Sitting cross-legged at the center of the Ten Directions Yanluo Array, Qin Sang took out the Dongming Cold Flame, channeled the Nine Nether Demonic Fire to envelop it, and only then carefully dispelled the restrictions on the cold flame's surface.
The cold flame remained untamed, yet it yielded before the Nine Nether Demonic Fire.
When the two spiritual fires met directly, a clear hierarchy emerged. Patriarch Kuiyin's renown in shaking the Lesser Cold Domain with the Ten Directions Yanluo Array back in the day was evidently no exaggeration.
Facing the Dongming Cold Flame, one was left with the frustrating feeling of having nowhere to begin.
Fortunately, Qin Sang had already formulated a plan and deduced the steps countless times. After a brief contemplation, Qin Sang lightly tightened his grip. The Nine Nether Demonic Fire vibrated and began compressing inward slowly.
Without mounting much resistance, the Dongming Cold Flame retreated, the fireball shrinking at a visible pace.
Yet midway through the process, Qin Sang suddenly halted. He sensed signs of instability from the Dongming Cold Flame; forcefully suppressing it any further risked disaster.
"Indeed! Brute force won't work; I must use another method."
Qin Sang murmured. He allowed the Dongming Cold Flame to return to its original form, drew out a wisp of Nine Nether Demonic Fire, and with dancing fingers struck out several restrictions in succession. Wrapping around this wisp of demonic fire, they drifted slowly toward the Dongming Cold Flame.
***
Early the next morning.
Having worked through the night, Qin Sang exhaled a long breath. The exhaustion on his face vanished completely as he looked with excitement at the blue bead before him.
This was the fire bead condensed from the Dongming Cold Flame. Only after trying several restrictions had Qin Sang finally succeeded in refining it.
The fire bead appeared the size of a longan, but its true core was only the size of a mung bean; the rest was merely the radiant glow cast by the cold flame.
Now that it had been refined into a bead, the cold flame's aura seemed even more violent than before.
He would also need to exercise caution when using it, as the fire bead did not distinguish friend from foe.
Being extremely prudent, Qin Sang carefully stowed the fire bead away. His confidence in entering the Hall of Seven Kills had grown by a few more degrees.
A wave of weakness followed. The toll of refining the fire bead was immense, so Qin Sang hastily retrieved the Ten Directions Yanluo Banners, channeled his cultivation technique, and entered meditation to recover.
Little did he expect that this wait would last an entire month.
One day, while Qin Sang was meditating in seclusion, an exceptionally overbearing aura suddenly startled him awake. He darted out the door, just in time to see Cui Ji bursting out of his room as well.
The two regarded each other with mutual disdain.
Not bothering to engage with Cui Ji's provocation, Qin Sang looked up into the sky and saw a figure piercing through the air from the east. The figure flew brazenly over Dongmen Island and hovered motionless under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Astonishingly, this person was a cultivator of the Witch Clan!
"By order of the Grand Shaman, the grand array is complete! The Hall of Seven Kills shall open tonight at midnight!"
Before his voice had even faded, the figure veered in an arc of light and flew toward another direction. It was said that there were two other islands similar to Dongmen Island nearby.
Cultivators intending to enter the Hall of Seven Kills were waiting across these three islands.
As soon as these words rang out, an uproar swept through the island.
After waiting here for so long, the Hall of Seven Kills was finally opening.
Within Dongmen Island, several streaks of light instantly shot into the heavens. Those Nascent Soul Patriarchs could no longer hold back their impatience.
Pulling back his gaze, Qin Sang scanned the surroundings and saw Xiang Yi striding over, calling out as he walked: "The Hall of Seven Kills is about to open. We depart immediately! If any of you still have preparations left, make haste!"
The sword-cradling youth wore an excited grin. "I've long prepared everything, waiting for this very day!"
The others nodded in succession and voiced their agreement.
"Let's go!"
Xiang Yi took the lead, and the others followed close behind.
By now, the city was bustling with movement as streaks of light flew out of Dongmen Island one after another.
Once off the island, they chose to avoid the bulk of the crowd, making a detour for some distance before flying toward the storm.
"Some harbor malice and use the storm's cover to murder and rob during times like this. With our strength, we don't need to worry overly much, but caution is still best."
Xiang Yi cautioned them via voice transmission, and everyone began summoning their signature magic treasures.
Wearing the Gold Glow Armor, Qin Sang could handle most situations, so he merely summoned the ebony sword and sped forward atop it.
Cui Ji glanced sideways at Qin Sang, silently curling his lip when he saw that Qin Sang hadn't summoned the Ten Directions Yanluo Banners. He still believed that what had defiled his Purple Nether Pearl was the Nine Nether Demonic Fire, unaware that it was actually the ebony sword.
The storm drew closer and closer.
When they reached the edge of the storm belt, an unusual look appeared on Qin Sang's face.
Although one of the Liu couple was a late Core Formation expert, they put on no airs and were the easiest to approach. Compared to the rest, Qin Sang was most familiar with them.
Noticing Qin Sang's peculiar expression, the man surnamed Liu asked curiously, "Did Daoist Priest notice something?"
"No."
Qin Sang shook his head, then added, "I have long heard that the storms here rival the might of heaven and earth. Seeing it today, it is indeed extraordinary. I was merely wondering what would become of someone who got lost in it."
Overhearing Qin Sang, Xiang Yi turned his head and said, "Fellow Daoists, there is no need to worry. The jade pendants we received can sense the grand array of the Hall of Seven Kills and guide our direction within a certain range. Once you obtain treasures and exit the hall, following the jade pendant's guidance will lead you safely out. Of course, there is indeed a risk of getting lost in the storm, and even its outer reaches are perilous in the extreme. If one truly gets lost and wanders into the storm's depths, even a Nascent Soul Patriarch would have no bones left intact. So under no circumstances must you lose your jade pendant..."
Qin Sang nodded absently.
He was still reeling in shock.
Having arrived here and seen the barrier holding back the storm, the suspicion Qin Sang had harbored all along was confirmed.
These barriers were formed of ancient restrictions, with mysterious runes flickering inside, holding the storm firmly at bay. How remarkably similar they were to the barrier at the edge of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield in the Lesser Cold Domain!
Yet there were also differences: there was no opening like the Seven Heroes Passes, but that did not hinder cultivators from passing through.
Moreover, the storm behind the barrier also bore some resemblance to the heavenly phenomena that occurred when the spirit tide struck the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.
The only difference was that the Ancient Immortal Battlefield was land, whereas this was an endless sea.
Furthermore, here the storm raged with crashing waves, unending through the years, whereas the spirit tide in the Lesser Cold Domain only appeared once at fixed intervals.
*Could the fringes of the Canglang Sea also be surrounded by an Ancient Immortal Battlefield?*
Qin Sang was filled with curiosity about this world.
He didn't know what other places were like, but it felt as though the two places he had been—the Lesser Cold Domain and the Canglang Sea—were like two sanctuaries in an apocalyptic world.
Those barriers were the legacy of ancient sages, keeping danger at bay and carving out pure lands for future generations to live and thrive.
It was said that the edge of the Demon Sea was similar to that of the Canglang Sea.
*Just what kind of world is this!*
Qin Sang sighed inwardly, feeling an urgent desire to grow stronger and explore the mysteries of this world.
"Take out your jade pendants and activate your magic treasures to weather the storm!"
Xiang Yi barked a low command. Without visibly summoning any magic treasure, a cyan protective divine light surged from his body, suggesting he was wearing protective treasure armor similar to the Gold Glow Armor.
Cradling the jade pendant with both hands, Xiang Yi channeled true essence into it, causing it to shine with a ball of white light. With a swift movement, Xiang Yi dashed through the barrier and entered the storm.
The others followed suit one after another.
Putting aside his contemplation and wonder, Qin Sang hurried after them.
Chapter 743