She had assumed he was in league with Immortal Aunt Yue, which was why she hadn't dared ask him for help.
No wonder he had always felt the relationship between Su Nü and Immortal Aunt Yue was odd.
Qin Sang recalled the scene when he left the demon island and encountered cultivators of the Western Nether Alliance.
Seeing that Su Nü could wield true demonic qi, the Western Nether Alliance had immediately moved to seize her.
"Now that you know my background, Fellow Daoist, you should understand why I am on guard against the East Pole Alliance. I am like an object refined for a specific purpose. Furthermore, the cultivation method I practice isn't normal. It is gradually changing me, terrifying me and keeping me in constant dread day and night! Ever since entering the Hall of Seven Kills, this unease has grown so intense that it makes me shudder."
Having finally found someone she could confide in, Su Nü made no effort to conceal her emotions.
From her words, Qin Sang pieced together many fragments.
"The Five Yin Exquisite Body, true demonic qi, the True Demon Art, ancient demons, the Western Nether Alliance, the East Pole Alliance... just what secret is hidden beneath all of this?"
Qin Sang had a premonition that he had touched upon an astonishing secret.
"If our positions were reversed, I would also be wary of the East Pole Alliance," Qin Sang remarked with a sigh, though he did not fully believe her.
The cultivation world was full of old monsters who had lived for decades or centuries; countless numbers were consummate actors.
Still, Qin Sang could not fathom why Su Nü would concoct such an elaborate story just to deceive him.
"Do you believe Venerable Ye's unauthorized arrival here is connected to you, and you want to save yourself? You are willing to part with the Soul-Washing Liquid in exchange for my help, but what could I possibly do against Venerable Ye?"
Qin Sang pressed her with repeated questions.
If it were a matter of rescuing someone from a Nascent Soul Patriarch, he would not even consider it.
"Not a moment goes by that I do not think of saving myself and escaping the East Pole Alliance—at any cost!"
Su Nü's tone was resolute, but then deflated into bitter resignation. "They planted a mark on me precisely because they fear I will flee. Without Venerable Ye, I might still have had a slim chance of saving myself. Now, I can only pin my hopes on outside help. If you agree, take this ghost seal. After leaving the Cave of Bewildered Souls, do not rush to exit the Trial Realm. Use the guidance of the ghost seal to follow behind me. If disaster befalls me, channel the power of the ghost seal from a distance with all your might. You needn't worry; it will not implicate you. If nothing goes amiss, you may simply leave on your own. If I manage to survive, I will present the Soul-Washing Liquid to you with both hands!"
"It's that simple?"
Caught off guard, Qin Sang saw a small ghost-headed seal pinched between the earth spirit's fingers.
The seal was compact, its carved ghost head resembling an evil ghost sealed inside. One could not discern its function from its appearance alone.
"I do not know how much effect it will have either. I can only treat a dead horse as if it were alive," Su Nü said with a wry smile.
Qin Sang frowned in silence.
In truth, he already believed seventy to eighty percent of Su Nü's words.
With so many people vying for the Soul-Washing Liquid, there was no need for Su Nü to weave such an elaborate tale just to trick him.
Whether the masked man was Venerable Ye and whether Su Nü was lying would soon be proven.
Yet he did not agree immediately.
He had other calculations.
Trading with Su Nü meant that acquiring the Soul-Washing Liquid was contingent on rescuing her.
Taking such a roundabout route introduced far too many variables. Furthermore, once he left the Trial Realm, he had to search for the ancient teleportation formation; he had no time to get entangled with Su Nü.
Compared to that, he preferred a surefire certainty!
"I can make a deal with you, but the terms of the transaction must change."
Qin Sang's eyes flickered. "Of course, that is assuming everything you said is true and you haven't deceived me!"
"Deceiving you would bring me no benefit whatsoever, not to mention you are my savior," Su Nü said urgently, sounding on the verge of swearing an oath. "My divine sense splinter is about to dissipate. What terms do you want? Stop keeping me in suspense! As long as it is within my power..."
"I want you to help me contest the Soul-Washing Liquid right here! Whether we succeed or not, I will still help you."
Qin Sang's voice was deep and steady.
"What? You want to fight Venerable Ye for the Soul-Washing Liquid?" Su Nü exclaimed in shock.
"Indeed. If what you said is true, Venerable Ye can only briefly unseal his cultivation, and he is wounded. There is no need to be overly terrified. I possess a method capable of threatening a Nascent Soul cultivator, so success is not impossible."
Fortune was seized through struggle.
Qin Sang had confidence in techniques like the Thunder Command Art and the demonic banners, along with his exceptional escape arts. There was no reason he could not play the oriole waiting behind the mantis.
"Venerable Ye would certainly never expect anyone to give up even the Soul-Washing Liquid, so his words should be true. However, having a means to threaten a Nascent Soul does not mean he truly fears you! I know Venerable Ye all too well. Nascent Soul cultivators are unfathomably profound—who can say for sure whether he has other tricks up his sleeve?"
Su Nü refused without hesitation. "Even with his cultivation sealed, Venerable Ye is still a Nascent Soul Patriarch. In all other respects, he far surpasses us. Please do not overestimate yourself, Fellow Daoist. I will not take such a risk with you."
Qin Sang smiled faintly. "Naturally, I will only strike once I have ensured complete safety. Furthermore, I will not let you be exposed. Aren't you supposed to operate the formation to support Venerable Ye? As long as you can find a way to delay them for a moment, that will be enough."
"If that's all..."
Su Nü hesitated. "I can give it a try."
Qin Sang nodded, reached out to take the ghost seal, and swore an oath. "Rest assured, I cherish my life more than you do; I will not act recklessly. Even if we fail to seize the Soul-Washing Liquid, our deal will still hold."
"I hope you will keep your word."
The earth spirit's hollow eyes stared straight at Qin Sang, quickly losing their luster before the figure collapsed to the ground and began to dissolve.
Though their exchange seemed lengthy, it had actually taken very little time.
Mingwei hesitated to speak. She did not know whom Qin Sang had contacted or what had been discussed. Now relying heavily on Qin Sang, she did not dare speak out of turn.
Gripping the ghost seal, Qin Sang felt a chill in his palm.
He fixed his gaze on the Soul-Washing Liquid and the seal, taking a deep breath as his mind raced to sort through every clue.
Whether Su Nü's words were true or false, he had to be on guard.
Sensing Mingwei's gaze, Qin Sang sent a voice transmission: "I have good news, and bad news."
Mingwei was taken aback, then heard his voice continue.
"The good news is that someone will help clear away our competitors. The bad news is that the person clearing the obstacles might be a Nascent Soul Patriarch!"
Mingwei's eyes went wide with disbelief.
"Do not ask where the news came from, nor whether it is true or false. Regardless, we must prepare early. Only by uniting our efforts will we stand a chance of securing the Soul-Washing Liquid," Qin Sang said.
"Vying for treasure with a Nascent Soul?"
Mingwei looked at him as if he were a madman, almost ready to turn and flee.
"I am not crazy enough to oppose a Nascent Soul Patriarch directly, but do not forget that this is the Trial Realm—there are restrictions placed upon him..."
Qin Sang paused briefly before adding, "If you dare to stay, we will follow my previous proposal. You will not be taking on too much risk."
Chapter 1039