Chapter 1009: Third Entry into Seven-Kill Hall

Qin Sang followed behind the group, quietly communicating with Bai. Soon, they arrived near the storm belt.

The cultivators present were all formidable. Without hesitation, they charged in. Qin Sang released sword light to shield himself, and his figure flickered as he entered the raging storm.

Having once been forced deep into the storm belt, Qin Sang was already well-practiced at handling the violent hurricanes. He moved freely within the storm, his speed second only to the Spiritual Infant cultivators, and was among the first to reach Seven-Kill Hall.

This time, the sight of the celestial array surrounding Seven-Kill Hall was completely different from before. Previously, the array’s power had been steady, like a gray wall of wind, its might hidden and restrained.

Now, with Seven-Kill Hall emerging of its own accord, the wind wall collapsed outward. The celestial array became the eye of the storm, its violent power sweeping in all directions. Spirit Tides surged, and terrifying waves of energy roared with the strength to tear everything apart.

Its scale and ferocity surpassed even the raging Spirit Tides of the storm belt’s depths. Standing at a distance, Qin Sang could still feel the overwhelming power of the celestial array. It was hard to imagine what kind of danger awaited once he entered. It truly took courage to step into Seven-Kill Hall.

Qin Sang noticed a faint red glow appearing at the array’s very center, like dawn’s radiance rising from beneath the sea. Seeing this, Qin Sang’s eyes flickered. He recalled the crimson light that had shrouded the inner hall of Seven-Kill Hall.

He suspected that the source of this red glow might be the manifestation of the inner hall’s celestial barrier.

“Seven-Kill Hall is about to emerge?” Qin Sang lowered his gaze, quietly observing the glow.

Ahead of him stood two Spiritual Infant grandmasters, motionless at the edge of the array, seemingly waiting for the right moment. He restrained himself and did not rush forward.

Time trickled by. The red glow rose slowly. By Qin Sang’s estimation, seven or eight hours passed before the glow finally ascended to eye level and then stopped.

The two Spiritual Infant cultivators ahead suddenly moved. One summoned a flying sword that circled around him, protecting both himself and his two disciples. With an extremely complex sword incantation, the sword transformed into a brilliant beam of light and vanished into the array.

The other cultivator summoned a black armor that covered his body, and with a step as ethereal as mist, he walked alone into the celestial array. In other directions, more Spiritual Infant grandmasters began to act one after another.

When the two before him entered, Qin Sang flashed forward to the edge of the celestial barrier. Feeling its power at close range, his expression grew solemn. After a brief pause, his aura suddenly shifted. Twin wings unfurled from his back as he activated the Heavenly Demon Transformation.

Then, with a thought, his spiritual consciousness swept across the Thousand-Jin Ring. The Heavenly Corpse Coffin flew out, transforming into a set of armor that wrapped tightly around him.

After preparing himself, Qin Sang summoned the ebony sword. Feeling ready, he tapped the spiritual sword lightly, forming a sword wheel to clear the way, then darted into the celestial array. Moments after he disappeared, two streaks of light arrived at the same spot.

“Senior Brother, did you see that? The man ahead seemed unusual. His attainments in the Sword Dao are very high.” One young man narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze on the direction where Qin Sang had vanished.

He, too, specialized in the Sword Dao. Having sensed the fluctuation of sword qi earlier, his interest had been piqued, and he changed direction to pursue it, only to arrive a step too late.

His companion said, “Anyone who dares to enter Seven-Kill Hall alone is no ordinary cultivator. We should move too. If we miss the timing, it will be troublesome. Remember, the moment you feel your strength faltering, withdraw immediately. Do not force it. If we get separated inside the array, meet at the Sky Tower.”

“Understood!” Before the words had even faded, the two of them entered the celestial array side by side.

The same scene repeated across the area. Unaware of what had occurred outside, Qin Sang was focused entirely on surviving the assault of the celestial array.

Once inside, he felt as if he were a lone boat adrift in a vast, stormy sea. With no jade talisman to shield him, he had to stay vigilant at every instant, for a single mistake could mean death.

His mind empty of distraction, he used the sword wheel to cut through the tempest and forge a path. Thanks to his evasion technique, which far surpassed that of cultivators of his level, he managed to dodge each incoming threat in time, sparing much of his strength.

But as he delved deeper, the array’s force became increasingly chaotic and concentrated. The space to maneuver grew smaller, and he felt a faint but oppressive weight pressing down on him. Even his true essence began to stagnate slightly, making him tense.

Qin Sang could only drive the ebony sword with all his strength, expending true essence freely to carve open a path forward. He did not know that the Spiritual Infant cultivators were facing even greater pressure. Those who had to protect their disciples were even slower than him.

Rumble...

Thunder roared endlessly in his ears. Qin Sang had no idea how long he had been fighting his way through when, all of a sudden, the crushing pressure vanished.

His heart stirred. He commanded the ebony sword to slash forward, and light burst apart before him. At last, he saw what appeared to be the interior of Seven-Kill Hall. Confirming no immediate danger, he stepped through.

Descending on a beam of light, Qin Sang scanned his surroundings in surprise. “Hmm? This isn’t the barren plain. It looks... close to Celestial Blossom Lake?”

Lifting his gaze, he saw that the entire sky above Seven-Kill Hall’s outer hall was shrouded in clouds and mist, an utterly chaotic scene.

“Previously, the outer array’s entrance was forced open with external power, and that barren plains must have been its weakest point. Now, with Seven-Kill Hall emerging and shaking the outer array, the entire outer hall itself has become the hall’s entrance. Wherever one enters, that’s where they’ll arrive. It should be the same when leaving...”

Qin Sang quickly pieced together the reasoning. He was not afraid of being ambushed upon returning, but if he accidentally fell into an ancient barrier or a perilous place like Celestial Blossom Lake, it could be disastrous.

Concealing his presence, he confirmed that no other cultivators were nearby, then moved to an open vantage point to look toward the depths of Seven-Kill Hall, seeking the inner hall.

The Sky Tower stood tall, clearly visible. Qin Sang’s eyes narrowed as he gazed into the distance. The celestial barrier covering the inner hall glowed like flowing flames, shifting like molten glass, brilliant and dazzling.

However, there was a visible gap in the radiance. According to Ning Wuhui, that was the entrance to the inner hall of Seven-Kill Hall.

A strong sense of familiarity welled up within him. Qin Sang immediately activated his evasion light and flew toward it. As the scene ahead came into view, realization dawned.

He finally understood why this hidden realm was called Seven-Kill Hall. At the entrance to the celestial barrier stood an ancient palace. Above its grand gates hung a plaque inscribed with three characters: "Seven-Kill Hall."

And the handwriting was unmistakably from the same hand that had written "Ziwei Palace" on the heavenly gate of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.