"Finally, he's here."
Qin Sang exhaled slowly.
It had taken two days longer than Du Xian's estimate, likely because Du Han had been delayed by something along the way.
Du Han rode a flying magic tool shaped like a golden leaf. Having the disciple sent to fetch him aboard dragged down his speed somewhat, but he was still fast.
"Reporting to Master, Eldest Senior Brother has sent word back. They are currently all at the Five Insects Sect. Everything in the Bear Mountain region is normal, and that Core Formation cultivator hasn't returned yet."
Du Han sat cross-legged on the golden-leaf magic tool. His disciple stood respectfully behind him, clutching a voice transmission talisman as he spoke in a low voice.
This voice transmission talisman had naturally been sent by Du Xian under Qin Sang's control.
Du Han nodded slightly, looking toward the Five Insects Sect from afar. Frowning in displeasure, he said, "Why are they being so careless? What are they still lingering at the Five Insects Sect for? Are they afraid that Core Formation cultivator won't be able to find them?"
The disciple lifted his head, hesitated for a moment, and softly made excuses for Du Xian: "Master, rest assured, Eldest Senior Brother must have considered everything thoroughly. He probably figured you would arrive soon and came to the Five Insects Sect to welcome you. That Core Formation cultivator only formed his core less than a year ago. Moreover, according to the Five Insects Sect's sect master, something seemed to have gone wrong with his natal insect gu, so he went out searching for insects to refine a new one; it's unlikely he'll return in the short term. Once Senior Brother Jiu Shan and the others recovered from their injuries, relying on the Five Insects Sect's mountain-protecting grand array, even if that person suddenly appeared, they could hold out for a while."
Du Han snorted coldly. "I think you lot have grown far too comfortable cultivating in our sect and have lost your vigilance. Anyone who dares look down on a cultivator of higher cultivation—and an entire major realm higher at that—never meets a good end! Once this matter is settled, you will all disperse to gain experience, lest you become frogs at the bottom of a well."
The disciple did not dare argue and bowed his head in assent.
As they spoke, the golden leaf carved an arc through the sky, speeding toward the Five Insects Sect.
The Five Insects Sect came into view. From afar, the lotus-shaped mountain-protecting grand array could be seen, along with the faint silhouettes of several steep peaks within the formation.
Du Han stood up and gazed out at the Five Insects Sect.
After observing for a while, a strange look flashed in Du Han's eyes, and he asked in a deep voice, "When you entered the Five Insects Sect, did you attack their mountain-protecting grand array?"
Hearing that something was off in Du Han's tone, the disciple hastily looked toward the Five Insects Sect. Yet the sect's grand array seemed completely normal; he could not detect anything amiss. Looking bewildered, he replied, "No. We followed Master's orders to dispatch local powers in search of the ancient corpse, never harming a soul along the way. Eldest Senior Brother revealed our Li Witch Palace identities, and the Five Insects Sect had no suspicions, letting us straight inside. We didn't anticipate the Five Insects Sect's sect master would possess a talisman treasure, which led to the injury of my two senior brothers... Master, could something have happened to Eldest Senior Brother and the others?"
Du Han shook his head and mused, "I take an interest in the Dao of spirit arrays and once exchanged insights extensively with a human cultivator versed in the subject. This mountain-protecting grand array of the Five Insects Sect looks rather strange to me—there are far too many disharmonies..."
Halfway through his sentence, Du Han felt a sudden palpitation in his heart.
In an instant, his hairs stood on end. A sense of impending doom washed over him, and his face changed drastically.
"What scoundrel is lurking there?!"
Even as Du Han bellowed in fury, an extraordinarily dazzling point of light suddenly erupted on the mountain directly ahead of them—a streak of sword light, incomparably swift and bearing terrifying power.
Qin Sang had not ambushed them within the Five Insects Sect, choosing this spot precisely because he worried Du Han might notice abnormalities in the sect's mountain-protecting grand array or Du Xian and the others, thereby putting his guard up.
Back then, to end the battle quickly and capture Du Xian and the rest alive, Qin Sang had been forced to break the Five Insects Sect's mountain-protecting grand array by brute force.
Although he had repaired the grand array afterward, he truly lacked confidence in his attainments in spirit arrays; getting too close would likely raise Du Han's suspicions.
After much deliberation, Qin Sang had decided to lay an ambush outside the mountain gate.
Unexpectedly, Du Han seemed quite versed in spirit arrays, spotting clues from such a distance. While Qin Sang felt secretly glad about his choice, he dared not wait for Du Han to get any closer and was forced to strike.
Fortunately, the distance was close enough.
Feeling the terrifying aura carried by the sword light, the disciple's legs went weak and he trembled all over, truly understanding the words his master had just spoken.
"Core Formation!"
A sharp glint flashed in Du Han's eyes. In an instant, he realized that something had definitely happened to his disciples.
Those he had brought into the Western Frontier this time were the most talented among his disciples, and Du Xian in particular was someone he treated as his own flesh and blood, harboring high hopes for him.
Thinking that they might have already been killed by this person, Du Han was enraged, wishing he could tear Qin Sang into ten thousand pieces.
Yet just as this thought flashed through his mind, Du Han heard the faint rumble of thunder ahead. He suddenly recalled a divine ability coveted by countless sword cultivators, and an ominous premonition instantly welled up within him.
"Sword Qi Thunderclap!"
Du Han was horrified. Never had he expected that the Witch God Continent would harbor a sword cultivator genius who, having just broken through to Core Formation, was already able to comprehend Sword Qi Thunderclap.
With no time to think, Du Han slapped his dantian. Light surged forth, and a pale bone claw flew out from his sea of qi!
Almost at the exact same moment, a sword phantom pierced through the void and appeared right before Du Han.
Du Han's pupils contracted. He finally understood why sword cultivators were so obsessed with Sword Qi Thunderclap—it was simply too fast!
Drenched in cold sweat, Du Han did not lose his head in the crisis. Like a living creature, the bone claw moved with extreme dexterity. Spreading open, it intercepted the sword phantom in the nick of time.
A pale, eerie light gleamed upon the ghostly claw as it swiftly clamped down on the sword shadow.
"Huh?"
Seeing Du Han summon the bone claw, Qin Sang, who was flying over on his sword, let out a soft exclamation of surprise.
He sensed clearly that this ghostly claw was actually Du Han's life magic treasure!
As a Witch Clan cultivator hailing from a prestigious sect, Du Han had not refined a natal insect gu; instead, like human cultivators, he had chosen a life magic treasure.
This was exceedingly strange and completely defied Qin Sang's expectations.
Qin Sang had not extracted this information from Du Xian and the others either. Du Han kept things well hidden—even his disciples were kept in the dark.
Adding the magic treasure bestowed by the Li Witch Palace, Du Han had two magic treasures on him!
The trap Qin Sang had laid had been prepared to counter Du Han's natal insect gu, so he had never expected such a development.
Moreover, this was not the only thing about Du Han that Qin Sang found strange.
Upon closing the distance, Qin Sang actually sensed a faint demon qi on him. At first, he assumed Du Han kept a spirit beast and hurriedly went on guard, yet he found no spirit beast bag or anything similar on Du Han's person.
Then there was Du Han's strength.
His aura was indeed formidable, but it did not reach the level of someone on the verge of breaking through to the mid Core Formation stage; it was somewhat weaker than Qin Sang had anticipated.
In the heat of the ambush, Du Han's fluster had not been feigned, so he was unlikely to be concealing his strength.
Whether Du Han suffered from a hidden ailment or there was some other reason remained unknown.
Regardless, it was a good thing for Qin Sang.
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and Qin Sang remained wholly focused on the battle.
Chapter 658