Chapter 253: Drawing Symbols in the Air

The Hidden Moth gently fluttered its wings in Di Que’s palm. Its delicate, powdery scales scattered into the air, swirling like gray dust. The particles shifted and coalesced into a vivid image—a painting.

The scene depicted a man walking past the rock where the moth had been hiding, stepping up the mountain. His features were remarkably clear and lifelike—it was none other than Che Yutao!

"So, it’s Old Geezer Che climbing the mountain..." Di Que murmured, retracting the Hidden Moth.

He glanced toward the mist-shrouded mountaintop but chose not to ascend. Instead, he used his spiritual power to carry Qin Sang and Ren Hong away from the peak, silently heading toward another peak.

Ever since approaching these four peaks, Di Que had sternly forbidden Qin Sang and Ren Hong from acting out of line, warning that any disobedience would be met with immediate death.

Qin Sang could tell he wasn’t bluffing.

As Di Que carried them through the air, Qin Sang’s mind raced. From the moment he encountered Sikong Muyue to now standing before the peaks, it was evident that Di Que was unusually cautious, as if secretly planning something significant.

Now, having seen the Hidden Moth and the scene it preserved in its scales, Qin Sang began to piece things together.

He wasn’t sure when Di Que had placed the Hidden Moth there, but its purpose was clear—to act as eyes and ears, monitoring those who passed by.

Among the five Core Formation Realm cultivators who entered the ruins, only they had the ability to bypass the barriers and ascend the peaks. No one else would dare to try.

Excluding Di Que himself, the remaining four were his potential targets.

Sikong Muyue hadn’t entered the mountains, leaving three.

Che Yutao, who ascended this peak, didn’t appear to be Di Que’s target. That left Daoist Master Xuanyu of the Shangyuan Tranquility Palace and Sect Master Du Yi of the Qingluo Sect.

Is Di Que targeting one of them? And for what purpose?

Of course, it was possible that Di Que wasn’t planning to harm anyone and simply sought an unoccupied peak to avoid conflict.

But Qin Sang doubted it.

Before long, the trio arrived at a second peak. Di Que retrieved another Hidden Moth from a cliff edge. This one revealed an image of Sikong Muyue—not climbing the mountain but descending!

"How is she so fast?"

Di Que frowned deeply, visibly shocked. He abruptly turned and asked, "How long did it take you two to pass the trial? Did either of you see Sikong Muyue? Was anyone with her?"

Ren Hong replied, "Senior Sikong appeared on her own and rallied everyone to work together to break the barriers. That was my first time seeing her. At the time, I was focused on the second layer of the barrier and recall that she seemed to be alone."

Di Que’s gaze shifted to Qin Sang. Qin Sang answered, "My cultivation is far weaker, so I entered later than Daoist Ren. I also wasted time in the northern part of the estate before arriving here. I haven’t seen Senior Sikong."

Di Que withdrew his gaze, hesitating briefly before leading them away from the second peak and toward the third.

At the third peak, the Hidden Moth hidden there displayed an image of Daoist Master Xuanyu of the Shangyuan Tranquility Palace.

The Daoist Master was slender, exuding an ethereal, otherworldly air. He ascended the mountain cautiously, his eyes scanning his surroundings, his expression alert. Raising one hand, he extended his index and middle fingers, pointing toward a specific spot in the air. It was unclear what he was doing.

Seeing Daoist Master Xuanyu, Di Que suddenly burst into laughter, his previous gloom swept away. Retracting the moth, he pondered briefly before his figure flickered and silently moved to the location the Daoist Master had indicated.

Using his cane, Di Que pointed, and spiritual power surged from its tip, transforming into the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound. The sound waves spread gently, and moments later, a streak of azure light suddenly appeared in the void.

The azure light originated from a spiritual talisman. This talisman was unlike any Qin Sang had seen before. It wasn’t inscribed on paper but existed as an intangible construct, with the runes seemingly etched into the void itself.

The intricate lines floated in midair, emanating a soft, radiant glow.

Though unfamiliar with such talismans, Qin Sang had heard of them from Teng Nan.

The Shangyuan Tranquility Palace was renowned for its mastery of talismans. Not only did it possess the four legendary secret talismans, shrouded in mystery, but it also excelled in unique methods of drawing and crafting talismans. Among these was the profound technique of drawing talismans in the air, using spiritual power as the medium—one of the palace’s most advanced disciplines.

Only those with exceptional expertise in talisman arts could achieve this. Even within the Shangyuan Tranquility Palace, only a handful had reached such heights.

It was clear that Daoist Master Xuanyu was one of them.

The talisman, originally concealed in the void, was forced into visibility by Di Que’s Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound. From the energy fluctuations radiating from it, Qin Sang could tell that this talisman was likely a warning type.

Daoist Master Xuanyu had left this talisman as a precaution, ensuring he would be alerted if anyone followed him. If someone triggered the talisman, he would sense it immediately. Unfortunately for him, the Hidden Moth had already observed it.

"Merge!"

Di Que clenched his hand in mid-air, and the power of the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound coalesced around the talisman. Before it could shatter, he firmly sealed it, returning it to the void.

Watching this unfold, Qin Sang and Ren Hong exchanged glances, their eyes mirroring the same unease.

If they still didn’t understand Di Que’s intentions by now, they’d be fools! A Core Formation Realm cultivator plotting against another Core Formation Realm cultivator? Being dragged into such a scheme could only end disastrously for them.

After sealing the talisman, Di Que turned to them with a sinister smile but offered no explanation. Instead, he used his spiritual power to sweep them into a crevice, setting up a concealed barrier. "I need to heal," he said, "You’ve taken my favors, so do as you’re told and stop overthinking. I live alone, with no disciples. Follow me, and you’ll gain far more in the future."

Qin Sang felt no reaction to the veiled promise in Di Que’s words, but Ren Hong’s expression flickered.

Though a disciple of the Wind Thunder Sect, Ren Hong had been overlooked due to his limited talent. The Core Formation Realm cultivators of his sect barely spared him a glance, letting the more gifted disciples take all the benefits. Even the leftovers rarely fell to him.

Remembering his days in the sect filled him with bitterness and resentment.

Driven to desperation, Ren Hong had chosen to fight for opportunities on the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, much like a rogue cultivator. While he had indeed gained fortuitous encounters and improved his cultivation, the hardships he endured were known only to him.

If he could become the disciple of a Core Formation Realm cultivator...

Ren Hong bowed deeply and said respectfully, "I understand."

Qin Sang also voiced polite agreement but quickly glanced at Ren Hong from the corner of his eye before looking away. Everyone had their own aspirations. Whatever Ren Hong chose to do was none of his business.

He only needed to mind his own affairs!

Di Que sat cross-legged, took out a medicinal pill, and swallowed it. As the medicinal energy spread, his aged face suddenly turned crimson, and he coughed up a mouthful of foul black blood.

The blood was as dark as ink and disintegrated under the power of the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound.

After expelling the blood, Di Que’s complexion improved significantly.

Qin Sang’s gaze sharpened. It seemed that Di Que’s escape from the encirclement of the monkeys had been far less effortless than it appeared. The blow from the divine monkey’s fiery staff had likely inflicted serious injuries. The extent to which the medicinal pill could heal him remained uncertain.