Chapter 742: Token

"You damned heretic, enjoying the company of twin beauties and making everyone jealous. Yet instead of living the good life, you're running off to die in Seven-Kill Hall. Aren’t you afraid those sisters will find a new lover and cheat on you?"

Cui Ji had once been defeated by Qin Sang in front of a crowd and unceremoniously driven off the island. That humiliation had yet to fade from his heart.

Given his temperament, he had wanted revenge even back then.

However, Elder Zhou had warned him in private and applied pressure through the rules of the alliance. Cui Ji knew he was in the wrong and lacked the strength to win, so all he could do was swallow the loss.

What he refused to admit was his fear of Qin Sang.

That bastard's astra possesses a bizarre and terrifying supernatural ability, capable of turning the tide of battle.

Cui Ji had taken a long time to nurse his life-bound astra back to health before its spiritual essence finally recovered.

Now, seeing Qin Sang again, both old and new grudges surged in his heart. He could not help but launch into a cold, sarcastic tirade.

The others immediately grew interested. Their gazes shifted between the two, clearly amused. They hadn’t expected a group of just eight to produce such a pair of enemies. It looked like there would be good drama ahead.

Xiang Yi frowned deeply.

Qin Sang replied coolly, "Before I die, I imagine Daoist Cui will be going ahead to scout the path for me. Once you're in the afterlife, will you still have that sharp tongue?"

Xiang Yi stepped in to stop the conflict, his tone turning cold as he warned, "Whatever grudges you two may have, you must forget them once we enter Seven-Kill Hall. If your infighting disrupts the mission of the merchant alliance, I will hold both of you accountable. Believe me, no matter how powerful your backers are within the alliance, they will not be able to shield you."

Cui Ji had no choice but to drop the matter. He sat down on a bench, saying nothing, and glared at Qin Sang with resentment.

Qin Sang paid him no attention. Back then, he had defeated Cui Ji without even needing the help of the Two-Headed Hou.

If Cui Ji dared cause trouble again, Seven-Kill Hall would be his grave.

Once everyone had gathered, Xiang Yi took out a golden case from his Mustard Seed Pouch and opened it in front of the group. From within, he retrieved eight jade pendants. "These jade pendants are your tokens for this mission. Each person takes one. Only by presenting the token will you be able to enter Seven-Kill Hall."

He paused briefly, then raised his hand slightly. The jade pendants floated over to each person.

Qin Sang caught his pendant and swept it with his spiritual consciousness. He found that the jade was fragile, yet within it lay an exquisitely intricate barrier that made it impossible to replicate.

The group then took turns asking about the details of Seven-Kill Hall and began exchanging information.

Among the eight present, only Xiang Yi had ever entered Seven-Kill Hall, and that was during its previous emergence. The rest were all first-timers.

Although Qin Sang had already gathered much information, it still could not compare to the firsthand experience of Xiang Yi. Naturally, he made the most of this rare opportunity to seek advice.

There was little time left before the opening of Seven-Kill Hall. Once they were ready, they activated the teleportation array and returned to the Inner Sea.

***

Across from Desolate Island, the teleportation array was located on Tianxing Island, the largest island of the human race.

It was said that during the height of the witch race's dominance, when humanity was at its most precarious, it was by relying on this island that they managed to hold their ground. Because of this, Tianxing Island held an exceptional status among humankind.

The island housed the largest city of the human race. Qin Sang had long yearned to see it, but with time running short, he had no chance to take in the sights before following Xiang Yi off the island.

The Inner Islands were clearly far safer than the Demonic Sea. Though the deep sea still hid demonic beasts, they were not as endless or terrifying as those in the Demonic Sea.

With all eight members being experts, they had no need to remain overly cautious. Taking turns operating a flying shuttle, they traveled day and night, racing southeast.

Their destination was Dongmen Island, said to be one of the safer routes into the storm leading to Seven-Kill Hall.

In truth, Dongmen Island was quite small, and originally hosted only an obscure minor sect. It only became lively whenever Seven-Kill Hall was about to open.

By the time they arrived at Dongmen Island, many powerful cultivators had already gathered.

As they descended from their evasion lights and approached the city, Qin Sang could already sense numerous powerful or hidden auras within. Among them were even Spiritual Infant grandmasters.

Everyone instinctively withdrew their presence and kept a low profile.

"Let’s go. We’ll rest in the city for a while, then head into the storm," said Xiang Yi, taking the lead into the city.

Qin Sang turned his head for a look. To the east of Dongmen Island, the seawater appeared noticeably grayer than elsewhere. At the edge of his vision, across the vast surface of the sea, a black line stretched from one end to the other, with no visible end in sight to the north or south.

That was the storm belt, a place that made even the bravest turn pale at its name.

He had already heard more than once how terrifying the storm was. Fortunately, the location of Seven-Kill Hall was not deep within the storm’s center, and its power only intensified the farther one went in.

With their current cultivation levels, they would still be able to hold out long enough to reach Seven-Kill Hall.

The group rented a courtyard in the city. Xiang Yi warned them sternly not to go out and cause trouble, lest they drag others down with them. The cultivators gathered on the island were either powerful individuals themselves or people with deep backgrounds. None of them were easy to provoke, and among them were many unruly types. One misstep could easily bring disaster.

Qin Sang couldn’t help but grow curious. Ever since they left Desolate Island, Xiang Yi had never once brought them into contact with any of the other teams from the Dongji Alliance.

There was no way such a massive organization like the Dongji Alliance had only eight available slots.

The fact that all the teams operated without contact was highly unusual. Clearly, the Dongji Alliance had grand ambitions. Whatever treasure they were after must be of extraordinary value, enough to warrant such a massive mobilization.

Qin Sang didn’t dwell on it. Nor did he want to dig too deep.

He had come for the ancient teleportation array, and had no intention of being swept up in a whirlwind of conflict.

He also understood very clearly that he had only agreed to assist Xiang Yi in exchange for a spot. He wasn’t here to throw his life away. If danger struck, his first priority was to find a way out.

The others were surely thinking the same.

After closing the door to his room, Qin Sang sat in silence for a while, then suddenly took out a set of array flags and arranged them throughout the chamber. He followed up by layering several layers of barriers.

Once he had confirmed there were no flaws, Qin Sang retrieved the jade box that held the Dongming Cold Flame. He hesitated for a moment before finally opening it.

All these years, he had been pondering how best to deal with the Dongming Cold Flame.

Refining it into a Flame Orb felt like a waste. He always felt a pang of regret that he was not able to make the flame his own.

But every attempt to tame it had ended in failure. The imprint of Saint Dongming had already fused with the flame, and it was likely that the flame itself had been born of Saint Dongming to begin with.

His cultivation was still too low. He didn’t stand a chance.

But with his entry into Seven-Kill Hall looming, which was a turning point in his future, he could no longer afford to hesitate.

The Xutian Thunder was the sect-defining treasure of the Xuling Sect. Although the insights left behind by that Golden Core cultivator did not contain Xuling Sect’s exact refining method, it had mentioned it in passing.

Qin Sang had once possessed a Xutian Thunder and had studied it thoroughly while it was in his hands.

Most importantly, although the Dongming Cold Flame was violent by nature, it became surprisingly docile in the presence of the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells. That solved the greatest difficulty, and it was an advantage the Xuling Sect never had.

As long as Qin Sang didn’t make a mistake, he wouldn’t have to worry about a backlash.

There was a strong possibility that, by borrowing from the principles of the Xutian Thunder, he could refine the Dongming Cold Flame into a Flame Orb.