Chapter 149: Secret Alliances

Qin Ming paused to think briefly.

His Moonwatch Island lies far in the far north, and he rarely leaves it.

Any news always arrives via Wu Jiang.

But now, such a major event has occurred.

He didn't know whether it might affect his Moonwatch Island.

Qin Ming decided he must go himself to learn the current situation.

"Then let's go!"

Saying this, Qin Ming and Wu Jiang mounted their flying magic artifact and flew toward the Seventy-Two Islands' Alliance.

Several hours later.

Qin Ming and Wu Jiang arrived at Phoenix Perch Island, where the Alliance was based.

This spirit island sat at the center of the entire spiritual energy Archipelago, its area five to six times larger than Moonwatch Island.

It also housed a second-rank high-grade spirit vein.

As Qin Ming and Wu Jiang approached the airspace nearby, numerous cultivators hurried past on various flying artifacts.

Ships from spirit island families dotted the waters around the island.

Clearly, the massacre of entire islands had caused a major uproar within the spiritual energy Archipelago's cultivation world.

Nearly every spirit island family, big or small, had sent representatives.

Qin Ming and Wu Jiang landed near the outer edge of Phoenix Perch Island and joined the queue to present their invitation scrolls for inspection.

At that moment.

Several young cultivators approached, dressed in the attire of the Yu family of Green Cang Island.

One thin young cultivator, at the ninth level of Qi Refining, mocked Qin Ming and Wu Jiang: "Oh? Isn't this Big Spirit Cultivator Wu?"

"I heard you slinked back from the Yunze Wilds, then hid in some forgotten corner to play farmer."

"Hahaha!"

Wu Jiang's face darkened at the sight of them. "Yu Tao, don't push your luck!"

"What? Can't we exchange a few words?"

"If you can't even grow crops properly, why not come to my family to learn how to catch spirit fish?"

Yu Tao casually glanced at Qin Ming standing before Wu Jiang and pointed at him. "Is this the guy teaching you to farm? Doesn't look like much."

"Ah~ No future at all!"

With that, he shook his head and led his men inside.

Wu Jiang stared at their backs, teeth clenched tight.

Qin Ming paid no mind to these petty fools. He asked calmly, "Does this Yu family of Green Cang Island have any history with you?"

"Yes," Wu Jiang replied honestly. "Our spirit island borders Green Cang Island closely; we've had minor disputes before, but always kept the peace."

"But a few days ago, Yu family patriarch Yu Wanheng, who had been stuck at Qi Refining peak for over a decade, somehow obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill—and broke through to Foundation Establishment."

"Since then, the Yu family has become arrogant, targeting neighboring spirit islands at every turn."

Qin Ming nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.

Half an incense stick later.

Qin Ming and Wu Jiang entered the Alliance's assembly hall.

Inside a vast hall.

It was already packed with people.

Only spirit island masters who received invitation scrolls were allowed to sit on the chairs inside.

All other cultivators stood behind, merely listening, with no right to speak.

Soon after.

Over a hundred leaders from the various spirit islands of the spiritual energy Archipelago arrived.

All were Qi Refining families.

The highest cultivation among them was Qi Refining peak.

These cultivators, deeply shaken by the massacre, chattered incessantly in the hall, each fearing for their own safety.

"Poor old Lin family of Kongdong Island—apparently, they were holding a birthday banquet for the patriarch when it happened."

"Even clan members away on business returned—and none survived."

"I heard a cultivator who witnessed it from afar say this massacre was carried out by a gang of ruthless bandit cultivators."

"Supposedly, there were even Foundation Establishment bandits among them."

"What? Could they still be here?"

"Sigh! That's exactly what I fear," Qin Ming realized, piecing together the general situation.

Soon after.

Several cultivators entered the hall, led by an elderly man in his fifties; Yu Tao, who had mocked Wu Jiang earlier, followed respectfully behind.

Also present was Yu Pinghai, whom Qin Ming had previously repelled and driven off near Dragon Scale Island.

"That man is Yu Wanheng, lord of Green Cang Island," Wu Jiang whispered to Qin Ming, leaning close.

At that moment, Yu Pinghai spotted Qin Ming in the crowd; their eyes met directly.

He glared darkly, stepped forward, and whispered a few words to Yu Wanheng.

Yu Wanheng's gaze lingered on Qin Ming for a moment, then took a seat at the very front, center of the hall.

When nearly everyone had arrived.

Three Foundation Establishment cultivators entered from the left corridor and took seats at the head of the hall.

They were the three top leaders of the Seventy-Two Islands' Alliance.

Vice-Leader Li Yuanqing was among them.

To the right sat an ancient, frail old woman, at early Foundation Establishment.

In the central seat sat a middle-aged man with a square face, radiating the spiritual pressure of mid-Foundation Establishment.

He was the Alliance's leader, Huo Qianqiu.

As the three Foundation Establishment cultivators appeared, their overwhelming spiritual pressure silenced the crowd instantly.

Huo Qianqiu's sharp gaze swept slowly across the hall, then he spoke in a deep tone: "I assume you all know what happened last night."

"I can tell you this: the destruction of the Lin family of Kongdong Island and the Tian family of Yuishui Island was not as simple as you imagine."

"Now, our Alliance seeks to unite every spirit island here, to cooperate and jointly investigate this case, to resist outside enemies."

At once, a cultivator in the front row raised his hand. After Huo Qianqiu nodded, he asked: "Master Huo, if that's so, can you reveal the full details of this incident?"

"Though we lack sufficient evidence, current intelligence suggests the bandit massacres are linked to the Zhao family among the Seven Great Powers," Huo Qianqiu said seriously.

The moment he spoke, the hall erupted in uproar: "What?! The bandits were ordered by the Zhao family!"

These Qi Refining families and wandering cultivators could never have imagined the ruthless bandits had the Zhao family's shadow behind them.

"Master Huo, allow this old man to speak: your claim sounds alarmist," came a voice.

"Right now, it's merely your Alliance's speculation—no concrete proof exists."

The voice came from the center of the front row: Yu Wanheng.

"Perhaps those bandits targeted only those two islands—and have already left."

Huo Qianqiu frowned, fixing his gaze on Yu Wanheng—he hadn't expected him to oppose him.

The cultivators in the hall found Yu Wanheng's words reasonable.

"Heh. If Lord Yu doesn't wish to join the Alliance, feel free to leave—we never force anyone," Huo Qianqiu said coldly.

Yu Wanheng chuckled without mirth. "Master Huo, you jest. I was merely asking a question. If everyone is to unite against the enemy, then Green Cang Island stands with you."

Huo Qianqiu's expression softened at this reply.

"Those wishing to join the Seventy-Two Islands' Alliance may sign the Spirit Pact."

"Those unwilling," added the old woman beside him, "hear this clearly: when the bandits come knocking, don't blame us if no one comes to save you."

Then, Alliance attendants carried trays holding Spirit Pacts.

When it came to Qin Ming, he looked up and recognized the broad-shouldered middle-aged man before him—the same one who had come to Moonwatch Island with Li Yuanqing to recruit him.

Then, the Shangmeng Society members carried trays filled with Spirit Pacts.

Most spirit island families, pressured by the bandits' threat and seeing others comply, had all signed the Spirit Pact and joined the Alliance.

Nearly every Qi Refining family present had stayed.

Qin Ming picked up the Spirit Pact from the tray and glanced at it briefly.

Its clauses were complex, burdensome, demanding constant readiness for Alliance assignments.

He lost interest immediately.

'The Zhao family ordered this?'

'Seems just as likely the Alliance itself orchestrated it.'

Qin Ming stood up and declared plainly: "My Moonwatch Island has no intention of joining the Alliance. I take my leave."

At these words, every cultivator in the hall turned their gaze toward him.

Qin Ming immediately stood up and said plainly, "My Wangyue Island has no intention of joining the Shangmeng Society; we take our leave."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the cultivators in the hall turned their gazes upon him.

(End of Chapter)