Chapter 2386: Seeking a Visit

Returning to the Water Dragon Palace, the scenery was vastly different from before. Dark clouds heavily covered the sky above the water, lingering persistently, with demon soldiers standing as thick as a forest within them. Bizarre creatures of all kinds were there: flying birds, land beasts, shrimp, crabs, fish, and turtles.

"I am going to report back to my senior sister. Please feel free to do as you wish, fellow daoist," Yuanzhen said, leading his demon soldiers into the formation.

Qin Sang had the token Yuanzhen gave him, but he hadn't gone far before he was questioned.

"Stop!"

A demon cultivator blocked Qin Sang's path, looking him up and down with an unfriendly tone. "Where are you from?" he demanded.

Qin Sang took out Yuanzhen's token, but it only earned him a sneer. "You dare trespass into the formation with a mere broken token from Scarlet Meteor Mountain!" the demon cultivator scoffed. "Speak! What are your intentions!"

"'If you want to condemn someone, you can always find an excuse!'" Qin Sang replied, neither subserviently nor arrogantly. "All fellow daoists present are witnesses; I did not trespass into the formation. If I inadvertently offended you, I will withdraw immediately."

The other party hesitated, unable to discern Qin Sang's true strength, and stopped pressing aggressively. He muttered, "I'll let you off this time. If you dare to be so blind again..."

Ignoring the other party's threat, Qin Sang changed direction, observed for a while, and finally understood. The demon soldiers here were divided into two distinct, antagonistic camps.

One side was Scarlet Meteor Mountain, as mentioned by the demon cultivator, from which Yuanluo and Yuanzhen hailed. The master of Scarlet Meteor Mountain was known by the esteemed title of Great Sage Jinqing. The other side came from Moon Mire Tundra, the cultivation ground of Great Sage Moluo.

If Great Sage Jinqing and Great Sage Moluo were indeed the ones who battled in Lotus Crossing Great Lake, it was surprising to see their subordinates now allied, seemingly cooperating on something significant. Qin Sang suspected they might have found some clues and were preparing to rescue the two Great Sages.

This was not difficult to understand. The disappearance of a Great Sage was a catastrophic blow to their forces. Without a Great Sage presiding, the two powers would eventually be absorbed by other Great Sages. Both Scarlet Meteor Mountain and Moon Mire Tundra urgently sought to retrieve their respective Great Sages. Even if they had been enemies before, they now shared a common goal. Only by joining forces could they prevent external interference. Once their Great Sages were rescued, it would be up to the Great Sages to decide whether to wage war or seek peace.

Suddenly, a loud boom echoed from the center of the lake, accompanied by shouts. A pillar of light, a swirling mix of purple and crimson flames, shot into the sky. The pillar was remarkably conspicuous, drawing countless gazes.

"Have Scarlet Meteor Mountain and Moon Mire Tundra started fighting?"

Qin Sang secretly activated his Heavenly Eye ability, gazing at the pillar of light. He saw several figures within the pillar confronting each other in mid-air, the atmosphere tense. Yuanluo led the Scarlet Meteor Mountain side, while on the other, a pair of male and female cultivators stood at the forefront.

"It really is them!"

Qin Sang clearly saw their faces; it was the same pair of cousins he had seen in the Arctic Ice Plains. The two Demon Sages who appeared in the Arctic Ice Plains back then were Great Sage Jinqing and Great Sage Moluo!

The two Great Sages were first captured by a bony hand, then disappeared in Lotus Crossing Great Lake. What exactly happened in between? Could the glacial vortex that had trapped him for three hundred years be connected to the distant Lotus Crossing Great Lake? Qin Sang felt a sense of unease, as if he had caught a whiff of a conspiracy.

From a distance, a luminous net floated above Yuanluo's head—the very same World-Enveloping Net that had trapped Qin Sang before. The male and female cultivators also refused to be outdone; in front of them, a purple rhinoceros seemed eager for battle.

War was on the verge of breaking out, drawing the attention of all, and the surrounding atmosphere became incredibly tense. The distance was too great for Qin Sang to hear what they were discussing, but both sides clearly did not want to openly turn hostile. Yuanluo snorted coldly and left in a huff. The cousins' faces were ashen, and neither side gained any advantage, so the dispute ultimately fizzled out.

After that, Qin Sang stayed at the Water Dragon Palace for several more days. Unfortunately, experts were abundant there, and as Qin Sang was merely at the early stage of Void Refining, neither of the two Great Demon Sage powers would treat him differently unless he revealed his true strength. After all the demon soldiers arrived, they continuously drilled under the leadership of the Great Demon Sage's subordinates. It was clear they were practicing a large-scale formation, indicating significant intentions. Qin Sang worried that staying here longer would arouse suspicion, so he had to return to Sky Cloud Isle.

In his cave dwelling, Qin Sang had no mind for cultivation and was already considering withdrawal. If Scarlet Meteor Mountain and Moon Mire Tundra truly intended to rescue the two Great Sages, it would cause a huge stir, whether successful or not. Qin Sang felt it best to avoid it.

Just as Qin Sang was preparing to leave, he received a message from the Three Immortals.

In the dead of night, everything was silent. Qin Sang stood on an island. He checked the time and couldn't help but frown inwardly. He had been waiting here for several hours, already past the appointed time with the Three Immortals. Could Mo Yan and the others have run into trouble?

Qin Sang couldn't just leave directly, so he continued waiting. After another incense stick's worth of time, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly detected an anomaly on the opposite shore of the lake. After thinking for a moment, Qin Sang quietly hid in the shadows. A moment later, he sensed a familiar fluctuation and sent a voice transmission, asking, "Fellow Daoist Wuxian?"

"It's me. I've kept you waiting, fellow daoist."

Under the moonlight, a figure appeared where Qin Sang had been standing. It was Wuxian. Wuxian's voice carried a hint of exhaustion. His magical robe was torn in several places, and its hem was stained with blood; he seemed to have just gone through a fierce battle.

After confirming there were no other anomalies, Qin Sang emerged. "What happened?" he asked.

"Forgive my appearance, fellow daoist..." Wuxian forced a bitter smile. "I didn't realize I had been exposed. Tonight, you almost didn't see me again, fellow daoist. And Big Brother has also run into trouble..."

Qin Sang knew that the Three Immortals had been planning something significant, with each brother undertaking separate tasks. He hadn't expected Mo Yan and Wuxian to encounter trouble one after another. "Did Fellow Daoist Mo Yan encounter an ambush?"

Before their last parting, Mo Yan had stated he would take spirit stones to redeem that treasure, planning to use himself as bait to draw out their enemy. It sounded like, although he successfully lured out the target, he was almost completely devoured himself.

Wuxian nodded. "The opponent was indeed more vigilant and much stronger than we anticipated," he said. "Fortunately, Big Brother was prepared. Although he suffered severe injuries, he ultimately escaped and successfully confirmed some things."

"'I warned Fellow Daoist Mo Yan back then that haste makes waste,' Qin Sang said."

"'Time waits for no one,' Wuxian sighed."

Qin Sang didn't know the severity of the hidden danger plaguing the Three Immortals, and seeing their urgency, he asked, "How are Fellow Daoist Mo Yan's injuries?"

"'His injuries are extremely severe,' Wuxian replied. 'They almost destroyed Big Brother's cultivation foundation, but it was all worth it!'"

Wuxian said gravely, "Although we have enough spirit medicines, Big Brother must enter seclusion to heal. I can no longer openly appear and can only secretly assist our third brother. Thus, I shamelessly came to seek help from Fellow Daoist Qingfeng."

"'I'm currently unaware of anything. What can I do to help you three?' Qin Sang replied, feigning hesitation. 'I'm only afraid of missing the opportunity and messing things up...'"

This was a heaven-sent opportunity; how could Qin Sang not seize the advantage? The Three Immortals had strictly guarded their secrets before, only giving him a few small benefits and dangling him with empty promises. Anything involving secrets was personally handled by the three brothers. As long as Qin Sang yearned for the Star Spirit, he had to listen to the Three Immortals. Now that the opportunity had arrived, he was determined to learn some truths so he could act strategically and prepare in advance.

Since Wuxian had come to him for help, he was already prepared for this. "It's not that we were strictly guarding secrets from you, fellow daoist," he explained. "It's just that we didn't know how to describe it. Please take a look at this item..."

As he spoke, Wuxian took an object from his sleeve. It shimmered in the night: a large, lustrous pearl. The pearl was pure white and flawless.

Qin Sang's heart stirred. "Is this that clam pearl?" he asked.

"Exactly!"

Wuxian handed the clam pearl to Qin Sang. "Everything we currently know comes from this clam pearl," he said. "But the clam pearl isn't always open. Fellow daoist, send your spiritual sense inside, and you will know at once."

Qin Sang glanced at Wuxian. He hadn't expected them to directly hand the clam pearl to him. With Mo Yan absent, if Qin Sang were to seize it by force, Wuxian might not be able to protect it. Were they showing their sincerity?

However, Qin Sang did not wish to fall out with the Three Immortals. He followed instructions and probed the clam pearl with his spiritual sense, immediately feeling a wave-like power surge, ebbing and flowing like tides.

Wuxian explained, "The power of the clam pearl is like the tides of Lotus Crossing Great Lake. There are major tides and minor tides. Only when a major tide arrives will guidance appear, but most of the time, it's a minor tide with no pattern whatsoever. No one knows when the next major tide will open."

After careful observation, Qin Sang confirmed that Wuxian's words seemed credible. "When you last..." he prompted.

"The clam pearl has only experienced one major tide since it's been with us," Wuxian said regretfully. "Unfortunately, because it happened so suddenly, we were unprepared and can only wait for the next opportunity."

"Was that Star Spirit captured with the guidance of the clam pearl?" Qin Sang asked.

"Indeed..."

Wuxian hesitated for a moment, knowing that Qin Sang was someone who wouldn't act without seeing concrete benefits. "At the banquet, we did not tell you a single lie, fellow daoist," he stated. "Our brothers only seek to resolve our cultivation hidden dangers. Beyond that, we ask for nothing else. All gains from there will belong to you, fellow daoist!"

This promise sounded very tempting, but given the Three Immortals' current predicament, it indicated there were definitely rivals competing with them. Even if the Three Immortals upheld their promise, other competitors wouldn't agree to such terms. Wuxian understood that he couldn't fool Qin Sang with these words alone. He quickly added, "When the time comes, we will certainly join forces with you, fellow daoist, to drive away other competitors and then seize the opportunity. Once Big Brother recovers, we will swear an oath to prove it!"

Qin Sang's expression softened slightly. "This shows some sincerity," he said. "It seems you already know the identity of your opponents."

"'You should remember, fellow daoist,' Wuxian began, 'that Big Brother once disguised himself to approach the son of Mother Gu...'"

"Mother Gu?"

Qin Sang was surprised. "I'm afraid this is also connected to the Plague Lord Zangli," he mused. "No wonder Fellow Daoist Mo Yan was severely injured. And what about the Three Elders from the trade fair?"

"'Plague Lord Zangli and Mother Gu are in cahoots,' Wuxian explained. 'The intentions of the Three Elders are unclear, but we must be vigilant. We suspect they have other means, which have the same effect as the clam pearl, and allow them to enter without waiting for a major tide...'"

Hearing Wuxian's words, Qin Sang finally understood the purpose of the Three Immortals seeking him out. "You want me to monitor Plague Lord Zangli's movements?" he asked.

Wuxian nodded repeatedly. "Whatever difficulties you have, fellow daoist, please state them," he assured. "We will certainly do our utmost to assist you."

Qin Sang paced back and forth a few steps. "Our opponents," he said, "I'm afraid, also include Demon King Heiji."

"'Oh?' Wuxian replied, having already heard of him. 'The Demon King Heiji who has recently risen to prominence?'"

"That's right," Qin Sang confirmed. "What you don't know, fellow daoist, is that scoundrel has actually hidden his true strength. I suddenly have a guess: he is currently very close to the Plague Lord Zangli; could he also have caught wind of something? However, he might not be an ally of the Plague Lord Zangli, so we must be prepared for a third force to join in."

Plague Lord Zangli's strength was inferior to White Dragon King's, yet Demon King Heiji was closer to Plague Lord Zangli. Was it really just a matter of birds of a feather flocking together? Combining this with the information Wuxian brought, Demon King Heiji's appearance was likely no coincidence. By having Mount Mei's Yuanjun keep a close eye on Demon King Heiji, they might be able to uncover Plague Lord Zangli's movements. Unexpectedly, a hidden piece he had planted earlier had become a crucial one.

"'No matter how many opponents there are, our brothers will never give up, nor will we go back on our word,' Wuxian said, bowing deeply with an earnest expression."

Of course, Qin Sang wouldn't give up easily either, but he still had to remain in Sky Cloud Isle and couldn't leave. Thinking of this, Qin Sang asked, "Do you know about the major events happening recently?"

"'Are you referring to the subordinates of the two Demon Sages?' Wuxian nodded. 'Big Brother has investigated. They are preparing for war, and their target should be near the Four Kings' territory. Our target, however, is deep within Lotus Crossing Great Lake. They are far apart, so there will be no conflict.'"

"Fellow Daoist Mo Yan's abilities are vast."

Qin Sang exclaimed in admiration. He had probed earlier without success and decided to give up, so he hadn't expected Mo Yan to know so much. The more he learned about the Three Immortals, especially Mo Yan, the more mysterious they seemed. Qin Sang resolved to remain vigilant in their future cooperation. As long as there was no conflict with Scarlet Meteor Mountain and Moon Mire Tundra, it would be fine. Otherwise, they would find it very difficult to compete with the Great Demon Sage powers.

After discussing new contact methods with Wuxian, Qin Sang returned to Sky Cloud Isle, abandoning his plan to leave. He first contacted Mount Mei's Yuanjun, instructing her to pay attention to Demon King Heiji's movements, while also contemplating how to keep an eye on Plague Lord Zangli. He subconsciously glanced at Gu Mei's cave dwelling across from his. He had long heard that Gu Mei had become Plague Lord Zangli's most favored concubine. Scarlet Serpent's assessment of her was only three words: "slutty fox." Had the Demon Sage powers not arrived and forced all factions to behave, Gu Mei and Scarlet Serpent would still be locked in conflict.

From another perspective, one allied with White Dragon King and the other became Plague Lord Zangli's concubine. Both successfully entered the ranks of top powers in Lotus Crossing Great Lake, truly worthy of being cultivated by the Five Immortals' Sanctuary. A dignified expert of the Five Immortals' Sanctuary, humbling herself to become a concubine for a mission, seemed like a great sacrifice. But given Gu Mei's personality, she might even enjoy it tirelessly.

How could he utilize Gu Mei? Knowing Scarlet Serpent's and Gu Mei's origins, Qin Sang couldn't betray Sky Cloud Isle and defect to Gu Mei. With no immediate ideas, he could only take one step at a time. Qin Sang prepared to personally visit Plague Lord Zangli's cultivation ground. Feeling an urgent need for more help now, Qin Sang sent a message back, asking Vermillion Bird and Wutu Immortal to come and assist him. Unexpectedly, the letter was like a stone sinking into the sea.

Qin Sang waited in the mountains for a long time, worried that "that fellow" had caused trouble again, and finally received a reply. It was evident that the reply was very hastily written. Vermillion Bird not only couldn't come to help him but also brazenly insisted on keeping Wutu Immortal there.

"That fellow!"

Qin Sang's brows furrowed deeply. He wondered if he had been too lenient with Vermillion Bird. But Vermillion Bird was, after all, the reincarnation of a mighty being, and he couldn't treat it as his own spirit beast and restrict it too much. Sighing inwardly, Qin Sang was currently unable to split himself, so he could only let it be for now.