Chapter 1244: Open and Aboveboard
Chapter 1244: Open and Aboveboard
Back on Cangheng Island, Qingjun had brought Qin Sang there. After Qin Sang unexpectedly advanced to the late stage of the Golden Core Realm, Dongyang Bo had once harbored killing intent, hoping to eliminate future trouble.
But he had to consider two people.
One was Qingjun. Dongyang Bo knew she was Qingzhu’s daughter. Since Qin Sang cultivated the same art as Qingzhu, he suspected Qingjun had extended her affection to him as well, sheltering Qin Sang all these years.
The other was Chenyan. Dongyang Bo could not discern Chenyan’s true attitude toward Qin Sang.
Chenyan was desperate to save her master and would certainly return in the future. If she learned of Qin Sang’s appearance, it would inevitably stir trouble. Thus, he could only act in secret and ensure no word leaked out.
Unfortunately, Qin Sang had been too cunning. After that brief appearance, he had vanished again. All of Dongyang Bo’s arrangements had come to nothing. Later, with Sin Abyss pressing aggressively, he had no time to spare and let the matter drop.
Of course, the most important reason was that Dongyang Bo had never believed Qin Sang could truly threaten him.
This boy had been born with five spiritual roots. He had only managed to reach the Foundation Building Realm by selling himself. Even after consuming the Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris Flower, he had failed to form a Golden Core.
Who knew what method Qingjun had used to help him succeed? Perhaps that, too, had come at a cost. How could reaching the Spiritual Infant Realm be so simple?
In truth, Dongyang Bo’s thinking had not been wrong. Qin Sang had only succeeded by relying on the Du’e Pill and Soul-Cleansing Liquid, along with his life-bound insect gu and the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement.
What Dongyang Bo had never expected was that the pawn he had once regarded as an ant had not only truly reached the Spiritual Infant Realm, but had also grown far beyond imagination, disguised as a demon king with a formidable reputation.
Now, he stood before him openly, without falling into a disadvantage! Dongyang Bo could not suppress the shock on his face.
Qin Sang had no interest in speaking. With matters laid bare, there was nothing left to say between them.
Without a word, he secretly formed a sword seal. The ebony sword burst with radiant sword light, shattering the bangle’s phantom. It then split into countless streaks of light, instantly forming the Seven-Yin-Soul Killing Array.
"Hmm?" Seeing the array, which shared the same lineage as the art, Dongyang Bo froze, his face filled with disbelief. "Could it be... that I personally drove away two great geniuses?"
Upon seeing the Seven-Yin-Soul Killing Array, Dongyang Bo mistakenly assumed Qin Sang had learned it from Qingjun, believing that Qingzhu had already succeeded in creating the Spiritual Infant part of the technique.
Though mistaken, he was not far from the truth.
One could create a cultivation art from scratch. The other, despite having unusual methods, had achieved the Spiritual Infant Realm with five spiritual roots. Both proved extraordinary talent.
Spiritual roots were only one aspect of talent. In the present age, art cultivation dominated, while alternative paths had declined. That was why spiritual roots seemed so important.
These two individuals were each rare figures in the world, capable of founding their own sects and elevating Shaohua Mountain to prominence. If he had retained even one of them, why would he have needed to agonize over finding a successor or scheme to seize a Spiritual Infant Talisman Puppet? Yet he had personally driven both away.
"Haha..." Dongyang Bo suddenly burst into laughter. His laughter was complex, impossible to interpret.
Was it regret? Or was he mocking himself? But he was, after all, a Spiritual Infant grandmaster. Though shaken, his actions did not slow.
He knew that what he had done in the past made reconciliation with Qin Sang impossible. Qin Sang had hidden his identity and disguised as a demon king, which showed his resentment had not faded.
He did not bother with empty words about inviting Qin Sang back or reconciling.
"Hehe, I have long heard of Demon King Ming Yue’s reputation. I never expected it to be you." Dongyang Bo’s tone was strange, his expression reflective. "Truly, each generation produces its own talents! Your achievements today are remarkable. You are worthy of Fairy Chenyan. Perhaps in the future, she may even be constrained by you. Back then, I encouraged her to cultivate the Stone Bridge Zen. It seems like I underestimated you."
When Dongyang Bo suddenly mentioned Chenyan, Qin Sang remained completely unmoved. He focused solely on controlling his sword and pressing the attack. Even though he had acted hastily, he intended to give it everything and fight Dongyang Bo head-on!
Seeing that even Chenyan could not shake Qin Sang’s resolve, Dongyang Bo stopped speaking. His thoughts raced.
He knew Qin Sang possessed not only a top-grade spiritual sword but also other powerful methods. It would not be easy to determine victory quickly, and he had no intention of engaging in a prolonged battle here.
He only wanted to take the puppet and leave as soon as possible, avoiding further complications. Then he would reconsider the situation ahead.
Qin Sang’s breakthrough to the Spiritual Infant Realm and his formidable strength had introduced too many variables. Dongyang Bo’s previous plans had been completely disrupted.
Having made up his mind, Dongyang Bo opened his eyes and saw darkness all around him. He had already fallen into the sword array.
Countless sword threads surged forth within the array, twisting and slashing toward him.
Stimulated by the killing array, Dongyang Bo felt his primordial spirit tremble. His mind wavered slightly, and he realized that this array not only possessed terrifying power but could also directly impact the primordial spirit.
He did not dare let the sword threads approach him. At once, he fully activated the Vajra Bangle.
The bangle floated above his head, trembling continuously, ready to shift at any moment to avoid the Blood Defilement Divine Light. Yet this did not diminish its power.
One phantom after another shot outward in all directions.
In an instant, the area around Dongyang Bo shone as brightly as day. The sword threads were illuminated and struck by the phantoms, scattering slightly, though they continued to shift and attempt to strangle him.
At the same time, a flash of treasure light appeared in Dongyang Bo’s palm, and a small bronze lamp materialized.
The lamp was only three cun tall, exquisitely crafted. The top was shaped like a lotus, each petal as green as jade. There was no oil within, only a wick of unknown material.
With a surge of true essence, the wick ignited without flame. The bronze lamp hovered before Dongyang Bo’s brow. Its flame was tiny, dim, and yellow.
Yet the moment it appeared, the sword threads slowed. Dongyang Bo’s expression visibly relaxed.
Outside the sword array, Qin Sang saw this clearly. He understood that the lamp countered the Seven-Yin-Soul Killing Array. Dongyang Bo, a veteran Spiritual Infant cultivator and sect leader, possessed numerous treasures. Killing Gong Liangyu earlier had merely been a casual display of strength.
Qin Sang reacted just as swiftly. The instant Dongyang Bo summoned the lamp, Qin Sang’s thoughts shifted. The ebony sword burst out of the array and unleashed the Blood Defilement Divine Light without hesitation!
Having suffered from this light before, Dongyang Bo would never allow Qin Sang to contaminate the Vajra Bangle again. Qin Sang therefore chose a different target, aiming to destroy one of his treasures first.
The tactic worked. Once tainted by the Blood Defilement Divine Light, the bronze lamp’s power dropped sharply. Its flame flickered violently and was extinguished on the spot.
Yet unexpectedly, after losing the lamp, Dongyang Bo instead burst into laughter and suddenly spat out a stream of yellow light.
Within the light was a stone pillar. Carved with dragons and phoenixes, the pillar expanded violently and smashed down toward the ebony sword.
This was a rare treasure, weighing as much as a mountain, carrying overwhelming force and suppressive power.
Dongyang Bo’s timing was impeccable. The pillar had been launched from his mouth, making it difficult to anticipate. The ebony sword’s light was forced back, as though bearing immense weight, even showing signs of slowing.
At the same time, the Vajra Bangle finally found a flaw in the sword array. Its opening flared like a bursting river, unleashing an endless torrent of light that surged toward a specific point in the array.
Qin Sang sighed inwardly. He regretted that his cultivation time had been too short. He had yet to fully comprehend the Seven-Yin-Soul Killing Array. Otherwise, Dongyang Bo would never have found a flaw so easily.
Dongyang Bo believed he had gained the advantage, unaware that this was merely a tactic to draw his attention.
The eighteen devilish banners had already been secretly deployed!