Chapter 864: Uninvited Guests

"Keep going, don’t let it catch its breath!" Daoist Fang roared while driving the blood sword deeper.

The Kui Dragon still had strength to resist. Countless bolts of lightning surged into its wound, stopping the sword from piercing further.

So he recalled the blade and, with Qin Sang and the others’ support, launched another round of strikes.

The Kui Dragon struggled desperately, but its injuries multiplied. This time they were not superficial. Each gash was cut deep to the bone, blood qi lingering in the wounds so that they bled ceaselessly, impossible to heal.

The battle raged on, but the outcome was clear. Qin Sang secretly exhaled in relief.

Throughout the fight, their tablets devoured true essence without pause. His corpse core had long since been exhausted, forcing him to unseal his Golden Core.

The others, lacking external cores, consumed far more of their own essence. They had been fearful before, but seeing victory near and treasures within reach, relief and joy began to show on their faces.

Daoist Fang outwardly looked thrilled, eyes glittering with greed, yet his heart was tense, even his body taut as a drawn bow.

No one noticed that while attacking the beast, his gaze kept straying to the seas beyond, toward the direction where the Kui Dragon had come from, as though he was waiting for something.

The others knew nothing, still hurling themselves against the beast.

The icy cage tightened.

Ma Debao urged Daoist Fang to strike harder with the blood sword, to finish the beast quickly.

The Kui Dragon’s resistance weakened, victory almost in hand. But just then, several glowing points flickered in the distant clouds. Bright against the storm, they streaked toward the island at astonishing speed.

"Stop at once!" The shout carried across the stormy night, faint beneath thunder but impossible to miss.

At the same time, everyone noticed the lights. With a single glance, they recognized them as cultivators’ evasion lights. Judging by their strength, at least Core Formation cultivators were on the way.

The shout made them instinctively ease their attacks. They exchanged looks, their expressions tinged with unease.

On the open sea, without law or oversight, seizing prey from another’s hands was ordinary.

They had prepared well, killed swiftly, and wasted little time. Yet still their fight had drawn in others, and they were this powerful!

Qin Sang and the rest looked at Daoist Fang.

The newcomers were not friendly, their strength not weak. If they wanted the Kui Dragon, another battle was inevitable.

But after maintaining the Heavenly Cold Wind Array for so long, their true essence was heavily depleted.

Once slain, the Kui Dragon’s corpse belonged entirely to Daoist Fang. They would gain nothing further. None of them wished to risk their lives in a drained state for someone else’s fight.

Besides, the Kui Dragon was not dead yet. Facing both the beast and strangers at once would be disastrous.

Daoist Fang clutched the blood sword, saying nothing, his eyes fixed on the incoming lights.

***

Far out at sea, several black-robed figures hid beneath the waves.

They blended with the waters, their aura nearly undetectable. Peering through the surface, they could just glimpse the battle on the island.

They too saw the newcomers. "They’re here!"

The second senior brother’s voice was low as he sent a transmission. "Quick, raise the Beast King Banner!"

None spoke. Beneath the waves, they sat cross-legged in a circle.

Around them appeared flag banners. These banners had actually always been there, spinning slowly. Golden in color, each banner bore the image of a different beast, no two alike.

Counting carefully, there were eighty-one in all!

As they activated the array, the beasts on the banners stirred, as if alive, giving silent roars. A strange power linked the flags together.

Each person controlled a portion, save the second senior brother, who bore twice as many as anyone else. His breath grew ragged from the strain.

The array was set up but they were waiting for the right moment. One junior whispered nervously, "Second Senior Brother, what if those people have a Spiritual Infant monster among them? Wouldn’t Eldest Senior Brother be in danger..."

The second senior brother glared. "You ill mouth! With Eldest Senior Brother’s wisdom, how could he not prepare? If there were a Spiritual Infant cultivator, he would have withdrawn already. From now, pour everything into the Beast King Banners. Remember, let none escape alive!"

"Yes!"

***

On the island, the group looked at Daoist Fang, awaiting his choice.

His face shifted between pale and dark. At last he cast a venomous glare at the approaching lights, then drove the blood sword into the Kui Dragon and barked, "Kill!"

"They’re coming too fast and too strong. I fear we won’t slay the beast in time..." Qiu Ji warned.

The other four did not act either. The Heavenly Cold Wind Array rotated on its own, keeping the beast confined but not pressing further. Without the array’s aid, the blood sword could not unleash its full force.

The Kui Dragon fought back furiously, and every strike fell short.

Chu Heng, the Array Eye, sat cross-legged atop a tablet, eyes shut, silent. Ma Debao’s eyes darted about before he signaled Qin Sang and the others, voicing agreement with Qiu Ji.

Even Luo Kun, usually taciturn, spoke up.

Qin Sang coughed lightly and voiced his agreement. His condition was decent, and the strangers were not so strong that he must flee, but he had no intention of risking his life for someone else’s sake.

Daoist Fang had promised them reward only for killing the Kui Dragon, not for fighting rival cultivators.

Daoist Fang’s face twisted with rage. He scanned them one by one, silent, then said coldly, "Once this beast dies, I want only one dragon tendon. You five may divide the rest of it. Every treasure I promised, you shall still receive. What do you say?"

At his words, they exchanged glances, their hearts stirred.

The Kui Dragon’s most valuable remains were its demonic core, its tendon, bones, and hide. For him to claim only the tendon, leaving even the core for them, showed remarkable sincerity.

The core especially, likely brimming with lightning power, was a rare treasure. Used to forge Lightning Orbs or sold to lightning cultivators, its worth far surpassed that of most demonic beasts.

Battle-hardened and decisive, they agreed almost at once, slamming their palms onto the tablets. Vast true essence surged forth.

Daoist Fang, outwardly furious, inwardly cool, gave a cold snort and pressed the sword down with all his might.

The Kui Dragon staggered on the brink.

Its wounds spread, lightning faltered, blood drenched its enormous body until it seemed drowned in crimson.

Qin Sang and the others unleashed greater force. The beast fell back again and again, shrieking, even driven down from the sky.

The cultivators rushing in from afar caught sight of its condition and were filled with shock and fury.