Chapter 985: Three Flowers, Red Lotus, and a Few Lotus Blossoms

Tianya Island, the Council Hall, was shrouded in gloom.

The two island masters of Tianya and Mingyue sat deep within the hall, facing the assembly.

Along the east and west sides of the hall stood two rows of seats, where the major island masters of the Sea Realm sat uneasily, whispering among themselves.

It had been several minutes since Lu Men’s Xue Fengchen began his breakthrough; half of the Misty Rain Lake was now veiled in white mist.

Tianya Island, standing at the lake’s center, was also wreathed in faint fog.

“Island Master Tianya!” A middle-aged woman with her hair high-piled frowned, “Such intense divine power—Lu Men is breaking through a major realm!”

If this continues, they’ll misunderstand us. The Jingting Mountain bastards might launch an early attack on our Qianzhou Alliance!”

“The Second Flower Island Master speaks truth,” another middle-aged woman rose from her seat. “We’re not ready for war.”

The two speaking women were both island masters of the Zhenhua Faction.

The names of the Seven Zhenhua Islands are easy to remember—they’re simply numbered from First Flower to Seventh Flower.

These two island masters carried noble bearing and graceful poise; their sorrowful faces were especially pitiable.

“Indeed.”

“Must we really fight now?” Murmurs rose from below.

Island Master Tianya fell silent for a moment, looking at the two women: “Second Flower Island Master and Fifth Flower Island Master—what do you propose?”

Second Flower Island Master opened her mouth, then bit it back.

Fifth Flower Island Master spoke: “Lu Men is powerful—they can break through anywhere. Here, they might be disturbed.”

If they leave, they’ll break through smoothly, and won’t drag disaster onto our Qianzhou Alliance.”

“Hmph.” A cold laugh echoed suddenly.

Fifth Flower Island Master frowned, turning: “Red Lotus Island Master—what’s your opinion?”

Unlike the Zhenhua Faction, the Jianlian Seven Islands are named by color.

This Red Lotus Island Master was Pei Hong, clad in a crimson robe—the very island master once saved by Lu Men.

He glared coldly at the noble, untouchable middle-aged woman, speaking bluntly:

“Fifth Flower Island Master, what a clever scheme you’ve devised!”

“What do you mean by that?” Fifth Flower Island Master’s expression darkened.

Pei Island Master returned her glare: “Lord Lu gave us aid without asking for return—he stood by us when Lu Men guarded our shores. You said nothing then.”

Now that one of them is breaking through and needs protection, you leap up to drive them away?”

“How dare you!” Fifth Flower Island Master’s slender brows shot up. “Don’t slander me—I never meant that!”

Moving Lu Men elsewhere benefits them more!”

They can break through cleanly—no need to suffer Jingting Mountain’s harassment!”

“You—” Pei Island Master pointed at Fifth Flower Island Master, but a woman beside him quickly restrained him.

“Red Lotus, say less,” the woman pressed down on his arm.

Pei Island Master stared, incredulous, at his own faction’s Blue Lotus Island Master: “You… you agree with this too?”

Blue Lotus Island Master’s eyes flickered; she smiled to defuse tension: “The situation is urgent—our Qianzhou Alliance could be invaded at any moment. Let’s speak calmly, no quarrels.”

Pei Island Master: ???

Listen to the words. Listen to the tone.

Taken alone, the woman’s words held no fault.

But at this moment, stopping Pei Island Master—

Everyone understood her meaning.

“You’re unreasonable!” Pei Island Master flung his sleeve, shaking off her hand.

The hall fell into brief silence.

Fifth Flower Island Master spoke again, her words sharper now: “Our strength is limited—we must remain at full strength to protect Lord Yun Qianzhou!”

If we suffer losses here, what will we do when Lord Yun ascends to the Heavenly Realm?”

“Indeed.”

“That’s logical.”

“Though unpleasant, letting Lu Men break through elsewhere benefits both sides.”

On the main seat, Tianya and Mingyue listened in silence, exchanging a glance.

The Tianluan Faction are mostly kind-hearted.

Tianya and Mingyue had followed Lord Yun Qianzhou for years; chosen as his right and left arms, their natures naturally aligned.

Deep down, they did not wish to drive Lu Men away.

“Stick your head out, it’s a sword. Pull it back, it’s still a sword~” A young woman’s voice rang out.

Her tone was crisp; the hall fell quiet.

All turned to see a beautiful woman, twenty-six or twenty-seven.

She wore a pale yellow long dress, her hair coiled in an ancient flying-heaven bun—like a figure stepped from an ancient painting.

Among this assembly of middle-aged and elderly island masters, a woman under thirty stood out as remarkably young.

Fifth Flower Island Master frowned: “Third Flower Sister—what do you mean by that?”

The Jianlian Faction had already produced a traitor in Blue Lotus Island Master.

Now the Zhenhua Faction had one too?

Third Flower Island Master had peach-blossom eyes; she gazed lightly at Fifth Flower Island Master and smiled: “Jingting Mountain will come eventually, won’t they?”

What difference does it make—fighting now or later?”

Fifth Flower Island Master frowned: “More time means better preparation! And—”

She paused, hesitated, then continued: “And Lu Men can keep weakening Jingting Mountain’s strength!

This great battle should be delayed as long as possible.”

Third Flower Island Master smiled, her peach-blossom eyes twinkling mischievously:

“You know Lu Men has weakened Jingting Mountain’s strength too?”

Hearing her tone, Fifth Flower Island Master’s face darkened.

Third Flower Island Master elegantly crossed her legs; her embroidered cloth shoes lightly brushed the hem of her pale yellow dress:

“Lu Men destroyed Lingfeng Hall, then Huxu Hall—great service rendered.”

Lord Lu, guided by righteousness, even brought the great masters of Wu Jifeng to jointly guard our islands and unite against the enemy.”

To drive Lu Men away now? That’s heartless.”

“Heh.” A hoarse laugh echoed; all turned.

There stood the withered, elderly Lotus Island Master, leaning on her cane, her cloudy eyes sweeping the assembly: “Don’t imagine Lord Lu as too gentle.”

Don’t take Lord Lu Tianjiao’s full-hearted aid as your due.”

He destroyed Lingfeng Hall. He destroyed Huxu Hall.”

He could destroy our Qianzhou Alliance island by island.”

Her hoarse words fell—and the hall fell deathly silent.

Among a hundred people, a hundred different natures.

Not everyone understands gratitude.

Those who take advantage are everywhere.

To the Qianzhou Alliance, Lu Ran seemed almost “saintly.”

He seemed to want nothing?

Hearing of Qianzhou Alliance’s plight, he immediately offered full support!

He contacted Wu Jifeng, and for our safety, led the Lu Men warriors into repeated life-and-death battles against Jingting Mountain’s forces.

In this cruel Shengling Mountain, such a person—

Everyone could only assume Lu Ran was a “Great Summer Tianjiao,” driven by fierce duty and responsibility.

Or perhaps they thought he sought to curry favor with Lord Yun, willing to anger Jingting Mountain?

But now, withered Lotus Island Master’s words reminded them: Lu Ran is an ally—but also an extremely dangerous one!

He is young, approachable—but is Lord Lu truly easy to handle?

Do you think it’s possible?

Would you dare try?

Summon him at will, dismiss him at will?

If you do, think carefully—what will the consequences be?

“Cough.” The leader of the Bihe Seven Islands, Grey Lotus Island Master, rose: “Lu Men gaining another Sea Realm great one benefits us.”

The warrior has already begun his breakthrough, entering the body-nourishing phase. Changing location now risks failure.”

No island master here wants to lose an ally—or face Lu Men’s wrath.”

Her words rang clear—and the hall remained silent.

“Yes,” said Lotus Island Master beside her, her eyes soft as water as she gazed at the two leaders: “If Lord Yun were here, he would never allow us to drive away our benefactor.”

“Exactly!”

“Right!” Gold Lotus Island Master and Rain Lotus Island Master chimed in.

Compared to Jianlian and Zhenhua, the Bihe Faction was clearly more united.

“Good.” Island Master Tianya finally spoke: “Follow our original defense plan. All islands coordinate. Protect Lu Men with the same level of security we reserve for Lord Yun.”

"Lord of Tianya Island."

"This matter is settled—no more talk!" Lord of Tianya Island waved his hand forcefully, "Jingting Mountain will inevitably fight us—abandon all illusions."

"This battle concerns life and death—perhaps, this is the one."

"Hmph." The Lord of Wuhua Island snorted inwardly and sat back down.

"Hehe~" A delicate laugh echoed.

The Lord of Wuhua Island flew into a rage—she was a Great Expert of the Sea Realm, and to have her face undermined was already infuriating.

Who dared mock her?

She turned her head—and there was that little fox spirit!

She dressed up extravagantly every day, constantly changing her hairstyle and hairpins.

Especially those peach-blossom eyes—how many men’s souls had they stolen!

The Lord of Sanhua Island blinked playfully at the middle-aged woman, whose face had turned red, and laughed:

"Sister Wuhua, you’d better get along well with everyone~"

The Lord of Wuhua Island’s face darkened.

The Lord of Sanhua Island covered her mouth and giggled: "If what Sister proposed today reaches Lord Lu’s ears—"

The Lord of Wuhua Island’s expression froze instantly!

True, she was a Great Expert of the Sea Realm, a being who could decide the fate of all others; most on Qianzhou Island had to kneel before her words.

But since Lu Ran came to the Qianzhou Alliance, how many Sea Realm Great Experts had he killed?

And all of them were disciples of the Second-Rank Divine—Dongting Sect!

Divine One Chenhua was a Third-Rank Divine, and even more so of a defensive and supportive lineage.

"Send for Master He and Lord Lu to come to the island for a meeting," Lord of Tianya Island ignored them and swiftly issued orders, "Each sect leaves one representative; everyone else return to your islands immediately and go on full alert!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

(End of Chapter)