The group spread out around the pool.
One Beast King Banner after another was activated, radiating a brilliant golden light that was confined strictly to the space near the pool.
The primordial spirits of demon beasts leaped out of the banners, roaring silently before shattering one after another into golden threads that merged into the grand formation. The narrow space was filled with exceptionally sharp golden filaments, which converged above the pool.
None of them noticed a butterfly perched on a withered Dark Thunder Wood tree right beside them, taking in every detail.
Qin Sang was also concealed not far away.
Upon seeing the Beast King Banners and recognizing several familiar faces, he could be certain: these people were indeed his old adversaries, the disciples of Black Snake Mountain.
Black Snake Mountain had gone to immense trouble—from hunting the Kui Dragon to disguising themselves as Douniu Peak disciples and splitting their forces to infiltrate Dongming Island.
Whatever they were plotting was clearly no small matter.
Qin Sang’s gaze grew grave, his face settling into a pensive expression.
Coming across them by chance, Qin Sang had no intention of retreating, even though his opponents were powerful, outnumbered him, and he had no idea what treasure Black Snake Mountain was after. It would be a disservice to himself not to stick his hand into such a golden opportunity.
Not seeing the youth surnamed Fang was good news.
That was the person he dreaded most.
Qin Sang suspected that the sea of blood trapping First Seat Lu and the other four Core Formation cultivators in the bamboo pavilion had been the work of that youth; none of the other Black Snake Mountain cultivators possessed such terrifying power.
Several mysteries unraveled at this moment.
One of the true legacies of Douniu Peak was that very lightning art, which explained why the lightning carried astral fiend power. Qin Sang had already set his sights on acquiring that technique and intended to demand it from Black Snake Mountain later anyway; now, he could settle everything at once.
Of course, it would be even better if he could snatch away whatever treasure Black Snake Mountain was coveting.
Yet that would not be easily accomplished.
His opponents were far from weak and wielded the Beast King Banners.
Snatching food from a tiger’s maw required the perfect opening.
Furthermore, Core Formation cultivators from other sects were gathered at the entrance of Dongming Island, along with two formidable experts—First Seat Lu and the youth surnamed Fang. All of them were unpredictable variables.
Obtaining the treasure was secondary; being able to escape safely afterward was what truly mattered.
Qin Sang’s eyes flickered with calculation.
Meanwhile, the Beast King Banner formation was finally fully prepared.
The golden threads vanished, having condensed into a small golden blade pointed straight at the vortex.
Driving the Beast King Banners to achieve this transformation seemed extraordinarily strenuous for them, but they had no choice if they wished to breach the restriction. It was highly likely that this barrier had been laid down personally by Sect Master Lu of the Landou Sect.
Fortunately, they had obtained a jade talisman to undo another layer; otherwise, even if they could break it with their strength, it would have taken considerable time, and the commotion of breaking the restriction would have alerted outsiders long ago.
"Beast King Blade! Fall!"
The black-robed man barked a low command in a hoarse voice.
The golden blade trembled slightly, emitting a metallic ring before plunging violently into the vortex.
Its speed was astonishing, sinking into the swirling waters like a streak of golden light.
After a brief silence, a thunderous crash erupted from the depths of the pool. The earth shook violently, and a pillar of light intertwining white and gold shot into the sky.
Accompanied by the towering pillar of light, rings of chaotic energy swept out in all directions. The surrounding Dark Thunder Wood trees were pulverized into dust the moment they were struck.
'Not good! Fall back!'
The black-robed man’s expression changed drastically. Grabbing his Beast King Banner, he retreated in a flurry.
Every person present was a battle-hardened Core Formation cultivator. Even without the black-robed man’s warning, they all flew backward. Even so, they were still caught in the backlash.
For a moment, the group was left in utter disarray. Several Beast King Banners were damaged, and some were injured by the shock wave, coughing up blood with pale faces.
Yet they did not lose their composure.
Qin Sang found no opportunity to strike and sighed inwardly.
Fortunately, he had reacted quickly. Sensing trouble just before the golden blade struck the restriction, he had ordered the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to pull away from the pool.
Otherwise, no matter how great its concealment abilities were, being struck by the shock wave would have surely exposed it.
Most troublesome of all was that pillar of light; it surged over a hundred feet high before dispersing and drifting down like a rain of radiance. The tremor had reverberated across the entirety of Dongming Island in an instant.
The black-robed man looked exceedingly grim. Without taking time to steady his breath, he flickered back to the edge of the pool, only to find that the shock wave had blasted open a massive crater.
At the bottom of the crater lay a flight of white stone steps leading straight into the subterranean depths.
Seeing this, the black-robed man’s anger turned to delight. Barking an order over his shoulder, he hurried down inside.
The others also produced spirit pills, forcefully suppressing their injuries, and raised their Beast King Banners once more.
With the sharp senses of Core Formation cultivators, the others on the island had undoubtedly detected the anomaly here and were already rushing over; they might appear before them at any moment.
Sure enough.
Just as they readjusted their spirit array, the sound of rushing wind echoed through the air. Flying to the treetops to look, they saw two streaks of escape light speeding toward them from the distant horizon.
And behind them were more.
Every Core Formation cultivator on the island was being drawn here.
They could only hope Second Senior Brother would be quick, or a bitter battle would be unavoidable.
The cultivators exchanged glances, their eyes filled with deep anxiety.
By this point, the black-robed man had already entered the stone stairway. Pressed for time, he dared not pause for a second, rushing downward at full speed. Fortunately, there seemed to be no further restrictions here, allowing him unhindered passage until he finally reached the underground depths.
A stone door blocked his path.
The door was exceptionally thick, flickering with silver-white radiance that resembled tiny electric serpents slithering across its surface. It was sealed by a restriction, but with external enemies approaching, there was no time to break it by force.
The black-robed man took a deep breath. Sweeping his gaze across the stone door, he pondered for a moment, then flicked his fingers repeatedly, sending strange runes flying from his fingertips onto the door.
The landing points of the runes subtly adhered to a specific pattern.
As the final rune landed, the stone door abruptly flared with dazzling silver light before instantly dimming. All the electric serpents vanished, leaving behind an ordinary stone door.
The tense expression on the black-robed man’s face relaxed, replaced by wild joy. Pushing forward with all his strength, the stone door swung open easily with a creak.
The next instant, the black-robed man cried out, hurriedly circulating his true essence to protect his eyes.
Behind the stone door lay a grand hall.
The hall was blindingly bright. Had a mortal stood here, their eyes would have been blinded on the spot, for the radiance contained the raw power of thunder.
At the very center of the hall, a circular stone pit was set into the floor.
A pool of silver-white liquid had gathered inside. Though it appeared calm, it gave off an exceedingly violent aura—it was a slurry condensed from the purest power of thunder!
Seeing this pool of lightning slurry, the black-robed man looked terrified.
If this lightning slurry were to erupt, standing where he was, he would have no chance of survival and would be reduced to ash.
Fortunately, densely packed runes covered the rim of the pool and the four walls of the hall, forming an enormous spirit array that locked down the lightning slurry. Only faint wisps of thunder power leaked out due to the erosion of time.
And floating above the pool of lightning slurry was a peculiar stone platform.
Chapter 902