On the Right Track

A month had passed since they had first discovered traces of the flood dragons. Inside the cave dwelling, the elderly couple and their companions had returned at some point. All five of them sat or stood restlessly in the main hall. Only Qin Sang was missing. "The Daoist Master's flight speed is far beyond anything we could ever hope to match. Why hasn't he returned yet? Could it be..." The Wang sisters knitted their delicate brows, their voices laced with deep worry. "If something happened to the Daoist Master, would the guild blame us for inadequate scouting and hold us responsible for harming him?" The elderly couple remained relatively composed. "The Daoist Master possesses extraordinary strength. Even a Demon Core stage great demon wouldn't find it easy to keep him trapped here. There is no need to panic. We'll wait one more day. If..." Mid-sentence, the old woman's expression suddenly shifted, and she darted toward the entrance of the cave dwelling. Immediately afterward, the others sensed something as well and filed out in quick succession. The moment they emerged from the cave dwelling, a streak of sword light shot toward them, circled briefly over the island, and landed before their eyes. It was Qin Sang. The elderly couple and the others let out long sighs of relief, their faces lighting up with joy. "Senior, you've finally returned! Was there truly a Demon Core stage great demon among that group of flood dragons?" Qin Sang nodded. "Indeed. At least mid Demon Core stage." He had not expected an unexpected turn of events while hunting the final flood dragon. After discovering signs of the flood dragon pack's migration, they had immediately tracked them along their path. Following them for over ten days, Qin Sang confirmed that they were merely a group of Demon Spirit stage blue flood dragons and decided to strike. Yet for some reason, an underlying sense of unease had lingered in his heart before he made his move. Qin Sang had ordered the elderly couple and the others to withdraw to a safe distance, then approached the pack alone. Exercising caution, he first released a living corpse to probe them. To his surprise, a Demon Core stage great demon was concealed among the pack. It instantly obliterated the living corpse and charged straight for Qin Sang's hiding place. Judging by its aura, it was a flood dragon of at least the mid Demon Core stage. The moment he spotted the dragon, Qin Sang realized he had walked into a trap. It seemed his instinct after killing the first blue flood dragon had been correct: that creature's identity was far from ordinary. What Qin Sang had not anticipated was that these flood dragons knew how to lure and ambush. That Demon Core stage flood dragon had very likely developed human-like intelligence. In the depths of the Demon Sea, Qin Sang would carefully observe even an early Demon Core stage beast before deciding whether to engage, let alone a mid Demon Core stage flood dragon. Shocked, Qin Sang had turned and fled without hesitation, simultaneously warning the elderly couple and their companions to flee immediately. Fortunately, Qin Sang had been cautious enough to keep his true body at a distance. Moreover, the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman, which had now absorbed eight dragon spirit souls, combined with Sword Qi Thunderclap to grant him terrifying speed. After winding twists and turns through the waters and amidst the dragon's furious roars, he had finally managed to shake it off. "We can no longer stay in this sea area. Do you know of anywhere else where flood dragons appear?" Having caught that dragon's attention, Qin Sang knew hunting flood dragons nearby carried tremendous risk, so he decided to head in a different direction. Demon beasts in the Demon Sea had territories of their own, so he was not overly panicked. Still, the thought of nearly being lured into a fatal trap left a lingering dread, wiping away any trace of complacency. Seeing that Qin Sang remained as calm as ever despite being pursued by a Demon Core stage great demon, the elderly couple and their companions were filled with silent admiration and gradually settled their nerves. The old man pondered for a moment and said, "Outside the ocean trench, the most suitable place would be west of Duyan Island. In that sea area, a type of fish demon called the Fuhu is common, and flood dragons seem fond of preying on them. You can sometimes catch sight of flood dragons there. However, Demon Core stage beasts occasionally roam around the Fuhu Sea Area, so only Core Formation seniors dare hunt there." Qin Sang's interest was piqued. Looking around at the group, he asked, "When do you plan to return to Duyan Island?" The five were taken aback. "Why does Senior ask?" Qin Sang mused aloud, "I intend to head directly to the Fuhu Sea Area and find a cave dwelling there to cultivate for a few years. If you are not in a hurry to return, I would like to continue employing you to scout for demon beasts. However, this time, I need you to locate the lairs of Demon Core stage great demons. My cultivation method is unique, so this is necessary. Of course, you will not need to take part when it comes time to hunt them." The Qiongyu Guild had other artifact craftsmen besides him, reserving only the finest spirit materials for Qin Sang. Qin Sang had an agreement with the guild requiring him to return only once every few years, which would not interfere with his cultivation. Hearing the old man mention that the Fuhu Sea Area had many Demon Core stage beasts, Qin Sang realized it was an ideal location to contemplate the killing talisman. Since he had brought ample supplies before departing, he decided against returning to Duyan Island for now. Yet demon beasts would not deliver themselves to his doorstep. Searching for them alone would be inefficient and waste too much time. These five were convenient to work with. Though their cultivation was slightly lacking, it was more than enough for tracking down beast lairs. The five exchanged glances. Having gained so many benefits by Qin Sang's side and having come to understand his temperament, they were naturally more than willing. Yet for False Core cultivators like them, the Fuhu Sea Area was fraught with peril, leaving them hesitant. "By staying at my side, you naturally won't be mistreated. As long as you serve me faithfully, I can craft magic tools for you free of charge—none of them inferior to that bone sword or bone spear." Qin Sang's tone carried compelling allure as he looked at the elderly couple. "You two have reached your limit with the Fiend Demon Pills you can take, but you can still consume other spirit medicines. If you accumulate more wealth, perhaps you might chance upon an opportunity to reach Core Formation in the future. Or are you truly resigned to giving up?" His question struck right at their hearts. The elderly couple looked at each other and gritted their teeth. "The two of us are willing to follow your commands, Daoist Master!" Turning to the other three, the old man added, "Fellow Daoists, unlike my wife and me, you haven't consumed many Fiend Demon Pills and still have hope. Whatever you decide, neither of us will hold it against you. If we part ways here, I only hope we never forget the camaraderie of hunting together all these years." The grey-robed man agreed without the slightest hesitation, having already been promised a bone sword by Qin Sang. The Wang sisters smiled wryly. "When we two sisters first arrived here, we knew nothing. It was entirely thanks to the two seniors guiding us that we reached where we are today. How could we abandon you now? Besides, an opportunity like the one the Daoist Master offers rarely comes more than a few times in a lifetime. If we miss it, we will surely regret it forever." One after another, all five accepted Qin Sang's terms. Qin Sang chuckled, then led the five out of the cave dwelling and flew straight west. Two months later, the group arrived at the Fuhu Sea Area. After spending more than ten days searching, they discovered a desolate island concealing a spirit vein and carved out several cave dwellings right beside it. "Finally, things are on the right track." Looking around the simple cave dwelling, Qin Sang sighed with emotion. Ever since reaching Core Formation, he had been wandering without a stable foothold, unable to cultivate in peace. Now, he had finally found a place well suited for his progress. "One of you five will remain behind, taking turns standing guard over the island. The other four will venture out in pairs. For now, our primary focus remains tracking flood dragons. Once you locate a beast's lair, do not act rashly. Wait for me to personally confirm its cultivation."