'They took the bait!'
Xu Chang'an, disguised as a Wild Wolf, trotted along the mountain path, a thought crossing his mind.
In his years on Langlang Mountain, besides Concealment Spells, he had also picked up and cultivated some Magic and Secret Techniques from his past life's memories.
Among them was a Sensing Technique.
Now that his Cultivation had reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, using it in conjunction with the Sensing Technique was enough to detect many things.
At the very least, an ordinary Late-stage Qi Refining Old Demon using a common Concealment Technique would find it difficult to escape his senses.
'Three auras. Two at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, one at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.'
Xu Chang'an sneered inwardly.
If he was truly only at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer Cultivation he had revealed at the Ruyi Pavilion, he would never have made it through this ordeal.
His opponents would have had it in the bag.
But, what a pity for them...
'This spot is still a bit too close to the valley. I need to go further and find a good place.
I wonder how much I'll profit once this is all over.'
Having made up his mind, Xu Chang'an couldn't help but quicken his pace.
Behind a small hill.
"Big Brother, that Wild Wolf is picking up its pace."
"Hmph, the faster the better. We can make our move sooner. Keep your voice down and hurry up."
"Yes, Big Brother."
The three Demons each used their own Magic, tailing him stealthily.
...
"Hmm!?"
Xu Chang'an's expression changed.
He had been searching for a suitable location, but he suddenly sensed the commotion of Magic being used up ahead.
As he drew closer, the sounds of Magical Combat grew more intense.
'Could it be... a Demon ambush?'
The thought spurred him into action. Xu Chang'an activated his Concealment Spell and crept silently toward the source of the Magical Combat.
"Old Toad, hand over that Middle-grade Magical Artifact. I, this old boar, guarantee I'll let you leave."
From within a dense thicket, a Mountain Boar Demon standing a full thirty feet tall was bellowing loudly.
Its thirty-foot-tall Demon Body looked like a small mountain from a distance.
This Mountain Boar Demon had a red face and sharp tusks, and its aura was savage. It was the Qi Refining Seventh Layer Old Demon who had left the small valley gathering.
Beside the Mountain Boar Demon was a Hedgehog Spirit whose body was covered in sharp spines.
"Mountain Boar, are you trying to rob me?!"
A Toad Spirit, over ten feet in size and covered in warts, was crouched on the ground, glaring at the Mountain Boar Demon.
"Old Toad, isn't it obvious enough?!
Did you think I came out here in the middle of the night to chit-chat with you?!
You may have a Middle-grade Magical Artifact, but with me and Itchy here teamed up, you don't stand a chance!"
the Mountain Boar Demon declared majestically.
It was true. In a one-on-one fight, the Toad Spirit was stronger than him.
But in a two-on-one, even with the advantage of a Middle-grade Magical Artifact, the Toad Spirit was no match for them.
However...
...there was a high probability it could escape from their grasp.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be wasting his breath talking to the Toad Spirit.
All this talk was, in the end, just psychological warfare.
At this moment, the Hedgehog Spirit stood to the side, seemingly to bolster the Mountain Boar Demon's presence.
...
'Looks like there's a good show to watch.'
Xu Chang'an was hidden in a nearby thicket.
The scene unfolding before him was quite unexpected.
To think there were three Late-stage Qi Refining Old Demons at each other's throats.
It looked like a major battle was about to erupt.
'I'll deal with the three little tails behind me later. No rush.
When the three Old Demons up ahead start fighting, I might be able to fish for some benefits in the chaos.'
That Middle-grade Magical Artifact the Toad Spirit had, the Illusory Bell.
He was practically burning with desire for it!
...
"Big Brother, where's that Wild Wolf? Why can't I sense its aura anymore?"
The Demon they called "Big Brother" was a Raccoon Monkey Spirit.
He was frowning; the Wild Wolf's aura had vanished from his senses as well.
"Just wait. The Wild Wolf probably noticed us.
Even though we can't sense its aura, it most likely used some kind of Secret Technique and hasn't moved from its spot.
We'll wait right here. Secret Techniques have time limits. It'll show itself sooner or later!"
"For it to spot us when we were being so careful... that Wild Wolf has a few tricks up its sleeve."
"Shh, be quiet."
"Right, Big Brother."
...
"Mountain Boar, must it come to this? Do we really have to fight to the death?!"
Even though it was cornered by two Old Demons of the same rank, the Toad Spirit's voice was as gentle as ever.
"Cut the crap, Old Toad. Stop stalling. My patience is limited.
Hand over the Middle-grade Magical Artifact, and I'll spare your life!
Otherwise, if we really have to fight, Itchy and I might get injured, but you, Old Toad, will definitely die."
The Mountain Boar Demon continued his psychological warfare.
He wasn't just some reckless brute.
He had a cunning mind.
His alliance with the Hedgehog Spirit was just a temporary one, formed on a whim.
For this ambush, they could still work together.
But if they succeeded, when it came to dividing the loot, the alliance would likely fall apart immediately.
When that time came, who got more and who got less would be decided by strength.
The Old Toad's combat power was impressive. If they fought to the death, he would definitely get injured.
As for the Hedgehog Spirit, its combat power wasn't as fierce as his.
But its spiky Defense was something he had to admit was formidable.
It would be best if he could reap the rewards without a fight!
"Old Toad, we don't want any of your other resources. Just the two Middle-grade Magical Artifacts in your possession.
Hand over the Magical Artifacts and live. Don't, and you die!
The Magical Artifacts or your life—you choose!"
the Mountain Boar Demon added.
The Toad Spirit suddenly fell silent.
After a moment, it suddenly spoke.
"Fine, Mountain Boar. I hope you're a demon of your word.
You can have the Middle-grade Magical Artifacts. Let me go!"
As it spoke, the Toad Spirit took out two Magical Artifacts and floated them in front of itself.
One was the Illusory Bell it had acquired at the small trade gathering.
The other was a gold ingot that looked like a Yuanbao.
"The Illusory Bell! The Yuanbao Seal!"
The Mountain Boar Demon's heart trembled. He hadn't expected the Toad Spirit to compromise so easily.
Wasn't this a little too easy?!
The Old Toad was known to be agreeable, but this was a bit *too* agreeable!
"I've taken out the Magical Artifacts, what more do you want! Let me go already!"
the Toad Spirit snapped impatiently at the Mountain Boar Demon and the Hedgehog Spirit.
The Toad Spirit took a slight step back, moving away from the Magical Artifacts.
It looked like it was preparing to flee at any moment.
The Mountain Boar Demon glanced at the Hedgehog Spirit and saw it gathering its power, about to snatch the Magical Artifacts.
He made a split-second decision and acted first.
"Heh heh, two treasures, and they're all mine!"
If he didn't snatch them now, when would he?
If that Itchy fellow grabbed the Magical Artifacts first, it wouldn't be easy for him to get them back.
In that instant, the thought even flashed through the Mountain Boar Demon's mind: snatch both Middle-grade Magical Artifacts and flee deep into the mountain forest.
Once he finished refining the two Middle-grade Magical Artifacts, that Itchy fellow wouldn't be able to do a thing to him, no matter how unwilling he was.
With two Middle-grade Magical Artifacts at his side, among the Old Demons at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, he could basically do whatever he wanted.
As he got closer and closer to the two Magical Artifacts, the Mountain Boar Demon couldn't help but get lost in a beautiful daydream.
Suddenly, a sense of foreboding struck the Mountain Boar Demon.
A dozen incredibly sharp spines shot toward him from behind.
By the time he realized it, it was too late to react.
The spines plunged into his Demon Body, burying themselves deep inside as blood streamed out.
The sharp pain jolted the Mountain Boar Demon from his beautiful dream.
"Mountain Boar, have you ever considered who instigated you to come and ambush me!?"
As the massive Yuanbao Seal descended upon him like a dark cloud, the Toad Spirit's gentle voice echoed in the Mountain Boar Demon's ear.