The flying boat crossed the Western Desert,
teleported to the North Sea,
and entered the Storm Belt.
Hurricanes howled as silhouettes sped through the tempest.
Before long, a streak of golden light flew in from ahead, revealing a solemn and dignified monk who pressed his palms together in greeting toward Saint Huiguang and the others.
"Xingzhi, how goes the luring of the fierce beast?" Saint Huiguang asked.
"Reporting to Martial Uncle, frequent good news has arrived from ahead. The lures meticulously laid by our fellow Daoists from each sect have all proved effective. For now, there are no casualties, but neither does anyone dare approach the fierce beast, so its true strength remains unknown..."
Xingzhi reported the situation in detail.
Saint Huiguang nodded and glanced at Saint King Qinghu.
"Old monk, set up the array properly here and don't make any blunders. In this battle, victory is our only option!" Saint King Qinghu stepped out before the crowd, vanishing into the depths of the storm in the blink of an eye.
The rest followed Saint Huiguang forward for a distance, until far ahead they saw five celestial pillars standing upright upon the sea.
Beneath the pillars lay no islands; it was unknown what anchored them, but a cultivator sat cross-legged atop each pillar.
The pillars were fashioned from extraordinary materials, forged through the joint efforts of both humans and demons. To the south stood five identical celestial pillars guarded by another group of array guardians, though they would not be needed for now.
Even before drawing near, the incarnation discerned some clues. "The Golden Rainbow Array, the Restful Earth Element Array... all are common Five Elements arrays in the cultivation world."
The incarnation could not help recalling the Five Elements Divine Restriction on Dishou Mountain. These arrays were not as profound and wondrous as the Five Elements Divine Restriction, but their advantage lay in being actively manned, rendering them far more flexible—and every cultivator manning them was an expert.
Saint Huiguang made the arrangements; the primary array masters of the Five Elements arrays were all eminent Buddhist monks.
Furthermore, numerous spiritual arrays with varying functions were laid out along the periphery, casting an inescapable dragnet across heaven and earth.
The arrays were swiftly in place.
Successive experts from various factions arrived one after another, all complying with the Buddhist sect's arrangements. Some remained on the outer perimeter, where the pressure would be lighter, while others wished to experience the beast's might at close range to reflect upon their own cultivation, choosing to step into the Five Elements arrays.
The incarnation chose to remain on the outside, but saw Mo Xingdao summoned by Saint Huiguang into the Five Elements array.
"The Saint King and this poor monk must govern the five elements to manipulate the Five Elements Crown, leaving us unable to divert our focus. Once the fierce beast appears, we will need your assistance, Fellow Daoist, to lure it into the trap with your puppet," Saint Huiguang instructed Mo Xingdao.
Here, with the assistance of the assembled cultivators and several eminent Buddhist array masters to share the burden, the two Deity Transformation cultivators would be sufficient to control the Five Elements Crown. This freed Mo Xingdao's hands.
Unlike the previous hunt at Eight Views Abbey, this time the bait had to constantly tangle with the beast and adjust its movements. The others could only strike once the beast had been guided into the precise intersection of the array's energy nodes. There was no room for error if they were to achieve total success. Aside from the two Deity Transformation masters, only the puppet versed in the Yin-Yang Escape Technique could manage such a feat.
With the trap prepared, everyone waited intently for the fierce beast to appear.
No one noticed that someone had quietly arrived nearby.
Light as a swallow, Qin Sang bobbed gently upon the water, maintaining a safe distance as he gazed into the distance.
After a moment of contemplation, Qin Sang half-closed his eyes, remaining motionless in utter silence.
Days slipped by, yet unexpectedly, an entire month passed without a sign of the beast.
Just as everyone was fraught with conjecture, worrying whether an unforeseen mishap had occurred, Saint King Qinghu finally returned.
Whoosh!
A green blur parted the waves and rushed into the array.
Saint King Qinghu said in a solemn voice, "Beware. The beast's cultivation may well exceed the early Deity Transformation stage!"
At her words, Saint Huiguang and Mo Xingdao both grew grave, yet showed no hint of retreat.
No matter how formidable this fierce beast was, they had to face the challenge head-on. No one knew when the next beast would arrive; they could not afford to wait in vain any longer.
"Fellow Daoist Mo..."
Saint Huiguang turned his gaze over. Mo Xingdao nodded, listened to Saint King Qinghu's description of the beast's divine abilities, and then flew out of the grand array alone in the direction Saint King Qinghu indicated, a shadow trailing closely behind him.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Fierce winds and surging waves relentlessly battered the celestial pillars, which slowly sank into the depths of the sea.
Everyone looked up into the depths of the storm, their nerves stretched taut.
Suddenly, an earth-shaking roar exploded like a thunderclap. Judging from the roar, the beast was still some distance away.
Yet the oppressive weight of that roar pierced through the tempest and traveled across the water. Everyone felt an unbearable stifling pressure; many paled in horror, witnessing such a terrifying beast for the first time in their lives.
"Roar! Roar!"
Each roar came closer than the last.
Soon, cultivators adept in ocular arts spotted an anomaly.
In the distance, waves roiled and surged as a colossal figure emerged within the storm.
Among those present were not only human cultivators but also demon kings from the demon race. Seeing the beast's immense frame, they all couldn't help but think of the renowned Great Sage Dragon Whale of the Eastern Sea.
Great Sage Dragon Whale possessed the dragon whale bloodline and was hailed as the foremost Great Sage of the demon race, remaining independent of the Saint King Palace. His true form was that of a dragon whale, unparalleled in size among the demons of the Eastern Sea—yet compared to this fierce beast, he seemed almost dainty.
A wall of water surged toward them at astonishing speed, and behind it, the sea was an expanse of pitch-black.
The blackness was the body of the beast itself. It resembled a manta ray, its two fleshy wings stretching endlessly. With a gentle flap, it raised mountain-like waves, unleashing a terrifying momentum that seemed capable of tearing heaven and earth apart.
Ahead of the beast, a figure flickered in and out of sight.
Before the beast, this figure appeared extraordinarily minuscule. A single casual wave whipped up by the monster could have crushed him to powder, yet he proved unimaginably tenacious—vanishing into thin air every time an attack bore down upon him, only to reappear further ahead.
Enraged by this elusive pest, the fierce beast pursued him in a frenzied rampage.
"Activate the array!"
Saint Huiguang's warning reached everyone simultaneously.
The incarnation's gaze darkened as he looked in the beast's direction, sensing that its oppressive aura was even more formidable than the one they had encountered years ago.
Whoosh!
The figure luring the beast flickered once more, reappearing very close to the grand array before darting through the gap deliberately left open for him.
Just as the puppet dashed forward, a shadow suddenly enveloped him.
Startled, everyone looked up and was horrified to discover that the beast had taken to the sky at some unknown moment. Its wings were like clouds hanging from the heavens, and its left wing swept down fiercely toward the puppet with astonishing wind pressure.
This was no ordinary wind pressure; it channeled the might of heaven and earth. Anyone else would have lost all ability to resist, yet the puppet vanished into thin air once again.
The instant the puppet vanished, a five-colored crown suddenly materialized above the beast.
Compared to the beast's colossal frame, the crown was vastly smaller, yet the fluctuations it emitted were not the least bit inferior.
Saint Huiguang and Saint King Qinghu stood flanking the crown. On the perimeter, the five celestial pillars burst from the sea at the same time. The Five Elements arrays manifested five distinct phenomena—clearly defined yet interconnected through the Five Elements Crown. Together, all the phenomena formed a massive five-colored canopy that blotted out the sky, looming over the fierce beast.
Flash!
The Five Elements Crown burst into streaming radiance. Though it appeared similar to before, its power was entirely different.
The Regular and Inverted Five Elements Banishing Divine Light—the regular order was for binding, while the reverse was for severing.
Back then, the ancient demon had been bent on slaughter, using the reverse Five Elements divine light from start to finish. Now, however, the priority was to restrain the beast.
The five-colored radiance instantly enveloped the beast's body, painting its black flesh with iridescent hues as concentric halos contracted like layer upon layer of cages.
Not only that, but as the Five Elements Crown displayed its might, whistles tore through the air as iron chains resembling flooded dragons shot into the array. Linking one to another, crisscrossing back and forth, they wrapped around the beast's body, each bearing binding power of its own.
The incarnation was among those manipulating the chains.
In addition, various other phenomena manifested. Everyone acted methodically, their myriad arrangements taking effect in succession to seal off this domain and the charging beast within.
Before this, anyone privy to the trap's full scope would have deemed the cage impregnable.
Yet what followed left them utterly shocked.
Just as the cage barely formed, the beast let out a thunderous roar. Billowing mists and surges erupted from its body, soaring into the sky like a bursting dike, with momentum potent enough to shake the cosmos.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
More than half the iron chains snapped. The celestial pillars trembled. The Five Elements Crown remained relatively stable, but both Deity Transformation experts swayed on their feet.
Mo Xingdao reappeared in the distance, lingering dread clutching his heart as he watched the scene.
During the luring process, he had encountered mortal peril several times, exhausting all the treasures gifted to him by the two Deity Transformation cultivators.
Swallowing a few medicinal pills, he quickly recovered and flew toward the battlefield.
Just as he was about to merge into the array, a voice transmission suddenly reached his ears: "Fellow Daoist Mo, do you have the Lingxi Celestial Fruit on your person?"
It was Qin Sang, who had deemed the timing opportune and decided to make the trade right now!
Mo Xingdao paused slightly, his eyes flashing with surprise. "Fellow Daoist, did you bring the Five Elements Pill?"
After a brief exchange, Mo Xingdao stayed at the perimeter of the battlefield, controlling his puppet from afar to assist the others.
By now, the clash between the two sides had reached its fiercest peak.
The beast unleashed tremendous might, but its opponents had meticulously laid an elaborate trap, overseen by Deity Transformation masters. How could it be breached so easily?
After the initial disarray, the cultivators gradually grasped the pattern of the beast's attacks and made swift adjustments.
The chains closed in and snapped again and again, countless times, exacting a heavy toll on those manipulating them, including the incarnation.
"Prepare to merge the arrays!"
Saint Huiguang warned in a deep voice. This was the critical step that would decide victory or defeat. Once successful, there would be a fifty percent chance of capturing the beast alive—though merging the arrays naturally carried hidden perils of its own.
"Daoist Liu..."
The incarnation glanced at a tall, thin Daoist beside him, an elder of the Qiongying Sect who reportedly hailed from an overseas immortal island.
Understanding his meaning, the cultivator named Liu took over the incarnation's iron chain. Similar rotations were taking place in other positions as well.
Those relieved of duty retreated to adjust their breath, but the incarnation retreated further and further, until he turned and fled without looking back, escaping deep into the Storm Belt. Several who noticed his actions were left dumbfounded.
Even at the crucial juncture of merging the arrays, Saint King Qinghu cast a glance his way, a flicker of disdain crossing her eyes, before dismissing him as unworthy of attention.
Just as Mo Xingdao was feeling puzzled and bemused, a voice suddenly rang by his ear: "I trust you have been well, Fellow Daoist Mo."
The voice was right beside him. Mo Xingdao's spine stiffened as a chill washed over him. Whirling around, he saw a figure had materialized beside him without his knowledge.
"You..."
He never expected Qin Sang would dare reveal his true body!
No, wait—it wasn't his true body, but an illusory shadow condensed from divine consciousness. This was no simple divine sense taking form; it had actually condensed into a true shape!
Mo Xingdao pushed his divine consciousness to the limit, his alarm deepening. The man's true body was certainly nearby, yet he couldn't detect him in the slightest.
The illusory phantom held a jade bottle in hand, smiling at Mo Xingdao.
Mo Xingdao fell silent, then took out the Lingxi Celestial Fruit.
Both verified that each other's treasure was genuine.
The phantom flashed and vanished, its destination unknown, leaving behind only a parting remark: "Many thanks for your cooperation, Fellow Daoist. Until we meet again!"
Mo Xingdao remained silent, glancing toward the fierce battlefield. He could not be certain whether the two Deity Transformation experts had detected Qin Sang.
Finally, he turned to gaze into the endless storm, remaining quiet for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.
Far away, the true body and the incarnation rendezvoused, stowed away the treasure, and departed through the void without a backward glance.
"No demon kings ambushed me..."
Qin Sang was somewhat surprised.
To avoid complications from undue delay, he had chosen to make the trade now, deliberately picking the critical moment when the arrays were merging.
He had thought Saint King Qinghu might order the demon kings under her command to lay an ambush, and Qin Sang wouldn't have minded slaying a few demon kings along the way to enrich his treasury.
Unexpectedly, Saint King Qinghu had truly kept her word.
Little did he know that while Saint King Qinghu bore the title of Saint King, she lacked the true substance of one. Her murderous nature was too severe and she took no interest in external affairs. The major clans among the Eastern Sea demon race feared her, yet merely submitted on the surface while colluding in secret, paying lip service while acting contrary to her commands.
The demons she could truly deploy were limited, and other demon kings were unwilling to offend a powerful enemy on her behalf.
With no obstacles along the way, Qin Sang escaped the Storm Belt and returned straight to Luye without dwelling on the matter.
Spirit Gathering Arrays, medicinal pills, spiritual materials...
Gathering all the treasures one by one, Qin Sang did not inspect them right away.
There was one matter he had long been impatient to attend to, awaiting only the return of his incarnation.
Luye shifted direction, heading straight west along the edge of the North Sea.
It traveled until it neared the Storm Belt, coming to a halt in an uninhabited region to the west.
Qin Sang led his incarnation out of Luye and flew into a desolate mountain range.
This was the location Qin Sang had specifically chosen to summon the heavenly demons.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two figures flew above a basin.
The Dark Moon Guards stationed inside the basin sensed their arrival and flew up to salute.
"Patrol the perimeter. Let no one approach!"
Qin Sang ordered in a deep voice as he descended to the ground.
Several black square platforms stood within the basin, their material indistinguishable.
There were seven platforms in total, arranged according to the positions of the Big Dipper. Nothing physical linked them, yet an inscrutable mystic rhythm flowed ceaselessly between them.
These were the required ritual altars—though rather than altars, it was more like a specialized array capable of breaking through invisible barriers to summon extramundane heavenly demons.
Qin Sang shifted his stance and landed directly opposite the handle of the Dipper.
The incarnation approached as well, standing behind Qin Sang. While acting as a guardian, he was also prepared at any moment to take Qin Sang's place and shoulder any calamity.
Qin Sang sat cross-legged on the ground, drawing in his mind. After sitting quietly for a long while, he silently circulated the secret art from the scripture.
The next moment, black light flared atop one of the seven platforms.
Above the platform, within the black light, a cluster of black mist writhed erratically.
Then, the second platform manifested a phenomenon.
The order of the platforms' transformations was not strictly determined by distance from Qin Sang, displaying no apparent pattern.
As more and more platforms underwent transformation, clusters of black mist encircled Qin Sang. His consciousness slipped into a murky stupor, as though drawn by a bizarre force into the boundless depths of the void.
He heard strange noises—not human voices, but what sounded like numerous bizarre currents of energy gurgling through the void.
His heart and mind remained lucid, and he did not lose himself, focusing instead on recalling the scriptures.
According to the scriptures, once the secret art was completed and made contact with a heavenly demon, there would be a distinct sensation.
Yet as time passed and the secret art was brought to completion, Qin Sang felt nothing out of the ordinary.
Right at that fleeting thought, Qin Sang suddenly felt a chill descend upon him.
"It's here!"
Chapter 1705