As far as the eye could see, the earth looked as though it had been torn apart. Crisscrossing rift valleys spanned the terrain, flanked by rocky crags of varying heights. Most of their ridges were razor-thin, like blades, offering barely any foothold.
Separated only by a single rocky cliff, the ecosystems inside the various rift valleys differed remarkably.
Some were lush with fragrant grass and meandering streams; others roared with surging rivers. In some, ancient trees towered even higher than the cliffs, while barren red dirt or naked rock were just as common. Whenever two valleys merged or intersected, an even more intricate and magnificent sight unfolded, leaving one to wonder how such peculiar terrain had ever formed.
A place like this was all too ideal for ambushes.
If a rift valley harbored a demon beast's lair, spotting it would be exceedingly difficult. Traveling atop the rocky crags was strictly out of the question.
Qin Sang stood at the edge and observed for a moment, sighing inwardly. Taking out his jade plaque to confirm the direction, he leaped down into one of the rift valleys. No longer daring to ride the wind with reckless abandon, he relied solely on the Cloud Escape Technique to make headway.
The valleys wound in chaotic twists and turns, forcing Qin Sang to take several detours and frequently correct his course. Fortunately, no demon beasts ambushed him along the way, though he did not run into any fellow cultivators either.
Qin Sang had been dashing through the rift valleys for over two hours and still had not found a way out. Growing slightly irritable, he concealed his figure and scaled a rocky cliff, only to find an endless expanse of rift valleys ahead, utterly deflating his temper.
Once he got a clearer look at the terrain ahead, however, Qin Sang let out a soft exclamation of surprise. Ahead, more than a dozen valleys converged like the neck of a gourd before branching out again. A convergence of so many distinct landscapes in one place was bound to be a singular sight.
Qin Sang checked his direction; it lay squarely on the path indicated by the arrow. He sped toward it, cloaked in stealth, but as he neared the gourd neck, his figure abruptly froze.
Clouds and mist surged around him as he immediately used the Cloudfall Wings to conceal his presence, darting behind a boulder.
In the area at the gourd neck, streams pouring from several valleys gathered into a pool of water so clear one could see the bottom. Along its banks grew an assortment of flowers, grass, and trees—yet sprawled beside the pool was a person.
The rift valley Qin Sang occupied held only low shrubs, allowing him to spot the figure at a glance.
Disheveled hair covered the person's head. Dressed in white robes, he lay face down on the grass, completely motionless. Behind him, a chaotic trail of bloody footprints stretched across the ground, leading all the way back into the woods behind him.
The white robe was badly torn and stained with conspicuous patches of dark red blood. With no wounds visible from behind, they were likely on his chest or abdomen.
One could easily imagine that this person had fled here after suffering grievous wounds, stumbling with unsteady steps until his strength gave out, collapsing unconscious by the pool. Judging by the color of the blood on his robe, he had been dead for quite some time. His assailant evidently had not pursued him, for a mustard seed bag still hung intact at his waist.
Though an easy windfall seemed ripe for the taking, there was no trace of delight on Qin Sang's face. Instead, his expression grew grave as he sank into thought.
His prior ordeal with Shen Jing had taught Qin Sang never to underestimate any cultivator again—even one who appeared utterly helpless. After all, the abrupt appearance of a corpse in this desolate maze of valleys was undeniably suspicious.
He scrutinized the surroundings of the pool. The water babbled softly and birds chirped; he found nothing out of the ordinary. Just as Qin Sang was about to condense an avatar to test the waters, an idea struck him. After a moment's consideration, he quietly retreated to the valley entrance, retrieved the Soul-Bewildering Mirror in a secluded spot, and laid out the mirror array. Only then did he feel truly secure.
It was always better to be cautious.
After all, he had only one life. Not every crisis could be resolved by relying on the jade Buddha.
Returning to the rift valley, Qin Sang concealed himself and condensed an avatar, commanding it to dart out from behind the boulder and rush toward the pool.
The avatar reached the water's edge unimpeded. Crouching down, it touched the white-robed man's body and gently lifted him, revealing a massive, bloody hole in his abdomen. Mutilated flesh and viscera had pooled on the ground; he was thoroughly dead.
*Perhaps I'm just too afraid of dying.*
A self-deprecating smile touched Qin Sang's lips. Just as he was about to order the avatar to take the white-robed man's mustard seed bag, a sudden jolt of terror seized his heart, immediately followed by the shrill whistle of an arrow overhead.
A rainbow streak plummeted from the sky, hurtling toward his hiding spot with lightning speed.
Within the rainbow streak was an arrow!
Qin Sang was shaken to the core. Without hesitation, he summoned the Void-Traversing Wind and bolted from behind the boulder.
*Boom!*
The boulder shattered into pieces, and the ground was blasted into a deep crater by the fierce arrow. A storm of spiritual power whipped up loose rocks and shredded grass into total chaos.
A short distance away, a chill crept through Qin Sang's heart. Had he remained behind that boulder, he would have been killed or grievously wounded!
Qin Sang quickly scanned the area and finally spotted the archer atop a rocky cliff. The figure looked young, clad in tight-fitting martial attire, standing against the wind like an elegant young noble.
The youth held a bow in his hands. The bowstring seemed to be fashioned from the sinew of some demon beast, while the stave was crafted from an unknown material that shimmered with a seven-colored rainbow halo. It was studded with multicolored gemstones, and rich spiritual power lingered around it even now—it was actually a top-grade magic tool.
That terrifying arrow just now had undoubtedly been unleashed by this very bow!
The youth looked down slightly, his gaze locked onto Qin Sang. He was clearly surprised that Qin Sang had dodged his sneak attack, but he promptly raised the precious bow once more, aiming straight at Qin Sang.
Seeing the youth's motion, Qin Sang's heart sank. Knowing full well he could not afford to be a sitting target down in the rift valley, he decisively drew the Chilong Sword from his back. Gale winds erupted beneath his feet, and his figure shot forward, scaling the rocky cliff in the blink of an eye.
The youth had not expected Qin Sang to burst forth with such astonishing speed. Caught off guard, he raised the bow and fired.
This wondrous bow required no fletched arrows at all. The youth merely hooked his fingers around the bowstring, and as light rippled across the bow, radiance instantly coalesced into an arrow.
*Whoosh!*
The arrow shot straight for Qin Sang's face, its momentum no weaker than the first.
Qin Sang's figure flickered repeatedly, narrowly evading the arrow by a hair's breadth. Immediately, a second arrow followed right on its heels, arriving at such a wicked angle that it was impossible to dodge.
Qin Sang had no choice. His spiritual sense could not sustain the simultaneous use of two high-grade magic tools, so he was forced to disperse the Void-Traversing Wind. Fortunately, the top of this particular cliff was broad enough to offer solid footing. Landing firmly, Qin Sang raised the Chilong Sword to face the threat with composure.
The spinning arrow trailed a seven-colored halo, hurtling forward like a striking comet.
Qin Sang fixed his eyes squarely on the arrow tip and slashed with all his might. The Chilong chill on the blade let out an earth-shattering roar and surged forth, boldly clashing against it.
*Boom!*
A deafening roar erupted as the Chilong chill slammed head-on into the rainbow arrow. Both lights surged fiercely without giving an inch, then dimmed simultaneously moments later, ending in a dead heat.
Chapter 80