Chapter 433: Rising Chaos

The dark figure chose to escape in the direction closest to Qin Sang. As the figure rushed out, a blade aura, moving even faster than the figure, split the air and headed directly for Qin Sang’s face.

This blade aura was almost tangible, like a real treasured saber, its surface even reflecting Qin Sang’s face.

Seeing this, the people who had stayed behind all changed their expressions. They hadn't felt the slightest fluctuation and were surprised to find someone hidden underwater.

The blade aura was remarkably powerful and astonishingly fast. It reflected Qin Sang's expression, yet his face showed no change. Even his eyes remained unperturbed.

Qin Sang watched the blade aura with a cold gaze. He had been the first to detect the person's presence and was already prepared. Given his caution, how could he be ambushed without a countermeasure?

"Whoosh!" Qin Sang's figure flickered, easily dodging the blade aura. At the same time, his left hand swiftly flipped, and a black light shot out from his Yin-Yang Compass, rushing towards the dark figure.

The dark figure reacted extremely quickly, summoning the treasured saber in his hand and striking with it. Unexpectedly, the saber hit the black light squarely but without breaking it. Instead, the black light still struck him. The dark figure felt a strange repulsive force land on him, inwardly cried out in alarm, then stumbled, losing momentum and being caught off guard by the Yin-Yang Compass.

He quickly stabilized himself, but the best chance to escape had already passed. Qin Sang put away his Yin-Yang Compass and drew his Cold Gold Sword. Simultaneously, Fan Zhen arrived, summoning his withered-branch-like magical artifact. Fan Zhen found Qin Sang disagreeable, but he understood the importance of the overall situation and knew this was no time to dwell on sectarian grudges.

The dark figure’s speed sharply decreased, making escape impossible as he was caught between Qin Sang and Fan Zhen.

After a brief exchange, Qin Sang could sense that this person's cultivation was very high, close to the False Core realm. However, he was injured, and the injuries were not light, otherwise he wouldn't have been discovered so easily.

The Cold Gold Sword moved with sweeping motions, emanating streams of cold air. Fan Zhen's withered-branch artifact transformed into countless tree shadows, closing in on the dark figure.

"Bang!" The treasured saber in the dark figure's hand was difficult to manage. Just as Qin Sang and Fan Zhen were about to trap the person, they suddenly heard Cang Ling's astonished cry.

"Senior Brother Xiong, is that you?" Cang Ling flashed to stand between the three, urgently exclaiming, "He's one of us! Fellow Daoists, please hold your hands!"

Qin Sang paused at the words, forming a sword incantation to retract his Cold Gold Sword. Fan Zhen did the same. All three gazed at the dark figure in the middle.

They could now clearly see that the dark figure was wearing a black robe, a magical artifact capable of concealing one's aura, though it was unfortunately damaged. He was heavily built and appeared to be around forty, but his face was frighteningly pale, and his aura was very weak. Qin Sang's earlier feeling was correct; he was indeed severely wounded.

"Cough, cough..." The dark figure was at the end of his tether, barely able to hold his saber steady.

"He's my Senior Brother, Xiong Li!" Cang Ling swiftly moved to support Xiong Li. "Senior Brother Xiong, how did you get such severe injuries?"

"Fellow Daoist Xiong, apologies for the offense!" Qin Sang put away his Cold Gold Sword and cupped his hands.

Earlier, it had occurred to them that this person might be a fellow cultivator from the Lesser Cold Domain, but given the dangerous situation, the safest approach was to capture him first and then interrogate him.

Xiong Li waved his hand at Qin Sang and asked doubtfully, "Junior Brother Cang, why are you here? I thought you were scoundrels from the Heavenly Walk Alliance. If only I had known earlier..."

Cang Ling briefly explained. "...Pei Qin assigned us, so we had no choice but to rush here. Senior Brother Xiong, were you also with Martial Uncle Fang and the others? Why were you ambushed by the Heavenly Walk Alliance?"

"It's a long story..." Xiong Li caught his breath.

"We received a secret order to follow Martial Uncle Fang to the south for an important matter. Unexpectedly, on our return, the Heavenly Walk Alliance discovered our tracks, set a trap, and pursued us here. The enemy was too strong for us to resist. Martial Uncle Fang found an opportunity to set up a grand formation, which barely stabilized our position, but it won't hold for long. That Pei fellow is purely reckless. The battle ahead is absolutely not something Foundation Establishment cultivators can intervene in. Martial Uncle Fang ordered everyone to scatter and seek help. I was targeted by several Heavenly Walk Alliance scoundrels and barely managed to escape after fighting to my last breath..."

"So that's what happened!" Qin Sang and the others cursed inwardly. That Pei fellow was truly despicable. Martial Uncle Fang had already dismissed the Foundation Establishment disciples, yet he still deceived them into going to their deaths. With numerous Core Formation cultivators ahead, their appearance would undoubtedly lead to certain death.

"We cannot stay here long. There are still Heavenly Walk Alliance scoundrels relentlessly pursuing our fellow cultivators. With Martial Uncle Fang's order, you don't need to heed that Pei fellow; hurry and leave!"

Xiong Li turned to glance at the crimson cloud mass, urging them repeatedly. The others had long since lost the desire to proceed, so without Xiong Li's prodding, they turned and fled.

Qin Sang stayed beside Cang Ling. What he truly cared about was what Xiong Li and his group had been doing earlier that provoked such a strong reaction from the Heavenly Walk Alliance.

Unexpectedly, Xiong Li was evasive and consistently unwilling to answer directly.

Seeing this, Qin Sang gradually felt uneasy. After a moment of thought, he suddenly cupped his hands to Cang Ling. "Fellow Daoist Cang, I bear a heavy responsibility from my sect and have other important matters to attend to, so I cannot simply leave like this. I need to return first. We shall meet again."

Everyone present seemed to awaken from a dream. Most of them, like Qin Sang, had been assigned here by their respective sects. Earlier, driven by Pei Qin and fearful for their lives, they had been in a state of panic and had put those matters out of their minds.

Now that they were finally safe, Qin Sang's mention reminded them of their own missions, and they all bid farewell to Cang Ling.

Just as they were about to part ways, Xiong Li suddenly snapped his eyes open and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoists, heed my words: in the near future, do not stay in the nearby waters. Go as far as you can!"

With that, Xiong Li closed his eyes again and remained silent.

Qin Sang gave Xiong Li a deep look, nodded slightly to Cang Ling, then summoned his Netherworld Cloud, leaving the group and speeding eastward.

Even without Xiong Li's reminder, he sensed that something was amiss. Staying in the medicinal garden was absolutely out of the question. He had to go back, collect the spiritual herbs, and then leave directly. Many spiritual herbs hadn't matured yet, but Qin Sang couldn't afford to wait. If this place became a battlefield, even the strongest restrictions wouldn't protect them.

Pondering these thoughts, Qin Sang accelerated, flying swiftly over the water while keeping his aura concealed as much as possible.

He dared not fly recklessly. The Heavenly Walk Alliance cultivators were numerous. If he were to be surrounded, even his magical artifacts wouldn't save him. From Xiong Li's words, after their group scattered, they were pursued by Heavenly Walk Alliance cultivators who also split up to chase them in various directions. Being too conspicuous would almost certainly lead to his discovery and encirclement.