Chapter 2198: The Murky River

With one hand, Qin Sang held the transparent centipede. With a gentle gesture from his other hand, the Thousand-Jin Ring reverted to its thimble form and flew back to him.

The Minor Grotto-Heaven remained in turmoil, though the disturbances were slowly subsiding. The battle had ended swiftly, averting any widespread destruction.

During the struggle, Qin Sang had deduced his opponent's true nature. The man in green clearly valued his own life above all else and shared no profound bond with the Immortal Child, certainly not enough to share fortunes. This trap was specifically prepared for the man in green, and Qin Sang's judgment proved correct.

The man in green had kept one last trick in reserve. However, even if the transparent centipede's Divine Ability was formidable, it couldn't escape the keen eyes of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly.

Qin Sang imprisoned the transparent centipede and tossed it into the Minor Grotto-Heaven, immediately feeling a surge of emptiness within him.

Fully activating the acquired spirit treasure, the Cloud Roaming Sword, and unleashing its Sword Domain Divine Ability had consumed an astonishing amount of energy. His current cultivation was still somewhat weak; in the future, reaching the late stage of Void Refinement would allow him to wield it with more ease.

However, Void Refinement cultivators can quickly draw nourishment from the world, so he would soon recover. With a flicker of spiritual light, a small, exquisite jade screen appeared in Qin Sang's palm.

The jade screen was intricately carved with mountain and river scenes, depicting layer upon layer of peaks. Though merely palm-sized, it exuded an aura of vastness and profoundness.

Unfortunately, the jade screen's luster was dull, marred by a long crack that ran through it, thereby ruining its overall artistic appeal.

This was a defensive spirit treasure belonging to the man in green. He had sacrificed this treasure at the last moment, but under the combined assault of the Cloud Roaming Sword, the Thunder Beast Battle Guard, and the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, he still couldn't save his life and met his end here with regret.

This treasure could undoubtedly be considered a supreme defensive artifact, worthy of being categorized among top-tier spirit treasures. While the Heaven-Confining Golden Lock could manifest void domain Divine Abilities, the talismans used by the Immortal Child and others revealed its limitations; the world was not short of means to counteract it. The jade screen, however, was a purely protective artifact, which might be more crucial for most cultivators.

It was simply unfortunate luck for the man in green to encounter Qin Sang and the Cloud Roaming Sword.

It was unclear if this jade screen was a treasure bestowed by an elder of the Alien race, but it certainly couldn't compare to the Imperial Sovereign Talisman.

Perhaps those Alien race elders weren't as affluent as True Lord Ning, or perhaps these younger cultivators simply weren't as significant to them.

Qin Sang had exerted almost his full strength, primarily out of concern for the man in green's origins, fearing he might possess a supreme treasure bestowed by an elder that could lead to his undoing. If the Immortal Child's possessions were also only of this caliber, then Qin Sang's odds of victory would increase further.

In a flash, Qin Sang had already vanished from the spot.

A formidable late-stage Empty Realm cultivator had died here so silently, completely unbeknownst to both the black-robed cultivator and the Immortal Child.

Up ahead, the chase between the Immortal Child and Qin Sang was still ongoing.

Qin Sang had previously separated his Dharma Body, concealing it within the Minor Grotto-Heaven along with the Heavenly Eye Butterfly. He left behind only his true self and an early-stage Void Refinement Dharma Aspect. His strength was thus sharply diminished, and even with his best attempts at disguise, vulnerabilities were inevitable.

To prolong the delay, Qin Sang moved recklessly, weaving through various ancient forbidden areas within the secret realms, using the surrounding environment for concealment.

However, it was impossible to completely deceive the Immortal Child. The Immortal Child quickly became aware, but upon noticing the strange changes in Qin Sang, he chose not to launch an immediate, forceful assault.

Firstly, Qin Sang had repeatedly escaped danger before, making the Immortal Child increasingly wary and fearful of another scheme.

Secondly, the man in green was not present; he was secretly preparing a mystic art.

If the man in green hadn't exaggerated, once his mystic art was complete, he would be able to trap Qin Sang. The Immortal Child's priority was simply to keep Qin Sang in sight; a sudden change in strategy might introduce unforeseen complications.

Thus, the Immortal Child opted for a cautious approach.

Nevertheless, even if the Immortal Child attacked with full force, Qin Sang was not entirely without recourse. He kept Xiao Wu by his side, which could at least buy him some time.

Unaware that he had missed his best opportunity, the Immortal Child's thoughts remained fixated on the man in green behind him even as he pursued Qin Sang.

The consequences of splitting his Dharma Body became apparent; the distance between them was gradually closing. Qin Sang emerged from a secret realm looking rather disheveled.

"Splash!"

From ahead came the distinct sound of rushing water.

Qin Sang saw a great river ahead and rejoiced internally, murmuring about his good fortune. Among his previously scouted options, the now-destroyed Light Filament Secret Realm had been the top choice, but the others were comparable, including this very river.

The great river flowed through the void, neither bound to the sky nor the earth. Its waters were murky yellow, with turbulent, unpredictable waves and a swift current.

This was a poisonous river, its waters imbued with potent venom. Records indicated that this river was originally not so vast, but a winding stream traversing various secret realms. Those secret realms had since been washed away by the river, transforming the poisonous river itself into a majestic, surging torrent.

This was the battlefield he had prepared for the Immortal Child!

Without hesitation, Qin Sang leaped directly into the poisonous river, his immense impact creating colossal waves at its center.

The Immortal Child followed swiftly, and upon sensing the aura emanating from the poisonous river, his expression immediately changed.

"Poison?"

He had also prepared some means to counteract poison, though they were no match for those of true poison cultivators.

However, letting Qin Sang escape was absolutely out of the question.

Before leaping into the poisonous river, the Immortal Child couldn't help but glance back; Brother Tang remained unaccounted for.

The Immortal Child wasn't concerned that Brother Tang would flee the battle. They had an agreement that the promise would only be fulfilled upon Qin Sang's death, and he believed his offer held immense appeal for Brother Tang.

The situation was currently excellent; Qin Sang was at the end of his tether. Once Brother Qi arrived, victory would be secured, leaving no reason to abandon the pursuit.

But why was Brother Tang so slow to activate his mystic art?

For some reason, the Immortal Child felt a vague unease. Yet, he couldn't abandon Qin Sang to go back and question Brother Tang, so he could only secretly urge him via a mystic art.

As the river water touched him, a wisp of colorful energy flew from the Immortal Child's sleeve. It coiled around him, causing a layer of finely detailed, colorful scales, like snake scales, to immediately appear on his robes, emitting an eerie glow.

The colorful scales blocked the potent venom within the river, and the Immortal Child's speed remained undiminished. He quickly pursued Qin Sang deep into the poisonous river.

Before long, a figure appeared by the riverbank. It was not Brother Tang, whom the Immortal Child expected, but Qin Sang's Dharma Body.

As expected, this could now serve as the Immortal Child's tomb!

Qin Sang mused that this was the advantage of having broad knowledge; no matter the predicament, he could always devise a solution.

After being pursued for so long, he had only just vented a breath of pent-up frustration. Only by slaying the Immortal Child could he truly feel vindicated.

He wondered how Liuli was doing.

This thought flashed through Qin Sang's mind. When they had set the ambush, he and Liuli had performed a secret talisman technique, meticulously preparing a means of communication. This mystic art required leaving a portion of one's spiritual sense with the other, executable only with mutual trust, yet there had been no contact whatsoever until now.

Perhaps due to the overly complex terrain, the ancient forbidden areas and secret realms within the Coiling Dragon Cave were layered and intricate, creating a convoluted spiritual energy that interfered with the mystic art's effectiveness.

The next moment, Qin Sang's Dharma Body plunged into the poisonous river without restraint, swiftly traversing its waters.

Qin Sang's true self knew that the man in green had been slain by his Dharma Body. Sensing the Dharma Body's rapid approach, he was already devising a plan to deal with the Immortal Child.

Just then, Qin Sang's gaze slightly sharpened. He intermittently sensed Liuli's transmission, though it was extremely faint, clearly hindered by the Coiling Dragon Cave. His brows then furrowed deeply.

He learned of Liuli's predicament. She had performed far better than he had anticipated. With the man in green now dead, the situation had significantly shifted in their favor. Without those two unexpected guests, they would have a considerable chance of slaying the Immortal Child here and escaping unharmed.

Those two introduced new variables. While Liuli's decision certainly bought more time, it also placed her in considerable danger. Once those two learned the truth, or if the black-robed cultivator sensed his companion's aura and secretly colluded, Liuli would be facing three Alien race experts alone, a perilous situation!

As the saying goes, "As long as the green mountains remain, there will always be wood to burn." Even if he were to return empty-handed, he would not wish for any harm to befall Liuli.

Slaying the man in green in battle was a sufficiently impressive feat. His inexplicable death was enough to deter others. From now on, anyone who wished to contend with Qin Sang would first have to weigh the consequences.

But even if he rushed back immediately, it would be too late to assist Liuli. Moreover, due to the Coiling Dragon Cave's influence, Liuli's message had likely been sent some time ago. Now, Liuli could only rely on the Imperial Sovereign Talisman. As long as the spiritual talisman's power remained, she could also leverage the chilling energy of the ice plain and her knowledge of the Coiling Dragon Cave to escape before her enemies reacted.

Qin Sang immediately sent a message to Liuli, informing her of his situation and urging her not to persist. She should retreat decisively if she noticed anything unusual.

He and the Immortal Child had already delved deep into the Coiling Dragon Cave. It would take time for the enemies to arrive. Using this window, he might still be able to take down the Immortal Child.

The Immortal Child had likely never considered the possibility of being counter-killed by Qin Sang. Bringing all four companion beasts with him was tantamount to forsaking the Siyou Clan's most precious Divine Ability!

Unsure of Liuli's current predicament or if she could receive his transmission, Qin Sang suppressed the anxiety in his heart. His eyes flashed with fierce resolve as he suddenly ceased his flight, stopping in place.

"Swish swish..."

The river water swirled around him.

Compared to the Immortal Child, who relied on snake scales to fend off the potent venom, Qin Sang was visibly more at ease. The river water clung to his skin without any impedance, yet caused him no harm.

Noticing Qin Sang's actions, the Immortal Child subconsciously paused. Although he detected that Qin Sang's aura had weakened considerably, his initial reaction was not joy, but heightened vigilance.

The Immortal Child secretly felt ashamed and annoyed, letting out a cold snort. "Why aren't you running anymore?"

Before the words fully left his mouth, three streaks of light shot forward — his three companion beasts, pouncing fiercely toward Qin Sang.

Since Qin Sang had given up escaping, there was no reason for him to retreat.

As things stood, were it not for Qin Sang's remarkable escape techniques, the Immortal Child was confident he could slay Qin Sang even without assistance!

"Swish!"

As the three companion beasts charged out, three rays of five-colored divine light shot directly at them.

The Immortal Child dared not directly confront the five-colored divine light. However, after this period of protracted combat, he had already devised countermeasures with his companions.

The figures of the three companion beasts twisted, their trajectories unpredictable, leaving trails of afterimages. Simultaneously, a streak of verdant light showered down from above, revealing a single green leaf that instantly split into thousands.

The leaves were emerald green and vibrant. When grazed by the three rays of five-colored divine light, some solidified and others shattered, but immediately, more falling leaves surged forward.

In the blink of an eye, the five-colored divine light was submerged by the endless shower of leaves. Immediately, three figures burst forth from within them.

Under the cover of the green leaves, the companion beasts successfully avoided the five-colored divine light, letting out excited roars.

Simultaneously, the Immortal Child secretly activated a magical chant, repeatedly striking the Extinction Gourd in his hand. Qin Sang's choice to fight to the death perfectly suited his intentions. He only needed to divert a portion of his focus to maintain the Extinction Gourd, finally able to fully concentrate on dealing with Qin Sang.

The Extinction Gourd slowly ascended and gradually faded, finally vanishing into thin air, its whereabouts unknown. Yet, the surrounding Nine Revolutions Extinction Wind showed no signs of dissipating.

The Immortal Child patted the last companion beast beside him. The creature, seemingly impatient, charged out violently.

Immediately after, the Immortal Child took out a jade bracelet and was about to activate it when he suddenly felt a subtle fluctuation from behind. A flicker of joy involuntarily crossed his eyes.

"Brother Tang has finally arrived; the overall situation is decided!"

This thought had just flashed through the Immortal Child's mind when his expression abruptly changed.

"Boom!"

Someone was parting the waters and breaking through the waves, approaching with extreme speed. This aura was completely different from Brother Tang's, yet it was disturbingly familiar.

The Immortal Child spun around abruptly, an incredulous expression on his face.

"Are you waiting for me, fellow Daoist?"

A long, mocking laugh came from behind him. It was clearly Qin Sang's voice, filled with an air of amusement and derision.

The next moment, Qin Sang's tone grew cold and serious. "If you were waiting for this one, there's no need..."

Before he finished speaking, a streak of light broke through the river water and scattered before the Immortal Child, revealing the corpses of spiritual insects.

The myriad corpses stung the Immortal Child's eyes.

Among them, the man in green's primary spirit insect was absent. That primary spirit insect, seemingly dismembered, had actually been reduced to dust by the sword intent.

However, among them were several special spirit insects highly valued by the man in green, which he considered his 'internal organs.' These were core spirit insects that supported his Divine Abilities, second only to his primary spirit insect in importance.

During their previous discussions, the Immortal Child had seen two of them and recognized them instantly. These undoubtedly belonged to the man in green; there could be no mistake.

The man in green's cultivation method was unique: man was insect, and insect was man.

His spirit insects were dead, so where was he?

"Brother Tang!"

The Immortal Child's body trembled. He had never expected to find not Brother Tang's mystic art, but countless insect corpses.

"Impossible! You..."

The sight of these insect corpses was too shocking, their implications too horrifying! He didn't realize his voice was trembling slightly, and his expression betrayed unconcealed horror.

"This fellow died for others, and I fear he won't rest in peace! Ah, and that other fellow from before... the two of them can journey together on the Yellow Springs Road, so they needn't fear loneliness..."

Qin Sang burst into uproarious laughter, his mirth wild and unrestrained.

In the art of war, psychological warfare is paramount.

Having fought countless battles, he naturally understood this principle deeply.

Ordinarily, cultivators who reached the Void Refinement stage, having endured extensive tempering, would possess wills as hard as iron, making them difficult to sway by external forces. Psychological tactics would typically prove ineffective. However, the Immortal Child before him clearly fell outside this category.

It seemed too comfortable within the Holy Land, Qin Sang mused. Seeing how easily the Immortal Child's resolve was shaken, he decided to press his advantage and immediately summoned the Thunder Beast Battle Guard.

"Swish!"

A burst of lightning flashed in the river.

From within the thunder, a figure emerged, towering and awe-inspiring, emanating an overwhelmingly powerful aura no less formidable than that of a late-stage Void Refinement expert.

The Immortal Child's pupils constricted to pinpricks, and his heart was filled with ultimate horror!