Ink Flood Dragon was startled, but in the next instant, suspicion crept in.
How could a mere human—the lowliest of the myriad races in the Primordial World—have caught a Sage's attention?
And yet, it was impossible for him to completely disbelieve it.
Nuwa had created humanity, and the boundless merit she gained had made her a Sage on the spot. The Three Pure Ones had also established their teachings through humanity, gaining boundless merit and eventually becoming Sages.
It wasn't impossible that the Three Pure Ones had taken one or two humans as disciples.
Ink Flood Dragon's heart sank. If this human ant really was a Sage's disciple, he was in trouble!
Especially if he was a disciple of the Interception Sect. Its Sage was famous for being fiercely protective of his own!
Ink Flood Dragon hesitated, his expression shifting with uncertainty, while Lin Changqing's lips curled up slightly.
Good. That's right. Keep thinking. Keep agonizing and struggling.
Inside Lin Changqing, the three thousand six hundred phantom gods and demons were rapidly restoring his Divine Demon Power.
Meanwhile, in the Ancestral Dragon Pool, Ao Ying was rapidly absorbing the countless bloodline powers.
Lin Changqing had revealed that he was a disciple of the Interception Sect not to intimidate Ink Flood Dragon with his status, but to buy time. It seemed to have worked.
But bringing it up had its pros and cons.
Now, Ink Flood Dragon looked at Lin Changqing with even stronger killing intent.
So what if he was a Sage's disciple?
Our demon race has a Sage too! Nuwa, the Sage, is one of the four emperors of the demon race.
Our demon race is the rightful ruler of heaven and earth, governing all creation. Why should we fear a great Sage's sect?
Besides, if I kill this human ant now, there won't be any trouble.
Ink Flood Dragon looked at Lin Changqing, killing intent surging in his eyes.
Their fight had already made enemies of them. He couldn't afford to offend a Sage's disciple—but was the mighty late-stage Golden Immortal Ink Flood Dragon supposed to apologize to a lowly Mystic Immortal human ant?
Impossible! Kill him, and the matter would be settled. No one would ever know!
As Ink Flood Dragon thought this, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and the killing intent in his eyes abruptly faded.
"Hahaha! So you're a fellow cultivator from Kunlun Mountain!"
"It was all a misunderstanding, fellow cultivator. You're a Sage's disciple and a Dao Ancestor's grand-disciple. Our Heavenly Court is also orthodox under the Heavenly Dao, personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor."
"We're all one family. What happened just now was only a misunderstanding."
As Ink Flood Dragon spoke, he quietly moved closer to Lin Changqing.
"You're only a Mystic Immortal, yet you managed to fight me to a standstill. You truly are a Sage's disciple."
"Your future achievements will surely surpass mine!"
"Since we've come to know each other through this fight, why don't we become friends?"
Ink Flood Dragon spoke as though his earlier hostility had all been an act.
But Lin Changqing's lips also lifted, almost imperceptibly.
You think you can pull that on me?
I came here from Earth. I've seen every kind of ploy, every one of the thirty-six stratagems.
I just tricked the Sect of Elucidation. Now you're trying to put on an act? You're still too green.
"Hahaha! Fellow cultivator Ink Flood Dragon, this Azure Dragon is a friend of mine. He was desperate to save someone earlier and acted rashly. Please forgive him!"
"You're right, we're all one family. There's no need to hold a grudge!"
Lin Changqing smiled and took two steps forward. He still held his spear, but kept it behind him, looking as if he'd let his guard down.
Ink Flood Dragon was delighted. His eyes narrowed slightly.
Good, he's fallen for it!
Hmph! A mere human ant—of course he's an idiot!
I, Ink Flood Dragon, am a mighty Golden Immortal great demon. How could I ever associate with a lowly human ant like you?
This time, you think I'm wary of your status and trying to make peace. But actually, I'm on the third level!
Seeing Ink Flood Dragon narrow his eyes, Lin Changqing's smile grew wider.
Naive. You really think I fell for it?
You're on the third level. I'm on the fifth!
Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Changqing saw that Ao Ying's body in the Ancestral Dragon Pool was now covered in gold. Golden patterns were spreading across every Dragon Scale.
Her body had also grown to nearly twelve hundred zhang, and her strength was close to the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm.
Almost there!
This girl was ridiculously slow. If I weren't trying to buy time, why would I keep up this act for so long?
Ink Flood Dragon and Lin Changqing smiled at each other as they drew closer. When they were less than a hundred zhang apart, killing intent surged in Ink Flood Dragon's heart.
"Now!"
"Die, you human ant!!!"
Ink Flood Dragon raised his claw. A dim light flickered across it as boundless killing energy gathered, tearing through the air as he lunged down at Lin Changqing.
"You thought I was going to befriend you? Dream on!"
"Once I kill you, I'll go feast on millions upon millions of humans..."
After the same old threats, Ink Flood Dragon looked toward Lin Changqing.
At the sight of him, Ink Flood Dragon's soul nearly fled his body, and he was left fuming with rage.
At some point, Lin Changqing had spread the wings on his back and turned into a streak of blood-red light, fleeing at top speed into the distance.
His hands were empty.
A streak of blood-red light had already left Lin Changqing's hand, flashing toward Ink Flood Dragon's abdomen.
Damn it!!
Ink Flood Dragon's eyes flew wide. How could this human be even more underhanded than he was?
I haven't even done anything yet, and you've already attacked! You have no honor!!
Ink Flood Dragon's razor-sharp claw could no longer keep reaching forward to attack. Even if it could, Lin Changqing's afterimage flashed before his eyes, and there was no way he could catch up now!
He pulled his claw back and swiped at the streak of light rushing toward his chest.
But the Spear of Divine Demons was only as long as a man, while Ink Flood Dragon's body stretched a thousand five hundred zhang!
Even his claw was a hundred zhang across. He opened it, and the layers of dark green light pulsing over it shattered in an instant!
That was Lin Changqing's full-power attack. How could Ink Flood Dragon dodge it so easily?
The spear pierced the air. Only Ink Flood Dragon's scales could barely stop it.
But Ink Flood Dragon's claw was too large. The spear gave a slight wobble, slipped through a gap between his claws, and shot straight toward his abdomen.
"Damn it!"
"You humans are so devious, so despicable and underhanded!!"
"I was trying to be your friend, and you attacked me from behind!"
Ink Flood Dragon kept roaring, as if he'd suffered some terrible injustice and had his sincere friendship betrayed.
Lin Changqing merely curled his lip at Ink Flood Dragon's wails. Yeah, right. Like I believe a word you say.
Did you really think I was an idiot? Or are you just too deep in character?
With a cold laugh, Lin Changqing hovered in the distance, looking on like a spectator.
If he hadn't seen Ink Flood Dragon make a move, he would have waited until he was even closer before attacking.
Moving in a little farther before striking would have made it foolproof.
Attacking now gave Ink Flood Dragon's claw a chance to block the spear.
But at the critical moment, fate wasn't on Ink Flood Dragon's side. The Spear of Divine Demons passed through the gap between his claws, and Lin Changqing's lips curled up slightly.
Heaven isn't helping you. Don't blame me!
This killing move will exceed all your expectations!
Ink Flood Dragon didn't see Lin Changqing's cold smile.
Instead, he stared fixedly at the spear, greed reappearing in his eyes.
This human was still too green.
He actually dared to throw away such a treasure to attack!
From their earlier fight, he knew his Dragon Scales could easily withstand the spear's attack. Once the spear's power ran out, he could claim it.
Based on what he'd seen in their earlier fight, this spear was at least an Innate Spiritual Treasure!
After that, he could refine it, erase the human's spiritual imprint, and make the treasure his own!
At the thought, Ink Flood Dragon's lips curled up, his face bright with delight.
You little human ant, you still dare mock me?
Hmph! I'll take your treasure!
But Lin Changqing had a message for him: you won't be able to swallow this treasure!!
Before you continue