Chapter 76: Same Sect

Human World

Shen Jing clutched her bronze mirror artifact, her expression tense as she stared at the mirror array.

She rapidly tapped the bronze mirror several times, and it flew into the air, hovering above the mirror array, sealing its only opening.

The trembling bronze mirrors immediately stabilized, spewing out more black mist. This dense mist converged, forming a black iron-like curtain.

Sweat beaded on Shen Jing’s forehead as she finally let out a long breath, murmuring, “Junior Brother Qin, it’s truly difficult to outwit you.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Shen Jing’s face. Finally, she slapped her mustard seed bag, and an ice-crystal-like arrowhead flew out. She channeled spiritual energy into the arrowhead.

The ice-crystal arrowhead flared with a cold light, shooting towards the sky. It exploded with a ‘bang’ in mid-air, its sound echoing through the forest, scattering ice shards like a snowflake fireworks display.

Moments later, from the direction they had come, a gray whirlwind roared towards them. In a short while, it landed in front of Shen Jing, coming to an abrupt halt. The wind and smoke contracted into a single wisp, which was absorbed into the belly of a young-looking man.

The man carried a treasured sword on his back, and a small green snake was coiled around his left arm.

The green snake flicked its tongue, then uncoiled and sprang from his arm onto Shen Jing’s hand, intimately rubbing its small head against her palm.

The man glared at Shen Jing, his expression seemingly displeased. “Junior Sister Shen, I told you long ago that I only needed a few hours to refine the百年石乳. Once I break through to the seventh level, we’ll easily gather both our jade tokens. Why did you insist on having the green snake wake me now?”

Shen Jing angrily averted her gaze and huffed, “The stone milk won’t be lost if it’s not refined right away. Does Junior Brother Yang truly value a few drops of stone milk more than my life?”

The man’s expression turned sheepish. After a moment of hesitation, he walked over to Shen Jing, gently raised his hands, and awkwardly grasped her shoulders, softly comforting her, “Junior Sister, I was just anxious. There are so many masters in the Bagua forbidden zone. If we can’t enter the Yuanzhao Gate, who knows how those old devils from Kuiyin Sect will deal with us. Besides, this person has been easily trapped by your Bewildering Divine Mirror. What are you still afraid of?”

Qin Sang, trapped within the mirror array, clearly overheard the conversation outside. Hearing the man’s voice and Shen Jing’s address, his heart was instantly shaken.

The newcomer was actually a fellow disciple from the Kuiyin Sect—Senior Brother Yang Yuanzang, who had obtained the Dragon Serpent Sword in the Sect Master’s cave dwelling.

The three of them had coincidentally ended up in the same area, and these two had been in collusion for a long time!

Qin Sang’s expression flickered, his gaze fixed deeply on the barrier of black mist surrounding him. By now, he mostly understood how he had fallen into the trap.

When he fought the bamboo hat swordsman, those golden rings definitely didn't come from the Bewildering Divine Mirror. Shen Jing must have had another defensive artifact, skillfully concealing the mirror’s true function, which he hadn't even noticed.

He had fallen for it justly; this woman’s acting was superb. She faked the Bewildering Divine Mirror’s real abilities and pretended to be frail to lower his guard.

She had probably been planning how to outwit him from the moment he appeared.

Qin Sang sighed inwardly, his brows furrowed with unease. How could he escape, facing two fellow disciples with peak-grade artifacts?

These mists seemed to only have a trapping effect. Qin Sang felt like he was trapped inside a hollow iron ball. Wisps of mist drifted towards him, and aside from feeling bone-chillingly cold, there was nothing unusual.

He waved his hand, conjuring a burst of cold air that transformed into ice shards. They struck the mist barrier and bounced off.

At the same time, the mirror array outside also trembled slightly.

Shen Jing’s eyes widened, and she pointed at the mirror array, exclaiming loudly, “Easily? Do you even know who this person is?”

Yang Yuanzang paused at her words. “Could it be…”

Shen Jing nodded. “It’s our fellow Junior Brother, Qin Sang!”

“The one who fainted in the Sect Master’s cave dwelling?”

Yang Yuanzang chuckled, clearly remembering Qin Sang vividly. “I recall Uncle Yue saying he had a Five Elements spirit root and only fortunately stepped onto the path of cultivation after consuming an exotic fruit due to some stroke of luck. Such a timid coward is not worth mentioning…”

Shen Jing snorted, “Senior Brother Yang, if you keep underestimating people like this, you might suffer a great fall someday! You don’t know how troublesome Junior Brother Qin is. I used every trick I had, but I couldn’t gain an ounce of his trust, not even a chance to leave a secret mark. I had intended to lure him to the Mountain Alligator’s lair with jade tokens and spiritual herbs to find you, but he wasn’t tempted in the slightest. Also, he never revealed the ability of his twin-wing artifact to me. I racked my brains just to find an opportunity to set up the Bewildering Divine Mirror, otherwise…”

Before she could finish, Yang Yuanzang’s face turned as black as a pot bottom, and he roared, “What methods did you use to gain his trust? Did you also…”

“What kind of person do you take me for!”

Shen Jing’s face was filled with grievance, on the verge of tears. “Ever since I committed myself to you, I’ve been devoted! After being coerced by Junior Brother Qin, I could only pretend to comply and immediately sent the green snake to ask for your help. I never forgot to escape for a moment, and you still doubt me!”

“I’m just concerned about you, that’s why…”

Seeing Shen Jing’s tears, Yang Yuanzang’s anger immediately dissipated. He apologized repeatedly. When his apologies had no effect, he suddenly shouted, “Junior Sister Shen, open the mirror array! That Qin fellow dared to coerce you; I’ll cleave him alive with the Dragon Serpent Sword to vent your anger!”

“The person I hate the most is you!”

Shen Jing gave Yang Yuanzang a charming glare. “What’s the rush? I suspect Junior Brother Qin’s twin-wing artifact likely has a flying and escaping ability. Your Void Wind might not be fast enough to catch up to a peak-grade artifact refined by the sect. Let him stay in the array for a while. The mist from the Bewildering Divine Mirror also has a disorienting effect. It won’t be too late to act once he’s confused and dizzy. He has at least three jade tokens on him. You must not fail!”

Yang Yuanzang’s eyes lit up. “Three jade tokens, plus ours, that would make seven!”

Shen Jing nodded with a smile.

Inside the mirror array, countless ice shard fragments formed a chilling, pale blue wind, filling the small space and striking the mist barrier, obstructing vision.

Qin Sang sat cross-legged, holding a spirit stone in each hand. The Ebony Sword flew out from his qi sea, hovering before him. The spiritual energy radiance grew brighter and brighter, and the sword body continuously trembled, seemingly unable to contain its desire for slaughter.

After being trapped in the mirror array, Qin Sang had initially planned to escape using his Falling Cloud Wings the moment Shen Jing opened the formation. However, upon hearing Shen Jing and Yang Yuanzang’s conversation, Qin Sang immediately decided to use the Ebony Sword.

He hadn’t felt any disorienting effects from the mist in the mirror array; his mind was exceptionally clear.

To accumulate enough spiritual energy as quickly as possible, Qin Sang risked absorbing two spirit stones simultaneously. A terrifying surge of spiritual energy rushed into his meridians, causing tearing pain, and his qi sea felt like it was about to explode from the impact.

Qin Sang gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, his expression distorted, yet his eyes remained incredibly calm.

P.S.: I came back and glanced, and it finally changed status!

I hope it can appear on recommendations and rankings in the future. Running naked is too painful.

An old guy who can’t keep up with the times mustered the courage to write a book, and he’s been tormented to death.

Thank you all; this book wouldn’t be where it is today without you. I even saw some readers helping to promote it elsewhere, which was truly touching.

A new journey begins; let’s all work hard together.

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