Chapter 961: Jade Pigeon Demon King

Yuan Zhu opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly looked toward the forest edge and said, "Look, they are already here."

Qin Sang turned his head and saw several streaks of evasion light flashing from outside the forest, speeding toward them. A quick count revealed as many as six! A chill instantly rose in Qin Sang’s heart. In the blink of an eye, the newcomers landed beside them.

When they appeared, Qin Sang was shaken. Without exception, they were all great demons in human form, their auras deliberately suppressed to the Core Formation Realm. Even a fool would realize there was something suspicious going on here.

Together with Yuan Zhu, there were now seven great demons in human form entering Seven-Kill Hall.

It was said that Spiritual Infant Realm cultivators needed a stronger talisman to enter, and the number of such talismans was limited. With so many demons appearing out of nowhere, it was impossible for the grand witch priest and Lingzhuzi, who controlled the grand array, to have failed to notice.

Qin Sang secretly grew cautious, carefully observing these transformed demons. On the surface, they were no different from ordinary people. Although they carried demonic qi, such a thing was not rare in Canglang Sea.

Among the six evasion lights, some were faster, some slower. The two who landed at the front were a man and a woman, both strikingly attractive.

The woman had a noble bearing and charming looks. She wore a phoenix crown, and the patterns on her attire resembled phoenix feathers, vivid enough to be taken as real. The man’s clothing was much simpler, just a dark robe with a sword at his waist. His expression was stern.

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Upon seeing them, Yuan Zhu immediately stepped forward, pointed to Qin Sang, and made introductions. "This is Daoist Ming Yue of the Jade Pigeon Clan. Daoist Ming Yue, this is Daoist Gu Heng of the Jiao's royal clan. This is Fairy Caiyi, descendant of the Mystic Phoenix..."

Yuan Zhu went on introducing. By now, Qin Sang had calmed himself, his expression composed as he exchanged greetings with each of them. But hearing their origins, he could not help feeling secretly shocked.

Other than Yuan Zhu and Gu Heng, the others all came from different demon clans. Their manners and etiquette were indistinguishable from humans. It was clear they all took Gu Heng as their leader. He waved Yuan Zhu to silence, glanced at Qin Sang, and frowned. "I do not recall ever seeing Daoist Ming Yue before."

Yuan Zhu smiled faintly. "Many friends are sent by their clans into the Demonic Sea, each with their own duties. It is normal not to have met. Daoist Gu, you need not worry. We can all sense Daoist Ming Yue’s Black Shell Talisman. The purity of his demonic qi is also proof enough of his identity..."

The demons nodded. With such pure demonic qi, it could not have been faked. Fairy Caiyi asked curiously, "Since Daoist Ming Yue has managed to sneak in successfully, why did you arrive so late?"

Qin Sang’s mind spun, and he fabricated a reason. "I carelessly strayed into an ancient barrier. It took me quite some effort before I managed to escape."

"Seven-Kill Hall is full of ancient barriers, and there are human ones unfamiliar to us. Such accidents are understandable. Fortunately, there is still plenty of time." Yuan Zhu smoothed things over. "As for the others, their chances are slim. Obtaining talismans was never easy. And being in human cultivator territory, danger lurks at every step. Now that Daoist Ming Yue is here, we have eight, enough to complete the task assigned by the Jiao King. There is no need to wait further. Daoist Gu Heng, it is time you told us what exactly the mission is. I am already very uncomfortable and do not wish to linger another day in human territory. I only want to finish the task quickly and return, to have the secret technique undone and regain my true form."

A burly man echoed in a booming voice, "Yuan Zhu is right! Damn it, back in the Demonic Sea, when I led my little ones, I could slaughter human cultivators however I pleased. But ever since turning into this cursed form, I have had to grovel every day, swallowing my anger, suffering this humiliation!"

The others all voiced similar complaints, clearly feeling the same. Gu Heng let out a bitter laugh. "Do you think I am any different? Once this mission is complete, we will all be freed. The great kings already swore we will not suffer in vain. When we return, they will immediately restore our true forms, and personally help those who rendered great service transform.

"The task is simple. From the reports submitted after your last return, the great kings carefully selected three sites. We are to set up a spiritual array in one of them. The items needed for the array, for safety, are carried by both Fairy Caiyi and me. Now that we are both here, failure is no longer a concern."

After Gu Heng finished, the demons exchanged looks. One asked, "What sort of spiritual array is it? We heard the humans prosper, and Seven-Kill Hall is tied to that. Does the Jiao King intend to destroy this sacred site?"

"We do not know the array’s function. It is some ancient, mysterious array. We were only taught how to set it up. But with countless barriers within Seven-Kill Hall, a mere array placed in the outer hall cannot possibly destroy this place, can it?" Fairy Caiyi said hesitantly.

"Why bother about its purpose? With our meager strength, we are unqualified to share in the demon kings’ schemes. All we need to do is obey." Yuan Zhu pressed eagerly, "Daoist Gu, where do we set the array?"

Gu Heng cast a glance toward Celestial Blossom Lake nearby. "The Jiao King ordered us to find a hidden location with ancient barriers that could mask the disturbance while setting the array, with other specific requirements. In the end, only three sites sufficed. That is why you were summoned here. One of them lies within Celestial Blossom Lake."

"Celestial Blossom Lake?" The demons turned to look at that poisonous place, each with a different expression.

Yuan Zhu suddenly turned to Qin Sang. "Daoist Ming Yue, was this site your report? Since you hail from the Jade Pigeon Clan, you must be able to move freely in Celestial Blossom Lake."

Qin Sang’s heart tightened. From what he had heard, he could guess the gist of what was happening.

These demons were not truly Transformation Realm great demons at all, but had used some secret technique to assume human form, exploiting a loophole with the Malevolent Demonic Pill, sneaking into Canglang Sea to plot against Seven-Kill Hall. He cursed inwardly. He had frightened himself earlier and wasted his chance.

That hooked-nosed man who died under the Dongming Cold Flame Orb was very likely a Jade Pigeon in truth. He too had been planted as a spy in Canglang Sea, which explained his powerful body, the poisonous mist he spat, and why he carried no astras, only the Black Shell Talisman, bone flute, and star turban.

What baffled Qin Sang was why these demons seemed completely unaware that the Jade Pigeon had already died at his hand.

He did not know that the Jade Pigeon Demon King, to avoid trouble, had concealed the truth of the Jade Pigeon’s death, reporting only some false, hearsay-based details gathered long ago from human cultivators.

Even knowing they were not genuine Transformation Realm demons, Qin Sang still dared not act rashly. The weakest of them carried an aura of late-stage Demonic Core Realm.

What made him even more wary was that the evasion techniques Gu Heng and Fairy Caiyi had revealed earlier were no weaker than his own.