Chapter 1068: Looks Like We've Been Exposed

What Sha Huanli whispered was nothing complicated. She simply wanted to go see Shang Song's Traveling Palace.

There were far too many legends about Shang Song beneath Heaven. In the eyes of the people of the world, Shang Song was practically a god. Given the chance to witness a divine relic with her own eyes, the temptation was almost impossible to resist.

And it was not only her. Who could be entirely without curiosity? Xiang Ming himself wanted to take a look. This really was an opportunity. If they missed today, they might never get another chance in their lives.

That thought was not without basis. There was one question whose answer no one could predict: what was the present status of Shang Song's Traveling Palace, and who would it belong to? Would it be held in common, or handled some other way? Until those questions were settled, the Sacred Venerables would probably not permit the forces of other factions to freely enter and leave the Traveling Palace.

Previously, Sha Huanli had wanted to hurry back to Star-Plucking City, so Xiang Ming had not found it appropriate to say anything. Now that she had abandoned the idea of returning immediately and wanted to see Shang Song's Traveling Palace, naturally he had no objection. He gave a slight nod, then called to Niu Youdao, "Lead the way!"

"Lead the way?" Niu Youdao looked startled, as though he had not understood what Xiang Ming meant.

Xiang Ming said, "Don't tell me you don't know where Shang Song's Traveling Palace was discovered."

Niu Youdao seemed to realize. "I don't know the exact location, but I serve at the Demon Fox Bureau. Once we reach the Desolate Marsh Deadlands, I can find people from the Bureau to guide us. What, you intend to go too?"

Xiang Ming asked in return, "Has Misty Pavilion issued a rule saying we can't?"

"Not yet. It was only just discovered. Some sides probably haven't even received the news. They haven't finished surveying the palace itself, so how could any rules already have been drawn up?"

"Then why are you wasting words? Lead the way!"

"Yes, yes!" Niu Youdao hurriedly agreed. His flying mount dipped, passed beneath the party, and changed direction once more.

Xiang Ming's group changed direction as well and followed behind him.

The chance to see the legendary Shang Song's Traveling Palace stirred a faint excitement in everyone from Star-Plucking City.

Not one of them suspected that Niu Youdao's story was false.

...

The journey was long. Just as the sky began to brighten, the party finally entered a swamp that still stretched beyond the horizon even from high above.

After flying deeper into the region, a comparatively tall mountain appeared amid the wetlands ahead.

Niu Youdao pointed toward it and called loudly to Xiang Ming, "Chief Steward Xiang, the Demon Fox Bureau is carrying out its routine sweep in the Desolate Marsh Deadlands. There are Bureau personnel on that mountain. I'll find someone to guide us."

Xiang Ming gave a slight nod.

Niu Youdao immediately dove, guiding his mount lower. Xiang Ming and the others followed, curious to see what was happening.

As Niu Youdao skimmed over the mountaintop, he let out a long whistle.

A man in Misty Pavilion clothing appeared on a cliff. Niu Youdao immediately guided his mount beneath the cliff, and the man leapt down to land beside him.

The newcomer was none other than the scythe-bearing Elder of the Demon Fox race.

The circumstances this time were unusual, and everything had been arranged at short notice. At first, even Niu Youdao had not known exactly where to establish the contact point. Once he sent the message to the Demon Fox race, they had chosen the location themselves.

When it came to choosing the best place to make a move inside the Desolate Marsh Deadlands, the Demon Foxes naturally understood the terrain better than anyone. Niu Youdao therefore left those preparations to them. He only told them to arrange someone to receive him and added a few specific requirements.

For example, the location where they acted had to be far removed from the Demon Fox Bureau's current operating range in the Deadlands. And every Demon Fox capable of assuming human form was to wear Misty Pavilion clothing and pretend to be Demon Fox Bureau personnel.

Obtaining Misty Pavilion uniforms was not a problem. The Demon Fox race had fought Demon Fox Bureau personnel in the Desolate Marsh Deadlands for many years. They had no shortage of several genuine sets of Misty Pavilion clothing, authentic Demon Fox Bureau uniforms.

The moment the two met, the scythe-bearing Elder pointed out a direction and the flying mount climbed again.

Seeing that someone from Misty Pavilion really had appeared to receive Niu Youdao, Xiang Ming and the others no longer suspected any deception and followed upward.

Niu Youdao was not worried that the Star-Plucking City people might recognize the scythe-bearing Elder. He was worried about something else. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Make sure they can't identify you as Demon Foxes."

The scythe-bearing Elder replied, "Don't worry. Our Demon Fox race isn't the same as what you call demon cultivators. We can suppress our aura. They won't be able to tell."

Niu Youdao nodded slightly.

That was true. Concealing their aura was an innate gift of the Demon Fox race and one of the main reasons they had been able to establish themselves in the Desolate Marsh Deadlands, making it impossible for outsiders to track them.

The party flew over the Deadlands for a little less than half an hour. The scythe-bearing Elder pointed toward a small wooded hill like an island amid the marsh below, and Niu Youdao immediately guided the Gray-Feather Eagle downward.

Several flying mounts landed one after another. Once everyone jumped down, they found a group of people dressed as Misty Pavilion personnel already stationed there.

The corner of Niu Youdao's mouth twitched slightly.

Hei Yun was among them.

He too had changed into Misty Pavilion clothing. Even his loose hair had been combed and tied properly, making him look rather unfamiliar.

Niu Youdao walked over and asked openly, "Brother Hei, why are there only a few of you?"

Hei Yun said, "We're guarding the outside. Deacon Zhou took the others inside the palace."

Niu Youdao asked, "Where is the palace? Why can't I see it?"

Hei Yun pointed toward a stretch of nearly flat marsh water ahead. "It's beneath the swamp."

Niu Youdao looked surprised. "There can be a palace beneath the swamp?"

"The palace doesn't lie very deep underground. Its roof is only ten zhang below the surface. A great formation protects it, so the swamp mud and water can't penetrate."

After listening for a moment, Xiang Ming suddenly interjected, "If a great formation protects it, how did you get inside? Would a formation laid down by Shang Song really be that easy for you to break?"

Hei Yun replied calmly, "Although a great formation protects the palace, its entrance is open."

Xiang Ming asked, "Then how did you discover it?"

"While pursuing Demon Foxes to this area, we followed them underground and discovered it there. Only after we forced our way inside did we realize that the Traveling Palace had long since been occupied by Demon Foxes and turned into one of their lairs. Quite a few of our brothers died before we took the place. We've already reported it to Misty Pavilion. I expect large numbers of reinforcements will arrive before long."

Niu Youdao laughed loudly. "You discovered the Demon Foxes' lair, and it turns out to be Shang Song's Traveling Palace at that. That's a considerable achievement. Brother Hei, what exactly does Shang Song's Traveling Palace look like? Could you take us inside to broaden our horizons?"

Hei Yun looked back at Sha Huanli and the others and hesitated. "There's naturally no problem with you going in, but they're outsiders. Without Deacon Zhou's permission, I can't make that decision."

Niu Youdao sighed. "They're not really outsiders. This is the daughter of former Misty Pavilion Presiding Administrator Sha. She happened to be passing by and only wants to take a look. She isn't going to interfere with anything."

Xiang Ming added, "We'll look around and leave. We won't interfere in any way."

Hei Yun hesitated. "Brother Niu, why don't you first go ask Deacon Zhou for instructions? How about that?"

"No need. If Deacon Zhou blames anyone, I'll bear the responsibility myself. It has nothing to do with any of you." Seeing Hei Yun still hesitate, Niu Youdao patted him on the shoulder and gave him a slight push. "It'll be fine. There aren't any rules from above yet. Lead the way."

Hei Yun sighed. "Brother Niu, you said it yourself. If Deacon Zhou blames us afterward, don't blame me for pushing the responsibility onto you."

"No problem. Let's go." Niu Youdao extended a hand in invitation.

Hei Yun immediately walked toward the edge of the swamp.

Xiang Ming turned and ordered, "Three people stay behind to guard the mounts."

The three men left behind looked rather awkward. They had not expected Shang Song's Traveling Palace to be underground. After finally making the trip, they were actually going to miss seeing it.

They had no idea whether the Demon Fox Bureau might let them go down for a look later, but there was nothing they could say. They could only obey.

Hei Yun also brought only two men. The others remained behind.

The party left the bank and flew over the swamp. Xiang Ming personally held Sha Huanli by the arm and carried her through the air.

They had not gone far before Xiang Ming realized something was wrong.

He did not yet suspect a trap, but protecting Sha Huanli was his responsibility, so he had remained vigilant throughout and kept watching their surroundings. Then he suddenly noticed that as Hei Yun and the others flew, not the slightest aura appeared around them.

That was highly abnormal.

Through the Dharma Eye, for example, he could clearly see the aura around Niu Youdao as he circulated spiritual power to fly.

And in this particular place, that absence of aura made Xiang Ming think of something.

"Stop!" Xiang Ming suddenly shouted.

Everyone halted in midair.

Niu Youdao and the others ahead turned back.

"Chief Steward Xiang, what is it?" Niu Youdao called.

Sha Huanli, held above the swamp within Xiang Ming's spiritual power, looked at him in confusion as well. "Uncle Xiang?"

Keeping one hand on her, Xiang Ming pointed at Hei Yun with the other. "Who are you people?"

The moment those words fell, several guards accompanying him flashed into position and surrounded Niu Youdao's group warily.

Hei Yun and Niu Youdao exchanged a glance.

Hei Yun lowered his voice. "Looks like we've been exposed."

The other side had grown suspicious. There was no way to continue the performance.

Niu Youdao shrugged helplessly. "There isn't a problem, is there? I told you there couldn't be the slightest mistake."

Hei Yun said, "Everything was prepared long ago. There are only this many of them. Now that they've reached this place, none of them will leave."

Seeing the two muttering together, Xiang Ming shouted in anger and alarm, "Niu Youdao, what are you trying to do?"

Niu Youdao ignored him. He only told Hei Yun, "Remember, not one of them can escape. I'm leaving it to you."

Hei Yun nodded.

Then he suddenly stamped his foot into the muddy water and raised his head, releasing a long, mournful howl.

The two Demon Fox Elders accompanying him did the same.

All around them, the surface of the swamp erupted in countless sprays of mud.

Demon Fox after Demon Fox burst from beneath the ground.

At the same time, the earth rumbled and churned as densely packed gigantic tentacles exploded upward. The Demon Foxes leapt onto them, riding the tentacles as they closed inward like the petals of a chrysanthemum.

Sha Huanli went deathly pale at the sudden transformation.

Xiang Ming, equally shocked, seized her by the arm and shot upward toward the rapidly shrinking patch of open sky. At the same time, he shouted, "Don't get entangled! Protect the City Lord and open a path!"

The guards accompanying him streaked upward after him.

Countless Demon Foxes shot like arrows onto the wildly waving, terrifying tentacles. Clinging to them, tails swaying as they howled, their bodies began to glow. They poured their own demon power into the Corpse-Rot Vines.

The combined demon power of countless Demon Foxes flooded into the vines.

Under the vicious whipping of the chaotic tentacles, Xiang Ming and the others were slowed in their attempt to break through. Above them, the tentacles closed completely.

Darkness swallowed the interior.

Hei Yun looked up, then said to Niu Youdao, "Let's go."

A tentacle came twisting and crushing toward them. Hei Yun flashed aside, pressed one hand against it, and applied a thread of demon power.

A gap immediately opened between the closing tentacles.

They slipped through, and the gap sealed again behind them.

"Niu Youdao!"

From inside the trap came Xiang Ming's grief-stricken roar of fury.

Never even in his dreams had he imagined that Niu Youdao was secretly colluding with the Demon Foxes.

[End of Chapter 1068]