Chapter 914: Subordinates

On Poison Island, Qin Sang left his cave dwelling and stood on a ridge, gazing at the illusion array spread out below.

The three who had come off the flying shuttle had already entered the island and triggered the array.

Though the details were unclear, seeing their appearance and the yin wind chasing after them, Qin Sang could more or less guess what was happening.

He could not help but feel frustrated. He had been quietly cultivating in his cave dwelling, yet troublemakers barged in, forcing him into a storm.

With his current cultivation, unless a Spiritual Infant cultivator appeared in person, he feared no one. Still, less trouble was always better than more.

As he was pondering how to deal with the situation, the behavior of the trio after landing and their cultivation caught his attention. His expression shifted slightly, and a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

Just as he was about to move down the mountain to act, his eyes narrowed. He stared intently beyond the island, spotting a faint phantom.

"A Core Formation old ghost... looks like a devilish cultivator." Qin Sang’s face darkened.

From the strength and speed of the yin wind, he had judged that those involved were no more than Foundation Building cultivators. He had thought it a minor dispute, one he could wipe out effortlessly if need be.

Unexpectedly, a Golden Core cultivator was following behind. So this was not simple.

Still, one Core Formation devil was not enough to change Qin Sang’s decision. He gave the phantom a glance, then withdrew his gaze and flickered down the mountainside.

For caution’s sake, he summoned the Two-Headed Hou and his external incarnation, ordering them to keep a close watch on the illusion array.

After stepping onto Poison Island, the scholar and the woman followed their plan and split up. The woman produced a gauzy canopy that enveloped her and her daughter.

Because of the Yin Toad Pill, their bodies emitted a faint black qi that blended into the poisonous miasma. With the Red Tassel Canopy’s ability added, they were able to hide themselves well.

The scholar, without looking back, charged straight into the island’s depths, preparing to lure out the eagle king with his own body.

The woman wiped away her tears and resolutely flew off in another direction, holding her daughter.

They had not gone far when both cried out in alarm, finding themselves caught within a strange illusion array.

The array was interwoven with the power of the miasma and under Qin Sang’s personal control. How could mere Foundation Building cultivators possibly break it?

The scholar grew dizzy, his expression filled with horror. He hurriedly bowed toward the void. "I did not know this was Senior’s dojo. I have disturbed you. Please forgive me."

But the array remained silent.

Just as the scholar grew more uneasy, an aged voice suddenly echoed from above, cold and sharp. "Forgive you? You dare disturb my cultivation, and even lead so many pursuers here. Do you think I dare not take your lives?"

The scholar’s heart sank.

This old one is clearly no benevolent recluse.

He had thought this was just a poisonous island, but it had been taken over by this old devil, who had secretly slain the eagle king, which even Core Formation cultivators were scared of, and seized its nest. No word of it had leaked out. Such strength was frightening.

The pursuers were still on their heels, and now they had fallen into a devil's lair.

"I was reckless. I will take full responsibility and accept your judgment. My wife and daughter knew nothing. I beg you to spare them..."

A chilling cackle echoed above. "You mean them?"

The miasma rippled, and a water mirror appeared, revealing the woman and her daughter. They had been separated, and the girl had woken up. Both looked panicked and helpless.

The scholar’s heart tightened. He immediately dropped to his knees and begged. "Senior, they are innocent. Please show mercy. I am willing to serve as a slave—"

"Enough!"

A cold snort cut him off. "Do not bother with your little play-acting. Your pursuers have already arrived, including that Core Formation devilish cultivator. I have not yet decided how to deal with you. Perhaps I should hand you over and make a friend of that fellow instead..."

"Senior, no!"

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The scholar cried out in alarm. He had nurtured other thoughts when he discovered a reclusive expert on the island, but now realized the devil already knew everything. Terrified, he pleaded desperately.

"That depends on your value." The voice paused, then continued, "Tell me everything—your origins, why you are being hunted. Leave nothing out. If there is even a slight difference between your words and what your wife or daughter say, I will throw you out at once."

Qin Sang was standing directly above the scholar, looking down from the sky, unnoticed. He had observed their actions earlier. His move now was not entirely out of pity.

First, he did not want his cave dwelling exposed prematurely. If they had no powerful background, he could simply silence them.

Second, he happened to need subordinates. The couple’s deep devotion to their daughter made them easy to control.

He expected to remain in seclusion for some time. Yet he still needed rare items for cultivation and information from the outside world.

The scholar was at the late stage of the Foundation Building Realm, and the woman was at the middle stage of the Foundation Building Realm.

With his sharp eye, Qin Sang saw that their cultivation arts were unusual, and their true strength exceeded appearances.

Of course, he would act within his limits. If the enemies they had provoked were backed by a Spiritual Infant grandmaster, there was nothing he could do.

Though terrified of the mysterious elder’s methods, the scholar heard the possibility of sparing his family and felt both startled and elated.

"We were originally cultivators of White Flame Valley outside the Windy Archipelago. We provoked enemies and were forced to flee into the archipelago. For years we have lived cautiously, hiding and wandering, never harming others. Yet once, my daughter went out, and was spotted by that devil monster's subordinates. They discovered she has the Water Jade Body and wanted to seize her as a cauldron..."

The scholar’s eyes flickered. Finally, he clenched his teeth and revealed everything, not daring to hide a word.

"The Water Jade Body?"

Qin Sang’s eyes moved slightly. He chuckled darkly. "I have heard that in those with the Water Jade Body, strands of Water Jade Qi gather in the Qihai, producing remarkable effects for certain devilish arts. No wonder this has caused such a storm. White Flame Valley... I have never heard of it. Tell me clearly now. Who was the enemy you provoked, and what are the origins of the ones outside?"

Uneasy, the scholar relaxed slightly when Qin Sang showed little interest in his daughter. He hurried to explain. "White Flame Valley is just a minor sect, so it is natural that you have not heard of it. Our former enemy was an elder of the Heguang Sect. The ones outside are under the command of a notorious devilish monster in this region, the cave master of Devil-Worshipping Cave, and his subordinates..."