The demonic cultivation art clearly didn't aid with the Foundation Building Realm; otherwise, Gu Tiannan would have succeeded in reaching Foundation Building Realm long ago.

Judging by Gu Tiannan's frenzied appearance during combat, the hidden dangers likely weren’t small. It wasn’t just an issue of losing his rationality—his body might also be undergoing some sort of strange transformation.

However, it would be difficult to make a definitive judgment without seeing the demonic art firsthand.

Initially, they only needed to restrain Gu Tiannan for a while and then bring a few helpers from the sect to easily capture him and his disciple. The black-robed youth, unwilling to kill, left a glaring flaw. With Gu Tiannan’s cautious nature, it was impossible for him to not notice something fishy.

Perhaps only someone like the black-robed youth, with such a disposition, could resist the temptation of the demonic technique and spend his life solely seeking revenge for his family.

Qin Sang pondered for a moment and then said to the white cat, "You…"

His words got stuck in his throat as he realized he hadn’t yet asked for the white cat’s name.

The white cat, being clever, immediately responded, "Mister, my former owner named me Xiaobai when I was young."

Qin Sang nodded. "Xiaobai, my surname is Qin. Don't refer to yourself as 'servant', just use 'I'."[1]

The white cat lowered her head shyly and said, embarrassed, "I... When I gained intelligence, I overheard women from a large household calling themselves that. Since then, I’ve been hiding in the mountains, cultivating in isolation, and unfamiliar with the ways of the world. I must have made Mr. Qin laugh."

Qin Sang shook his head, indifferent, and returned to the topic at hand. "Can you handle Gu Yuan alone? Can you at least stall him?"

The white cat solemnly replied, "To be honest, Mr. Qin, the azure light emitted by my bamboo staff can only manipulate the balance of yin and yang. It’s mostly used for escaping and confusing the enemy. At most, I can trap Gu Yuan for a while. Other than that, I don’t have any other means. There’s no way I could defeat him. Are you planning to handle it yourself?"

"That’s enough. First, move all these people back into the cave dwelling."

Once the white cat had moved everyone inside, Qin Sang noticed that Gu Tiannan and his disciple had not yet returned. He and the white cat then discussed the details of their plan.

Qin Sang believed he wasn’t afraid of Gu Tiannan. Even though Gu Tiannan would become incredibly powerful after his transformation, his reasoning would also be impaired, leaving more openings. As long as he carefully plotted, defeating Gu Tiannan wouldn’t be difficult.

…

The white cat retracted her green light and fled back into the cave dwelling.

Qin Sang meditated briefly in place. Soon after, Gu Tiannan and his disciple finally arrived, only to see the battlefield deliberately disturbed by Qin Sang. They didn’t grow suspicious.

A flicker of disappointment flashed in Gu Yuan’s eyes, though it was barely noticeable.

Gu Tiannan, however, appeared calm and said, "Junior Brother Qin, I’ve already killed the demon. I assume the cat demon must have fled at your hands as well?"

Qin Sang, with a slightly fatigued expression, replied angrily, "That cat demon’s tricks were far too strange. I managed to behead it with one sword strike, but it still escaped. It’s hiding inside the cave dwelling now. Senior Brother Gu, you’ve returned just in time. If we attack it together, there’s no way it will escape with its life!"

Suddenly, Gu Yuan interjected with a smile, "There’s no need for Senior Uncle Qin to worry. That cat demon indeed has some tricks. My master and I have faced it several times and it always managed to slip away. The fact that you were able to hold it off for so long is already quite impressive. Now, with the three of us working together, it surely won’t have anywhere left to run."

As he spoke, Gu Yuan subtly exchanged a glance with Gu Tiannan. Gu Tiannan’s eyes flickered, and he nodded in agreement.

After resting briefly, the three of them entered the cave dwelling.

Gu Tiannan led the way at the front, while Qin Sang stayed at the rear, his nerves taut as he discreetly held several talismans in his palm.

Although Qin Sang had agreed to cooperate with the white cat, he didn’t fully trust her. He remained cautious, sensing that the cat demon was intentionally keeping a distance from him, as if wary of him turning against her.

Fortunately, the three of them each wielded their artifacts as they ventured deeper into the cave. Just as they reached a corner, the white cat arrived as expected.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

In an instant, the celestial light enveloped the trio, followed by several angry shouts. Suddenly, the azure light vanished, and Gu Yuan was nowhere to be seen.

Gu Tiannan called out several times, his voice echoing through the cave, but there was no response from Gu Yuan. Just as he was about to use his movement art to chase deeper into the cave, Qin Sang swiftly moved to block his path.

Gu Tiannan abruptly halted, a look of surprise crossing his face as he stared at Qin Sang. In a low, stern voice, he demanded, "Junior Brother Qin, what is the meaning of this?"

Qin Sang calmly replied, "Senior Brother Gu, it’s time to stop being stubborn and turn back. If you willingly bind your hands and follow me back to the sect to confess your crimes, I won’t make things difficult for you."

"I have no idea what you’re talking about!"

Gu Tiannan’s eyes widened in fury as he glared at Qin Sang. "Junior Brother Qin, have you fallen under some demonic influence, that you no longer recognize your own senior brother?"

Qin Sang let out a soft sigh. "The Blood Heart Pill… Senior Brother, you deliberately spread demonic cultivation art, causing harm to the world. Do you still wish to deny it?"

Gu Tiannan’s expression changed drastically, and he gasped in shock. "How do you know?"

"If you didn’t want it known, you shouldn’t have done it."

In an attempt to stall for time, Qin Sang spoke to Gu Tiannan as if earnestly persuading him, "Senior Brother Gu, you were momentarily confused and strayed from the right path. It doesn’t have to be a death sentence. If you wake up now, there’s still time."

Gu Tiannan sneered coldly. "Do you take me for a three-year-old child to be coaxed? Falling into the hands of those people would mean certain death! So what if it’s a demonic art? I haven’t killed anyone with my own hands. The only ones I’ve slain were murderous demons who couldn’t resist the temptation! The so-called righteous cultivators of Shaohua Mountain—who among them doesn’t have more blood on their hands than I do?"

His tone suddenly shifted, becoming filled with temptation. "Junior Brother Qin, this cultivation art is incredibly powerful. Not only can it enhance one’s cultivation, but it also greatly increases the chances of breaking through the Foundation Building Realm. It’s only because I’m too old, with my body declining and energy waning, that I haven’t succeeded. If you let me go, I’ll give the art to you. I swear I’ll leave immediately, hide my name, and disappear. No one else will know."

Upon hearing this, a look of surprise flashed across Qin Sang’s face. Feigning urgency, he asked, "Can it really increase the chances of breaking through to the Foundation Building Realm?"

"Without a doubt! I’ll give you the art right now, and you’ll see for yourself!"

Gu Tiannan lowered his head, pretending to retrieve something from his Mustard Seed Pouch. A cold gleam flickered in his eyes, and with a sudden low growl, he shot forward like an arrow.

In that instant, his true cultivation was laid bare!

"You court death!"

Gu Tiannan let out an inhuman roar. A trace of madness flickered in his eyes, his face twisted with a bloodthirsty aura. His hand turned into a blade, and he struck at Qin Sang like lightning.

At that moment, a green light flashed in front of Qin Sang, and the ebony sword shot out with explosive force.

Bang!

Gu Tiannan’s bare palm collided with the ebony sword, yet his hand wasn’t severed by the sword’s qi.

The strength of his physical body was unlike anything Qin Sang had ever seen.

"Junior Brother Qin, I truly underestimated you. What an excellent spiritual sword!"

Gu Tiannan shook his hand and licked the corner of his mouth, his gaze fixed on the ebony sword, not showing the slightest hint of fear. Instead, he looked at it with undisguised greed.

Qin Sang gracefully retreated, and as he did, he flicked his wrist, releasing six black lights that landed around Gu Tiannan. These lights transformed into six towering banners, encircling him completely.

Given Gu Tiannan’s formidable body, Qin Sang knew that an ambush with the ebony sword might not be enough to deliver a fatal blow. To ensure success, he decided to activate the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions.

The banners were as tall as a person, radiating eerie yin qi, with the images of evil spirits roaring fiercely and emitting terrifying howls.

With a single thought from Qin Sang, the overwhelming malevolent yin qi surged from the banners, completing the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions!

1. In the raw translation. Xiaobai has been referring to herself as "your slave" when talking to Qin Sang. This is not translated as it disrupts the flow of the conversation. ☜