Chapter 974: Son of the Jiao King

Strange lights flashed unceasingly before the Sky Tower, and figures flew out one after another.

They were the Heavenly Dao Sect’s leader and the grand witch priest, along with Spiritual Infant cultivators from both races.

Gathering behind the two great cultivators, the parties faced off. Unlike last time, the Devil Lord and the grand witch priest did not immediately come to blows. However, the atmosphere still bristled with tension and was far from relaxed.

"I did not expect you to possess the means to open an ancient seal, Daoist. You must have obtained what you wanted, yes?" Lingzhuzi gave a fake smile.

The grand witch priest smiled sweetly. "Daoist, you acted so swiftly that everything I did happened under your very gaze. If I had truly gained some treasure, how could it escape your eyes?"

"Your methods are unfathomable. I cannot say I have much confidence." Lingzhuzi chuckled, eyes flickering as his gaze slid over the grand witch priest and Old Devil Fang. A hint of hesitation surfaced in his eyes.

The grand witch priest merely smiled without answering. Her evasion light flashed, and she flew straight toward Seven-Kill Hall’s exit.

Lingzhuzi hesitated a moment and ultimately chose not to act. He too flew toward the wasteland. Some of the other Spiritual Infant cultivators followed and left; others stayed in the Seven-Kill Hall to mind their own affairs.

***

The barren plain...

The hall had not yet closed, and the whirlpool-like passage still spanned a large area. High in the void, a faint, hidden figure lurked. It was Old Devil Mou.

His expression was not as gloomy as before. He held a Mustard Seed Pouch belonging to some unknown person. His look was pensive, a little odd, with a touch of hesitation, as if unable to decide.

At the barren plain's edge, a streak of sword light burst from the weeds and shot into the passage.

The same scene replayed. Just as the newcomer was about to enter, Old Devil Mou ambushed him. The man was capable; at the hair’s-breadth moment, his sword light twisted and slashed fiercely at the enemy.

But the gap in strength was too great. The man was only a middle-stage Core Formation cultivator, weaker than Qin Sang.

A great hand wreathed in blue flames split the sword light with ease and seized the flying sword before the terrified cultivator’s eyes.

The flying sword keened, unable to break free. The cultivator watched as a blue flame swelled rapidly before his face.

Just then, Old Devil Mou seemed to sense something. His expression changed slightly. He snapped his head toward the depths of Seven-Kill Hall, his gaze turning heavy, and his hand seals shifted abruptly.

The blue flame sped forth. The cultivator had no power to resist. The cold fire pierced his protective radiance with ease, sank between his brows, and a layer of frost spread over his body.

Crack!

The ice shattered.

The cultivator turned to ash, burned away by the cold fire. Old Devil Mou scooped up the man’s Mustard Seed Pouch and, after a brief hesitation, flashed away and vanished. Not long after, the grand witch priest and Lingzhuzi arrived in succession. They had traveled without incident, and both seemed slightly more at ease.

"Until we meet again." The grand witch priest offered proper courtesies, cupped her hands to Lingzhuzi, and raised her jade talisman to step into the passage. Suddenly, her beautiful eyes shifted, as though she had noticed something. Her lips parted, and transmitted her voice.

"Daoist, it seems there is a trace of blood's reek that shouldn't have been here. It was hidden well, but it could not escape my eyes. It appears someone wishes to challenge the rules set by our human forebears." Her tone carried a hint of schadenfreude.

Lingzhuzi’s face darkened, and anger flickered in his eyes.

***

Within the storm belt...

Qin Sang agreed to Yuan Zhu’s terms, the two of them settling the conditions and swearing a heart-devil oath together.

Guided by Yuan Zhu’s split soul, he flew toward the cave dwelling. The split soul strained to sense the main body’s position, yet nothing had appeared so far. All they could do was hope the true body had escaped danger and still had strength left, and would not be swept away by the hurricanes.

"Since Daoist Yuan had already suspected foul play, you could have fled far away. Why come to Seven-Kill Hall and put yourself in danger?" Qin Sang asked as he sped through the storm.

Yuan Zhu sighed. "I only felt the secret technique was off and grew suspicious. I clung to a shred of luck, thinking our race would never be so cruel. I wanted to confirm with the Nine Phoenix King face to face before I gave up the thought. Gu Heng and Caiyi trusted even less. I only dared hint at it once or twice. I was still too naive. They were more ruthless than I imagined."

"Daoist, you're smart. When that secret technique was cast on you, you must have suspected something. Why agree to be sent to Canglang Sea?" Qin Sang pressed.

Yuan Zhu let out a cold laugh. "Suspect who? The Jiao King?

"The Jiao King and those demon kings sought to ease our doubts and ensure the dispatched had the ability to complete the task. Those chosen were mostly princes of their clans or trusted aides to demon kings, even the kings’ own offspring. Once they matured, they would become the backbone of their clans.

"Who would have thought we would be discarded?

"Do you know who Gu Heng was? He was the Jiao King’s own son, long favored by the king, with a chance to become the next Jiao King."

Qin Sang was startled. Even a tiger did not eat its cubs. He had seen that Gu Heng and the others were extraordinary, but he had not expected such backgrounds. His view of the Transformation Realm demons’ cruelty darkened further.

How many have been sent in? What exactly is the demon race plotting?

Qin Sang thought.

"So you mean this conspiracy was instigated by the current Jiao King? What is his goal? Merely to send the Nine Phoenix King into Seven-Kill Hall?" Qin Sang’s eyes narrowed, his tone coaxing. "You suffered so much. Do you not wish to expose their scheme and take revenge?"

Yuan Zhu remained unmoved. "What good would exposing them do me? Surviving is already a fortune. Next I must find a way to undo my shackles and continue cultivating. Even revenge must wait until I have achieved sufficient strength.

"Besides, what do I truly know? The Nine Phoenix King kept her mouth shut tight. She only cast a single long feather into the celestial array and revealed nothing else. If I go to a human sect, I will not gain any benefit and may lose my life.

"You, however, if you pass on what you saw to your sect, you might earn great merit."

Yuan Zhu turned the temptation back on Qin Sang.

Qin Sang chuckled. "I am used to walking alone and have little interest in that."

Yuan Zhu refused to come forward, and Qin Sang held only a Black Shell Talisman. Beyond that, he had no proof. The only influence he could approach was the aloof Dongji Alliance.

If he rashly sought out higher ups of other forces, leaving aside whether anyone would believe such an absurd tale, he would have to explain every detail, which would inevitably expose the

Heavenly Demon Body Refinement

, and perhaps more.

When the nest was overturned, no egg remained unbroken. Qin Sang understood that perfectly. If this concerned the very survival of the human race, he would find a way to report it without delay.

But the Nine Phoenix King had struggled mightily just to sneak into Canglang Sea and had nearly died. A few minor demons in the Inner Sea could not stir up much trouble for now. When the time was right, he would consider acting.

As for whether the human high command would believe it, that was not something he could control.