Chapter 236: Rescue

Both demonic artifacts had remarkable uses and formidable power, but Qin Sang didn't hesitate for long. He quickly decided to let the Yama Banner devour them.

For Qin Sang, acquiring two more demonic artifacts would merely be icing on the cake. The most critical task was to enhance the Ten-Directions Yama Banner. At its peak, the Ten-Directions Yama Formation was a treasure that could enable him to challenge opponents far above his own cultivation level.

With his decision made, Qin Sang immediately set up the Ten-Directions Yama Formation on the stone disc. Enduring the firebirds' harassment, he allowed the demonic banner to devour the soul essence. It wasn't long before the soul essence of both artifacts was completely consumed, yet the Ten-Directions Yama Banner still lacked a final touch of refinement.

Qin Sang then flipped his palm, throwing the soul-refining demonic artifact he had acquired from the black market into the formation as well.

Finally, all six Ten-Directions Yama Banners were fully perfected!

As the demonic banners moved, soul threads wove into a net, and ten thousand ghosts wailed in unison.

The stone disc instantly became shrouded in an eerie, hellish aura.

He seemed like a Yama of the mortal world, herding ghosts before him.

Qin Sang activated the Ten-Directions Yama Formation, sweeping up a flock of firebirds. After a brief test, he nodded with satisfaction, then waved his hand to retract the Ten-Directions Yama Banners. His figure flickered, leaving the firebirds bewildered and targetless, as he sped towards the end of the iron chain.

His journey was unobstructed.

As he neared the end of the iron chain, Qin Sang noticed many chains converging at a single point. Just then, he suddenly heard an extremely urgent and loud chorus of bird cries from ahead. Mist billowed and chaos erupted, revealing a 'red cloud' vaguely discernible, obstructing the path.

Qin Sang was all too familiar with this situation.

Had someone been trapped by the firebirds?

Qin Sang's eyes flickered. He reined in his aura and quietly approached the red cloud.

As he got closer, he saw countless colorful, rain-like threads scattering from the red cloud, encircled by firebirds. The sight appeared surprisingly mournful yet beautiful.

The rain-like threads seemed harmless, but in reality, they concealed lethal intent. When pierced by a few threads, the firebirds' bodies extinguished like actual flames, ultimately vanishing from existence.

However, the firebirds were endless; the more that were killed, the more were attracted.

Even the densest rain-like threads couldn't kill all the firebirds; instead, more and more gathered around. In the instant Qin Sang approached, the red cloud visibly grew larger and thicker, until eventually the rain-like threads could no longer penetrate it and were obliterated.

These rain-like threads looked very familiar...

"Five-Colored Glaze? Is it her?"

Qin Sang was secretly surprised. The person trapped by the firebirds was unexpectedly Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong.

At this moment, the rain-like threads within the red cloud were growing thinner, and spiritual energy was dissipating. It appeared Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong's situation was dire.

After some thought, Qin Sang quietly retreated a short distance. He summoned his Ebony Sword, deciding to intervene and rescue her.

Firstly, it was preparation for the upcoming trials.

He was currently so at ease because the Jade Buddha happened to be the bane of the firebirds. The difficulty of the trials was beyond doubt; Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong, whose strength was considered upper-middle among those who entered the ancient cultivator's abode, was now also in danger.

In the subsequent trials, he wouldn't be able to rely on the Jade Buddha for an unfair advantage. If he could join forces with Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong, the chances of success would be greater. Even if they encountered danger, they could assist each other and retreat safely, avoiding a situation like Yun Qiong's, where she was trapped and left to despair.

Secondly, they had previously collaborated in the mining cave. Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong had left a decent impression on Qin Sang; her relationship with Yin Xingge wasn't very close, yet she had strongly advocated against abandoning Yin Xingge at the time, indicating a good character.

Qin Sang retreated out of Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong's sight. He released his aura, attracting a flock of firebirds, and then swiftly advanced, leading these 'troublemakers' with him.

Upon seeing the 'red cloud', Qin Sang paused, feigned surprise, and called out, "Is that Fellow Daoist Yun Qiong inside?"

"Fellow Daoist Qin?"

From within the red cloud, an exceptionally weak voice, yet filled with boundless surprise, then sounded. The tone was extremely urgent: "Fellow Daoist Qin, it's Yun Qiong! Please, Fellow Daoist Qin, save me..."

"Fellow Daoist Yun Qiong, pay attention!"

Qin Sang had come to save her. Hearing her plea, he unhesitatingly unleashed his sword formation. He loudly cautioned her, then his Ebony Sword released an incomparably powerful sword qi, aimed directly at the red cloud. The full power of the sword formation erupted, the sword qi instantly surged dozens of zhang, and a fiery red sword light directly pierced through the middle of the red cloud, opening an escape passage.

A moment later, the passage in the red cloud wriggled and was about to close when a slender figure suddenly flashed out: Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong.

At this moment, Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong was extremely disheveled. The magic robe she wore was riddled with holes, barely offering any defense. Her aura was extremely weak, and the spiritual energy within her body was on the verge of depletion.

The Five-Colored Glaze floated above her head, appearing somewhat scattered and dim, as if it would lose its support at any moment.

Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong's face was as pale as paper, a clear sign that her primordial spirit had been severely wounded.

However, what made Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong so weak was not merely the injury to her primordial spirit. She also had a shocking sword wound on her abdomen that had almost cut her in half. Golden light lingered on the wound, preventing it from healing, and fresh blood still flowed from it.

Seeing Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong's condition, Qin Sang could pretty much guess what she had gone through. Firebirds wouldn't use swords; this wound must have been sustained in the tunnel.

Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong likely encountered danger in the tunnel. After barely fighting her way out, she didn't have time to heal before startling the firebirds, forcing her to flee with her injured body.

For cultivators, such an injury wasn't fatal. As long as the lingering golden light was expelled from the wound and a few healing elixirs were consumed, she would be fine.

Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong probably didn't expect the firebirds' abilities to be so peculiar. With her existing injuries unhealed and her primordial spirit severely wounded, it was truly adding insult to injury. Her ability to persevere until now was a testament to her deep cultivation.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Qin..."

Before she could finish her words, Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong saw the red cloud pursuing her closely from behind. Countless firebirds were advancing aggressively, and her eyes flashed with intense fear.

"Fellow Daoist Yun Qiong, follow me!"

Qin Sang didn't want to expose the Jade Buddha's abilities in front of Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong. He immediately used spiritual energy to create a protective barrier around her, then, using his Ebony Sword to clear a path, he swiftly flew forward. Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong hurriedly activated her remaining spiritual energy, barely managing to keep up.

Finally, a stone disc appeared ahead of the iron chain.

The two quickened their pace and ascended the stone disc. The relentlessly pursuing firebirds were blocked by an invisible barrier, which also obscured their perception. After circling the stone disc for a while without finding their target, they scattered.

"Cough, cough..."

Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong clutched her sword wound, swaying precariously, yet still insisted on bowing to Qin Sang. "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Qin, for saving my life. Yun Qiong is eternally grateful!"

"Enough with the pleasantries, Fellow Daoist Yun Qiong, quickly heal!"

Seeing Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong's embarrassed expression, Qin Sang knew she had likely run out of healing elixirs. He then took out a jade bottle and handed it to her.

While Loose Cultivator Yun Qiong sat cross-legged to meditate and heal, Qin Sang looked around.

Just as they ascended the stone disc, elsewhere...

Inside the ancient cultivator's abode, a black stone stele towered into the clouds, and a figure walked out from it.