Chapter 2206: Boundary Wall

The Human World

Qin Sang returned to the vicinity of the shattered mountain fragment and saw Liu Li meditating on a floating rock.

At this moment, the current wave of beast hordes was nearing its end. From a distance, Qin Sang sensed the aura emanating from the battlefield; the defense line was very stable, and the beast horde was firmly blocked, unable to advance even half a step.

"Fellow Daoist Qin!"

Liu Li slowly opened her eyes, felt a slight relief upon seeing Qin Sang, and asked with concern, "Why did Lord Hong Tian summon you?"

Qin Sang explained the situation, and Liu Li fell silent.

Just then, the beast horde was completely cleared. Patriarch Yuan Xiang and Ji Xia received Qin Sang's message and flew over.

Patriarch Yuan Xiang scrutinized Qin Sang from head to toe and asked, "Lord Hong Tian didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"

Qin Sang shook his head slightly. "Did either of you sense anything just now?"

"Are you referring to..."

Patriarch Yuan Xiang and Ji Xia's expressions tightened, becoming serious. They had indeed sensed something unusual earlier but weren't certain.

Firstly, the battlefield was chaotic with various auras, and secondly, Hong Tian and King Long Jiao had intervened to suppress it, so their perception wasn't as clear as Qin Sang's.

"Precisely what you two are thinking!"

Qin Sang nodded and revealed some of the information he had received from Hong Tian to the two. "More fellow Daoists will break through to the Saint Realm later. There will likely be a fierce struggle ahead, and if we want to gain something, we must plan ahead..."

He was referring to the upcoming struggle between the Water and Heaven Divisions. He had already seen the list of treasures Hong Tian provided, and some of them greatly tempted him.

If he could obtain even one of them, it would make this trip worthwhile!

This competition might be the one with the least pressure ever. Some top powerhouses, like Hong Tian, who have achieved the Saint Realm, will no longer participate. Furthermore, most alien race cultivators have been forced out of the Sacred Land due to the anomaly.

Previously, the struggle between the Water and Heaven Divisions resembled two armies clashing. Going solo was not feasible when facing such a large force; individuals had to form alliances and follow the general trend. For outsiders like Qin Sang, who lacked a foundation, even if they qualified, their chances were very slim.

This time, personal strength carries more weight, though it's still crucial to gather allies as much as possible.

"I see!"

Patriarch Yuan Xiang murmured, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes.

Throughout the entire alien race, Patriarch Yuan Xiang ranked among the top, being one of the most promising top powerhouses to break through to the Saint Realm.

The anomaly in the Sacred Land contained unimaginable great opportunities, and the number of individuals achieving the Saint Realm this time would far exceed previous occasions. How could he not feel regret at not being among them?

Ji Xia, meanwhile, was lost in thought, seemingly pondering something.

Given Patriarch Yuan Xiang's mental fortitude, he naturally wouldn't remain immersed in regret. He quickly regained his composure and asked, "Did Lord Hong Tian reveal how the struggle between the Water and Heaven Divisions will be conducted?"

The struggle between the Water and Heaven Divisions was also an opportunity. They missed the last one, so they definitely had to seize this one tightly!

"We must wait until all the Saint Realm grand cultivators have arrived to discuss it together," Qin Sang said.

"It seems we'll have to wait a while longer," Patriarch Yuan Xiang glanced outside and mused. "The beast horde shows no sign of stopping. In this current situation, having two armies clash or engage in one-on-one combat is unrealistic. Perhaps the outcome will ultimately depend on the beast horde itself, or within the Heart Lake."

Patriarch Yuan Xiang's words coincided with Qin Sang's thoughts. The simplest method might be to determine victory by the number of demonic beasts killed, so they couldn't relax next and had to exert all their efforts in slaying demons!

If the decisive battle were to take place in the Heart Lake, it would be difficult to predict, and they could only wait and see how things unfolded.

"True Man Qin's injuries?" Patriarch Yuan Xiang noticed the abnormality in Qin Sang's aura.

After leaving the Coiling Dragon Cave, Qin Sang and Liu Li had been in a hurry and hadn't had a chance to properly heal their injuries.

"It's fine!" Qin Sang said confidently. He hadn't actually suffered fundamental injuries. During this time, he had been continuously consuming pills and refining their medicinal properties, and his injuries were gradually recovering.

Soon, Liu Li also made a decision, and as Qin Sang expected, she chose to go with him! However, Liu Li knew her limits; her goal wasn't the 'seed' but the opportunity to transcend her tribulation. If that secret realm still existed, she would immediately withdraw after obtaining her opportunity and not covet the 'seed', so the danger should not be great.

Immediately, Qin Sang sat cross-legged and seized the time to heal his injuries.

When the next wave of beast hordes arrived, the four of them flew back to the battlefield together. Seeing Yuan Jian and the others, Qin Sang's expression remained normal, and he nodded in greeting.

"True Man Qin has finally returned; we can relax a bit now. You didn't encounter any danger inside, did you? Patriarch Yuan Xiang and I were very worried," Yuan Jian said with a face full of concern, showing no signs of abnormality.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder Yuan. My luck has been good, and things went quite smoothly," Qin Sang replied with a smile, then, obeying Patriarch Yuan Xiang's command, took a position within the great formation.

"That's good then. True Man Qin is a blessed person; Heaven helps those who help themselves!"

Yuan Jian nodded, his gaze slightly lowered as he looked outside the formation, though his heart was far from calm, filled with doubt and surprise.

The Immortal Child had clearly sworn to kill Qin Sang, so why did he fail?

He didn't know what had happened inside, and his attempts to contact the Immortal Child using secret arts were like stones sinking into the ocean, yielding no response.

'Rumble...'

Thousands of beasts surged forward, a dense, dark mass like a tide, rushing out from the depths of the thick fog.

Feeling the aura of the beast horde, Qin Sang's expression became serious. The demonic beasts within the horde were gradually growing stronger, more than just a notch above their initial strength. No wonder everyone, even relying on the great formation, could barely conceal their weariness.

'Whoosh!'

The ribbon-like sash swayed slightly, and a blue tide of light immediately surged up from the edge of the great formation, instantly colliding with the beast horde.

'Boom!'

The earth shattered and the heavens collapsed.

Under the protection of the great formation, everyone felt a suffocating sensation and their bodies trembled violently.

Through the blue tide of light, everyone could clearly see the fierce gleam in the demonic beasts' eyes and their terrifying killing intent.

Immediately, upon seeing the scene outside the formation, everyone's faces lit up with joy. The spiritual formation's power alone had actually blocked the most ferocious impact of the beast horde. The more astute individuals had already faintly guessed something.

Qin Sang and the others, knowing the inside story, understood that the new Saint Realm grand cultivator's arrival must have greatly enhanced the spiritual formation's power.

They could expect the next few waves of beast hordes to be easier.

"Hmph! Take this!"

Accompanying a furious roar, a figure burst forth from the formation and plunged into the beast horde. There was no need to guess; it was Yuan Ren.

Most cultivators sent into the Heart Lake had returned safely, and Yuan Ren joined the battle immediately upon his return.

Everyone already had a tacit understanding, coordinating their attacks around Yuan Ren. Qin Sang and Liu Li, as before, unleashed lightning spells and frost/snow respectively. Furthermore, with the protection of the spiritual formation, there was no need to worry about sneak attacks from the grey figures; they were often locked onto by the formation's power and obliterated the moment they appeared.

On the battlefield, thunder roared and wind mixed with snow, making the fighting even more intense than before.

After a fierce battle, Yuan Ren, with a burst of momentum, charged back and forth through the beast multitude, scattering the horde. Then, everyone began to clear the battlefield, annihilating the demonic beasts. Afterwards, they rested on the spot, recuperating, waiting for the next wave of beast hordes to arrive.

This continued for three consecutive days, with wave after wave of beast hordes arriving, and the pressure on everyone increased daily.

On the fourth day, as they were fighting the beast horde, Qin Sang felt an unusual fluctuation, his expression shifting. He then noticed Patriarch Yuan Xiang's gaze on him.

Qin Sang nodded. These past few days, he had been paying close attention to the outside; another new Saint Realm grand cultivator might be about to emerge!

He couldn't help but recall the rumor: the great change in the Sacred Land, the flourishing of the alien race, and the emergence of so many Saint Realm grand cultivators at once—it was indeed a sign of prosperity.

As expected, when the next wave of beast hordes arrived, the great formation's power increased once again. By now, even those unaware of the full details could guess a thing or two.

Everyone had a subtle sense of impending storm, silently facing wave after wave of beast hordes that seemed endless. What was even more unbearable was that killing so many demonic beasts yielded no benefits; it was tedious and boring.

Day after day, another ten-plus days passed, during which there were two more fluctuations of heavenly might. If they all successfully transcended their tribulations, six Saint Realm grand cultivators would have already emerged from this Sacred Land trial!

Who knew how much longer they would have to wait?

Qin Sang thought of the secret realm; there was no need to rush. Since Hong Tian hadn't sent any instructions, it meant they couldn't enter the secret realm yet.

Not long after the sixth Saint Realm grand cultivator appeared, everyone repelled a new wave of beast hordes. Ji Xia, who was sitting on Qin Sang's shoulder, suddenly trembled all over.

Qin Sang noticed and turned to look.

"The Old Patriarch is summoning me," Ji Xia said, surprised, and rose to disappear into the sky.

His actions drew everyone's attention.

"Could that be the Patriarch of the Jiao Jiao tribe?" Patriarch Yuan Xiang asked via telepathic message.

"Probably..."

Qin Sang wasn't particularly happy about this. He only had a friendship with Ji Hong; with Ji Xia, they were merely acquaintances.

Regardless, this was definitely not a bad thing. If the Patriarch of the Jiao Jiao tribe sent Ji Xia, Qin Sang would gain another ally. Hong Tian hadn't said he wanted to monopolize all the 'seeds', so not everyone was an adversary.

As for betraying Hong Tian and defecting to the Patriarch of the Jiao Jiao tribe, Qin Sang had never even entertained such a thought. Being indecisive and wavering between two sides was the greatest taboo. His acquaintance with the Jiao Jiao tribe was not enough for their Patriarch to treat him with special regard.

As Ji Xia didn't return for a long time, everyone could only suppress their curiosity and prepare for a new wave of beast hordes.

However, with more and more Saint Realm grand cultivators emerging, the spiritual formation's power continuously increased. This was by no means a simple addition; everyone no longer had to fight the beast horde with all their might.

Within the spiritual formation, everyone could sense that it was continuously evolving, its intricacies far surpassing their comprehension.

Qin Sang and Patriarch Yuan Xiang exchanged whispers, speculating that as this spiritual formation continued to improve, perhaps not so many people would be needed to guard it later. The Saint Realm grand cultivators and the formation alone might be able to resist the beast hordes. They might be withdrawn and given other arrangements, and then the struggle between the Water and Heaven Divisions would begin.

After all, they were not Saint Realm grand cultivators and couldn't jump off the chessboard; they could only make guesses based on the limited information available.

As expected, the spiritual formation underwent successive transformations, and the void became increasingly stable. Another ten-plus days passed without further fluctuations of heavenly might, though it was also possible that these fluctuations were blocked by the spiritual formation.

No one knew how many Saint Realm grand cultivators were currently in the heavens.

On this day, Qin Sang suddenly received a message from Hong Tian. His heart tightened. He informed Liu Li and Patriarch Yuan Xiang, then soared into the sky.

Watching Qin Sang's departing back, a shadow flashed in Yuan Jian's eyes. With his intelligence, it wasn't hard to guess why Qin Sang had suddenly left. This meant that Qin Sang now had a strong patron within the alien race and was no longer someone to be easily manipulated!

Mid-flight, Hong Tian's telepathic message sounded in Qin Sang's ear, "Go here."

Hong Tian indicated a direction. Qin Sang searched and found an empty sea of mist.

"Lord Hong Tian, your junior has arrived," Qin Sang said, bowing to the void.

A moment later, an unfamiliar female voice came from above, "Are you True Man Qin?"

The female voice was full of authority, her true form unseen, yet she exerted a heavy pressure.

"Indeed, it is this junior. Greetings, Senior!"

Qin Sang bowed again, already having a guess in his heart.

This must be the person invited by Hong Tian to bestow the lightning spell upon him. He wondered what price Hong Tian had paid.

"Be careful. I will only make one move. If you fail yourself, don't blame me!" the female voice said coldly.

Qin Sang's heart sank. He quickly said, "Please allow this junior to make some preparations, My Lord."

"You have one hour."

The female voice vanished, and stillness returned to the surroundings. Qin Sang dared not delay. He summoned his Thunder Beast Battle Guard and sat cross-legged opposite it.

Mount Ziyun.

In the stone pavilion.

A few casual notes of zither music occasionally resounded.

The old Daoist priest sipped his tea accompanied by the zither music, looking quite content.

Neither he nor True Man Ning spoke, both staring intently at the treasured mirror. Ever since the previous scene was erased, the mirror had remained a chaotic blur, and it was unclear what they could discern from it.

"So much time has passed. It seems the Divine Monarch's current enlightenment has a strong chance of success," the old Daoist priest lamented, not hiding his envy.

"The Divine Monarch would not rashly attempt a breakthrough without confidence. When it comes to steadfastness, who can compare to the Divine Monarch? Only the Divine Monarch could lead the alien race safely through several eras, with the entire clan remaining united in mind and virtue to this day," True Man Ning said, not sparing his admiration.

"Not necessarily entirely united in mind and virtue, after all, the entire alien race will benefit from the Divine Monarch's enlightenment. Of course, the Divine Monarch's prestige is truly unmatched. Without him, the alien race would have long been caught in endless internal strife like the Witch race. Back then, the Divine Monarch resolutely decided to take on the responsibility of guarding this realm's barrier forever, which was truly an act of lasting merit for the alien race..."

At this point, the old Daoist priest remembered something. "By the way, it's almost time for Senior Sister to guard the realm barrier, isn't it?"

"Yes."

True Man Ning nodded.

"If Senior Sister..."

Just as he was speaking, the old Daoist priest's expression suddenly changed. He abruptly stood up, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

True Man Ning also slowly rose, gazing solemnly beyond the mountain.

The direction they were looking was precisely towards the River of Karma.

"Hmph!"

The old Daoist priest snorted in anger. "This realm barrier has been stable for tens of thousands of years, and now those demon whelps are restless again. Do they intend to cause trouble while the Divine Monarch is in enlightenment? They are certainly well-informed!"

He put down his teacup, flicked his finger, and several beams of green light shot towards the sky. Then, he bowed to True Man Ning and said, "I don't know what arrangements the Divine Monarch has made, but if the people from the demon realm break through this barrier and cause chaos in the East Sea, there will be endless trouble. This humble Daoist will go and take a look first. I'll take my leave of Senior Sister now."

"I'll go with you," True Man Ning said indifferently, gently waving her sleeve and putting away the treasured zither from the table.

The old Daoist priest was overjoyed. "Thank you, Senior Sister. With Senior Sister present, it will certainly be foolproof!"

Immediately, the two flew out of the stone pavilion, their figures slowly fading in mid-air and vanishing into thin air.

Their actions alerted no one, not even the disciples of Mount Ziyun who guarded the mountain-protecting formation noticed anything.