Chapter 435: One Sword

Seeing the opportune moment, the people on the black-awning boat exerted their full strength, increasing the vessel's speed even further.

Just then, from the center of the purple radiance, a sudden 'bang' echoed, as if something had shattered. Immediately, countless rays of purple light shot out in all directions, and the radiance quickly dispersed.

The purple treasured vase had been forcibly destroyed by the Nine-Fire Divine Blade!

Although the Nine-Fire Divine Blade hadn't been destroyed in the process, its luster had significantly dimmed, and numerous fine cracks covered its body. Of the nine fire dragons that encircled the divine blade, six had vanished, leaving only three, their aura extremely faint, and their forms flickering.

"Go!" Mu Yifeng roared.

The Nine-Fire Divine Blade flared with a brilliant red light, channeling its essence into the three remaining fire dragons. Like a final surge of vitality, the three fire dragons' aura rapidly expanded. Their bodies then intertwined, lunging at their opponent with astonishing speed.

The Heaven-Traveling Alliance member, astonished by the might of Mu Yifeng's artifact, recoiled in dismay. He frantically deployed various techniques, barely managing to disperse the fire dragons. Meanwhile, Mu Yifeng seized the opportunity to retrieve the Nine-Fire Divine Blade and flee far away. The gap between them, which had been quite narrow, was now significantly widened.

"Let's see where you can run to!" The Heaven-Traveling Alliance member, fuming with rage, flashed a sinister smile. Without waiting for his breath to steady, he controlled his escape light and resumed his relentless pursuit.

At this moment, Qin Sang had quietly made his move. He remained hidden beneath the water, employing water evasion techniques to conceal his aura, yet his speed was far from slow. No one detected Qin Sang's presence; partly because he moved cautiously and kept a significant distance, and partly because both Mu Yifeng's pursuer and the individuals on the black-awning boat were engrossed in the ongoing battle.

Qin Sang's destination was precisely the direction Mu Yifeng was fleeing. As he sped through the water, he silently calculated the distance between himself and them. The black-awning boat lagged far behind, and the other pursuer had also been left a considerable distance behind by Mu Yifeng, at the cost of pushing the Nine-Fire Divine Blade to its limit. It would be difficult for them to catch up quickly. As long as Mu Yifeng didn't give up or change direction, he would certainly arrive in time. As he rushed forward, Qin Sang's eyes darted, contemplating his strategy.

In the vast expanse of water. No birds flew overhead, no fish or shrimp were visible. Between the water and the sky, two streaks of escape light streaked across the expanse, shattering the tranquility. On the surface of the water, the black-awning boat surged forward, aggressively parting the waves. Beneath the surface, a lone figure moved stealthily.

Mu Yifeng turned to glance at his relentless pursuer, a faint, bitter smile playing on his lips. The spiritual energy in his qi sea was nearly depleted; he knew he would soon be at his limit. He had not hesitated to sacrifice the magical artifact that had served him for decades, yet still hadn't managed to kill his opponent. But even if he did manage to kill this person, what then? He couldn't possibly shake off the pursuit of the treasure vessel. It was a pity; he hadn't yet witnessed the realms beyond the Golden Core.

A flicker of regret crossed Mu Yifeng's eyes as he lowered his gaze to the Nine-Fire Divine Blade in his hand. This veteran, which had accompanied him through countless battles since his Foundation Establishment, was now dim and riddled with cracks. While not entirely destroyed, it would require at least several years of careful nurturing to recover. Mu Yifeng's grip tightened, feeling the familiar aura emanating from the Nine-Fire Divine Blade. His heart seemed to calm with the familiar sensation. For a cultivator like him, singularly devoted to the Dao, the divine blade in his hand was his sole anchor.

"Don't worry," Mu Yifeng murmured, "I will take you with me. How could I leave you to fall into the hands of these villains?" He chuckled softly, muttering to himself as he gazed at the Nine-Fire Divine Blade. He had already resolved to commit suicide; falling into enemy hands was far worse than ending it swiftly himself.

Just then, Mu Yifeng suddenly heard a telepathic message, as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Senior Brother Mu…"

Mu Yifeng's face clouded with suspicion. Gazing at the boundless water ahead, he initially thought he was hallucinating in his final moments. However, a moment later, a clearer voice reached him.

"Senior Brother Mu… it's me… I am Qin Sang!"

A flash of realization struck Mu Yifeng, and he suddenly recalled someone. He was overjoyed, yet his vast experience immediately told him that Qin Sang must be hidden. He maintained his speed and gaze, showing no outward change.

"Senior Brother Mu, I am underwater…"

By this point, Qin Sang had already reached a position ahead of Mu Yifeng. Lurking beneath the water, he fully activated the *Spirit Evasion Art*, covertly contacting Mu Yifeng. Time was of the essence, so he spoke quickly: "Senior Brother Mu, how many experts are on the boat?"

"Junior Brother Qin, just yourself?"

Mu Yifeng immediately understood, and the surprise on his face was instantly replaced by deep disappointment. He remembered Qin Sang's cultivation level, which had been far inferior to his own when they last parted. Even if he had experienced some fortuitous encounters over the years, he could at most have just broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage. Combined with his own near-depleted state, exposure would inevitably lead to both of their deaths.

Upon hearing Qin Sang's question, Mu Yifeng didn't pause to wonder why Qin Sang was there. He urgently transmitted a warning: "Junior Brother Qin, do not expose yourself. There are two late Foundation Establishment experts on the boat; you absolutely must not let them discover you…"

Hearing this, Qin Sang already had a clear idea. In truth, he had already anticipated some of this before making his move. No matter how high their cultivation, the people on the black-awning boat couldn't possibly be Golden Core cultivators. Otherwise, killing Mu Yifeng would have been as easy as crushing an ant, and they wouldn't have tolerated him escaping for so long. However, to be safe, he hadn't acted rashly. Instead, he chose to first contact Mu Yifeng to ascertain the opponents' strength. He could help, but he couldn't risk his own life.

Mu Yifeng's escape technique was exceedingly fast. As he sped past without receiving a further response from Qin Sang, a mix of emotions swelled within him, and he sighed inwardly.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder exploded from behind him. A bolt from the clear sky! Mu Yifeng was startled. He twisted his head to look, only to see the calm water surface being torn open by a flash of lightning. A streak of sword light shot out of the water at an incredible speed, like thunder and lightning, soaring straight into the sky. At that precise moment, the Heaven-Traveling Alliance member's escape light happened to be passing directly overhead.

Qin Sang's timing was impeccable. In an instant, the Ebony Sword, seemingly a manifestation of thunder, surged directly in front of the man. This strike caught everyone completely by surprise. The man's protective artifact had been destroyed by Mu Yifeng, leaving him enraged and dismayed. With his entire focus on relentlessly pursuing Mu Yifeng, he had no time to react whatsoever to the sudden assault of the Ebony Sword. Furthermore, the Sword Qi Thunder Sound was an astonishing and peerless divine ability. With the divine sword came the accompanying thunder, its speed far exceeding all imagination. Even if the man hadn't been distracted, at such close range, he would have been unable to escape his fate against Qin Sang's deliberate ambush. By the time he realized the Ebony Sword was upon him, the roaring thunder had only just reached his ears.

"Someone is ambushing!"

As that thought flashed through the man's mind, his senses were instantly overwhelmed by the deafening thunder. A moment later, he felt a chill beneath him, and then nothing.

A *whoosh*! Blood splattered across the sky. The body, split into two halves, continued its forward momentum, flying a considerable distance before finally separating. The scene was utterly gruesome.

With one strike, the Ebony Sword vanquished the foe before being immediately recalled by Qin Sang, its formidable feat discreetly concealed.