Venerable Yuanjue

Years ago, Venerable Yuanjue had left Great Sui to travel abroad, and no one had known his whereabouts since.

Some said he had gone in search of an opportunity to break through to the Xiantian realm. Others said Venerable Yuanjue's allotted lifespan was drawing to an end, that he was unwilling to accept it, and had gone seeking immortality.

Who would have thought that Venerable Yuanjue would return to Great Sui at this time—and that Qin Sang would happen to run into him?

That roar just now must have been Xuanji Temple's famed ultimate art, the Lion's Roar.

True Qi taking form and condensed fists shattering the air—this was the first time Qin Sang had witnessed such a sight.

Qin Sang's figure flashed repeatedly as he drifted backward. The Reckless Monk snorted coldly and abruptly swung his arm.

'Whoosh!'

A chain of refined iron shot through the air. Under the moonlight, it resembled a crystalline stream of water, streaking toward Qin Sang at tremendous speed.

Unexpectedly, before the chain had even reached halfway, it suddenly lost its force. It flew a little farther before running out of momentum and crashing to the ground with a 'clatter.' The Reckless Monk's eyes rolled back, and without warning, he fell stiffly backward.

'Bang!'

The Reckless Monk's corpse struck the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and a few fallen leaves. There was no breath left in him.

All of this had happened in the time it took for sparks to fly from flint. Venerable Yuanjue glanced at the Reckless Monk's corpse, then turned and fixed his gaze on Qin Sang and the black banner in his hand. A sharp gleam burst from his eyes.

"You are an Immortal Cultivator!"

Holding the Yanluo Banner, Qin Sang came to a stop in the distance. His gaze was cold and his tone calm. "Old monk, I do not wish to create further slaughter. If you leave now, I will spare your life."

Though his words sounded impressive, Qin Sang was groaning inwardly.

After Yanwang killed the Reckless Monk, Qin Sang ordered him to kill Venerable Yuanjue as well. Yet Yanwang had actually disobeyed.

Whenever Yanwang encountered a stranger, he was like someone spotting delectable food. Without Qin Sang's command, he would eagerly rush forward to savor the delicious souls.

But now, facing the old monk, Yanwang seemed afraid. He cowered off to one side, not daring to approach.

Though the old monk was aged, the vigor of his blood and Qi was astonishingly powerful—the strongest Qin Sang had ever seen. Moreover, the old monk's True Qi was highly unusual. His fist shadows burned crimson like fire, and his whole body was like a blazing sun, the natural bane of ghosts.

The black-clothed Demon Lord had used the Yanluo Banner to perish together with an Immortal Master who wielded a flying sword, yet now Yanwang feared a Xiantian Master among mortals.

Qin Sang vaguely guessed the reason.

Even on the battlefield, Qin Sang never allowed Yanwang to devour too many souls.

First, he feared exposing his identity. Second, he feared that if Yanwang grew too powerful, he would suffer a backlash.

Qin Sang had long discovered a trait of the Yanluo Banner: if Yanwang devoured enough souls, the holes in the banner would repair themselves.

Presumably, once the Yanluo Banner was whole again, Yanwang's strength would also return to its former peak.

Qin Sang did not know what realm the black-clothed Demon Lord had been in while alive, but it was certainly higher than his own. The black-clothed Demon Lord could suppress Yanwang at his peak, but the Jade Buddha might not be able to.

Out of caution, Qin Sang only allowed Yanwang to devour a few dozen souls each time before recalling him. At that point, Yanwang could provide three Soul Pellets, enough for Qin Sang to use for a while.

He had originally planned to wait until he broke through the fifth layer of the Netherworld Scripture before gradually increasing Yanwang's strength. He had not expected the vigorous blood and Qi of a Xiantian Master to be enough to frighten Yanwang.

Qin Sang had long heard Bai Jianglan's tale of a Xiantian Master slaying an Immortal Master with sword radiance. It seemed Immortal Cultivators could not look down on mortals either—much less someone like him, a half-baked cultivator who knew nothing.

Shouts and pounding came from outside the residence gate. Someone loudly called for the martial instructor, but no one inside answered. Then the main gate was forcibly rammed open.

That long howl from the old monk had drawn over the constables and civilian militiamen patrolling around the county office.

At this point, Qin Sang could not worry about anything else. He could only abandon his former caution and let Yanwang go out to devour souls and increase his strength. Meanwhile, he suppressed the panic in his heart and put on an act, hoping to bluff the old monk.

Yet unexpectedly, after hearing Qin Sang's words, Venerable Yuanjue showed not the slightest fear. Instead, delighted light flickered in his eyes.

Qin Sang suddenly realized something. If Venerable Yuanjue had traveled abroad in pursuit of immortality, then what would he do upon truly seeing an Immortal Cultivator putting on a brave front before him?

Everything Qin Sang had just said had been completely unnecessary. He had revealed weakness before an old hand of the martial world for no reason!

Feeling Venerable Yuanjue's gaze grow increasingly greedy, Qin Sang could not help regretting it bitterly.

Sure enough, Venerable Yuanjue narrowed his eyes and stared at Qin Sang for a while before suddenly sneering. "Playing tricks and pretending to be a god!"

Qin Sang abruptly sensed that something was wrong. Alarm bells rang wildly in his heart as he stamped hard on the ground and his body drifted upward.

In the blink of an eye, Venerable Yuanjue appeared where he had originally been standing. A mass of fiery-red force condensed in his palm as he struck out fiercely, directly snapping an old tree behind him.

'Crack!'

The trunk broke in the middle, and its enormous crown crashed down.

What a terrifying Xiantian Master!

Qin Sang's scalp prickled as he watched. Knowing he had no chance whatsoever against Venerable Yuanjue, he turned and ran.

Seeing this, Venerable Yuanjue was overjoyed. Brilliant light flashed repeatedly in his eyes as he laughed wildly. "Where did this brat come from? Hand over your immortal cultivation methods, and this poor monk will spare your wretched life!"

The first sentence was still behind him.

The second was already at his ear.

When the final sentence rang out, a figure flashed before Qin Sang. Venerable Yuanjue strolled as though taking a leisurely walk through a courtyard; with one step, he overtook Qin Sang and blocked his path.

A withered, bony hand reached toward him, seeming slow but actually swift.

Qin Sang's hairs stood on end. He used the Shadowless Steps with all his strength, charging left and right like a headless fly. Yet no matter how wildly he darted about, that palm remained before him.

"Get back here, you bastard!"

Qin Sang desperately activated the Yanluo Banner's incantation, cursing furiously in his heart. But the palm rapidly enlarged before his eyes, and bitterness surged through him, filled with deep unwillingness.

My life is over!

Unexpectedly, Venerable Yuanjue did not directly crush Qin Sang's neck. Instead, he snatched the Yanluo Banner from Qin Sang's hand.

Venerable Yuanjue glanced at the Yanluo Banner, ecstasy flashing in his eyes. He looked at Qin Sang as though looking at a treasure vault. His fingers shot out like lightning, about to seal Qin Sang's acupoints, when his body suddenly stiffened.

Qin Sang was overjoyed. With a low roar, he charged forward, knocked aside Venerable Yuanjue's arm, seized back the Yanluo Banner, and viciously thrust it at the vital point of Venerable Yuanjue's neck. Qin Sang used every ounce of strength in his body, driving nearly the entire banner pole in.

'Pfft!'

Blood sprayed across Qin Sang's face. A fountain of blood erupted from Venerable Yuanjue's neck as he fell onto his back.

Qin Sang collapsed onto the ground and gasped heavily like a bellows. Looking at Venerable Yuanjue lying motionless on the ground, lingering fear still filled his heart.

Venerable Yuanjue was the most terrifying enemy Qin Sang had encountered since coming to this world. Xiantian Masters truly were terrifying.

After the fright passed, Qin Sang could not help reflecting on himself.

Over the past year, he had been invincible. No matter how skilled an opponent was, none could withstand Yanwang. His mentality had inevitably changed; he no longer placed mortals in his eyes and felt that the vast world held no place he could not come and go as he pleased.

Only after nearly losing his life this time did he suddenly become alert. From now on, no matter what opponent he encountered, he had to remain cautious.