Chapter 794: Gushan Island

Above the barren plains, a vortex-shaped passage had formed within the raging storm.

The passage was gradually shrinking. The spiritual array that had torn through the celestial array was collapsing, and everyone had to leave Seven-Kill Hall before the passage vanished.

Within the barren plains, the withered grass swayed gently.

A human figure suddenly appeared without warning. The person looked around cautiously, then transformed into a streak of evasion light, shooting toward the passage like an arrow.

Just before entering, he activated a jade talisman to gain its protection, then disappeared into the passage.

Qin Sang saw this scene with his own eyes. He was in no hurry to leave. He took out his own jade talisman and waited silently at the edge of the barren plains.

He retrieved the bone flute from the Thousand-Jin Ring.

Even now, he still could not confirm whether the bone flute was an astra or something else. But one thing was certain: This object did not originate from the current world. Otherwise, the fragments would not have been scattered across such great distances.

The bone flute was shrouded in mystery. It could resonate with the cosmic orbit and the power of the stars, yet it had not displayed the kind of might that a supreme treasure should possess.

Qin Sang thought of the bronze block he had retrieved in Ziwei Palace for Wandering Man. That bronze block had been a fragment of a celestial cauldron, incomparably heavy and even capable of striking fear into the Southern Sun Fire.

He turned the bone flute over in his hand, studying it closely while keeping a sharp watch on the barren plains.

Time passed slowly. More and more cultivators returned from the depths of Seven-Kill Hall and flew into the passage. During this time, Qin Sang caught sight of Madam Liu again, but he said nothing and silently watched her depart.

He did not spot Xiang Yi. If Xiang Yi had perished inside, that would be a good thing as it would save him much trouble.

Compared to what he had witnessed at Dongmen Island, far fewer cultivators had managed to leave Seven-Kill Hall alive. Clearly, many had found their final resting place within it.

While Qin Sang waited, he remained observant. He spotted several figures that appeared to be at the Spiritual Infant Realm and was all the more careful not to expose himself. The reason he stayed so far away was precisely to avoid causing any misunderstandings.

"Fewer and fewer people remain..." Qin Sang let out a quiet sigh and glanced up at the sky.

The passage had shrunk to half its original size. Time was running out.

If that person died in Seven-Kill Hall, the hope of restoring the bone flute will be lost. The hall is far too vast to search it piece by piece. I just hope he escaped early and is still outside, so there might still be a chance...

That thought surfaced in Qin Sang’s mind.

Just then, the bone flute in his hand suddenly lit up, emitting a faint glow.

The change came without any warning, and Qin Sang had been waiting for this moment. The instant he saw it, his expression shifted. He quickly suppressed his excitement, identified the direction the bone flute was pointing toward, and looked up sharply at a distant mountain.

The mountain remained completely still, not a single person in sight.

The person with the matching bone flute fragment must be hiding there.

Qin Sang was just about to move closer when he suddenly saw a streak of azure evasion light shoot out from the mountain.

The azure light blazed brilliantly and moved at an astonishing speed. It tore through the sky like a flash.

Within the light, a vague shadow of wings could be seen. The person controlling the azure light seemed to have turned into a bird, flapping its wings and bursting forth with a speed that even Qin Sang could not match.

This person looked as though he were fleeing for his life, as if being pursued. He did not enter the barren plains but instead raced straight toward the passage.

Qin Sang could not see his face at all, nor could he determine his identity.

He glanced behind the person’s flight path and saw no pursuer. That person’s speed was simply too fast. He vanished into the passage in the blink of an eye.

Qin Sang was caught off guard. His hiding spot had been too far from the center, and now the light on the bone flute was rapidly dimming. The connection was on the verge of being cut.

He had no time to think. Immediately, he activated the secret talisman and summoned Sword Qi Thunderclap, unleashing his fastest evasion speed and giving full chase.

A terrifying force slammed into him.

The moment he neared the passage, Qin Sang was nearly flung away.

He poured all his strength into the jade talisman, activating the blood barrier and barely managing to steady himself.

The familiar sensation returned.

As he entered the celestial array, Qin Sang felt like a lone boat tossed about on a stormy sea, buffeted by chaotic currents and struggling to maintain direction. Fortunately, all the impacts came from behind, pushing him outward, toward the edge of the array.

The blood barrier released by the jade talisman was already on the verge of collapse. Cracks had even begun to form on the talisman itself.

Qin Sang had experienced this kind of turbulence before. With only a single glance, he ignored the jade talisman’s condition and fixed his gaze firmly on the bone flute. The flute glowed faintly, like a dying candle, but the connection had not yet been severed.

Qin Sang gave everything he had. Amid the violent impacts, he pressed forward with great difficulty, struggling to draw closer to the direction indicated by the bone flute.

Qin Sang did not know how much time had passed when he suddenly felt the pressure around him vanish. A piercing cold surged through his body. He opened his eyes and discovered that he was now at the bottom of the sea.

The waters here were far from calm. Hurricanes stirred up towering waves, and powerful undercurrents surged in all directions.

Although the surrounding forces remained chaotic, they were far weaker than the terrifying turbulence within the wind wall. Qin Sang understood that he had successfully exited the celestial array. He quickly activated Water Evasion and swam upward with all his strength.

He had entered through the wind wall, yet emerged at the seafloor.

Even Qin Sang felt somewhat disoriented, uncertain where exactly Seven-Kill Hall was truly located.

Fortunately, the connection had not been severed. In fact, it seemed the distance between them had shortened while inside the celestial array. The bone flute now glowed brightly, indicating that the person was directly above.

To avoid drawing attention, Qin Sang quickly stowed the bone flute into the Thousand-Jin Ring.

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Once he broke through the surface of the sea, he realized he was already outside the range of the wind wall. He now found himself in the heart of the storm. Towering waves raged in all directions, obscuring the distant scenery. He could only rely on the bone flute’s guidance to pursue the other person.

Within the storm, he had to constantly activate his astra for protection, which severely limited his speed.

As he braved the storm and waves, Qin Sang noticed that the other person had not changed direction at all. The target was clear, and it was not Dongmen Island.

"No wonder I never encountered him at Dongmen Island. He must have come from one of the other two islands. Judging by the direction, he’s most likely heading for Gushan Island..."

Qin Sang deliberately slowed down. He had no intention of making contact just yet. Thoughts spun in his mind. He planned to first confirm the man’s identity after reaching Gushan Island.

This person’s speed was so astonishing that even Qin Sang felt inferior. The wing-shaped phantom in the azure light didn’t appear to be from an astra. If that was the manifestation of the person’s supernatural ability, then his strength might even surpass Xiang Yi’s. He was, in all likelihood, a peak late-stage expert.

For the sake of the bone flute, Qin Sang hoped things could be resolved peacefully. A fair trade would be ideal for both sides.

But given the gap in cultivation, initiating contact rashly could easily lead to a misunderstanding. If that person saw Qin Sang’s lower realm and became hostile, it would likely end in a fierce battle.

Although Qin Sang’s evasion techniques far exceeded most cultivators, giving him freedom to advance or retreat even against powerful foes, they might turn into a disadvantage in front of someone like this.

It would be unwise to place all his hopes on the Flame Orb. If it failed, he would be put in a perilous position.

And within this storm, everything was even more unpredictable.

Just as he was considering all this, Qin Sang suddenly sensed something amiss. His figure halted sharply, and he turned to look off into the distance. There, an enormous and unusual wave was surging wildly toward him. The intense turbulence instantly made his heart tighten. Within the waves, he vaguely saw two streaks of evasion light—one red, one white—chasing each other through the sky.

Sensing the aura emanating from the evasion lights, Qin Sang’s expression changed drastically. There was a battle between Spiritual Infant cultivators nearby!