Qin Ruxue handled matters with great efficiency. After going out for a month, she returned quietly and handed the Mirage Pearl back to Fang Qing.
Fang Qing, however, had stopped going out to hunt demonic beasts and devoted himself entirely to pill refinent while remaining on Small White Island.
This day.
A resounding bell suddenly rang out, causing his hand to tremble slightly in the midst of refining pills.
“A Sect-Wide Mobilization Order? It seems sothing major has happened.”
Fang Qing spoke to Hua Lingsu and the other disciples, then piloted a flying vessel to the Ancient Bronze Hall.
Now he could be said to have upgraded his equipnt entirely. Not only had his flying artifact been replaced with a Mid-Grade Second-Tier spirit vessel, he had also refined several Mid-Grade spirit turtle-shell shields.
After all, the Sea-Covering Turtle had nurous offspring with outstanding bloodlines, and their shells were exceptionally suited for refining into defensive spirit artifacts.
Upon entering the main hall, he discovered that all the Foundation Establishnt cultivators were already present.
Qin Ruxue appeared calm as she ca to stand beside Fang Qing.
After all the Foundation Establishnt cultivators had arrived, Elder Wanbao stood respectfully beside the main seat and bowed toward it.
With a flash of light, a thin, blue-robed figure suddenly appeared in the main seat.
It was Linghu Jin!
“Greetings, Martial Uncle Linghu!”
The Foundation Establishnt cultivators bowed one after another.
“Enough.”
With a wave of his hand, Linghu Jin caused an enormous turtle head to crash down into the hall. A savage wound marred it, still emitting terrifying demonic qi.
“This is… the Sea-Covering Turtle?”
“That great demon has finally been executed?”
The other Foundation Establishnt cultivators glanced at it and rejoiced. So even showed the pleasure of vengeance fulfilled.
Over the years, who knew how many of their senior brothers, disciples, and Dao companions had died at the hands of this demon and its subordinate demonic beasts?
Oh? It seed Ruan Zhixuan had taken action? Otherwise, if Linghu Jin could have slain the Sea-Covering Turtle alone, this war would not have dragged on for so long.
Fang Qing’s heart stirred at the sight.
“Congratulations, Martial Uncle, on your greatly advanced divine abilities and the slaying of this fiend!”
A Foundation Establishnt cultivator offered his congratulations.
A trace of awkwardness flashed across Linghu Jin’s face. “This was not my rit. A righteous individual delivered intelligence. After Senior Sister Ruan learned of it, she resolutely used a Third-Tier Illusory Body Talisman to disguise her aura, creating the illusion that she was still presiding over the frontline camp. In truth, she joined forces with for a surprise attack, and only then were we able to slay this great demon!”
So that was it. The Illusory Body Talisman could simulate a cultivator’s aura fluctuations....Ruan Zhixuan had executed a substitution strategy. Otherwise....
If Zhong Xuanli had discovered that both Core Formation Ancestors were absent from the frontline, he would have launched a massive offensive and annihilated our frontline camp long ago....
Fang Qing understood at once.
“Pass down the order. Mobilize the entire army and join forces with the frontline camp....”
Linghu Jin declared in high spirits, “In this battle, our sect will surely exterminate the Zhong Family of Taibai!”
After this Core Formation Ancestor issued the command, all of Small White Island imdiately mobilized. Massive war artifacts began to move into operation.
It carried the feeling of having no retreat, of deciding the realm in a single decisive battle.
This dreadful news quickly reached Taibai Island.
Taibai Island.
This island possessed a Third-Tier cold vein and was covered in snow year-round, hence its na.
——
Within the Ice Heaven Hall.
“Ancestor....”
As Zhong Lingxiu entered the hall, Zhong Xuanli spoke at once: “The Zhong Family....is about to be destroyed.”
“Ancestor, how can it co to this?”
Zhong Lingxiu gritted his teeth. “We have suffered heavy casualties—how is the Azure Sea Sect any different? If we drag this out....sooner or later we will drag them down as well! Once I form my core, I will exterminate the entire Azure Sea Sect!”
“The Sea-Covering Turtle....has been slain.”
Zhong Xuanli’s expression remained calm. Cultivators of ice techniques seed to be like this—hearts as cold as ice, unshaken even if the heavens collapsed.
“Even we did not know that great demon’s precise whereabouts. How did the Azure Sea Sect’s Core Formation cultivators manage to capture it?”
Zhong Lingxiu could no longer maintain his composure; his expression twisted.
“I do not know....The spy I planted on Small White Island has already sent word. Linghu Jin is leading the army here. Our island’s formation has endured years of assault; the earth vein qi has long been exhausted. Previously we relied entirely on Top-Grade spirit stones and accumulated reserves to sustain it. This ti, I fear....”
Zhong Xuanli shook his head, resentnt flashing faintly. “Ruan Zhixuan must have left secretly before. That was the best opportunity to destroy the Azure Sea Sect’s main camp. Though I constantly sensed her remotely with divine sense, I was still deceived....Alas, in the end I was outplayed by a single move.”
“Ancestor, at this point, perhaps we should take a step back. The sea is vast and the sky boundless. Take so of our elite clansn and flee.”
Zhong Lingxiu cald himself and offered his suggestion.
“I am certainly being watched closely by that Ruan Zhixuan. I cannot escape. But you can....”
Zhong Xuanli handed Zhong Lingxiu a jade slip, a token, and a white storage pouch. “The Eastern Sea Cultivation World is vast beyond asure. Our Small Huan Sea is but a remote corner of it. Our Zhong Family ancestors were originally disciples of a Nascent Soul great sect in the Eastern Sea Cultivation World. After committing an offense, they were exiled here. This is a sea chart. Though the journey is fraught with peril, it is a path to survival. Go....”
If he could leave, he naturally would. Core Formation cultivators possessed long lifespans.
But Zhong Xuanli’s lifespan was nearly exhausted. After repeated great battles and several severe injuries, he was physically and ntally spent, with only a few good years left.
Rather than flee and linger on in misery, he would remain and fight to the death, buying ti for the Zhong Family’s elite to escape.
After this battle, the Azure Sea Sect would surely unify the Small Huan Sea. At that ti, they would certainly hunt down the remnants of the Heavenly Heart Linked Islands and the Zhong Family.
Remaining here would an becoming hunted like a rat crossing the street, unable to cultivate in peace, let alone form a core!
“I....”
Zhong Lingxiu took the storage pouch and suddenly knelt, knocking his head heavily against the ground. “I, Zhong Lingxiu, swear that if I form my core in the future, I will avenge the family!”
“Mm. The family’s secret tunnel is already under surveillance. Fortunately, there is still a short-distance teleportation array passed down by our ancestors that connects to White Bird Island. Go quickly....”
Zhong Xuanli waved his hand and watched the Zhong Family’s Qilin depart. His gaze then turned toward the Azure Sea Sect’s camp outside. “Co....Even in death, I will drag one of you down with !”
Several days later.
Above Taibai Island, Five-Tusked Great Ships hovered in the sky, blotting out the heavens.
Lightning flickered, nearly forming a continuous web.
Fang Qing stood upon the deck of one Five-Tusked Great Ship, Qin Ruxue beside him.
“Young Master, this is the thod of breaking an array with an array. Though Taibai Island is protected by the Third-Tier Profound Ice Heavenly Curtain Array, it has endured years of assault. The spiritual vein’s earth qi is nearly exhausted. After this battle, Taibai Island’s spiritual vein may even drop in tier....”
Qin Ruxue transmitted with divine sense, her tone tinged with regret.
To attack the island’s grand array, they had spared no effort, even employing thods to defile the earth veins.
But after the war, cleaning up would prove troubleso.
——
“Never mind that. When the battle begins, we will act together. No need to head toward the core—let us rely on fortune.”
Fang Qing’s heart stirred.
With Plum Blossom Divination to seek fortune and avoid calamity, his luck had always been excellent.
Rumble!
As the war horns sounded, the Five-Tusked Great Ships unleashed a bombardnt. Taibai Island shook violently.
“Not good!”
“Run!”
Even before the assault, the Azure Sea Sect had widely spread the news that the Sea-Covering Turtle was dead and the beast tide ended.
At this mont, not only the loose cultivators hired by the Zhong Family, but even Zhong Family cultivators themselves wished to flee.
Finally....
With the sound of shattering ice, the Zhong Family’s Third-Tier island-protecting grand formation collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
At the mont the formation broke, streaks of light scattered in all directions, dazzling in their variety.
But a scene of despair unfolded for the Zhong Family cultivators. In the heavens above, a web of lightning had appeared at so unknown ti.
Though only a Quasi–Third-Tier formation, it was enough to block the vast majority of Foundation Establishnt cultivators from escaping.
“Kill!”
“Avenge our senior brothers!”
“Haha, the unification of the Small Huan Sea begins today!”
Azure Sea Sect cultivators howled as they charged in, selecting their respective prey.
In the sky above, Zhong Xuanli stood with hands clasped behind his back. Strands of Ice-Soul Profound Light shot forth like blades.
“Ruan-surnad wench, Linghu’s hound....
....Who will co and et death?”
Ruan Zhixuan wore a green robe, her bearing transcendent. Her expression was grave. “He intends to stake his life....”
Linghu Jin stood beside her with a ring and sword artifact at his side, gritting his teeth. “I will take the main offensive....Senior Sister, ensure your own safety.”
Whoosh whoosh!
The divine abilities of the three Core Formation cultivators collided explosively, creating a vast empty zone. All Foundation Establishnt cultivators instinctively kept their distance.
Even so, a stray strand of Ice-Soul Profound Light or a sliver of Core Formation sword qi could spell the death and Dao dissolution of a Foundation Establishnt cultivator....
Fang Qing wore the Azure Spirit Inner Armor. Three turtle-shell shields floated around him, sealing him in airtight defense. Holding the Hundred Souls Banner, he descended upon one of the Zhong Family’s spiritual herb gardens.
Qin Ruxue followed cautiously behind him, spirit artifact in hand.
“These cultivators....they even uprooted immature spiritual herbs.”
Seeing the scene of devastation like locusts passing through, Qin Ruxue frowned, thinking Fang Qing’s chosen location might yield little harvest.
“No harvest is still fine. We’ve already earned enough.”
Fang Qing chuckled and ford a hand seal toward the Hundred Souls Banner.
Roar roar!
Over a dozen Second-Tier beast souls erged and began sweeping through the area, plundering spiritual herbs and slaughtering Qi Refining cultivators.
Though these demon souls had lost their physical vessels, they retained Second-Tier essence. For Qi Refining cultivators, encountering them ant certain death.
Soon, more than a dozen storage pouches were gathered.
Fang Qing swept them with divine sense and smiled. “See....there are still so gains. At least several sets of auxiliary materials for the Foundation Establishnt Pill, and together with the accumulated Second-Tier demon cores, that’s enough to open several dicinal pools.One must say, these Zhong Family cultivators can be sumd up in one word....fat.”
“Mm?”
Suddenly, Fang Qing’s expression changed as he commanded the demon souls to conduct a carpet search. “One demon soul has been destroyed?”
With a lift of his hand, the Sea-Transforming Pearl turned into a streak of blue light and struck a certain spot within the herb garden.
Crash!
A five-colored restriction appeared, startling Qin Ruxue. “This is? A Divine Treasury Restriction? Such a restriction prevents divine sense from detecting within—it must conceal sothing valuable!”
The restriction broke, revealing an underground tunnel from which cold qi seeped.
“Could this tunnel connect directly to the underground Third-Tier cold vein?”
Qin Ruxue’s eyes brightened. “Young Master....I’ve heard that the Zhong Family possesses an Ice-Soul Cave, said to produce Third-Tier Ice-Soul Frozen Heart. This spiritual item can assist False Pill cultivators in breaking through with their divine sense and is a Third-Tier spiritual item beneficial to Core Formation!”
As a Core Formation power, the Zhong Family naturally possessed resources for forming a core!
“Even if there truly were Third-Tier spiritual items, they would have been carried away by the Core Formation Ancestor or a Core Formation Seed. It would already be fortunate if this place left behind so First- or Second-Tier items.”
Fang Qing shook his head, not very optimistic. “However....a Second-Tier Ice-Soul Frozen Heart can likewise greatly enhance divine sense and assist in cultivating certain divine sense techniques.”
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