Chapter 2337: Killing Stone

Judging by the height of the blood cloud, he must have landed not far from the Insect Tomb.

Qin Sang took out the jade pendant Yu Ling had given him. After a moment's thought, he activated the divine紋 enchantment within it.

After waiting for a while, several presences suddenly emerged from the blood cloud, rapidly approaching him. Then, a low voice was heard saying, "It's not the Young Master!"

*Whoosh!*

The approaching figures swiftly fanned out, surrounding Qin Sang. Intense killing intent locked onto him. The blood cloud visibly trembled under the impact of these energies, forming a vortex centered around Qin Sang. Although the newcomers did not immediately attack, Qin Sang already felt immense pressure, indicating that every one of them was a powerful expert.

"It's you?" someone exclaimed softly. The voice was familiar; it belonged to the old woman Qin Sang had previously encountered.

Qin Sang looked towards the voice, seeing the blood cloud part to either side as the old woman emerged. She frowned, gazing at Qin Sang, clearly not expecting it to be him. All signs indicated that when the anomaly occurred, Qin Sang and the Shaohao descendants were not spared. Could he have emerged from the Insect Tomb?

When the old woman saw the jade pendant in Qin Sang's hand, her expression drastically changed. "How did the Young Master's jade pendant get into your hands?" she demanded coldly.

"Is this how you ask questions?"

Qin Sang surveyed his surroundings, his gaze finally resting on one direction. There, a young man floated within the blood cloud. His features bore some resemblance to Yu Ling's; he was exceptionally handsome but showed no trace of weakness, possessing an astute and heroic demeanor. Of all the people present, Qin Sang felt he was the most threatening, surpassing even the old woman and the old man.

Hearing Qin Sang's challenge, the crowd stirred.

The young man exchanged a glance with Qin Sang, then waved his hand. "Do not be disrespectful to Elder Qin," he instructed. With that, the young man flashed out of the blood cloud. The others immediately complied, dispersing their encirclement and falling in behind him.

"We were concerned for the Young Master's safety and acted rashly. Please forgive us, Elder Qin," the young man apologized with a cupped-hand salute.

"Is the shaman of the Tianyu Clan not here?" Qin Sang asked, his angry expression softening slightly as he swept his gaze across the group.

Seeing his impudence, the old woman and others showed displeasure, but the young man remained unoffended. He explained, "The Shaman Lord is attending to an important matter and will not arrive for another ten days. Upon learning of the Young Master's predicament, he immediately dispatched us. I am the Shaman Lord's younger brother, Yu Yunyi, and I can represent him. Elder Qin, please feel free to speak directly with me."

"Truly worthy of a Shaman Lord, concerned for the world," Qin Sang said sarcastically, completely ignoring their angry stares, "even abandoning his own daughter whose whereabouts are unknown, taking the world's burdens upon himself." He then added fuel to the fire: "What have you experts been doing here all these days? Surely you weren't all afraid to enter the Insect Tomb, hoping Yu Ling would just emerge on her own? Or were you afraid of the Shaohao descendants, fearing your plot would be exposed?"

This wasn't merely to champion Yu Ling, but an opportune moment for Qin Sang to express his displeasure. He intended to leverage the Tianyu Clan's power, but having recently been schemed against by them, he knew that failing to assert himself would only lead to contempt.

Those present were all top-tier experts of the Tianyu Clan, accustomed to being high above others; who dared to mock them to their faces? Never had they endured such insults, and their anger flared, though secretly, they were also shocked. Qin Sang's words had exposed the identity of the Shaohao descendants and their plans. How much more did he know?

The young man gave a wry smile and sighed. "Elder Qin is right to admonish us. Although we only arrived recently, that's no excuse. We have indeed been held back by too many concerns, causing us to be overly cautious and indecisive, leaving my niece in constant danger. As her uncle, I am truly ashamed."

With the other party adopting such a humble stance, Qin Sang found it difficult to seize the opportunity for further outbursts.

"So you are Miss Yu's uncle," Qin Sang nodded, tossing the jade pendant over. "Miss Yu said this jade pendant was the first gift from her father, serving as a token of trust, containing her message, and entrusting me to deliver it to the Tianyu Clan after leaving the Insect Tomb. Since that is the case, I will hand it over to you."

Hearing this, everyone's expressions varied. This Elder Qin had indeed emerged from the Insect Tomb, and he had even met Yu Ling there. But why was he the only one out? Where was Yu Ling?

All eyes focused on the jade pendant. Yu Yunyi quickly reached out to catch it, immediately sensing the divine patterns and enchantment Yu Ling had left within. He glanced at Qin Sang, then cautiously broke the enchantment, and Yu Ling's voice entered his ears.

Yu Yunyi listened intently as Yu Ling recounted her experiences: infiltrating the underground palace, being swept into the Insect Tomb by the blood light, her time within the tomb, including persuading Qin Sang to form an alliance, and how Qin Sang subsequently rescued her—all recorded within.

Upon learning the details, Yu Yunyi secretly transmitted a message to the old woman: "Is the connection between the Sky-Bound Spirit Spindle and Ling'er still active?" The old woman checked the Sky-Bound Spirit Spindle in her hand. "Yes, the Young Master is still alive." "The contents here should be true," Yu Yunyi stated. "Only my elder brother, Ling'er, and I know the origin of this jade pendant. Moreover, Ling'er has a very fiery temper; if this person had resorted to force, she would surely have chosen death over submission…"

Yu Yunyi stepped forward and bowed deeply to Qin Sang. "Elder Qin has saved Ling'er's life; my elder brother and I will never forget this kindness! There were some misunderstandings previously that involved Elder Qin, but our Tianyu Clan will surely compensate you ten, even a hundredfold!"

He paused, then eagerly asked, "How is Ling'er doing now, I wonder?"

"I don't know either," Qin Sang shook his head. "Not long after she gave me this jade pendant, we were separated due to an accident."

Yu Yunyi pressed, "Then, Elder Qin, how did you…"

"To be honest, I myself am completely bewildered," Qin Sang said, shaking his head repeatedly with a look of confusion and distress. "I was inexplicably drawn into the Insect Tomb and then inexplicably thrown out, as if in a dream. I almost messed up something important."

Naturally, he wouldn't reveal the process of leaving the Insect Tomb. Otherwise, the Tianyu Clan could use this information to open a safe passage in and out, turning the Insect Tomb into their exclusive domain. Given the Tianyu Clan's strength, once they mastered this secret and continuously sent people into the light stream, the treasure coveted by the Heaven's Eye Butterfly would likely fall into their hands.

"This…" The young man and the old woman exchanged glances, suspecting Qin Sang's account was not entirely truthful. However, if they were to forcefully compel Qin Sang to speak, setting aside whether they could even detain him, taking action here would undoubtedly alarm the Shaohao descendants. Forcing this person into the Golden Clan's camp would certainly become a serious hidden danger!

Qin Sang was disinclined to say more. "You all should quickly find a way to rescue Miss Yu. With the help of the Sky-Bound Spirit Spindle, acting swiftly and sending in more experts still holds great hope. You don't need to be so hesitant anymore; unless Bai Xianzi and the others all die inside, you will be exposed sooner or later."

The anger of the Tianyu Clan experts hadn't subsided, but they understood that Qin Sang was right. Compared to Yu Ling, Bai Xianzi and the others clearly had a greater chance of emerging alive. The Wood Clan and the Golden Clan were destined for war, and this incident would become the fuse. Yet, the Tianyu Clan was not ready; the Shaman Lord was still busy persuading the Jumang descendants.

Everyone's expression was grave. Yu Yunyi, still unwilling to give up, made various promises, hoping to exchange them for Qin Sang's secret. Qin Sang remained unmoved, keeping his lips sealed. Finally, he cupped his hands and bid farewell. "Given the matter of Miss Yu's life, I shall not disturb you further."

Yu Yunyi grew anxious. "Elder Qin, can you not stay and assist us? When the Shaman Lord arrives, there will surely be a generous reward!"

"I promised Fellow Daoist She Chan to escort the shamaness of the Dongyang Clan; how can I break my word? I've already delayed too long here and must return. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future; if the chance arises, I will personally visit Tianpian Valley!"

With that, Qin Sang, without further ado, performed a sweeping bow, transformed into a bolt of lightning, and fled towards the forbidden area's exit.

Watching the escaping light vanish into the depths of the blood cloud, everyone was filled with righteous indignation, turning their gazes to Yu Yunyi. Yu Yunyi watched Qin Sang depart. Ultimately, he chose not to intervene, instead giving the order: "Elder Qin is right. Let's not have so many concerns anymore. The most important thing now is to rescue Ling'er!"

The old woman suggested, "Those Shaohao descendants are still unaware of the full situation, and most are still watching the blood well. If we enter the Insect Tomb now, we can still gain the upper hand." She had always been the most in favor of entering the Insect Tomb to rescue people. Qin Sang's appearance proved that Yu Ling had indeed been swept into the Insect Tomb, rather than being trapped at the bottom of the blood well.

Yu Yunyi surveyed the group. Seeing no objections, he nodded. "Good! One person will stay outside to await the Shaman Lord; the rest will follow me into the Insect Tomb!"

At the Blood Well.

After the anomaly occurred, the blood water continuously surged upwards, quickly filling the entire blood well and submerging both the underground palace and the blood pool beneath it. From then on, the blood well ceased to change; the blood level remained even with the wellhead, not overflowing.

At this moment, several individuals, strong in aura, stood in twos and threes outside the blood well—all of them Golden Clan experts. They gazed at the blood well, some with anxious expressions, others with gloomy faces, while a few occasionally glanced at the group gathered south of the well, their faces betraying schadenfreude.

Those were members of the Danbiao Clan, Zhuhong Clan, and Shijiu Clan, who had suffered the most severe losses this time. Other clans had only lost fragments of divine armor. If the divine armor couldn't be repaired, it would be nothing more than a dead object, its symbolic meaning outweighing its true value. However, these three clans had their shamans trapped inside. The Danbiao Clan, in particular, was the strongest among the Shaohao descendants. The idea of repairing the White Emperor's divine armor was Bai Xianzi's. Now, both she and the Second Elder were missing. If they were all to perish, the Danbiao Clan would inevitably decline.

At that moment, everyone sensed something and looked up at the sky. Moments later, a streak of light pierced through the blood cloud and descended above the blood well. The newcomer was an elderly man, his hair and beard completely white. He wore a white robe with golden patterns. His gaze was authoritative, and as it swept over everyone, they subtly straightened their expressions, awed by his presence.

"Grand Elder, have you brought the Lifetaking Stone?" A Danbiao Clan expert eagerly stepped forward to ask. It turned out the elder was the Grand Elder of the Danbiao Clan.

The Danbiao Clan Grand Elder nodded slightly and said gravely, "I have brought the Lifetaking Stone. I ask all fellow Daoists to lend me your strength!"

"It is only right!" the others echoed in agreement. Although some were secretly keen to see the Danbiao Clan's misfortune, if the White Emperor's divine armor were lost, they too would be held responsible. Furthermore, the fact that this person could summon the Lifetaking Stone indicated he had gained the approval of all the Golden Clan's powerful figures.

The Danbiao Clan Grand Elder's lips moved, transmitting some words. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, a white light shot out. Within the white light was a white stone, shaped like a chess piece but as large as a millstone, spiraling down towards the blood well.

The individuals around the wellhead began to move. Those with weaker cultivation consciously retreated, while others flew up, hovering approximately ten zhang above the blood well, forming a circular array centered around the Danbiao Clan Grand Elder. Gazing at the fluctuating blood water within the well, everyone wore expressions of lingering fear.

Before this, they had exhausted all methods and tried countless times, but none could reach the very bottom of the blood well. Each attempt resulted in them being violently thrown out by the powerful force within the blood, and many were injured. Having run out of options, they had finally called upon the Lifetaking Stone.

The Danbiao Clan Grand Elder let out a low growl from his throat. Everyone's expression became solemn as they made their moves, sending streams of light towards the white stone.

The white stone trembled, and everyone immediately felt a tremendous shock to their minds, as if their consciousness had been subjected to a massive impact. Even with their composure, they found it hard to maintain their demeanor, their expressions somewhat unnatural. In an instant, everyone was engulfed by dense white light.

At this point, not only were their minds shaken, but they also felt an inexplicable danger that made their hair stand on end. The threat came directly from the Lifetaking Stone!

Everyone stared in horror at the Lifetaking Stone, witnessing blinding white light erupt from its surface. The white light solidified, transforming into numerous white light swords pointing towards the blood well below. *Swish! Swish! Swish!* The light swords simultaneously shot forth, plunging into the blood water.

*Splash!* Instantly, towering blood waves surged forth. The roar of the blood waves grew increasingly terrifying, and the surrounding ground began to shake violently. Everyone could not see the scene deep within the blood well, and their spiritual senses were also blocked. Only the Danbiao Clan Grand Elder, who was controlling the Lifetaking Stone, knew what was happening inside the blood well. Everyone looked towards him, hoping to discern something from his expression.

Not long after, the Danbiao Clan Grand Elder's expression darkened, and he let out a low cry: "Rise!"

*Boom!* The blood well erupted with its most violent surge of blood. Streams of white light swords, carrying blood water, shot skyward.

Seeing the light swords, everyone's faces lit up with joy. Each light sword clearly encased a fragment of divine armor. They quickly counted them, finding not a single piece missing; all the divine armor fragments were there.

*Splash!* The blood waves receded. The light swords released the divine armor fragments, then all plunged back into the Lifetaking Stone. With a flash of white light, the Lifetaking Stone suddenly broke free from control and, on its own, tore through the blood cloud and departed.

"Look, the blood water is receding!" someone shouted, pointing at the blood well.

Everyone looked down to see the water level rapidly dropping. In a matter of breaths, the bottom of the blood well was exposed to their eyes. However, the underground palace was completely unrecognizable; the blood pool, golden platform, and divine pattern enchantments were all gone. Also gone were Bai Xianzi and the others!

"The Shaman Lords are not down there!" The experts of the three great clans all changed their expressions.

At this moment, a female cultivator in silver armor flew up. She was the Grand Elder of the Zhuhong Clan and she solemnly asked the Danbiao Clan Grand Elder, "When you went to retrieve the Lifetaking Stone, did 'that one' give any other instructions?"

The Danbiao Clan Grand Elder gathered the divine armor fragments and said bitterly, "If the divine armor fragments were still there, it would signify merely a warning, and the disappearance of the three Shaman Lords would be a lesson to us. The three Shaman Lords must be trapped within the Insect Tomb, but 'that one' cannot conveniently intervene, so we can only rely on ourselves to rescue them…"