Chapter 458: Sword Escape

After leaving Star-Gazing Island, Qin Sang furrowed his brow and flew towards his cave dwelling on a cloud.

Hearing the sound of a sword humming behind him, Qin Sang stopped and turned to see Elder Brother Rong catching up.

“Junior Brother Qin, what are your thoughts? Are you considering cooperation? We could discuss a meeting point and agree to rendezvous first after entering Heaven-Guiding Peak. Do you think that’s feasible, or should we consider other methods…?”

Both slowed their pace and flew side by side.

After Elder Brother Rong finished speaking, Qin Sang hesitated for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

“Junior Brother also knows that a single tree doesn’t make a forest, but cooperating on Heaven-Guiding Peak will be extremely difficult. Elder Brother, you heard what Elder Xiao said: after the restrictions are activated, we’ll have less than an hour to collect the Star Essences.

“Judging by the illusion Elder Xiao showed us, Heaven-Guiding Peak is towering, vast, complex in terrain, and riddled with restrictions.

“Heaven-Guiding Peak is so large, and there are only sixty-six of us, scattered in various locations. Unless our luck is exceptionally bad, it’s unlikely we’ll encounter opponents.

“Elder Granny She’s warning was merely to prepare us, so we don’t stumble into unforeseen trouble.

“Under these circumstances, whether we cooperate or not holds little significance. The Star Essences are paramount, and the main obstacle will be the hidden restrictions within Heaven-Guiding Peak.

“After being dispersed by the restrictions, we could end up anywhere. We can’t use communication artifacts inside, so rashly agreeing on a meeting point would waste too much of our time and energy, potentially leading to a greater loss!”

This was also why Qin Sang had always felt uncertain.

This competition on Heaven-Guiding Peak wasn’t simply about battling for supremacy; the effectiveness of his two magic treasures would be limited.

Great strength was, of course, indispensable – otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to breach the restrictions on Heaven-Guiding Peak. However, luck would play a significant role in how many Star Essences he could ultimately collect.

Qin Sang wasn’t averse to cooperating with Elder Brother Rong. Their interactions during this period showed that Elder Brother Rong had a good disposition and was quite caring towards him as a fellow disciple, and he himself was no pushover.

The environment of Heaven-Guiding Peak simply didn’t allow for it.

Elder Brother Rong had no choice but to abandon the idea of cooperation, sighing, “Junior Brother Qin is right. Shang Yi and I just discussed this, and we share your view… I can only wish Junior Brother Qin a resounding success and that you achieve your wishes.”

“The same to you, Elder Brother Rong.”

After exchanging a few more words, the two parted ways and flew towards their respective cave dwellings.

As he flew on his cloud, Qin Sang reviewed his own situation.

Compared to others, his advantages lay in his two magic treasures and the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman. However, anyone who had reached this stage would surely have their own trump cards.

Luck is predetermined by heaven, but success depends on human effort.

It was a pity that Heaven-Guiding Peak appeared too early; if it had been two years later, it would have been perfect.

Once he broke through to the Pseudo-Core realm, he would be able to wield the Black Wood Sword with greater ease. By integrating with the sword and flying with it, he could employ the Sword Qi Thunder Sound ability, dramatically increasing his escape speed, far surpassing cultivators of the same realm.

This was why the Sword Qi Thunder Sound ability was so coveted and revered.

If he had time to return to Boundless Valley, extract the flood dragon’s essence, and upgrade the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman, his escape speed would be even greater.

Qin Sang already had a certain understanding of Core Formation realm cultivators’ strength. He estimated that with Sword Qi Thunder Sound combined with the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman, his escape speed would transcend the Foundation Establishment stage, rivaling that of early Core Formation masters.

Such escape speed would undoubtedly be highly effective on Heaven-Guiding Peak.

Having missed the opportunity, Qin Sang could do nothing. Since embarking on the path of cultivation, he had never relaxed for a moment; if it couldn’t be achieved, it simply couldn’t.

Qin Sang sighed inwardly, dismissing these useless thoughts. Upon arriving at his cave dwelling, he habitually checked the restrictions he had placed outside; everything was normal.

He opened the restrictions, pushed open the door, and entered.

He sat cross-legged on a futon and activated the Spirit Gathering Array.

Just as Qin Sang was about to enter a meditative state for cultivation, he suddenly sensed something unusual in his cave dwelling.

Immediately, his expression changed. He whipped his head around, glaring furiously at a corner of the cave.

“Who’s there?!”

At the same time, Qin Sang stood up abruptly and, with a flash, darted to the cave dwelling's exit. His hand swiftly swept across his waist, and the Cold Gold Sword and Yin-Yang Compass instantly flew into his palms. The Black Wood Sword in his nascent soul was also poised for action.

Qin Sang stared intensely at the shadow in the corner of the cave, his entire body drenched in cold sweat. Even on blood-soaked battlefields, he had never felt such terror.

Within the shadow in the corner was a dark figure, distinctly humanoid.

His own cave dwelling had been silently infiltrated!

The restrictions he had painstakingly placed showed no signs of being breached; they were as good as useless!

Who was it?

Or what kind of monster?

Qin Sang’s back was pressed against the stone door, a chill radiating from it. With a slight push, he could break through and exit, but he dared not move further.

He could feel a faint, almost imperceptible wisp of divine sense locking onto him.

This wisp of divine sense seemed to hold no malice, but Qin Sang dared not act rashly.

His cave dwelling was still some distance from Star-Gazing Island. The cultivators on the surrounding islands were not as strong as him, and anyone he couldn’t defeat, others wouldn’t be able to either.

This was the Chaotic Isles Sea, protected by the True Water Myriad Illusion Formation.

Anyone capable of stealthily infiltrating here would possess unfathomable strength. A rash move might only provoke the figure, and he could very well be harmed before any rescue could arrive.

Qin Sang couldn’t help but wonder if his magic treasures had been exposed…

It was best to stabilize the situation first.

His mind was a mess, but he forced himself to calm down, his thoughts racing. To his surprise, he spoke first: “Fellow Daoist, who exactly are you? Qin has rarely made enemies; if…”

Mid-sentence, Qin Sang watched as the dark figure slowly emerged from the shadows, revealing an aged face. He froze, his voice trailing off, an expression of surprise appearing on his face.

“Granny Jing? It’s you!”

Recognizing the old woman’s face, Qin Sang exclaimed softly.

The old woman before him was thin, hunched, and very elderly, with deep wrinkles on her face. It was Granny Jing, the owner of the Secret Shop in Waning Moon City market.

Among cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage, it was uncommon to see someone as aged in appearance as Granny Jing.

Unless their lifespan was nearing its end and their vital essence was exhausted.

Yet, when Qin Sang first met Granny Jing in Waning Moon City market all those years ago, she looked exactly the same. More than seventy years had passed, and her appearance hadn’t changed in the slightest.

Moreover, when Qin Sang had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage back then, he found Granny Jing unfathomable, completely beyond his comprehension.

Now that he was nearing the Pseudo-Core realm, she remained just as unfathomable.

In Qin Sang’s eyes, Granny Jing’s aura was like a deep, mysterious spring—profound and exceptionally enigmatic.

Qin Sang had only ever felt this kind of aura from Core Formation realm cultivators.

“It’s good that Fellow Daoist Qin still remembers this old woman,” Granny Jing said.

Granny Jing nodded slightly, her wrinkles bunching together to form an unpleasant smile.

“This junior could never forget the many times I received senior’s help back then.”

Qin Sang gave a dry laugh. He outwardly relaxed, putting away his Cold Gold Sword and Yin-Yang Compass, but the Black Wood Sword in his nascent soul remained poised for action.

For no other reason than this:

Granny Jing had been gone for so long, only to suddenly appear and infiltrate his cave dwelling.

This was truly too abnormal.

While Granny Jing had an excellent reputation in Waning Moon City market, and Qin Sang respected her, that didn't mean it remained the case seventy years later.