Chapter 930: Trading

The Mortal World

Old Devil Fang's appearance caused a stir, which quickly subsided. The cultivators waited in silence. It was well past midnight. The Grand Shaman's expression stirred slightly, and she parted her crimson lips. "Fellow Daoist Lingzhuzi, the time has come. This one shall now activate the Thousand Sword Array." Lingzhuzi made a quick calculation with his fingers and said in a deep voice, "This immortal array is currently at its weakest point. We will fully assist the Grand Shaman in breaking it. Let's begin."

With that, Lingzhuzi waved his horsetail whisk. The other Nascent Soul cultivators dispersed, taking positions at the edge of the grand array, activating their true essence and channeling it into the spiritual formation. Seeing this, the Golden Core cultivators stirred restlessly and retreated, fearing they might be affected by the spiritual formation's residual power. However, not wanting to miss the opportunity to observe, they did not move too far away. Soon, the Nascent Soul cultivators from both factions were spread out. At the center of the grand array, Lingzhuzi and Old Devil Fang stood to the left and right, flanking the Grand Shaman.

The Grand Shaman took a deep breath, and her jade-like hand gently rose. Below, the water surface rippled, and a milky-white speck of light slowly ascended from beneath the sea. It gradually elongated, transforming into a slender spiritual sword. Immediately after, the Grand Shaman produced a mustard seed pouch with her other hand. With the pouch opening facing down, a flash of light appeared, and spiritual stones cascaded like flowing water onto the sea surface. Remarkably, they were all high-grade spiritual stones! The sheer quantity of spiritual stones stunned the Golden Core cultivators observing from outside. Only then did they understand why a single jade talisman had been sold for such an exorbitant price. These were merely spiritual stones; the spiritual materials required to set up the array were undoubtedly an astronomical figure. Likely, only the most prominent powers could afford such an undertaking.

The spiritual stones landed precisely on the specks of light in the sea. Upon entering the water, they were immediately absorbed by the light specks, dissolving silently. Those specks of light gradually grew stronger, slowly ascending just like the one the Grand Shaman had activated, eventually transforming into slender swords. The surrounding Nascent Soul cultivators all began to act. They each activated the light swords around them, forming currents that appeared to be composed of light swords, all surging towards the center of the grand array. Their speed and momentum were astonishing. Achieving this step was clearly not easy; all the Nascent Soul cultivators showed expressions of strain, some even activating their magical treasures for assistance.

The Grand Shaman's gaze narrowed slightly as she looked at Lingzhuzi and Old Devil Fang. She saw one man and one cicada, each emitting a beam of green and yellow light respectively, connecting to the central light sword, as if vigorously pushing it upwards. Simultaneously, streams of light shot forth, crashing into the light sword. There was no disturbance; the light sword, like a bottomless pit, devoured everything. In an instant, the thousand swords merged into one, concentrating the entire grand array's power, an astounding force gathered in a single spot.

Qin Sang and the others, being on the outermost periphery, felt a vague sensation that sent shivers down their spines and filled them with dread. Lingzhuzi's expression was solemn. His horsetail whisk was connected to the light sword, and his arm trembled slightly. Old Devil Fang spread his wings, vibrating them repeatedly. His cicada cries were sharper than before, causing irritation to anyone who heard them. The most strenuous effort was being expended by the Grand Shaman, who presided over the Thousand Sword Array. Her gaze was like water, her crimson lips were tightly pursed, and her hand seals changed continuously, sending countless incantations into the light sword. It was precisely because of this that the light sword, despite absorbing the thousand swords, did not collapse but instead became increasingly solidified. Finally, a jade-white spiritual sword appeared above everyone. The spiritual sword was about three feet long, entirely crystal-clear like jade, with its blade covered in runes, resembling an immortal sword.

"Go!" The Grand Shaman suddenly raised her jade-like hand and pointed it towards the immortal array. The spiritual sword trembled slightly, then, with a flicker, vanished into the grey wind wall. After a brief silence, a terrifying, invisible fluctuation suddenly erupted within the wind wall. The cultivators felt as if their minds had been struck by a heavy hammer, and their escape lights wavered. The next moment, a familiar scene unfolded: the grey wind wall began to shatter from within, countless cracks instantly bursting outwards in all directions. Each crack seemed to contain a light sword, carving a path for the cultivators.

"Move!" The Grand Shaman and Lingzhuzi shouted almost simultaneously. The Nascent Soul cultivators each took out their jade talismans and instantly passed through the gaps, entering the wind wall. Qin Sang was not slow either; having already prepared, he immediately raised his jade talisman, selected a gap, and charged in. The talisman's power had already been activated before he even entered. This time, instead of a bloody barrier, it was a sword-qi-like light that enveloped his entire body, clearing a path through the storm. He soon faced the first impact. Qin Sang, revisiting the familiar place, calmly dealt with the situation. Protected by the jade talisman, he successfully withstood the immortal array's impact, passed through it, and descended from the air onto the barren plain.

The barren plain was exceptionally vast. Qin Sang's feet touched solid ground. He looked up to see figures passing through the immortal array and descending from the sky, each landing in a different location. After a brief pause, these individuals immediately took action, riding their escape lights and soaring in all directions, disappearing into the deep mountains and dense forests. "I'm back!" Qin Sang sighed with emotion. He first glanced in the direction of the Heavenly Pagoda, then turned and flew towards the Purple Mist Dead Zone, deciding to obtain the Nine Nether Demonic Flame first.

Soon, Qin Sang arrived at the ancient jungle connecting to the Purple Mist Dead Zone. Qin Sang still vividly remembered his first encounter there with Xiang Yi. He knew the jungle contained many formidable vicious insects and beasts, and he had prepared several kinds of medicinal powders, carrying them on his person. He activated an incantation, turning invisible, and entered the jungle to search for the purple river. Qin Sang moved as cautiously as possible, unsure if the Eastern Extremity Alliance would send more people to the Purple Mist Dead Zone to activate the ancient divine platform, potentially causing further complications.

As Qin Sang swiftly flew towards the Purple Mist Dead Zone, deep within the mountains, the Nascent Soul cultivators from both factions were not far apart, and their flight path was directly towards the Heavenly Pagoda. At this moment, Old Devil Mu glanced in the direction of the Purple Mist Dead Zone, then surveyed the surrounding Nascent Soul cultivators one by one, but discerned nothing unusual. He mused for a moment, then suddenly transmitted a message to the blood-robed elder beside him.

The blood-robed elder was startled upon hearing this. "Old Devil Mu, you dare to defy the orders of Lingzhuzi and the Demonic Lord! Are you tired of living? Don't drag this one down with you!" "Heh heh, Old Ghost Blood, do you think I don't know your secrets? You want to use the ancient forbidden arts of the Seven Killings Hall to refine that evil artifact to help you overcome your next lightning tribulation, but your success rate is probably less than ten percent, isn't it? Without that evil artifact, you probably don't have a century left to live. As long as you help me this once, I can borrow Old Devil Wen's Heavenly Gang Ring for you."

Old Devil Mu suppressed the anxiety in his heart and discussed a deal with the blood-robed elder. The blood-robed elder's expression flickered, and he said disbelievingly, "The Heavenly Gang Ring is Old Devil Wen's lifeblood, something he values more than his own life. You say you can just borrow it?" "Old Devil Wen owes me a huge favor. Borrowing the Heavenly Gang Ring once is certainly something I can manage! Although the Heavenly Gang Ring's effect isn't as good as your evil artifact, it's still a rare and extraordinary treasure that can give you a fighting chance at survival." Old Devil Mu said with a confident expression, "Besides, this time I won't be truly defying orders. As long as you give it your all, I don't anticipate any issues."

The blood-robed elder was clearly swayed, his eyes flickering. "Alright! I'll trust you this once! But if you dare to deceive this old man, with my limited time left, I won't hold back or show any mercy. Watch out for your Skywind Island!"