If it were an opponent at the early Nascent Soul stage, Qin Sang might have had a slim chance of survival in such a peculiar place as the Purple Mist Deathland by relying on the Lightning Command Technique and his various other methods.
Now, however, an elite expert second only to the Demon Lord and the Sect Master of the Tiandao Sect was guarding just outside the demonic fire. Qin Sang could not fathom how he could possibly escape right under such a person's nose.
"He arrived right on my heels after I left last time, which means he most likely discovered traces I left behind back then. This person truly possesses incredible patience, waiting several decades just to catch me like a rabbit at a tree!"
His face darkening, Qin Sang looked up. "He must have his eye on the treasures in the Ghostland."
Bai scoffed. "Besides that, what other purpose could there be? Didn't you also assume ancient treasures were hidden inside the demonic restriction back then? Over the years, countless cultivators have come and tried to breach the demonic restriction, only to meet with failure. Otherwise, I would have broken out of this cage long ago. Who would have thought that this is merely a dead land sealed by a demonic restriction, containing nothing but wandering spirits and ground covered in bones?"
"You want to strike a deal with me. Could it be that you have a way to pull the wool over his eyes and send me out?" Qin Sang asked.
"Indeed!" Seeing that Qin Sang was finally willing to get down to business, Bai said eagerly, "Not only will I send you out, but I will also leave here with you. Thus, you can trust me completely."
Qin Sang was slightly taken aback and said with surprise, "You can leave the Ghostland? Though my cultivation is meager, I can still glean a thing or two. The demonic restriction here is extraordinarily bizarre. If I am not mistaken, whoever laid down the demonic restriction around the Ghostland did so to trap you all here to die, never to attain release for all eternity. Having possessed the body of the Flying Yaksha, do you no longer fear the demonic restriction's seal, Fellow Daoist? I could certainly attempt to help you escape, but should you provoke the violent fury of the demonic restriction, I fear the two of us would be reduced to ashes beneath the demonic fire on the spot."
Bai fell silent for a moment, then said calmly, "It seems you possess quite some skill in the way of restrictions, Fellow Daoist! However, having been worn down by the passage of time, the demonic restriction's power is far weaker than it was originally, so it is no surprise you could tell. That is right—I have not fully fused with this physical body yet. Even with your protection, I cannot break free from these shackles. Therefore, I must first take a look at that magic treasure of yours that manipulates demonic fire..."
Bai paused.
Qin Sang's brow furrowed slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he flicked his sleeve, and three diminutive demon banners swirled out. Because he had not channeled true essence into them, the Nine Nether Demonic Fire did not manifest.
"It is this treasure!" Seeing the demon banners, Bai's eyes flared with bright light, his face alight with delight. "The demonic fire is sealed within this treasure, isn't it? The Qi of the three demon banners is interlinked, capable of forming a great array! The black shaft you brought out just now is extremely similar to the poles of these treasures. Are you planning to collect the demonic fire to refine more demon banners?"
Qin Sang remained silent for a moment before saying, "Good eye, Fellow Daoist. Indeed, I returned to the Ghostland precisely to refine this treasure..."
At this point, there was no need for concealment.
Qin Sang briefly explained his plan to refine refined soul silk, collect the Nine Nether Demonic Fire, and re-refine the demon banners. Finally, a half-smile appeared on his face. "It seems the vengeful spirits in the Ghostland might have all been your acquaintances in life. Fellow Daoist, you won't stop me from refining refined soul silk, will you?"
Hearing this, Bai did not answer. His gaze grew deep and profound, as if gazing across eternity, piercing through the long river of time.
"Earlier, I said it was because of an obsession that I held on in this sunless Ghostland until now. Do you know what that obsession is?"
Without waiting for Qin Sang to reply, Bai murmured, "It is an obsession, and it is also an oath. My memories have all rotted away, and I have forgotten who I am. Only this oath do I always remember, never forgetting it. It is the sole surviving memory I possess."
Saying so, Bai looked back toward the depths of the Ghostland.
There, the ghost mist was like a vast sea, and white bones piled up like mountains.
The vengeful spirits had lost their intelligence, forgotten themselves, and wandered in muddled stupor, trapped by the demonic restriction, never to be reincarnated for all eternity.
"I want to break the demonic restriction, grant them liberation, and send them into the cycle of reincarnation to be reborn!"
Bai looked at Qin Sang, his gaze clear and resolute, his words ringing out with conviction.
Qin Sang stared fixedly at the figure before him. That familiar baleful corpse body seemed to shine with incomparable brilliance.
An oath spanning countless years had sustained him in holding on until today, enduring loneliness and despair while waiting for an opportunity that might never arrive.
"Does reincarnation truly exist in this world?"
Qin Sang subconsciously voiced a question that had puzzled him for a long time, sweeping his eyes over the surrounding mountains of bone. "Even if reincarnation truly exists, their spiritual nature has long been extinguished. How could they be reincarnated? Once the demonic restriction's seal is opened, they will most likely just become wandering ghosts roaming the mortal realm, won't they?"
A look of bewilderment appeared on Bai's face, and he shook his head with a bitter smile. "I do not know! Perhaps in life, I made this oath merely to seek peace of mind. I only know that in the Ghostland, there is a grand array meant to deliver departed souls, likely left behind by me when I was alive. Whether they can be delivered can only be left to heaven's will. This oath is the reason I have persevered to this day; only by fulfilling this oath can I seek out my true self!"
"In that case, Fellow Daoist, do you intend to stop me from refining refined soul silk?" Qin Sang narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flickering within them.
Bai shook his head. "Do not misunderstand, Fellow Daoist! I will not stop you, because only by letting you refine the demon banners can you help me fulfill my oath. However, the secret technique for refining refined soul silk can be slightly modified; it will merely be somewhat more tedious than before. There are countless departed souls here, so there is no need for you to wipe them out completely. You only need to extract a wisp of soul qi from each departed soul, which will be more than enough to refine your treasure."
Hearing Bai's words, Qin Sang pondered briefly, his expression softening slightly. He gave a slight nod and said, "Your suggestion seems feasible, Fellow Daoist, though it adds plenty of trouble. However, if you can help me restrain the departed souls and command them to stay still while I extract their soul qi, the speed shouldn't be much slower."
Hearing this, Bai was overjoyed. "I will certainly do everything in my power to assist you!"
Qin Sang glanced at him and gave a dry chuckle. "Don't rejoice too soon, Fellow Daoist. After talking for so long, we still haven't touched on the real business. What exactly do you want me to do? And what are the terms of this transaction?"
"What you need to do is very simple. With the passage of time, numerous flaws have appeared in the demonic restriction. I hope that when you collect the demonic fire, you will start at specific positions, thereby weakening the demonic restriction's power."
Bai explained at a rapid pace, "Afterward, I will activate the grand array to forcefully assault the demonic restriction and deliver the departed souls. Once the demonic restriction breaks, the ghost mist pent up here will erupt along with it. Combining all these factors, the commotion will surely be stupendous, and the person outside will also be struck by powerful shockwaves. Caught off guard, he will inevitably be thrown into disarray and have no leisure to look elsewhere, giving us the chance to make a clean escape..."
Bai then explained his plan to Qin Sang in detail.
"So the demonic fire does not merely seal the canyon entrance, but is spread throughout the entire demonic restriction. In that case, I can quietly refine the Eighteen Demon Banners."
Having heard this, a thoughtful look appeared on Qin Sang's face.
He had originally been worried that the disturbance caused by collecting the Nine Nether Demonic Fire could not be concealed and would alert the enemy outside.
Chapter 937