Chapter 489: Hiding Place

Shrill screams echoed in the distance. The commotion startled the demonic beasts near the Stone Sea, throwing them into chaos. Some cowered, trembling in their lairs, while others simply fled with their families in tow.

“Hold it down!”

Qin Sang didn't use a magical treasure. With just the Ten Directions Yama Banner, he worked in conjunction with the Flying Yaksha to thoroughly disorient the black flood dragon. At Qin Sang's command, the Flying Yaksha vanished into thin air, reappearing moments later near the flood dragon's head. Its large hand spread out, pressing down on the dragon's head and slamming it violently onto the rock. Pinned firmly to the ground, the black flood dragon couldn't scream. Its body still struggled, its long tail thrashing, attempting to strike the Flying Yaksha, but the latter easily dodged. By now, the black flood dragon's aura was very weak.

Qin Sang flashed over, holding the Nine Dragons Celestial Chariot Talisman. He pressed it squarely onto the black flood dragon's brow, channeling spiritual energy to activate the secret talisman's power. The secret talisman, adhered to the black flood dragon's brow, radiated a brilliant light, resembling a luminous, crystal-clear jade. To the black flood dragon, however, this beautiful jade was a harbinger of death. The talisman's light was like countless silver needles, bringing it excruciating pain.

The black flood dragon's body began to convulse violently, but all its resistance was futile and ineffective. Qin Sang concentrated fully on controlling the secret talisman. Before long, the black flood dragon's struggles suddenly ceased. A mysterious faint glow emerged from its brow, and then a palm-sized flood dragon essence soul was slowly extracted, inch by inch.

Qin Sang's face lit up with joy as he removed the Nine Dragons Celestial Chariot Talisman. The flood dragon essence soul was bound tightly by a chain wrapped around it. It roared unwillingly but couldn't break free from the chain. Pulled by the chain, it slowly drifted closer and closer to the Nine Dragons Celestial Chariot Talisman. The flood dragon essence soul's resistance grew fiercer. This was the most crucial step, and Qin Sang, with a serious expression, fully activated the Nine Dragons Celestial Chariot Talisman, slowly devouring the essence soul. The Nine Dragons Celestial Chariot Talisman's light flickered erratically, and the talisman itself trembled as the flood dragon essence soul continued to struggle. Finally, the talisman gradually became still.

“Phew!”

Qin Sang exhaled slowly and brought the Nine Dragons Celestial Chariot Talisman back to inspect it. His spiritual sense entered the talisman, confirming that the flood dragon essence soul inside had submitted and settled. After devouring two flood dragon essence souls, the Nine Dragons Celestial Chariot Talisman's power had ascended to a new level. Qin Sang nodded with satisfaction, storing the secret talisman within his body for nourishment. His gaze then shifted to the Flying Yaksha. After this battle of slaying the flood dragon, Qin Sang's confidence in the Flying Yaksha grew even stronger.

The Flying Yaksha picked up the black flood dragon and placed it on top of a large rock. Qin Sang personally butchered it. The flood dragon's corpse was also precious and rare. From Qin Sang's perspective, using this corpse as the main material, supplemented with other ingredients, could refine several excellent top-grade magic artifacts. However, his standards were now higher; he no longer valued top-grade magic artifacts as much, and this flood dragon corpse wasn't sufficient to refine a magical treasure, so he wasn't overly excited.

After dissecting the flood dragon's corpse and storing the Flying Yaksha and the ghastly corpse he had sent to a distance into the Corpse Puppet Bag, Qin Sang found a secluded spot to test the power of the Nine Dragons Celestial Chariot Talisman. He then immediately left Wuyas Valley and flew straight north towards Qingyang Market.

***

Hanshan City. It would be more fitting to call it Hanshan Stronghold. Hanshan City was not large, and its population was far smaller than that of major cities. It was built on a hillside. The city stood isolated, untouched by war, backed by a range of mountains, and fronted by a large river. It was rich in resources and peaceful, like a true paradise. Fortunately, the spiritual energy in this region was extremely barren, so powerful demonic cultivators didn't even bother to glance at it.

However, the Lord of Hanshan City was actually a cultivator. The largest family in the city, which was this cultivator's family, had inherited this position for generations, never leaving, always acting as local rulers. This family's surname was Ji. Ji Wu was the eldest son of the current Ji family patriarch.

On a mountain peak far from Hanshan City, Qin Sang stood amidst the trees, gazing at the city. Hanshan City's walls were not tall but were thick, designed to withstand wild beasts. Figures in the city moved like ants, bustling with activity. Qin Sang's gaze swept from the base of the mountain to halfway up, pausing briefly at the most opulent palace before continuing upwards. His eyesight was excellent. He could see a winding path hidden within the dense forest north of Hanshan City. Qin Sang concealed his aura, quietly observing the path from a distance.

The path extended all the way to the valley behind the mountain before disappearing entirely. Qin Sang, unhurried, surveyed the beautiful scenery of the valley, and couldn't help but inwardly praise it. He saw the valley was filled with peach blossoms, blooming endlessly in a riot of colors, like an embroidered floral carpet spread across the entire valley. Deep within the peach blossoms, swirling mist appeared a faint pink, hovering densely without dissipating. This mist was actually Peach Blossom Miasma, highly poisonous. Mortals would die upon contact, and even cultivators would be in grave danger if the toxin inadvertently entered their vital organs. The miasma remained dense, faintly revealing what seemed to be several buildings within. This was Daoist Jiu Pao's hiding place!

Ji Wu was the disciple Daoist Jiu Pao took on after coming to Hanshan City, impressed by his exceptional talent. Daoist Jiu Pao then secluded himself here, accepting offerings from the Ji family. However, the headquarters of the Demonic Flame Sect were not located here. Daoist Jiu Pao, pursued relentlessly by the Yuanzhao Sect with no escape, was extremely cautious. Furthermore, he understood the principle of 'a cunning rabbit has three burrows.' This was merely one of his hiding places. Very few people knew of his hideouts; even the four Demonic Flame Emissaries might not all be aware of this one.

Yu Hua's status within the Kuiyin Sect seemed much higher than Qin Sang had imagined. It was unclear how much effort he had expended, but he had thoroughly uncovered Daoist Jiu Pao's background, even knowing how many hideouts he had. It wasn't that Daoist Jiu Pao had a peculiar habit of planting peach trees at his residence. Instead, the Kuiyin Sect possessed a peculiar and highly concealed spiritual array that could utilize the natural power of the Peach Blossom Miasma to be set up around the area without leaving a trace. Those unaware of the truth, upon entering, would focus all their energy on dealing with the Peach Blossom Miasma, never realizing a spiritual array was hidden within, thus falling into a trap unknowingly. Daoist Jiu Pao's various hiding places all featured similar arrays.

Qin Sang couldn't be certain if Daoist Jiu Pao was currently hiding within the Peach Blossom Miasma. However, according to Yu Hua, this place was Daoist Jiu Pao's most concealed hiding spot, known only to Ji Wu. Qin Sang believed that if Daoist Jiu Pao had obtained healing spiritual medicine and was seeking a place to recuperate, this would be the optimal choice. Therefore, he didn't go to other locations but headed directly for Hanshan City.

Unable to discern the scenery within the Peach Blossom Miasma, Qin Sang didn't know if Daoist Jiu Pao was hidden inside. He would have to enter himself to see. Qin Sang had learned the method to break the spiritual array from Yu Hua. After a quick scan, he easily deciphered the array's changes. Concealing his aura, he approached the eastern side of the Peach Blossom Miasma, sealed his nose and mouth, and slipped inside.