The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

"Hurry!" Chen Dong urged.

This Thunder Tribulation had to be from a person or an object undergoing ascension. Here in the black fog, the only ones around were their group and the unknown Demon Race.

Chen Dong was starting to get a read on the Demon Race; calling them cunning was an understatement. To have hidden for two years under the scrutiny of the three major sects' most powerful experts, it had to possess some special method of concealment. Why would it reveal itself now instead of remaining hidden?

Watching the lightning descend, Chen Dong wondered, 'Could it be preparing for its tribulation, leaving it unable to relocate or stay concealed?'

It was also possible that some priceless treasure was about to emerge or ripen in this place, forcing it to stay behind and stand guard.

Because the shape of the tribulation clouds and lightning was obscured by the black fog, Chen Dong couldn't identify what kind of Thunder Tribulation it was.

Perhaps it was also possible that one of the other cultivators who had entered was being forced to undergo their tribulation here.

Regardless of which theory was correct, the truth would become clear once they got closer to the Thunder Tribulation.

Li Zhixuan also picked up the pace. The group drew ever closer to the tribulation, which was also the point toward which the black fog was flowing.

Chen Dong kept his Transmission Talisman at the ready. 'If it really is a member of the Demon Race undergoing a tribulation, we need to run. Immediately. By my estimates, this demon is at the Golden Core Stage. After its tribulation, it'll reach the Nascent Soul Stage. Among those present, only Li Zhixuan might have a slim chance of survival. Even I would face certain death.'

Chen Dong gradually sensed the black fog was thinning, which made him lean more toward the idea that a Spiritual Object was undergoing the tribulation. 'This bizarre fog must be generated by the Spiritual Object, not the demon. Otherwise, how could the three Golden Core cultivators leading the expedition not have recognized it!'

In the Floating Shadow Realm, humans, beasts, and demons had been enemies for a millennium. Even if the realm was so vast that they had never encountered them personally, they should have at least heard of their methods. And yet, the three Golden Core masters had charged into the black fog as if they were completely clueless. Tang Xian hadn't even identified the Demon Race's presence until after he had slain the first Demonic Puppet.

A tool like this black fog wasn't something the Demon Race was known to possess.

'Looking at it from another angle,' he thought, 'if the black fog isn't a tool of the Demon Race, then that demon should be in the same boat as us—running around blind, its perception limited to just a few dozen feet.'

From encountering Demonic Puppets that only charged mindlessly at first, to later ones that could precisely dodge attacks, to them setting a complex trap involving Qiu Cai, it all meant one thing: the Demon Race was right here, close by!

At this thought, Chen Dong immediately sent a voice transmission to Li Zhixuan. "If you have a treasure that enhances your Divine Sense, what's its maximum range in this black fog?"

Li Zhixuan replied instantly, "At my Realm, the best treasure I can use would triple my range, pushing it to about one hundred twenty feet!"

Chen Dong never underestimated his enemies. 'If this demon specializes in Divine Sense, then even compared to Li Zhixuan—who represents the apex of the Golden Core Stage—its range, even with a treasure's aid, probably wouldn't exceed two hundred feet.'

Moreover, Chen Dong put himself in the demon's shoes. 'If I were that demon, I wouldn't let my enemies wander outside my detection range. I'd need to guard the Spiritual Object I want while keeping a constant watch on my foes.'

A sudden realization struck Chen Dong. 'There should only be two or three members of the Demon Race here. One is guarding the Spiritual Object, and another is watching our group, trying to figure out how to eliminate us. If there's a third, it's probably dealing with Tang Lian and the others.'

So Chen Dong sent another transmission, "The enemy is within a two-hundred-foot radius of us. The number of Demonic Puppets is unknown, but there's only one demon stalking us!"

He reached this conclusion because if there were two or more demons nearby, their combined detection range would be far greater than his party's. They would have attacked directly long ago instead of resorting to so many schemes. They were hiding and being evasive because they were afraid of being engaged. They weren't confident they could defeat him and Li Zhixuan!

This was especially true after Li Zhixuan had revealed his High-grade Golden Core cultivation and Chen Dong had brandished the Phoenix True Feather. After that, even the probing attacks had ceased.

Li Zhixuan was startled by this and immediately sent back, "Then what's the plan?"

Using a Cultivation Technique beyond the range of one's Divine Sense was like punching the void; you couldn't sense a thing. In a black fog that severed one's senses, the effectiveness of any attack would be drastically reduced, simply because you couldn't land a hit. For a Golden Core Stage cultivator, failing to land a precise strike would do nothing but alert the enemy.

Li Zhixuan didn't dare deploy his treasured Spirit Sword beyond the reach of his Divine Sense either. There was a high risk the enemy could suppress it, and he might never get it back.

Furthermore, they were currently within the enemy's sphere of awareness; whatever they did, the enemy would know. But this was also a golden opportunity. There was likely another enemy beneath the Thunder Tribulation. If they could eliminate the one stalking them now, the pressure later would be significantly less.

Presumably, the demons were thinking along the same lines, which was why they'd placed Demonic Puppets in various locations to pinpoint everyone's position before separating them for the kill.

'If we keep going,' Chen Dong thought, 'we'll eventually reach the Thunder Tribulation and everyone will regroup there. If I were the demon, I'd definitely set a trap along the path to weaken their numbers.'

The moment the thought surfaced, Chen Dong sent a telepathic shout, "Stop for a moment!"

"Do you have a plan?" Li Zhixuan asked via transmission.

Chen Dong's brow furrowed. "If you were the demon..."

Li Zhixuan answered instantly, "You'd set a trap!"

Chen Dong gave him a subtle look. Should they walk into the trap feigning ignorance, or should they try to bypass it? Chen Dong had already chosen the former. It was the perfect opportunity to pinpoint the enemy's location. If they played their cards right, it would be their chance to turn the tables.

The Transmission Talisman in his hand was the source of Chen Dong's courage to take the gamble. The worst-case scenario was simply teleporting everyone thousands of miles away.

Li Zhixuan understood the look. He once again took the lead and moved forward, transmitting a message to the others, "Everyone, be ready to defend yourselves at a moment's notice, but don't let on that you know anything..."