Chapter 658: Strange Jindan Formation

**The Mortal World**

"They've finally arrived."

Qin Sang slowly exhaled. The arrival was two days later than Du Xian had estimated, likely due to some unforeseen delay.

Du Han was piloting a golden leaf-shaped flying magical artifact, and he was accompanied by the disciple who had gone to summon him. Although this somewhat slowed them down, their speed was still considerable.

"Master," the disciple reported softly, holding a voice transmission talisman, "Senior Brother has sent word. They are all currently at Five-Insect Sect, and everything in the Bear Mountain region is normal. That Core Formation cultivator has not yet returned." Du Han sat cross-legged on the golden leaf artifact, while his disciple stood respectfully behind him.

Naturally, this voice transmission talisman was sent by Du Xian under Qin Sang's control.

Du Han nodded slightly, gazing towards Five-Insect Sect in the distance. He frowned with displeasure and said, "Why are they so careless? What are they still doing at Five-Insect Sect? Are they afraid that Core Formation cultivator won't find them?"

The disciple looked up, pondered for a moment, and then gently defended Du Xian, saying, "Master, please rest assured. Senior Brother must have considered everything thoroughly. He might have anticipated your imminent arrival and gone to Five-Insect Sect to welcome you. That Core Formation cultivator only broke through less than a year ago, and according to the Five-Insect Sect Master, their vital insect-gu seems to have encountered an issue, so they've gone out to find new insects to re-refine it. The likelihood of them returning anytime soon is small. After Senior Brother Jiushan and the others recover from their injuries, they can rely on Five-Insect Sect's mountain-protecting formation. Even if that person suddenly appears, they can hold out for a period."

Du Han snorted coldly, "It seems to me that you've grown too complacent cultivating within the sect, losing your vigilance. Daring to underestimate cultivators who are a full major realm higher than you will not end well! Once this matter is resolved, you will all go out separately for trials, lest you become frogs in a well."

The disciple did not dare to argue and bowed his head in assent.

As they spoke, the golden leaf drew an arc in the air and sped rapidly towards Five-Insect Sect.

Five-Insect Sect was now in sight. From a distance, one could see the lotus-shaped mountain-protecting formation and the faint silhouettes of several treacherous peaks within the formation.

Du Han stood up and gazed towards Five-Insect Sect.

After a moment, a strange look appeared in Du Han's eyes, and he asked in a deep voice, "When you entered Five-Insect Sect, did you attack their mountain-protecting formation?"

The disciple, hearing the unusual tone in Du Han's voice, hastily looked towards Five-Insect Sect. Seeing that the Five-Insect Sect's formation appeared perfectly normal, with nothing amiss, he said with a bewildered expression, "No, we strictly followed your orders, Master. We dispatched local forces to search for the ancient corpse and came here without causing any trouble along the way. Senior Brother revealed his identity as a member of Liwu Palace, and Five-Insect Sect had no suspicions, so they let us in directly. We didn't anticipate that the Five-Insect Sect Master possessed a talisman treasure, which led to two senior brothers being injured... Master, has something happened to Senior Brother and the others?"

Du Han shook his head, pondering, "I am interested in the path of spiritual formations, and I once had an in-depth exchange with a human cultivator who was proficient in it. I find this Five-Insect Sect's mountain-protecting formation a bit strange; there are many incongruities..."

Mid-sentence, Du Han's heart suddenly jolted.

In an instant, Du Han's hair stood on end, and he felt an impending catastrophe, his face changing dramatically.

"Who goes there?!" As Du Han roared in anger, a blindingly bright light suddenly erupted from the mountain directly in front of them, revealing an incredibly swift yet terrifyingly powerful sword light.

Qin Sang had not chosen to ambush them at Five-Insect Sect, but here instead, precisely because he feared Du Han might notice something amiss with Five-Insect Sect's mountain-protecting formation or Du Xian and the others, and become vigilant.

At the time, in order to quickly resolve the situation and capture Du Xian and his group, he had resorted to brute force to break Five-Insect Sect's mountain-protecting formation.

Although he had repaired the grand formation later, he had little confidence in his own spiritual formation skills. If they came too close, it was highly likely to alert Du Han.

After careful consideration, Qin Sang decided to set up an ambush outside the sect's main gate.

Unexpectedly, Du Han seemed quite proficient in spiritual formations, discerning clues from such a distance. While Qin Sang secretly congratulated himself, he dared not wait for Du Han to approach further and was forced to make his move.

Fortunately, this distance was no longer far.

Feeling the terrifying aura emanating from the sword light, the disciple's legs went weak and he trembled, truly understanding the words his master had just spoken.

"A Core Formation cultivator!" A sharp glint flashed in Du Han's eyes, and he instantly realized that something must have happened to his disciples.

All those he had brought into Western Xinjiang this time were the most talented among his disciples, and Du Xian, in particular, was someone he regarded as his own son, placing great hopes on him.

The thought that they might have already been killed by this person sent Du Han into a furious rage; he wished he could tear Qin Sang into ten thousand pieces.

Unexpectedly, just as this thought crossed his mind, Du Han heard faint thunderous sounds coming from ahead. He suddenly recalled a divine ability coveted by countless sword cultivators, and an ominous premonition immediately arose in his heart.

"Sword Qi Thunder Sound!" Du Han was greatly alarmed. He never imagined that there would be a sword dao prodigy in the Witches' Continent who was proficient in swordsmanship and could comprehend Sword Qi Thunder Sound right after breaking through to Core Formation.

Without time to think further, Du Han abruptly slapped his Dantian. A burst of light emerged, and a pale bone claw flew out from his Qi Sea.

Almost at the same instant, a sword shadow instantly tore through space and appeared before Du Han.

Du Han's pupils contracted. He finally understood why sword cultivators yearned so deeply for Sword Qi Thunder Sound—it was simply too fast!

Breaking into a cold sweat, Du Han remained calm in the face of danger. The bone claw, like a living creature, was extremely agile. After it spread open, it actually intercepted the sword shadow at the critical moment.

A pale, eerie light shimmered on the ghostly claw as it swiftly moved to grasp the sword shadow.

"Oh?" Seeing Du Han summon the bone claw, Qin Sang, who had arrived on his sword, let out a soft exclamation of surprise.

He clearly sensed that this ghostly claw was actually Du Han's vital magical treasure!

As a Wu clan cultivator from a renowned major sect, Du Han had surprisingly not refined a vital insect-gu but had instead chosen a vital magical treasure, just like human cultivators.

This was too strange and utterly unexpected for Qin Sang.

Qin Sang hadn't found this information from Du Xian and the others. Du Han had hidden it very deeply, so much so that even his disciples were unaware.

Adding the magical treasure bestowed by Liwu Palace, Du Han possessed two magical treasures!

The trap Qin Sang had set was designed to counter Du Han's vital insect-gu. He hadn't expected this situation to arise.

Furthermore, this wasn't the only thing about Du Han that Qin Sang found strange.

Upon closer inspection, Qin Sang actually detected a faint hint of demonic aura emanating from him. He initially thought Du Han might be keeping a spirit beast and quickly became vigilant, but he found no spirit beast bags or similar items on him.

And then there was Du Han's strength.

His aura was indeed very powerful, but it wasn't at the level expected of someone on the verge of breaking through to the middle stage of Core Formation. It was somewhat weaker than Qin Sang had anticipated.

In his haste, Du Han's panic seemed genuine, so he shouldn't be concealing his strength.

Qin Sang wondered if Du Han had a hidden illness or if there was some other reason.

Nevertheless, it was good news for Qin Sang.

These thoughts flashed through his mind, but Qin Sang remained focused on the battle.