Chapter 986: The Method to Break the Curse

In Bai’s fragmented memories, he had once encountered a similar curse technique and might know how to break it. He was trying hard to recall the method, yet no clear thought surfaced.

Qin Sang could no longer sit still. Old Devil Mou was closing in fast, and he had no idea how much time remained for them.

"Are you certain the Fire Curse hasn’t invaded your primordial spirit?" Bai finally spoke.

Qin Sang’s eyes flickered, and he nodded. "Correct. The Fire Curse has fused only with my flesh."

Bai had said before that when one was struck by a curse, both the body and the primordial spirit would be invaded simultaneously. If one did not know the art of dispelling curses, it would be exceedingly difficult to drive it out.

Once again, the Jade Buddha protected Qin Sang. Every time the curse flared up, Qin Sang could sense the Fire Curse runes surfacing over his primordial spirit. The frail layer of Yin-Yang Armor did little, and only the Jade Buddha could fully block the curse from penetrating further.

But that was the limit. The Fire Curse, like the Heart-Devouring Insect Gu refined by Founder Kuiyin, could not enter his primordial spirit, but it clung tightly to its surface, leaving Qin Sang helpless.

"This shouldn’t be happening..." Bai muttered in confusion. "Didn’t you say the top cultivation arts of today’s immortal cultivation world are all incomplete? Seems that man’s mastery of curses is poor. You’re fortunate. If the Fire Curse had fused with your primordial spirit, it would be almost impossible to resolve with our current strength. But since it hasn’t, there’s still hope. Let me examine it first. Stretch out your arms, I need to see what kind of curse it is."

Bai split off a wisp of his soul, drifting out of the Corpse Puppet Pouch, and landed upon Qin Sang’s right arm. A chill seeped into Qin Sang’s skin. Suddenly, the Fire Curse erupted again.

Bai warned quickly, "He’s still some distance away. I’ll try to break the curse. Don’t get distracted. Focus on your evasion techniques and buy as much time as you can. Removing a curse isn’t something that can be done in a short while, especially since the one who cast it far surpasses us in cultivation."

Qin Sang’s face darkened slightly. He nodded and released control of his arm. Until now, part of his focus had always been on suppressing the Fire Curse.

Now that it was handed to Bai, Qin Sang formed hand seals, the image of a Jiao coiling around him, and in the next instant, the ebony sword flashed out, its spiritual energy whirling about his body.

A thunderous sound echoed. Qin Sang simultaneously unleashed three top-tier evasion techniques. His twin wings spread wide, and without hesitation, he transformed into a streak of tricolored light that tore through the sky.

At the same time, his spiritual consciousness entered the Thousand-Jin Ring, selecting all the elixirs capable of restoring true essence, including the remaining Jade Liquid of Three Radiances, and a few high-grade spirit stones.

Seeing the Jade Liquid of Three Radiances, Qin Sang sighed inwardly. He had just taken a drop earlier, and now he might have to consume it again to flee for his life.

Consuming too many restorative pills or directly absorbing the spiritual power from spirit stones would accumulate impurities within the body.

If taken too frequently without time to refine those impurities, they would build up and eventually throw the true essence into chaos, rupturing the Qihai.

Bai’s words made him realize this was going to be a prolonged battle. His opponent’s true essence was unimaginably vast, while maintaining three evasion techniques drained his energy at an alarming rate. He would have to rely on external sources to replenish himself, with no chance to meditate for recovery.

When that moment came, only the Jade Liquid of Three Radiances could save him. The Spirit-Gathering Bowl absorbed the essence of heaven and earth to condense the Jade Liquid, nurturing the very origin of cultivation. The Jade Liquid of Three Radiances was an origin-level substance, the purest form of power, free from any hidden risks.

The vast ocean stretched endlessly beneath him. Fixing his direction, Qin Sang dared not pause for even a breath. Behind him, Old Devil Mou pursued relentlessly. From time to time, he activated the Fire Curse to ensure his prey did not change course.

What surprised him was that the prey’s speed had suddenly increased drastically. Whatever technique he used, it was now far beyond what a Core Formation cultivator should be capable of.

However, the difference in cultivation between them was simply too great. No matter how fast the prey fled, it was impossible to escape his reach.

If he couldn’t even capture someone marked by the Fire Curse, he might as well smash his head against a wall. Old Devil Mou stared ahead with absolute confidence.

Time slipped away. Before he realized it, dusk had fallen. The chase had lasted an entire day.

Qin Sang no longer knew how far he had fled. All he knew was that no matter how hard he tried, the Fire Curse’s flare-ups grew stronger each time. The distance between them was steadily shrinking.

Qin Sang held a high-grade spirit stone in one hand, absorbing its spiritual power while flying to replenish his true essence.

The power within a high-grade spirit stone was far purer than that of a middle-grade one, so its risks were lower and it could sustain him longer. In his situation, even a short time gained was precious beyond measure.

He had once slain a disciple of Black Snake Mountain and obtained several high-grade spirit stones, and after killing Vice Commissioner Zuo and the others in Dayuzhou, he had taken two more from Vice Commissioner Zuo himself. The amount was sufficient for now.

Clutching the spirit stone tightly, Qin Sang occasionally glanced at his other arm. Bai’s soul fragment was entirely focused on analyzing the Fire Curse runes. He had yet to speak, and Qin Sang had no idea how the progress was going. He dared not disturb him.

He looked up toward the distance ahead. If he continued flying north, he would be drawing closer and closer to the Heavenly Dao Sect. If he could somehow make it there, perhaps through Senior Qingzhu’s connection, he might ask that sword cultivator surnamed Ning for protection.

Calculating the distance, Qin Sang sighed softly and abandoned that hope. Although the Heavenly Dao Sect was not as remote as the Rain Desert, from here it would still take nearly a month to reach it. By then, Old Devil Mou would have caught up long ago.

Just then, Bai’s soul manifested faintly above Qin Sang’s arm, his form translucent and illusory. Yet what made Qin Sang’s heart sink was that Bai’s expression showed not the slightest relief.

"I remember you said the Dongming Cold Flame is greatly restrained by devilish flames, and that you once refined it into a Flame Orb using your devilish flames. Now, draw out a strand of it..." Bai said in a deep voice.

"Alright!" Qin Sang nodded. Because he had to divide part of his concentration, his flight speed slowed slightly. He summoned only one devilish banner to lighten his burden.

A wisp of the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells was drawn from the banner. Qin Sang guided the devilish flames toward his arm. Under his precise control, the flames moved like an extension of his will, and through their connection, Bai could also manipulate it.

Seeing Bai’s movements, Qin Sang’s heart tensed. He had tried this many times before, attempting to use the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells to dissolve the Fire Curse.

The curse seemed to hold a faint fear of the devilish flames, but Qin Sang could not possibly guide the flames into his own body. Each attempt only drove the curse’s power deeper.

Even when he enveloped himself entirely in devilish flames, he still could not suppress the Fire Curse’s flare-ups.

Bai grasped the wisp of devilish flames and fixed his gaze on Qin Sang’s arm. Moments later, Bai suddenly began to strike hand seals into the flame.

Seeing this, Qin Sang grew alert and focused all his strength on stabilizing the devilish flames to prevent it from rebelling and ruining their attempt.

With the two of them working in unison, the devilish flames grew docile, bearing the pressure of the seals.

Under Bai’s manipulation, the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells began to change shape. Threads of fire separated from the main flame, twisting and warping.

In the end, the entire ball of devilish flames dispersed, transforming into a tangled mass of fiery strands.