Chapter 130: The Tide Turns (For the Silver Alliance Leader! )
Chapter 130: The Tide Turns (For the Silver Alliance Leader! )
Several days later.
People from the Zhong family arrived to discuss.
Peach Blossom Island, with its fluttering petals and riot of purple and red, offered quite a pleasant view.
“Zhong Wan'gu, for being able to persuade these three late Qi Refinement cultivators on Peach Blossom Island to submit, you have rendered a great service. . . ”
An old cultivator addressed Zhong Wan'gu.
This old cultivator was decrepit and ancient-looking, dressed in a profound black flying fish magic robe, his cultivation strikingly at the late Qi Refinement stage!
They were all accompanying the family head, Zhong Tianchou, and were arranged in the guest reception courtyard.
The family head of a cultivation family actually held limited power, acting more like a chief steward for the clan, often filled by a cultivator who wasn't particularly outstanding in talent but excelled at managing miscellaneous affairs.
And for him, as the Zhong family head, to come personally showed the importance they placed on Peach Blossom Island.
“I hope everything goes smoothly this time. . . ”
Zhong Wan'gu's expression held a hint of gloom.
His early life as a greeter had exposed him to all facets of human nature, teaching him that many things weren't as simple as they appeared.
Just then, the formation roared to life, trapping their entire group.
“Oh no! ”
Zhong Wan'gu instinctively conjured a defensive magic artifact: “Peach Blossom Island must be up to no good this time! ”
The courtyard gate opened, and Fang Xi, holding his Green Reaping Sword, walked out.
“Like stars, we rarely meet, and when we do, we clash. ”
His utterly cold gaze swept over everyone present, lingering briefly on Zhong Wan'gu. Then, the Green Reaping Sword in his hand transformed into a streak of azure light, shooting forth like an azure dragon. The sword light swirled, instantly engulfing a Zhong family cultivator. . .
“How dare you! ”
Zhong Wan'gu roared furiously, and five scarlet pills flew through the air, landing on his 'Azure Origin Shield' and exploding one after another.
As the ground trembled and smoke swirled, Fang Xi transformed into a black shadow and lunged forth, the Green Reaping Sword landing in his hand. In an instant, it flashed across Zhong Wan'gu's neck.
“Gurgle. . . I can’t. . . ”
Blood foamed at Zhong Wan'gu's lips as he clutched his neck, collapsing limply to the ground.
“He’s late Qi Refinement! ”
“And a superior-grade magic artifact flying sword and shield! ”
“Run! ”
...
The Zhong family cultivators within the small courtyard roared in anger, but soon fell silent.
Fang Xi walked out, wiping the Green Reaping Sword in his hand.
Outside the door, Lu Guo looked at the corpses strewn on the ground and suddenly felt very, very cold all over.
Rumble!
Not far away, the Water Moon Great Array activated at full power, a moonlit glow enveloping the entire pavilion.
Faint sounds of explosions came from within the pavilion, along with a man's furious roar: “You Peach Blossom Island are bringing about your own destruction. . . ”
“It’s the Zhong family head! ”
A Qi Refinement cultivator nearby whispered.
This person was a cultivator sent from Black Sand Island's Mo family for support. He looked only sixteen or seventeen, yet at such a young age, he already possessed a third-level Qi Refinement cultivation.
More importantly, Fang Xi also felt his face was familiar!
“No need to worry. The Island Master is a Qi Refinement Perfected cultivator, and with the great array and her late Qi Refinement stage disciple assisting, she will surely handle it. . . ”
Fang Xi casually replied, then asked, “Who are you? ”
“This junior is Mo Xiaoyao, greetings, Senior! ”
Mo Xiaoyao quickly bowed, answering with extreme deference.
“Mo Xiaoyao? A good name. . . ”
A faint smile played on Fang Xi's lips as he suddenly found the source of that familiar feeling: “What relation is Mo Qingyi to you? ”
“He is my ancestor! ”
Mo Xiaoyao paused, but then quickly replied.
His ancestor was just a mortal, who had lived and struggled hard in Treasure Ship Market, marrying many mortal women to continue their lineage.
Finally, among his grandchildren, he discovered Mo Xiaoyao, a child with spiritual roots, and was immediately overjoyed, investing a large amount of resources to cultivate him, leading to his current cultivation.
Then came the annihilation of Black Sand Island's Mo family, the new family head rebuilding the Mo family, and calling for many branch families to return, granting them direct lineage status.
Though Mo Qingyi was already bedridden with illness at the time, he decided to risk the entire family on a gamble, ordering Mo Xiaoyao to lead his clansmen back to rebuild Black Sand Island's Mo family!
“Senior. . . could it be you know my ancestor? ” Mo Xiaoyao asked, a little excited.
If this powerful late Qi Refinement expert was connected to his family, his standing within Black Sand Island's Mo family could be greatly elevated.
After all, the current Mo family didn't even have a late Qi Refinement cultivator overseeing them!
“I once visited the market; you could say we had a fleeting encounter. ”
Fang Xi looked at Mo Xiaoyao, whose face was strikingly similar to Mo Qingyi's, feeling deeply nostalgic.
Mortals placed their hopes of longevity in their bloodlines. Looking at it now, perhaps there was some merit to it after all?
Just then, another loud sound echoed from not far away.
Amidst intense magical light, the entire pavilion collapsed with a roar!
The great array dissipated, the Water Moon vanished without a trace, and a figure stumbled out, flying—it was Ruan Dan!
“The Island Master has ordered the entire island to be sealed! ”
Ruan Dan's chest was stained crimson with blood, clearly indicating she was also severely injured, yet her voice carried the exhilaration of having slain her enemy: “The Zhong family head is dead! ”
It must have been the Zhong family who had instructed the silver-armored figure to attack Peach Blossom Island back then!
This could be considered her small measure of vengeance for her severed arm!
“Yes, Sir! ”
The crowd dared not neglect their duties and quickly returned to their respective positions.
Fang Xi nodded to Ruan Dan and returned to Emerald Cliff.
Splash!
Just then, a great green shadow flew out of the lake, ceaselessly blowing bubbles.
It was the Great Green Fish, its eyes rolling back in terror!
Through Divine Consciousness, it could already convey some simple meanings.
“A powerful cultivator is battling in the lake near Peach Blossom Island? Turning the world upside down? ”
“As I expected, the Zhong family wouldn't completely trust Peach Blossom Island. The family head might have just been a decoy; there must have been Foundation Establishment cultivators accompanying them in secret! ”
Fang Xi immediately entered the Small Cloud Rain Array and activated it at full power.
He then walked into the underground grotto.
‘The Small Cloud Rain Array might not be able to withstand a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s Divine Consciousness scan. . . ’
‘But as long as Divine Consciousness sweeps through the grotto, I’ll definitely detect it. ’
Beneath the Demonic Tree, Fang Xi sat cross-legged, quietly waiting for the outcome.
...
Three days later.
A shocking piece of news spread like wildfire throughout Myriad Islands Lake!
Zhong Tianchou, the Zhong family head, had died at the hands of Peach Blossom Island's Island Master!
Rumor had it that Peach Blossom Island's Island Master was courageous and resourceful, employing a feigned surrender stratagem that lured Zhong Tianchou willingly to his death!
The rumors circulating in secret were even more outrageous, with all sorts of claims.
For example, Zhong Tianchou falling victim to a honey trap, or that Peach Blossom Island had truly surrendered, but it was discovered in advance by the higher echelons.
Among the most exaggerated claims was that the Zhong family had actually been prepared for this, with even two Foundation Establishment ancestors secretly coming along, ready to wipe out Peach Blossom Island in one fell swoop.
However, unexpectedly, at the critical moment, the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance’s Foundation Establishment guest elder — Ye San Ren — made a move!
This Ye San Ren had previously only been in the early Foundation Establishment stage and rarely showed himself, but this time, his cultivation had surprisingly risen to mid-stage Foundation Establishment, almost completely suppressing the two Zhong family Foundation Establishment cultivators!
After a fierce battle, the two Zhong family ancestors, seeing they could not gain the upper hand, could only retreat reluctantly.
...
“After this battle, the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance's cultivator army also took advantage of the Zhong family's chaos after losing their head to launch a counterattack. It is said they successfully recaptured Spirit Sky Island, a second-order spirit vein island, and even invaded the Zhong family's original lake territory. . . ”
Emerald Cliff.
Lu Guo stood before Fang Xi, delivering his final summary.
“Indeed. . . I didn’t expect this ‘Ye San Ren,’ who was reportedly only invited as a guest elder, to actually step in when needed, and to have secretly advanced to mid-stage Foundation Establishment! ”
Fang Xi also sighed with emotion.
Mid-stage Foundation Establishment and early Foundation Establishment might seem to be only one minor realm apart, but in reality, a mid-stage cultivator can take on two or three early-stage cultivators!
A mid-stage cultivator can achieve overwhelming suppression when facing an early-stage cultivator alone.
Therefore, this time, the two early Foundation Establishment ancestors of the Zhong family not only fled in defeat but might have even suffered some vital essence damage.
“Hmph, I think this Ye San Ren also had a bit of selfishness. Otherwise, why would he stand by and watch Yu Lingzi die? Only stepping in at the critical moment to turn the tide! ”
Wei Yi Xi, who was listening nearby, said indignantly.
“Wei Yi Xi? ! ”
Fang Xi glared at his good-for-nothing niece: “Is the privacy of a great Foundation Establishment cultivator something you can talk about? If you were overheard, not even nine lives would be enough for you to die! ”
“Uncle, I was just saying it privately. ”
Wei Yi Xi stuck out her tongue: “Even Sister Ruan Dan said that ‘Ye San Ren’ probably just couldn’t stand other Foundation Establishment cultivators coming to share the Thirty-Six Islands’ offerings. . . ”
“Still talking? ”
Fang Xi made to hit her, which finally scared Wei Yi Xi into silence.
He looked at Lu Guo: “You may continue. . . ”
“After this, the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance's cultivator army also took advantage of the Zhong family's disarray after losing their head to launch a counterattack. It is said they successfully recaptured Spirit Sky Island, a second-order spiritual vein island, and even pushed into the Zhong family’s original lake territory. . . ”
“Rogue cultivators on Peach Blossom Island were also attracted and joined the Thirty-Six Islands Alliance, with some even shouting slogans about attacking Dragon Fish Island! ”
Lu Guo wasn't sure what his feelings were.
The changes in the cultivation world were truly too fast.
The Thirty-Six Islands Alliance had been on the verge of collapse just moments before, yet now they were achieving continuous victories.
Dragon Fish Island was the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan's main base, with millions of mortals on the island, and even a second-order, superior-grade spiritual vein!
With the island-protecting great array they had painstakingly built over generations, as long as there was a Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding it, even a late Foundation Establishment cultivator would find it difficult to break through.
Fang Xi was quite speechless about this slogan.
‘However, did the faction Ruan Xing Ling was secretly colluding with make a move in this operation? ’
Fang Xi knew that a battle between Foundation Establishment cultivators had occurred near Peach Blossom Island.
The Great Green Fish had even witnessed it firsthand!
‘To be able to fight one against two, and even injure two major Foundation Establishment cultivators, besides Ye San Ren being a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator himself. . . perhaps there was another Foundation Establishment cultivator assisting him? ’
‘I didn't expect the offensive and defensive situation to change so much in just a few years. ’
Fang Xi found these changes quite interesting.
Indeed, if you live long enough, you'll see everything.
Now, with the Thirty-Six Islands' counterattack, many rogue cultivators on Peach Blossom Island were attracted by the alliance army's high bounties and rewards, joining the allied forces, which made the island much quieter.
Fang Xi, however, wished for nothing more than this. Peach Blossom Island becoming a secure rear base, safe from worry, made it convenient for him to plant his tree.
...
That night.
Alpha One, hidden within the peach wood, once again saw that faint streak of light.
“It wasn't for nothing that I never recalled Alpha One, letting him remain on stakeout; finally, I've reaped a reward. ”
Fang Xi's eyes lit up in Emerald Cliff. He immediately piloted the Black Feather Boat, flying out of the great array.
He landed his escape light several li away from Mirror Moon Lake, covertly using movement techniques to approach.
Before long, he arrived in the peach forest, concealed his aura, and waited for that streak of light to fly out. . .
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