Chapter 839: Be Careful of Fraud

Tuoshishan muttered to himself, taking a large gulp of wine. Beside him, nine figures remained perfectly still, each bowing respectfully.

They were utterly convinced by their young master. His character and actions, through countless past experiences, had earned their profound respect. For instance, in this current situation, the difference in forbidden mountains between him and Xu Qing of the human race was negligible. Given his family's power, it would be effortless to add more forbidden mountains. Even without leveraging his family's influence, simply spreading word would naturally lead people to deliver forbidden mountains to him. Furthermore, a mere command from him would prompt them to find other ways to intercept or hinder Xu Qing.

However, they had already discerned that their young master disdained such methods. He was clearly interested in the human named Xu Qing and intended to wait here for a direct, honorable battle to decide the chief position. As for the outcome, the nine of them had no worries. In their view, someone like Prince Mingnan could be suppressed by their young master with a mere lift of his hand. The Xuantian bloodline was naturally extraordinary.

Time passed, and after Tuoshishan finished his seventh jar of wine, a long rainbow streaked across the distant sky, revealing the figures of Xu Qing and his two companions. Tuoshishan lifted his head, burped, and a strange light gleamed in his eyes as he gazed at the horizon. He grinned, "Finally, they're here."

The moment Tuoshishan looked at the sky, Xu Qing's gaze also fell from the firmament, fixing on the mountain peak ahead. Behind him, the captain's expression grew somewhat solemn.

"Junior Brother, this person is not simple," the captain's low voice echoed in Xu Qing's mind. "Judging by the exposed vital energy, his physical body has clearly reached the Great Perfection stage of Return to the Ruins. His cultivation is also at the same level."

"This person is only half a step away from the Soul Nurturing stage!"

"Based on my understanding of the Blazing Moon Xuantian Clan's cultivation methods, cultivators at this level prefer to use the blood of divine beings to open their divine repositories."

Xu Qing, too, recognized the extraordinary nature of the Blazing Moon youth drinking on the mountaintop. The mere sight of him caused a faint sting in Xu Qing's eyes, and the intense heat, like facing a volcano, allowed Xu Qing to gauge the Blazing Moon cultivator's combat strength. The opponent's location was precisely on Xu Qing's unavoidable path, and his demeanor clearly indicated he was waiting. Coupled with the more than nine hundred forbidden mountains above his head, his purpose was self-evident.

"He's Tuoshishan!" Qiu Quezi quickly gasped and warned. Before the battle with Prince Mingnan, he had completed his task as per Xu Qing's instructions. Later, he rejoined Xu Qing and had witnessed the terrifying prowess of this human cultivator, and was also aware of Prince Mingnan's demise. During this time, he had been filled with dread and apprehension. By now, he felt indifferent, yet his seemingly indifferent heart was still stirred.

"One of the Five Great Prodigies of the Blazing Moon Xuantian Clan, ranked fourth!"

"He possesses the Xuantian family bloodline, was born with extraordinary talent and divine strength, received five blessings from the Moon Flame Divine Temple, and was personally designated by the Moon Flame High God to serve as a temple protector after reaching the Soul Nurturing stage."

"He can be said to be one of the brightest stars of our Blazing Moon Xuantian Clan in this generation."

As Qiu Quezi revealed Tuoshishan's identity, a solemn feeling settled within Xu Qing, but his expression remained unchanged, and his speed did not slacken as he headed directly for the mountain where his opponent was located. Since Tuoshishan was already waiting there, even if his opponent had fewer forbidden mountains than him, and even if the divine mountain was in the distance and he could potentially enter it ahead of time at full speed, it would be meaningless.

The next instant, the mountain vibrated. Xu Qing's figure landed directly on the mountaintop, appearing before Tuoshishan. The captain and Qiu Quezi also landed in succession. At the same time, the captain's divine sense was transmitted to Xu Qing's mind through a special method.

"The nine individuals around him are also not simple. You attack first in a moment to buy me some time. I'll restrain them, and you take the mountain and head straight for the divine mountain."

Xu Qing's gaze swept across his surroundings, finally settling on Tuoshishan, who was seated in front of him. Tuoshishan smiled and, with a wave of his hand, tossed out a wine jar. Xu Qing was somewhat surprised. His soul threads coiled around it, making it float before him. As the aroma of the wine diffused, Xu Qing, with his understanding of the Way of Flora, immediately discerned its contents. It was a blood brew, highly nourishing for vital energy and blood, offering some recovery and enhancement to the physical body upon consumption.

"I also disliked Prince Mingnan. Your ability and courage to kill him are commendable. Therefore, I offer you this jar of wine!" Tuoshishan said, picking up his own wine jar and raising it in a distant salute to Xu Qing before taking a large gulp.

Xu Qing remained silent. This Blazing Moon prodigy was somewhat different from those he had encountered on his journey, but he wouldn't easily drink what the other party offered. Tuoshishan, however, clearly didn't care. After finishing his drink, he slowly stood up, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes. His aura erupted, instantly changing the world around them, causing winds to surge and clouds to gather. His imposing presence was earth-shattering, as if a storm was forming around him, expanding outwards with a rumbling sound. From a distance, towering tornadoes connected to the sky swirled around him. The sky roared, forming a massive vortex with streaks of lightning coursing within, a truly shocking sight.

Due to the proximity to the divine mountain, the anomaly immediately attracted the attention of cultivators in the divine city below. Soon, figures flew out from the divine city, and wisps of divine sense rapidly approached, pausing around them, observing closely.

A cold light flashed in Xu Qing's eyes, and his soul threads spread outwards. His divine form instantly manifested on him, his aura equally shaking all directions. A flicker of excitement passed through Tuoshishan's eyes. He carefully observed Xu Qing's divine form, then pondered before suddenly speaking, "Let's first set the rules and the stakes!"

"In our battle, the loser can keep one forbidden mountain. Everything else is at stake!"

Xu Qing's feeling of surprise surfaced once again. This Blazing Moon cultivator was indeed very different from anyone he had encountered before.

"Furthermore, a direct confrontation like this is meaningless. I've heard your sealing techniques are quite extraordinary!"

"And I also possess the Way of Sealing..."

"How about this: we each deploy our techniques. I will voluntarily enter your seal, and you will enter mine. Let's see who can break out of the other's seal first. The one who emerges first wins!" Tuoshishan looked at Xu Qing, his eyes clear, and spoke with a smile. He sensed Xu Qing's aura, and an inexplicable premonition led him to conclude that a direct confrontation would likely not be resolved quickly. Most importantly, he did not want to get injured. After all, this was only the first stage of the Great Hunt. He needed to maintain his peak strength to acquire sufficiently potent divine blood in the third stage, the Divine Realm.

Xu Qing mused, while the captain beside him stroked his chin and immediately transmitted a message: "Little Ah Qing, be careful of a trick!" Xu Qing thought hard. The captain's previous method was still not secure, and this sealing technique...

"Alright!" Xu Qing calmly spoke, raising his right hand to point at the sky. Instantly, the firmament roared, and a vast aura descended from above, suppressing all directions as the shadow of a colossal prison slowly emerged there. At first, it was ethereal, but it quickly solidified, its aura like a waterfall, emitting waves of divine might—it was precisely Prison 132. Upon its appearance, the prison's gate silently opened, and various strange cries emanated from within the gaping entrance.

Its emergence immediately drew the attention of the surrounding cultivators and divine senses, all gazing intently. Tuoshishan also took a few extra glances, then with a wave of his hand, produced a three-colored bead. The bead instantly shone brightly, floating on its own, continuously enlarging in mid-air until it reached a hundred zhang. It emitted a dense sealing power, and divine runes shimmered upon it, alternating between light and shadow, seemingly arranging themselves. Finally, they expanded outwards, forming a golden barrier with a single crack appearing on it, splitting open like a door.

"Then, let's begin."

As Tuoshishan spoke, his body swayed, and he flew directly towards the gate of Xu Qing's Prison 132. Xu Qing also moved, heading straight for the fissure opened by the three-colored bead. Tuoshishan, though seemingly unrefined, maintained synchronous movements with Xu Qing. Ultimately, at the same moment, both entered each other's seals.

The next instant, Prison 132's gate closed, and the fissure in the three-colored bead vanished. Both were sealed within each other's containment.

Inside the three-colored bead, the moment the barrier healed, Xu Qing had already stepped into a peculiar space. What first met his eyes was blackness, like an endless night, forming the seal. Upon breaking through this, a second color would appear. The colors were black, white, and red, each representing a type of seal. If all three colors were breached, then a combined three-color restriction would emerge, forming an even more terrifying seal. Each time the three colors overlapped, the seal would be stronger than the last, and after repeated superposition, the sealing power would naturally become astonishing.

As for Tuoshishan, he had to face misfortune and oblivion, along with all the prisoners and the divine finger. While this was novel to him, he also sensed its extraordinary nature.

Thus, time flowed. An incense stick's worth of time passed, yet neither of them had broken free. A muffled roar echoed within their respective seals. Half an hour, then a full hour passed. Tuoshishan's servants showed surprise, and the captain was similarly perplexed. Knowing Xu Qing, he also began to form some conjectures about a seal that could trap him for so long.

Finally, as the third hour arrived, the captain's expression changed, and Tuoshishan's servants also grew solemn. Although outsiders couldn't see the specifics due to the seals' concealment, one could infer the difficulty of breaking them based on the time elapsed.

In fact, this was precisely the case: within Prison 132, Tuoshishan could no longer maintain his composure. He was disheveled and in a very sorry state. His disheveled state wasn't physical, but mental. He was constantly entangled by misfortune, forced to exert his full strength every moment. Additionally, oblivion set in, causing him to repeatedly forget his purpose, and the feeling of nausea intensified. As for the prisoners, they were manageable; he had suppressed and annihilated them countless times. Even the divine finger didn't bother him much; such a weak deity was an eye-opener.

"It's tough for me here, but it must be even tougher for Xu Qing. Furthermore, he won't be able to escape my seal. When the three colors have alternated to a certain extent, he'll discover the final barrier, which cannot be broken by anyone below the Soul Nurturing stage. That's the grand gift I left for him!" Only by thinking this way could Tuoshishan balance the torment he was enduring. At this moment, his breathing was ragged, his eyes bloodshot. After fighting his way through and suppressing even the divine finger, he walked breathlessly towards the revealed prison gate. Stepping out of here would signify breaking the seal, so Tuoshishan smiled.

Meanwhile, within the three-colored space where Xu Qing was, the situation was equally difficult. He had almost exhausted all his methods, yet the three colors were without beginning or end, constantly merging and superimposing, growing increasingly powerful. Although he continued to break through them, at this moment, after the three colors had merged and superimposed three hundred times, a figure meditating cross-legged appeared within the three-colored light. Seeing this figure, Xu Qing paused.

"Soul Nurturing stage!"

The final barrier within this three-colored space was, unexpectedly, a Soul Nurturing stage spirit. It guarded within the three colors, and as long as it did not permit, no one below the Soul Nurturing stage could escape.

"As long as I'm here, you cannot get out!" The elderly Soul Nurturing spirit now opened its eyes and spoke calmly to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing fell silent.

At the very same time, inside Prison 132, Tuoshishan, standing before the prison gate, also fell silent. Embedded in the gate before him was a spherical orb: an ancient sun, an enhanced version of the Dawn Sun.

"As soon as this gate opens, the Dawn Sun will self-detonate. What a despicable trick!" Tuoshishan muttered, gritting his teeth in a curse after recognizing the orb and pausing for a long moment.