Chapter 953: Qingjun

Heavenly Demon Transformation, Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman, Sword Qi Thunderclap... Qin Sang unleashed every skill he possessed, fleeing toward the path of swords without looking back.

If this man is not Qingzhu, then who is he? Where did Qingzhu go? Why did Qingzhu become like this? Why is he lingering on the eighth level, and what is he planning?

Though countless doubts filled Qin Sang’s mind, he did not hesitate for even a moment.

From the tone of this so-called Qingzhu, he had already sensed hostility. Always cautious, his first instinct was to escape danger, only later to consider everything else.

With his current strength, he had no qualification to bargain with a Spiritual Infant master. There were two Spiritual Infant experts on the seventh level. If he could escape there, perhaps there might still be a slim chance of survival. And indeed, his decision was the right one.

When Qingzhu saw Qin Sang flee so decisively, a trace of surprise flickered across his expression, but it quickly turned into a cold sneer. Without any visible movement, he vanished from where he stood, reappearing hundreds of zhang away above the external incarnation.

The incarnation’s figure paused briefly, then raised the blood sword without hesitation, transforming into a crimson arc that struck straight for Qingzhu’s vital point. The piercing cry of the sword rang out, the crimson arc surging with terrifying momentum.

The external incarnation was far from weak. Wielding a middle-grade astra blood sword, its strength was top tier even among Core Formation cultivators. But facing such an assault, Qingzhu did not dodge.

"Seeking death!" He snorted coldly, casting one glance at the crimson arc before raising his palm lazily.

Black light surged violently in his hand, condensing into a perfectly square seal. Black qi roiled as the black seal plummeted from the sky like lightning.

Boom!

With an earth-shaking roar, the crimson arc collapsed instantly.

The blood sword let out a mournful cry as its wielder was blasted backward faster than before, smashing through several black boulders before barely regaining his footing.

The external incarnation’s face turned deathly pale. He did not even last a single exchange against Qingzhu. Seeing this, Qin Sang’s eyelids twitched violently, his heart plunging into despair.

Gasp!

The voice of Bai rang out from the Corpse Puppet Pouch, filled with panic. "Run! This man’s strength is no weaker than the one who ambushed you before. Why do you always provoke such enemies?"

Bai bitterly regretted following Qin Sang. Their oath had been sworn less than a day ago, and already they had fallen into such dire straits. Now, escape was impossible. A dreadful premonition welled in him. He had a feeling that he would suffer greatly.

Qin Sang gave a bitter smile, feeling wronged. He had always kept a low profile, focused solely on cultivation. How could he possibly have sought out such enemies? They had all come looking for him.

The one outside the ghostly land was at least explainable. But Qingzhu’s sudden appearance had no warning. What seemed like fortune had become a disaster. This Qingzhu was not the Qingzhu of legend. Not only had Senior Qingzhu broken into the Spiritual Infant Realm, he was at least at the middle stage. Yet somehow, he had turned into this.

Having blasted the external incarnation aside with one palm, Qingzhu’s eyebrows suddenly knit tightly. His arm began trembling violently, and the black seal that should have finished off the incarnation shattered apart.

His face twisted with malice, he ground his teeth. "You, already at the end of your strength, dare to resist me still? It seems this brat truly is tied to us. Very well. When I catch him, I’ll let you watch as your kin suffers torment beyond death, and we’ll see how long you can endure!"

Yet before him, there was no one at all.

Whoosh!

The external incarnation formed a sword incantation, pouring all of its true essence into the blood sword. Sword qi blazed, bursting forth like a massive crimson bolt of lightning. In the blink of an eye, it ripped through the air toward Qingzhu.

Qingzhu jerked his trembling arm behind his back and thrust forward with the other, clawing fiercely at the incarnation.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh...

Five black threads shot out, intertwining in the void to form a black net.

The blood sword struck straight into the web. The net contracted, sharp beyond belief, easily tearing through the sword qi.

With a screeching metallic grind, the sword qi shattered, revealing the blood sword’s true body. Its blade was now etched with deep cracks as it thrashed within the net like a trapped insect, on the verge of destruction.

Cold light flickered in Qingzhu’s eyes. His palm clenched, and the net shrank violently inward.

Bang!

The blood sword stiffened, on the brink of being shredded.

Just then, Qingzhu’s arm once more began to tremble, and the net faltered. The blood sword seized the opening and broke free.

Qingzhu roared in fury, forcibly suppressing the resistance within him. He lashed out, the collapsing net condensing into a sphere that slammed into the external incarnation, hurling it away, its fate uncertain.

"If you dare to ruin my plans, I’ll make your disciple experience a fate worse than death!" Qingzhu’s rage boiled over. No longer sparing the incarnation a glance, he fixed his eyes on the direction Qin Sang had fled. In a flash, his figure blurred, giving chase.

Qin Sang had already fled with all his strength, yet before Qingzhu, his speed seemed pitifully slow. His evasion technique was nothing compared to Qingzhu’s. The distance between them closed rapidly.

Qin Sang could already feel the gale at his back. Before he even reached the path of swords, Qingzhu had nearly caught up.

Facing such an opponent, Qin Sang could not help but feel despair. This might well have been one of the most perilous moments since he had set foot upon the immortal path, with not the slightest chance of victory in sight.

"Daoist, we can only fight with all we have and leave the rest to fate!" Qin Sang transmitted his voice to Bai.

Even in desperation, he would never surrender without resistance. His hands shifted through seals, secretly preparing the

Lightning Control Technique

. Then his evasion light came to an abrupt halt, and he turned to face Qingzhu, abandoning flight.

The ebony sword shot out from his brow, humming with a mournful resonance, as if it shared its master’s emotions. The sword wheel appeared, sword qi surging in all directions.

"A mantis trying to stop a chariot!" Qingzhu roared.[1]

By now, Qingzhu had suppressed the resistance within his body. He used the same trick again, the black net reappearing, spreading wide to cover the sky as it fell.

Though Qin Sang’s swordsmanship far surpassed his incarnation’s, the result against the net was no different. The sword wheel was soon enveloped, its momentum immediately smothered.

Qin Sang was not surprised. Thunder rolled within him as a jade vial filled with Jade Liquid of Three Radiances slipped silently into his palm.

At that very moment of peril, an unexpected scene occurred. Qingzhu’s body suddenly trembled. Clutching his chest with one hand, his face flushed red. He roared angrily, while the black net shuddered violently. The ebony sword seized the opening and broke free.

Qin Sang had already sensed something amiss earlier. Now, seeing this, he suddenly realized what was happening.

As the tremors within Qingzhu’s body began to weaken, a flash of inspiration struck Qin Sang. His spiritual consciousness darted swiftly into the Thousand-Jin Ring and retrieved an item.

"Senior, do you still remember the man who carved this sword?" He raised high an utterly ordinary wooden sword, shouting loudly.

It was the peachwood sword he had once chosen from Granny Jing’s shop! Granny Jing’s carving skills were the finest Qin Sang had ever seen in his life. Though the sword was simple, it contained her unique charm and artistry.

"Qingjun!" From within Qingzhu’s body came a startled cry, clearly belonging to another voice.

1. This is an old Chinese saying meaning someone weak who doesn't understand their own strength. ☜