He had thought Qin Sang was almost certain to perish against two great demons, never expecting that not only had Qin Sang survived, but he had also counterkilled a great demon so quickly—a feat Master Yuansan himself would have found difficult to achieve.
"Daoist, please lend me a hand!" Master Yuansan urgently called out via voice transmission.
After slaying the black eagle, Qin Sang sensed that the other great demons that had originally been closing in were now intimidated. Some retreated while others hesitated in their tracks; only the lower demon beasts of feeble wit continued surging forward wave upon wave.
Hearing Master Yuansan's voice transmission, Qin Sang glanced back. When his eyes met the giant turtle's gaze, his heart suddenly tightened.
Without hesitating for long, Qin Sang chose to double back and rescue Master Yuansan.
For no other reason than the fury in the giant turtle's eyes was practically overflowing.
Back then, lacking aptitude in evasion techniques, it had been toyed with by Qin Sang. Now, having dispatched demon beasts to besiege and kill Qin Sang, the attempt had failed and both had been slain instead. An insignificant bug that it could clearly have crushed with ease kept leaping about before its eyes, driving the giant turtle to the brink of frenzy.
Qin Sang felt the giant turtle was about to lose all reason.
If it was willing to let Master Yuansan go just to hunt him down, Master Yuansan would surely notice the feud between Qin Sang and the giant turtle by then and would not hesitate to abandon him, letting Qin Sang draw the giant turtle away so he could escape.
Anywhere else, with his evasion techniques significantly improved, Qin Sang would not have feared the giant turtle's pursuit. But this was deep within the beast tide, where breaking through in a short time was impossible. If he became entangled with the spirit turtle, it would be extremely perilous.
Reversing course to join forces with them before Master Yuansan realized what was happening offered a better hope of breaking free, or at least surviving until reinforcements arrived.
"Many thanks, Daoist!"
Believing Qin Sang had voluntarily come to their rescue, Master Yuansan and the others were immensely grateful.
Seeing Qin Sang dare to approach in provocation, the giant turtle flew into an even greater rage.
Qin Sang willingly leaped into the encirclement, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Master Yuansan to bear the giant turtle's tempestuous onslaught, and Master Yuansan and his companions indeed suspected nothing.
With the addition of Qin Sang as fresh reinforcement while their opponents had lost two great demons, the shift in momentum finally allowed everyone to see hope of escape.
After conferring covertly with Master Yuansan, Qin Sang began deliberately dragging the battlefield along as they charged toward the perimeter of the beast tide. Chaos reigned all around, obscuring the state of the battle elsewhere, and their greatest fear was drawing another great demon on par with the giant turtle.
Master Yuansan was very powerful, only slightly inferior to the giant turtle. With Qin Sang's assistance, he was finally able to fight without holding back.
His life magic treasure was a seven-story miniature pagoda possessing immense weight, easily capable of shattering bone and sinew. When it smashed down from the sky, even the giant turtle had to handle it with caution.
Qin Sang saw with his own eyes a demon beast only slightly weaker than the bizarre flying fish fail to dodge in time, coughing up blood from the impact.
Remembering where the encirclement was weakest, Qin Sang pointed the direction out to Master Yuansan. The giant turtle led the horde of demons in relentless, frenzied attacks, yet could not prevent the battlefield from gradually shifting outward.
Vision was stained scarlet.
Qin Sang had already lost count of how many demon beasts he had slain, and he had swallowed several spirit pills to restore his true essence.
"We're almost out!"
Suddenly hearing Master Yuansan's voice transmission, Qin Sang was slightly startled. Looking into the distance, he found that they had indeed reached the beast tide's periphery. After arduous struggles, they were finally breaking through.
"Fellow Daoists, once we break through, the Daoist and I will tie down this giant turtle. Find your opportunity to slip away and make haste for reinforcements!" Master Yuansan transmitted, unable to conceal the exhaustion in his voice.
Before Qin Sang had arrived, they had already been trapped for quite some time. Master Yuansan possessed the highest cultivation and profound true essence, allowing him to endure, but the others were severely depleted and on the verge of total exhaustion.
After several dozen breaths, a breach was torn in the periphery of the beast tide.
Beholding the emerald sea and blue sky outside, some were moved to tears, marveling at the beauty of the world.
"Go!"
Master Yuansan roared, pouring his true essence into the miniature pagoda. The pagoda swelled rapidly, turning into a stone tower thirty feet tall that smashed ruthlessly down at the giant turtle.
The stone tower was exceedingly heavy and possessed terrifying might.
At the same time, Qin Sang and the two-headed hou struck with full force, repelling the surrounding demon beasts. Seizing this opportunity, the others scattered like startled birds and beasts, fleeing for their lives.
Shortly after, Qin Sang and Master Yuansan also charged outward.
As expected, the giant turtle completely ignored the others, relentlessly pursuing them.
Racing side by side with Master Yuansan, Qin Sang looked back at the giant turtle, eyes flashing, and said in a grave voice, "Fellow Daoist Yuansan, this demon refuses to relent, and this spot is closest to Tuyuan Island. Earlier, I ordered my subordinate to seek reinforcements. If we lure it toward Tuyuan Island and rendezvous with the fellows coming to our aid, we might even have a chance to hunt it down!"
Master Yuansan glanced back toward Muyuan Island, besieged by the beast tide. After hesitating for a moment, he sighed softly, "I have several old friends who were separated on the island, and I do not know how they fare. But without shaking off this demon, returning to rescue them is impossible anyway. Let us do as you say, Daoist. I only hope the fellows on Tuyuan Island arrive swiftly."
Qin Sang showed a look of joy and said, "This beast tide is different from those in the past. Having rushed here from the deep sea, I know there are even more demon beasts streaming in ceaselessly. Once they occupy Muyuan Island, they will certainly not let matters rest, and none of the Five Elements Islands will be able to stay out of it. I have already explained the gravity of the situation. As long as those fellows are not shortsighted fools, they will surely know what takes precedence."
"Is the Daoist speaking the truth? This is merely a portion of the beast tide?"
Master Yuansan was horrified, then let out a deep sigh. "The Five Elements Islands have existed long enough, and it seems the demon race can no longer tolerate them. I wonder if the Five Elements Islands can withstand this wave; otherwise, like those other islands in the past, they too will be reduced to history..."
The two altered their direction and flew toward Tuyuan Island.
Although Qin Sang was capable of shaking off the giant turtle with even greater speed, he harbored designs on the creature and refrained from doing so.
Across the vast sea, two streaks of light flew neck and neck, their speeds matched. Behind them, the giant turtle trod upon the water as though gliding across waves. It seemed on the verge of catching up at any moment, yet always fell just short.
It spat beams of profound light in attack, almost all aimed at Qin Sang, yet each was easily dodged.
After a chase that stretched on, Muyuan Island gradually vanished from sight, leaving only soaring demon qi and a chorus of roars echoing in the distance.
Having pursued them this far, the giant turtle began to hesitate.
It realized it had been toyed with once again. On the surface, the two humans appeared weak and spent, looking on the verge of exhaustion, yet in truth they were full of vigor; despite having chased them for so long, their speed had not slackened in the slightest.
Just as it hesitated, dozens of light beams flared across the distant horizon, accompanied by piercing shrieks of breaking through the air.
"Reinforcements are here!"
Their spirits lifted, and both looked back in unison.
The reinforcements also noticed the unusual disturbance here, and several of the streaks accelerated sharply, rushing over at top speed.
Sense of impending disaster mounting, the giant turtle plunged into the water, paddling with all four limbs to flee toward the depths of the Demon Sea.
How could Qin Sang and Master Yuansan let it escape? They stopped at nothing to hold it back, finally holding out until the reinforcements arrived. Under the siege of the assembled cultivators, no matter how formidable the giant turtle's defenses were, it could not withstand them, and amidst unwilling roars of fury, it perished with regret right there.
Chapter 737