Chapter 1273: A Fleeting Dream

Dongyang Bo was certain that Qin Sang would not dare make a move in broad daylight before everyone. As long as he remained cautious, he had no fear of any tricks Qin Sang might attempt.

Sure enough, Qin Sang had already removed his mask.

Dongyang Bo keenly noticed that the others’ attitude toward Qin Sang had subtly changed. There was a trace of caution and restraint in their demeanor. This was the status that strength brought.

After learning what had happened within the blood gate, Dongyang Bo felt even more shaken.

Qin Sang’s performance had been far more dazzling than he had expected. Destroying Old Devil Ye’s incarnation was an unprecedented feat within the Two-Domain Alliance!

Qin Sang slightly raised his head and met Dongyang Bo’s gaze. Their eyes remained calm, separating the instant they met.

Qin Sang had already guessed some of Dongyang Bo’s intentions. By concealing their conflict, Dongyang Bo avoided tearing things apart in public and forcing others to take sides. At the same time, he hid the disgraceful act of plotting against an ally.

Even if the truth were exposed, and Dongyang Bo attempted to bite back, others might not believe his lies. Sometimes, the truth did not matter.

Qin Sang had obtained the Spiritual Infant Talisman Puppet and naturally had no intention of bringing up the matter either.

Qingjun, the only one who knew the full story, could only sigh at the sight of the two acting as though nothing had happened, remarking inwardly that they had met a worthy opponent.

Devil Lord Tongyou returned from scouting the blood mist and said in a deep voice, "The monsters are similar to the flesh puppets, and their strength is comparable, but they are even more violent and bloodthirsty. This place is extremely dangerous. What do you all think?"

The group exchanged glances. Each of them had harbored their own plans before.

Some had wanted to return to the Black Tower Array to investigate the ruins and search for treasures. Others had wanted to look for fragments of the Infinite Blood Mulberry Wood.

But now, none of that was possible. If these monsters continued roaming without returning to dormancy, it would be difficult to ever enter Blood Lake again.

After a brief private discussion, Qin Sang and Qingjun decided to leave.

Jingyu had failed to find the Infinite Blood Mulberry Wood in the blood pool, and given the vast size of Blood Lake, searching for it here was like looking for a needle in the ocean.

Without the Dual-Polarity Nine Palaces Array, everything was full of uncertainty. If they were surrounded by monsters, even with his exceptional evasion techniques, he might not survive.

He still had plenty of time. There would be opportunities in the future.

Devil Lord Tongyou saw through everyone’s thoughts. After asking Qin Sang and a few others for their opinions, he said coldly, "Whether you stay or leave is your own decision. However, let me make this clear. If there are any signs of the monsters breaking out of Blood Lake, we will immediately seal it again!"

At these words, a stir ran through the crowd. Even the strongest among them were unwilling to take the risk.

No one knew where the treasures were. They could only search blindly. If they missed the chance to escape, even if they survived, they would be trapped in Blood Lake forever. Unless they had Jingyu’s luck and waited for rescue, who would dare stay?

Reluctantly, they cast one last look at the Black Tower Array, sighing inwardly as they agreed to retreat.

Dongyang Bo entered the Dual-Polarity Nine Palaces Array.

Taking turns controlling the jade talisman, they followed Dongyang Bo’s lead, avoiding the territories of the monster leaders as they swiftly navigated through the blood mist in search of an exit.

Their luck was not bad. The monsters they encountered along the way were still manageable. Before they could alert other monsters, the group worked together to eliminate them.

As they neared the edge of the basin, a dispute suddenly arose among the master and two disciples of the Taiyi Core Sect.

"Master, you must not! The ancient barrier there is extremely dangerous..." Si Di cried out, stepping forward to block Daoist Master Chongyi.

Everyone turned to look. Ever since leaving the blood gate, the three had been whispering among themselves, their purpose unclear.

"Insolence!" Daoist Master Chongyi rebuked sharply, his authority as a master evident. "Must I seek your permission for my actions? Though I failed before, the ancient barrier was shaken when the seal was broken. This is the best opportunity!"

Another disciple, known by the Dharma name Yaojing, saw that his master had already made up his mind and said, "Senior Brother and I will accompany you."

"Fool! I already have one foot in the grave. My death is nothing. But if you are dragged down with me, what meaning would my centuries of effort have?" Unable to persuade them, Daoist Master Chongyi shouted, "Let all present bear witness! If these two rebellious disciples dare take a single step after I leave, they will be expelled from Taiyi Core Sect and never allowed to return for the rest of their lives! Let this stand as testimony before heaven and earth!"

With that, he flicked his fly-whisk, carving a deep line into the ground. Si Di and Yaojing trembled upon seeing their master’s resolve, their faces filled with grief.

Devil Lord Tongyou and the others understood the situation and quickly tried to dissuade him. "This place is too dangerous. Please reconsider, Daoist Master!"

Daoist Master Chongyi gave a fist-and-palm salute and said calmly, "My heavenly tribulation is approaching. My time is short. Rather than linger on, I would rather take a final gamble. Fellow Daoists, farewell!"

The news of the ancient cultivator had once seemed to offer a glimmer of hope, but it had turned into nothing more than an illusion.

Daoist Master Chongyi had devoted his entire life to his sect. Now that Taiyi Core Sect had two Spiritual Infant cultivators guarding it, he had no more regrets and walked toward death with a smile.

With that, he raised his fly-whisk and stepped into the blood mist.

A faint song drifted behind him. "In youth, I entered Taiyi, calling myself immortal, wild and unrestrained. In the blink of an eye, a thousand years passed, a fleeting dream."

Silence fell as they watched his figure disappear into the depths of the blood mist.

Among them, some had only recently reached the Spiritual Infant Realm and had yet to feel the oppressive weight of heavenly tribulations.

Others were in situations similar to Daoist Master Chongyi, yet burdened by too many concerns to risk everything.

But all of them understood his state of mind. Even Dongyang Bo, who had never been on good terms with him, felt genuine respect for the old man.

They worked together to restrain Si Di and Yaojing, then continued rushing toward the exit of Blood Lake.

Along the way, they noticed the number of monsters increasing.

In silence, they finally returned to the entrance of Blood Lake's seal without incident. Seeing that the monsters had not yet gathered there, they all breathed a sigh of relief and quickly flew out.

Several figures were waiting outside the seal. They stared at Blood Lake in terror, their shock not yet faded. They were Golden Core cultivators who had entered earlier, now reduced to only a fraction of their original number.

After leaving Blood Lake, no one departed, nor did they rush to restore the seal.

Instead, they acted in unison, doing their best to eliminate the wandering monsters while waiting for Daoist Master Chongyi. Moved by his resolve, they were united in rare harmony.

Si Di and Yaojing guarded their master’s spirit tablet, restless with anxiety.[1]

Qin Sang observed the expressions of all present. The newly advanced Spiritual Infant cultivators were deep in thought.

Previously, they had only heard of it, never truly experiencing the cruelty of heavenly tribulations firsthand.

Qingjun remained calm as ever. Her Dao Heart was firm. She had long determined her path and was unmoved by external factors.

A trace of relief flashed through Jingyu’s eyes. After enduring two hundred years of imprisonment, she had finally obtained the Corpseflower Blood Amber.

The older generation of Spiritual Infant cultivators, including Devil Lord Tongyou, all faced the looming threat of heavenly tribulations. Their expressions were grave.

Dongyang Bo stood alone at the edge, hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky, lost in thought.

Time passed, second by second. Chaos within Blood Lake intensified.

Qin Sang also joined the fight. Together, they cleared the monsters, but it became clear they could not hold on much longer. The creatures had discovered the breach in the seal and were beginning to converge.

Still, Daoist Master Chongyi had not returned.

Crack! A faint sound suddenly rang out, like thunder exploding in their hearts. The spirit tablet shattered.

1. A spirit tablet, memorial tablet, or ancestral tablet is a placard that people used to designate the seat of a deity or past ancestor as well as to enclose it. ☜

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