Chapter 832: Ambush

"Elder Demon Mu..."

Qin Sang remembered this person.

The black-armored man sent by the Huntian Island Master to guard the Winter Nether Cold Flame had once mentioned that Elder Demon Mu was interested in it. The Huntian Island Master had even invited him to subdue the flame. Elder Demon Mu was a renowned overlord of the demonic path, his reputation established long ago.

"I hadn't expected the Winter Nether Cold Flame to be taken. Whoever did must be exceptionally skilled in fire manipulation..."

Qin Sang felt a pang of regret. He knew Master Dongming's relics had been destroyed by the Winter Nether Cold Flame's erosion; only the flame itself remained as an incredibly rare and supreme treasure.

The journey was relatively smooth, encountering no beast tide attacks, and they arrived at an island called Yuheng Island. Qin Sang and Lady Liu disguised their identities before landing on the island. Under the cover of Lady Liu's friend, they entered the city.

This friend was a female cultivator named Jin Ying, with a pretty face. She had been monitoring Xiang Yi's activities on the island. Upon seeing Qin Sang, her gaze was somewhat unkind, scrutinizing him, seemingly distrustful of his abilities. Although well-concealed, Qin Sang still noticed it. Qin Sang immediately understood the reason: they had missed an opportunity last time because they couldn't contact him, so it was no wonder they were displeased.

"This is Daoist Qingfeng, whom I often speak of to you."

The three hurried back to Jin Ying's cave dwelling. Lady Liu introduced them, "Daoist Priest, this is Junior Sister Jin Ying. I once joined a sect for a period and met her there; we've been like sisters ever since. She is now an overseer at the Nine Stars Association. Thanks to her help in concealing my identity over the years, I've managed to remain undetected by Xiang Yi. This time, we also need Jin Ying's help to lure Xiang Yi off the island so we can act."

So it was the Nine Stars Association. Qin Sang secretly nodded. The Nine Stars Association was one of the top merchant guilds within the Merchant Alliance, and Jin Ying indeed possessed this capability. Her willingness to risk a rupture with the Merchant Alliance and the guild to help Lady Liu get revenge showed the depth of their friendship.

"Sister, please don't say that. If it weren't for your and Brother Liu's care back then, I wouldn't be where I am today."

Jin Ying looked at Qin Sang, then at Lady Liu, and said gravely, "Xiang Yi is currently on the island. The controllers of several nearby large islands are preparing to converge here to defend this island. The Merchant Alliance is also rapidly dispatching reinforcements, so Xiang Yi cannot leave for now. However, before we act, both of you must think this through carefully. If we fail and alert him, not only will Brother Liu's great vengeance remain unfulfilled, but Xiang Yi definitely won't let us go. In such a situation, being wanted by the Merchant Alliance, we certainly wouldn't be able to return to the Canglang Sea. We would be forced to drift in the Demon Sea, dancing with demonic beasts. Therefore, this might be our only chance."

Hearing this, Qin Sang knew inwardly that Jin Ying's words were directed at him; she still didn't trust his abilities. Qin Sang smiled faintly, saying nothing.

Lady Liu smoothed things over, saying, "Junior Sister, rest assured. The Daoist Priest moves freely within the Seven Kills Hall and once instantly killed a late-stage Core Formation expert. His strength is beyond doubt. As long as he can deploy that Yuan Sealing Talisman, I believe defeating Xiang Yi will be no problem. However, Daoist Priest, you mustn't be careless. I must ensure Xiang Yi is utterly annihilated, body and soul, to bring comfort to my husband's spirit in heaven!"

Lady Liu's tone was resolute, her hatred for Xiang Yi profound.

"As long as your arrangements are flawless, I am confident I won't give Xiang Yi a chance to escape."

Qin Sang, no longer jesting, made his promise and then began to inquire about their plan. "How do you intend to lure Xiang Yi off the island? What if he isn't alone when he leaves and has other experts with him? From what you just said, it sounds like Xiang Yi has several experts from the Merchant Alliance by his side."

The two women exchanged glances, and Lady Liu nodded to Jin Ying. Jin Ying, out of caution, waved her hand to set up a sound-isolating barrier before explaining in detail, "From what we've gathered, Xiang Yi has been searching for a spiritual tree called Tortoise-Pattern Wood, a rarely known spiritual material. This Tortoise-Pattern Wood is very peculiar; it seems to breathe mist like a demonic beast, and every hundred years, there's an outburst where the mist covers an area of several li, emitting a unique scent. We will then create a similar anomaly in the Demon Sea, and through the Nine Stars Association's connections with the Merchant Alliance, we'll pretend to leak news of this anomaly to Xiang Yi. As for Xiang Yi's companions..."

Lady Liu interjected, "My husband also made some friends during his lifetime. It was one of these friends who told me about Xiang Yi's need for Tortoise-Pattern Wood. While they fear the Alliance Master and dare not directly oppose Xiang Yi, they are generous in offering whatever assistance they can; otherwise, I wouldn't have proceeded so smoothly. One friend also works for the Merchant Alliance and happens to be on the island. Before we act, he will try his best to tie down the Merchant Alliance's experts, but the ambush must be carried out by us personally. Furthermore, Xiang Yi is inherently greedy and cunning. Once he's sure there's a real treasure, he definitely won't bring others along, to avoid sharing the spoils..."

"Try his best... so, Xiang Yi might still have helpers. We must be prepared..." Qin Sang frowned. He wasn't accustomed to placing his hopes on others.

Lady Liu said helplessly, "That's true, but there won't be a better time. We must take this risk. Once Xiang Yi returns to seclusion to break through, we'll have no chance at all."

Qin Sang understood this logic. Confident in his ability to escape easily even if the ambush failed, he said nothing more.

The three deliberated for a day and finalized their plan. Qin Sang and Lady Liu first left Yuheng Island, searching for several days before finding a suitable small island to set up an illusion formation disguised as Tortoise-Pattern Wood. Then came the long wait.

A full two months passed before the opportunity finally arrived!

Outside Yuheng Island, Qin Sang and Lady Liu were waiting anxiously. Suddenly, splashes appeared on the water surface. A carp-like sea beast leaped out, revealing itself as Jin Ying's tamed spiritual beast. It opened its mouth and spat out a sound transmission talisman.

"The fish has taken the bait!" Lady Liu murmured.

The two exchanged glances and immediately concealed themselves. They set up an ambush along the path, with Jin Ying relaying messages to them. Her strength was insufficient, so she wouldn't participate in the ambush. Instead, she was arranging their escape route, allowing them to flee immediately should the ambush fail. However, Jin Ying's spiritual beast's speed was certainly not as fast as Xiang Yi's escape technique. They only knew that the news about the spiritual material had been successfully delivered, but they weren't sure when Xiang Yi would arrive or if he would have helpers, so they needed to be flexible.

Qin Sang and Lady Liu put some distance between them. He held the Primordial Unity Conjoined Rings in his hand and ordered the Skyeye Butterfly to activate its Skyeye, scanning the sea surface to detect Xiang Yi's presence in time.

Time passed, minute by minute, seeming endlessly long. Xiang Yi's figure remained unseen. However, Jin Ying had sent no new messages, indicating no complications had arisen. The sea breeze brushed his face. Listening to the sound of the waves, Qin Sang's gaze suddenly sharpened. On the distant sea surface, a meteor-like streak of light faintly appeared, rapidly approaching their location.