict might have erupted.

"The situation is becoming increasingly chaotic," Qin Sang sighed.

A major anomaly had clearly occurred in the Holy Land, and this Holy Land trial would likely end prematurely. For hundreds, even thousands of years, the Yiren cultivators had awaited and prepared for this trial. How could they be reconciled to their plans being disrupted by this upheaval? Since they couldn't obtain the desired opportunities, they might as well compensate their losses through others.

It was conceivable that such situations would become increasingly common, and the Holy Land would eventually completely devolve into a jungle where the strong preyed on the weak.

In this jungle, none of the three of them had reached the late Void Refinement stage, and they were also carrying an injured companion. They were undoubtedly the weaker party and the most likely to be targeted by others.

No one could have predicted that the Holy Land trial would evolve into such a state.

The three continued to fly in silence, only able to conceal their auras as much as possible and remain vigilant.

Next, they spotted several more luminous lakes, and the frequency of the radiant light bursts was also accelerating. Crisis was approaching!

*Rumble... Boom!* Heaven and earth shook. Radiant light enveloped everything, and then a stream of light grazed the edge of the radiance, a truly perilous moment.

Qin Sang and the others had experienced this countless times and were accustomed to it, so they continued their journey. However, this particular burst of radiant light intensified, its momentum exceptionally startling.

Qin Sang couldn't help but stop his escape light and looked back. He saw the radiant light soaring beyond the highest heavens, forming a massive column of light that pierced the sky like a sharp sword.

From the highest heavens came a tremendous roar, louder than any thunder, as if the firmament itself had been pierced! Immediately after, Qin Sang and the other two widened their eyes in shock, witnessing an astonishing sight: centered around the radiant light, a colossal chasm appeared in the sky, stretching from north to south, tearing the heavens apart. The sky had cracked!