Chapter 962: Beneath the Lake

Qin Sang was not particularly interested in the demon race’s schemes. Matters of that scale were concerns for the Spiritual Infant experts of the two races.

Though he was not a cultivator of Canglang Sea and his heart longed to return to the Small Cold Domain, as a human he did not shy away from doing what lay within his power.

If he had the chance to kill these demon spies, he would not show the slightest mercy. Unfortunately, the demons present all hailed from the great royal clans of the Demonic Sea. Their bloodlines were extraordinary, and each one possessed formidable strength.

Fairy Caiyi and Gu Heng were prime examples. One bore the blood of the Mystic Phoenix, the other descended from the Jiao royal clan. Both carried top-tier demon bloodlines, their strength defying ordinary measures.

Their mastery of evasion techniques was so great it startled Qin Sang. When his cultivation and physical body advanced further, his speed and evasion technique would surpass those two demons. For now, however, he lacked confidence that he could shake them off.

If he acted rashly or revealed a flaw in his disguise, he would be facing the combined assault of seven top experts. The evasion technique he had always prided himself on seemed almost useless against these great demons.

His true body, his external incarnation, along with Bai, who had not yet recovered from overextending himself, and the Two-Headed Hou, could at most handle three of them, and even then without certainty of victory.

These demons were as intelligent as humans. They would never wait idly to be struck by lightning. Once they worked together, the killing power of the

Lightning Control Technique

would be limited.

At best, he might find a moment of surprise to severely wound one or two. But while he executed Dao Techniques, the others would seize the chance to strike. Fighting against a big number, he would have no chance. Even with the Jade Liquid of Three Radiances, finding another chance to act would be difficult. His situation would be extremely perilous.

For the moment, his only option was to maintain his disguise flawlessly, avoid suspicion, and then look for an opportunity to escape. His mind raced as he considered how to deceive them.

Fairy Caiyi suddenly spoke. "The place in Celestial Blossom Lake was discovered by me. Last time I searched for quite a while before finding it. Don't worry, it is not at the very bottom of the lake. The poison there is not as severe. Those of you who lack poison-warding techniques, take one of these pills refined from the venom gland of a Thousand-Year Viper. For the span of an hour, they will protect you against the worst toxins."

As she spoke, she brought forth a jade bottle filled with strangely colored pills. Neither Gu Heng nor Fairy Caiyi took one, nor did the gloomy man of the Gui Che bloodline[1].

Yuan Zhu, though of the same Jiao Clan as Gu Heng, accepted a pill without hesitation and swallowed it.

Fairy Caiyi then extended the bottle toward Qin Sang. Having just survived a crisis, Qin Sang relaxed slightly and quickly declined with repeated gestures.

He secretly gave thanks that he had the fat silkworm. Without it, his disguise as a descendant of the Jade Pigeon Clan would have been exposed at once, for he could not have withstood even a trace of poisonous mist.

Seeing them rely on pills for warding off poison, Qin Sang sighed inwardly. Had it been an astra or similar poison-warding tool, he could have disabled someone once combat began. But his Blood Defilement Divine Light would serve no purpose here.

When the demons had finished taking their pills, Gu Heng gave a command. They all activated their evasion techniques and silently flew toward Celestial Blossom Lake.

Qin Sang deliberately tried to fall behind, but their formation was too orderly, each one maintaining only a short distance from the next. He had no chance to slip away. He could only wait until they entered Celestial Blossom Lake to search for an opportunity.

Yuan Zhu was very talkative. Flying at Qin Sang’s side, he chattered endlessly, fantasizing about how he would be rewarded once he made a great contribution, and how carefree his life would be after surviving the tribulation of transformation.

Fearing he might slip up, Qin Sang dared not respond, only nodding vaguely in agreement. Fortunately, the lake was not far. Soon they arrived at one of its entrances.

It was marked by another ancient wooden bridge, like the one he had seen before. Countless petals drifted through the air, dreamlike and enchanting, yet hiding lethal toxins.

When they reached the bridge, Gu Heng waved his hand. Everyone halted. His figure blurred and disappeared, only to reappear after scouting the nearby area. He beckoned for them to follow.

This was not Qin Sang’s first time at Celestial Blossom Lake. Previously, however, Cui Ji’s affair had delayed him, so he never had the chance to enter.

Celestial Blossom Lake was feared as one of the three great poisonous lands of Seven-Kill Hall, yet it was also famed as the most beautiful sight within. Bathed in bright sunlight, the lake shone with dazzling colors.

The poisonous algae grew thick and tall, the shortest as high as a man, the tallest like ancient trees. Massed together, they glowed with green luminescence, like oceans of light.

Some of the algae were budding, most already blooming. Their seed pods drifted like flower buds on an unseen wind, rustling as they swirled into seas of blossoms that spun and surged endlessly.

From outside the bridge, the glow appeared green. But upon stepping onto the bridge, what met their eyes was sky-blue light, as clear as a crystalline sky.

For a moment, it seemed as if they were walking under the sea, while the drifting petals became beautiful jellyfish swimming through the depths. A rich fragrance filled the air.

Qin Sang immediately commanded the fat silkworm to release its Poison-Warding Armor. The fragrance came from the pollen of the algae, which was the source of the poison. Even spiritual power and spiritual consciousness could be corroded by it.

Some demons reacted a step too late. They broke into violent coughing and had to hastily channel the medicinal force within their bodies to relieve the symptoms. Fear lingered on their faces.

"Celestial Blossom Lake is no place to hide our tracks. Stay alert. If you encounter an immortal cultivator, kill them immediately." Gu Heng’s cold command brought everyone back from their enchantment with the scenery.

The bridge was nestled among endless stretches of poisonous algae. As far as the eye could see, the algae extended into the depths of the lake without end.

The terrain of Celestial Blossom Lake was uneven, with mountains rising within. The place was unusually bright, yet for some strange reason visibility was limited. In the distance, everything dissolved into darkness.

Everywhere lay poisonous marshes, yet the danger was not confined to those waters. Ripples sometimes shimmered in the sea of flowers above them, faint to the eye. These were signs of ancient barriers, whose power none dared test.

Fairy Caiyi, familiar with the path, led them onward. The bridge stretched far into the lake, taking them deep inside. Soon, they reached its end.

Fairy Caiyi gave a few warnings before lifting into the air, flying low among the algae. The others copied her movements, skimming close to the poisonous growths.

Blending into the group, Qin Sang’s eyes roamed restlessly. He kept searching for a chance to escape.

He considered a plot of driving tigers to devour wolves[2].

He would lure these demons to the Spiritual Infant expert waiting on the barren plain. Then, while they fought each other, he could slip away. But after brief thought, he dismissed the plan.

His disguise might fail at any time. The longer he stayed with them, the greater the risk. This was too dangerous. He might be exposed and attacked long before leaving Seven-Kill Hall.

While Qin Sang wrestled with his thoughts, the group pressed deeper into Celestial Blossom Lake, threading through the jungle-like algae.

1. The original word used here is 鬼车 (gui che), which is another name for the nine-headed bird or Nine Phoenix. The nine-headed bird, also called the Nine Phoenix, is one of the earliest forms of the phoenix, worshipped by ancient natives in Hubei Province, which during the Warring States period was part of the kingdom of Chu. Due to the hostile relationship between the Kingdom of Chu and its former overlord, the reigning Zhou dynasty, the nine-headed bird, being the totem creature of the Chu people, was demonised as a result. ☜

2. This is a Chinese idiom, meaning to use one enemy to fight another enemy. ☜