Chapter 1039: Snatching from the Tiger’s Jaws

She had assumed Qin Sang and Granny Yue were accomplices, so she had not dared beg him for help.

No wonder Qin Sang had felt something odd about Su Nu’s relationship with Granny Yue.

Qin Sang recalled the scene when he had left the demon-filled island and encountered cultivators from the Xiyou Alliance.

The moment they saw Su Nu manipulating true devilish qi, they had immediately tried to seize her.

"If you know my origins, you should understand why I am wary of the Dongji Alliance. I was treated like an object deliberately forged for a purpose. The art I cultivate is not normal. It feels like it is eating away at me, consuming me until nothing remains. It terrified me and robbed me of sleep. Once I entered Seven-Kill Hall, the unease grew so strong that I trembled." Su Nu finally found someone she could pour her heart out to and she did not hide her feelings.

From Su Nu’s words, many fragments snapped into place for Qin Sang.

"Five-Yin Mystic Body, true devilish qi, True Devilish Art, ancient devil, Xiyou Alliance, Dongji Alliance. What secret is hidden among these names..." Qin Sang had the uneasy sense that he had touched a shocking mystery.

"If I were in your position, I would be wary of the Dongji Alliance too," Qin Sang said, but he did not believe her entirely.

The cultivation world was full of people who had lived decades or centuries and perfected their acting. Still, he could not see why Su Nu would invent such an elaborate lie just to trick him.

"Do you think Venerable Ye smuggled himself here because of you? Do you want to save yourself? You're abandoning the Soul-Cleansing Liquid in trade of what? Even if I tried to rescue Facing Venerable Ye, even I can't do much, right?" Qin Sang pressed.

If he was asked to rescue someone from a Spiritual Infant grandmaster, there was no need for consideration.

"I thought of escaping at every moment. I would give anything to leave the Dongji Alliance!" Su Nu said resolutely, then her tone fell and she spoke with despair. "They planted a mark on me to keep me from fleeing. Without Venerable Ye, I might still have a chance. Now I can only rely on outside help. If you agree, take this ghostly seal. After we leave the Soul-Enchanting Cavern, do not rush out of the trial realm. Use the seal to guide you and follow behind me. If I fall into danger, from a distance activate the seal with all your strength. Don't worry. It will not implicate you. If nothing happens, simply leave on your own. If I survive, I will offer you the Soul-Cleansing Liquid with both hands."

"So simple?" Qin Sang was surprised when he saw the tiny ghost-headed seal held between the earth spirit’s fingers.

The little seal was delicate. Inside the ghost head a trapped evil spirit was sealed. Its appearance revealed nothing of the seal's power.

"I do not know how much it will help. I can only keep trying in such a desperate situation," Su Nu said with a bitter laugh.

Qin Sang frowned but said nothing. In his heart he was already seventy to eighty percent convinced by Su Nu’s words. With so many people fighting for the Soul-Cleansing Liquid, she had no reason to fabricate such an elaborate tale.

Whether the masked man was truly Venerable Ye and whether Su Nu was lying would be proven soon enough.

He still did not accept her offer immediately. He had other calculations. Trading with Su Nu to obtain the Soul-Cleansing Liquid depended on whether he could actually rescue her.

Taking such a long detour would invite uncertainty, and once he left the trial realm he would need to find the ancient teleportation array. He had no time to linger. He preferred certainty.

"I can make a trade, but the terms will be different," Qin Sang said, his eyes glinting, "Provided you are telling the truth and not deceiving me."

"Deceiving you would bring me no benefit, and you saved my life." Su Nu almost swore, urgency in her voice. "My split spirit is fading fast. Ask for whatever you want, as long as I can do it..."

"I want you to help me seize the Soul-Cleansing Liquid right here. Whether we succeed or fail, I will help you," Qin Sang answered in a low voice.

"You mean you want to contend with Venerable Ye for the Soul-Cleansing Liquid?" Su Nu cried out in alarm.

"Yes. If your claim is true, Venerable Ye’s cultivation is only temporarily unsealed and he is injured. He is not invincible. I have a method that can threaten a Spiritual Infant cultivator. Success is not impossible."

Opportunities were won through contests. Qin Sang trusted his Lightning Control Technique, his devilish banner, and his excellent evasion. He might yet seize the chance.

"Venerable Ye would not expect anyone to willingly abandon the Soul-Cleansing Liquid. Perhaps his words are true. But being able to threaten a Spiritual Infant cultivator does not mean Venerable Ye fears you. I know him well. Spiritual Infant cultivators are inscrutable. Who can say whether he has other tricks?"

Su Nu refused without hesitation. "Venerable Ye is a self-declared grandmaster of Spiritual Infant. He surpasses us in other ways. Do not be overconfident. I will not take that risk with you."

Qin Sang smiled slightly. "I will not act until I am certain. I will not expose you. Aren’t you planning to manipulate the array and support Venerable Ye? If you can stall them for a moment, that will be enough."

"Then..." Su Nu hesitated. "I will try."

Qin Sang nodded and reached for the ghostly seal. He vowed, "Do not worry. I value my life even more than you do and I will not act rashly. Even if we fail to seize the Soul-Cleansing Liquid, our trade can continue."

"Then I hope you will keep your word." The earth spirit’s hollow eyes stared at Qin Sang, then it lost its light, collapsed, and began to dissolve.

Their exchange had been lengthy in speech yet it took little time. Ming Wei hesitated. She still did not know what Qin Sang had been discussing or who he had been speaking with. For now she relied on Qin Sang and dared not speak rashly.

Qin Sang felt the ghostly seal's chill in his palm. He fixed his gaze on the Soul-Cleansing Liquid and the seal, inhaled deeply, and sorted the clues in his mind. Whether Su Nu’s words were true or false, caution was required.

Sensing Ming Wei’s look, Qin Sang transmitted quietly, "There is good news and bad news."

Ming Wei blinked, listening.

"The good news is someone will help clear our opponents. The bad news is the one sweeping away the obstacles may be a Spiritual Infant grandmaster," Qin Sang said.

Ming Wei’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Do not ask who sent the message or whether it is true. Either way, we must prepare early and work together if we hope to take the Soul-Cleansing Liquid." Qin Sang said.

"Contend with a Spiritual Infant grandmaster for treasure?" Ming Wei looked at him like he was mad and nearly turned away.

"I have not gone mad enough to oppose a Spiritual Infant grandmaster outright, but do not forget this is a trial realm. There are restrictions on a Spiritual Infant grandmaster." Qin Sang paused, then added, "If you stay, follow my plan. You will not be stepping into too much danger."