ragginovel Chapter 2602 Burning Crystal Gate
Chapter 2602 Burning Crystal Gate
Chapter 2602 Burning Crystal Gate
From a distance, Qin Sang could tell that the group of cultivators were roughly divided into three camps, probably vying for some treasure.
At first, they were fighting in a chaotic battle, but then one of the factions seemed to have gained the upper hand, and the chaotic battle turned into a chase. The other two sides temporarily joined forces, and the side that had gained the upper hand was being surrounded and intercepted, and was fighting and retreating.
The cultivation level of this group of cultivators was quite ordinary. Each of the three camps had only one Void Refinement cultivator, leading a group of Nascent Soul cultivators. However, their strength was not bad; they were all experts in the Nascent Soul stage, otherwise they would have had difficulty resisting the invasion of the Xunfeng wind.
Qin Sang took in the entire battlefield scene. The fleeing group consisted of an elderly man in brocade robes, one man, and two women, a total of four people.
It's clear that this old man in brocade robes is the strongest among the three Void Refinement cultivators, which is why he was able to strike first. If he had been focused on escaping, he might have had a chance to get rid of his opponents, but unfortunately, he has three burdens with him.
His opponents saw through his weakness and launched a fierce attack on the man and two women. Even with their superior strength, they couldn't withstand the supernatural powers of the two Void Refinement cultivators and could only rely on the protection of the old man in brocade robes. The old man in brocade robes was struggling to cope, and judging from the situation, unless he could ruthlessly abandon these three, escaping was just a pipe dream.
However, the cultivation techniques of the man and the two women are in line with those of the old man in the brocade robe. They are either his disciples or direct descendants of his sect. Moreover, the supernatural abilities and techniques they use are quite sophisticated, indicating that they have mastered the true teachings. They must be rising stars in the old man's sect. It is not easy for a cultivation sect to cultivate such talents. No wonder the old man in the brocade robe could not bear to abandon them.
"Old ghost Mu, leave the item behind, and we won't hold it against you! Still so stubborn! Are you really willing to let three direct disciples die for a mere external object? If word gets out, how will you explain this to your sect leader!"
Another cultivator at the Void Refinement stage shouted sharply. This man was wearing a fiery red robe with gold thread along the edges, outlining a complex circular pattern on his chest.
He wore a mask, but it was cut in half, only covering the right side of his face. The exposed half of his face was quite handsome, but the shape of the mask was somewhat terrifying, which added a touch of sinister aura to his demeanor.
The masked man appeared to be persuading the old man in brocade robes, but in reality, he was preparing to launch a sneak attack, targeting one of the female cultivators among the man and two women.
As soon as she spoke, a tiny sword, hidden within the magical light, pierced towards the female cultivator's back.
The female cultivator fully controlled a set of crimson jade spirit needles, totaling seventy-two needles. The needles could be separated or combined unpredictably, and different numbers and arrangements could form different formations. The female cultivator was extremely flexible in using them, and the set of needle techniques moved like butterflies fluttering in the wind, making it a pleasing sight to behold.
Limited by her cultivation level, even if this set of needle techniques were powerful, she could not possibly be a match for two cultivators at the Void Refinement stage. However, she and the old man in the brocade robe came from the same school, and their auras were connected. She only needed to follow the old man's instructions and act as a puppet, thus blocking the enemy's attacks one by one.
The female cultivator's mind was focused on the Crimson Jade Needle, completely unaware of the approaching danger. Fortunately, the old man in the brocade robe was perceptive.
'call out!'
The Crimson Jade Needle, which was originally about to attack the other side, suddenly reversed direction, with its tip pointing directly behind the female cultivator. In an instant, it completed a dazzling array of formation changes, and the needle technique manifested a crimson rainbow.
With a 'boom', the miniature sword was forced into its true form by the crimson rainbow. Although it was not directly blasted away, it was difficult to succeed again.
Not only did the opponent bully the younger generation, but they also resorted to sneak attacks on the juniors. Such despicable behavior infuriated the old man in the brocade robe.
"We just agreed that we would compete fairly. You come from prestigious sects, yet you have abandoned all prestige, gone back on your word, and even dare to threaten me!"
The masked man merely snorted coldly. As the old man in the brocade robe forced back the miniature sword, three figures suddenly appeared around the battlefield. These three figures looked almost exactly like the masked man, except that they all wore complete masks.
At this moment, a strange change occurred on the masked man's face. On the half of his face that was not covered by the mask, flesh sprouted from the flesh. The flesh sprouts wriggled, like maggots crawling in and out of the face, and eventually grew into the other half of the mask.
Four masked men appeared simultaneously on the battlefield, occupying four sides, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake. The four masked men simultaneously uttered a 'thu' sound, as loud as thunder, and four spiritual swords appeared above the old man in the brocade robe's head.
The spirit sword was thick and heavy, with a restrained luster, resembling four stone swords. The swords were upside down and simultaneously slashed at the old man in the brocade robe.
The masked man's true purpose wasn't to kill the three juniors; rather, it was to spare their lives that made the old man in the brocade robe hesitate. Of course, they also greatly feared the Burning Crystal Sect behind the old man in the brocade robe. Killing them would become a blood feud, so it would be best to force the old man in the brocade robe to submit.
The sneak attack just now was actually a feint, intended to distract the old man in the brocade robe; that was the real killing move!
"If it weren't for your treacherous and cunning nature, Mu Laogui, taking advantage of our unpreparedness to use such sinister methods, how could you have succeeded! Hand over the item, and out of respect for the prestige of Sect Master Li of the Burning Crystal Sect, we might give you another chance..."
The last cultivator at the Void Refinement stage also spoke. This person looked like a gentle young man, and his tone was softer than that of the masked man, but his attacks were in no way inferior, and he took the opportunity to launch a fierce attack on the old man in brocade robes.
The two, who were once rivals, now cooperated seamlessly.
The old man in the brocade robe knew that since the other party had given up his dignity, he would not let the matter rest, so there was no point in saying more.
In an instant, four stone swords slashed down. The old man in the brocade robe clearly felt that the sword intent emanating from the seemingly ancient stone swords was incomparably sharp, as if it pierced through his protective divine light and cut through his skin.
In the critical moment, the old man in the brocade robe let out a low growl, and a crimson light shot out from the top of his head.
With a violent roar, a dazzling crimson light stung everyone's eyes. A furnace appeared three feet above the old man in the brocade robe. The furnace was round and round, with three legs and three ears on top. The furnace was painted with a mythical beast resembling a Taotie, with animal feet and ears.
What's even more peculiar is that the furnace is hollow, and through the patterns on the furnace, you can see the red-hot flames inside, like a mass of magma that has been tempered for countless years, leaving only its essence.
The instant the furnace appeared, a crimson light, almost tangible, burst forth.
The four stone swords struck the crimson light, producing a metallic sound. The sword intent froze for a moment, and the attack was neutralized.
At the same time, crimson light, like a rainbow, descended from all directions, enveloping the old man in brocade robes and his three disciples, and in doing so, blocking the attack of another cultivator at the Void Refinement stage.
"Crystal Core Furnace!"
The gentle young man exclaimed softly, retrieved his magical treasure, and exchanged a glance with the masked man from afar.
The so-called Crystal Heart Furnace is a symbol of a Void Refinement cultivator in the Crystal Refinement Sect who has mastered the sect's orthodox teachings. Not every Void Refinement cultivator in the Crystal Refinement Sect can cultivate a Crystal Heart Furnace, and the quality of the cultivated Crystal Heart Furnace varies.
The difficulty in completing it demonstrates the immense power of the Crystal Burning Heart Furnace, but each use consumes a tremendous amount of mental energy. They had been trying to force out the old man in the brocade robe to reveal the Crystal Burning Heart Furnace, but upon actually seeing it, they couldn't help but feel a sense of joy.
The old man in the brocade robe had a crystal furnace that looked like it was carved from fire jade, with almost no impurities, and could be called a top-grade furnace. However, the intelligence report stated that the old ghost Mu had clearly cultivated a mid-grade crystal furnace.
"This guy is indeed cunning; he's been hiding his strength all along!"
The two cursed inwardly, but now they were in a bind and had no choice but to try their luck with the top-grade crystal furnace.
On the other side, the crystal furnace forced back the opponent, and the old man in brocade robes and his three juniors were able to catch their breath for a moment, but the old man in brocade robes looked even more gloomy.
He was distracted too much by protecting his three juniors, and the use of the crystal furnace was extremely taxing. How many more times can he resolve this crisis?
In the blink of an eye, the siege began again.
The three factions were locked in fierce combat, completely unaware that someone was spying on them and had overheard their conversation.
Upon hearing the words 'Burning Crystal Sect', a hint of surprise flashed in Qin Sang's eyes.
"It can't be such a coincidence, can it?" He had actually heard of this sect before, and it was a long time ago.
When he learned from Gu Ya that the Storm Realm had ascended to the Mist Sea, he went to Kanzhou and stayed there for a period of time as a guest elder of the Five Elements Alliance. During this time, he took on a mission from the Five Elements Alliance and assisted Luohua Temple in refining spiritual treasures with several fellow Daoists. There, he met a female cultivator named Lady Shuanghua.
This Lady Shuanghua came from Xunzhou. She had a falling out with her husband's family and left home alone with her daughter. She settled in Kanzhou and made a name for herself in Kanzhou because of her exquisite weapon-refining skills.
This woman's husband's family seems to be called the Burning Crystal Sect.
"Is it a sect?"
Qin Sang's heart stirred slightly.
He originally intended to show himself directly and ask these people some questions, but the discovery of the Burning Crystal Sect cultivators gave him a different idea.
The heavily guarded Linfeng Clan, the Huangting Dao with ties to the Dao Court, and the chaotic battle among these cultivators from prestigious sects made him sense a subtle atmosphere.
"Is Xunfeng Sea near Xunzhou always this lively?"
Qin Sang was very suspicious.
The Xunfeng Sea is filled with countless treasures, but it is ultimately monotonous, as most of what it produces is related to 'wind'. Moreover, the Xunfeng Sea is fraught with danger and difficult to harvest. Sects that cultivate the art of controlling the wind will regard this place as a supreme treasure land, while other sects may not pay much attention to it.
If I were to appear as a Nascent Soul cultivator, it would surely cause a huge uproar. It would be better to first use Lady Shuanghua's connection to befriend this Burning Crystal Sect cultivator, understand the situation in Xunzhou, and then make a plan.
With that thought in mind, Qin Sang stopped hiding and revealed her aura.
"who!"
The three cultivators who were engaged in battle all had extremely sharp spiritual senses and immediately detected the unfamiliar aura.
The masked youth and the gentle-looking boy suddenly turned their gazes toward them, their eyes sharp as knives, their shouts laced with exasperation. Seeing their chances of winning growing stronger, how could they not be furious at being suddenly disrupted?
The old man in the brocade robe also looked over, but he was not happy about it. The person who came might not be a helper; they might even become another powerful enemy.
Qin Sang flew out of the whirlwind, scanned the battlefield with interest, and teased, "Fellow Daoists, you have such refined tastes that you've come here to compete in magic."
Seeing that Qin Sang's aura was subtle and she seemed fearless, and that her cultivation level was no less than theirs, the three of them looked rather gloomy.
The battlefield also experienced a brief pause due to Qin Sang.
"This fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar. May I ask your honorable name and where you are from?" The masked youth scrutinized Qin Sang, his mind quickly flashing through the names of famous experts from Xunzhou, but none of them matched this person.
Unexpectedly, this person ignored him and looked at the old man in brocade robes in the center of the battlefield, asking, "This fellow Daoist comes from the Burning Crystal Sect, is he from that major weapon-refining sect in Xunzhou?"
The masked man was secretly furious at Qin Sang's rudeness, but his heart skipped a beat when he heard Qin Sang's question.
Could this person be an old friend of the Burning Crystal Sect?
The Burning Crystal Sect is a renowned weapon-refining sect in Xunzhou, attracting countless cultivators and forces seeking their assistance, thus forging many good relationships.
A hint of surprise flashed in the old man's eyes. "I am Mu Hongsheng. Our sect is indeed known for its weapon crafting. Forgive my poor eyesight, but you are..."
Qin Sang smiled upon hearing this, "Hehe, it's normal that you don't recognize me. If it's the Burning Crystal Sect of Xunzhou, then it shouldn't be wrong. Does your sect have a refining master surnamed 'Yan'?"
Is this person surnamed Qin?
The three of them racked their brains, but couldn't recall any master with the surname Qin.
The old man in the brocade robe's expression shifted slightly: "The Grandmaster with the surname 'Yan' that Fellow Daoist Qin mentioned, is he the young sect master of our sect?"
Lady Shuanghua's husband is actually the young master of the Burning Crystal Sect. So wouldn't she be the young master's wife? How could things have come to the point where they are separated in two different states?
A thought flashed through Qin Sang's mind, and he nodded, saying, "It should be that one. So it is the young sect leader. Since he is an old friend and fellow disciple, I cannot stand idly by. Why don't you two give me some face and let this matter drop?"
Should I give you face?
What face do you have?!
The masked man nearly burst into a tirade, but reason told him that Old Man Mu had gained a powerful ally, and continuing the fight would be futile. The gentle young man was also considering retreating; their alliance was only a spur-of-the-moment decision, and now their opponent's strength was in no way inferior to theirs.
While they hesitated, Qin Sang was secretly communicating with the old man in the brocade robe.
The old man in the brocade robe was overjoyed that such a powerful ally had appeared out of nowhere at this critical moment, but he remained vigilant. "Thank you for your righteous help, Fellow Daoist Qin. The young sect leader has also moved his palace to the vicinity of Fenghai. He will surely be delighted to hear of my arrival. I was just about to meet with the young sect leader. Fellow Daoist Qin, would you mind moving your palace there so I can return and report your kindness in rescuing me?"
At this point, Qin Sang stopped keeping everyone in suspense and said, "To be honest, my old friend is not actually Sect Master Yan, but rather Sect Master Yan's Daoist partner."
"Young Madam?" The old man in the brocade robe was greatly surprised.
Qin Sang nodded, "I come from Kanzhou. I once befriended a fellow Daoist who called herself Lady Shuanghua. She claimed to be from the Burning Crystal Sect in Xunzhou. We even collaborated on a manual on weapon crafting..."
Before he could finish speaking, the old man in the brocade robe exclaimed softly, "The weapon-refining manual you mentioned, is it 'The Dream Interpretation of Luohua'?"
"Oh, has the young sect leader already invited Madam Shuanghua back to Xunzhou?" Qin Sang thought for a moment. After nearly two thousand years, even the deepest conflicts between the couple should have been resolved by now. It seems that Madam Shuanghua has calmed down.
Seeing Qin Sang's ambiguous smile, the old man in the brocade robe apologized, and finally confirmed Qin Sang's identity. He hurriedly bowed deeply, "I didn't know it was Elder Qin in person! My apologies! My apologies!"