Chapter 451: A Beam of Light

Even from a great distance, the terrifying scene ahead sent a chill through everyone’s hearts, their faces tightening with anxiety.

Only Core Formation cultivators could unleash such devastating power.

Qin Sang lifted his head, staring directly at the battlefield while his thoughts churned.

Sweeping a glance over the battle formation, he realized that luck was on their side—their squad had been positioned in the rear of the left flank. If things took a turn for the worse, they could retreat swiftly.

With Mu Yifeng at his side for support and other fellow disciples stationed nearby, they could easily assist one another if necessary. At least he didn’t have to worry about dying a meaningless death.

Of course, unless the entire formation collapsed, no one dared flee mid-battle. Desertion meant immediate execution.

Given the Small Cold Domain’s current strength, they had no reason to fear the Tianxing Alliance. The battle would not be an easy one, but it was far from hopeless.

With practiced ease, Qin Sang summoned his artifacts—the Cold Gold Sword circled around him, while he readied his Yin-Yang Luopan and an iron chain-shaped artifact.

Having endured countless battles, he had replaced many of his artifacts over time, but the Cold Gold Sword and Yin-Yang Luopan remained his most reliable weapons.

The Cold Gold Sword, however, had changed significantly from three years ago. Every time Qin Sang acquired suitable spiritual materials, he refined the sword anew. Now, its power had increased dramatically, placing it among the finest top-grade artifacts.

Beside him, Mu Yifeng, who had never participated in a large-scale battle before, seemed uneasy. He transmitted his voice to Qin Sang, "Junior Brother Qin, you’re experienced. Tell me what to do when the battle starts."

Qin Sang reassured him, "Senior Brother Mu, with your cultivation, there’s no need to worry too much. No matter what happens, stay calm! And remember—never get greedy for merits or charge ahead recklessly. Do not break away from the formation..."

He gave the same warning to the other members of their squad.

This was the lesson that had kept him alive until now.

Taking a deep breath, Mu Yifeng nodded, steeling himself. "I’ll follow your lead."

As they neared the battlefield, both of them fell silent, their gazes locked onto the ominous storm clouds ahead, readying themselves for what was to come.

Within the dark clouds, it was impossible to discern which side held the upper hand—only massive, demon-god-like figures clashed in battle.

Each collision of astra sent brilliant rainbow-like flashes across the sky, and even the aftershocks alone stirred towering waves across the waters.

This was not Qin Sang’s first time witnessing a battle between Core Formation cultivators. But no matter how many times he saw it, it never failed to leave him in awe—and longing.

Yet this battle was fiercer than any he had ever seen before.

Every Core Formation cultivator from both sides had been deployed. Vice Island Master Xiao, after leaving a brief command, transformed into a streak of light and dashed toward the battlefield at top speed.

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

A wave of murmurs spread through the formation.

Despite the tension, Qin Sang remained outwardly calm, his eyes scanning the storm-shrouded battlefield.

The Tianxing Alliance’s Foundation Building cultivators are nowhere in sight. Have they not arrived yet?

Just then, Qin Sang’s gaze froze. He noticed something unusual within the storm.

Beside him, Mu Yifeng had also spotted it. He quickly sent a voice transmission, pointing it out, "Junior Brother Qin, look at that light!"

He was referring to a beam of light deep within the storm clouds.

Despite the vast black clouds that filled the sky, this light shone through them. It wasn’t blinding, nor did it rival the ferocity of the lightning bolts crackling around it. Instead, it was soft—like moonlight. And yet, even from this distance, it remained perfectly visible.

The beam descended from the heavens like a sword piercing through the clouds.

From the starry sky above to the turbulent waters below, it formed a bridge between the two.

Within the beam, the light seemed to pulse rhythmically, as if some mysterious force were flowing through it.

Qin Sang craned his neck, but he could only follow the beam’s path until it disappeared into the depths of the starry sky. Unable to see its origin, he lowered his gaze instead, tracing its descent to the waters below.

The beam had landed in the sea.

That section of the water was caught in the chaos of battle—fierce winds howled, and monstrous waves surged.

Yet, at the exact point where the beam touched the water, the surface shimmered with a mercury-like glow, eerily smooth like a mirror. No matter how wild the surrounding waves grew, the moment they neared the beam, they were swallowed into its radiance without a sound.

"This is..."

A thought struck Qin Sang. The light had landed right at the heart of the battlefield. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the glowing water, murmuring to himself, "Is Zhitian Peak inside that mirror?"

As soon as he spoke, he noticed faint barrier fluctuations within the mirrored surface. But this barrier was unlike any he had ever seen before. Just like the beam of light, it was beyond his understanding.

Drawing from experience, he could only guess that the mirror barrier might be capable of channeling stellar power, and that it was anything but simple.

More and more cultivators began to notice the beam of light, their faces filled with astonishment.

However, any thoughts of discussion quickly faded as the battle intensified.

Directly to the south, a vast sea of evasion lights appeared on the horizon, forming a spectacle no less grand than their own. Their opponents had arrived.

The moment sworn enemies locked eyes, their hostility burned even fiercer.

Without any need for discussion, both sides instinctively adjusted their course, steering clear of the battlefield where the Core Formation cultivators clashed.

As the distance between them rapidly closed, the glow of the starlit sky illuminated their enemies’ faces—twisted in savage expressions.

"Form the array!"

Qin Sang roared.

Within the battle formation, there were multiple Array Eyes, each controlled by a renowned expert like Qin Sang and Senior Brother Rong. These key figures were responsible for commanding a designated section of the formation, coordinating the power of those around them to engage the enemy.

Though Qin Sang’s cultivation was slightly weaker, his title of "Shadowless Sword" was well-known. He had participated in every major battle, and no one was more qualified for the role.

The rest of the cultivators remained silent, leaving only the array leaders to communicate through voice transmissions.

The moment had come. The command was issued simultaneously.

At Qin Sang’s signal, all the cultivators surrounding him shouted in unison, channeling their spiritual power together. Each poured their energy outward, gathering it toward Qin Sang, who served as the focal point.

With his arms raised high, Qin Sang wove their combined spiritual power into a radiant sphere of energy. To the onlookers, it shone as brilliantly as the moon in the sky.

More and more power surged toward him. Even controlling it was an immense burden. His arms bulged with veins, his entire body trembling from the sheer strain.

Though the battle formation was formidable, their strength could not be infinitely amplified. If the power exceeded his limits, Qin Sang would surely be torn apart.

This was already his limit.

Around him, Mu Yifeng and the others stood guard, ready to protect him from any unexpected dangers.

"Condense!"

With gritted teeth, Qin Sang swiftly formed intricate hand seals. The glowing sphere transformed in response, shifting and reshaping at an incredible speed. Gradually, a saber of qi took form.

It was just over a chi long, its blade slender and as luminous as jade. The tip curled slightly upward, giving it an elegant yet lethal appearance.

Though small in size, this saber of qi contained the combined power of multiple Foundation Building cultivators—no one dared underestimate it.

A cold, cutting brilliance radiated from the blade’s edge. Just looking at it with the naked eye gave the eerie sensation of being sliced apart.

At the same time, Senior Brother Rong and the other leaders mirrored Qin Sang’s actions.

Above the battle formation, multiple sabers formed in unison. Under the command of Qin Sang and the others, these sabers surged forward in perfect synchrony, soaring toward the enemy formation ahead.

A row of gleaming sabers pointed directly at the Tianxing Alliance battle formation.

At that very moment, their enemies refused to be outdone. They had formed a wind array.

A furious hurricane roared toward them, carrying countless razor-sharp wind blades capable of slicing through anything in their path.