Chapter 755: Ruthless Calculations

The Human World

However, attempting to kill him with the toxic mist was a mere pipe dream.

The fat silkworm, currently trembling inside the Golden Radiance Armor, diligently performed its duty of protecting Qin Sang. As soon as the toxic mist entered Qin Sang's wound, the anti-poison armor sealed it off.

Cui Ji, however, was unaware of this.

Qin Sang, covering his wound with one hand, rolled to his feet and simultaneously retracted the miserably damaged Flying Yaksha.

The Flying Yaksha had several large, transparent holes all over its body and lay motionless on the ground. Qin Sang didn't have time to check its condition at that moment and decided to put it away first.

The purple haze descended once more.

Qin Sang, clutching his wound tightly, could only barely fend off the attacks with his Ebony Sword. He appeared utterly exhausted and disheveled, showing no desire to fight.

The Ebony Sword was inherently slightly inferior to the Violet Gloom Orb, making Qin Sang's defense extremely difficult and strained.

Blood flowed from the wound on his shoulder, staining his entire body.

The saber energy lingered in the wound, wreaking havoc within his body. Qin Sang could only suppress it with his true essence, finding it difficult to expel in a short time.

Cui Ji was very cautious, keeping a significant distance from Qin Sang. He absolutely refused to expose the Bone Lotus or the Violet Gloom Orb, nor would he easily use his flying dagger. His plan was to wear Qin Sang down until he died.

If the Blood Filth Divine Light could cripple the Bone Lotus, the situation would immediately reverse.

However, observing Cui Ji's actions, Qin Sang knew that continuing like this would yield no opportunity. His condition was also deteriorating rapidly, so he prepared to retreat, luring the enemy deeper.

Just then, both Qin Sang and Cui Ji felt a sudden palpitation and looked in the same direction.

The next moment, the ground trembled violently.

Suddenly, an earth-shattering roar echoed.

The frenzied Violet Star Carvings let out terrified shrieks, and a large flock of them scattered in all directions.

It was then that Qin Sang saw a distant blue pillar of light shoot skyward, dispersing the surrounding toxic mist. Only after the pillar vanished did the purple mist slowly close in again.

"What exploded?"

Qin Sang was alarmed, realizing the explosion's location must be near the stone palace.

Given such an astonishing display, the power must have been terrifying.

None of the eight of them could have done that.

"What exactly happened?"

Qin Sang felt uneasy. He glanced at Cui Ji and noticed a slight furrow in his brow and a hint of worry in his eyes.

From his expression, it seemed he knew something.

Qin Sang instantly formed many conjectures. The change of hands for the Bone Lotus, Cui Ji's desperate ambush, and now this explosion coupled with Cui Ji's expression, made him realize there was likely more to this trip than met the eye.

It wasn't merely a straightforward treasure retrieval for the trade alliance!

Something unexpected had definitely occurred ahead.

This time, the surrounding by fierce beasts might not have been a natural disaster!

The Violet Star Carvings and underground beasts might have been deliberately lured here by someone.

He recalled the identities of the eight people. Except for Xiang Yi, whose origins were unknown but who seemed to have a close relationship with the alliance leader, everyone else was a member of various trade guilds.

Including himself, who was formerly an elder guest of the Qiongyu Merchant Guild, he had been asked by Old Zou to join the guild when purchasing his qualification.

Unlike sects, the trade alliance was formed by various trade guilds uniting for profit. While they appeared to advance and retreat together, in reality, each harbored ulterior motives, and schemes against each other were not uncommon.

The Liu couple, the cultivator surnamed Pan, the sword-carrying youth...

These individuals flashed through Qin Sang's mind. Since their first meeting, everyone's behavior had been normal, showing no signs of anything amiss.

Who knew how many harbored ill intentions? Now, no one could be trusted.

Qin Sang's heart sank. He abandoned the idea of reuniting with the others, focusing solely on one thought: kill Cui Ji and immediately leave to avoid being swept into the undercurrents within the trade alliance.

It was better to stay far away from matters involving the trade alliance leader and the major guilds.

Qin Sang, while fending off the purple haze, simultaneously diverted a sword light behind him to clear a path through the Violet Star Carvings. Being caught between the Violet Star Carvings and Cui Ji made his situation extremely difficult.

His breathing grew increasingly rapid, his aura weakened, and the effects of his injuries became more pronounced. Even his innate spiritual sword appeared dim; his condition was dire.

Cui Ji glanced at Qin Sang, then looked towards the site of the explosion, a hesitant expression on his face.

Finally, he poured all his true essence into the Violet Gloom Orb, unleashing an attack no less powerful than the first.

Facing the formidable purple haze, Qin Sang struggled immensely. Unable to block all of it, his body sustained heavy blows. The wound on his shoulder burst open, and blood gushed out.

The Golden Radiance Armor looked even more wretched, covered in dents and dense cracks.

Fortunately, it hadn't completely shattered and could still be salvaged, though restoring it to its original state wouldn't be easy.

The most severe impact was on Qin Sang himself. His true essence rapidly depleted in his effort to resist the purple haze. Without the fat silkworm's anti-poison armor, he surely wouldn't have been able to suppress the toxic mist.

By now, the poison would likely have entered his internal organs, leaving him merely clinging to life.

Qin Sang seized the opportunity to retreat violently, on the verge of disappearing into the depths of the Violet Star Carving flock.

Cui Ji gave Qin Sang a deep look, but surprisingly, instead of continuing the pursuit, he changed direction and rushed towards the site of the explosion.

In his estimation, Qin Sang, with his severe injuries, depleted true essence, double affliction from saber energy and toxic mist, and a nearly ruined inner armor, had no chance of survival once trapped among the Violet Star Carvings.

Without the protection of the Bone Lotus, he would constantly need to circulate true essence for self-defense, and such true essence fluctuations would be extremely conspicuous, making it impossible to escape detection by the fierce beasts and flee the perilous area.

In short, Qin Sang was as good as dead.

Let him savor his final moments of despair.

A sinister smile appeared on Cui Ji's lips. Although he yearned to personally kill his enemy, he feared contaminating his magical artifacts and thus hesitated. Killing Qin Sang quickly would be difficult, and the matters at the stone palace were far more important.

Cui Ji withdrew.

Qin Sang stopped, his expression fluctuating.

Cui Ji's choice greatly surprised Qin Sang.

It seemed the explosion was indeed related to Cui Ji. Qin Sang wondered which of the other six individuals was conspiring with Cui Ji and who had been harmed, as nothing had been apparent before.

Cui Ji's actions disrupted Qin Sang's plans.

He had intended to feign poisoning to lure Cui Ji closer, then unexpectedly release the Two-headed Hou, catching him off guard. With himself and the Two-headed Hou working together, there was a high probability of killing Cui Ji.

After avenging the ambush, he would leave this trouble-ridden place.

Now that Cui Ji had withdrawn, he couldn't very well pursue him.

Qin Sang sighed softly.

He *had* to kill Cui Ji!

Even if Cui Ji hadn't injured him, being targeted was an unpleasant feeling; it was wise to nip the danger in the bud. However, he hadn't had an opportunity throughout their journey, and Cui Ji had consistently held the upper hand.

Unfortunately, under these circumstances, killing Cui Ji here was almost impossible. He would have to wait for a future opportunity.

Qin Sang glanced at the spot where Cui Ji had disappeared.

He couldn't wait any longer; he had to leave quickly.

He released the Two-headed Hou, mounted it, and the fat silkworm expanded its anti-poison armor to protect the Two-headed Hou as well.

"You lead the way," Qin Sang instructed the Two-headed Hou in a low voice, "I'll first expel the saber energy from my wound..."

After giving the Two-headed Hou a few quiet instructions, Qin Sang calmed his mind, focused inward, and fully circulated his cultivation technique.

His true essence gathered at the wound, gradually forcing the lingering saber energy out of his body.

Qin Sang's complexion regained a hint of color, and he swallowed a healing pill.