Ambush

"Old Devil Mou..." Qin Sang remembered this person. Back then, the black-armored man stationed by the Huntian Island Master to guard the Dongming Cold Flame had mentioned that Old Devil Mou was interested in the Dongming Cold Flame, and that the Huntian Island Master had invited him to subdue it. Old Devil Mou was a titan of the demonic path whose renown had been established long ago. *To think the Dongming Cold Flame has already been taken. This person must also be exceptionally proficient in the art of controlling fire...* Qin Sang felt a twinge of regret. He knew very well that all of Master Dongming's relics had been destroyed by the corrosion of the Dongming Cold Flame. That very cold flame had been the sole remaining supreme treasure—something one could only stumble upon by pure fortune. ... The journey went quite smoothly. Without encountering any attacks from the beast tides, they arrived at a place called Yuheng Island. Qin Sang and Madam Liu disguised their identities and landed on the island, slipping into the city under the cover of Madam Liu's friend. This friend was also a female cultivator named Jin Ying. She had a pretty appearance and had been monitoring Xiang Yi's movements on the island the entire time. Upon seeing Qin Sang, her gaze turned somewhat unfriendly as she scrutinized him, seemingly doubting his abilities. Although she concealed it well, Qin Sang still caught on. A moment's thought was all it took for Qin Sang to understand why: last time, because she and Madam Liu could not contact him, they had missed an opportunity. It was no wonder she harbored dissatisfaction. "This is Daoist Qingfeng, whom I often mention to you." The three hurried back to Jin Ying's cave dwelling, where Madam Liu introduced them. "Daoist, this is Junior Sister Jin Ying. I once joined a sect for a period of time and came to know Junior Sister; we have always been as close as sisters. She currently serves as a manager in the Nine Stars Guild. Thanks to her assistance in covering for me over the years, I've managed to keep my true identity hidden without Xiang Yi noticing. This time, we will also need Jin Ying's help to lure Xiang Yi off the island before we can get a chance to strike." *So she is with the Nine Stars Guild.* Qin Sang nodded inwardly. The Nine Stars Guild was one of the top merchant guilds in the Merchant Alliance, so Jin Ying indeed possessed such capability. The fact that she was willing to risk breaking ties with both the Merchant Alliance and her own guild to help Madam Liu take revenge demonstrated the depth of affection between them. "There is no need for Senior Sister to speak like that. If not for you and Big Brother Liu looking after me back then, I wouldn't be where I am today." Jin Ying glanced at Qin Sang, then looked at Madam Liu and said in a grave voice, "Xiang Yi is on the island right now. The rulers of several nearby large islands are preparing to rendezvous here to fortify and defend this island, and the Merchant Alliance is also stepping up deployments. Xiang Yi cannot leave for the moment. But before making a move, the two of you must think it through. If we fail and alert the enemy, not only will Big Brother Liu's vengeance remain unavenged, but Xiang Yi will definitely never let us off. In this current situation, if we are wanted by the Merchant Alliance, returning to the Canglang Sea will be completely out of the question; we would have no choice but to drift in the Demon Sea, dancing with demon beasts. Therefore, this might be our only chance." Hearing this, Qin Sang knew full well that Jin Ying was aiming these words at him—she still didn't trust his capabilities. Qin Sang merely smiled faintly and said nothing. Madam Liu smoothed things over, saying, "Rest assured, Junior Sister. The Daoist came and went as he pleased in the Hall of Seven Kills, and he once killed a late Core Formation expert in an instant. His strength is beyond doubt. As long as he can unleash that Yuan-Restricting Talisman, I believe defeating Xiang Yi will be well within reach. However, Daoist, you must not lower your guard either. I must see Xiang Yi's body and soul utterly extinguished before my husband's spirit in heaven can be comforted!" Madam Liu's tone was resolute, filled with bone-deep hatred for Xiang Yi. "As long as there are no flaws in the arrangements made by you two, this poor Daoist is confident Xiang Yi will not be given a chance to escape." Qin Sang stopped smiling casually and made a promise. Then, he began inquiring about their plan. "How do you two intend to lure Xiang Yi off the island? What if he doesn't leave alone and has other experts by his side? From what you said earlier, it seems there are several other experts sent by the Merchant Alliance around Xiang Yi." The two women exchanged a glance, and Madam Liu nodded to Jin Ying. Out of caution, Jin Ying waved her hand to set up a sound-isolating restriction before explaining in detail. "From what we know, Xiang Yi has been searching for a spirit tree called Tortoise-Pattern Wood, a little-known spiritual material. This Tortoise-Pattern Wood is quite peculiar: it seems to exhale and inhale mist like a demon beast, and once every hundred years, an eruption occurs, shrouding an area of several li in mist with a distinctive scent. At that time, we will forge a similar anomaly out in the Demon Sea, and through the Nine Stars Guild's ties with the Merchant Alliance, pretend to leak news of the anomaly to Xiang Yi. As for Xiang Yi's companions..." Madam Liu took over, "In his lifetime, my husband also made a few close friends. The fact that Xiang Yi needs Tortoise-Pattern Wood was told to me by one of them. Though they fear the alliance master and dare not openly oppose Xiang Yi, they do not hesitate to offer whatever help lies within their power; otherwise, things could never have gone so smoothly for me. One of those friends also works for the Merchant Alliance and happens to be on the island. Before we strike, he will do his best to tie down the Merchant Alliance's experts, but the ambush and kill must be carried out by our own hands. Moreover, Xiang Yi is greedy and deceitful by nature. So long as he confirms a treasure truly exists, he will never bring others along, lest they take a share of the spoils..." "'Do his best'... In other words, Xiang Yi might still have helpers. We must guard against that..." Qin Sang frowned. He was not accustomed to pinning his hopes on others. Madam Liu said helplessly, "That is indeed true, but there won't be a better opportunity. We must take this risk. Once Xiang Yi returns to enter secluded cultivation and break through, we will not have the slightest chance left." Qin Sang understood this as well. Relying on his own abilities, he was confident that even if the ambush failed, he could easily escape, so he said nothing more. The three discussed for an entire day and finalized their plan. Qin Sang and Madam Liu left Yuheng Island first and searched outside for several days before finding a suitable small island, where they laid down an illusion formation disguised as Tortoise-Pattern Wood. Then came the long wait. A full two months passed before their opportunity finally arrived! ... Outside Yuheng Island, Qin Sang and Madam Liu were waiting anxiously. Suddenly, ripples stirred across the water's surface, and a carp-shaped sea beast leaped out. It was precisely the spirit beast tamed by Jin Ying. Opening its mouth, it spat out a voice transmission talisman. "The fish has taken the bait!" Madam Liu read out. The two looked at each other and immediately concealed their presence. They lay in ambush along the path while Jin Ying relayed news to them. Lacking sufficient strength, she would not participate in the ambush and kill; instead, she was arranging an escape route for them so that if the ambush failed, they could flee far away at once. However, the speed of Jin Ying's spirit beast was certainly no match for Xiang Yi's flying escape speed. At present, they only knew that the news of the spiritual material had been successfully delivered; they had no idea when Xiang Yi would arrive or whether he would have helpers, so they would have to adapt to the situation. Qin Sang put some distance between himself and Madam Liu. Holding the Primordial Concentric Rings in his hand, he ordered the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to open its heavenly eye and scan the sea's surface so that he could detect Xiang Yi's tracks in time. Time ticked by minute by minute, feeling agonizingly slow. Xiang Yi's figure remained nowhere to be seen. Still, no new messages came from Jin Ying, which indicated that no unexpected changes had occurred. The sea breeze brushed against his face. Listening to the sound of the ocean waves, Qin Sang's eyes suddenly narrowed. Far across the sea's surface, a meteor-like streak of light faintly appeared, hurtling toward them at breakneck speed.