Chapter 379 - 379 Another Ambush

379 Another Ambush

“What if we fall into a trap after joining? How would we defend ourselves?” The Jiang brothers spoke in unison, their words clearly conveying their refusal to join.

“Are you absolutely sure you won’t reconsider?” Yang Tianhan implored.

Their rejection was more steadfast this time, “No!” They had experienced enough to know that disciples from the Ghost Ox sect extending such an invitation likely had ulterior motives. It was probable that they intended harm.

“Get lost while I’m still in a good mood!” Jiang Youchen’s words were laced with lethal intent.

“Are you really not going to reconsider?” Yang Tianhan asked once more, apparently undeterred by their hostility.

“Absolutely not.” Their suspicion towards the Ghost Ox sect member only deepened.

“What a pity. I’ll take my leave then.” Yang Tianhan shook his head, turned, and began to walk away.

Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Youyin sneered. “This Yang Tianhan is likely a two-faced devil. He appears sincere, but I suspect he harbors sinister intentions.”

His brother, Jiang Youchen, nodded in agreement.

In the forest, Qin Huai observed Yang Tianhan’s departure, a faint white light flickering on his fist. Within his dantian world, the dragon king stirred — he was prepared for what was to come.

Boom!

But before he could make a move, a phantom image of a charging bull suddenly plummeted from the sky. It swooped down with such force that trees bowed and grass whirled wildly in the air.

The impact was catastrophic, as if the world was about to collapse. Blood splattered everywhere, dyeing the ground red.

Whoosh… Whoosh…

Yang Tianhan returned to the scene, his brows furrowing at the sight of the foul-smelling blood. “This is… the Sacred Heart sect’s cultivation technique?”

He waved his hand to dispel the stench. “What unfortunate luck. I didn’t expect to cross paths with the Sacred Heart sect here.” He quickly rose and ventured deeper into the forest.

Yang Tianhan preferred not to provoke the Sacred Heart sect, as he knew about their infiltrations into Qingzhou City prior to his arrival in the bronze realm. Their members were deeply embedded within the major sects of Qingzhou City. If they set their sights on him, even as a visceral prefecture realm expert, his life would be in jeopardy.

Qin Huai, still concealed in the forest, watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes. So, Yang Tianhan was a visceral prefecture realm expert. He had done a good job hiding that fact…

Qin Huai’s heart pounded at the thought of his recent refusal of Yang Tianhan’s invitation. Witnessing the demise of the Jiang brothers, he felt as though he had narrowly escaped a dance with death. These individuals were elites of Qingzhou City, so it was no surprise their cultivation had advanced after decades in the bronze realm.

However, based on Qin Huai’s knowledge, advancing through realms wasn’t a simple matter of cultivation. One needed a compatible spirit item to refine in conjunction with their cultivation technique to achieve a breakthrough.

Clearly, it was impossible to find a suitable spirit item to guard one’s self within the bronze realm. Yet, Qin Huai had witnessed Yang Tianhan’s visceral prefecture realm firsthand — it couldn’t have been a ruse.

This implied that Yang Tianhan might have been a visceral prefecture realm expert even before entering the bronze realm. In other words, he had advanced to the next level before reaching the age of thirty.

As expected, no one in the bronze realm was simple. If there was one like Yang Tianhan, there were bound to be more. This made Qin Huai increasingly cautious. This realm’s massacre was likely far more savage than he had anticipated. Clearing his mind of distractions, he remained concealed in the grass.

Fortunately, the experience orbs near the corpses were still present. In his line of sight, those orbs suddenly darted toward him.

“Ding! You have collected a [Wind Breath Technique Essence (Red)], [Wind Breath Technique] experience points +100,000!”

“Ding! You have collected a [Wind Breath Technique Comprehension], [Wind Breath Force] +3%!”

“Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence], [Blood Heart Technique] experience points +3%!”

As he absorbed the immense amount of cultivation memories from the experience orb, Qin Huai remained perfectly still, hidden in the grass and silently awaiting the passage of time.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, Yang Tianhan returned to the chaotic scene. His gaze scanned the surrounding grass and trees before he murmured something under his breath and vanished once again.

Hidden in the grass, Qin Huai scarcely dared to breathe. After waiting another fifteen minutes, he stood up and quickly returned the way he came.

…

As night fell, the darkness, albeit artificial, sent a chill down one’s spine.

Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the ground, exhaling gently. A green sprout slowly emerged from the top of his head, followed by a robust root. In an instant, a wildflower blossomed atop his head.

Weeds began sprouting from Qin Huai’s limbs, as if he were the most fertile land, nurturing the growth of flora with astonishing speed. Soon after, his skin began to shrivel and darken, assuming a texture akin to tree bark.

Fifteen minutes later, Qin Huai’s form had been completely transformed into a wooden stake. This stake then began to pulsate with life, growing into a six to seven-meter-high tree, extending its branches, and bearing green leaves and fruits.

“Each flower, each blade of grass, each tree… Qi and blood nourish the spirit, thus creating the illusion realm,” Qin Huai murmured.

Just as in the bronze realm, vitality flourished within Qin Huai’s dantian world, with plants freely growing and swaying. Qin Huai stood and gently punched the tree before him.

“Wither,” he murmured.

His fist never made contact with the tree, but at the sound of Qin Huai’s voice, the tree immediately withered.