135: Chapter 135 Two groups of tails, each with their own ulterior motives

The flying boat moved through the clouds at a moderate pace, maintaining a speed that was just within the range for a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator to easily keep up.

Inside the boat, Zhao Ruoan crossed his legs and closed his eyes to rest, but his Divine Sense had long since spread out like a tide, seeing every movement within hundreds of miles behind him with absolute clarity.

Two groups of people, one in front and one behind, distinct and separate.

The front group wore the attire of the Qingxuan Sect Disciplinary Hall, totaling three people. Their leader was a shifty-eyed Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator who was precisely one of Elder Liu Changfeng's trusted aides, named Wang Kun.

The group behind them consisted of two men in black, carrying a faint scent of blood. Their cultivation was also Foundation Establishment Late Stage, clearly scouts from the Blood Fiend Sect.

"Interesting, they really did follow." Zhao Ruoan found it amusing in his heart.

These two groups probably both thought they were the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware that they themselves were that cicada.

"Young Master, do you think... someone is following us behind us?" Qiuyin's voice carried a hint of tension. Her cultivation was still shallow, but a woman's intuition was very acute, and she always felt a chill behind her.

Xiamo also leaned closer and whispered, "I sensed it too. It seems like there is more than one group of people."

Zhao Ruoan opened his eyes, looked at the nervous expressions of the two maids, and intentionally put on a stern face, "Knowing someone is following and still speaking this loudly? Do you want to summon all the thieves over?"

"Ah..." The two maidens quickly covered their mouths, their eyes filled with apprehension.

"Alright, what is there to fear." Zhao Ruoan waved his hand, lowering his voice while controlling the volume just right to ensure it could be heard by certain "clairaudient ears", "The closer they follow, the more it proves our direction is correct. How could the Immortal Cave of this ancient Pill God be so easy to find? Without anyone following, I wouldn't feel at ease in my heart."

These words left Qiuyin and Xiamo completely dumbfounded.

What kind of logic was this? Feeling at ease while being tracked?

The Young Master's thoughts were truly becoming harder and harder to guess.

How could they know that this was originally a grand performance tailored specifically for the trackers.

Hundreds of miles behind the flying boat.

Wang Kun led his two Junior Brothers, hiding behind a patch of clouds, his Divine Sense locked tightly onto the flying boat ahead.

"Senior Brother Wang, what on earth is Zhao Ruoan plotting? Has he really found an ancient Secret Realm?" A Junior Brother couldn't help asking.

"Hmph, eight or nine times out of ten." Wang Kun's eyes flashed with greed, "This brat has Heaven-Defying Luck, turning things upside down not long after entering the sect. In a ghost place like the Black Wind Mountain Range, it's not surprising for him to encounter some fortuitous encounters."

"Then when are we making a move? Once he finds the place, we'll directly—" Another Junior Brother made a "killing" gesture.

"Idiots!" Wang Kun scolded in a low voice, "Elder Liu's instruction is to keep a close eye on him and figure out the situation, not to let you make a move! This brat is extremely spooky, able to wipe out a Blood Fiend Sect stronghold all by himself—is he that easy to deal with? Besides, he is now Yun Qinghan's precious disciple; if we touch him, none of us will survive!"

The scolded Junior Brother shrank his neck and didn't dare to speak again.

Wang Kun calculated in his heart. Elder Liu's meaning was very clear: let Zhao Ruoan scout the way in front first, and once he truly found the Secret Realm entrance and confirmed the value of the treasures, the Elder would naturally take action in person. By then, the treasures would belong to the Elder, and they, the errand runners, could also follow along to drink some soup.

"Keep your spirits up, all of you, don't lose him." Wang Kun exhorted, "In addition, pay attention to those two black rats behind us, don't let them ruin our good deed."

The "black rats" he mentioned naturally referred to the Blood Fiend Sect scouts further behind.

Dozens of miles further back, the two men in black were similarly concealing their figures.

"Black Crow, the ones in front are people from the Qingxuan Sect Disciplinary Hall. By the looks of it, they are also here for Zhao Ruoan." One of them said in a hoarse voice.

The man in black called Black Crow sneered, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The Qingxuan Sect infighting just happens to make things convenient for us. The news coming from above says that Young Lord Li Jiuyou fell at the hands of this Zhao Ruoan; the Sect Master is furious and has issued a death order to grind this brat into dust."

"Then what should we do now—"

"No rush." Black Crow's gaze was cold and gloomy, "Our primary task is that ancient Secret Realm treasure map. The Sect Master is determined to get that 'Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill'. Once Zhao Ruoan finds the place, we'll first find a way to snatch the treasure map and Medicinal Pill. As for his life... there will be plenty of opportunities to take it."

"What about those people from the Disciplinary Hall?"

"Just a few minor Foundation Establishment Stage pawns, not worth fearing. Let them scout the way ahead first. When necessary, I don't mind sending them off and letting them become the stepping stones for our treasure hunting." Black Crow licked his lips, murder intent bursting in his eyes.

The three factions, each harboring ulterior motives, each thinking they were the final winner, slowly approached their predetermined destination—Luoyun Marsh.

Above the flying boat, Zhao Ruoan took all of this in, the smile on the corners of his mouth growing thicker.

What he wanted was precisely this effect.

Let Elder Liu and the people of the Blood Fiend Sect both think there was an opportunity to exploit, and let them fight among themselves first so that he could reap the fisherman's profit.

"Young Master, what are you smiling at?" Xiamo looked at the strange smile on Zhao Ruoan's face and asked curiously.

"I'm smiling because... there's a good show to watch tonight." Zhao Ruoan stretched his waist, took out two sets of Formation Plates from the sumeru ring, and handed them to the two maidens.

"These are two sets of maze Formations and defensive Formations. Take them and study them. When we arrive at Luoyun Marsh later, we'll find a place to 'pitch camp' and put on a full act."

"Understood, Young Master!" The two maidens took the Formation Plates and immediately began to study them earnestly.

They knew that whatever the Young Master asked them to do definitely had his profound meaning. What they needed to do was to unconditionally believe and execute it.

Hours later, the sky grew late.

Below the flying boat, a vast and boundless marsh appeared in view. The water surface was turbid, occasionally bubbling with eerie green Qi, and the air was filled with a damp and rotting odor. Miasma lingered like smoke, winding endlessly through the trees.

Luoyun Marsh had arrived.

Zhao Ruoan put away the flying boat and landed with the two maidens in a relatively dry forest clearing.

"Alright, right here. Qiuyin, Xiamo, set up the Formation." Zhao Ruoan commanded.

"Yes!"

The two maidens immediately followed Zhao Ruoan's instructions and buried the Formation Plates all around. Soon, a faint layer of thin mist enshrouded this clearing. From the outside, only a blurry scene could be seen, and even Divine Sense found it difficult to penetrate.

Having finished all this, Zhao Ruoan pulled out the "treasure map" he had drawn himself from his bosom, studied it with a serious demeanor, and even muttered under his breath, "According to the map, passing through this poisonous miasma forest, there should be a hill shaped like a lying ox ahead... The entrance to the Pill God's Immortal Cave is right beneath the hill..."

His voice wasn't loud, but it just managed to pass through the "loopholes" of the Formation, clearly transmitting to the outside.

Outside the forest, the two tracking groups stopped their steps almost simultaneously.

"They stopped! And they even set up a Formation!" Wang Kun's spirits perked up.

"Senior Brother Wang, what should we do? Should we sneak over and take a look?"

"Don't be impulsive!" Wang Kun lowered his voice, "This Formation is strange. Blundering in rashly will only alert the enemy. We'll guard right here and wait for them to come out tomorrow morning. I want to see what kind of tricks he can pull off."

On the other side, Black Crow of the Blood Fiend Sect also made the same decision.

"They've camped, it looks like they plan to rest here for the night."

"Lord Black Crow, should we take advantage of the night..."

"No need. The night of this Luoyun Marsh is a hundred times more dangerous than the day. Poisonous insects and Yao Beasts run rampant; we can just use the environment here to consume the stamina of those fellows from the Disciplinary Hall ahead." Black Crow sneered, "Send word to the Hall Master, saying the fish has already entered the net, and the location is Luoyun Marsh; ask him to decide the next action."

"Yes!"

Nightfall descended completely.

The night of Luoyun Marsh was a paradise for predators. Various bizarre roars and insect chirps echoed one after another. In the dark, countless pairs of dark green eyes lit up, filled with a bloodthirsty desire.

Outside the Formation, Wang Kun and the three of them backed against each other, guarding their surroundings with nervous expressions. They didn't dare light a fire for fear of attracting stronger Yao Beasts, and could only endure bitterly in darkness and fear.

Poisonous snakes and fierce beasts passed by their hiding place from time to time, making their hearts leap and sweat stream down every single time.

As for Black Crow and the other person on the other side, they appeared much more composed. They seemed to have special beast-repelling powders, leaving the surroundings completely silent with no Yao Beasts daring to approach.

They were like poisonous snakes lurking in the dark night, coldly watching the battered appearance of the three Disciplinary Hall members not far away, waiting for the best timing to strike.

And the culprit of all this was currently lying leisurely inside the Formation.

In the clearing, a bonfire burned brightly, dispelling the night's chill and miasma. Qiuyin and Xiamo were roasting a plump spiritual rabbit, filling the air with a rich aroma.

"Young Master, here." Xiamo tore off a golden-roasted rabbit leg and handed it to Zhao Ruoan's mouth.

Zhao Ruoan opened his mouth to take a bite and nodded with satisfaction, "Good skills, there's improvement."

"Hehe, as long as the Young Master likes it." Xiamo smiled with her eyes curved like crescents.

"Young Master, those people outside... are they okay?" Qiuyin was still somewhat worried.

"Rest assured." Zhao Ruoan leaned against a tree, saying lazily, "They are more nervous than us. Let them feed the mosquitoes outside for a night, then they'll have the energy to lead the way for us tomorrow."

He didn't need any map; his powerful Immortal Soul Divine Sense was the best map. The terrain of the entire Luoyun Marsh, where dangers lurked and where Yao Beasts were, was entirely crystal clear to him.

The reason he stopped here was to create a facade of "having nothing to fear" for the two groups outside, and at the same time, to wait.

Waiting for a truly big fish.

Elder Liu... high-ranking officials of the Blood Fiend Sect...

I wonder who will lose their composure first?

Thinking this, Zhao Ruoan took another bite of the rabbit leg, feeling that the night of Luoyun Marsh didn't seem so hard to endure after all.