Cave Master of Simo Cave

"The Heguang Sect?" Qin Sang pondered briefly and recalled the sect. It was the overlord of a large island ten thousand li north of the Liefeng Archipelago's waters. Its sect master was a Nascent Soul Patriarch, but they had only that single one. Much like the Landou Sect, it was already well past its prime. Frowning slightly, Qin Sang questioned the captives separately and learned that the scholar had merely offended an elder of the Heguang Sect. Having accidentally killed one of the elder's favored direct disciples, he had been forced to flee into the Liefeng Archipelago. That elder was not anyone particularly significant within the Heguang Sect. Had it been a Nascent Soul Patriarch, or an adopted son of one like First Seat Lu, he might have exercised some caution. But when it came to other Core Formation cultivators, Qin Sang truly had no reason to take them to heart. What was more, this was the Liefeng Archipelago, a place steeped in lawlessness to begin with. As for the other party, Simo Cave, Qin Sang had already learned something of them before. It was an alliance formed by a band of demonic cultivators who aggressively recruited hands, constituting a considerable power in the vicinity. While Qin Sang was interrogating the scholar's family, the Cave Master of Simo Cave had already landed upon Poison Island and discovered the illusory formation. He was a late Core Formation expert; a mere illusory formation naturally could not fool his eyes. "Huh? When was this island occupied? Could the eagle king have been eliminated?" The Cave Master of Simo Cave paused in his tracks before the illusory formation, surprise surfacing on his face. At that moment, his subordinates also arrived aboard a gust of yin wind and descended beside him. At first, they had not noticed the presence of the illusory formation, but seeing the Cave Master's strange expression, they looked closely and realized something was amiss with the poisonous miasma—an illusory formation had been blended into it. "Hiss..." The old man and the others took a sharp breath, inwardly alarmed. "Blending an illusory formation with poisonous miasma—what vicious craft! Cave Master, since when did an illusory formation appear on this poison island? Could some senior have claimed it as their sanctuary? Why have your subordinates never heard of this? Has the rot-winged eagle king truly been cleared away?" The Cave Master gave a cold snort. "How would I know who did this? Look above. The only rot-winged eagles circling up there are at the Mortal Beast stage, and they appear unnaturally docile. Clearly, the eagle king and the greater beasts have indeed been wiped out. I wonder which fellow Daoist possesses such great capability to occupy this island without a sound..." The Cave Master narrowed his eyes. After pondering for a moment, his expression shifted slightly, and he abruptly transmitted his voice to the old man and the others. The old man was startled by what he heard. "Cave Master, anyone capable of slaying the eagle king on this island must possess formidable strength. Perhaps we should appease him for now, summon additional men, and proceed step by step..." "Proceed step by step? By the time we leave and return, this person will have long fled," the Cave Master cut the old man off, speaking coldly. "The people, I must have! And this island might as well be taken too. Mere rot-winged eagles—if not for my wariness of the potent poison on their bodies, Fellow Daoist Xun and I would have cleaned out those eyesores long ago. This person might have slain the eagle king by relying on some poison-warding method; his true strength may not be particularly great. Otherwise, why hide away in a place like this, keeping the rot-winged eagles as a cover and skulking in the shadows? This illusory formation is only enough to trap the likes of you; it is hardly anything sophisticated. Of course, I will not act rashly either. I merely want you all prepared in advance. Fellow Daoist Xun is nearby, and I have already secretly sent him a message. First, we will probe the other party's depth..." "Since the Cave Master has already notified Senior Xun, nothing can go wrong!" Hearing this, the old man and the others were overjoyed and quietly took their positions behind the Cave Master. Each of them gripped an odd iron medallion in their palm, yet kept their faces outwardly impassive. The Senior Xun they spoke of was the second-strongest expert in Simo Cave, second only to the Cave Master himself. "I, Zuo, was unaware that Fellow Daoist had claimed this island as a sanctuary. Please forgive my presumptuous visit today." With his hands clasped behind his back, the Cave Master looked up toward the apex of the illusory formation. His voice rolled like surging thunder, transmitting directly into the interior. The scholar also heard the Cave Master's voice. His heart clenched tight, panic written across his face. Just as the words fell, a sigh drifted out from within. "Pindao thought Your Excellency was merely passing by my cave abode, and therefore did not wish to disturb you." The corner of the Cave Master's mouth curled upward. "Heheh, I indeed did not come on a special trip, but was pursuing several traitors of Simo Cave when I arrived here. However, thanks to them, I learned I had gained a new neighbor. Since fate has brought us together, why not dispel the illusory formation and show yourself for a chat? We at Simo Cave are thirsty for talent, and we have great need of an expert like you..." He did not breathe a word about demanding the young girl, instead attempting to recruit Qin Sang. After a brief silence, the poisonous miasma churned and parted to both sides, revealing a passage. Then, following a ripple in the air, a figure appeared before them. Simultaneously, a gust of fierce wind swept past. Two figures appeared on their flanks, flanking them left and right. It was none other than the two-headed hou and the external incarnation. "What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoist...?" Seeing this development, the Cave Master's expression changed drastically. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that such a barren place—a foul-smelling poison island—would harbor two Core Formation experts and a greater beast. Qin Sang said in a flat tone, "The presence of the Cave Master of Simo Cave brings humble honor to Pindao's cave abode. However, your subordinates conceal deadly weapons—hardly the etiquette of a guest, would you say? And that flying insect Your Excellency released earlier... was it to contact someone?" The Cave Master had acted with utmost caution, and the messenger insect was extraordinarily adept at stealth. Yet it could not escape the eyes of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly; Qin Sang had seen everything clear as day. The Cave Master forced a smile. "Fellow Daoist, do not misunderstand. I was only acting out of caution..." Even as he spoke, thick black light surged into his eyes without warning, transforming them into black demonic pupils. A bizarre light shot forth, penetrating the poisonous miasma and taking in the scene within the spiritual formation completely. "A mere mid Core Formation brat dares play the ghost before me? Seeking death!" Having confirmed there were no other ambushes, the Cave Master let out a savage grin. "Strike!" The old man and the others had long been waiting in high alert. At the Cave Master's command, the other four immediately spread out around the old man and hurled the iron medallions from their hands. The power within the medallions had already been primed. Amid a flurry of muffled thuds, they merged into one, transforming into a streak of black light that shot like an arrow straight toward the two-headed hou. Simultaneously, a jaw-dropping scene unfolded. The Cave Master's figure flickered repeatedly—as he turned on his heel and darted away toward the exterior of the poison island! Seeing Qin Sang ready to clash at a word's notice, backed by two Core Formation cultivators and a greater beast of extraordinary aura, the man had actually decided to retreat, intending to regroup with his companion before mounting a counterattack. His subordinates clearly never imagined their Cave Master would pull such a move. Every one of them was dumbfounded before their faces drained of color, realizing they had been abandoned. Watching this, Qin Sang did not know whether to laugh or cry. Truly, not a single one of these old devils was easy to deal with. "Since Your Excellency has arrived, why leave in such a hurry?" The silhouette of a flood dragon flashed across Qin Sang's body. Transforming into a streak of red light, he barred the Cave Master's path in an instant.