Chapter 437: Pointing to the Sky Peak

The man in white looked back. "Unfortunately, I'm injured, and Fellow Daoist Wu was poisoned first. Otherwise, if the three of us had joined forces, it wouldn't have been difficult to stop this person. To have comprehended the Sword Qi Thunder Sound at the Foundation Establishment stage, they will certainly become a major threat in the future. This person hasn't shown themselves; I wonder if they'll track us?"

The cultivator surnamed Luo snorted coldly. He subtly changed the direction of the black-canopied boat. "Senior Brother Liu and the others are not far ahead. If he dares to follow, he can leave his dog's life behind!"

Seeing the black-canopied boat retreat, Qin Sang paused slightly, then continued to pull back.

The distance between the two parties grew, until the black-canopied boat completely vanished from Qin Sang's sight.

Qin Sang did not choose to pursue them.

There weren't many people on the boat; among the two late-stage Foundation Establishment experts, one was injured. If he found the right opportunity, there was a chance to eliminate all of them.

However, this was not a place for prolonged combat. If he couldn't defeat them quickly and another team of Heaven's Mandate Alliance cultivators appeared, Qin Sang would be in a difficult situation.

If the opponent hadn't been deterred by that sword strike and continued their relentless pursuit, he might have considered it.

But since they chose to retreat, Qin Sang knew when to stop.

After observing for a while and confirming that the Heaven's Mandate Alliance had indeed withdrawn, Qin Sang surfaced, summoned his Netherworld Cloud, and flew after Mu Yifeng.

Soon after, Qin Sang spotted Mu Yifeng's fluctuating escape light.

"Senior Brother Mu!"

Qin Sang called out to Mu Yifeng and tossed him a bottle of spirit pills. "They've escaped. Come up quickly, take this pill to recuperate, and I'll guard you."

"Thank you, Junior Brother Qin, for saving my life!"

Mu Yifeng turned to look, and sure enough, the black-canopied boat was gone.

Having finally escaped death, and despite his excitement, Mu Yifeng felt almost completely drained. His qi sea and meridians were in a terrible state, and he had only persevered until now through sheer willpower.

Knowing it was not the time for pleasantries, he ascended onto the Netherworld Cloud, took the pill and consumed it, then entered meditation to recover.

Qin Sang flew along with the cloud, still skimming the water's surface, speeding towards the direction of the medicinal garden.

As he continued to fly, he delved deeper into the Little Cold Domain's territory, but encountered no signs of the enemy.

He wondered how the battle had progressed. Sensing danger, Qin Sang had already made up his mind: once he returned to the medicinal garden, he would gather the spirit herbs, seal off the restrictions, and flee this body of water.

At the very least, he would observe the situation for a while, and only return to the medicinal garden once things had stabilized.

Qin Sang looked at Mu Yifeng curiously. He hadn't missed a single trade fair, had closely followed the situation, and gathered information, yet he had seen no signs of a major battle beforehand. Why had chaos suddenly erupted?

As they neared the medicinal garden, Mu Yifeng finally awoke, but his injuries had not yet healed.

"Junior Brother Qin!"

Mu Yifeng stood up and bowed, saying solemnly, "No words can express my gratitude for this great kindness!"

Qin Sang gently restrained Mu Yifeng. "Senior Brother Mu, you're being too formal! The medicinal garden I guard is just ahead. Your injuries are serious. Why don't you continue recuperating there for a while?"

Mu Yifeng heard this and suddenly realized, "So, Junior Brother, you're stationed at a medicinal garden here! After I returned to the sect from Xuankuan Pass and just broke through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, I received orders from the sect to be assigned here with Senior Brother Kuang to patrol the nearby waters. Alas! If I had known, I would have come to visit you sooner to reminisce."

"I've only been here for less than two years. I've only attended a few trade fairs and rarely ventured outside. I didn't know Senior Brother was nearby."

As he spoke, Qin Sang recounted what he had witnessed at the trade fair. "How did you and Senior Brother Kuang get entangled with those villains from the Heaven's Mandate Alliance? Were you also with Senior Fang...?"

Unlike Xiong Li, Mu Yifeng spoke forthrightly, without hesitation. "That's right. Some time ago, we received orders to act alongside Senior Fang and the others. Senior Fang and his group seemed to be looking for something called 'Pointing-to-Heaven Peak,' and it's said that signs of its appearance have emerged. I'm not clear on the specifics. I don't know when our whereabouts were exposed, but the Heaven's Mandate Alliance villains secretly gathered forces and launched a surprise attack when our minds were relaxed during our return journey..."

Mu Yifeng told Qin Sang everything he knew.

However, Qin Sang was still utterly confused after hearing this. It was his first time hearing the name 'Pointing-to-Heaven Peak.' It sounded like a mountain, but he didn't know its significance that it would cause Core Formation experts from both sides to battle fiercely.

Since the signs of the spirit tide appeared, both sides had been engaged in skirmishes, only losing some Foundation Establishment cultivators. He had never heard of Core Formation experts making a move.

Qin Sang continued to ask for more details. He learned that accompanying Mu Yifeng, besides Core Formation experts, there were also over ten cultivators at the pseudo-Core Formation stage. If not for the Heaven's Mandate Alliance's treacherous sneak attack, they wouldn't have been in such a sorry state.

With so many experts deployed, 'Pointing-to-Heaven Peak' must be extraordinary!

This further solidified Qin Sang's resolve to withdraw.

Mu Yifeng asked Qin Sang about the direction they had traveled, then said, "Junior Brother Qin, I am under military orders. I must return to Stargazing Island to report on the enemy's situation."

At the trade fair, Qin Sang had heard mentions of Stargazing Island.

Stargazing Island was where the Core Formation cultivators of the various major sects were stationed. The situation in the Cloudmist Great Lake was controlled by Stargazing Island, in opposition to the Heaven's Mandate Alliance.

All military orders originated from this island.

Although many legends surrounded it, the location of Stargazing Island was very mysterious. Only those who participated in the patrol guard knew it. It was from Mu Yifeng that Qin Sang learned the exact location of Stargazing Island.

It was located northeast of the medicinal garden, surprisingly not far away.

Mu Yifeng's injuries hadn't healed, so he couldn't fly alone. However, Qin Sang had no intention of going to Stargazing Island at this time.

Once chaos erupted, Stargazing Island was bound to become the center of the conflict.

Rushing there now, no one could say what might happen. He still wanted to cultivate peacefully for a few more years.

"After I return to the medicinal garden, Junior Brother Xie Ying and I will gather the spirit herbs and leave this place. Senior Brother Mu, why don't you continue with me? By the time we approach Stargazing Island, your injuries should have largely stabilized, and then you can go."

Mu Yifeng saw no objection and immediately agreed.

While recuperating and healing his injuries, Mu Yifeng asked Qin Sang about his experiences over the years.

Qin Sang omitted any private matters. After some casual conversation, they also exchanged insights on cultivation.

With the medicinal garden in sight, Qin Sang thought of Yu Yangzi and others. They had been on good terms back then. When he entered Xuankuan Pass, Yu Yangzi had taken good care of him, helping him get established.

However, later, both had become engrossed in cultivation, and they had lost touch after parting ways.

So he asked aloud, "Senior Brother Mu, how are Senior Brother Yu Yangzi and the others who remained at Xuankuan Pass doing now?"

Unexpectedly, Mu Yifeng's expression darkened upon hearing this. He sighed deeply and said, "Senior Brother Yu Yangzi had always served as a Xuankuan Guard at Xuankuan Pass. Twenty years ago, Senior Brother Yu Yangzi was ordered to lead a team out of the pass to clear out cloud beasts... Junior Brother, you know the current situation of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. After Senior Brother Yu Yangzi left the pass, he unfortunately encountered a group of cloud beasts and was ambushed. No one from his entire squad returned..."

Qin Sang's expression froze upon hearing this.

The news of Yu Yangzi, when he heard it again, turned out to be tragic.

The Netherworld Cloud fell silent. Both Qin Sang and Mu Yifeng lost their desire to speak, remaining in somber silence.

After a long while, only a sigh could be heard.