The Hidden Moth gently flapped its wings in Old Man Dique's palm. A flutter of its delicate wings sent tiny scales scattering like a cloud of gray dust, shifting in midair until it resolved into a picture.
Depicted within was a scene.
In the scene, a man was striding up the mountain, passing the rock where the moth had rested. His features were rendered clearly and lifelike—it was none other than Che Yutao!
"The one heading up is Old Ghost Che..." Old Man Dique muttered, stowing the Hidden Moth away.
He looked up at the mist-shrouded peak, but did not choose to ascend. Instead, he swept Qin Sang and Ren Hong up with his spiritual power, leaving this mountain and silently flying toward another Heavenly Peak.
Ever since they drew near the four Heavenly Peaks, Old Man Dique had strictly forbidden the two of them from acting recklessly, threatening to execute them on the spot if they did.
Qin Sang could tell he was not joking.
As Old Man Dique carried him along, Qin Sang's thoughts churned. From the moment they spotted Sikong Muyue to arriving before the Heavenly Peaks, he had clearly felt that Old Man Dique was acting with extreme caution, as if secretly plotting something undisclosed.
Now, seeing the Hidden Moth and the scene recorded by its scales, Qin Sang had an inkling.
He did not know when Old Man Dique had planted the Hidden Moth here, but it had only one purpose: to serve as his eyes and ears, keeping watch over anyone passing through.
A total of five Core Formation cultivators had entered the abandoned abode, and only the five of them possessed the ability to breach the restrictions and scale the Heavenly Peaks; no one else dared even attempt it.
Apart from Old Man Dique himself, there were four others. Could his target be one of them?
Sikong Muyue had not entered the mountain, leaving three.
The one climbing this peak was Che Yutao, who apparently was not Old Man Dique's target either, which left only Daoist Xuan Yu of the Shangyuan Qingjing Palace and Sect Master Du Yi of the Qingluo Sect.
Who was Old Man Dique after, and what was his purpose?
Of course, it was also possible that Old Man Dique had no malicious intent and simply wished to choose an untouched Heavenly Peak to avoid conflict with others.
Yet Qin Sang doubted that was the case.
Before long, the three arrived quietly before the second Heavenly Peak. From a cliff, Old Man Dique retrieved another Hidden Moth. The figure conjured by this moth was actually Sikong Muyue—and she was not ascending, but heading down the mountain!
"How could she be so fast?"
Old Man Dique's brow furrowed in great astonishment. He spun around and demanded, "How long did it take the two of you to pass the trial? Did either of you see Sikong Muyue? Who else was with her?"
Ren Hong said, "Senior Sikong revealed herself on her own initiative to rally everyone to break the restrictions together. That was the first time I saw her. At the time, I was focusing on breaking the second-layer restriction, and as far as I remember, Senior Sikong seemed to be alone."
Seeing Old Man Dique's gaze fall upon him, Qin Sang replied, "Junior's cultivation is meager, so I certainly entered later than Fellow Daoist Ren. Furthermore, I spent some time wasted in the northern part of the abode before coming here, so I never saw Senior Sikong before."
Old Man Dique looked away. After a moment's hesitation, he carried the two of them away from this peak once more, flying toward the third Heavenly Peak.
The Hidden Moth concealed on the third Heavenly Peak conjured the figure of Daoist Xuan Yu from the Shangyuan Qingjing Palace!
The Daoist was slender and carried the aura of a transcendent immortal. He walked up the mountain, scanning his surroundings with a wary expression. One hand was raised, his index and middle fingers pressed together, pointing through the air toward a spot to the side for reasons unknown.
Upon seeing Daoist Xuan Yu, Old Man Dique suddenly let out several loud laughs, the gloom on his face vanishing entirely. Putting away the moth, he pondered for a brief moment, then flickered into motion, gliding soundlessly toward the exact spot Daoist Xuan Yu had pointed to.
He pointed with his cane, spiritual power surging from its tip into the Thousand Illusions Divine Sound. The acoustic waves drifted softly forward. A moment later, where the soundwaves passed, a flash of azure light abruptly appeared in the empty void.
The azure light actually originated from a talisman. This talisman was completely different from any Qin Sang had seen before; it was not inscribed on talisman paper, but was an ethereal form, its runes appearing as though stamped directly into the void itself.
Its meandering lines hovered suspended, shedding a clear luminescence.
Qin Sang had never seen such a talisman, but he had heard Teng Nan speak of it.
The Shangyuan Qingjing Palace was most adept in the dao of talismans. Not only did they possess the Four Great Secret Talismans, which were exceedingly mysterious, but they also possessed unique methods of crafting and drawing talismans. Among these, the technique of using spiritual power as a guide to draw talismans in midair was one of their most profound methods.
Only someone with an extraordinarily deep mastery of the dao of talismans could accomplish this; even within the Shangyuan Qingjing Palace, only a few could do so.
Daoist Xuan Yu was clearly one of them.
The talisman originally hidden in the shadows had been forced out into the open by Old Man Dique using the Thousand Illusions Divine Sound. From the fluctuations radiating from it, Qin Sang could sense that it was likely a warning talisman.
Daoist Xuan Yu had left this talisman as a precaution against anyone following him. Once someone passed this spot and triggered it, he would notice immediately. Unfortunately, the Hidden Moth had witnessed his action.
"Close!"
Old Man Dique closed his hand in an empty grasp. The power of the Thousand Illusions Divine Sound closed in around the talisman at once, firmly sealing it before it could shatter, causing it to fade once more into nothingness.
Seeing this, Qin Sang and Ren Hong exchanged a glance, the same worry evident in both their eyes.
If they still didn't understand what Old Man Dique intended to do by now, they would be utter fools! A Core Formation cultivator plotting against another Core Formation cultivator—if the two of them were dragged into it, what fate awaited them?
Having sealed the talisman, Old Man Dique turned his head to look at them. With a sinister smirk, he offered no explanation. Sweeping them up with spiritual power, he flew into a crevice among the rocks and laid down a concealing restriction.
"I need to tend to my injuries," he said. "Now that you've accepted my favors, do your work diligently and don't overthink things. I am all alone with no disciples to my name. Follow me, and there will be plenty of benefits in the future."
Qin Sang felt not a single ripple in his heart at the implication in Old Man Dique's words.
Ren Hong's expression, however, stirred slightly.
Although he was a disciple of the Wind Thunder Sect, his innate talent had held him back. The Golden Core Masters of his sect never spared him a second glance; whenever good opportunities arose, the disciples of exceptional talent were given first pick, and what was left unwanted might not even fall to him.
Thinking back on his days in the sect always filled Ren Hong with resentment.
In the end, left with no alternative, Ren Hong took the initiative to come struggle in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield like a rogue cultivator. Though he had indeed gained several fortunate encounters and built up his cultivation, only he knew the bitterness he had endured.
If he could take a Golden Core Master as his master...
Ren Hong bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Junior understands."
Qin Sang echoed the sentiment with a word of his own, his peripheral vision sweeping over Ren Hong before pulling his gaze back. Everyone had their own thoughts; whatever choice Ren Hong made had nothing to do with him.
Looking after himself was enough!
Old Man Dique sat down cross-legged, took out a spirit pill, tilted his head back, and swallowed it. Once the medicinal power dissolved, his aged face suddenly flushed red, and he violently coughed up a mouthful of foul blood.
The foul blood was black as ink, annihilated beneath the Thousand Illusions Divine Sound.
After spitting out the tainted blood, Old Man Dique's complexion looked much better.
Qin Sang's eyes flickered. It seemed that when Old Man Dique broke out of the ape encirclement and was struck by the divine ape's fire staff, it had not been as effortless as it appeared on the surface. His injuries were likely quite severe. Who knew how much of them this spirit pill would be able to heal?
Chapter 252