Chapter 658: A Strange Core Formation Cultivator

"So he finally arrived."

Qin Sang slowly exhaled.

The timing was two days later than Du Xian had estimated, likely delayed by some unexpected matter.

Du Han was riding a golden leaf-shaped flying artifact, accompanied by the disciple sent to fetch him. Their pace was slightly slowed by the extra person, but still remained swift.

"Reporting to Master, Senior Brother has already replied. They are currently stationed at Five-Insect Sect. Everything is normal in the Bear Mountain region. That Golden Core cultivator has yet to return."

Du Han sat cross-legged atop the golden leaf artifact. The disciple stood respectfully behind him, holding a Sound Transmission Talisman and speaking softly.

Naturally, the Sound Transmission Talisman had been sent by Du Xian under Qin Sang’s control.

Du Han gave a slight nod and looked into the distance toward Five-Insect Sect. His brows furrowed in dissatisfaction. "Why so careless? Why are they still lingering at Five-Insect Sect? Are they hoping that the Golden Core cultivator will come looking for them?"

The disciple raised his head slightly, paused for a moment, then spoke softly in defense of Du Xian. "Master, please rest assured. Senior Brother surely considered everything carefully. He may have calculated your imminent arrival and went to the Five-Insect Sect specifically to greet you. That Golden Core cultivator formed his core less than a year ago. According to the sect leader of Five-Insect Sect, his life-bound insect gu seemed to have had problems. He likely left to search for a new insect to refine, so the chances of him returning soon are low. Once Senior Brother Jiu Shan and the others recovered from their injuries, they relied on the sect’s protective array. Even if that person returned suddenly, they should be able to hold out for a while."

Du Han snorted coldly. "You lot have grown too comfortable cultivating within the sect. You've lost your vigilance. Anyone who dares underestimate a cultivator whose cultivation is an entire major stage higher will never meet a good end. Once this matter is settled, all of you are to go out and temper yourselves. I don’t want you becoming frogs at the bottom of a well.[1]"

The disciple dared not argue and lowered his head in silence.

As they spoke, the golden leaf cut through the air in an arc, speeding toward Five-Insect Sect.

In the distance, the sect gradually came into view. The lotus-shaped protective array and several looming shadowy peaks within it could already be seen.

Du Han rose to his feet and looked out over Five-Insect Sect.

After watching for a while, a strange expression flickered in his eyes. He asked in a low voice, "Did you attack Five-Insect Sect’s protective array when you entered?"

Sensing that Du Han’s tone was off, the disciple quickly turned his gaze toward Five-Insect Sect. Everything appeared normal. The array looked untouched. He wore a blank look as he replied, "No. We strictly followed Master’s instructions and had the local powers search for the ancient corpse. Along the way, we did not disturb a thing. Senior Brother presented the identity of Black Witch Palace, and Five-Insect Sect did not suspect anything, letting us in without resistance. We hadn’t expected the sect leader to possess a talisman astra, which led to Senior Brothers getting injured. Master, did something happen to Senior Brother?"

Du Han shook his head slightly and muttered, "I once had a long discussion with a human cultivator well-versed in the Dao of arrays. I took quite an interest in the subject. Looking at the Five-Insect Sect’s protective array now, I find it somewhat strange... many inconsistencies..."

Before he could finish, a sudden wave of dread surged within him.

In an instant, all the hairs on Du Han’s body stood on end. A powerful sense of impending doom seized him, and his expression changed drastically.

"Who's there!?"

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

As Du Han shouted in fury, a blinding burst of light suddenly exploded atop the mountain ahead. A sword light of overwhelming speed and terrifying power erupted forth.

Qin Sang had not set his ambush within Five-Insect Sect. Instead, he chose this outer mountain precisely to avoid Du Han noticing anything unusual about the protective array or the behavior of Du Xian and the others.

Back then, in order to capture Du Xian and the rest swiftly, Qin Sang had forcibly broken the sect’s protective array.

Though it was later repaired, Qin Sang lacked true mastery over arrays and feared Du Han might notice flaws if he got too close.

After careful consideration, he decided to lay in wait beyond the sect gate.

Unexpectedly, Du Han turned out to be somewhat knowledgeable in arrays. Even from such a distance, he had already picked up on abnormalities. While Qin Sang silently rejoiced that he had not waited any longer, he also knew he could not delay another moment. He had to strike.

Fortunately, the distance between them was already close enough.

As the sword light swept forth with terrifying force, the disciple’s legs gave way. Trembling uncontrollably, he finally understood the true weight behind his master’s earlier warning.

"Golden Core!"

A sharp gleam flashed through Du Han’s eyes as he instantly realized something had gone wrong with his disciples.

Those he had brought into Xijiang this time were all among his most talented disciples. Among them, Du Xian was the one he regarded as his own son, placing high hopes on his future.

Now, realizing that they had likely been killed by this man, Du Han was consumed with rage, burning with the desire to tear Qin Sang to pieces.

But just as that thought surfaced, he heard a faint rumble of thunder from up ahead. Suddenly, a terrifying possibility struck him. He recalled a divine ability that countless sword cultivators longed for. An ominous feeling surged in his chest.

"Sword Qi Thunderclap!"

Du Han was utterly shocked. He never would have imagined that here on the Witch God Continent, there existed a sword cultivator who had just broken through to the Core Formation Realm and could already comprehend Sword Qi Thunderclap.

There was no time to think further. A flash of light erupted from Du Han’s dantian, and a pale bone claw shot out from his Qihai.

Almost at the same moment, a streak of sword light split the void and appeared directly in front of Du Han.

His pupils contracted. Only now did he understand why sword cultivators yearned so desperately for Sword Qi Thunderclap. It was unbelievably fast.

A cold sweat broke across his back. Though startled, Du Han remained calm in the face of danger. The bone claw moved like a living creature, swift and flexible. Just in time, it intercepted the incoming sword light.

The ghostly claw shimmered with a pale, eerie glow as it lashed out at the sword light.

"Hmm?"

Seeing Du Han summon the bone claw, Qin Sang let out a soft murmur of surprise.

He had clearly sensed that this ghost claw was Du Han’s life-bound astra.

Du Han was a witch cultivator, and came from a major orthodox sect, yet he had not refined a life-bound insect gu. Instead, like a human cultivator, he had chosen a life-bound astra.

This was highly unusual, completely outside Qin Sang’s expectations.

Even from Du Xian and the others, Qin Sang had not uncovered any clues to this fact. Du Han had concealed it well; even his own disciples had no idea.

On top of that, with the astra granted by Black Witch Palace, Du Han actually carried two astras on him.

The trap Qin Sang had set up was meant to counter a life-bound insect gu. He had never anticipated this unexpected development.

But that wasn’t the only thing strange about Du Han.

As he approached, Qin Sang actually sensed a faint trace of demonic beast qi from Du Han. At first, he thought Du Han might be raising a spirit beast and immediately became alert, but he found no sign of a Spirit Beast Pouch or anything similar on him.

There was also Du Han’s level of strength.

While his aura was undoubtedly powerful, it didn’t reach the level expected of someone on the verge of advancing to the middle stage of the Core Formation Realm. It was noticeably weaker than Qin Sang had anticipated.

Given how rushed his defense had been, Du Han’s panic seemed genuine. He probably wasn’t suppressing his strength.

It remained unclear whether Du Han had some hidden affliction or if another reason was at play.

Regardless, it worked in Qin Sang’s favor.

All these thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, but he never let his focus stray from the battle.

1. The English translation of the Chinese idiom "井底之蛙" (jǐng dǐ zhī wā) is "a frog in a well" or "a frog at the bottom of a well". It is used to describe someone with a limited outlook, narrow-mindedness, and lack of experience or knowledge due to a restricted worldview. The idiom comes from a story about a frog living in a well who believes his well is the whole world. When he encounters a turtle from the sea, he is unable to comprehend the vastness of the sea because his experience is limited to the well. ☜