Cultivating To Immortality

Chapter 756: Purple Void Secret Art

By a quiet riverside forest, on an uninhabited cliff.

Qin Yicao rushed over, emerging from the forest, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Hmm?"

The scent of dust dissipated right here.

He fully released his Divine Sense, scanning the surroundings, but found no trace of anyone here.

Did he lose the trail?

He cautiously activated his protective Spiritual Robe, and under the wide sleeves of his purple Daoist robe, several Talismans were clutched between his fingers.

His right hand was forming a starting Daoist seal, ready to summon his Spiritual Artifact at any moment.

Hmph, hiding his head and tail.

The current situation of the opponent avoiding him only made him more certain that this person’s Cultivation was not high, and his identity as a Loose Cultivator made him wary of having too much interaction with him.

That’s why he wanted to leave early before, to get away from this place.

Moreover, the opponent must have used that evil art of ’returning light’ to trick that fool Xiao Ming out of that Spiritual Sword!

Qin Yicao slowly walked towards the riverbank, his mood much more relaxed.

With his Cultivation at Qi Refining Perfection and that Secret Art, he would surely be able to cut this person down.

In fact, to deal with such a Loose Cultivator, he wouldn’t even need to act himself; simply invoking the name of his Profound Origin Sect would be enough to intimidate the opponent and obtain the Spiritual Sword.

The idea was good, but... where was this person now?

Qin Yicao found it strange, but suddenly a clear voice came from above his head.

"Senior Qin, you’ve followed me all this way, may I ask what your business is?"

Qin Yicao’s mind was greatly shaken, and he retreated several steps, looking up sharply.

Looking up, he saw a slender figure standing on the riverside cliff, against the dim sky, his white Daoist robe gently fluttering in the river wind.

A pair of golden eyes looked down at him.

Qin Yicao didn’t hesitate, unleashing several Talismans from his hand, and two wave-like Spiritual Qi circulated and extinguished around him.

Another Talisman transformed into five golden arrows, hovering at his side.

Clad in his purple robe, he smiled grimly, "Fellow Daoist Tong, why are you leaving in such a hurry? Do you have a guilty conscience?"

Song Yan stood with his hands down, not using any Dao Technique, and said indifferently, "What do you mean, Fellow Daoist Qin?"

"Stop pretending, we both came for the treasure, why hide it?"

Qin Yicao sneered, "You took Xiao Ming’s Spiritual Sword, didn’t you? Hand it over now, and I’ll spare your life."

Song Yan was slightly stunned, then let out a scoff.

"So it’s for this."

His gaze was like a torch, fixed on Qin Yicao, his Insightful Void Sword Eye seemingly wanting to see through the opponent.

"So, is General Xiao’s death related to you?"

Indeed, objectively speaking, Xiao Ming actually passed away early because that Senior couldn’t bear to watch.

But since this Imperial Preceptor Qin had long coveted his Spiritual Sword, the old man’s desolate later years, and even his eventual forced desire for death, might not have been without this person’s instigation behind the scenes.

Qin Yicao’s expression darkened, and he was inevitably surprised; this person was remarkably keen.

Without further words, he continuously made hand seals, and the spiritual light around him greatly intensified.

A cold smile finally appeared on his face: "What if it is? Either way, I can’t let you leave today!"

Five Talismans emerged in succession from his sleeve, slowly rotating and floating around his body.

Each Talisman emitted spiritual light of a different color, encompassing all Five Elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, and, following Qin Yicao’s hand seals, they shot towards Song Yan.

"A Loose Cultivator is just a Loose Cultivator." Qin Yicao watched Song Yan remain indifferent, looking completely unresisting, and sneered as he activated the Talisman Array.

"Let me show you what true immortal methods are!"

Five Elements Linked Pearl Talisman Array!

Song Yan quietly watched the trajectory of the Talismans, Sword Qi surging in his sleeve.

"To form an array with Talismans, it indeed has a similar effect to a Sword Array."

In fairness, Cultivators of the Profound Origin Sect, whether from their background or Cultivation, were generally stronger than other Cultivators; this was an undeniable fact.

But perhaps it was precisely because of the inexplicable sense of superiority from being from the Profound Origin Sect that most of its disciples easily became arrogant and complacent, looking down on others.

Even the enshrined ones were like this.

The first crimson Talisman exploded in mid-air, transforming into several flames that roared downwards.

Song Yan’s figure remained motionless, and a green Sword Qi surged out from his wide sleeves; the fireballs, upon colliding with the Sword Qi, vanished like snow meeting boiling water.

"There’s some skill." Qin Yicao’s brows furrowed slightly, and a spiritual light flashed at his fingertips.

The remaining four Talismans then exploded simultaneously.

The ground suddenly rose, and three rock pythons burst out of the earth, opening their fangs to bite Song Yan. At the same time, the blue Talisman transformed into a sky-filling water blade tornado, trapping Song Yan within it.

The Unmoored Boat, however, had already transformed into a white rainbow, piercing through, its sword light like splashed ink, drawing a line of sword light in front of him.

Where the sword edge passed, the rock pythons shattered inch by inch, and the wind blade tornado was also torn open.

At this moment, the golden Talisman had already transformed into three arrows, which, along with the previous three, shot out simultaneously. Six golden lights, continuous and almost forming a golden rainbow.

They streamed through the opening in the wind blade, killing towards Song Yan.

It must be said, this person indeed possessed some strength.

Whether it was the power of the Talismans or his combat awareness.

Qin Yicao possessed considerable talent and strength in Dao Technique. Although he became an enshrined Cultivator due to his Aptitude and Cultivation speed, he did not give up on himself. Instead, he used every means to make himself stronger.

He had not expected that, compared to the stable Cultivation within the Sect, after leaving the Sect, he found that the outside world was truly full of opportunities.

Over the years, he had taken risks, seized every opportunity, and unscrupulously plundered resources for Cultivation.

Now, he had even reached the Qi Refining Perfection Realm.

One must know that even among those Cultivators of good Aptitude and the same generation within the Profound Origin Sect, many still did not possess such strength.

Song Yan pointed his sword, and the Unmoored Boat shot out; the black and white spiritual light instantly pierced through the golden long rainbow, the arrows shattered, and transformed into spiritual light that dispersed.

The sword’s momentum was undiminished, heading straight for Qin Yicao’s face.

The latter was startled; the greenish-blue spiritual light, which had originally condensed into a green wood spear, now transformed back into Spiritual Qi, reversing and returning to Qin Yicao’s side.

It instantly condensed into a wooden great shield, enveloping him.

Bang!

The wooden great shield lasted for barely a moment before shattering with a bang.

Clearly, he had underestimated the power of the Unmoored Boat.

"A top-grade Spiritual Artifact?!"

He continuously made hand seals, and a surge of Spiritual Qi erupted from him, a sky-blue Spell taking shape behind Song Yan.

Qin Yicao’s figure was like the wind, darting and shifting, narrowly dodging a sword strike.

Using the great river’s water system, the blue spiritual light had transformed into towering waves, pressing down on Song Yan.

"That should be enough."

Song Yan already had a good idea of Qin Yicao’s strength.

There was no need to use his Dharma Body; he prepared to quickly kill him with a Sword Array.

His figure moved slightly, and the Lingyun Intent movement technique unfolded, gliding over the crest of the great wave like a lone crane skimming water.

The Unmoored Boat’s momentum remained undiminished, aiming directly for Qin Yicao’s throat.

"Arrogant!" Only now did Song Yan finally move from his original spot, which undoubtedly made Qin Yicao feel a sense of disdain.

He roared, and the last two purple-black Talismans were activated simultaneously.

The purple Talisman exploded, forming an arc of lightning around him, while the black Talisman transformed into a poisonous mist that permeated the surroundings.

Lightning and poisonous miasma intertwined, providing both offense and defense.

Song Yan, however, didn’t pay it any mind, unleashing his other three Flying Swords one by one.

Crying Moon was in the center, while Sacrificial Lin Jun and Linked Branches stood to its left and right, and the Ring Moon Sword Array instantly took shape.

Qin Yicao was not an unknowledgeable person; not to mention the Flying Swords forming an array with unfathomable power, even simultaneously wielding four Flying Swords was already astounding enough.

"Who exactly are you?" His face finally changed, "Where did a Loose Cultivator from Chu Country get such Sword Arts?!"

Song Yan did not answer; the Sword Array changed again.

Three Flying Swords darted like swimming fish, and the Crescent Moon and Full Moon sword lights burst forth simultaneously, destroying the remaining Talismans one by one.

Qin Yicao made a decisive decision, gritting his teeth and crushing a golden jade Talisman. A golden light shield instantly rose, barely blocking the pursuing Sword Qi.

"To force me to use this Secret Art, you are worthy of pride."

Qin Yicao’s face was so grim it could drip water. He clapped his hands together, forming a strange Daoist seal.

Purple Qi surged around him, and his Spiritual Qi churned like boiling water.

Purple Qi coiled around his body like a Dragon, and Qin Yicao’s Aura rose steadily.

"Oh?"

Song Yan let out a soft exclamation, "Is it a Secret Art that temporarily boosts one’s strength and Cultivation?"

The Profound Origin Sect truly was very wealthy.

This Secret Art was obtained by Qin Yicao when he participated in a Secret Realm, by ambushing and killing a fellow disciple of the Profound Origin Sect.

This method could greatly enhance a Cultivator’s Spiritual Qi intensity in a short period. Although he would enter a weakened state afterward, he couldn’t afford to worry about that now.

He quickly brought out an ancient bronze mirror, its surface gradually beginning to ripple with strange patterns.

"To die by this art is your good fortune!"

Qin Yicao activated the ancient mirror, and a gray light shot towards Song Yan. Wherever it passed, plants withered, and rocks weathered.

Song Yan’s figure darted and shifted, constantly dodging. Under his Insightful Void Sword Eye, the opponent’s Spiritual Qi fluctuations were completely visible.

Qin Yicao’s internal Spiritual Qi was circulating wildly at an incredible speed, but the mysterious purple Qi was clashing with his original Cultivation Technique.

That’s right, while this Secret Art was powerful, the purple Qi transformation required one or two breaths of time to fully stabilize.

And what a Sword Cultivator was best at was seizing fleeting opportunities in battle.

Song Yan lightly pointed his sword, and the Ring Moon Sword Array suddenly contracted. Three Flying Swords drew arcs in the air, and a bright, full moon quickly appeared where the sword lights converged.

The Sleeve Green Snake’s Sword Qi also surged entirely towards the Crying Moon Flying Sword.

"Moonfall."

Qin Yicao’s sneer froze on his face.

He was about to activate the second transformation of the ancient mirror, but then he saw the bright moon fall with a crash.

The violent Sword Qi surged and poured forth. His golden light shield around him, not yet reinforced by the purple Qi, shattered like paper.

Only the purple Qi, condensed into protective Spiritual Qi, barely held on.

But the Qi had only just completed its transformation and was utterly unable to withstand the surging Sword Qi.

"No! I am a Cultivator of the Profound Origin Sect!"

To die at the hands of a Loose Cultivator? He naturally could not accept such an outcome!

"I am also a disciple of the Southern Chu Qin Family! If Fellow Daoist could show mercy, the Qin Family would surely..."

Song Yan was slightly stunned, then let out a laugh.

"Truly..."

His voice grew colder and colder: "It’s true that enemies are destined to meet."

Before his words finished, the Unmoored Boat’s spiritual light suddenly flared, instantly piercing through Qin Yicao’s glabella, pinning him to the ground.

Qin Yicao’s eyes widened, his gaze dull, and the purple Qi, not yet fully stable, instantly collapsed.

At the same time, the moonlight fell.

Boom—

The clouds by the river dispersed, and Song Yan sheathed his sword.

The river wind swept over the cliff, scattering the last of the bloody scent.

Song Yan flicked a fire Talisman, reducing the corpse to ashes.

The mysterious disappearance of an enshrined Cultivator of the Profound Origin Sect would surely cause quite a stir in Ying City. But what did that have to do with him?

Collecting his qiankun bag, Song Yan then left the area.