Hunting the Flood Dragon

In the words of the elderly couple, danger lurked everywhere once they left Duyan Island. Venture into the depths of the Demon Sea, and besides demon beasts that could appear at any moment, one had to watch out for unfamiliar cultivators. In such a chaotic place, no one would be surprised if anyone suddenly turned into a fiend murdering for treasure. Having spent decades in the Demon Sea, the elderly couple had encountered such dangers more than once, surviving each time through sheer vigilance. They had recruited the other three to form this demon-hunting squad, and mutual trust had only been forged after braving numerous trials together. The couple had been frank with Qin Sang as well. Under ordinary circumstances, they would never accept employment from an unfamiliar Core Formation cultivator. They had agreed only because the Qiongyu Guild and Ran Luo stood as guarantors, and because the compensation offered by Qin Sang and the guild was exceptionally generous. Traveling for days on end, they ventured farther and farther from Duyan Island. Qin Sang could distinctly feel that once they moved past the patrol range of Duyan Island's cultivators, all the immortals they saw grew far more cautious. Later on, whenever cultivators crossed paths by chance, they would spot each other from a great distance and immediately veer far away in mutual, unspoken understanding without knowing the other side's strength, maintaining peace rather than approaching recklessly. This seemed to be an unwritten rule of the Demon Sea. The elderly couple truly knew this region inside and out. The route they selected avoided any formidable demon beasts along the way, keeping the journey calm and uneventful. After ten-odd days, they finally arrived at their destination. "The oceanic trench is right ahead." The group landed on a desolate islet, carefully concealing their presence. The old man pointed forward and spoke to Qin Sang. Whether it was just psychological or not, Qin Sang felt the sea ahead was a deeper shade than elsewhere, its depths concealing countless lurking perils. "Daoist Master, the blue flood dragon at the peak of the Demon Spirit stage that we discovered earlier nests about three days' journey east of here," the old woman consulted Qin Sang in a low voice. "Barring any surprises, it should still be there. Shall we head over now?" Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Qin Sang glanced sideways at the old woman and asked, "Since you've known the location of this blue flood dragon's nest for so long, why haven't you hunted it? With the strength of the five of you, hunting a single blue flood dragon at the peak of the Demon Spirit stage shouldn't be difficult, should it?" The old woman replied, "Under normal circumstances, hunting it wouldn't be difficult at all. However, firstly, there is more than one blue flood dragon in the nest. The others may not be as high in cultivation, but their strength cannot be underestimated either. Secondly, the Demon Sea teems with demon beasts, and even more so in the depths of the trench. If we fail to slay the blue flood dragon and withdraw swiftly, we could easily attract other beasts. If we were surrounded, our chances of survival would be slim. In truth, the five of us haven't actually hunted many peak Demon Spirit great demons; we only dare to make a move after making thorough preparations every single time." Qin Sang gave a soft nod. "Since you say it's so dangerous, it seems this poor Daoist cannot be overconfident either. It would be best to have someone stay on the perimeter to keep watch and monitor the surrounding waters while we hunt the flood dragon. Which of you specializes in detection techniques?" The elderly couple exchanged a glance. The old man spoke up. "To answer the Daoist Master, my wife and Eldest Sister Wang both possess several methods that can detect the movements of demon beasts in advance." "Very well," Qin Sang nodded. "Once we encounter the flood dragons, the two of them will keep watch outside, while the three of you follow me in to hunt. Leave the blue flood dragon at the peak Demon Spirit stage to me, and you can handle the smaller flood dragons. Once we kill them, the spoils will be divided as agreed: aside from the leader, all the other flood dragons will be yours." Delight showed on the faces of all five cultivators, and they promptly agreed. With Qin Sang taking care of the leader, the smaller flood dragons would be much easier to handle. The bodies of flood dragons fetched a handsome price, and this would net them a fortune. With the plan settled, everyone immediately set off. Upon entering the oceanic trench, Qin Sang cast aside his casual mindset and proactively extended his spiritual sense to survey the surrounding waters. By dusk on the third day, six figures appeared over a deserted stretch of sea. The waters here were extraordinarily calm, showing not the slightest trace of flood dragon activity. "This is the place. Every full moon, these flood dragons leave the trench and come out in packs to whip up wind and waves. That will be our best opportunity to hunt them." The old man whispered a few words before leading the group in a wide arc to conceal themselves on a small rocky islet. Qin Sang made a quick mental calculation and realized the full moon was two days away, so he could only wait patiently. Before long, two days slipped by. As night fell, a bright moon hung obliquely in the sky, radiant as a silver platter, casting cool, fluid moonlight like water. A reflection of the moon swayed upon the ocean waves. Even under the full moon, the surface of the sea remained perfectly calm. The six people on the rocky islet held their breath, their eyes wide, refusing to miss the slightest change on the water. As time ticked on, the deep of the night arrived. The bright moon reached the center of the heavens, yet there was still no sign of the flood dragons. Just then, the old man let out a sudden, hushed cry. "They're here!" Qin Sang followed the old man's gaze. A faint mist had risen at the edge of the sea at some unknown point, looking at first glance just like sea fog condensing over the water. Such a sight was commonplace across the vast expanse of the ocean, but this time it was clearly out of the ordinary. "Every time this pack of blue flood dragons appears, they summon clouds and exhale mist, concealing their true forms within the water vapor..." As the old man's voice transmission reached his ears, Qin Sang noticed the mist beginning to drift across the open water, expanding rapidly. Within dozens of breaths, a broad expanse of the sea was shrouded beneath it. At the same time, slender silhouettes flickered in and out of view within the mist. The flood dragons had appeared! Qin Sang slipped away from the islet and crept toward the mist, coming to a halt a short distance away. Completely oblivious to the approaching danger, the pack of blue flood dragons was frolicking joyfully within the mist. After observing for a moment and confirming the intelligence was accurate—the highest cultivation among them was merely at the peak of the Demon Spirit stage—Qin Sang decided to strike at once! *Whoosh!* The ebony sword shot out from between Qin Sang's brows, its sword qi swelling violently in an instant. Without the slightest pause, the ebony sword unleashed a dazzling sword light that cleaved viciously down toward the center of the mist. Seeing the brilliant sword light, the five cultivators on the rocky islet darted forward immediately. "The two of you split up to keep watch on the left and right! The rest, follow me in to hunt!" The old man swiftly gave orders. Before his words had even faded, he saw Qin Sang charge boldly into the mist, sword in hand, as furious roars from the flood dragons erupted one after another from within. "Hurry!" Frantic, the old man exerted all his strength and rushed toward the mist. Displaying their respective skills, the three of them plunged into the mist one after another, only to find the blue flood dragons thrown into complete chaos. Just as they hurriedly deployed their formation to begin the hunt, they spotted a figure hovering in midair at the center of the mist. Before him, a massive hand formed of true essence held a blue flood dragon in a vise-like grip. Drenched in blood from head to tail, the blue flood dragon was already at its last gasp, pinned down tightly by the giant hand without the slightest power to resist!