Chapter 2318: Insect Tomb

**Wuxia and Xianxia**

The Ethereal Domain's divine ability enveloped the battlefield!

Back then, Qin Sang only possessed the Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock, yet it made many enemies wary. Now, having obtained both the Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock and the Earth-Imprisoning Divine Ring, he finally displayed their true power, making the Ethereal Domain's divine ability even stronger than before!

Among cultivators at the late-stage Void Refinement realm, very few are capable of comprehending the Ethereal Domain. Aside from those with extraordinary talent or exceptional fortuitous encounters, it is usually the top-tier cultivators who have reached the peak of the Void Refinement realm, continuing to delve into the Great Dao and gradually understanding the mysteries of the Ethereal Domain through persistent effort. The old woman, however, was not among them.

The gap between the Body Integration and Void Refinement realms is like a chasm, and its root lies in the Dharma Domain. A Void Refinement cultivator who has mastered the Ethereal Domain, when facing peers, while not directly determining victory or defeat, can still exert powerful suppression.

Back then, if not for the Ethereal Profound Divine Light of the Sky-Eyed Butterfly, Qin Sang would have also fallen victim to the Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock.

"Ethereal Domain power!"

The old woman turned pale with shock, her hand clutching the wooden staff trembling involuntarily.

She and the old man had been famous for a long time, their notorious reputation echoing throughout the northern lands of the Wu Clan. They were known as the Twin Fiends of Tianyu, and some even feared them more than the Wu Shamans of the Tianyu Clan.

Neither of them had mastered the Ethereal Domain's power. Yet, this unknown elder of the Dongyang Clan had actually comprehended the Ethereal Domain.

"No... it's not him... it's these two spirit treasures!"

The old woman saw through the source of the Ethereal Domain's power, but it did nothing to help her situation.

Now she finally understood why the old man had to use his escape secret technique right after their initial skirmish.

The old man used his escape secret technique, relying on her wooden staff to get away, so he still needed her help. However, at this moment, the old woman could barely protect herself, let alone help others.

She opened her mouth, letting out strange shrieks. It was as if a wind tunnel was hidden inside her mouth, spewing forth visible gusts of gray wind.

In an instant, the gray wind transformed into a hurricane, possessing the terrifying momentum to uproot mountains.

The hurricane encircled the old woman, and a human-like silhouette emerged within the wind. It was like a colossal deity, standing between heaven and earth. Its legs were taller than mountains, and its head touched the sky. Its giant, bell-like eyes shot out bizarre divine light. Everything on the ground appeared minuscule before it, including Qin Sang and the two spirit treasures.

Its arms were longer than its body, forming two massive black tornadoes. One palm reached up to prop up the sky, while the other pushed down on the ground.

The physical forms of the Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock and Earth-Imprisoning Divine Ring were not even as large as the giant's fingernails. The golden light materialized by the Ethereal Domain's power seemed about to be obliterated by the hurricane, and the two spirit treasures were about to fall into the giant's grasp.

Just then, the giant's movements abruptly ceased. Its palms were within arm's reach of the two spirit treasures, yet it was as if an insurmountable chasm separated them, preventing any further progress!

The giant remained frozen in that strange posture, stiff and immobile. The hurricane rapidly subsided, and since the hurricane was the basis of the giant's existence, the giant's figure became increasingly faint, its boundless mighty aura vanishing like smoke.

The old woman's face was filled with horror.

She had once doubted whether this Ethereal Domain power was just for show. After witnessing her own divine ability being so easily shattered, she had no doubts left!

Azure flames suddenly surged around the old woman.

Unlike the previous giant, these azure flames did not possess a grand display of power. However, when Qin Sang saw the azure flames, he couldn't help but frown, a sense of unease inexplicably rising within him.

Whoosh!

The azure flames instantly engulfed the old woman.

At this moment, Qin Sang felt as if a large void had opened within his Ethereal Domain, precisely where the old woman was. Yet, no resistance could be detected.

Qin Sang inwardly thought, "This is not good." He fully activated the pair of spirit treasures, but saw the azure flames, which had reached their peak, begin to wane. When the flames vanished, so did the old woman!

Hundreds of miles away, atop another tall mountain, a streak of azure light appeared in the air, followed by a ball of azure flame, and the old woman emerged right behind it.

The look of shock still lingered on her face. One hand clutched her wooden staff, while in the other, she held a gray branch that had appeared unnoticed. It was finger-thick, about three feet long, twisted, and looked like a random withered twig.

Azure flames were burning on the other end of the withered branch, reducing half of it to ashes.

The old woman gazed at Qin Sang, her malevolent eyes mixed with lingering fear.

This time, they had trusted their clan's intelligence too much, greatly underestimating their opponent's strength. Fortunately, she had this branch from the Tianbian Divine Tree.

The Tianyu Clan possessed a spirit tree called Tianbian, which held an extremely high status within the clan. Many clan members relied on the power of this spirit tree for their cultivation. The relationship between the Tianyu Clan and the Tianbian Tree was akin to symbiosis. However, only the original ancestral tree was revered as a divine tree. The withered branch in her hand was a branch from that ancestral tree!

She had once rendered great service to the clan, which was why she was bestowed with a branch from the ancestral tree. She never imagined half of it would be wasted here for nothing! Gazing at the half-burned remnant, the old woman felt immense heartache. How could she not resent Qin Sang, the culprit?

However, had she not decisively used the ancestral tree branch, she would likely have paid an even greater price.

The old woman glanced at the wooden staff in her hand. The young sprout at its tip had lost its chance to grow into a large tree. Its green leaves had withered and turned yellow, and all vitality was completely extinguished.

Even if she hadn't managed to help in time, the secret technique shouldn't have been interrupted so quickly. Something must have gone wrong with the old man's side as well!

At the same time the old woman was nearly trapped by the Ethereal Domain,

Inside the sword formation, the old man witnessed his companion being captured. A dangerous premonition arose in his heart. Without attempting to test the sword formation's power, he decisively activated his escape secret technique.

The old man's entire body underwent a transformation. His skin turned into rough bark. His feet sprouted roots. His body became a tree trunk, which was strangely square-shaped. His arms transformed into two branches. Clusters of green leaves sprouted from his joints, their shape somewhat resembling mallow. He had shockingly abandoned his human form and transformed into a spirit tree!

"A Tianbian Spirit Tree!"

Qin Sang observed the old man's transformation.

He had read the ancient texts sent by She Chan, knowing the importance of the Tianbian Tree to the Tianyu Clan. It truly lived up to its reputation.

The spirit tree the old man transformed into completed its entire life cycle in an instant. In a blink, it reached its decay.

Its leaves withered, and its trunk cracked. Finally, only a single azure seed remained, as if it had absorbed all the spirit tree's vitality. The seed gradually became ethereal. Once this seed vanished, the old man would be reborn outside the sword formation.

After his battle with Jing, Qin Sang was no stranger to such situations.

His previously invincible sword formation, when facing Wu Clan cultivators, always encountered various unexpected situations. The life-saving methods of powerful Wu Clan members were often surprising and unpredictable.

This secret technique of 'rebirth through a tree' was something Qin Sang had never heard of. If it were anyone else, they would probably have to watch helplessly as the old man escaped the sword formation, unable to do anything.

However, no matter how miraculous or counter-intuitive the talents and divine abilities of Wu Clan cultivators were, they were still limited by their own cultivation realms. And the Dharma Domain was a power that transcended this realm!

The Sword Domain!

The starlight interwove brilliantly, and the four star domains became one integrated whole. The roars of tigers and cries of dragons ultimately transformed into...

...a single sword cry!

The Four Symbols Sword Formation, infused with the power of the Sword Domain, had once shattered Jing's hopes. Now, it similarly severed the old man's retreat!

The seed was seen trembling violently, reverting from ethereal to solid.

*Crack!*

The seed cracked, erupting in a burst of azure light.

The vitality contained within the seed did not grow into a new Tianbian Spirit Tree. Instead, it transformed back into the old man.

"The Sword Domain! Who exactly are you?!"

The old man was disheveled and pale. This was partly due to the backlash from his failed secret technique, and partly due to his fear of the strength Qin Sang displayed.

Qin Sang did not reply, instead focusing on fiercely activating the sword formation to attack, continuously weakening the old man's strength.

The old man's secret technique had been broken, and he suffered a backlash. Without external aid, there was no possibility of escape. Defeat was only a matter of time.

Qin Sang's attention shifted to another battlefield.

Outside the sword formation, the old woman's actions greatly surprised Qin Sang. He didn't know what kind of treasure that withered branch was, but it had easily broken through the blockade of the two spirit treasures, foiling his intention to capture all three individuals.

Qin Sang's gaze flickered as he looked at the half-burned withered branch in the old woman's hand. It would be nearly impossible to trap the old woman again.

Just now, Qin Sang actually wasn't without a chance to keep the old woman trapped.

If he had deployed the Daiyu Immortal Mountain to enhance the Ethereal Domain's power, with the three treasures working together, it might not have been impossible to keep her.

However, Qin Sang didn't do so. He had already displayed enough. To outsiders, this was already extraordinary strength.

Great strength must be supported by extraordinary foundations. His claim of coming from a declining clan would be hard to believe. If he were to reveal the Daiyu Immortal Mountain again, even She Chan would probably not know how to cover for him.

"Fine, I'll let her go for now."

Qin Sang casually glanced at the old woman. Keeping two people (the old man and another Tianyu Clan cultivator) would be enough to make the Tianyu Clan pay a heavy price.

This simple gesture made the old woman feel as if she were facing a formidable enemy.

She inwardly cursed her misfortune. Even the ancestral tree branch hadn't given her much sense of security. The smartest choice would be to get away from this person as quickly as possible, but her dao partner was deeply trapped by the enemy, and she couldn't just abandon him and flee.

The old woman dared not approach the battlefield again. She warily watched the Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock and Earth-Imprisoning Divine Ring spinning above Qin Sang's head.

She secretly sent a message, seeking aid from her clan, and heavily stamped her wooden staff.

*Thump!*

A streak of azure light, carrying a strange power, rapidly spread across the mountains.

As the vegetation absorbed this power, the earth immediately overflowed with infinite vitality. Unfortunately, this vitality brought them death!

As if deep autumn had arrived, vast swathes of vegetation withered, their vitality converging into a single green glow within them.

The green glow broke open and sprouted, growing into individual Tianbian Spirit Trees.

The Tianbian Spirit Trees that grew from grass stems were slender. Those that absorbed the vigorous vitality of larger trees were robust. For a time, Tianbian Spirit Trees of all sizes grew wildly.

A single tree cannot form a forest, but ten thousand trees can create a dense one!

The mountains turned verdant, and the Tianbian Spirit Trees formed a green ocean. The mountain Qin Sang stood on became an isolated island within this ocean.

*Whoosh!*

All the Tianbian Spirit Trees pointed their branches towards Qin Sang. Their leaves rustled, unleashing waves of green, fiercely assaulting the sword formation.

Facing the fierce onslaught, Qin Sang chose to hold his ground. The Heaven-Trapping Golden Lock and Earth-Imprisoning Divine Ring now protected him. His mind sank into the sword formation, fully countering the old man's retaliation.

Although the old man was unaware of the situation outside, he also knew escape was hopeless.

A late-stage Void Refinement cultivator's desperate counterattack was no small matter. Qin Sang also had to respond cautiously. However, no matter how powerful the divine abilities and spirit treasures the old man unleashed, they ultimately could not contend with the Sword Domain; his defeat was sealed!

"Are you still going to struggle in vain, fellow Daoist?"

Qin Sang's low voice echoed in the starlit sea.

The old man's expression stiffened, and he sneered, "You wish to persuade this old man to surrender?"

Unfortunately, his hurried breathing made his tone less resolute, betraying a hint of false bravado.

"The Tianyu Clan will likely be very happy to redeem you, fellow Daoist. Furthermore, the cause of this battle was a dispute over the position of Wu Shaman. We had no inherent grievances, so why fight to the death?"

Qin Sang knew it would be difficult to capture this person alive. Fortunately, he only sought a ransom.

"You..."

The old man was speechless. His strong desire to live prevented him from uttering any sarcastic remarks.

This Elder Qin was right. It would be truly unworthy for a dignified late-stage Void Refinement cultivator to fall due to a dispute over a Wu Shaman position.

Qin Sang saw the old man's hesitation and struck while the iron was hot. "Our clan's Wu Shaman wishes to have a good talk with the Tianyu Clan. If you agree, we can cease hostilities here, and you can also persuade your companion outside."

Outside the sword formation.

The old woman relentlessly employed various techniques, transforming the area within a thousand li into a dense forest of Tianbian Divine Trees.

But even the greatest tempestuous waves could not shake that isolated island.

Suddenly, the old woman perceived the fluctuations within the sword formation rapidly diminishing. She grew anxious, then heard a weary voice.

"Old woman, stop."

In an instant, all the Tianbian Divine Trees ceased swaying. The forest fell into an eerie silence.

The two exchanged a few words. The old woman's expression fluctuated, eventually settling into a long sigh.

Their skills were inferior; what could they do but sigh in vain!

When both clans received the news and the Wu Shaman's envoys arrived, the battlefield still maintained its previous state.

The old man and another Tianyu Clan cultivator were trapped within the sword formation. Outside the formation lay an endless sea of trees.

The Dongyang Clan's envoy was an elder. He brought a spirit insect that emitted profound light from its mouth, conjuring the figure of She Chan. She Chan, who was far away in Dongyang City, stood before a treasured mirror, communicating without hindrance despite the great distance.

The Tianyu Clan's envoy was a young girl. Her almond-shaped eyes were bright and lively, giving her a mischievous and eccentric air.

"Granny Qi!"

The girl landed beside the old woman, her hands clasped behind her back. She curiously observed the sword formation. "Is Grandpa Qi inside?"

Then she giggled. "Grandpa Qi used to be so majestic! I can't believe he's ever been in such a sorry state! Let's see how he's going to lecture me now!"

The old woman seemed to have no recourse with the girl and said helplessly, "We have let down the clan and the Wu Shaman. After we return, we shall naturally go to the Divine Temple to receive our punishment!"

"Don't worry, Granny Qi, this isn't your fault. The enemy is too cunning. My father said it's all his fault for not recognizing people properly, and we were targeted!"

The girl waved her hand and shouted loudly, "Hey! This envoy has arrived! Why doesn't that fierce person over there show himself?!"

Three figures appeared above the sword formation.

She Chan's ethereal figure stood shoulder to shoulder with Qin Sang, gazing towards them from afar.

"Are you fellow Daoist Yu Gong's daughter?" She Chan asked.

"My name is Yu Ling!" The girl said loudly.

She held up a mustard seed bag and announced loudly, "Everything you asked for is here! Now, hurry up and release the people!"

"Not so fast!" She Chan and Qin Sang had cooperated many times and had excellent rapport. "We still have a few conditions. Can you represent fellow Daoist Yu Gong's will?"

"Cunning scoundrels! I knew you'd go back on your word. You talk to my father yourself," the girl huffed lightly, and tossed out a square jade slip.

She Chan and Yu Gong, the Wu Shaman of the Tianyu Clan, communicated via the spirit insect and the jade slip.

While the two Wu Shamans communicated, the girl kept her eyes on Qin Sang, scrutinizing him curiously. She asked curiously, "Do you have a spirit insect that urgently needs to grow quickly?"

Qin Sang glanced at her and nodded slightly. The spiritual medicines he requested this time were mostly what spirit insects needed, so it wasn't hard for her to guess.

"Then why didn't you go to the Insect Tomb?" the girl pressed.

She Chan's expression changed upon hearing this. "Absolutely not!"