Chapter 923: Ambush

Mortal World

It was dusk.

Two figures quietly departed from Sea Toad Island. After flying for some distance, they activated their escape light and sped deeper into the Demon Sea.

One of them, a man with a long beard, appeared to be nearing fifty but was exceptionally deferential towards the younger man.

The younger man was none other than Young Master Fang, whom Qin Sang had encountered before, the eldest disciple of Black Serpent Mountain.

"Senior Brother, I've been searching that sea area for several months and have confirmed that the lair belongs to a rare Shadow Beast. It likely contains a powerful demon in the late or even peak Demonic Core stage. My cultivation is low, and I feared being discovered by the Shadow Beast, so I dared not get too close. I can only ask you, Senior Brother, to investigate the strength of that demon lair…"

The older cultivator led the way, transmitting his voice.

Young Master Fang acknowledged with a faint 'Hmm,' then said, "If there's only this Shadow Beast in the lair, we'll eliminate it ourselves. If other powerful demons are present, we'll have to wait a few more days and invite some allies to assist us. The Shadow Beast's eyes are the most crucial ingredient for Master's required medicinal formula, so the sooner we acquire them, the better."

As he spoke, Young Master Fang suddenly frowned. "Are you certain no other forces are targeting this demon?"

The older cultivator paused, then confidently replied, "Don't worry, Senior Brother. I've been extremely cautious and have never divulged any information about the Shadow Beast to anyone. I've also been lurking and investigating around the demon lair for a long time and found no signs of other forces operating there."

Young Master Fang nodded slightly and said nothing more.

However, in his heart, he involuntarily recalled a humiliating incident from many years ago, clenching his teeth in silent rage.

To this day, he still couldn't understand where he had gone wrong.

He had replayed the entire plan countless times, meticulously examining every step. There was no possibility of his junior brothers rebelling, yet at the last moment, his efforts had failed, and the treasure was stolen.

What was even more devastating was that they had been ambushed in turn. So many disciples had set out, but only three had returned alive to their sect.

The situation was like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it.

How did that oriole discover their secret and follow them so stealthily?

Although his Master hadn't severely punished him upon their return to Black Serpent Mountain, Young Master Fang had always kept this incident in mind, regarding it as the greatest humiliation of his life. For years, he had never given up searching for that person, wishing to tear him into a million pieces to sate his hatred.

However, that person had vanished as if into thin air, disappearing without a trace.

Both the Azure Waves Sea and the Demon Sea were vast beyond measure, making it easy for someone to hide. Furthermore, they were not of the human race, which made it difficult to obtain accurate information.

Yet, in Young Master Fang's eyes, none of these were excuses; he would absolutely not abandon his desire for revenge. A hint of malevolence flashed in Young Master Fang's eyes. That person had better pray he never fell into his hands.

The two exchanged a few words, then silently flew towards the demon lair.

Three days later, they arrived above an inconspicuous desolate island.

The older cultivator halted his escape light and pointed at the desolate island.

"Senior Brother, the demon lair isn't far ahead. I've established a cave dwelling here. Perhaps we should rest for a bit, adjust our condition, and then go investigate the lair…"

Young Master Fang nodded. As his escape light shifted and he was about to descend onto the desolate island, a sharp glint suddenly shot from his eyes. "Who's lurking there stealthily!"

Almost at the same instant Young Master Fang's enraged shout erupted, an exceptionally swift sword light suddenly flashed from the dense forest below, accompanied by an extremely piercing sword howl, heading straight for the two of them.

'Boom!'

Young Master Fang reacted instantly. With a fierce slap to his spatial pouch, the blood sword that had accompanied him for years transformed into a crimson rainbow, intercepting the sword light.

The two flying swords clashed and separated immediately, appearing to be evenly matched.

Then, ripples of a restrictive formation appeared in the dense forest, and three figures emerged from within.

"Senior Brother, it wasn't me…"

Suddenly caught off guard by the drastic turn of events, the older cultivator hadn't yet fully grasped what was happening when he saw his Senior Brother glaring at him fiercely. Greatly alarmed, he quickly tried to explain himself.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, do you not recognize me?"

One of the figures removed his mask, revealing Qin Sang.

The other two were naturally his Outer Body Incarnation and the Two-Headed Ferocious Beast.

He looked at Young Master Fang with an amused expression and said with a touch of emotion, "I've been searching the Demon Sea for three full years, and I've finally waited for Fellow Daoist to emerge."

Now that he had the power to exact his revenge, he had no intention of enduring it any longer.

Qin Sang knew that once he made a move, it would inevitably alert the Black Serpent Mountain Patriarch, who could easily turn the tables and set a trap for him to walk right into.

There was only one chance, so his chosen target was naturally Young Master Fang. Besides, to further enhance his Outer Body Incarnation to its peak, it precisely required a master like Young Master Fang for blood sacrifice.

Qin Sang had remained anonymous, cultivating his body while searching for clues. It took him three full years to ascertain the whereabouts of Black Serpent Mountain disciples, and he had patiently waited in ambush until now, finally intercepting his true target.

Young Master Fang's cultivation was even stronger than before; he had reached the peak of the Core Formation stage, just a step away from forming a Nascent Soul.

However, as long as it wasn't a Nascent Soul cultivator, Qin Sang was absolutely confident that this person would not escape his grasp.

"It's you! You still dare to show your face before me!"

Young Master Fang recognized Qin Sang, the object of his intense hatred, at first glance. His eyes immediately turned bloodshot, and he laughed in extreme fury. "Good! Good! You've come to me without any effort! Hand over the stone platform, and I'll grant you a swift death!"

Qin Sang sneered, "Fellow Daoist Fang, you haven't forgotten the stone platform, have you? Perhaps you should concern yourself with your own life first! Kill!"

Before his words fully faded, Qin Sang's incarnation and the Two-Headed Ferocious Beast moved in unison.

The three figures suddenly separated.

Qin Sang charged directly at Young Master Fang, while his incarnation and the Two-Headed Ferocious Beast lunged straight for the other Wu Clan cultivator, preparing to eliminate him first.

Seeing this, Young Master Fang was somewhat surprised. He had long discerned the opponents' cultivation levels and understood that anyone daring to ambush him certainly meant him no good.

He had expected the one to face him would be the unfamiliar late-stage Core Formation cultivator, not Qin Sang.

In the blink of an eye, Qin Sang had already closed in.

Qin Sang's body glowed with an azure light, and a pair of exceptionally beautiful phoenix wings suddenly unfurled behind him, much to Young Master Fang's astonishment.

Immediately after, Qin Sang's aura surged rapidly, instantly escalating to a level that changed Young Master Fang's expression.

"What kind of secret art is this?"

A strong sense of alarm rose in Young Master Fang's heart, accompanied by an ominous premonition.

Qin Sang was clearly only at the mid-stage Core Formation cultivation, yet after using this transformation ability, his aura was not much weaker than his own. At this moment, Young Master Fang truly felt danger, and his face changed drastically.

'Whoosh!'

With the phoenix wings appearing, Qin Sang's speed soared. In a flash, he appeared before Young Master Fang.

Demonic energy permeated Qin Sang's body. With wings spread wide, he resembled a ferocious, bloodthirsty demon, pouncing forward.

Young Master Fang was utterly shocked, but his movements were not slow in the slightest. A dark light flashed across his body, and a strange insect-armor appeared. Then, with a flick of his arm, the blood sword erupted with crimson sword energy, slashing out swiftly.