No matter how dense the Peach Blossom Miasma was, under the violent clash between the Flying Yaksha's sky-soaring corpse qi and Daoist Jiupao's billowing demonic energy, it too churned into chaos.
Had anyone been standing above the valley at this moment, they would have seen black currents surging from the depths of the pink miasma, growing increasingly distinct.
Though Daoist Jiupao's strength fell short of a true Core Formation cultivator, he remained extraordinarily formidable. Before him, the Flying Yaksha's speed and physical toughness were no longer decisive advantages.
Previously, the Flying Yaksha had been able to rely on its elusive, ghost-like movements to run the black flood dragon ragged, but that tactic failed against Daoist Jiupao. Moreover, Qin Sang's goal was not merely to defeat him. He had no choice but to command the Flying Yaksha to clash head-on, denying Jiupao any breathing room.
The stone cottage was no more, reduced to a field of rubble.
Corpse qi and demonic energy filled the entire space, rendering it bitingly cold.
Daoist Jiupao tried several times to manipulate the spirit formation outside, but Qin Sang saw through every attempt and countered them in time, turning the decently potent formation into a useless ornament.
With no one actively maintaining it, the spirit formation was caught in the crossfire and could barely hold together.
Under the havoc wreaked by these chaotic forces, even the rubble of the stone cottage was pulverized into nothingness. A massive crater opened in the ground, and swaths of the peach grove outside were leveled.
Crisscrossing gullies scarred the valley, littered everywhere with broken branches and crushed blossoms.
Qin Sang could not leave the battlefield. Enveloped by corpse qi and demonic energy, he felt as fragile as rootless duckweed. His five senses were heavily suppressed, but fortunately, he could track Daoist Jiupao's movements through his connection with the Flying Yaksha, preventing Jiupao from closing in unnoticed.
*Whoosh!*
A violent gale swept through the battlefield.
Daoist Jiupao roared repeatedly.
From the midst of the surging demonic energy, a whirlwind suddenly arose like a gigantic black dragon, tearing through the corpse qi at astonishing speed and slamming violently toward the Flying Yaksha.
The tornado's might was terrifying.
Vanishing into thin air, the Flying Yaksha dodged in the nick of time, but its offensive stalled for a fleeting moment.
Just as the Flying Yaksha steadied itself and surged forward to attack once more, an exceptionally powerful aura erupted from deep within the demonic energy. Immediately after, an aura far darker and deeper drifted forth as the demonic energy coalesced into a black storm that threatened to drown the Flying Yaksha completely.
Qin Sang felt a faint trace of familiarity. Looking closer, he realized that the darkness within this demonic energy was clearly a type of black flame concealed beneath the storm!
Anyone unaware of the truth would likely have suffered a catastrophic loss.
Nine Nether Demonic Fire!
The Ten Directions Yanluo Banner!
*Just as I thought,* Qin Sang noted inwardly, not at all surprised.
Of the Kuiyin Sect's five Ten Directions Yanluo Banners, Daoist Jiupao possessed one. His banner had been damaged during the battle at the Yuanzhao Sect when its sect master self-detonated.
Yet so many years had passed, and Daoist Jiupao had once fled back to the Kuiyin Sect; he was by no means destitute.
Healing his own injuries might have proved difficult, but repairing a magic treasure was certainly within his ability.
Qin Sang had already prepared himself for the possibility that Daoist Jiupao possessed a magic treasure.
He was well aware of how terrifying the Nine Nether Demonic Fire was. Possessing miraculous efficacy against souls, it was the Flying Yaksha's bane. If he wanted to slay Daoist Jiupao, he had to neutralize the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner first!
Qin Sang immediately ordered the Flying Yaksha to avoid the brunt of the assault and engage Daoist Jiupao in skirmishing maneuvers. At the same time, his spiritual sense and mind entered his origin soul space, quietly channeling the ebony sword.
A gleam flashed between his brows, and the ebony sword slipped out soundlessly, its luster restrained as it pointed toward the depths of the demonic energy from afar.
At this moment, Qin Sang's nerves were wound tight. He did not focus entirely on the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner, keeping a constant watch on his surroundings instead.
Yu Hua had once said that Daoist Jiupao possessed only two magic treasures, and his life magic treasure had been utterly destroyed during the Yuanzhao Sect Master's self-detonation.
Logically, Daoist Jiupao had been fleeing like a stray dog, his injuries stubborn and slow to heal as he spent years hiding in the shadows. He should not have had the time or energy to forge a new life magic treasure, leaving him with only the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner.
In fact, Daoist Jiupao had indeed not used any other magic treasure.
Yet unexpected turns were inevitable in life. Experts of this caliber were exceptionally cunning, thoroughly adept at feigning one move while striking from another angle—a trick Qin Sang himself pulled often enough.
He could not afford to let his guard down; otherwise, he would be doomed beyond redemption.
Qin Sang probed carefully and found no trace of any other magic treasure, but he saw that the tide of battle had already begun to turn.
Harnessing the power of the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner, Daoist Jiupao displayed formidable might. Wielding the banner was far easier for him than it had been for Qin Sang or Yu Hua, and he summoned the demonic fire with wanton abandon.
Sweeping waves of demonic fire surged outward, forcing the Flying Yaksha into evasive maneuvers again and again.
Confronted by the Nine Nether Demonic Fire, the Flying Yaksha's hands were tied, its assault blunted.
Qin Sang ordered the Flying Yaksha to tie Jiupao down with everything it had, while he secretly steered the ebony sword, concealing its blade as it crept toward Daoist Jiupao.
There was only one chance; he could not afford to fail!
Unexpectedly, the ubiquitous demonic energy served as Daoist Jiupao's tentacles. Even the ebony sword's Shadowless Concealment ability could scarcely remain hidden within the dense demonic energy. Before it had crept forward very long or drawn near Daoist Jiupao, it was detected.
"Insolent cur, how dare you!"
Furious, Daoist Jiupao flicked the banner, sending a blast of demonic fire shooting straight toward the ebony sword.
Had it been an ordinary magic tool, being struck by the Nine Nether Demonic Fire would likely have spelled its doom.
Yet the ebony sword was also a magic treasure and held no fear of the Nine Nether Demonic Fire. Seeing this, Qin Sang hardened his resolve, maneuvering the ebony sword neither to dodge nor yield, but rather to plunge straight through the oncoming demonic fire!
*Whoosh!*
Daoist Jiupao's expression suddenly froze.
The Nine Nether Demonic Fire was pierced clean through by the ebony sword. Looking completely unharmed, the sword paused for a fraction of a second before darting straight toward him.
"A magic treasure?"
Daoist Jiupao's eyes bulged in shock. Yet with his discerning vision, he quickly caught on: Qin Sang's cultivation was insufficient to draw out the magic treasure's full power; he was mostly relying on the sword's innate material to withstand the Nine Nether Demonic Fire.
In his hands, such a magic treasure was nothing short of casting pearls before swine.
Relaxing, Daoist Jiupao let out a sinister sneer. "Leave that magic treasure behind for me!"
*Whirrrr...*
Multiple blasts of Nine Nether Demonic Fire erupted in succession, forcing the Flying Yaksha back. At the same time, Daoist Jiupao personally raised the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner and pounced toward Qin Sang in counterattack.
*Now!*
Qin Sang had been waiting for this exact opening. His eyes narrowed sharply as he chanted silently, *Sword Qi Thunderclap!*
*Crack!*
A blinding bolt of lightning, like heavenly retribution, effortlessly tore through the sky-blotting demonic energy.
"Sword Qi Thunderclap?!"
Under Daoist Jiupao's horrified gaze, the ebony sword crossed the distance between them in an instant, lunging right before him. Carrying an aura of supreme sharpness, it was aimed straight at his vitals.
Daoist Jiupao hurriedly swung the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner to block.
The enormous ghost banner whipped loudly in the wind. Demonic flames flared violently as the entire fabric caught fire, turning into a blazing inferno. The power that burst from the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner in that instant sent a secret jolt of alarm through Qin Sang.
The ebony sword streaked forward.
Just as the two magic treasures were about to collide—
The ebony sword was suddenly suffused with a layer of scarlet, spreading over the blade at astounding speed until it became a sword of blood!
Chapter 491