Amidst the violent surge of water-elemental power, an exceptionally fine venomous needle floated along the waves. The needle, faintly green, was so tiny that it was barely noticeable within the vast, roiling currents of spiritual power.

The ferocious water-elemental energy seemed intent on annihilating everything. The Essence-Devouring Spike exploded right in front of Hermit Baiyun, its terrifying power threatening his very life. In utter panic, he recalled the Sky-Trapping Pouch from its engagement with the malevolent corpse.

Just then, the malevolent corpse swung a claw, striking the Sky-Trapping Pouch.

Screech!

Under the combined assault of the Essence-Devouring Spike and the malevolent corpse, the Sky-Trapping Pouch trembled violently, splitting open as its spiritual radiance dissipated—the top-grade artifact was utterly destroyed.

Though the Sky-Trapping Pouch had absorbed much of the blast, the remaining water-elemental power was still potent, allowing Hermit Baiyun no chance to evade as it swallowed him whole.

Hermit Baiyun grunted, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, revealing the severity of his injuries. He hastily summoned several defensive artifacts around himself and retreated in desperation.

However, he failed to notice that at the moment of the Sky-Trapping Pouch’s destruction, the venomous needle slipped through his protective spiritual barrier and deeply embedded itself in his abdomen.

Hermit Baiyun felt a slight prick of pain in his abdomen, and before he could inspect it, a paralyzing sensation swiftly spread through his body. The intense venom erupted within him!

This needle was a deadly addition Qin Sang had suggested to Shopkeeper Wu, infused with ninety percent of the venom from a serpent demon’s two fangs.

Adding the venomous needle to the Essence-Devouring Spike wasn’t just a simple enhancement—it required altering the entire artifact refinement process.

Initially, Shopkeeper Wu doubted its success, but with Qin Sang’s assurance that he would not be held liable for the destroyed materials, and spurred by the insights he gained from observing the Chi Dragon Sword, Shopkeeper Wu took on the challenge. After days of dedicated effort, he succeeded, to the delight of both of them.

The Essence-Devouring Spike’s explosion was already formidable; the addition of a nearly invisible venomous needle made it even deadlier. Sure enough, Hermit Baiyun fell for the trap.

When Qin Sang saw that he succeeded with the venomous needle, he smiled subtly, quietly stowing away the Profound Yin Thunderbolt.

The Profound Yin Thunderbolt had been prepared in case Hermit Baiyun didn’t take the bait, but it was no longer needed.

The snake demon had reached the Demonic Spirit Realm, and its venom was no trifling matter. For a Foundation Building cultivator, surviving the venom’s effects was unlikely—and even if it didn’t kill them instantly, it would cause severe complications.

To Hermit Baiyun, being poisoned by this venom was a disastrous turn of events. He felt even more horrified when he realized that not only was his body paralyzed, but even the circulation of his remaining spiritual power began to slow down.

All of this happened in an instant.

As Hermit Baiyun suffered from Qin Sang's hidden strike, the malevolent corpse, instead of pursuing him, sensed the devastating power of the Essence-Devouring Spike’s explosion and hesitated. It turned around, charging at Qin Sang instead.

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

At that moment, with a few swift motions, Qin Sang released six banners from his palm. These banners transformed into pitch-black Yan Luo Banners and embedded themselves into the ground, forming the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions. Black fog billowed from the banners, while Ghostly Threads floated outward, encircling Hermit Baiyun and the malevolent corpse. ꭆ𝔞ΝòβËS

When luring Hermit Baiyun, Qin Sang had been devising a way to escape as well. Killing Hermit Baiyun wouldn’t be enough—he still had to face the malevolent corpse alone. Only by dealing with it and breaking the barrier on the black iron gate could he truly escape danger.

Therefore, while distracting Hermit Baiyun, Qin Sang had also been preparing the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions, intending to ensnare both Hermit Baiyun and the malevolent corpse in one fell swoop.

Taking advantage of his opponent's weakened state, Qin Sang wasted no time activating the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions with all his might. Amidst the impenetrable darkness, countless Ghostly Threads surged forward, wildly drilling into Hermit Baiyun’s body.

The Ghostly Threads directly seared the soul—a pain unbearable for any ordinary person.

"Ahhhhhhhh!"

A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the grand hall as Hermit Baiyun's primordial spirit suffered damage, his entire body battered and bruised. His hair was disheveled, his facial features twisted into a grimace of madness and agony, his voice hoarse to the point of sounding inhuman.

He was utterly pitiful.

Qin Sang watched coldly, his gaze unmoved. At that moment, a glint of surprise appeared on his face as he glanced toward the malevolent corpse.

The Ghostly Threads, capable of harming a cultivator's soul, should have been ineffective against the malevolent corpse.

Yet, as the corpse came into contact with the Ghostly Threads, it roared repeatedly in apparent agony, desperately attempting to charge out of the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions, leaving Qin Sang utterly astounded.

Qin Sang frowned slightly, and with a flick of his fingers, shot the Five-Elemental Breaking Sword into the array, piercing straight through Hermit Baiyun’s chest and killing him instantly. Without casting Hermit Baiyun's body a glance, Qin Sang shifted the Yan Luo Array, causing the dark mist to coalesce into ghostly beasts, which then ferociously collided with the malevolent corpse.

Entrapped by the array, the malevolent corpse found itself unable to escape as the omnipresent Ghostly Threads thwarted its evasive techniques, leaving it no choice but to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the ghostly beasts.

After enduring so many attacks from Qin Sang and others, the malevolent corpse’s Xuanhuang Armor had cracked in several places. Nevertheless, it fought with undiminished ferocity, soon overpowering the ghostly beasts.

The ghostly beasts, at a disadvantage, struggled to harm the malevolent corpse, unable to hold it off for much longer.

Standing outside the array, Qin Sang directed the Five-Elemental Breaking Sword to strike several more times, though with limited success. Strangely, he refrained from using the ebony sword throughout the fight.

Then, Qin Sang glanced back at the stone path behind him, its depths shrouded in shadow. Faint, rumbling sounds echoed from within, suggesting that the Earth Malevolent Qi was far from spent.

They had been delayed, first by the malevolent corpse and then by Hermit Baiyun’s betrayal and his ambush on Wu Yuesheng, wasting significant time. The Earth Malevolent Qi would likely catch up soon.

A flicker of anxiety and restlessness crossed Qin Sang's face. Turning back to gaze at the malevolent corpse, he fell into silent contemplation. After a moment's thought, he retrieved the Lightning-Struck Spiritual Wood from his Mustard Seed Pouch and sat cross-legged.

The Lightning-Struck Spiritual Wood contained the power of heavenly thunderbolts, a natural bane to sinister entities. Combined with the Guishui Yin Thunder Spell, its potency would increase manifold.

Holding the Lightning-Struck Spiritual Wood, Qin Sang aimed it at the malevolent corpse, chanting under his breath as if focused on preparing a spell.

Shortly, the incantation completed, and the lightning power within the wood was drawn forth. A mass of pure, radiant thunder took form in front of Qin Sang, rumbling ominously, its roar merging with the malevolent corpse’s own cries.

The grand hall became a scene of pure chaos—white bones, ancient corpses behind iron doors, malicious spirits, the malevolent corpse, demonic banners, ghost arrays, and three fresh bodies all created an infernal landscape. The blood pooling beneath Wu Yuesheng’s body even seemed to glimmer with an eerie hue.

Crackle!

With a thunderous burst, a lightning bolt as thick as an arm struck the malevolent corpse, flooding the dark hall with a blinding brilliance that turned it as bright as day.

In the instant the lightning struck, a small spiritual sword quietly emerged from the pool of blood under Wu Yuesheng’s corpse—it was his life-bound spiritual sword!

The spiritual sword aimed at Qin Sang's unprotected back, lying motionless until it suddenly sprang forth and vanished in a flash.

The sword qi was earth-shattering!