Chapter 395: Shattering the Barrier
Qin Sang had yet to reach the Fake Core Realm, but through the sectâs ancient tomes and discussions with fellow disciples, he had gained a general understanding of it.
This was the advantage of being a disciple of a sect.
Cultivators of the same realm varied in strength, but when it came to raw cultivation, the difference was never insurmountableâexcluding the influence of external factors.
Now that he understood the astraâs massive energy consumption, Qin Sang could make an educated guess about Yu Huaâs current state. A bold plan immediately took shape in his mind.
"Retrieve!"
He withdrew the Demonic Flames of Nine Hells, rolled up the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions, and summoned the Five-Elemental Breaking Sword. Rising to his feet, he took a deep breath and stepped into the darknessâheading back toward the chamber!
The flying yaksha feared the Demonic Flames of Nine Hells and was suppressed only because Yu Hua was using the astra to keep it at bay.
Yu Hua would never expect him to return!
Qin Sang mentally counted the time. After another dizzying teleportation, the barrier appeared before him once more.
The scene in the chamber surprised him.
Yu Hua had somehow conjured a massive flaming cage of demonic flames completely trapping the flying yaksha within. Inside the infernal prison, the flying yakshaâs evasion technique appeared completely ineffective.
Its fear of the flames far exceeded even Qin Sangâs expectations. The creature roared madly inside the cage, yet dared not take a single step beyond the fire.
However, Yu Hua had paid a heavy price. His right arm had been severed at the elbow. Judging from the wound, it was not torn off by the yaksha, but rather cleanly severed by a blade.
It was easy to infer what had happenedâYu Hua had likely been wounded by the yaksha, forcing him to amputate his own arm to prevent the spread of corpse poison.
Moreover, Yu Huaâs aura was unstable, and his breathing was labored. His energy had been drastically depleted. Yet he was still standing before the barrier, desperately racing against time to break it open.
The barrier was already close to being broken
At that moment, Qin Sang appeared!
Their eyes met through the barrier.
"You actually dared to return?"
Disbelief flickered in Yu Huaâs eyes, quickly followed by vigilance. He had never imagined Qin Sang would come back.
Qin Sang responded with a savage grin before abruptly activating the Five-Elemental Breaking Sword.
This barrier, just like the ice wall beyond, was primarily designed to repel external threats. The one who had set it up seemed more concerned with preventing wandering demonic beasts from stumbling in and damaging the teleportation array at the core.
Breaking it from the inside was already easier, and since Yu Hua had partially unlocked it, Qin Sang merely leveraged his effortsâthe Five-Elemental Spiritual Swords slashed forward, instantly tearing open the barrier!
Caught off guard, Yu Huaâs first instinct was to retreat.
However, Qin Sang decisively discarded the Five-Elemental Breaking Sword and swung his arm, revealing the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions, which had been concealed behind him. The primary souls roared, surging forth. Black demonic flames converged, forming a long arrow that shot forward like a lightning bolt.
Yu Huaâs pupils dilated in terror.
"The Demonic Flames of Nine Hells! Youâ"
Whoosh!
The raging demonic flames swallowed his words. Panic-stricken, Yu Hua instinctively retreated, but Qin Sang moved too fast. Being so close to the barrier, Yu Hua had no room to maneuver.
As the infernal flames expanded rapidly in his vision, Yu Huaâs heart pounded frantically. In his desperation, he hurled a jade bracelet forward.
The jade bracelet was a top-grade artifact, something Yu Hua had kept in reserve precisely to counter unexpected dangers while breaking the barrierâa prudent move.
But against the power of an astra, the artifact was far too weak.
Crack!
The jade bracelet shattered upon impact with the demonic flames. Still, it had done its jobâit bought Yu Hua a brief moment of reprieve.
He staggered backward, barely avoiding total incineration. At this point, Yu Hua had only one optionâto recall the demonic flames and use the astra against Qin Sang.
But if he withdrew the flames, what would happen to the yaksha?
Yu Hua had no answer.
Yet he had no time to think. Qin Sang pressed the attack relentlessly, giving him no chance to reassess the situation.
All Yu Hua could do was pray that the yaksha, lacking intelligence and not being one of Qin Sangâs refined corpses, would not distinguish between friend and foe...
Boom!
Two torrents of demonic fire collided.
Qin Sangâs entire body shuddered violently, but he gritted his teeth and held firm!
The moment Yu Hua had been counting on never came. The yakshaâs eyes didnât seem to register Qin Sang at allâit was fixated solely on Yu Hua, as if he were the only living person in the chamber!
"Why?!"
Yu Hua roared in frustration, frantically activating his astra, forcing Qin Sang back while simultaneously wielding the demonic flames to narrowly fend off the yakshaâs sudden assault in a desperate bid to escape.
But before he could flee, a figure flickered before himâQin Sang had already blocked his only exit from the chamber.
Yu Hua had coveted the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid and wouldnât let Qin Sang go.
Likewise, Qin Sang had never stopped thinking about killing Yu Hua!
If he had no opportunity, he would flee.
But now that he had one, he would seize it without hesitation.
Letting Yu Hua escape would not only expose his identity, it would mean that decades of effort spent building his foundation in Small Cold Domain and Shaohua Mountain would be completely ruined. Worse, he would be forced to flee for his life, abandoning everything.
Being targeted by a demonic cultivator far stronger than himself, knowing that a relentless enemy lurked in the shadows, was a constant tormentâone Qin Sang refused to endure.
Since a sneak attack wasnât enough to kill Yu Hua, Qin Sang immediately changed tactics. Instead of attacking, he blocked the chamberâs exit, turning it into a trap.
The yaksha would be his most reliable ally.
Aside from the demonic flames, it feared nothing.
Qin Sang had no reason to fear betrayal.
One man, one corpseâor rather, two living corpsesâworked together in perfect synchrony.
With Qin Sang restraining the demonic flames, the yaksha could finally unleash its Golden Core corpse power, attacking with relentless ferocity and unpredictable movements.
Without an astra, even in his prime, Yu Hua would have no chance against the yaksha. Now, drained and exhausted, Yu Hua began to falter within mere moments.
He attempted to flee, but Qin Sang and the yaksha forced him back each time.
"You deserve to die!"
Yu Huaâs bloodshot eyes burned with hatred. He loathed Qin Sang with every fiber of his being. But with death looming over him, the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid was the furthest thing from his mindâsurvival was now his only goal.
No longer hesitating, Yu Hua decided to awaken the Heart-Devouring Insect's gu poison.
But just as he was about to act, a look of horrified disbelief spread across his face. "You...!"
"All this time, I was just pretending."
Qin Sang stood there unharmed, flashing a grin that revealed gleaming white teeth.
In Yu Huaâs eyes, he looked like a demon incarnate.
That sinister smile shook him. He flinched just for a moment, and in that instant, the yaksha struck, slamming a fist into Yu Huaâs chest with full force, sending him hurtling through the air with a scream of agony.
Still clinging to life, Yu Hua desperately recalled the demonic flames, forming a fiery shield that forced the yaksha to retreat.
Now's the time!
Qin Sang seized the opportunity without hesitation. He drained every last drop of his spiritual power, leaving not a trace in his Qihai, and unleashed the full might of the demonic flames, hurling them toward Yu Hua.
Yu Hua, scrambling to recall the flames to protect himself, was momentarily unable to form a proper defense. Qin Sang took advantage of this brief window, pouring everything he had into a final, decisive strike!
"Ahhh!"
The demonic flames burned the soul first. Though Yu Huaâs body remained untouched, his agonized screams shook the entire chamber as his primordial spirit rapidly weakened.
Seeing this, Qin Sangâs eyes flashed with sharp intent. Without hesitation, he redirected the demonic flames, blocking the yakshaâs advance.