Qin Sang flew continuously for several days. Instead of returning to the Fuhu Sea Area, he made several sharp turns and plunged deep into the Demon Sea, originally intending to pick a spot to hide.
To his surprise, Qin Sang encountered cultivators returning from the Demon Sea more than once along the way, all of them traveling in great haste. This prompted him to change his mind.
***
On a lush, uninhabited islet, many ancient trees grew, some so thick that it would take over a dozen men with linked arms to encircle their trunks. Unfortunately, the island was bereft of spiritual energy; despite such fine scenery, it could not be used to establish a cave dwelling.
Tree shadows swayed gently as the tide lapped softly against the reefs.
On this seemingly ordinary island, several figures now sat.
These people were seated cross-legged around two central figures, holding spirit stones in their hands as they regulated their breath.
The two in the middle were both Core Formation stage cultivators, whereas the others possessed far inferior cultivation, being merely in the Foundation Establishment stage.
Surrounding them was a temporary Spirit Gathering Array arranged using spirit stones. Beyond the perimeter of the Spirit Gathering Array, more than a dozen ochre formation flags were planted in the ground.
The flags formed an illusion array of considerable strength. Viewed from outside, the area appeared to be nothing more than a patch of barren grassland. Only if someone landed nearby and searched with meticulous care could they possibly spot any irregularities.
At that moment, the two men in the center awoke from meditation one after the other. Looking at the disciples regulating their breathing around them, they did not rush to wake them, choosing instead to converse via voice transmission.
"To think that the turmoil between the two races has spread from the Canglang Sea to the Demon Sea. The island lord actually chose self-preservation. Only days after we departed, the island lord decided to seal off the island. Had I known, I wouldn't have come out—a wasted effort."
One of them sighed softly, his tone tinged with resentment.
The other asked in puzzlement, "Senior Brother, is there really a need for us to rush back to Douyan Island in such haste? Even if the two races have truly begun a fight to the death, it couldn't possibly affect the situation in the Demon Sea this quickly, could it? We prepared for so long and brought our disciples all the way out here. Returning after hunting our demon beasts shouldn't be too late."
"When Martial Nephew Zhao rushed over to deliver the message, you already wanted to ask why I decided to head back without hesitation, didn't you?"
The man addressed as Senior Brother shook his head. "What I fear isn't the turmoil between the two races, but those who fish in troubled waters. Previously, the island lord held absolute authority over all quarters, and no one dared act out of line. Now that the island lord has abruptly announced the island's closure and washed his hands of outside matters, you can imagine how chaotic things will become. You and I are only in the early Core Formation stage, and we have so many disciples with us. If we don't return as early as possible, it may become terribly difficult later. Who knows when this conflict between the two races will end? Legend has it that a war between the two races several thousand years ago lasted for hundreds of years. If we get trapped in the depths of the Demon Sea and run out of supplies, what will we do then?"
The junior brother's expression shifted slightly. "Senior Brother, are you saying that the cultivators of both races in the Demon Sea will also hunt and kill each other?"
"Once an evil precedent is set, how could others not follow suit?"
The senior brother gave a soft sigh. "Without the instigation of the Nascent Soul experts of both races, how could such massive chaos have erupted in the Canglang Sea? And how could the cultivators in the Demon Sea truly sever ties with the inner sea? If this storm isn't quelled anytime soon, the cultivators in the Demon Sea won't be able to stay out of it, not to mention that the Demon Sea has already been affected. Aside from the Witch Clan, evil human cultivators will surely seize the opportunity to fish in troubled waters, murdering and looting everywhere. It will devolve into complete bedlam. Under such circumstances, our only choice is to take refuge on Douyan Island. With a Nascent Soul cultivator presiding, our odds of survival amidst the chaos will at least be slightly higher."
Hearing his senior brother's explanation, the junior brother was thoroughly convinced. "Senior Brother is truly far-sighted; I was thinking too simply..."
The senior brother hummed in acknowledgment. "The last turmoil between the two races happened ages ago; not even our master lived through it, so it's only natural you didn't think of it. Alas! There is a mortal proverb: 'Better to be a dog in a time of peace than a man in a time of chaos.' Isn't it the same for us cultivators? I only hope this great chaos passes quickly..."
As he was speaking, the senior brother suddenly sensed something. His gaze shifted sharply, and he surged to his feet, summoning a magic tool pointed straight outside the array. He barked, "Who's there?!"
The junior brother reacted immediately as well.
The two stood side by side, glaring coldly outside the array.
The illusion array they had set up had actually been discovered, and someone had approached so closely. The two were both shocked and enraged.
"Fellow Daoists, please calm yourselves. This old man harbors no ill will; I merely wish to ask a few questions..."
A gentle voice drifted in from outside. Following that, a masked figure openly revealed himself beyond the illusion array, spreading his hands to show goodwill.
This person was none other than Qin Sang, who had changed into a new disguise. Having inadvertently discovered that there were only two early Core Formation stage cultivators in this group, he had decided to pry some information from them.
"A fellow human cultivator?"
Seeing Qin Sang and noting that he was only in the early Core Formation stage, the two visibly relaxed a fraction, though they remained highly vigilant. Evil cultivators who killed for treasure were far from rare in the Demon Sea, and they were all adept at disguises.
"What questions do you wish to ask, Fellow Daoist? Why sneak about in such an underhanded manner?" the senior brother snorted coldly, his tone far from friendly.
"If this old man hadn't done so, would you two have allowed me to approach? There is no need to look around; I am indeed alone. If this old man truly harbored malice, would I have alerted you beforehand?"
Qin Sang retorted, then said in a deep voice, "I can exchange a top-grade magic tool for this information. Once I finish asking, I will leave immediately without disturbing you further. This old man has been cultivating in the Demon Sea for some time and originally intended to return to Douyan Island to resupply. I abruptly noticed the strange atmosphere, and seeing you two also hurrying back... What on earth has happened?"
The two exchanged a glance. The senior brother hesitated for a moment before countering, "Fellow Daoist, how many years have you been out hunting demon beasts?"
"By my count, roughly seven or eight years."
Qin Sang gave a false number.
"You have been hunting demon beasts alone in the Demon Sea for that long?"
The senior brother gasped softly, a strange look flashing through his eyes. "No wonder you are unaware. Many changes have indeed taken place over the past two years, beginning in the Canglang Sea. Three years ago, the Witch Clan launched a sudden offensive without warning. We don't know the cause either, but major battles have already been fought in the inner sea. We originally assumed it wouldn't spread to the Demon Sea so quickly. Unexpectedly, not long after we left the island, our disciple sent word that the island lord had decided to seal off the island and ignore all outside affairs..."
Listening to the two recount the situation, an unusual expression crossed Qin Sang's face.
A great war between the two races had truly broken out!
When the factions of Pingbo Port fled, some had mocked them for being cowardly, entirely unaware that their wariness had saved their lives. Heaven only knew what fate had befallen the human cultivators who remained behind at Pingbo Port.
The Witch Clan had always been the weaker faction. After their Nascent Soul cultivators went missing en masse, they had returned and immediately launched an attack against the humans. Could they have obtained some treasure that gave them the confidence to defeat the human race?
In hindsight, coming to the Demon Sea early had indeed been the right choice. Had he stayed in the Canglang Sea, it would have been impossible to stay out of the fray once chaos erupted.
He did not trust the Qiongyu Guild and had never disclosed his whereabouts to Ran Luo and the others. Two years had already elapsed since the outbreak of turmoil between the two races, yet he was only learning of it now.
Qin Sang then proceeded to ask several more questions.
As these were common knowledge on Douyan Island, the two had nothing to hide and answered them one by one.
Chapter 691