Chapter 400: Assembly

Just then, the communication array beside Han Li suddenly lit up, and a crimson figure appeared within it—none other than Hu Yan Daoist.

“Brother Li, come to Hailong Island immediately to assemble,” the tiny crimson figure said.

“Hailong Island… Senior, could the entrance to the Netherworld Cold Immortal Mansion truly be beneath Red Moon Island?” Han Li was slightly startled; this island was the same one where he had gathered for his first mission with the Wuchang Alliance.

“Oh, so you’ve seen that rumor circulating in the Alliance as well. It’s likely true. Hurry and join us,” Hu Yan Daoist urged noncommittally.

“Alright, I’ll go right away.” Han Li nodded, formed a hand seal to end the communication, put away the communication array disk, and flew down toward the sea surface.

Moments later, a cyan rainbow shot out from the sea, hovered in midair for a moment, then sped off in one direction at incredible speed.

…

On a stretch of sea in the Black Wind Sea, all the members of the Cangliu Palace stood on a large blue flying boat, speeding forward.

“Red Moon Island—neither remote nor close to the center of the Black Wind Sea—easy to overlook indeed.” Luo Qinghai stood at the bow, murmuring thoughtfully.

Before him floated a small blue light screen, densely dotted with islands scattered across the azure sea.

Behind him stood several people: besides a middle-aged man with a feathered crown, there were three others.

One was a fair-skinned scholar in his twenties or thirties, holding a blue feather fan, exuding an air of refinement.

Another was a stern-looking old man with a black beard, head lowered as if staring at his own feet, appearing taciturn and unsmiling.

The last was a man wearing a bamboo hat, its brim pulled low, obscuring his face; only a male silhouette was discernible.

His arms were severed at the shoulders, making his body resemble a human stick—a sight both absurd and faintly terrifying.

The others, including Nan Ke Meng and the bearded man, stood farther away.

“Palace Master, I once investigated Red Moon Island and found nothing unusual. Perhaps we were negligent,” the fair-skinned scholar said self-reproachfully.

“If the Northern Cold Immortal Palace deliberately set up the restrictions, ordinary methods would certainly fail to detect them. This is not your fault; do not blame yourselves. Though I don’t know who leaked this information, my intuition tells me it is true.” Luo Qinghai waved his hand and spoke slowly.

“Palace Master, do you mean…” The fair-skinned scholar was momentarily stunned, then spoke with some excitement.

The black-bearded old man, who had been looking down at his feet, also raised his head. Though his expression remained stern and silent, a glimmer of vitality appeared in his eyes. Even the bamboo hat of the hat-wearing man trembled slightly.

Nan Ke Meng and the others nearby, hearing Luo Qinghai’s words, also showed excitement.

Luo Qinghai said nothing more. He formed a hand seal and pointed, causing the blue flying boat to radiate intense light and speed up further, transforming into a massive blue phantom that raced ahead.

…

Above another stretch of sea in the Black Wind Sea, a group of gray-robed figures stood motionless in midair—the members of the Fuling Sect.

“Senior Brother, do you think this news is true or false?” the one-eyed man asked, looking at Feng Tiandu.

“Every rumor has its source. Since so many of you have found no clues, we might as well treat it as a last resort.” Feng Tiandu said expressionlessly.

“Senior Brother is absolutely right. But then again, this Immortal Mansion entrance is indeed somewhat strange…” The one-eyed man gave an awkward smile.

Before the one-eyed man could finish, Feng Tiandu suddenly raised his hand and waved his sleeve. A mass of black clouds emerged, enveloping everyone. A gust of eerie wind arose, carrying them all rolling forward, vanishing into the horizon in an instant.

…

Above a lush green island, a silver-robed woman hovered in midair—Qu Ling.

She wore a cyan mask on her face, from which bright cyan light emanated, forming a cyan light screen.

Qu Ling looked at the cyan light screen, a hint of a smile in her eyes.

Just then, a white light appeared on the distant horizon, flying swiftly toward her.

Qu Ling turned to look, removed the cyan mask from her face, and put it away.

The white light landed on the island, flickered twice, and dissipated, revealing the square-faced old man and his group, now with a few more people than before.

“Fellow Daoist Qu, have you heard the rumor? The location of the Immortal Mansion entrance has been revealed—it’s beneath Red Moon Island.” The square-faced old man stepped forward excitedly.

“I already know. This news has stirred up the Wuchang Alliance,” Qu Ling nodded.

“Do you think this information is reliable?” The square-faced old man lowered his voice slightly.

“Many in the Wuchang Alliance question it, but few have provided concrete evidence to refute it. So it might be true. Regardless, we should go to Red Moon Island and see for ourselves,” Qu Ling said noncommittally.

“It seems that’s the only option.” The square-faced old man nodded thoughtfully.

“However, I know little about Red Moon Island. Your Xue family was once a local power in the Black Wind Sea. Fellow Daoist Xueshan, you must know something about this island, right?” Qu Ling changed the subject.

“Fellow Daoist Qu, you may not know, but Red Moon Island was never very famous in the Black Wind Sea. The Xue family left the Black Wind Sea tens of thousands of years ago, so we know little about it. I’ve only heard that the island’s master was a renowned Earth Immortal with considerable cultivation. Later, for unknown reasons, he was killed, and the island has been abandoned ever since, with no one governing it,” the square-faced old man said after some thought.

“I see…” Qu Ling narrowed her eyes, appearing contemplative.

“Since we’ve decided to go, we should set off as soon as possible. If the news is true, we must not let other forces get ahead of us.” The square-faced old man grew a bit anxious after waiting for Qu Ling to remain silent.

“Alright, let’s go.” Qu Ling’s eyes flickered; she collected her thoughts and gave a soft assent.

Delighted, the square-faced old man turned and waved his hand, emitting a white light that enveloped the Xue family members, ready to fly off.

Just then, a breeze brushed past the old man’s back, followed by a chill in his lower abdomen and a sharp pain.

His strength rapidly drained away. He looked down.

A white snake head, as thick as a bowl, protruded from his abdomen, its mouth holding a tiny white figure whose features were identical to the old man’s.

The square-faced old man’s eyes bulged, his face filled with disbelief.

Though little spiritual light was visible on his body, he wore a form-fitting spiritual armor—a treasure he had painstakingly refined over hundreds of thousands of years. Yet before this snake, it was as fragile as paper.

A flash of white light deep within the white snake’s mouth, and a wisp of white flame shot out, striking the tiny infant figure.

Crack, crack!

The old man’s Nascent Soul was instantly frozen in white ice crystals.

The white snake opened its mouth wide and swallowed the old man’s Nascent Soul along with the ice crystals. Then it retracted its body and shot backward.

The square-faced old man grunted, his body pulled around by the snake.

Behind him stood Qu Ling, her face cold, a large white snake coiled around her. Its narrow, icy eyes were chilling, and its tongue flickered with a hissing sound.

“No!”

“Madwoman, what are you doing!”

“Ancestor…”

This series of events happened like lightning. Only now did the Xue family members react. Seeing their ancestor ambushed, they shouted angrily and rushed forward.

Spiritual treasures of various colors poured out instantly, converging into a massive torrent of spiritual light aimed at Qu Ling, as if they had been prepared.

Qu Ling sneered and waved her sleeve.

A mass of golden light shot out, transforming into a golden giant insect several hundred feet long, blocking the torrent of treasures.

“Wh… why…” The square-faced old man stared at Qu Ling, his strength rapidly fading, yet he still managed to ask with difficulty.

“I invited your Xue family only because I was unfamiliar with the Black Wind Sea and needed suitable scouts. Now that the Immortal Mansion entrance has appeared, you are no longer needed.” Qu Ling said indifferently, flicking her finger.

With a “puff,” a blood hole appeared in the square-faced old man’s forehead. His eyes dimmed, and he fell to the ground.

Qu Ling turned her gaze to the other side.

A barrage of spiritual treasures struck the golden beetle, producing a series of booming sounds and dazzling flashes. Yet all the treasures were easily deflected, leaving not even a white mark on the beetle’s shell.

However, after being struck several times, the golden beetle’s eyes showed anger. It swung its two front claws.

Two beams of crystalline light shot out, slashing at two of the spiritual treasures.

With a light “rip,” the two treasures, as if made of clay, were easily cut in two by the crystalline light and fell to the ground, their light extinguished.

The Xue family members were all stunned at the sight.

“Don’t be foolish! This woman is beyond our strength. Scatter and flee! Save whoever can!” The long-faced man roared, abandoning even his summoned treasure, turning into a white light and fleeing in one direction.

The others snapped out of their stupor and all turned to escape.

“Since you’re here, why leave? Stay here, all of you.” Qu Ling sneered, pointing a finger.

The golden beetle’s two front claws blazed with golden light and swung again.

Two thick beams of crystalline light, over ten zhang long, shot out, humming with vibration.

The two beams trembled slightly, then split into over a dozen smaller beams, each slashing toward the Xue family members.

The crystalline light moved with incredible speed, appearing behind them in an instant.

With several “puffs,” the protective spiritual treasures of the Xue family members were shattered like paper before the crystalline light.

Amid a series of pitiful screams, every Xue family member, along with their treasures, turned into specks of light and vanished without a trace.

Qu Ling smiled faintly, waved her hand, and a silver light wrapped around the square-faced old man’s corpse, pulling it to her.

“A Golden Immortal’s rich blood and qi make for excellent nourishment. Don’t worry, the best is yet to come.” The woman examined the corpse, nodded, put it away, then turned her gaze to the golden beetle and smiled.

With that, she recalled the beetle, transformed into a silver light, and shot away.