Chapter 439: Biting the Bait
Translator: Panda_Penn Editor: Chrissy
Song Qi traveled underwater at the top of his speed with practically no rest. He only took some nap once in a while on some islands when he was exhausted.
He knew that he must make every second count and kill Lu Li before he ran away. Any delay could lead to more troubles. What if the Pavilion of Delicacy sent out some Human Sovereign Realm warrior to protect Lu Li?
Plus, there were too many Xuan Beasts at sea. Every time when Song Qi took a nap, he would be alarmed by the qi and energy of the Xuan Beasts. He was forced to wake up to kill the beasts and carry on.
To go across the sea on an Iron-armored Ship would take at least two or three months but Song Qi had made it in just 26 days. He was fast and he was determined.
He was wearing a mask more advanced than the Illusion Mask. It could cover up his qi and energy and change his appearance at any time.
Because of the mask, he was able to travel under the nose of so many scouts at the northern Central Plains. Lu Li and Madam Yan had planted many scouts at sea but none of them was able to find Song Qi because he was too powerful.
Song Qi didn't kill any scouts or he would have alarmed Lu Li. He had chosen to sneak into the Northern Desert quietly. He wanted to figure out Lu Li's whereabouts and the situation of Northern Desert so he could kill him at once.
He went to a city and wandered around in the streets. He was able to gather many information relying on his strong psychic power.
Lu Li was the emperor of the Northern Desert and he had many Noble Lord Realm warriors but no Human Sovereign Realm warrior. The capital of the Empire of Godly Prowess was the Ling Empress City and Lu Li was at the area of demons right now.
There was a rumor at the Northern Desert saying that a powerful warrior was going after Lu Li. He was about to learn some rules of nature and reach the Human Sovereign Realm. Yu Huashen was busy capturing those spreading the rumors.
Song Qi had some suspicion about the news.
After all, he once was a Family Patriarch of a sixth-rank Family and would not buy any words he heard. He quickly went out of the city and then went to a regional city. He had a mask that could cover up the qi and energy of Human Sovereign Realm in him and transform him into an insignificant warrior, which enabled him to sneak into the city easily to gather more information.
The news he heard was the same. Because of Lu Li and Madam Yan's plan, everyone at the Northern Desert knew about this. Song Qi made sure soon that the Northern Desert people knew he was coming and Lu Li was indeed at the area of demons.
He could not decide what to do!
If Lu Li knew he was coming, why didn't he flee? Why did Lu Li stay in the area of demons and let everyone know about that? Was he waiting for his death?
Song Qi made up his mind after a short while of consideration.
He would go to the Ling Empress City, secretly capture some of Lu Li's powerful helper and relatives to grill some information out. He had to know where Lu Li was before he took any action.
Song Qi teleported away openly. But he dared not to go to the Ling Empress City. He chose a big city near it.
There, Song Qi didn't go to the Ling Empress City right away. He stayed in a tavern to continue to gather information with his psychic power.
The master of the regional city was discussing about Song Qi with some warriors in his mansion.
"I've heard that the Pavilion of Delicacy is going to send out a Human Sovereign Realm warrior to help kill Song Qi. Their Hall of Patriarchs is having a meeting and I heard that the Pavilion of Delicacy is going to do it in four or five days."
"That's good. When that happens, Song Qi is only going to face his own doom if he dares to come here."
"Of course. Lady Jiang and the Emperor are in a good relationship. She will not see him trapped."
"…"
The rest of the conversation escaped Song Qi's attention. His mind was weighed down. If the Pavilion of Delicacy really sent a Human Sovereign Realm over, he would be denied the chance to kill Lu Li.
"I have to go now!"
Song Qi left and made a dash to the Ling Empress City. He was not far away, and he had arrived in just an hour.
But the Ling Empress City was sealed off to his surprise. There was a simple shield activated to cover up the city. If he wanted to go in, he must break the shield first.
That was the easy part. But if Lu Li was not here, Song Qi's action would be dangerous for himself. Northern Desert was under the control of Lu Li. If Lu Li went to hide in a small world, how could Song Qi kill him?
So, Song Qi sent in his psychic power and started to probe secretly. His psychic power was so strong that it penetrated the shield without causing any changes to it.
"Nobody is here?"
What surprised Song Qi was that—the entire Ling Empress City was without a powerful warrior, not even one at the Eternal Realm. The Imperial Palace was empty, except for some maids and servants.
Was it a conspiracy or everyone had run?
Song Qi was wondering. After he searched for a while longer, he was sure that the Human Sovereign Realm warrior from the Pavilion of Delicacy was about to come here.
Those warriors that were guarding the Teleportation Formation had been talking about it. Their leader even ordered the warriors to be polite to anyone teleported here as that person would be a big shot from the Pavilion of Delicacy.
Song Qi could not stay calm anymore.
Once the Human Sovereign Realm warrior from the Pavilion of Delicacy arrived, Song Qi would have more difficulties in killing Lu Li. But he didn't know where Lu Li was. There was nobody important staying in the city. Where could he find Lu Li?
In the end, Song Qi chose to have a look at the area of demons.
He didn't know if the Pavilion of Delicacy really was going to send a Human Sovereign Realm warrior here, but he was afraid to risk it. He had to travel to the area of demons at the top of his speed and act accordingly.
He had chosen to take Teleportation Formations to reach the Thousand-island Lake instead of flying which would cause too much attention.
He was confident that apart from Human Sovereign Realm warriors, nobody could see through his mask. Who would care about a Fate Wheel Realm warrior that Song Qi had changed into?
He teleported to the Heaven Prison City in a low profile. He handed in the Xuan Crystals required for each teleportation and avoided attention by acting like a warrior from the chamber of commerce.
"Have you heard? Our Emperor was at the area of demons last night and he ripped off a tornado. I think he has mastered some rules of nature."
"Wow, that is awesome. He is only 17 and he can reach such levels. I think he is as good as a Human Sovereign Realm warrior now."
"Shh, don't tell others. If General Yu knows, we will be in trouble."
Song Qi heard this as soon as he arrived at the Heaven Martial City. It was not just a few people talking about this. Everywhere he sent his psychic power, he could tell people were talking about it.
"The area of demons? Okay!"
There was a flash of killing intent in Song Qi's eyes. He went out of the city quietly and dived into the lake where there was nobody around and sneaked to the area of demons.
As soon as Song Qi left, Du Zheng walked out from the Heaven Punishing Auction House. He threw a cold glance to the city gates and said with a sneer, "The fish is biting. Lu Li, you are up."
Du Zheng crushed a jade talisman but he didn't go after Lu Li. Du Zheng was not clear about the plan of Lu Li. He only knew that Lu Li had created miracles on many occasions. This… might be Song Qi's last trip ever.
As for why Du Zheng was sure it was Song Qi, it was easy.
Half a month ago, Du Zheng sent out words that the Teleportation Formation here was broken and he would notify the families after it was repaired. Recently, nobody would teleport to the Heaven Prison City, but Song Qi did not know. He went in and left right away without even stopping for a bit. It was obvious he was Song Qi…