Chapter 852: Chasing

Qin Sang watched the Two-headed Ghoul depart. His figure stopped abruptly, and he turned, his gaze coldly fixed on the rapidly approaching opponents.

In truth, he remained deeply puzzled, unable to fathom why his opponents held Su Nü in such high regard. He wasn't unfamiliar with demonic cultivators; his first sect after embarking on the immortal path was a demonic one.

In this age, demonic cultivators typically paid little heed to True Demonic Energy. Not only was it exceptionally rare, but even if found, it was impossible to absorb or utilize this power. Instead, it often backfired, endangering one's life. This peculiar attitude of the two individuals towards both True Demonic Energy and Su Nü fueled Qin Sang's suspicion. The connection between the two major trade alliances and True Demonic Energy appeared to be even stronger than he had imagined. What hidden secrets lay within this connection?

Moreover, throughout their escape from the demon island, Su Nü had been surprisingly docile and obedient. She didn't seem like a difficult person, yet she couldn't even tolerate a few offensive glances, which also made Qin Sang suspicious. He wondered if it was her natural disposition or a deliberate act. If deliberate, Su Nü's true intentions and her relationship with Reverend Yue became very intriguing.

Of course, these were merely Qin Sang's suspicions. He had only been in contact with Su Nü for a short time, hadn't even exchanged many words with her, and didn't understand her true nature. It was possible she was simply spoiled from being overly protected by Reverend Yue.

Qin Sang's primary task was to ensure Su Nü's safety, not to lose her, and he had no desire to get entangled in unrelated disputes. Thus, such thoughts merely flashed through his mind, and he didn't dwell on them.

“I have no intention of becoming your enemy,” Qin Sang declared, blocking their path. “Why must you be so aggressive?”

“We merely wish to exchange cultivation insights with the young lady, yet you are as startled as a bird shot by an arrow. You've misunderstood us!” the handsome bearded man pleaded earnestly. “In this demon sea, where demonic beasts reign supreme, how long can we cultivators survive if we don't join forces?”

However, a hidden murderous intent flickered in his eyes. Especially after spotting the Two-headed Ghoul, he immediately sent a telepathic message to the stout elder: “Junior Brother, this man even has a spirit beast at the Core Formation stage! No wonder he can move so freely in the demon sea. He's no simple opponent, and killing him won't be easy; we might pay a heavy price. Let's let him go for now. Our priority is to capture the girl, and she must be taken alive…”

The three exchanged messages, quickly finalizing their plan. The handsome bearded man secretly activated a spiritual talisman. As he did so, his true body vanished, and the talisman manifested a phantom of him, indistinguishable from the real thing. The other two maintained their composure, guarding the phantom as they menacingly charged toward Qin Sang. Meanwhile, the handsome bearded man's true body lurked in the shadows, quietly changing direction to bypass Qin Sang.

Qin Sang, ever vigilant, had already awakened his Heavenly Eye Butterfly and activated his Heavenly Eye, scanning the surroundings. He easily saw through the handsome bearded man's illusion and located his true body. He showed no change in expression, actively drawing his sword to meet the attack, pretending to be unaware.

As he neared the handsome bearded man's true body, Qin Sang's sword light suddenly shifted. In an instant, sword energy, like a waterfall of stars, cascaded down, accompanied by thunderous roars, shaking the soul. It was as if a forest of swords had erupted from Qin Sang's hand, engulfing the hidden handsome bearded man!

The handsome bearded man was greatly alarmed, stunned by the astonishing swordsmanship. He abandoned his stealth, hastily activating his vital magic treasure. A crystal square seal shot from his dantian, shimmering with silver light. Runes on its top transformed, eventually forming a silver character: ‘Suppress’ (镇).

The sword energy collided with the square seal. The large 'Suppress' character flew from the seal, spinning rapidly. Along its path, sword energy dispersed, but simultaneously, the character itself began to dissipate, and the silver light on the seal fluctuated, enduring immense pressure.

“What powerful swordsmanship!” The handsome bearded man was forced out of the shadows, his expression grave as he gazed at Qin Sang. “I truly misjudged you, Daoist friend. Your strength is rare even among the three major trade alliances, yet I've never heard of you.”

“This humble Daoist is merely a rogue cultivator, not worth mentioning,” Qin Sang replied, but he showed no mercy. His Ebony Sword appeared and vanished unpredictably, and the swordsmanship he had learned in the sword path was unleashed, forcefully shattering the silver character. Sword energy poured down like a waterfall, breaking through all resistance.

But before the Ebony Sword could get close, the square seal flew back, manifesting a new silver character. The handsome bearded man, still clutching his magic treasure, rapidly retreated.

Just then, the other two arrived. Seeing the situation, they immediately acted, not to help the handsome bearded man block the spiritual sword, but to activate their own magic treasures, aiming directly at Qin Sang, forcing him to defend himself.

Blade and spear arrived simultaneously. Qin Sang thought to himself, *No opportunity.*

When he had feigned ignorance and planned a sneak attack, he had secretly prepared his Blood-Filth Divine Light and Star Conch, waiting for the handsome bearded man to expose a weakness so he could kill him first, making it easier to deal with the other two. But the handsome bearded man, despite being ambushed, was a master of the Core Formation Late stage and didn't lose his composure. Qin Sang couldn't find a suitable moment to strike before the other two arrived. Facing three powerful opponents alone, he had to abandon the idea of killing them and instead patiently maneuver.

As the magic treasures closed in, Qin Sang's figure flickered repeatedly. Simultaneously, the demonic banner by his side rotated, forming an array, and he drew a wisp of Nine Nether Demonic Flame into his palm, launching a counterattack against the magic treasures.

Qin Sang knew that fighting three opponents simultaneously couldn't last. Once the handsome bearded man adjusted and the three formed a coordinated formation, they would be able to suppress him. Moreover, his true essence was being consumed rapidly; the spirit pills he had taken earlier were merely a drop in the bucket. Therefore, after a short entanglement, Qin Sang deliberately exposed a weakness.

The handsome bearded man broke free from the entanglement, eager to capture the girl. He instructed his companions to tie up Qin Sang while he went to pursue the Two-headed Ghoul.

Qin Sang ignored this. He recalled his Ebony Sword, seized the opportune moment, and unleashed his Blood-Filth Divine Light, striking directly at the stout elder's vital magic treasure.

“Senior Brother, save me!” The Ebony Sword and Nine Nether Demonic Flame arrived simultaneously. The stout elder, having lost his magic treasure, was utterly defenseless and terrified. The cultivator surnamed Liu rushed to his aid but could only block the demonic flame.

Seeing this, the handsome bearded man's eyes widened in fury, and he rushed back to rescue his junior brother, but sword light had already enveloped the stout elder. *Boom!* A silver character dispersed the sword energy.

Qin Sang stood with his sword sheathed, looking at the blood-soaked stout elder with some regret. The man had, by some unknown means, managed to save his life at the last moment. However, he was severely wounded, with sword energy having penetrated his body, rendering him combat ineffective for a short period.

The Blood-Filth Divine Light proved its worth, originating from the Ten Divine Woods, consistently helping Qin Sang secure victory. The handsome bearded man was also stunned. Holding his heavily injured junior brother, he found it hard to believe. He had thought that even if his two junior brothers couldn't defeat their opponent, they could at least tie him down. He never expected such a swift and devastating defeat! What kind of divine ability was that bloody light?

“Dare to harass this humble Daoist again, and this man will be your fate!” Qin Sang scoffed, pointing at the stout elder, and then departed on his sword.

“Kill him!” the handsome bearded man roared, consumed by rage and murderous intent, yet he remained remarkably calm. “That demon cultivator is only at the Core Formation Middle stage! After fighting three of us and using so many magic treasures, his true essence must be depleted! He's just putting on a brave front; don't be fooled by him!” He then instructed his junior brother to refine the sword energy in his body on his own, took the cultivator surnamed Liu, and pursued Qin Sang.