Chapter 1169: Resolving

"Fellow Daoist, your spiritual awareness is remarkably keen. I was discovered the moment I drew near."

Subtle ripples appeared in the air above that mountain peak.

An illusory figure slowly solidified.

Qin Sang's pupils narrowed slightly.

It was the Snake King, with his human torso and snake tail, whom he had just left at the Feather King Palace!

Despite Qin Sang uncovering his presence, the Snake King's expression remained unchanged; he even smiled.

His figure flickered as he swiftly descended the mountain, stopping before Qin Sang.

Fat Chicken and White Crane's feathers bristled completely, and they dared not breathe.

The Snake King made no attempt to conceal his cultivation. The oppressive aura of a mid-transformation great demon caused the two birds to tremble uncontrollably.

"So, it's the Great Snake King honoring us with his presence!"

Qin Sang shielded the two birds from the demon king's oppressive aura, his tone laced with sarcasm, clearly indicating his displeasure.

"I believe this is our first meeting, back at the Feather King Palace, no?"

"Indeed."

The Snake King nodded. "Though we met for the first time at the Feather King Palace, I've long heard of Fellow Daoist Mingyue. I'd heard that Daoist Bamboo had cultivated a truly remarkable successor."

Qin Sang remained unswayed by the Snake King's apparent compliments. He spoke coldly, "I hardly deserve such praise! It is I who have long heard of the Great Snake King. What brings you here, if not to mention it at the Feather King Palace, but to follow me covertly? Fortunately, my spiritual awareness is quite sharp! Are you planning to do something once we are far from Ten Thousand Demon City?"

"The Feather King Palace is indeed crowded, and some matters are best not discussed in front of other Daoists. As for Fellow Daoist Mingyue's concerns..."

The Snake King's lips curved into a faint smile. He said sarcastically, "My actions are merely mimicking your own past behavior, Fellow Daoist. If you are permitted to do it, why are we not?"

Qin Sang's expression subtly shifted.

Not long after leaving the city, the Eye of Heaven Butterfly alerted him, and Qin Sang detected the Snake King's presence.

Although the Snake King was a mid-transformation demon, a cultivation level higher than Qin Sang's, it was almost impossible for him to track Qin Sang silently without being detected.

Under the Eye of Heaven ability, only the most supreme concealment arts could hope to escape detection.

Qin Sang remained calm. After flying for some distance and confirming that the one tracking him was the Snake King, he realized that his theft of treasure from Threadweaver Demon King's cave might have been exposed.

The Snake King was Threadweaver Demon King's father-in-law.

Qin Sang could think of no other reason for the Snake King to follow him.

Considering this, Qin Sang deliberated for a moment, then decided to stop here and openly acknowledge the Snake King's presence.

This location was not far from Ten Thousand Demon City. The various demon kings hadn't departed long ago, and with the Feather King still presiding over Ten Thousand Demon City, the Snake King would surely exercise some caution.

Qin Sang was not truly afraid of the Snake King.

During his period of secluded cultivation at the Primordial Illusion Gate, Qin Sang had continuously practiced the 'Heavenly Demon Refinement' art. He could now truly control the Azure Phoenix wings on his back, leading to a significant improvement in his evasion techniques.

Qin Sang would still exercise some caution when facing a formidable master like the Feather King, who was long-renowned and possessed a profound heritage.

After all, employing the thunder escape technique still required the lightning power generated by the Azure Phoenix wings.

Qin Sang had intentionally tested this and found that, due to the limitations of his cultivation realm, there was a limit to the lightning power he could control. Once depleted, it would only recover slowly, so it was best to avoid such a predicament.

However, shaking off the Snake King would not be difficult.

Nevertheless, this karmic entanglement would need to be resolved sooner or later.

If the conflict could be resolved peacefully, that would, of course, be ideal.

Qin Sang also had no desire to be perpetually monitored by this father-in-law and son-in-law pair in the transformation stage. He didn't want to constantly worry about ambushes, feel constrained in his actions, or potentially implicate the demons of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea.

As Qin Sang anticipated, after the Snake King finished speaking, he suddenly flicked his finger, sending a streak of light toward the sky.

A moment later, the sound of something breaking through the air echoed from a distance.

A streak of light, indicative of an escape technique, flew closer.

Qin Sang sensed a familiar aura: it was Threadweaver Demon King. Trailing behind Threadweaver Demon King was a mass of demonic cloud, containing the subordinates of both demon kings.

Observing this, Qin Sang frowned slightly, somewhat uncertain of their intentions.

Threadweaver Demon King had also come, but hadn't shown his face at the Feather King Palace. Had he been waiting outside the city all this time, planning to intercept him?

But what good would bringing a few minor demons do? It would only make them easier to detect and expose their whereabouts.

In the blink of an eye, Threadweaver Demon King flew to the Snake King's side, glaring at Qin Sang with an unfriendly gaze.

"Fellow Daoist Mingyue, you once paid a visit to my humble son-in-law's cave. Surely you recognize him?"

The Snake King said, his tone laden with meaning.

Qin Sang felt a pang of curiosity. "When did you two discover my involvement?"

"Though Fellow Daoist employed various disguises – first concealing your cultivation, then deliberately using human sword arts – to subdue a four-transformation spirit insect and easily evade Threadweaver, is that something an ordinary person can achieve?"

The Snake King shook his head. "After Threadweaver obtained the stone tablet, he even kept it hidden from me. How could anyone else have known? The person who first contended with Threadweaver for the tablet only recognized it as a unique demonic treasure; they didn't personally witness the Azure Phoenix phantom and could only attribute its power to a bloodline ability. Other fellow Daoists have been renowned for years, and I'm quite familiar with their abilities and bloodlines. Only Fellow Daoist Mingyue is a new face, a recent transformation, and no one knows your true origins. I boldly speculate that you must be a rare descendant of the Azure Phoenix to have sensed the aura of the Azure Phoenix phantom, correct?"

"Yes, it was me."

Qin Sang frankly admitted it. He was already exposed, so there was no need for further concealment.

The Snake King had misunderstood the cause and effect. It wasn't that Qin Sang possessed the Azure Phoenix bloodline; rather, someone had already discovered the Azure Phoenix phantom before Threadweaver Demon King even contended for the tablet.

However, this misunderstanding was not necessarily a bad thing for Qin Sang.

"You have the nerve to admit it! Why aren't you running now?"

Threadweaver Demon King's face was contorted with scorn.

Qin Sang's expression remained calm. He glanced at the belated demonic subordinates. "After all, I was the one who caused the offense. Since you two have come to my doorstep, what's the point of hiding any longer? A confrontation was bound to happen eventually. How do you both intend to resolve this? Are you truly so confident, bringing such a large force, that you can keep us here?"

Threadweaver Demon King roared, "Insolent wretch! Do you truly believe I cannot kill you?"

The Snake King restrained Threadweaver Demon King, speaking in a low voice. "I am aware that Fellow Daoist Mingyue is Daoist Bamboo's successor, and your evasion technique is so exquisite that Threadweaver cannot possibly match it, which undoubtedly gives you such confidence. Even if you, Fellow Daoist, are fearless, what about the cultivators of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea? Can you truly bear the consequences of initiating a conflict? Daoist Bamboo has been in seclusion for hundreds of years; surely there's a reason for that, isn't there? I have always aimed for peaceful coexistence, but my hands have never been strangers to bloodshed!"

After delivering his threat, the Snake King paused, and his tone softened slightly.

"Do you truly believe that if I harbored murderous intentions, I would be so foolish as to openly gather forces for an ambush, especially near Ten Thousand Demon City, as if I were afraid the Feather King and other fellow Daoists wouldn't notice?

"Although the stone tablet is an extraordinary treasure, we now understand that it can only be activated by the Azure Phoenix bloodline. In that light, its presence in your hands seems to be the best possible use for it.

"Just now, at the Feather King Palace, I was the one who proposed it, and all fellow Daoists have already agreed to jointly explore the Ziwei Palace in the future. Any dispute can be resolved, as long as it's not a blood feud.

"The stone tablet is already shattered, and the Azure Phoenix power sealed within has been refined by you, Fellow Daoist. What's done is done; we can hardly ask you to regurgitate it..."

Threadweaver Demon King snorted but did not contradict the Snake King's words.