novelraw Chapter 203 : Whoever Wins, She Belongs to Them
Chapter 203 : Whoever Wins, She Belongs to Them
With Xiao Bai's help, finding the sect disciples wasn't difficult. They quickly swam to a majestic palace and hid in the nearby coral forest.
The palace was guarded by oddly-shaped shrimp and crab soldiers. They didn't enter rashly. After searching the area, they couldn't find any trace of the Phantom Sound Sect disciples. The group had to turn their attention to the heavily guarded palace.
This was no challenge for Xiao Bai. It leisurely swished its tail, its body becoming semi-transparent and ghostly. Using the cover of the lush coral and seaweed, its small agile body easily slipped into the palace.
It returned shortly after in a hurry.
"Master, I found them. They... have been imprisoned in the dungeon!"
Well, it seemed everyone's secret realm trip wasn't going smoothly. Some were already enjoying an indefinite all-inclusive dungeon stay.
But it was fortunate they were only imprisoned in the dungeon, not missing any limbs or people. After all, demon beasts liked to eat humans. Eating human cultivators enhanced their cultivation more than eating demon beasts. Those demon beasts had probably captured them intending to keep them until the Demon King returned for execution.
At this time, the various Demon Kings and the Demon Emperor were fiercely competing and wouldn't return soon.
Their situation wasn't very urgent, but they still needed to rescue the people first. Otherwise, if they delayed too long, who knew what unexpected changes might occur.
"The defenses on the water clan's side are very strict. The strength of these demon beast guards stationed at the royal palace is not low. They're basically all above the Nascent Soul stage, and there are even more than a dozen early Divine Transformation stage demon beasts. Once a fight breaks out, the commotion here will definitely attract nearby sea areas, drawing more demon beasts. By then, the situation will be even more unfavorable for us. We must act quickly and decisively," Si Kou Qiu said.
"We need to find a way to divert them. Oh right! Little Junior Sister has concealment talismans. We can sneak in secretly and quickly rescue the people!" Tantai Ming strategized.
Mu Chihuai shook his head. "The possibility of diverting all of them is low. This group of demon beast guards is well-trained and highly vigilant. Just now, Third Senior Sister tried to control a sea turtle beast to lure away the demon beasts at the side door, but they weren't affected at all and didn't fall for the trick."
Wen Renyue returned with a defeated look. She had just tried to control several Nascent Soul stage demon beasts, hoping to sow discord and make them fight among themselves so they could take advantage of the chaos to enter. But she was immediately suppressed by those Divine Transformation stage demon beast guards.
Those demon beasts seemed to have sensed the unusual energy fluctuations nearby and became even more vigilant.
The intelligence of Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation stage demon beasts was already very high, almost no different from humans. These ordinary small tricks couldn't tempt them at all. They needed to consider a longer-term plan.
"I do have an idea," Tang Yanling looked at everyone with some hesitation and said softly, "Perhaps we could try... illusions?"
Although their Lingqing Sect had strong combat power and usually just fought directly when encountering difficulties, rarely using illusions, she had to admit that her Second Senior Sister was a first-class illusion master. Otherwise, the Phantom Sound Sect wouldn't be so eager to poach her.
Tang Yanling's illusions were different from those of the Phantom Sound Sect.
The Phantom Sound Sect disciples were usually pampered too much, rarely leaving their sect in the cultivation world. Living too comfortably without facing threats, they seldom went down the mountain to battle demons and such. So their illusions mostly focused on beauty without much attack power, basically all being sound illusions targeting human cultivators with weak control over demon beasts. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been so easily captured and imprisoned in the dungeon.
Second Senior Sister looked gentle and weak, but her illusions were universal for all races. Whether in terms of attack power or bewitchment, they were equally effective against demon beasts.
"However, the demon beasts here are of high level. I can't guarantee success," she added.
The effectiveness of illusions also depended on the user's cultivation level.
Top-tier powerful illusions were no less formidable than swords, able to take an enemy's life silently or make them forever immersed in an illusion, sleeping eternally in the illusion world, unable to wake up, becoming puppets controlled by the illusion.
Winning without fighting.
This was an even more sophisticated killing move than a single fatal strike.
However, they didn't need to kill these demon beast guards. Otherwise, the bloody smell would spread extremely quickly in the sea area, possibly attracting more demon beasts. With more demon beasts, things would become more troublesome, and the news might even reach the Demon King's ears, making him return early. Then their entire plan would collapse.
The best method was to make these demon beasts fall into an illusion, unable to wake up for a short time. Then they could rescue the people without expending any effort.
Tang Yanling looked intently at Chu Sang and said, "Little Junior Sister, I do have an imperfect idea. This Demon King's palace belongs to that flood dragon that invaded the cultivation world earlier. I have some understanding of that flood dragon and can use illusions to disguise myself as it to deceive the demon beast guards. But these demon beasts are of high level, and I can't be completely confident in my illusions..."
Chu Sang saw her hesitation and held her hand. "It's alright, Second Senior Sister. What else do you need? Perhaps we can provide help!"
Tang Yanling then said, "If there were something with that dragon demon's aura on it, my chances would be much higher!"
Something with that dragon demon's aura...
Chu Sang thought for a moment, then had an idea. She lowered her head and began rummaging through her storage bag.
The others felt that Little Junior Sister's storage bag was like a bottomless pit and a door to anywhere, pulling out all sorts of strange and messy things. However, Chu Sang had a habit of organizing things, and various different categories of items were organized into several spaces, messy but not disorganized.
She quickly took out several bloodstained scales.
Mu Changqing smelled them immediately. "These are scales from that flood snake. When did you secretly pluck them?"
"When we fought with that flood dragon earlier, we hit it hard, and it lost quite a few scales. Dragon scales are good materials for tool refining and would fetch a good price at auction. It would be a waste to leave them, so I diligently picked them up and put them in my storage bag. I was planning to find time to ask Fifth Senior Brother to refine something for me," she said with a grin.
Mu Changqing rubbed his arm, feeling a phantom pain for some reason.
Tang Yanling's eyes lit up. As expected of Little Junior Sister; she knew Little Junior Sister would definitely have a solution!
The next steps proceeded as expected. After Chu Sang gave one scale to Tang Yanling, she placed another in her own dantian.
Tang Yanling raised a faint spiritual power from her fingertip. The hard scale quickly turned into an intangible aura. Then Second Sister formed hand seals, transforming it into a pale breeze that floated towards the surroundings of those demon beasts in the palace. And then... it was over?
The group watched for a long time, seemingly without any change. Just as they were doubting whether it had succeeded, Tang Yanling said, "Let's go rescue the people."
"We're just going to walk over like this? Don't we need to disguise ourselves?" Tantai Ming asked curiously.
Whether they needed to or not, they'd know by trying.
Big Senior Sister didn't say a word. She grabbed the collar of the poor junior brother and threw him out first.
Before Tantai Ming could even wail, he had just landed when he faced a huge sea turtle looking down at him scrutinizingly. He was so scared he hadn't even had time to run when he heard the sea turtle demon beast respectfully bow down and ask in surprise, "Your Majesty, didn't you go to the central domain? Why have you returned so early now? Have you already obtained the supreme treasure?"
Huh?
Tantai Ming hadn't yet reacted when a hand fell on his shoulder. Then a deep, rough voice came from behind, "That damned old bastard of a Demon Emperor is too cunning. This King was ambushed by him halfway. These are capable assistants I've invited. With these great experts helping, we will surely crush that old trash of a Demon Emperor! What are you standing there dazed for? Hurry up and open the door!"
Tantai Ming's body trembled. Hearing that familiar rough voice behind him, he really thought that old dragon demon had returned. Turning his head to look, he found it was Little Junior Sister.
Such a beautiful face emitting such a rough uncle's voice was simply more incongruous and bizarre!
Seeing the other people following behind Chu Sang, including several Divine Transformation stage cultivators, and even that red-robed man whose strength had reached a level they could hardly fathom, those guards were so scared they were sweating profusely. They were only afraid of neglecting the distinguished guests and, without even a moment's hesitation, went to open the doors to welcome them respectfully.
A mid Divine Transformation stage demon cultivator's gaze fell heavily on the group, seeming hesitant.
This person had the highest strength among these demon beasts and was clearly a very capable subordinate of the Demon King. He narrowed his eyes; the Demon King had actually returned early, but why hadn't he received any news?
But that rough, charming voice and that strong, familiar aura were indeed the King's...
He put away the thoughts on his face and walked over smiling, intentionally or unintentionally blocking the group's path. His eyes held a hint of danger as he said, "Your Majesty, we captured several human cultivators last night. I wonder how Your Majesty wishes to handle them? Kill and eat them? Or... release them?"
Even Tantai Ming's slow brain could react to the probing in this person's words.
The young man's body instantly stiffened. He pitifully tugged at the expressionless Little Junior Sister's sleeve beside him, his palms sweating nervously.
That demon cultivator was indeed testing them. The aura was correct, but things were too suspicious. The King had returned early, yet he, as the King's confidant subordinate, hadn't received any information? Not to mention that the King was determined to obtain that power; all the great Demon Kings and the Demon Emperor were fiercely competing for it. How could he possibly return halfway so easily?
He also hadn't received news of other Demon Kings returning, indicating that the other Demon Kings were still in the central domain. The King, being the strongest among the Demon Kings, even the currently injured Demon Emperor was wary of him. He was the most likely to win in this battle. How could he possibly return halfway so easily?
This matter was too strange.
Not to mention that they had just captured several human cultivators, and the King had returned...
He had heard about the absurd events that had caused an uproar in the demon realm recently. It was said that those cunning human cultivators had extremely strong disguise abilities! They could even disguise themselves as demon cultivators, fooling them time and time again... He had to be extra cautious!
The demon cultivator's hand behind his back secretly condensed a ball of demonic power. Once the other side showed any flaw, he would instantly strike to kill.
"Nonsense, of course this King wants to eat them. This King was ambushed halfway by that cunning old thing and injured. Fresh human cultivators would be a great tonic for me! Do you perhaps want to embezzle them for yourself?!"
As Chu Sang angrily slapped him, her other hand behind her back curled a finger. Mu Changqing lowered his eyes in tacit understanding. His palm quietly condensed a dark light, perfectly following her movement to cast it out in an extremely short time—
Her palm merely lightly swung, but with a boom that shook the earth, the powerful demonic power of a half-step Unity stage cultivator slammed that Divine Transformation stage demon cultivator into the wall, unable to pry him off!
Under the frightened and fearful gazes of the crowd of demons, Chu Sang retracted her palm again. The mighty Divine Transformation demon beast was controlled in mid-air like a weak chick, then slammed hard onto the ground. She stepped on him, pressing him into the ground, and smiled wickedly, her smile fierce, "It seems you're tired of living under this King's command. Don't you know what this King hates most?"
That demon cultivator was stunned.
Completely dumbfounded.
This... this was indeed the Great Demon King's power!
Auras might deceive, but this solid Demon King power absolutely wouldn't deceive!
The powerful demonic power of a half-step Unity stage cultivator, not the spiritual power used by cultivators. The demon cultivator's last doubt was completely dispelled. He spat out a mouthful of blood, not even having time to care about his severely injured body, hurriedly kneeling on the ground,
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. This small one is utterly loyal to Your Majesty! I absolutely have no intention of betraying you!"
"Then why are you still wasting words? Hurry up and welcome me into the palace! Bring those human cultivators to me!"
She turned and flew to the throne, straddling it with her legs apart. Her voice turned harsh, making all the demons tremble.
How domineering!
How charming!
This was indeed the Demon King's style!!!
"Yes, yes!" That demon cultivator was so scared he was sweating profusely. He then turned to glare at the other demon beasts, venting his anger, "What are you fools standing there dazed for? Hurry up and bring all the good food and drink, and also bring all those human cultivators captured last night to offer to His Majesty as appetizers!"
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment!"
"I'll go fetch the wine!"
"I'll go heat the pot!"
"I'll go to the dungeon to catch the people, chop them up, and make them into appetizers for Your Majesty!"
Chu Sang coughed, "Ahem, there's no need to kill the people. This King likes sashimi, ah, eating them raw!"
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The cooperation between the two was seamless. Not only did they fool the demon beasts, but the others were also stunned. Of course, besides Mu Changqing's strength being strong enough, Little Junior Sister had also gotten into character very quickly.
"Forget it, leave everything else for now. Bring those human cultivators up first!" Time was short, and complications could easily arise. Chu Sang ordered again.
The small demons hurriedly went to the dungeon to bring up the captured human cultivators.
"Let go of us!"
"You ugly creatures, let go of me! Take your filthy claws off!"
"Get lost!"
Hearing this hot-tempered voice, it was undoubtedly the Phantom Sound Sect's Big Senior Sister Wei Chi Mu.
They were escorted by the demon beasts all the way to the front hall. Wei Chi Mu had already prepared to perish together with the enemy. Even if she died, she had to take a few ugly demon beasts down with her!
When the group arrived at the front hall with their determination to die, they looked up to see the red-robed young woman sitting cross-legged on the throne, with a group of people behind her... Their angry curses stopped abruptly. What the hell? What was going on? Had the demon beasts gone blind, or had they?
"This King wants to enjoy the feast alone. All of you, get out."