Resolution

"Fellow Daoist, your senses are indeed sharp. I had barely drawn near when you discovered me." Upon that mountain peak, faint ripples stirred across the void. A figure materialized from the illusion, gradually coalescing into solid form. Qin Sang's pupils contracted slightly. A human torso with a serpent's tail—it was none other than the Snake King, whom he had parted from in the Palace of King Yu just a short while ago! Despite having his trail exposed by Qin Sang, Snake King's expression remained calm, and he even wore a faint smile. His figure flickered as he sped down the mountain, arriving right before Qin Sang. Fat Chick and the white crane had their feathers completely bristling, not daring to breathe loudly. Snake King did not conceal his cultivation. The oppressive aura of a mid Transformation stage great demon made the two birds tremble with fear. "So it is the esteemed Snake King gracing us with his presence!" Qin Sang shielded the two birds from the demon king's pressure, his tone dripping with sarcasm to convey his displeasure. "The Palace of King Yu was the first time we met, was it not?" "Indeed," Snake King nodded. "However, though that was our first meeting in person, I had long heard of Daoist Mingyue. I had heard earlier that Daoist Zhu had raised an extraordinary successor." Qin Sang was not taken in by Snake King's seemingly complimentary words. In a cold voice, he said, "You flatter me! It is this king who has long admired Snake King's renown. I wonder what important business brings you here, that you chose not to mention it in the Palace of King Yu and instead followed stealthily behind? Fortunately, my senses are relatively sharp! Could it be you intended to wait until we were far from Myriad Demon City before making your move?" "The Palace of King Yu is filled with too many eyes and ears. Some matters are indeed unsuitable to bring up in front of our fellow Daoists. As for Daoist Mingyue's concerns..." Snake King curled his lips in mockery. "This move of mine is merely emulating what you once did, Fellow Daoist. If you could do it yourself, could we not do the same?" Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. Shortly after leaving the city, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had warned him, allowing Qin Sang to spot Snake King's tracks. Although Snake King was a mid Transformation stage demon whose cultivation was a realm higher, following Qin Sang without being detected was virtually impossible. Beneath the Heavenly Eye divine ability, unless one possessed the very pinnacle of concealment techniques, nothing could remain hidden. Qin Sang had maintained his composure, flying forward a distance to confirm that his pursuer was Snake King. He realized then that his theft of the treasure from Qianji Demon King's cave estate had likely been exposed. Snake King was Qianji Demon King's father-in-law. Aside from that, Qin Sang could think of no reason why Snake King would shadow him. Having realized this, after brief contemplation, Qin Sang decided to stop here and call Snake King out directly. This place was not far from Myriad Demon City, and the various demon kings had not departed for long. Moreover, Demon King Yu presided over Myriad Demon City, so Snake King would have some reservations. It was not that Qin Sang feared Snake King. During his period of quiet cultivation at the Yuanshen Sect, Qin Sang had never ceased cultivating the Heavenly Demon Refining Form. He had already attained true mastery over the Green Luan wings on his back, vastly improving his movement techniques. Facing an expert like Demon King Yu, who possessed both long-standing renown and a profound legacy, Qin Sang would still feel some wariness. After all, executing lightning teleportation still required the lightning power manifested by the Green Luan wings. Qin Sang had tested it deliberately. Limited by his realm, there was a ceiling to how much lightning power he could control. Once drained, it could only recover slowly, so it was best not to place himself in such a predicament. Yet shaking off Snake King would not be difficult. Still, this karmic grievance would have to be settled sooner or later. If it could be peacefully resolved, that would naturally be best. Qin Sang had no wish to be perpetually monitored by this father-and-son-in-law pair of the Transformation stage, fretting over ambushes and walking on eggshells whenever he made a move, which might also drag in the demons of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea. Just as Qin Sang expected, after speaking, Snake King suddenly flicked his finger and shot a streak of flowing light into the sky. A moment later, the whistling sound of rushing air approached from afar. A streak of escape light flew in. From within it, Qin Sang sensed a familiar aura—it was none other than Qianji Demon King. Behind Qianji Demon King followed a cloud of demonic mist, containing the subordinates of the two demon kings. Seeing this, Qin Sang frowned slightly, somewhat unsure of their intentions. Qianji Demon King had also come, yet had not shown his face in the Palace of King Yu. Had he been waiting outside the city all along just to intercept him? Yet what was the point of bringing a few minor demons? It only made them easier to detect. In the blink of an eye, Qianji Demon King flew to Snake King's side, glaring coldly at Qin Sang with hostile eyes. "Daoist Mingyue once paid a visit to my son-in-law's cave estate. Surely you haven't forgotten him?" Snake King said with profound meaning. Qin Sang asked curiously, "When did you two trace it back to me?" "Although Fellow Daoist made various concealments—first obscuring your cultivation, then deliberately displaying human sword techniques—could an ordinary cultivator subdue a fourth-transformation spirit insect and easily shake off Qianji?" Snake King shook his head. "After Qianji obtained that stone slate, he even kept it hidden from me. How could an outsider have known? The person who originally fought Qianji for the stone slate only discerned that it was an extraordinary treasure of the demon race; he never witnessed the phantom of the Green Luan with his own eyes. The only explanation was a bloodline divine ability. The other fellow Daoists have been famous for many years, and I know more or less about their divine abilities and bloodlines. Only Daoist Mingyue is a new face, newly advanced to the Transformation stage, with no one knowing your origins. I took a bold guess that you must be a rare descendant of the Green Luan to have sensed the aura of its phantom. Am I right?" "Indeed, it was I," Qin Sang admitted plainly. Since he was already exposed, there was no need to hide it. Snake King had mistaken the cause and effect: it was not that Qin Sang possessed Green Luan bloodline, but that someone else had discovered the Green Luan phantom prior to Qianji Demon King's struggle for it. However, this misconception was not a bad thing for Qin Sang. "You certainly have the nerve to admit it! Why aren't you running today?" Qianji Demon King sneered with derision. Qin Sang's expression remained unchanged as he glanced at the demon kings' subordinates who had arrived late. "After all, I gave offense first. Since the two of you have tracked me down, why keep hiding? Sooner or later, we would have to have a showdown. I wonder how you two intend to resolve it? With such a grand mobilization, do you honestly believe you can keep us here?" Qianji Demon King raged, "Insolent cur! Do you truly think I can't kill you?" Snake King held Qianji Demon King back and said in a deep voice, "I know Daoist Mingyue is Daoist Zhu's successor, and your movement technique is so brilliant that Qianji cannot even hope to match it. That gives you the confidence to speak like this. But even if you do not fear us, what about the demons of the Thousand Mountains Bamboo Sea? Can you truly bear the consequences of going to war? Daoist Zhu has been in seclusion for hundreds of years—there must be a story behind that, no? I have always prided myself on benevolence, but my hands have never lacked blood!" After delivering the threat, Snake King paused, his tone softening slightly. "Fellow Daoist, do you think that if I truly intended to kill you, I would be so foolish as to mobilize troops openly for an ambush, and choose a place right near Myriad Demon City, as though afraid King Yu and the other Daoists wouldn't notice? "Although the stone slate is an extraordinary treasure, we now know it can only be activated by a Green Luan bloodline. It seems that ending up in your hands can be considered putting it to good use. "Just earlier in the Palace of King Yu, I was the one who brought it up, and our fellow Daoists have reached a consensus to explore Ziwei Palace together in the future. As long as it is not an irreconcilable blood feud, all grievances can be resolved. "The stone slate is already broken, and the Green Luan's power sealed within has already been refined by you. What is done cannot be undone; it's not as if we could force you to spit it back out..." Qianji Demon King snorted, but did not dispute Snake King's words.