Chapter 689: Chapter 689

The spiritual insect bit down hard on the ebony sword. Its fangs gnawed away as strange vortex-like streams of energy swirled within its gaping maw. A harsh grinding noise echoed as the sword light was crushed and devoured, the fragments seemingly absorbed by the creature's teeth.

The ebony sword barely managed to break free from the insect’s mouth, but fortunately, the blade itself remained undamaged.

"A third-metamorphosis insect gu?"

Qin Sang’s eyes narrowed with suspicion and surprise. This youth was actually from the witch race.

There were witch cultivators on Duyan Island, but they were far fewer in number than human cultivators. After all, the island master himself was a Spiritual Infant human. The witch cultivators on the island had always kept a low profile, going out of their way to remain on good terms with human cultivators. Since when had they become so brazen?

This particular insect was known as the Essence-Devouring Insect, ranked within the top hundred on the Witch Insect Register. Not only did this person possess inner armor, but his life-bound insect gu also held such a high rank.

The ebony sword struggled to suppress a third-metamorphosis life-bound insect gu.

Without hesitation, Qin Sang recalled the spiritual sword and retrieved the Blackwater Mirror from his Thousand-Jin Ring. Raising his palm slightly, the mirror spun into the air, facing the black-robed youth.

Within the dark surface of the mirror lay a space of unfathomable depth. As the roar of crashing waves erupted, spiritual water surged forth from within the astra, condensing into a ferocious black dragon that charged toward the youth.

Just then, Qin Sang noticed something unusual. His gaze locked onto the youth’s right hand, where a silver light flickered in his palm. It looked like a talisman.

The moment he saw the silver glow, a wave of dread surged through Qin Sang’s heart.

Realizing his action had been exposed, the black-robed youth no longer concealed it. He lashed out with his palm, sneering wickedly. "Die!"

A silver talisman shattered before Qin Sang’s eyes.

In that instant, every hair on Qin Sang's body stood on end. A sense of mortal peril enveloped him.

Overhead, the previously cloudless sky now held a swirling mass of dark clouds. It was that cloud that triggered such intense fear in Qin Sang.

Without daring to look up, he reacted faster than thought. He tossed the Blackwater Mirror upward, redirecting the attack originally aimed at the youth. Then, his consciousness plunged into his dantian, and he activated the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman without hesitation.

A small phantom of a Jiao suddenly appeared above him. With a roar, it dove down and merged into his body.

In the next instant, a crimson protective shield shimmered around Qin Sang, within which the dragon soul swam with majestic grace. At the same time, his figure transformed into a streak of silver and red light that slid several zhang across the air in a blink.

The very moment he vanished, a slender bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the Blackwater Mirror. The astra was obliterated instantly, and the lightning continued downward, piercing through the mirror and slashing through Qin Sang’s afterimage, grazing past him.

The bolt missed him. It landed squarely on the sea. Latest content publıshed on novel⟡fire.net

A deafening boom followed. The tremendous power packed within the lightning erupted, blasting open a crater nearly ten zhang wide across the sea’s surface. Arcs of silver energy scattered like fish swimming in all directions.

Only after the power dissipated did the sea slowly close over the wound.

Witnessing this, Qin Sang broke into a cold sweat.

If it hadn’t been for the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman and Sword Qi Thunderclap, and if the Blackwater Mirror hadn’t bought him a crucial instant...

Had he been a moment slower, if that lightning had struck him head-on, he would not have survived. Even a late-stage Core Formation cultivator would have been severely injured by that blow.

His expression darkened, eyes fixed on the black-robed youth with intense killing intent.

The power of that lightning talisman was terrifying. In a battle between Core Formation cultivators, it could easily determine victory.

If he hadn’t possessed ample escape methods and remained alert without underestimating his opponent, reacting immediately at the first sign of danger, he truly might have fallen into this man’s trap.

"Even the Lightning Command Talisman couldn't kill you?"

The black-robed youth was stunned. Clearly, he hadn’t expected Qin Sang to possess such speed. That a sure-kill strike had missed left him visibly shaken.

Then he saw Qin Sang summon three devilish banners. Their power was formidable, and a look of panic finally crossed his face.

Qin Sang was still recovering from the shock, but the youth was feeling even more frustrated.

That Lightning Command Talisman had been gifted to him by his master as a life-saving trump card. If used unexpectedly, it could even kill a late-stage Core Formation cultivator. Yet it had been completely evaded.

Moreover, the astra Qin Sang pulled out left his heart pounding. The man’s cultivation wasn’t high, but the number of treasures he possessed was outrageous. The black-robed youth couldn’t help but regret provoking someone so hard to deal with.

He urgently pushed his life-bound insect gu forward to attack Qin Sang, while reaching for his pouch as if intending to retrieve something else. But at that very moment, he suddenly sensed a powerful gust of wind surging from behind.

Unbeknownst to him, the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions had only been a decoy.

The flying yaksha, which had dived deep into the sea earlier, had quietly approached while the black-robed youth was distracted by the Lightning Command Talisman and Qin Sang. Now, at last, it found the perfect opportunity to strike.

Out of the corner of his eye, the youth caught only a glimpse of a shadow. Startled, he had no time to react before the flying yaksha’s claw slammed into his back.

Though the inner armor blocked the blow, the terrifying force still pierced through and ravaged his insides. Severely wounded, the black-robed youth let out a scream and was hurled through the air.

His life-bound insect gu sensed its master’s peril. With a mournful cry, it turned and rushed back in an attempt to rescue him. But Qin Sang was faster. He and the yaksha closed in from both sides, surrounding the youth.

Just then, a crimson streak of light appeared in the distance. Someone was approaching at great speed.

Qin Sang’s pupils contracted slightly. The newcomer was likely an ally of the black-robed youth. Although there was only one person, the strength of their evasion light suggested a cultivation at least at the middle stage of the Core Formation Realm. Given that the Blood Defilement Divine Light had already been expended, Qin Sang could not win head-on.

Furthermore, since the black-robed youth carried multiple powerful treasures, he must have held a high position within the witch race. It was unlikely he had only one companion.

Originally, Qin Sang had planned to capture him alive and extract information through soul-searching. But seeing the situation change, he immediately gave the order to the flying yaksha to kill him.

The heavily injured youth was nearly powerless. He had just dodged one sword when a ghostly claw pierced through the back of his skull, killing him on the spot.

The life-bound insect gu, its life linked to its master’s, perished at the same moment.

With a cold expression, Qin Sang swiftly stored the flying yaksha, seized the youth’s pouch from his waist, and claimed the nearly destroyed inner armor. Without pause, he activated his talismans and Sword Qi Thunderclap and sped away.

Before leaving, he even had enough time to unleash a flame to destroy the corpse, erasing all traces.

The direction he chose, however, was not toward Duyan Island but the way he had come.

He had no idea what had happened on Duyan Island. Until he figured it out, he had no intention of stepping into troubled waters. The surrounding areas might still be crawling with the youth’s companions. His safest option was to return along the same path, back toward Fuhu Sea region.

By the time Qin Sang had finished off the black-robed youth, his comrade finally arrived.

Seeing the charred remains of his companion, the newcomer’s eyes nearly burst with fury, and he gave chase in a frenzy. But his evasion technique was far inferior to Qin Sang’s. The distance between them only grew wider and wider.

Soon, he lost all trace of his target.

Across the vast ocean, Qin Sang had vanished without a trace.