Fierce Battle

Distant mountains lay like dark brushstrokes of ink. The earth spread out in a swath of emerald green. Within the sea of forest, myriad trees flourished in vibrant vitality, and ancient towering trunks dozens of arm-spans thick could be seen everywhere. Winding streams meandered through the woods, bordered by lush, tender grasses and brocades of blooming wildflowers—a thriving, prosperous sight. The only blemish was that not a single sound could be heard. No whisper of wind, no chirp of insects, no cries of birds or beasts. An absence of sound meant no living creatures dwelled here. Without wind, the grasses and trees did not sway. This was one of the rare tranquil sanctuaries within the Jushan Sub-parish altar. Yet this vast jungle exuded an eerie, dead stillness, looking just like a lifelike painting sketched across the void. Standing within it, one might feel not peace, but dread. Recently, that tranquility had been shattered. Even so, the space here was exceptionally stable, and the jungle merely trembled with a faint quiver. Above the canopy hung a sky of heavy, vivid azure. It was as though cyan winds had piled high overhead, coalescing into a thick celestial wall laced with faint glimmers of golden light. *Whoosh!* A breach was torn in the azure wall from the outside. Immediately after, a meteor plummeted from high above. *Boom!* The meteor plunged straight into the jungle, bringing utter devastation. Around the impact site, shockwaves rippled outward in all directions, setting the canopies undulating into rolling green waves. At the center of the crash, massive trunks snapped and ancient trees collapsed into a chaotic ruin, leaving a deep, human-shaped crater in the earth. A moment later, light flashed within the crater. With a whoosh, a silhouette shot out and stared upward, his expression shifting uncertainly. The rift in the celestial wall slowly knit shut, but from within it stepped a figure walking leisurely: Marquis Li. The one who had been knocked out of the sky was, naturally, Qin Sang, who had been pursued all this way by Marquis Li. "Not running anymore?" Marquis Li strode through the air at an easy, deliberate pace, a mocking smile in his eyes. He first swept his gaze across this space with a trace of caution. Finding nothing amiss, he gave a quiet nod of approval. Who would have thought such a safe haven existed within the Jushan Sub-parish altar? This was undeniably an ideal hunting ground for a lethal strike. The human had picked a prime tomb for himself! Outside, one had to guard against the shocks of unexpected hazards, preventing him from unleashing his full strength, while his opponent had exploited those very hazards to dodge attacks—a truly irritating affair. Otherwise, Marquis Li believed he would have brought down this prey long ago. A cold snort escaped Qin Sang’s nostrils, laden with anger and unyielding defiance. He raised his right arm. The robe sleeve was torn, revealing three startling claw gouges across his skin. Several similar wounds marred his body. Though this robe was a dharma treasure, it could not withstand Marquis Li’s claws and had already been shredded. The claw marks tore open his skin, exposing crimson flesh, though none reached deep enough to bare bone. First, Marquis Li had not found the opportunity to strike with full might; second, Qin Sang had kept the Vajra Heavenly Armor Seal continuously active, shielding him as though he were clad in golden armor. This was Qin Sang’s first time relying solely on the Vajra Heavenly Armor Seal to take the attacks of a Mid Deity Transformation powerhouse head-on. When he had hunted the Thunder Turtle and the wood jiao before, the former had been wounded and the latter had involved an ally by his side. Qin Sang had possessed plenty of leeway, using the seal only to absorb aftershocks. Testing it now, taking a direct blow severely drained his physical essence and blood, but its protective power had not disappointed him. Combined with the Heavenly Eye Butterfly’s Integration-Disintegration Divine Light, Qin Sang felt confident he could withstand Marquis Li’s sharp claws head-on without deploying any other defensive treasures or divine abilities. This bolstered his confidence even further. Most importantly, the moment he broke into this domain, Qin Sang had sensed an abundance of Wood Spirit Qi. It was precisely the treasure ground he had been searching for so desperately! Blood surged to his wounds within his body, instantly staunching the bleeding, and the claw gouges gradually drew shut. He glared fixedly at Marquis Li like a desperate cornered beast, yet he remained in no hurry to unleash the Spirit Wood Body. Marquis Li was not comparable to the likes of the Thunder Turtle or the wood jiao. As a demon marquis, his intellect, decisiveness, and divine abilities far surpassed those of savage beasts; the instant he realized the situation was turning against him, he would flee. Qin Sang’s objective was not merely to defeat his opponent, but to seize an opportunity to kill him! If he could bring back the corpse of a Mid Deity Transformation demon marquis, it would not only secure his eligibility for register elevation, but also grant him leverage to negotiate further terms with the Dao Court. Dealing with such a foe demanded strategy. Naturally, this was merely an initial plan. If it proved impossible, he would find a way to shake Marquis Li off and seek another target. Facing that wolf-like stare, Marquis Li remained completely unbothered. He licked his lips, a greedy light surfacing in his eyes. To humans, every part of a demon beast was a treasure. The reverse held just as true. The Dao Court and Guifang Country had been locked in standoff for ages. Even as an esteemed demon marquis, he had never tasted the delicacy of a Dongxuan Real Person. The only thing that puzzled Marquis Li slightly was Qin Sang’s wings. That pair of phoenix wings seemed remarkably real—not like a dharma treasure, but rather as though they had grown directly from Qin Sang’s own body. Every flap unleashing a thunder escape felt like an innate divine ability. And indeed it was. Qin Sang was utilizing solely the innate thunder escape of the phoenix wings, expending only physical essence without using True Yuan to kindle the Azure Luan’s lightning power, for he had no desire to reveal his status as a dual cultivator of body and magic. With the Heavenly Demon Transformation breaking through to the fifth layer, the phoenix wings had undergone a metamorphosis, elevating the thunder escape to an exceptional movement art even without the Azure Luan’s lightning power. "This marquis would like to see just how tough your hide really is!" Leaving behind a shrill, piercing shriek where he stood, Marquis Li vanished into thin air. The soil beneath Qin Sang suddenly churned violently, throwing up waves of mud and unleashing devastating destruction upon the nearby jungle. *Crack!* *Rumble!* Endless massive trees snapped and crashed to the ground, yet the hardened earth had already turned into a quagmire, instantly swallowed into the churning mud. In the blink of an eye, the area for a thousand zhang around Qin Sang transformed into a swamp. At its very center, a hollow vortex opened up, aimed straight at Qin Sang. Qin Sang immediately realized something was wrong. A colossal suction force erupted from the vortex, locking onto him. *Crack, crack, crack...* The flesh and blood throughout Qin Sang’s body shuddered and his bones popped. He held his ground firmly in the void, resisting the suction, yet the effort distorted his posture, preventing him from instantly executing a thunder escape away from the spot. Silently, a sharp claw the size of an infant’s fist materialized above Qin Sang’s crown. The claw had only three digits, its black talons slightly hooked like razor-sharp blades, plunging straight down toward Qin Sang’s crown! Were it to strike true, a bloody hole would be gouged clean through Qin Sang’s skull on the spot. With the Heavenly Eye Butterfly keeping watch, Qin Sang did not even need to look up. The instant the claw appeared, he detected his foe, throwing both arms up and striking out with the Demon-Subduing Seal from both palms, meeting the sharp claws head-on. A resonant clang of clashing metal rang out. Qin Sang felt as though struck by a battering ram, his body plunging downward. He twisted slightly midair to disperse the impact, gliding away obliquely to neatly avoid the vortex. Above, a bizarre demon beast appeared. It resembled a badger, standing only as tall as a child, entirely pitch-black and coated from head to tail in fine, dense scales. Even its small eyes were shielded by scales; once shut, not a single flaw remained across its body. "A Lifeng Badger!" Qin Sang’s eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the beast's lineage. Marquis Li was an enlightened Lifeng Badger. Unfortunately, records concerning the Lifeng Badger were scarce, and Qin Sang knew little of its bloodline divine abilities. Judging by Marquis Li’s performance just now, however, they seemed connected to the earth element. Having revealed his true demon form, Marquis Li rolled his beady eyes and stared at Qin Sang’s palms. Right now, three crimson claw marks ran across Qin Sang’s palm, yet no severe injury had been inflicted. With a slight circulation of blood and essence, they were already restoring themselves to normal. Marquis Li showed a human-like look of surprise. He had revealed his true demon form with the intention of finishing this fight swiftly. His demon form’s might was superior to his human guise, yet that claw strike had failed to cripple Qin Sang’s hand. Little did he know, this was precisely the combined effect of the Integration-Disintegration Divine Light and the Vajra Heavenly Armor Seal. Qin Sang had discovered that the Integration-Disintegration Divine Light could not only weaken divine abilities, but also disperse the physical impact of Marquis Li’s strikes. Neither he nor the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had fully fathomed the Integration-Disintegration Divine Light. By his rudimentary understanding, it could be likened to a smooth convex surface: no matter how concentrated the incoming force, upon striking the surface, it dispersed because it found no solid point of purchase. Naturally, it was far more profound than that. Dispersing the force effectively weakened it. A spirit insect's innate divine ability was inherently superior to those of demon cultivators and human cultivators of the same rank; backing it with the Vajra Heavenly Armor Seal produced this astonishing result. Guessing Marquis Li’s thoughts, Qin Sang let out a cold laugh, speaking as though suing for peace. "You and I bear no mortal grudge, and our waters do not cross. Why must Marquis Li press this to the death?" Marquis Li remained unmoved, staring at Qin Sang’s palms as his eyes darted rapidly. Because the Integration-Disintegration Divine Light was formless and colorless, clinging to the surface of Qin Sang’s body, the naked eye could not discern it. He gave a cold snort, refusing to believe that an opponent of lower cultivation could possess a defense so impregnable as to leave him helpless. Catching a glimpse of the badger's shadow from the corner of his eye, Qin Sang felt a prickle of alarm. He swept his arm outward, the power of Buddhist seals casting a massive shadow. *Bang!* The two clashed and parted instantly, Marquis Li’s true body already reappearing on Qin Sang’s other flank. Within a single breath, countless badger phantoms swarmed around Qin Sang, surrounding him so tightly he could hardly take a step. The phantoms adopted various postures, but without exception, their lethal claws were all aimed at Qin Sang’s vital spots. *Bang! Bang! Bang!* Explosions sounded ceaselessly as Qin Sang spun almost continuously, palms striking in rapid succession with thunderous force, shattering one badger phantom after another. As man and demon clashed, the escaping shockwaves stirred up fierce gales, sweeping up mud and shattered timber from the ground to form a grey whirlwind that tracked their movements. Wherever it passed, it obliterated the pristine landscape, plowing deep trenches through the jungle. At the core of the whirlwind, their figures were all but lost to sight. Suddenly, an explosive blast tore the whirlwind apart, spewing filth across half the sky. Amid the raining spatter of mud, Qin Sang flew backward once more, his hands crossed over his chest. Yet he was still uninjured! Marquis Li hovered high above, gazing down at Qin Sang, the fighting intent in his eyes burning even hotter. Spreading both claws, an orb of light surfaced in each palm, transforming into two translucent silhouettes that slipped over his talons. The next instant, a pair of cold-gleaming claw sheaths enveloped Marquis Li’s claws, fitting seamlessly. Demon cultivators disdained external tools, but that did not mean they refused to employ external aids. Seeing the claw sheaths, Qin Sang grew significantly graver. He knew this treasure was tailor-made for Marquis Li and bound to be exceedingly potent—at least of the pseudo-spirit treasure grade. The Vajra Heavenly Armor Seal and the Integration-Disintegration Divine Light might not be able to fend it off completely. Giving Qin Sang no time to think, Marquis Li lunged again, sharp talons stabbing straight toward Qin Sang’s chest. Qin Sang abruptly twisted his torso while his thunder wings flapped violently. Even with his body contorted to such an extreme degree, his other movements remained utterly unhindered. Both seals shot forth simultaneously, blending hardness and softness to firmly entrap the talons before using the rebound force to rocket backward a hundred zhang. Yet this alone could not halt Marquis Li. Before Qin Sang could regain his footing, a foul gale struck anew. Qin Sang had no choice but to drive his thunder wings, relying on the Seven Master Buddha Seals to frantically trade blows with Marquis Li. This time, the commotion of their clashes appeared less grand than before, yet the peril surpassed it by far. A bolt of lightning and a grey shadow collided and parted, fighting from the heavens down into the earth, then soaring from the ground back into the sky, their battlefield spanning nearly half the jungle expanse. Gradually, a flicker of astonishment crept into Marquis Li’s heart. He realized that although he had kept his opponent suppressed throughout the fight, the human possessed remarkably rich combat experience. Relying on formidable movement arts and defense, he evaded whatever attacks he could; those he could not avoid, he endured head-on, focusing all his efforts on dodging the fatal strikes delivered by the talons. Yet Marquis Li could never pin Qin Sang down completely. One had to know that his combat instincts were derived from his bloodline, deeply imprinted by his ancestors; even without life-and-death combat, his battle instincts were extraordinary. Yet Qin Sang’s physical combat instincts were not in the least inferior to his own—they were even sharper, potent enough to smooth over the gap in their cultivation realms! Marquis Li had sparred with demon marquises of Qin Sang’s realm before. Relying on the advantage of his higher cultivation, merely invoking the might of heaven and earth was enough to tie them hand and foot; few could endure such a tempestuous onslaught. Yet Qin Sang appeared entirely unaffected. If he was not a demon cultivator, he had to be a fiend of slaughter tempered through countless battles! The potential of such a person was unimaginable. Once allowed to mature, he would undoubtedly become a grave threat to Guifang Country! Unaware that this was the work of the Vajra Great Freedom Seal, Marquis Li’s intent to kill Qin Sang burned even fiercer. This man was strong, but only within his own realm. Marquis Li did not believe Qin Sang could best him, for he had used nothing but his claws and claw sheaths from the very start. Still, there was no need to go all out. Marquis Li had already noticed that over the course of their clash, Qin Sang’s divine abilities were exacting a tremendous toll on him. Through repeated thunder escapes and collisions, his blood and essence were visibly waning, depleting at a rapid pace. He himself was expending energy, but Qin Sang’s cultivation was inferior, and his consumption was far faster. He needed only to maintain a relentless barrage of attacks. Before long, a flaw would show itself, handing him an effortless victory. Why not take the simpler route? With this thought, Marquis Li eased his offensive slightly. Simultaneously, the earth roared, and the entire jungle shook violently. The soil on the ground compacted into solid masses, turning into stone that reared high and contorted into bizarre shapes. *Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* Dark figures erupted from the earth, lunging at Qin Sang. They were badger beasts conjured from stone. Before the stone badgers could even get close, Qin Sang shattered them in succession. Dust billowed into the air, yet it condensed instead of scattering, turning the void into a sprawling quagmire that trapped Qin Sang so deeply he could not pull free. Marquis Li moved like a phantom through the churning earth, forcing Qin Sang to respond with all his might, unable to break away. Sensing Qin Sang’s steadily declining aura, Marquis Li curled his lips into a cruel smile, though a hint of vigilance remained in his heart. A trapped beast would still fight to the death, to say nothing of a Dongxuan Real Person. Dust and smoke choked the sky, staining the celestial wall with an increasingly dense, murky yellow. *Whoosh!* Suddenly, the dust gathered inward, congealing into rock out of thin air. Amid sharp, cracking rumbles, countless rocks enveloped Marquis Li like a suit of stone armor, transforming his diminutive badger body into a colossal stone beast nearly a hundred zhang tall. Its twin fists plunged downward like falling giant hammers, smashing forward with devastating force. *Bang!* A figure was slammed directly into the depths of the earth. Marquis Li cast off his stone armor and stepped out, only for his expression to suddenly freeze. Down on the earth, an ancient tree was bracing itself against the ground, slowly rising to its feet as Wood Spirit Qi from all directions surged forth like a rising tide!