Qin Sang observed Madam Liu’s movements.
She was remarkably patient and resolute, having remained in ambush for an unknown length of time.
Hidden in the forest, she did not move at all and seemed unaware that someone else was lying in wait behind her.
From start to finish, the Liu-surnamed cultivator never showed up.
Qin Sang grew more and more certain that something had happened to him.
He could not be sure whether the culprits were the people he suspected.
Poison-warding treasures were exceedingly rare. It would be too much of a coincidence for the Liu couple to have run into another enemy in possession of one.
After some time, still no one emerged from Celestial Blossom Lake.
Qin Sang silently calculated the time. With the closing of Seven-Kill Hall drawing near, waiting here indefinitely seemed unwise. There was no guarantee the person inside would come out alive.
Just as he frowned to himself, a sudden disturbance caught his eye at the ancient bridge.
Petals fluttered in the air. Someone was coming out!
"Someone's here!"
Qin Sang’s gaze sharpened. Within the thin mist, the hidden sword qi trembled slightly, clearly revealing Madam Liu’s unsettled state of mind.
Qin Sang held his breath, keeping still as he stared at the bridge’s entrance.
A figure flew out from within Celestial Blossom Lake. Qin Sang recognized a familiar protective aura shielding the person from the lake’s deadly toxins.
"It’s the Bone Lotus!"
Qin Sang’s eyes turned cold, killing intent rising sharply.
The moment he saw the trap laid by Madam Liu, he had a hunch. Anyone associated with the Liu couple and able to enter Celestial Blossom Lake was likely to be Xiang Yi or someone from his group.
Though Qin Sang didn’t know what had transpired between them, he knew Xiang Yi was ruthless. Collaborating with Cui Ji to harm the Liu couple would not be out of character for him.
Xiang Yi, Cui Ji, and the plump man were all people Qin Sang had marked for death.
No matter which of them had come out of Celestial Blossom Lake, they would not leave Seven-Kill Hall alive today.
Qin Sang flipped his palm and quietly gripped the Flame Orb in his hand.
If it was Cui Ji or the plump man, Qin Sang’s progress in the Sword Dao meant he could now suppress them using swordsmanship alone.
Xiang Yi, however, was far stronger than the other two. Since the Blood Defilement Divine Light had already been used, Qin Sang decided to play it safe and employ the Flame Orb to kill with a single blow.
He had originally reserved the Flame Orb for his journey into the Sky Tower, to deal with unexpected crises, but it had never been used.
Now that he was about to leave Seven-Kill Hall, using it to eliminate a powerful enemy seemed worthwhile.
With one hand gripping the Flame Orb in secret, Qin Sang used the other to set up the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions, though he made no sudden moves. He simply waited patiently, observing the situation.
The faint tremble of the mist mirrored Madam Liu’s agitation.
Finally, the person reached the bridge’s entrance. He clearly hadn’t expected anyone to be lying in wait. After a quick glance around, he stepped out with minimal caution.
"Cui Ji! So it really is them..."
Recognizing the man, Qin Sang let out a cold snort inwardly. He hadn’t expected to stumble directly upon his target. Taking Cui Ji down first would be a satisfying start.
"Looks like Cui Ji came here for the Celestial Blossom Lake. So the deal they made must have involved the Bone Lotus..."
Qin Sang had more or less pieced together the nature of their transaction. Just as he was about to put the Flame Orb away, he froze, startled to find that Cui Ji had actually broken through to the late stage.
Before entering Seven-Kill Hall, Cui Ji had been stuck at a bottleneck. A single trip to Celestial Blossom Lake had propelled him straight into the late stage of the Core Formation Realm.
***
Cui Ji held the Bone Lotus in one hand, his face radiating smug satisfaction.
Some of the lotus petals had turned purple, others green. Only one remained intact. It was clear that this extraordinary treasure was nearing the end of its life.
Cui Ji’s mood was radiant, his excitement hard to contain.
He hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. Perhaps it was because his rival had been eliminated, or because he had found the spiritual herb and consumed it. Soon after, he sensed the opportunity to break through, and everything had progressed smoothly.
Cui Ji wore a broad smile as he stepped into the trap. The moment his foot landed, the sound of ringing bells erupted in his ears, and countless red threads appeared around him, sharp as blades. His smile froze instantly.
Qin Sang turned sharply, his gaze fixed on the mist.
"What will Madam Liu choose to do?"
Against Cui Ji, whose cultivation had advanced, the trap now seemed a little lacking in strength.
Just as the thought formed...
A streak of sword light shot out from the mist like lightning, accompanied by an angry shout. "Scoundrel, prepare to die!"
Madam Liu had made her move without hesitation.
Her trap had been laid with great care. The Red Thread Soul Bell Array was meant to catch Cui Ji off guard, entangle him, and then she would ride her sword in to deliver the killing blow.
But the world was unpredictable. No one could have foreseen Cui Ji’s breakthrough inside Celestial Blossom Lake.
"Seeking death!" Cui Ji roared in fury.
The red threads slashed toward him, incredibly sharp and capable of slicing through flesh. Yet the most dangerous aspect was the ringing of the bells, which attacked the primordial spirit.