Chapter 96: Each Flies Their Own Way

The Mortal Realm

*Snap!*

Spiritual energy depleted, the spirit stone cracked into several pieces.

Qin Sang suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them, and he let out a low cry: “Go!”

The Ebony Sword pointed towards the grotto. The sword body trembled, then instantly transformed into a beam of light, vanishing from Qin Sang’s sight. The speed of that burst truly astonished Qin Sang.

Next, Qin Sang activated the Wind-Riding Technique and flew out of the Three Calamities Soul-Devouring Array. There, he saw Zhao Yan lying motionless on the ground.

A pool of fresh blood stained the ground, vivid crimson.

Qin Sang then commanded the Ebony Sword to stab a few more times. He flew over, lifted Zhao Yan, and saw his eyes wide open, still filled with terror. He must have just seen the Ebony Sword before it fatally struck him.

“Phew!”

Qin Sang’s tightly strung heart finally relaxed. He slumped to the ground, only then realizing that every part of his body ached and his spirit was utterly exhausted, yearning for a deep sleep.

However, he couldn't afford to relax yet. He was still not out of danger. Whether he could leave the Three Calamities Soul-Devouring Array and what the battle situation outside was like, everything remained unknown.

Fortunately, the Ebony Sword had killed Zhao Yan with ease, avoiding a stalemate. Much of the spiritual energy in Qin Sang's spirit stone still remained.

Qin Sang grabbed Zhao Yan's mustard seed pouch and glanced at the mysterious orchid safely nestled in the jade box. He grinned; being able to take it with him made all his suffering worthwhile.

If the Yuanzhao Sect had already fallen, he would pretend to have encountered a powerful enemy, claiming Zhao Yan's death and his own escape by controlling the Four Cloud Divine Prohibitions. He believed that as long as he handed over this orchid, the Sect Master would be greatly pleased and wouldn't reprimand him for Zhao Yan’s demise.

As for the Kuiyin Sect being counter-killed by the Yuanzhao Sect, that possibility should be very small, right?

He wasn't sure if these excuses would save his life. How exactly to proceed would depend on observing the situation once he was outside and adapting accordingly.

In any case, survival remained his foremost principle.

Qin Sang secretly gave a bitter smile. What else could he do? Such an immortal medicine was never truly something he could possess.

Sensing the spiritual energy slowly dissipating within him, Qin Sang dared not delay any longer. He snatched the transparent jade from Zhao Yan’s hand.

The refinement technique he had learned earlier also worked on the transparent jade. After completing its refinement, Qin Sang realized that he didn't need to control all five forbidden artifacts simultaneously. He merely had to manipulate the transparent jade with his spiritual sense to command the four triangular cloud banners. This explained why a Qi Condensation cultivator could use it alone.

However, one person could only unleash a fraction of the Four Cloud Divine Prohibitions' power.

A throbbing pain emanated from his dantian. Qin Sang endured the discomfort, stood up, and raised the transparent jade. The four triangular cloud banners automatically flew up, circling around him.

Qin Sang flicked his finger, incinerating Zhao Yan's corpse and trying his best to erase any trace of his own presence. He then stepped into the Three Calamities Soul-Devouring Array. To conserve spiritual energy, Qin Sang only activated the Four Cloud Divine Prohibitions when he saw the calamitous winds.

Controlling the forbidden artifacts alone was clearly much more difficult. Even with the power left by the Sect Master, Qin Sang struggled, taking several times longer than his entry to finally exit the Three Calamities Soul-Devouring Array.

Qin Sang stealthily exited the clam shell, only to see the ghost banner artifact still standing outside. He wondered about the fate of the Foundation Establishment cultivator inside.

Calculating the time, not much had actually passed from entering the grotto to exiting. It was just that the situation had changed so rapidly, with dangers lurking at every turn, leaving him feeling utterly exhausted.

The artifact was right before him, but Qin Sang didn't dare claim it. If the Foundation Establishment cultivator inside wasn't dead, he would be in a very difficult position.

Moreover, if he chose to escape amidst the chaos, he would have to reluctantly abandon the mysterious orchid and this set of Four Cloud Divine Prohibitions.

Power left by the Sect Master still lingered in the cloud banners. The might of a Golden Core cultivator was unfathomable, and it was hard to say whether there might be mysterious means to track him.

Whether to escape or hand over the orchid for a new future, it was a difficult choice for him.

Qin Sang enacted the escape technique of the Four Cloud Divine Prohibitions, concealing his form. Zhao Yan had dared to infiltrate here right under the noses of Yuanzhao Peak's high-level cultivators, indicating that the Four Cloud Divine Prohibitions were far superior to the Falling Cloud Wings.

Concealing his aura, Qin Sang swiftly swam towards the lake's surface. Just before breaking the water, he slowed his movements, cautiously crawled ashore, and then hastily fled from Sect Master Peak before daring to lift his head.

Qin Sang gazed in shock at the sight above him.

Above Yuanzhao Peak, dozens of figures stood suspended in the air, forming a grand array.

These were all Foundation Establishment cultivators. He wondered if Yu Hua was among them.

Among them, a white-haired old man held one hand towards the sky. A massive Yin-Yang dual fish diagram slowly rotated as if cradled by his hand, while endless demonic flames blazed fiercely upon it, evil spirits howling and violently crashing against it.

With his other hand, the old man reached towards the ground. Streaks of white spiritual energy surged upwards from Yuanzhao Peak, like a long whale drawing water, converging in the old man's palm.

Qin Sang had heard that Yuanzhao Peak was where the spiritual veins of the mountains converged. Was this old man perhaps drawing spiritual energy from the veins to sustain the great array?

However, the sect-protecting grand array was riddled with cracks; the situation seemed grim.

Qin Sang quietly climbed to a higher vantage point to observe. He found the Yuanzhao Sect in utter chaos, with disciples scattering like headless flies, numerous escape lights flying erratically, and panicked shouts echoing from afar.

After a moment's thought, Qin Sang put away the Four Cloud Divine Prohibitions and activated the Wind-Riding Technique, flying towards his own Huiyang Valley.

Unexpectedly, just as Qin Sang passed by Xingyun Valley, he was intercepted by Meng Ruhui. He saw his fellow disciples from Xingyun Valley standing outside the valley, their faces filled with worry.

“Junior Brother Qin, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you for ages,” Meng Ruhui said, his face full of anxiety.

Qin Sang had already prepared an excuse. He replied with feigned panic, “I was listening to a lecture in the Dharma Hall. After the sect encountered this abnormality, our Martial Uncle told us to find a place to hide. I only dared to come out now. Senior Brother Meng, what’s going on now? What arrangements does the sect have for us?”

Meng Ruhui replied, “Just now, a Martial Uncle transmitted a message. The sect intends to gather the power of the grand array for a life-or-death battle against the demonic cultivators. The demonic sect is short on manpower and won’t target us Qi Condensation cultivators. Once the grand array opens, each hall is to escape separately and await…”

Before he could finish, a sudden thunderclap rang out from the clear sky.

Everyone looked up in alarm. They saw a colossal crack tear open at the edge of the sect-protecting grand array, a corner collapsing. Several mountains at the array’s edge shattered, creating a tidal wave of rock. Demonic flames fell onto the mountains, immediately surging in intensity, threatening to incinerate everything. Yuanzhao Sect disciples screamed in terror.

The sect-protecting grand array… was broken!

“Run!”

Meng Ruhui summoned his flying needle artifact and raised his arm, shouting.

In an instant, countless escape lights illuminated the entire Yuanzhao Sect, like fragile fireflies under the night sky. Yuanzhao Sect disciples scattered in all directions, each using their own methods to flee.

Qin Sang deliberately lagged behind, avoiding Meng Ruhui. Apart from Meng Ruhui, he was mostly unfamiliar with his fellow disciples from Xingyun Valley, so they wouldn’t pay him much attention.

Following the crowd, Qin Sang escaped the Yuanzhao Sect, then left the group and flew southwest alone.

He most feared high-level cultivators from the Kuiyin Sect ambushing them outside, so he remained constantly vigilant.

He flew far from the Yuanzhao Sect without being intercepted, and just as Qin Sang was about to breathe a sigh of relief, his back suddenly tensed. He felt a fierce gust of wind assault him from behind, violently slamming him into the mountain forest.