Chapter 470: Qian Xing vs Cai Jing
Rolling clouds of dust gradually dispersed, revealing a massive, hemispherical light barrier.
Master Cai Jing, Magician Da Bei, and Magician Zhong Bei gathered together, gazing upward through the translucent shield.
Though there was only one enemy, all three magicians wore expressions of profound gravity.
For the attacker's aura was unmistakably that of a saint level cultivator!
A saint level fighter.
Magician Da Bei used an amplifying spell to inquire about the intruder's identity, emphasizing his own status.
“Elder of the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's Alchemy Guild?” The floating saint level fighter sneered coldly, his face brimming with contempt.
He was an elf, but his dark skin marked him not as a snow elf, but a night elf.
His hair was pulled into a high ponytail, his frame tall and slender, his fingers long and slender. Each nail was razor-sharp, gleaming with a blue radiance.
“If this were the Sheng Ming Empire's Alchemy Guild, I might show some deference.”
“But the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's Alchemy Guild? What's that worth? Even the Ice Sculpture Kingdom itself is nothing special.”
The saint level fighter was supremely arrogant, showing utter contempt for the Ice Sculpture Kingdom.
“I know who he is!” Master Cai Jing suddenly exclaimed, “He's Qian Xing, a member of the Fire Beard Pirates.”
Magician Da Bei and Magician Zhong Bei instantly understood, realizing the source of Qian Xing's arrogance.
The Fire Beard Pirates was a massive, legendary level power. It absolutely towered over the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's Alchemy Guild—even the kingdom itself couldn't compare.
The primary reason for this dominance was simple - Fire Beard himself was a legend level fighter!
Meanwhile, the three strongest individuals currently in the Ice Sculpture Kingdom were merely at the Saint level.
Of course, the kingdom's history had seen legendary level figures, though none existed in the present era. Even so, the Ice Sculpture Kingdom possessed deep foundations and undoubtedly had methods to deal with legend level threats.
However, the methods used against the dead could never be compared to those employed against living legends.
Magician Da Bei invoked his status as an elder of the Alchemy Guild, a pedigree formidable enough to intimidate most. Yet against the Fire Beard Pirates, it only invited ridicule.
Shuang Tu Clinic.
Shuang Tu activated an alchemy device, remotely surveying the southern reaches of Flower Skirt Island.
The faintly visible image showed Qian Xing, tiny as an ant, alongside a massive, hemispherical magic formation shield.
Shuang Tu's heart was tense.
“According to the latest intelligence, Cai Jing and the others have spent the longest time ever recorded in the lowest level this time.”
“It's highly likely they've already opened the secret door of inheritance and obtained what lies within.”
“Sigh. I hope Qian Xing can stir up enough chaos this time for me to seize an opportunity.”
Qian Xing's arrival was, of course, the result of Shuang Tu's covert maneuvering.
After leaving Shuang Tu's clinic, Ba Qi vanished completely.
Unable to borrow Ba Qi's strength, Shuang Tu resorted to a desperate measure: impersonating Ba Qi to seek Qian Xing's aid.
His analysis of Qian Xing proved crucial to the plan's success.
Qian Xing took Ba Qi's plea seriously.
The Fire Beard Pirates was vast and faction ridden. If Qian Xing could use this to subdue Ba Qi, it would greatly bolster his standing and influence within the fleet.
Originally, Qian Xing had only intended to visit Flower Skirt Island to search for clues left by Ba Qi's pirate crew. Unexpectedly, he stumbled upon rumors concerning the inheritance of Master Fan Sheng Za Zhong.
He was a pirate, after all!
Moreover, this involved the legacy of a legend figure of a level. Perhaps Ba Qi's disappearance was orchestrated by Cai Jing and his crew.
Thus, Qian Xing acted without hesitation.
“Current developments are unfolding exactly as planned. May the next steps proceed smoothly as well!”
Shuang Tu closely monitored the standoff's progress.
His primary mission was to seize Fan Sheng Za Zhong's legacy on Flower Skirt Island.
Unfortunately, his strength was too low, only silver level.
He could only resort to this desperate measure: luring Qian Xing into the fray.
Shuang Tu hoped Qian Xing would defeat Cai Jing and the others, yet also wished they could hold out as long as possible without suffering a crushing defeat.
Should Cai Jing and the others suffer a crushing defeat, the legacy of Master Fan Sheng Za Zhong would fall into Qian Xing's hands, making it exponentially harder for Shuang Tu to claim it.
Thus, this time, Shuang Tu could only gamble on luck, hoping for an opportunity to arise in the ensuing battle.
Gazing at Qian Xing in the sky, Master Cai Jing was filled with astonishment and apprehension.
First it was Ba Qi; now it was Qian Xing. He couldn't fathom why he'd drawn the ire of the Fire Beard Pirates. Keep in mind this was near the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, not the Fire Beard Pirates' usual stomping grounds.
Qian Xing's timing couldn't be more perfect!
It was right after they'd just acquired the inheritance.
This couldn't help but make Master Cai Jing suspect whether there was a mole within their own ranks. Someone who'd tipped off Qian Xing just in time.
Pondering this line of thought, Master Cai Jing soon realized the likelihood of a mole among them was quite high. He had recruited a large number of potion apprentices to accelerate the excavation of the inheritance.
But now, uncovering the mole held little significance!
After all, Qian Xing was already in front of them.
“But we must remain vigilant!” Master Cai Jing immediately instructed Magician Zhong Bei to enter the underground alchemy laboratory, oversee the potion apprentices, and lock them all inside their rooms.
Meanwhile, Master Cai Jing joined forces with Magician Da Bei to confront Qian Xing.
“Lord Qian Xing, you desire the legacy of Master Fan Sheng Za Zhong... We can indeed share a portion with you. This is not beyond negotiation.”
“Please understand, we have sacrificed far too much for this legacy.”
“Provided the price is right...”
Master Cai Jing feigned negotiation, seeking to buy time.
Qian Xing snorted coldly: "You wish to negotiate with me? Sure! First, remove this protective barrier to show your sincerity."
As a seasoned pirate, Qian Xing's aura was overwhelmingly intimidating.
“Absolutely impossible.” Master Cai Jing's face remained impassive as he flatly refused.
Qian Xing laughed coldly: “Then you're only trying to stall for time!”
With that, he unleashed a saint level battle skill, launching another assault.
The battle skill struck the magic formation's light barrier. The spherical shield collided with the saint level attack, erupting in a thunderous explosion.
The potion apprentices screamed within the alchemy lab.
Jars and flasks tumbled from the shelves amid the violent tremors, shattering into shards of glass.
"Silence! Calm yourselves. We remain safe for now. Anyone who makes a move will be executed on the spot." Magician Zhong Bei issued a stern warning, his voice thick with menace.
Spies infiltrating the potion apprentices feigned panic while exchanging subtle glances.
No one dared to act!
They truly had no choice.
On one hand, this was the meticulously constructed lair of Master Cai Jing. Numerous defensive measures and magic traps were deployed throughout.
On the other hand, Master Cai Jing's arrangements were impeccable. Though not a gold level magician, Zhong Bei, as a silver level magician, was more than capable of firmly suppressing these potion apprentices.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Qian Xing unleashed a barrage of battle skills, battering the light barrier until it swayed precariously.
Yet it still held firm.
The pride on Qian Xing's face dimmed slightly: “Your formation is quite interesting.”
Master Cai Jing exhaled a breath of stale air, relaxing slightly.
This was the defensive formation he had meticulously crafted. Not only did it possess exceptional defensive capabilities, but it also channeled external attacks along the earth vein, cleverly diverting them away.
When first setting up this formation, Master Cai Jing had been filled with hesitation. The cost of deploying it was truly exorbitant.
At the time, Master Cai Jing had primarily considered the possibility of Ba Qi launching a counterattack. To ensure absolute safety, he gritted his teeth and endured the pain to construct this magic formation.
Now it seemed it was all worth it.
Although Cai Jing was just a gold level magician, he could temporarily resist Qian Xing through the defensive formation.
Magicians were such transcendents. They could harness external forces, unleashing power far exceeding their own.
Yet after several rounds of attacks, the formation had drained immense energy. At least 30% of the elemental crystals Master Cai Jing had embedded within had been consumed.
Master Cai Jing roughly calculated in his mind: “Each time it withstands an attack of a saint level, it consumes at least 300 gold coins!”
He was straining his own finances just to barely counter a saint level powerhouse.
The clash between the two sides generated intense fluctuations, naturally drawing the attention of others.
“What exactly is happening?” asked Bing Xiao.
The human ringleader replied, "It's Master Cai Jing's side. He's under attack again. This time, the enemy is even stronger than Ba Qi. He's a saint level powerhouse, though his identity remains unconfirmed."
Bing Xiao drew in a sharp breath.
Saint level!
This was a pillar of a nation.
The old gang leader's expression grew grave: “So the rumors circulating on Flower Skirt Island were true after all.”
"Cai Jing and his group were indeed excavating the legacy of Master Fan Sheng Za Zhong. The previous attack by Ba Qi exposed this secret, thereby attracting the attention of a saint level entity."
“Recall all our people and prepare for evacuation at any moment!”
This was the temporary stronghold of the Bayonet Gang. Bing Xiao's primary concern was collateral damage.
If the ongoing clashes between the two sides disrupted this area and plunged it into chaos, the Bayonet Gang would likely face attacks from those with ulterior motives.
After all, the Bayonet Gang were outsiders on Flower Skirt Island. Besides them, several other silver level factions operated here.
Recently, their efforts to establish roots on the island had already triggered the vigilance and repeated probing of established powers.
“Understood.” The human ringleader immediately acknowledged the order and sprang into action.
Spring Boxer wasn't at the gang's base.
He was browsing the black market.
Periodically, Flower Skirt Island hosted a black market trade.
The scale of these transactions was considerable.
Flower Skirt Island was a neutral island near the Ice Sculpture Kingdom. This location proved highly advantageous, making it a common destination for illicit dealings.
Thus, goods unavailable in the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's legitimate markets were frequently found in the black market.