Stranger Danger

"How was it?" Feng Qingyou asked smilingly.

"I did not disappoint."

Ye Qing looked pleased as he responded, "The Sage retreated after taking a minor loss."

The strange phenomenon just now was no natural phenomenon as a matter of course. It was the act of a Sage.

Unless they were gravely mistaken, it was Xuan Youxuan's backer and the true mastermind behind the City of No Return.

In fact, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou had sensed their aura while they were still in the City of No Return despite how concealed it was. They could have leaked it on purpose, but that wasn't the point. The point was that the Sage was the main reason why he only took Xuan Youxuan's Lightless Hell and breached the No Return God Demon Great Seal. It was also why he hadn't seized the opportunity to kill Xuan Youxuan once and for all.

Without Lightless Hell and grievously injured, Xuan Youxuan was no more than an ant to him. He could have killed him with a finger, and obtained the City of No Return's wealth, treasures, everything.

Did he not want the rewards? Of course not.

Only an idiot would refuse a piece of meat placed right next to his lips.

Ye Qing wasn't stupid, of course. He didn't take it because he couldn't.

The moment he noticed the Sage's existence, Ye Qing knew that coveting the City of No Return's wealth meant going to war against a Sage.

Sure, he was now strong enough that an ordinary Sage no longer posed a threat to him, not to mention that Feng Qingyou was equally as strong as him in both cultivation level and strength. He dared to say that even Emperor Jing Run could no longer squash them like a bug.

However, a Sage was ultimately a Sage. They could not fear a Sage, but they could not lower their guard around them.

Besides, their main objective was to rescue the hostages, not kill Xuan Youxuan or plunder the City of No Return's riches. There was no need to start unnecessary trouble when they had already achieved their objective.

That was why he held back from killing Xuan Youxuan. It was to give that Sage a bit of face.

Unfortunately, the Sage clearly did not appreciate the gesture. That was why that brief clash happened.

The Sage wasn't testing or warning them. They were seriously trying to kill them.

Since the Sage refused to back down, Ye Qing did not hold back either. He used his true power and activated the Earthly Sovereign Bell with the Earthly Sovereign True Body. He successfully destroyed the Sage's spiritual intent and showed them that he was no to be trifled with.

To the Sage's credit, they were decisive. As soon as they realized that Ye Qing was no small fry they could kill as they pleased, they immediately pulled back.

It might look like their clash had only lasted a moment, but it was really extremely dangerous. One misstep, and either Ye Qing or the Sage could have suffered a tragic, irreversible fate.

The brief clash also gave Ye Qing some understanding of the enigmatic Sage's strength. He was certain that the Sage was weaker than famous Sages with deep accumulation such as Emperor Jing Run, Hao Tianhong, and Xuanyuan Wang. However, they were definitely stronger than Papersmith or Westwind's Boss. Had the fight continued, he might have lived, but there was no hope for him to achieve victory.

Of course, he was no longer who he was either. The Sage might win, but it would be a pyrrhic victory at best.

A pyrrhic victory was little different from defeat. That was why the Sage had chosen to retreat.

"Who do you think they are?" Feng Qingyou asked while admiring the golden rain.

"Hard to say. I haven't fought the Sage before, and the martial arts they used are extremely unusual. It doesn't feel like the martial art of any Profound Alliance Sage."

Ye Qing had asked Yu Hongluan about the background, origin, and signature martial arts of the six Sages of the Profound Alliance during their chit chat.

There were six champions in the Profound Alliance, and five of them guarded a top faction. The sixth and last Sage did not belong to any faction and was responsible for guarding the Profound Alliance itself. His main responsibility was to contact the factions to deal with the Strangers of the Rakshasa Kingdom.

The martial arts of six Sages were clearly marked by the sect they protected. For example, the Sea Dividing Sword Sage of the Southern Sea Sword Sect was famous for his sword arts, the Celestial Suppressing Wisdom King of the Floating Light Celestial Island was famous for their physique and palm arts, the Sky Scorching Great Emperor of the Sun Worship Divine Kingdom was famous for their regal and domineering fire arts, so on and so forth.

Old Man Profound Firmament was the sixth and last Sage responsible for guarding the Profound Alliance itself. His field of study was broad, and he was an expert in all sorts of martial arts, Magia, arrays, and restrictions. He was quite powerful.

However, Old Man Profound Firmament was equally famous for his mild temper, noble character and unquestionable integrity. It was unthinkable that he would commit such an act. The rest of the Sages did not fit the mysterious Sage's martial characteristics either.

But of course, they must all have a hidden trump card or two. It would not surprise Ye Qing if their trump cards did not match their usual martial arts.

Besides, there was also the possibility that there was a seventh, unregistered Sage that didn't answer to the Profound Alliance.

In any case, there just wasn't enough information to make an accurate guess in regards to their identity or origin right now.

"It's fine. I've already memorized their spirit and energies. I will identify them if they dare to show their face again."

Feng Qingyou chuckled. "Haha... the Sage took a minor loss today because they weren't prepared. It's like they're holding back because they're afraid of revealing their identity as well. However, it may not be as easy next time."

"There won't be a next time."

Ye Qing smirked. "This was their one and only chance to get me, and they failed."

Today, the mysterious Sage was already unable to harm him. Tomorrow, he would only become harder to deal with.

Although he technically suffered a small defeat today, Ye Qing was certain that it wouldn't be the same the next time they clashed.

When he got back to Gold Island, he planned to study all of their martial arts and aid the Earthly Sovereign Bell in refining the Heavens' Eye at the same time. Once the Earthly Sovereign Bell had fully returned to Ancient-class, he would become so much stronger than before.

Without exaggeration, this was the mysterious Sage's best shot to assassinate him. Since they had missed it, they would never get another chance.

What could he do? He was that confident in himself.

It was one thing if the Sage stayed away from him forever, but if they showed their face again, then Ye Qing was fully ready to give them a "pleasant" surprise.

"I know you're confident, but it's still best to be careful. We're the ones who are exposed right now!" Feng Qingyou warned.

"It'll be fine. We'll handle whatever they throw at us."

Ye Qing remained pretty confident despite Feng Qingyou's advice. "Besides, I'm pretty sure they won't dare to show their face in the short term."

Once Jin Manshan returned to Gold Island, he would surely report what happened to him to the Profound Alliance. The Profound Alliance would naturally launch an investigation against the City of No Return. Sure, it would be way too late by then, but the Sage behind Xuan Youxuan still must go into hiding unless they wished to out themselves, meaning that they were safe in the short term.

Therefore, there was nothing to worry about.

"Again, we are the ones exposed right now. It's better to be safe than sorry," Feng Qingyou advised a second time.

"Relax, I got it."

Ye Qing smiled. "Anyway, that's a wrap. It's time we return to Gold Island."

The boat sailed further and further away amidst the golden rain, a rainbow silently appeared between heaven and earth, and the blue sea looked like a mirror.

Atop the rainbow, a person wearing a mask with their hands clasped behind their back looked down on the world with cold, flinty eyes.

"You won't escape." "I've remembered you two."