Half a month later, Qin Ruxue returned safely to the sect.
Inside the Mystic Jade Cave.
The woman wore a plain white silk skirt. The sash at her waist had loosened slightly, and as her silk stockings touched the ground, they revealed snow-white jade feet adorned with crimson nail polish.
Fang Qing sat casually, sipping a cup of spirit wine. "What excuse did you use to return this ti?"
"The Array Island Lord keeps tight control. Ordinary excuses would not have worked, so this consort had no choice but to forcibly circulate my qi and create the appearance of qi deviation. I was approved to return to the sect for recuperation."
Qin Ruxue's cheeks carried a trace of pallor, giving the impression that she had indeed suffered so damage to her vital energy.
If she did not have complete trust in Fang Qing, it would have been impossible for her to act on such an ambiguous ssage alone.
"I see."
Fang Qing nodded. He had already examined her earlier. The injuries were fabricated, so recovery would not be difficult. However, the damage to her ridians was real and would require several years of careful nurturing to heal properly.
"Young Master... what sort of danger is approaching?"
Qin Ruxue bit her lip. "If there are any clues, this consort can secretly notify the sect as I did last ti, so they can make preparations."
After all, she was a cultivator with independent thoughts. She had quite a few close friends in the sect, especially on Array Island.
If it was within her power, she naturally wanted to offer so assistance.
"I do not know."
Fang Qing shook his head. He truly had no idea.
The art of divination and calculation grew more precise the more clues one possessed about the matter at hand.
For an unforeseen disaster like this, being able to predict his own fortune and misfortune was already quite good.
He had heard that once one reached profound depths in the path of calculation, it might be possible to forcibly divine outcos even without clues by sacrificing one's own lifespan. Unfortunately, the backlash was enormous, and he had not reached such a realm.
"Never mind. In any case, just rest well for the next few years. I will bestow pills upon you. It will not delay your cultivation by much."
Fang Qing offered a few comforting words and let Qin Ruxue depart.
To outsiders she might appear as his Dao companion, or at the very least his favored beauty, but as a Foundation Establishnt cultivator of the sect, Qin Ruxue still received all the benefits she was entitled to, including her own second-rank cave residence and spirit fields.
At most, she would simply co to the Mystic Jade Cave to spend nights more frequently.
"What a pity... all these years of peaceful days are probably gone forever."
Fang Qing watched Qin Ruxue leave, then gazed at the sky and let out a quiet sigh.
Several months later.
Tianxin Island.
This island had once been the main island of the Tianxin Linked Islands.
The Tianxin Linked Islands had belonged to a Core Formation power. Even though they had suffered heavy damage during the great war and assault, with half the palaces and buildings destroyed, everything had now been fully repaired and even renovated. It had beco the cave residences for nurous Foundation Establishnt cultivators of the Blue Sea Sect.
In terms of foot traffic, it far surpassed the Zhong Family's Taibai Island.
After years of attacks, the spirit veins of Taibai Island had nearly dropped in grade. According to geomancer surveys, it would require many years of nurturing before they could gradually recover. During that period, naturally the fewer stationed cultivators the better.
Precisely because of this, when the Blue Sea Sect announced plans to transform Tianxin Island into a massive marketplace, rogue cultivators harbored no suspicions at all. Instead they were overjoyed.
That night the moon was dark and the wind fierce, with raging waves roaring.
Crash!
Suddenly!
A pitch-black astral wind dozens of zhang long slamd violently against the island-protecting grand array of Tianxin Island!
A piercing thunderous alarm blared!
"Enemy attack?"
"Soone is assaulting the array?!"
The Array Island Lord soared into the air. Seeing the scene and sensing the unfathomable spiritual power within that pitch-black gang wind, his face filled with horror. "A Core Formation cultivator? Quick... hurry and notify the Ancestor!"
Beside him, Elder Wanbao appeared gracefully. A talisman treasure floated in his hand. "I never expected that simply coming to deliver supplies and offer condolences would lead to run into this. Are these remnants of the Sea-Destroying Alliance?"
Crack!
The pitch-black astral wind clashed against the array power and dissipated, revealing a ferocious ancient ge halberd magical treasure within.
Elder Wanbao's expression grew solemn. He chanted incantations under his breath and activated the talisman treasure in his hand.
A flash of light!
The talisman treasure was entirely azure-blue, bearing a single circular ring upon it.
Once activated, it imdiately transford into a ferocious water dragon. The dragon held the circular ring treasure in its mouth and flew out beyond the array on its own to engage the ancient ge.
"Damn it! Where are the disciples of this island?"
The Array Island Lord roared in fury, nearly spitting blood in rage.
The original island-protecting grand array of Tianxin Island had been third-rank. Although it had been broken by the two Core Formation cultivators of the Blue Sea Sect and later repaired under his own hands, its power had slightly diminished. Still, it should have been sufficient to hold off an ordinary Core Formation cultivator for so ti.
The prerequisite was having enough disciples stationed at every array eye!
But ever since the destruction of the Tianxin Chain Islands and the Zhong Family, the sect's disciples had grown far too lax. Many had slipped off the island to play around, only to find themselves trapped outside the array at this critical mont!
"Haha... Blue Sea Sect dogs! Today Old Zhong will have his revenge!"
The voice rang out from within the ancient ge.
A white-robed brute with a centipede-like scar twisting across his face laughed maniacally. The Ice Soul Cold Light in his hand condensed into a crystal-clear blade that flashed past the head of a Blue Sea Sect cultivator outside the array.
Puff!
The head soared high, trailing a fountain of blood. Even as it fell, the eyes remained wide open, staring fixedly toward the array in unyielding death.
Not far away, several flying puppets continued to harass the sect's Foundation Establishnt cultivators.
When one of those cultivators saw the array fully activated and sealing off the interior from the exterior, despair crept across his face. He turned and flew toward Verdant Jade Island.
Beyond Tianxin Island, a large number of high-tier Sea-Destroying Alliance cultivators had gathered at so unknown point. Even many notorious rogue bandit cultivators were present, all staring greedily at the array as if awaiting a lavish feast.
Crash!
The water dragon let out a mournful cry before exploding into countless droplets. Flecks of blue light scattered like fireflies fading into the night.
Clearly, Elder Wanbao's talisman treasure ultimately fell short of a true Core Formation cultivator's magical treasure.
"Hehe... so this is the strongest one inside the array?"
A hoarse, grating voice rang out. "In that case, this one will gladly accept it."
The words had barely fallen when silver light flashed.
A peculiar silver talisman was hurled forth. Countless tadpole-like silver flas writhed across its surface, faintly distorting the void and tearing open a rift at the array's weakest point.
"Not good! A third-rank array-breaking talisman?!"
The Array Island Lord cried out in alarm. "Such a high-grade talisman cannot exist in the Minor Huan Sea. You are an outsider cultivator!"
A third-rank array-breaking talisman, when struck at a weak point in a third-rank grand array, could briefly stall the array's operation, tear open a temporary gap for escape, or create a short-lived passage!
At this mont, as the silver passage opened, a black-robed Core Formation cultivator descended upon Tianxin Island, piloting an ancient halberd magical treasure with overwhelming force!
The Array Island Lord's face filled with utter despair. If he were a third-rank array master, he might still have a chance to fight a Core Formation cultivator by borrowing the array's power.
But he was rely a second-rank superior array master! Against this clearly array-savvy demonic Core Formation ancestor, he had almost no power to resist!
"Go!"
Elder Wanbao's expression turned ferocious. His face flushed crimson as his mana surged violently, entering the pseudo-core level. He had evidently activated so forbidden technique that burned through his body's potential.
"Today, none of you will leave."
The black-robed Core Formation cultivator swept his ancient halberd. A pitch-black blade of light several zhang long materialized and instantly sliced across Elder Wanbao's chest. Its montum undiminished, it struck one of the array foundations.
After a violent quake that shook the mountains, that foundation exploded. Countless array flag fragnts scattered outward, mingled with severed limbs and broken remains of cultivators.
Outside, the many cultivators watching saw the Tianxin Island array slowly dissipate. Cheers erupted as they surged forward.
Tonight on Verdant Jade Island would clearly be far from peaceful.
Fang Qing had just entered ditation when urgent bell tolls rang in his ears. His divine sense swept out and caught sight of nurous transmission talismans fluttering chaotically outside his cave residence.
He caught one and was imdiately startled. "Tianxin Island is under attack? The sect urgently summons all Foundation Establishnt cultivators to the Vast Sea Hall for discussion?"
Fang Qing sighed, feeling as though a heavy stone had finally dropped to the ground. He rode his escape light and arrived at the Vast Sea Hall.
By now, dozens of Foundation Establishnt cultivators had already gathered inside the hall, all looking toward the figure seated at the highest seat: a middle-aged scholar-like cultivator nad Shi Tiexin.
After Sect Master Linghu's passing, he had been selected as the temporary sect master.
"Sect Master Senior Brother, what exactly has happened?"
A red-faced Foundation Establishnt elder could no longer hold back and asked.
"I do not know the full details. I only received the highest-level alert transmission from Tianxin Island. Martial Uncle Ruan has already set out to investigate."
Shi Tiexin's expression was grave. "We will guard this island. Activate the Seven Mysteries Blue Wave Array to maximum power. Enforce island lockdown—no outsiders are permitted entry."
"Understood, Sect Master's command. However... most of our array masters are on Tianxin Island."
The Foundation Establishnt cultivators exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating. Finally, all eyes turned to Qin Ruxue.
Her face was sowhat pale. "This humble one is willing to shoulder this heavy responsibility."
At this mont, among the sect's array masters, she possessed the highest cultivation and attainnt.
The many Foundation Establishnt cultivators discussed ergency response asures for a while longer. With no mood to return to their residences, they simply sat cross-legged in the Vast Sea Hall to wait.
Dawn arrived.
The sky brightened. Purple qi rose in the east as faint morning light spread.
A specially made transmission talisman turned into a streak of firelight and rushed into the Vast Sea Hall, landing in Shi Tiexin's hand.
His expression changed drastically. "Last night... the Sea-Destroying Alliance launched a massive assault on Tianxin Island. The array was broken in a single night. Tianxin Island ran with rivers of blood. Elders Wanbao, Xuan Zhen, and others have all perished in battle."
Hiss...
Gasps filled the Vast Sea Hall.
"Tianxin Island was protected by a grand array. How could it fall so easily? Could there be a traitor? How could the Sea-Destroying Alliance possibly have the strength to massacre Tianxin Island? Are they colluding with bandit cultivators? Which bandits would have such audacity?"
An elderly white-haired Foundation Establishnt cultivator stroked his beard in confusion.
"Within the Sea-Destroying Alliance... there is suspected to be a Core Formation demonic cultivator."
Shi Tiexin sighed, making no attempt to conceal the information—it could not be hidden anyway.
"What? When did another Core Formation demonic cultivator appear in our Minor Huan Sea?"
"There have been no recent Core Formation heavenly phenona. Could it be an outsider?"
"Damn it. It must be remnants of the Zhong Family or the Tianxin Linked Islands. They fled along the myriad-mile sea route to the Eastern Sea cultivation world and spread rumors to lure a demonic Core Formation cultivator here!"
"Even so... the Minor Huan Sea is a spiritually barren place. Why would it attract a Core Formation cultivator? If they were hired, do those two packs of holess dogs even have that many spirit stones?"
The Foundation Establishnt cultivators debated heatedly.
Fang Qing's heart jolted. 'The Minor Huan Sea cultivation world is rely a poor, remote corner. Ordinary Core Formation cultivators would not even glance at it. Could the secret realm's existence have leaked?'
Although the Blue Sea Sect had always kept that information tightly guarded, the other two major Core Formation powers were no fools. They might have guessed or found clues.
Moreover, at the mont of extermination, even without any treasure here, those remnants would spread exaggerated rumors just to ensure the Blue Sea Sect suffered.
He simply had not expected that such vague rumors would actually draw in a demonic cultivator.
While Fang Qing pondered, another transmission talisman streaked through the air.
Shi Tiexin's face grew even uglier. "Latest news: Elder Tianding went out to escort disciples and was ambushed by Sea-Destroying Alliance cultivators. He is now severely injured."
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