Chapter 318: Oh Heavens, How Does One Become Immortal?

In the sealed sand cave, Qin Sang let out a long breath of relief.

First, he had feigned weakness to lure the enemy into a false sense of security. Then, when they pursued him, he turned the tables and launched a surprise counterattack. Using the Yin-Yang Luopan and a secret talisman, he closed the distance rapidly and eliminated the strongest opponent in one decisive strike.

At first glance, his actions seemed highly risky.

However, even in the worst-case scenario—if the scar-faced man had anticipated his move and blocked his attack—Qin Sang could have still escaped unscathed using the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman. He wouldn’t have been trapped in a hopeless situation.

Without resorting to his talisman astra or the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions, Qin Sang had managed to kill a powerful enemy and capture two others alive. Reflecting on the battle, he found himself quite satisfied with his performance.

After a brief moment to regulate his breathing and recover, Qin Sang pointed a finger, conjuring a ball of icy water out of thin air. He splashed it on Yu Dayue’s face.

Yu Dayue awoke from unconsciousness. His initial confusion gave way to a calm gaze as he locked eyes with Qin Sang. He did not beg for mercy nor utter a single word.

Qin Sang could tell that Yu Dayue was prepared to die.

Although Yu Dayue had to be killed, Qin Sang was curious.

Why did Yu Dayue harbor such murderous intent toward me?

With a series of quick, precise gestures, Qin Sang released soundwave-like barriers that floated toward Yu Dayue. The barriers landed on him, causing his brows to furrow. Devoid of spiritual power and with his Qihai sealed, Yu Dayue was utterly defenseless, unable to resist Qin Sang’s control.

One barrier after another was applied, yet Yu Dayue felt no discernible change. Frustration gradually crept across his face.

"Kill me!"

Yu Dayue finally spoke, his voice hoarse as he urged Qin Sang to end his life.

Ignoring him, Qin Sang’s fingers moved even faster, weaving complex seals.

At last, the final barrier of the

Spirit Seizing Spell

was completed. Qin Sang’s hand shot forward like lightning, pressing firmly against the center of Yu Dayue’s forehead. The barrier’s glow flickered before sinking into his body.

Yu Dayue’s body shuddered. His eyes flashed with struggle before suddenly going blank, staring vacantly ahead.

The

Spirit Seizing Spell

had taken effect.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Qin Sang had obtained this spell from the possessions of Di Que. This was his first time using it since mastering it. Knowing Yu Dayue was determined to die and unwilling to divulge any information, Qin Sang had decided to test the spell’s effectiveness on him.

"Senior Brother Yu, do you bear a grudge against me?" Qin Sang asked directly, voicing his greatest doubt.

"No," Yu Dayue replied, shaking his head from side to side. His tone was calm, and his answer came without hesitation.

"Then why?" Qin Sang crouched down and continued, "Why did you want to kill me?"

"Because you’re a worthless fool!"

Yu Dayue’s expression twisted grotesquely as his bloodshot eyes glared at Qin Sang. Veins bulged on his neck as he roared with hysterical rage.

"A worthless fool! A worthless fool with five-elemental spiritual roots! A worthless fool whose foundation was damaged by energy extraction! Trash!"

"Why? Why were you able to surpass me?"

"Do you have any idea what I’ve been through all these years? Huh? Because of you, I couldn’t even qualify as a cauldron furnace!"

"Because of Li Zai, I was punished by that old fossil Fengming, nearly expelled from the sect! With no way out, I risked my life on the Ancient Immortal Battlefield for twenty years! Twenty years! I ventured into the most dangerous hidden realms over and over, dancing on the edge of life and death!"

"I tried dozens, hundreds, thousands of times! And every single time, I failed! All my efforts—all useless! That damned bottleneck stood there, mocking me! The heavens mocked me! Everyone mocked me!"

"And you? If not for selling yourself, you would never have reached the Foundation Building Realm! While I fought for my life outside, you hid in the Tianjing Hidden Realm for twenty years, and somehow, your strength surpassed mine! Now, you’ve broken through again!"

"Why is it you? Why not... me? Why... why... why..."

Yu Dayue’s voice grew weaker and weaker, yet he clung desperately to the question, his bloodshot eyes brimming with tears as he repeated those three words, hoarse and broken.

Qin Sang stood silent, staring at Yu Dayue as the man descended further into madness.

Unexpectedly, being called a "worthless fool" to his face by Yu Dayue did not provoke Qin Sang's anger. Even the resentment from being ambushed vanished entirely, leaving only an endless sense of sorrow.

"So, back in the ancient cultivator’s estate, when you insisted on inviting me to explore together, you’d already harbored the intention to kill me. Five years ago, when you asked me to return to the estate to harvest the Earth Fire Tung Tree, that was also a trap."

Qin Sang waited for Yu Dayue to finish venting before letting out a cold laugh. "Why paint yourself as the victim? You thought that because my talent is inferior to yours, I must have had some fortuitous encounter to surpass you, and you wanted to take it for yourself, isn’t that right? Earlier, you mentioned I should hand over treasures from the Heavenly Corpse Cave. What did you mean by that?"

"There’s no way you could’ve surpassed me without some fortuitous encounter!"

Yu Dayue’s tone was resolute and full of certainty. "In the Heavenly Corpse Cave, you must have obtained treasures from the Heavenly Corpse Sect’s core forbidden ground. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for you to cultivate so quickly!"

Qin Sang frowned and rebuked him sharply. "Nonsense! The core forbidden ground of the Heavenly Corpse Cave was nothing but ruins. Back then, I entered with you, and we searched it together. There was no way I could’ve hidden anythin—Wait..."

He suddenly recalled something. Before entering the core forbidden ground of the Heavenly Corpse Cave, he had been the one to push open the heavy black iron gate. Only after that did Yu Dayue appear.

When Yu Dayue arrived, what he saw must have been the opened gate, with Qin Sang standing in front of it!

Realization dawned upon Qin Sang.

Although he truly hadn’t entered the forbidden ground, anyone who saw that scene would likely harbor doubts.

No wonder...

Yu Dayue, trapped at a bottleneck, had already been driven mad.

Every time Yu Dayue recalled that scene, coupled with Qin Sang’s later achievements, it must have felt like a thorn stabbing deeper and deeper into his heart—until the pain became unbearable, driving him mad.

After a moment of silence, Qin Sang suddenly asked, "Back then, did you ever intend to kill me and take any treasures?"

"No." Yu Dayue shook his head from side to side.

Not long after, a flicker of clarity returned to Yu Dayue’s eyes. The

Spirit Seizing Spell

had worn off. Though the spell couldn’t erase his memories, everything that had just transpired was clear in his mind.

Before Yu Dayue could speak, Qin Sang sighed softly and addressed him one last time. "Senior Brother Yu."

"I’ll make it quick for you."

With that, Qin Sang pressed his palm lightly against Yu Dayue’s forehead. Spiritual power surged, shattering Yu Dayue’s soul. Then, a blazing flame descended upon his body, reducing him to ashes.

Let the world believe Yu Dayue had vanished in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, just like countless other cultivators who struggled on the path to immortality, silently falling for one reason or another.

Thus, the last trace of Yu Dayue was erased from existence.

Qin Sang had taken many lives before. By now, his heart remained unshaken when he killed.

Yet, after eliminating an enemy who had tried to ambush him, Qin Sang felt no sense of relief—only a suffocating weight pressing down on him.

He looked up. The thick layer of sand above blocked his view of the vast blue sky, but it could not obstruct his thoughts.

Oh heavens, how does one become immortal?