Yunyouzi noticed Qin Sang's worry and doubt. He flew forward, approaching the Nanming Li Fire. Looking around, he flicked his fingers, shooting out countless streams of spiritual power that sank into the walls of the secret tunnel.
The next moment, a faint cyan glow suddenly lit up the tunnel.
Countless extraordinarily complex runes inexplicably appeared across the tunnel walls. As Yunyouzi moved, the runes were activated, the cyan light glowing brighter and brighter until the outline of a spirit array emerged from it.
Though the cyan light could not hold a candle to the Nanming Li Fire, it still managed to carve out a place of its own.
Qin Sang noticed that this spirit array bore no resemblance to the remnant formations and immortal restrictions they had encountered earlier; it did not look like something inherent to Ziwei Palace.
However, while not as complex and miraculous as the immortal formations outside, it was still exceptionally exquisite and self-contained, definitely not something an ordinary person could arrange.
In any case, Qin Sang could not decipher it; looking at it for more than a few moments even made him feel dizzy.
The cyan light shone clearly.
The next moment, a fiery-red little bird actually flew out from within, chirping as it circled Yunyouzi before obediently perching on his arm, lowering its head to preen its feathers.
The bird looked vivid and lifelike.
Yet a sweep of spiritual sense immediately revealed its true nature: the bird was not a living creature, but a puppet woven from some kind of spiritual wood, extraordinarily delicate and exquisitely crafted!
The bird was fiery-red all over, its feathers seemingly aflame. However, this was not due to its original spiritual material; the aura radiating from it was identical to that of the Nanming Li Fire.
Its skeleton and plumage were formed from red strips and slender leaves that had been trimmed and shaped. Having absorbed the Nanming Li Fire with the aid of the spirit array, it had undergone a metamorphosis, making it impossible to identify the original spiritual materials.
Over the years, Qin Sang had met quite a few cultivators skilled in puppetry, but a puppet so ingenious that it could almost pass for real—apart from the qingluan crafted by Granny Jing—only this little bird compared.
Who had placed this bird here, or had it been here all along?
Qin Sang marveled inwardly.
Yunyouzi cradled the little bird in his palm and said with gratification, "Years ago, someone placed this object here to let it absorb the power of the Nanming Li Fire. After years of incubation, it has finally assimilated a portion of the Nanming Li Fire's aura. With the help of the spirit array and this spirit puppet, it can open a path through the flames. Passing through the Nanming Li Fire will not be difficult; what is difficult is retrieving the cauldron fragment. Of everyone I could ask, only you, Brother Qin, can do it."
"Oh?"
Qin Sang withdrew his gaze from the bird spirit puppet and looked at Yunyouzi with curiosity. What obstacle lay on the other side? Why was Yunyouzi so certain that he could help retrieve the cauldron fragment?
Yunyouzi extended a finger to soothe the bird puppet, then pointed ahead.
"Not far ahead, the secret tunnel was cleaved in two by the sword mark. Originally, one could enter and exit through there, but the sword qi within the mark refuses to dissipate, so no one dares enter.
"The person who wielded the sword must have cultivated an ice-attribute method; the remnant sword qi is a type of Mystic Ice sword qi.
"The sword qi gathered without dispersing and stimulated the spiritual energy of this place, forming an extremely frigid baleful wind that rages around the sword mark year-round. It is only concealed by the illusion formation outside, so it cannot be seen.
"What is even more terrifying is that this baleful wind carries the remnant Mystic Ice sword intent from the sword mark. That sword intent has now evolved into an extreme and bizarre chill. Doesn't this combination sound very familiar to you, Brother Qin?"
Hearing this, Qin Sang was taken aback.
Hearing Yunyouzi describe these traits, Qin Sang immediately recalled the Mystic Frost Baleful Wind he had encountered in Wuya Valley.
The Mystic Frost Baleful Wind had formed naturally, while the baleful wind here was born from the influence of sword qi. Their origins were different, but they sounded remarkably alike.
Qin Sang noticed that Yunyouzi seemed to have an underlying meaning in his words. His expression shifted slightly. How did Yunyouzi know he had encountered the Mystic Frost Baleful Wind?
"Senior, back then... you still had the spare energy to perceive what was outside?"
Qin Sang was filled with astonishment.
Back when Yunyouzi was harvesting the Nightbloom Lily in Wuya Valley, he had relied on the cyan lamp and the Flawless Pearl to resist the Mystic Frost Baleful Wind, nearly failing to hold on. Qin Sang had even planned to step in and help him.
Yet he actually had enough energy left to sense Qin Sang!
Yunyouzi nodded slightly, then shook his head, saying, "At that time, this old Taoist was indeed at the end of his rope. However, my spiritual senses are keen, and I vaguely sensed the aura of another person passing nearby. For someone to appear in a place like that, without acting against me or trying to snatch the Nightbloom Lily—after thinking it over, it could only have been you, brother."
"This..."
Yunyouzi's words were far beyond Qin Sang's expectations.
No wonder outside Ziwei Palace, Yunyouzi had first asked for his opinion on whether the man in black was the Wuji Sect Master.
Because he knew Qin Sang had reached the end of the ice cavern, watched that great battle, and might have seen their true faces!
Though Yunyouzi had not witnessed the battle with his own eyes, he could deduce a thing or two. Human presence was exceedingly rare in Wuya Valley; normally, so many Nascent Soul cultivators would not just happen to appear there.
Qin Sang knitted his brows slightly.
Since Yunyouzi already knew of Yi Tiannie's presence, Qin Sang briefly recounted how he had run into Yu Hua in the ice cavern.
"Senior, I had no intention of going inside; I was driven into a corner by a powerful enemy. Back in the ice cavern, I had intended to lend you a hand, but then you, by your own strength..."
Yunyouzi waved his hand and said sincerely, "This old Taoist is not someone who fails to recognize good intentions. I know what was in your heart, brother. That was an ordeal of tempering, akin to a fledgling breaking from its shell. Had I been in your shoes, I would not have rashly intervened either. What's more, that I was able to obtain the Nightbloom Lily was originally thanks to your merit. Do you still remember that final tremor in the ice cavern? You were standing before me then and happened to block a wisp of the Mystic Frost Baleful Wind for me, allowing me to seize the opportunity to rush across..."
Yunyouzi cupped his hands to Qin Sang and said, "Brother Qin, you must possess a secret art capable of resisting the chill of the Mystic Frost Baleful Wind, yes? Your cultivation now far surpasses what it was before, so the power of your secret art should be even greater. Bringing out the cauldron fragment from the sword qi baleful wind—I entrust this to you, brother."
Qin Sang breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
What he feared most was exposing the jade Buddha.
The jade Buddha was his greatest secret, the foundation of his existence in the cultivation world. Even to the closest person, it could not be revealed.
Fortunately, Yunyouzi had been led astray by the Mystic Frost Baleful Wind and guessed in the wrong direction, assuming Qin Sang merely possessed a secret art or treasure that could withstand the invading chill. Even with Yunyouzi's vast breadth of knowledge, he would never imagine that an extraordinary marvel like the jade Buddha existed in this world.
After pondering a moment, Qin Sang agreed. "If the sword qi baleful wind isn't much stronger than the Mystic Frost Baleful Wind, I should be able to withstand it. Senior, why don't you part the flames and let us give it a try?"
With the jade Buddha's power, even if something went wrong with the bird spirit puppet and the Nanming Li Fire cut off his retreat, he could still brave the sword qi baleful wind and exit from the other side, without fear of being trapped and dying inside.
Qin Sang gave Yunyouzi a deep look; this was also a test.
He trusted Yunyouzi's character, but riches could sway the human heart.
He only hoped an old friend's heart would remain unchanged!
Seeing Qin Sang agree, Yunyouzi said with a grave expression, "Channeling all my strength to manipulate the spirit array and spirit puppet, I can sustain it for ten breaths. Within ten breaths, whether you succeed or fail, you must come out!"
Chapter 600