Slain by the Array

The demonic art likely offered no help for Foundation Establishment; otherwise, Gu Tiannan would have succeeded long ago. Judging from Gu Tiannan's mad state during battle, the latent risks were substantial as well. It was not merely a matter of losing his sanity; his physical body was also prone to some sort of mutation. However, a definitive conclusion would have to wait until Qin Sang saw the demonic art himself. Originally, one would have only needed to keep Gu Tiannan pacified and summon a few helpers from the sect to easily subdue both master and disciple. Yet the black-robed youth could not bear to kill, leaving behind a glaring flaw. With Gu Tiannan's cautious nature, he could not possibly fail to see through it. Perhaps only someone of the black-robed youth's temperament could resist the temptation of a demonic art, dedicating his entire life solely to avenging his family. Qin Sang pondered for a moment, then said to the white cat, "You..." The words caught in his throat as he realized he had not yet asked her name. The white cat was clever. Seeing his hesitation, she immediately answered, "Young Master, the master I had in my youth named this humble one Xiao Bai." Qin Sang nodded. "Xiao Bai. My surname is Qin. There is no need to refer to yourself as 'this humble one'—just 'I' will do." The white cat lowered her head bashfully and said with embarrassment, "This hu... I, after awakening my intellect, overheard women from wealthy households addressing themselves like that. Afterward, I lived in seclusion in the wilderness to cultivate and remained ignorant of worldly ways. I must have made a fool of myself before Young Master Qin." Qin Sang shook his head dismissively and returned to the matter at hand. "If you were to face Gu Yuan alone, could you stop him?" The white cat said solemnly, "To be frank with Young Master Qin, the azure light released by my green bamboo has the effect of Yin-Yang transference. It can only be used for fleeing and confusing foes, and at most, it can trap Gu Yuan for a short while. Other than that, I have no other methods and cannot possibly defeat him. Young Master Qin, do you intend to take action yourself?" "That is enough. First, move these people back into the cave dwelling." Qin Sang waited for the white cat to transfer the villagers inside. Seeing that Gu Tiannan and his disciple had yet to return, he discussed a few details with her. He was confident he did not need to fear Gu Tiannan. Although Gu Tiannan grew powerful after transforming, his sanity was impaired, leaving behind even more flaws. As long as they planned carefully, defeating Gu Tiannan would not be difficult. ... The white cat drew back her azure light and slipped back into the cave dwelling. Qin Sang regulated his breath on the spot for a while. Gu Tiannan and his disciple arrived late, casting no suspicion upon the battlefield Qin Sang had deliberately disarranged. A faint flicker of disappointment flashed across Gu Yuan's eyes. Gu Tiannan, on the other hand, wore his usual expression as he said, "Junior Brother Qin, I have slain the fiend. Has that cat demon been driven off by you as well?" Qin Sang looked slightly haggard and said with intense indignation, "That cat demon's methods are far too bizarre. I could have decapitated it with a single sword strike, yet it managed to escape again. It is inside the cave dwelling right now. Senior Brother Gu, you returned just in time—with a pincer attack from the two of us, we will ensure this monster has nowhere to be buried!" Gu Yuan suddenly chimed in with a smile. "Martial Uncle Qin, please don't let it weigh on you. That cat demon does possess some tricks and is as slippery as an eel. Master and I had it slip away several times as well. For Martial Uncle Qin to hold it back for so long is already remarkable. Now that the three of us are joining forces, it definitely won't be able to escape." As he spoke, Gu Yuan secretly shot Gu Tiannan a glance; the latter's eyes flickered, and he nodded in tacit agreement. After resting briefly, the three entered the cave dwelling. Gu Tiannan cleared the way in front, while Qin Sang brought up the rear, his nerves taut, several talismans secretly gripped in his palm. Although Qin Sang had agreed to cooperate with the white cat, he did not entirely trust her and kept his guard up. He could also sense that the cat demon was deliberately keeping her distance from him, guarding against him turning ruthlessly on her as well. Fortunately, as the three of them advanced deeper into the cave holding their magic tools, reaching a corner, the white cat arrived right on cue. A dark azure light instantly enveloped the three. Then, following a few furious shouts, the light suddenly dispersed, and Gu Yuan was gone. Gu Tiannan called out several times, his voice echoing through the cavern, but received no response from Gu Yuan. Just as he was about to unleash his movement technique and give chase deeper into the cave, Qin Sang flashed forward and barred his path. Gu Tiannan halted abruptly. Looking at Qin Sang with surprise written across his face, he demanded in a deep voice, "Junior Brother Qin, what is the meaning of this?" Qin Sang said calmly, "Senior Brother Gu, do not remain obstinate in your delusion. Repent and turn back before it is too late. If you are willing to bind your own hands and return with me to the sect to confess, I will not make things difficult for you." "I have no idea what you're talking about!" Gu Tiannan's eyes bulged as he glared fixedly at Qin Sang. "Junior Brother Qin, have you fallen under some demon's enchantment, to the point of turning against your own sect brother?" Qin Sang let out a soft sigh. "Blood Heart Pills... Senior Brother intentionally spread a demonic art to bring calamity to the mortal world. Do you still intend to deny it?" Gu Tiannan's expression shifted drastically as he cried out in shock, "How do you know?" "If you do not wish others to know, do not do it in the first place." Qin Sang said earnestly to Gu Tiannan, "Senior Brother Gu, you were muddled for a time and strayed onto the wrong path. It may not necessarily be a capital offense. It is not too late to come to your senses." Gu Tiannan sneered. "Junior Brother Qin, do you take me for a three-year-old child to be coaxed? If I fall into their hands, how could I possibly survive? So what if it's a demonic art? I never killed anyone with my own hands—all the ones I killed were murderous fiends who couldn't resist the temptation! Those hypocrites at Shaohua Mountain call themselves righteous, yet whose hands aren't stained with more lives than mine?" Then Gu Tiannan's tone abruptly shifted, turning seductive. "Junior Brother Qin, this cultivation method is extraordinarily powerful. Not only can it raise your cultivation, but it also greatly increases the probability of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage! It was only because I am too old and my vitality has waned that I failed to succeed. Junior Brother Qin, as long as you let me go, I will give this technique to you. I swear I will leave for distant lands immediately and live under an assumed name; no one else will ever know." Hearing this, a look of surprise surfaced on Qin Sang's face, and he asked with a hint of urgency, "Can it truly increase the probability of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage?" "Without a shadow of a doubt! I'll give you the manual right now, and you'll see for yourself!" Gu Tiannan bowed his head, making a show of taking something from his mustard seed bag. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and with a sudden low roar, his figure shot forward like a sharp arrow. At that moment, his true cultivation was laid bare! "Courting death!" Gu Tiannan let out an inhuman roar. A hint of madness surfaced in his eyes, his face flush with bloodthirsty murderous intent. Transforming his palm into a blade, he thrust it lightning-fast toward Qin Sang. At that exact moment, a streak of green light flashed before Qin Sang, and the ebony sword shot forth. *Bang!* Gu Tiannan's bare palm collided with the ebony sword, yet it was not severed by the sword qi. The strength of his physical body was the greatest Qin Sang had ever seen in his life. "Junior Brother Qin, I truly underestimated you. What an exquisite spirit sword!" Gu Tiannan gave his hand a shake and licked his lips. Looking at the ebony sword, he showed no fear at all; instead, unmasked greed shone in his eyes. Qin Sang drifted backward. As he retreated, he waved his hand and sent out six streaks of black light. They landed around Gu Tiannan and transformed into six massive banners, encircling him completely. The banners were as tall as a man. Gloomy yin qi swirled around them as vicious ghosts roared, letting out chilling shrieks. With a thought from Qin Sang, surging yin baleful qi erupted from the banners, engulfing Gu Tiannan completely. The Ten Directions Yanluo Array was formed!