Chapter 467: The True Objective
This was clearly an abandoned place.
It reminded Qin Sang of the stone pavilion beside the pool he had seen when he first enteredâwho knew how many years it had weathered, and after being ruined, it had remained untouched ever since.
However, upon noticing the unusual absence of barrier fragments, Qin Sang no longer dared to treat this place lightly.
Could it be that some mysterious power remained within the plaza, one that repelled all the barrier fragments?
He turned his head slightly and caught, from the corner of his eye, Granny Jing flying up from his shoulder, scanning the surroundings. He understood then that this must be her destination.
She had gone to great lengths to reach this place. There had to be a reason. Perhaps some kind of precious treasure was hidden within.
Qin Sang lowered his head and glanced toward the center of the plaza. That spot stood out the most, but it was buried beneath a heap of broken stone pillars, concealing whatever lay underneath.
He knew his place. Suppressing his curiosity, he didnât dare entertain even the slightest greed.
His only wish was to fulfill the agreement with Granny Jing and leave immediately.
With that in mind, Qin Sang sent her a voice transmission. "Senior, are youâ"
But before he could finish, a muffled sound suddenly rang out, cutting him off.
The source came from the center of the plaza.
It was abrupt, and Granny Jing hadnât made any move. The sound originated from beneath the rubble of the broken stone pillars.
Qin Sangâs expression changed drastically. He turned his gaze just in time to see the piled-up fragments of the stone pillars suddenly bulge outward, as though something within was trying to burst free.
In the same instant, light flared up from beneath the rubble. It seeped through every crevice, and streaks of white light burst forth, instantly dispelling all the darkness within the plaza, flooding the space with brightness.
Seeing this, an intense sense of alarm surged in Qin Sangâs heart. The first thought that flashed through his mind was to leave now. He had no intention of getting dragged into whatever this was.
Without waiting for Granny Jingâs response, Qin Sang made a swift decision. He turned, ready to retreat immediately.
But fate was not on his side. Just as he was about to move, a powerful surge of spiritual power suddenly erupted from deep within the plaza, blasting apart the rubble of the shattered stone pillars.
In an instant, rocks shot in all directions and dust billowed into the air.
Amid the chaos, something happened that Qin Sang could never have expected. Three figures suddenly soared into the sky.
People?!
Qin Sang was utterly stunned. He had never imagined there would be others here.
Vice Island Master Xiao had no reason to lie to them. According to him, Zhitian Peak was filled with countless barrier fragments but devoid of all life; there should have been no one here.
Yet now, three individuals had suddenly emerged from beneath the rubble. They clearly werenât among the sixty-five people who had entered alongside him. Could it be that there were other entrances to Zhitian Peak?
Who are they?
Was Granny Jing here not to search for treasure but for them?
As the broken stones exploded outward, a calm voice came from the trio. "Reporting to Grand Elder, this place isnât the immortal residence, itâs a different hidden realm!"
Another, more excited voice followed. "Senior Uncle, look at this! These are truly Elemental Star Stones! The sect leaderâs vision is indeed divine. The immortal residence is definitely connected to Zhitian Peak!"
"Wait!"
"Thereâs someone else here!"
...
They had appeared far too quickly. Qin Sang hadnât even had time to hide and was easily spotted.
Their voices cut off abruptly. Clearly, they hadnât expected to encounter anyone else either. All six eyes immediately fixed on Qin Sang, who was halfway through making his escape.
As the dust settled, Qin Sang finally got a good look at them.
Three peopleâan old man flanked by two youths.
The old man stood in the center, while the young men stood on either side.
The elder wore a strange silver robe, upon which was drawn a detailed map of stars. Starlight shimmered across the robeâs surface, dazzling like a real sea of stars. It was impossible to look away.
The youth on his left was the one who had spoken first. He wore simple robes, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, and had a calm demeanorâboth in voice and bearingâclearly no ordinary person.
However, when facing the elder, he showed deference.
Judging from this, and the way he addressed the elder as "Grand Elder," it was obvious that the old man held an extremely high status.
The other youth, holding a feathered fan and dressed in scholarâs robes, had a handsome face and an outstanding aura. Among the three, he carried the most playful and carefree air.
Just moments ago, he had been pointing excitedly at a glowing orb outside the plaza. But the moment he spotted Qin Sang, his smile froze, turning oddly stiff.
Their external auras werenât strongâmerely at the Foundation Building Realmâbut that didnât mean their true cultivation stopped there.
Grand Elder... Senior Uncle...
These titles werenât something just anyone could bear. The old man and the calm-robed youth likely resembled Granny Jing in one respect. They had concealed their cultivation to enter this place.
Thoughts raced through Qin Sangâs mind. He saw no identifying emblems on the three and couldnât discern their origins. Anxiously, he shifted his gaze to seek help from Granny Jing, only to discover that, at some unknown moment, she had vanished without a trace.
The surroundings were completely empty. A heavy weight sank in Qin Sangâs heart.
The handsome youth suddenly cried out, pointing at Qin Sang, speaking rapidly, "Grand Elder, I know this man! Heâs the Shadowless Sword of Shaohua Mountain. His nameâs well known in the Yuncang Marshlands. Senior Brother sent a message earlierâhe was one of the people chosen by Snake Granny to enter Zhitian Peak!"
Qin Sang scrutinized the youth, certain they had never met before, and had no idea who this senior brother of his might be.
From those words, Qin Sang could only surmise they were either from the Small Cold Domain or the Tianxing Alliance, but definitely not foreign cultivators.
A strained, awkward smile formed on Qin Sangâs face. But before he could utter a word, a sharp glint flashed in the old manâs eyes. A trace of killing intent appeared as he coldly spat out two words.
"Kill him."
Qin Sangâs gaze sharpened instantly. The moment he had been exposed, he had known this encounter would not end peacefully. He wasnât naive enough to think they would let him walk away after their secret had been uncovered.
He had hoped that if they were fellow cultivators from the Small Cold Domain, he might stall for time with words.
But his hopes were dashed. These people were far more ruthlessâwasting no words, moving straight for the kill.
Even before the old manâs voice had faded, the handsome youth impatiently summoned a flying sword, his face full of disdain as he sneered at Qin Sang. "Wait, Senior Uncle! Let me handle him first. I want to see what this so-called Shadowless Sword is capable of. He hasnât even reached the Fake Core Realm, yet somehow his reputation overshadows Senior Brotherâs."
The plain-robed youth frowned slightly, shooting a stern glare at him. He chided coldly, "This mission concerns the sectâs future. How can you afford to fool around? Kill him first, thenâ"
Just then, no one noticed a figure silently appearing at the center of the plaza. A white-clad figure, ethereal and transcendent, stood quietly. Her gaze was icy as she looked at the trio. Her voice was cold and distant. "Only one Grand Elder came? Leng Yuntian is still hiding in the sect, playing the coward?"
All three were startled, their expressions changing dramatically.
"Who?!"
"Whoâs there?!"
...
Leng Yuntian!
The moment that name was spoken, it struck Qin Sang like a bolt of lightning. His mind immediately pieced everything together.
Leng Yuntian, the sect leader of Yuanshen Sect!
It was said he was also a Spiritual Infant cultivator.
This old man, called "Grand Elder" by the two youths, could only be one person: the Yuanshen Sectâs grand elder, second in fame only to figures like Snake Grannyâa late-stage Golden Core expertâStar-Controlling Elder!
So Granny Jingâs true target was none other than the sect leader of Yuanshen Sect!