Emergence

Bai was merely weak, bearing no obvious physical wounds. After Qin Sang gained a brief understanding of what Bai had experienced during that venture, he asked, "How many places did you visit, Fellow Daoist? Did you recall anything?" Bai's tone was hardly optimistic. "I lingered in the Rain Desert of the North Sea for far too long. When my search yielded nothing, I rushed to the Witch God Continent of the Witch Clan. Those two places should have been the most likely to jog my memory. Aside from that, I merely had time for a cursory glance, investigating a few secret realms that carried ancient legends, but sadly I felt nothing familiar. My previous deduction was likely correct: in the ancient era, the Hall of Seven Kills and the Canglang Ocean probably had no connection whatsoever. It was only after the great upheaval of heaven and earth that it somehow ended up here." "In that case, you should return with me to the Xiaohan Realm, Fellow Daoist. The Ziwei Palace is bound to the Hall of Seven Kills in myriad ways; perhaps that might spark your memories. And then there is the Inner Hall of the Hall of Seven Kills..." Qin Sang repeated the news Ning Wuhui had brought. "The Hall of Seven Kills will emerge within two years. Recover your cultivation as quickly as possible, and do not go wandering outside." "Two years? With so little time, it is indeed best not to venture out again. I shall go cultivate in seclusion and trouble you no longer, Fellow Daoist." Bai readily took the advice and returned to his own cave dwelling. After seeing Bai off, Qin Sang was in no hurry to begin secluded cultivation. He first combed through the Qianjun Ring to ensure nothing had been overlooked, then summoned his demonic banners. This time, he brought forth nine banners at once. When nine demonic banners formed a formation, their might ranked among the very pinnacle of high-grade magic treasures, yet manipulating these banners was far more difficult than commanding a true high-grade magic treasure. If a Core Formation stage cultivator was fortunate enough to obtain a high-grade magic treasure, they might struggle to unleash its full power unless it was their natal treasure, but they could still activate it. The demonic banners were different. If one lacked sufficient strength, they could not suppress the backlash of the Nine Nether Demonic Fire at all, and it was impossible to force the issue. After breaking through in both cultivation and physical body, Qin Sang had continually attempted to manipulate the nine demonic banners into a formation, only to discover that divine sense was his greatest constraint. Since the ebony sword had been integrated with the Soul-Nurturing Wood, it possessed the effect of nourishing the soul and refining the divine sense. Qin Sang's divine sense had been gradually transforming. Though the shift was subtle, with the passage of time, a definite change could be felt. "A refined divine sense makes it easier for me to control magic treasures. It is worth a try." Looking at the nine demonic banners drifting before him, Qin Sang mused, "Over these two years, I will devote all my efforts to mastering the Nine Demon Banner Formation. Even if I can only unleash a few strikes, it will serve well as a trump card." Then he let out a sigh. "There will be no shortage of Nascent Soul Patriarchs entering the Inner Hall of the Hall of Seven Kills. Before such figures, it would be best not to reveal the demonic banners, lest unexpected disaster strike. Speaking of which, I wonder where Old Devil Mou has fled to hide, and whether he will enter the Hall of Seven Kills this time." *** Cultivation paid no heed to the passing of winter and summer. Qin Sang and Bai spent two years in arduous training. One day. Qin Sang was in the middle of seclusion when he suddenly felt the restrictions disturbed. He reached out with a beckoning motion, and a voice transmission talisman sank into his palm. Upon sensing the message within, Qin Sang rose abruptly. "It is finally time!" Swiftly putting away all his belongings, Qin Sang stepped out of his cave dwelling and roused Bai, who was likewise in seclusion. "The Hall of Seven Kills is about to emerge?" Bai was delighted to hear this. He glanced left and right, then asked in confusion, "Why is Ning Wuhui not here?" "Fellow Daoist Ning sent word saying that as a disciple of the Tiandao Sect, he must travel to the Hall of Seven Kills alongside his fellow sect members," Qin Sang explained. "We shall set out first and rendezvous with him inside once we enter the Hall of Seven Kills." Bai nodded and asked no further questions, retreating into the corpse puppet bag. Qin Sang strode out of the city and took to his escape light, flying straight in the direction of Dongmen Island. Before long, Qin Sang returned to Dongmen Island, discovering that a number of immortal cultivators had already gathered there. Finding an inn, Qin Sang settled in to wait quietly for news. Over the next few days, more and more cultivators arrived on the island. The greatest difference from the previous two occasions was that Nascent Soul cultivators frequently appeared among them, including patriarchs from top sects. The lone rogue cultivators were also noticeably a tier stronger than before. Although the spontaneous emergence of the Hall of Seven Kills meant there was no longer a need to consume vast quantities of precious spiritual materials to lay a top-tier spiritual array, the demands placed upon the cultivators entering were far higher. Without a jade talisman for protection, cultivators not only risked becoming lost in the storms, but also had to face the grand formation of the Hall of Seven Kills directly. Moreover, the immortal formation encircling the Hall of Seven Kills would not fully open, and its power remained astonishing. Only with the protection of a Nascent Soul Patriarch or through sheer personal strength could one pass through the immortal formation and enter the Hall of Seven Kills. Those of insufficient strength would perish within the formation. However, with Qin Sang's current prowess, he had no need to worry about the outer immortal formation. With so many Nascent Soul Patriarchs overseeing such a tiny Dongmen Island, all the Core Formation stage cultivators were exceptionally well-behaved. Once they found an inn or cave dwelling, they stayed inside, terrified of causing any misunderstanding or offending the taboos of a Nascent Soul Patriarch. As the days went by, the atmosphere on the island grew increasingly solemn. Until late one night, ten days later. As though by prior agreement, those Nascent Soul Patriarchs suddenly emerged from their seclusion all at once. In an instant, streaks of escape light in various colors lit up the sky above Dongmen Island, their formidable auras laid bare without reservation. "Old Ghost Mu, you actually dare enter the Hall of Seven Kills? Aren't you afraid of perishing inside and having your Mu Family Old Fortress wiped out by Old Devil Duan?" A burst of bizarre laughter suddenly rang out in midair. Immediately following that, a streak of gray escape light swerved, closing in on a streak of cyan light beside it. Within the cyan light were two figures: a plump old man and a young woman in the prime of her youth. The old man took no offense, smiling faintly. "Ever since Old Devil Duan was heavily wounded by my scheme last time, he hasn't dared show his face for over a hundred years. What's more, fifty years ago was when his heavenly tribulation was due. Knowing him as I do, unless he encountered some earth-shattering stroke of fortune, his odds of surviving the tribulation were less than ten percent. What is there to fear?" "Your own heavenly tribulation is nearly upon you as well, isn't it, Old Ghost Mu? Even if you don't perish in the Hall of Seven Kills this time, I fear you'll soon follow in Old Devil Duan's footsteps. I wonder if the two of you will pick a fight once you meet in the Netherworld." The gray escape light flew abreast of the plump old man. Catching sight of the young woman beside him, the speaker asked in surprise, "You even brought your precious granddaughter along? Could you be..." The plump old man sighed. "How many years longer can you live than me? Our immortal path is severed, and heavenly tribulation looms. Birth, aging, sickness, and death—even those as strong as us cannot escape them. If I can gain something in the Hall of Seven Kills, I might still cling to life a little longer. If I fail, the only thing left is to pave a way for my descendants before I fall. I hear two of your disciples are quite gifted as well. Why didn't you bring them?" The figure in the gray light chuckled slyly. "I'm not like you, Old Ghost Mu! The immortal formation of the Hall of Seven Kills exerts an inexplicable suppression on Nascent Soul cultivators like us. Bringing disciples along would burden this seat with extra strain for no good reason. I haven't lived long enough yet, so naturally I must go all out." As they spoke, the Nascent Soul Patriarchs drifted farther and farther away. Only then did Qin Sang and the others dare to make their move. Streak after streak of escape light shot out from Dongmen Island, following behind the Nascent Soul cultivators like shooting stars, racing toward the east.