Chapter 1139: A Bluff |
The Swan Goose Demon King insisted on meeting the master of Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea. He most likely intended to probe and test them, harboring certain suspicions.
The reason Qin Sang dared to take such a risk lay in one fact. They had certainly been watching the situation at Heavenly Demon Hill and had long known that the Feathered Demon King had dispatched the Swan Goose Demon King to contact the various demon kings and request reinforcements.
During his time at Heavenly Demon Hill, Qin Sang had gradually discerned a pattern. The demon race also maintained internal checks and balances. With Sin Abyss pressing in with a massive army, the Feathered Demon King would not have chosen this critical moment to stir up trouble and attack other demon kings without cause.
That was precisely why Qin Sang had dared to remain in Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea.
As long as it had not been ordered by the Feathered Demon King, the Swan Goose Demon King, burdened with his own concerns, would not have dared to act recklessly.
Before the Swan Goose Demon King appeared, they had received news that the demonic beasts of Nine-Cavern Mountain had begun unusual movements. The Swan Goose Demon King had very likely been incited by the Nine-Cavern Demon King and had acted on his own authority.
Of course, Qin Sang understood clearly that if he failed to form his Spiritual Infant for too long, this carefully constructed facade would not last. The lingering prestige of the master of Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea would gradually fade, and sooner or later someone would see through the deception.
When that day came, Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea would be destroyed.
He, the willow tree spirit, and the old macaque had been preparing an escape route all along.
"And this one is?" Qin Sang glanced at the white-tailed black fox, his eyes revealing faint contempt and displeasure.
Even though he had disguised himself as a Transformation Realm great demon and bluffed before the Swan Goose Demon King, he had still felt immense pressure.
However, he had previously encountered more than one late-stage Spiritual Infant great cultivator and had even faced an ancient devil far more terrifying. Standing before the Swan Goose Demon King, he had not shown the slightest unnatural reaction. His aura was overwhelming.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" The white-tailed black fox trembled in fear and hurried to bow.
The Swan Goose Demon King remained doubtful. He fixed his gaze on Qin Sang but detected no flaw whatsoever.
With two demon kings guarding Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea, one of them an unfathomable Senior Bamboo, he had not dared to press further. His tone softened. "I did not expect to meet a new fellow cultivator today. Heavenly Demon Hill has gained another demon king. What joyous news! It is a pity that the Feathered Demon King and I had not known in advance and thus prepared no gifts. Senior Bamboo, you truly concealed your strength well. To have nurtured such a gifted disciple and only revealed him now before the world…"
"I had originally been but a lesser demon in Endless Valley, muddling through my days in confusion. Fortunately, my master enlightened me, and I finally stepped onto the proper path and, by luck, achieved transformation. I had no familiar fellow cultivators at Heavenly Demon Hill, so I remained within my cave dwelling to cultivate and seldom left Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea…" Qin Sang said calmly.
"Endless Valley?" A flicker crossed the Swan Goose Demon King’s pupils. He chuckled. "No wonder. I have long heard that many of our kind in Endless Valley suffered under human oppression. For you to have gained Senior Bamboo’s favor shows not only extraordinary talent, but also profound fortune. Meeting you today has not been a wasted journey."
Qin Sang smiled faintly. "After achieving transformation, I had intended to personally visit Wanyao City to pay respects to the Feathered Demon King. Unfortunately, I never found the time…"
***
The host and guest parted in high spirits. Qin Sang personally escorted the Swan Goose Demon King out of the canyon.
After returning to the basin, the smile on his face vanished. He flew straight back to his cave dwelling, with the willow tree spirit and the old macaque close behind.
Once the cave dwelling had been sealed, the two demons let out heavy breaths, lingering fear written across their faces.
Seeing Qin Sang’s expression as steady as ever, as if nothing had happened, they could only marvel at his audacity.
"When the young ones saw Mr. Qin, they really believed that our Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea now had two great kings guarding it. They were overjoyed, leaping about in excitement, hehe..." The old macaque forced a dry laugh, though bitterness lingered in his voice.
The willow tree spirit raised the jade slip in its hand. "Mr. Qin, the numbers listed here are on par with those of the other demon kings."
Qin Sang nodded. "When the time comes, dispatch troops according to these figures. Not a single one fewer. We must give no one grounds for gossip or trouble. Continue monitoring Nine-Cavern Mountain as well. If their ill intentions persist, we may rely on the array to resist for a time, but that would expose our true situation and invite other ill-intentioned parties to attack together. If that happens, we must prepare for the worst. Send your trusted followers to Icy Sea first. Find an iceberg and endure the bitter cold lands until I form my Spiritual Infant…"
Once their protection was gone, the fragile lesser demons would be slaughtered at will, and Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea would be reduced to a living hell. Yet Qin Sang’s abilities were limited. This was all he could do.
"Yes!" the two demons answered in unison. The old macaque accepted the order and departed, already treating Qin Sang as the true master of Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea.
"I wonder what major matter the Feathered Demon King is facing?" the willow tree spirit asked with concern.
Qin Sang let out a cold laugh. "That old swan goose demon was merely playing tricks! If the war were truly intense, the Feathered Demon King would personally lead the demon kings to reinforce the front. Judging by the situation, it should not reach that stage within a few years. Still, this matter cannot be taken lightly for us. On the surface, Thousand-Mountain Bamboo Sea now has two demon kings. When the time comes, one of us must be dispatched. If I fail to appear for too long, suspicion will arise. You must prepare for the possibility that I may fail to form my Spiritual Infant…"
The willow tree spirit’s face filled with worry. Suddenly, it recalled something and said hurriedly, "Mr. Qin, there was no time to mention it earlier. Regarding Demon King Qianji, we have uncovered some clues."
"Oh?" Qin Sang’s spirits lifted immediately. "News of the stone tablet?"
"Not that." The willow tree spirit looked ashamed. "However, we discovered the location of Demon King Qianji’s cave dwelling. There are also two other locations that may serve as his treasure vaults."
"Did he not store his treasures in his cave dwelling? Tell me in detail." Qin Sang felt surprised.
The mysterious stone tablet could not be placed inside a Mustard Seed Pouch. If he could locate the demon king’s treasure vault, he would have an opportunity.
The willow tree spirit nodded. "Demon King Qianji’s cave dwelling lies at the bottom of Myriad Serpent Abyss. Although not all within are snake demons, infiltrating the abyss still took considerable effort. Around his cave dwelling, we discovered two secret caverns guarded with exceptional vigilance. We only dared to observe from afar. Demon King Qianji achieved the Dao as a Black-Spotted Kingsnake. He was cunning and suspicious by nature. We suspected that the treasures he collected were not stored in his cave dwelling. Those two locations might also have been vaults…"
"Three vaults, some real and some false. Each is protected not only by barriers he personally set, but also by guards stationed at all times…" Qin Sang frowned deeply. The situation felt exceedingly troublesome.
His objective had always been simple. He only needed to trigger the phantom within the stone tablet and visualize the true Azure Luan. That would suffice. He did not need to steal the tablet outright.
According to his previous plan, he would find an opportunity to infiltrate Demon King Qianji’s cave dwelling, use the Sky Eyes to forcibly break through the vault barrier, take a glance, and leave.
Even if Demon King Qianji noticed, Qin Sang would lose nothing. Given Qianji’s suspicious nature, he might not relentlessly pursue him.
Moreover, with Qianji’s personality, even his subordinates likely did not know which vault was genuine. No one would be able to trace the truth.
But now there were three vaults. He would have to break into them one by one. If he gambled incorrectly and was discovered midway, security would certainly tighten. He had only one chance.