Chapter 166: Island of Safety

Qin Ming had just returned to Wangyue Island.

He saw Wu Jiang running over with a look of great urgency, exclaiming anxiously: "Comrade Qin, disaster has struck!"

"The Seventy-Two Islands Alliance has launched an attack on the Zhao family—the great battle has begun!"

Qin Ming remained calm, replying without haste: "Mm, I've known for some time already. I saw it just now upon returning."

Wu Jiang was deeply surprised by his unflappable demeanor.

As the saying goes: when immortals fight, the fish in the pond suffer.

Wu Jiang stared at the man before him, utterly indifferent.

Could Comrade Qin truly have no concern at all? Qin Ming seemed to sense Wu Jiang's worry and said coolly: "Relax—Wangyue Island is safe for now. If you're anxious, you may bring your family from Baiyan Island here to ride out the storm."

His sense of security came entirely from confidence in his current strength: his body cultivation had reached the First Transformation of the True Gang Formation, he possessed a Ground-grade bloodline Foundation Establishment beast, his Life-Soul Vine, and a Rank-Two Superior protective array.

Even if he faced a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, he might not win—but he could certainly protect himself. There were barely a handful of such cultivators across the entire spiritual energy Archipelago, fewer than one hand's fingers.

Jin Dan elders had no interest whatsoever in this remote corner of the world.

As for anyone below late-stage Foundation Establishment daring to cause trouble on his Wangyue Island, they came one and died one.

He was precisely in need of blood pearls to accelerate the growth of his life-soul vine.

Wangyue Island lay far from the storm's center and was relatively safe.

But Wu family's Baiyan Island was different—it lay deep within the spiritual energy Archipelago and would likely be engulfed by the war in time.

With Qin Ming's permission, Wu Jiang informed Mu Ruyin and hurried home to arrange matters.

Two days later.

Wu Jiang brought his dozens of direct clan members and settled below Wangyue Island.

Wu Jiang's father, Wu Hanyuan, his hair half-gray, came before Qin Ming, nearly in tears with profound gratitude: "Thank you, Elder Qin, for taking us in! Without you, our Wu family would not have survived this crisis."

"All these years, young Wu Jiang has owed his progress entirely to your care."

Wu Hanyuan clearly understood the situation well.

"Wu Daoist, don't be formal. Since Wu Jiang runs errands for me, I must offer some care in return."

"Call me Daoist from now on."

…

Seven more days passed.

Without the Rank-Three Barrier-Breaking Talisman, the Seventy-Two Islands Alliance could do nothing but stare helplessly at the remaining Rank-Three defensive array on Qianye Spirit Island.

Yet the Zhao family was no pushover—they did not merely huddle behind their array.

Instead, they allied with families loyal to them and engaged the Seventy-Two Islands Alliance in fierce battles across the spiritual energy Archipelago.

Soon, the region was divided into numerous smaller battlefields.

The Baiyan Island once home to the Wu family, along with nearby isles, suffered total devastation.

Other spirit-island families were not so fortunate—they were all caught in the chaos of war.

Only the Wu family narrowly escaped destruction.

Qin Ming's Wangyue Island, situated in the far north, now stood untouched by the turmoil.

Like a world apart, it had grown unexpectedly serene.

The Wu family began working harder to cultivate spirit rice and open new spirit fields.

Afterwards,

Qin Ming released the Xuan Shui Crocodile to patrol Wangyue Island continuously; any unusual activity nearby would be reported to him immediately.

As for the Six-Winged Frost Bees, since their last failed breakthrough, they had been accumulating strength, waiting for another chance to ascend.

After Qin Ming fed it blood pearls, the life-soul vine had bloomed again, and the hive beneath it benefited greatly.

Qin Ming observed the Six-Winged Frost Bee Queen for a while, pondered deeply, then retrieved from his storage bag a demonic core and a vial of demonic beast blood.

The demonic core came from Mu Yuanshan's storage bag—it was the Rank-Two Early-stage Flame-Feather Eagle core he had won at the last auction.

The vial contained the blood of the Bi Xue Suanni, which Qin Ming had purchased—it was also genuine Ground-grade bloodline.

At present, both items could aid the Six-Winged Frost Bee's breakthrough, but consuming demonic cores or beast blood was far more dangerous than taking pills.

Qin Ming could not decide.

At that moment,

The Six-Winged Frost Bees in their hive seemed to sense Qin Ming's thoughts.

They flew out from beneath the life-soul vine, flapping their three pairs of purple wings, stopping before Qin Ming. After merely two breaths of thought,

They moved toward the vial of Rank-Two Suanni blood.

Qin Ming was startled by the bee's choice.

For the danger of consuming high-grade bloodline far exceeded that of the Flame-Feather Eagle core.

If it failed this time, it might perish on the spot.

Yet the bee's mental message conveyed no retreat—only unwavering resolve! This spirit bee had followed Qin Ming since his days as a spirit farmer at Lingyu Sect.

Though it never fought alongside him, it had repeatedly saved his spirit plants from insect infestations.

If it died now, Qin Ming would be heartbroken.

"Sigh! Very well—if we've come this far, I'll honor your wish."

If it succeeded, this would be a tremendous boon for the Six-Winged Frost Bee.

If it failed, all its past effort and cultivation would vanish like smoke.

Qin Ming immediately unsealed the jade vial—a thick stench of blood filled the air.

The Six-Winged Frost Bee wasted no time and immediately sucked the Bi Xue Suanni blood through the vial's opening.

Within mere breaths, it had drained the entire vial.

Then it flew back beneath the life-soul vine and began refining the blood, attempting to break into a Rank-Two Foundation Establishment demon beast.

The Six-Winged Frost Bee fell into deep slumber again.

Three days later,

Qin Ming felt a massive aura rising from beneath the life-soul vine.

A colossal spiritual energy vortex gathered above Wangyue Island.

It poured relentlessly into the Six-Winged Frost Bee's body.

Blood oozed from its skin, and countless horrifying cracks spread across its entire form.

It screamed incessantly, as if enduring unbearable agony.

An hour passed.

The bee's outer skin began peeling away layer by layer, its entire body transforming into a radiant silver-white hue.

BOOM! A Rank-Two Foundation Establishment demon beast's aura erupted from it! "It succeeded!"

Qin Ming's face lit up—but immediately his heart tightened, for the most critical step remained.

That was the heavenly tribulation.

ROAR! A terrifying celestial phenomenon descended again.

The Wu family below the island, now accustomed to such sights, watched as thunder after thunder struck the silver bee.

Yet Qin Ming was stunned to discover that after its breakthrough, the bee emitted a shimmering silver glow.

Though it lacked the miraculous innate ability of the Xuan Shui Crocodile, it could withstand the thunderous tribulation directly.

The protective effect granted by the life-soul vine had reached an unimaginable strength.

It endured the seventh and eighth lightning strikes.

Its aura began to wane, as if reaching its limit.

It grew weak, nearly lifeless.

But the ninth and most powerful lightning strike had not yet fallen—given its current state, it would surely fail.

Qin Ming grew frantic but dared not intervene to shield it.

Such divine wrath could easily kill him if he misstepped.

CRACK! The final golden thunder crashed down! Qin Ming sighed inwardly, "It's over."

The Six-Winged Frost Bee also emitted a mournful cry, as if foreseeing its fate.

But at that moment—the life-soul vine, which had stood motionless until now, suddenly moved! Countless black vines surged through the air, swirling silver runes spiraling outward.

The vines became like living tentacles.

Suddenly, with an unrivaled might, they surged to meet the golden lightning.

(End of Chapter)