Chapter 170: Impregnable

Qin Ming selected over a dozen pieces of rotting wood already sprouting Mist Huan Mushrooms.

Then.

He began, based on past experience, to use the 【Ripen】 term to fully ripen all the Mist Huan Mushrooms; after they matured, numerous Mist Huan Spores were born.

As Qin Ming ripened them, a continuous stream of pink mist began to spread across the rear mountain of Wangyue Island.

The pink mist grew denser and rose straight toward the sky.

Wu Jiang looked up at the strange pink mist, his brows knitting into a deep frown, a quiet unease rising in him—he did not know what Qin Ming was doing by creating such an extraordinary phenomenon. Qin Ming worked day and night without pause, constantly consuming his 【Ripen】 terms and the five 【Temporal-Spatial Leaves】 terms, urgently ripening the Mist Huan Mushrooms.

Then.

Qin Ming felt the timing was right and used the 【Symbiotic Plant Growth】 term.

In an instant.

He felt an inexplicable connection form between himself and the pink mist released by the Mist Huan Mushrooms.

And he could freely command and direct the pink mist.

In the time that followed.

The Wu family members were stunned to see a massive cloud of pink mist, like smoke pouring from a chimney, shoot straight into the sky from the rear of Wangyue Island's main peak.

Once the mist reached the sky above Wangyue Island, it unfolded like a giant umbrella, spreading outward and covering a ten-li radius around the entire island.

A month later.

The density of the pink mist had accumulated to an utterly terrifying level; merely glancing at it seemed ready to swallow one's soul.

Though Wu Jiang was frightened, he dared not disturb Qin Ming and could only wait until he emerged from seclusion to ask what had happened.

As time passed, the pink mist grew ever denser, forming a scene that blotted out the sun and sky.

"The Mist Huan Illusion, comparable to a third-rank illusion array, is finally complete!" Qin Ming looked up at the sky above, wiping the fine sweat from his brow.

He then raised a finger and sent countless black spirit seeds flying into the pink mist.

These were spirit seeds he had previously infused with the Thorn Spell—any contact would trigger a thorn trap.

Thus, combined with the Mist Huan Illusion, they formed an effect rivaling a third-rank composite array.

If any foolish cultivator stumbled into the mist, Qin Ming could emerge to collect blood pearls.

He consumed the remaining 【Symbiotic Plant Growth】 terms to craft several wooden tokens.

This special token could freely control the opening and closing of the Mist Huan Illusion.

Then.

Qin Ming summoned Wu Jiang over.

Wu Jiang, seeing Qin Ming, had long been eager to ask questions.

"Qin Daoist, what is this mist above the spirit island?"

Qin Ming smiled slightly; even if the other had not asked, he would have warned him anyway. "Wu Daoist, this mist enveloping the entire Wangyue Island is an illusion comparable to a third-rank array."

"With this defense, even if the Seventy-Two Island Alliance and the Zhao family storm the heavens, they will never again disturb Wangyue Island."

"Remember: this pink mist is no ordinary thing—ensure your clan members stay far away from it."

"This token can control the Mist Huan Illusion—you may use it to enter and exit Wangyue Island at will."

After explaining, Qin Ming handed Wu Jiang the token and gave him a meaningful glance.

Wu Jiang's heart was shaken by a storm of shock.

An illusion comparable to a third-rank array? He extended trembling hands and nervously accepted the token.

For Qin Daoist to entrust such a vital object to him meant absolute trust.

"Qin Daoist, rest assured—I will use this token alone."

Qin Ming nodded; it was good the other understood. He needed Wu Jiang to run errands—he couldn't truly seal himself off.

He merely wished to strengthen defenses before breaking through to Foundation Establishment's late stage, to avoid interference like Zhao Wuji's.

From now on, with the Mist Huan Illusion guarding it, Wangyue Island could truly be called impregnable.

Not even Zhao Wuji, let alone his Zhao family's pseudo-Jin Dan ancestor, could enter this pink mist illusion and return alive.

Normally, Qin Ming stored the entire mist within the Mist Huan Mushrooms; any cultivator above Foundation Establishment who approached would automatically trigger the illusion.

With this barrier in place, Qin Ming could now cultivate and farm in peace.

Half a month later.

As Qin Ming had predicted.

Zhao Wuji, still unwilling to give up, reappeared near Wangyue Lake—this time not alone, but accompanied by a large group of spirit island families loyal to the Zhao clan.

They presented themselves with the air of a siege demanding submission.

Mo Lingwei of Qingxiadao was among them, presumably dragged along by Zhao Wuji.

But when they reached the vicinity of Wangyue Island, they froze in shock.

Before them loomed a vast, sky-obscuring pink mist.

"What the hell is this?"

"What trick is the Wangyue Island master playing?"

The crowd began murmuring among themselves, but only Mo Lingwei recognized the truth.

'Isn't this the mist released by a top-grade second-rank spirit plant—the Mist Huan Mushroom—forming a Mist Huan Illusion?'

'Comparable to a third-rank illusion array!'

Mo Lingwei's eyes filled with horror, her heart in turmoil, yet she said nothing, silently retreating to the rear.

Zhao Wuji also stared at the mist, his brows tightly furrowed—he had just sent out his spiritual sense to probe it.

But he was stunned to discover.

His spiritual sense had vanished like mud swallowed by an ocean, devoured by a black-hole-like force, leaving no trace.

For a moment, the crowd stood motionless, at a loss.

"Faking supernatural powers!"

"Let old man Li investigate."

At that moment.

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators from spirit island families, seemingly impatient, volunteered.

One of them first released a flying crane spirit pet, which flew into the mist, circled several times, and showed no sign of danger.

The two then activated their magic power shields and flew straight into the pink mist.

At first.

They entered the mist's outer edge, brushed against some pink vapor, and nothing happened.

Emboldened,

they pressed deeper into the mist.

Zhao Wuji watched the two island masters vanish into the mist, a terrible premonition rising in his chest.

Yet he calmly instructed the crowd: "Don't rush in yet—wait until the two island masters emerge to see what happens."

Then.

The crowd waited silently in place.

Moments later.

Zhao Wuji sent a message to the two, asking what the situation was inside.

But.

Half an incense stick passed, and still no reply came back.

Zhao Wuji sensed something was wrong; his expression shifted constantly.

An hour passed.

The two cultivators still had not emerged.

Now the entire crowd grew panicked, whispering among themselves.

Could this pink mist truly be so terrifying? Two Foundation Establishment cultivators entered and couldn't even send a single message? Zhao Wuji refused to believe it—he trusted his own strength and had escape measures. He edged closer to the mist, keeping a safe distance.

At first, some pink mist drifted toward him—he touched it, and nothing happened.

But after a while, his surroundings suddenly shifted—he was plunged into an illusion of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

In the illusion, the cultivators he had once killed now towered over him in cultivation, each rushing to claim his life. Zhao Wuji's eyes widened in terror as he struggled desperately to break free. CRACK!

At that moment, a milky-white jade pendant at Zhao Wuji's waist shattered.

Zhao Wuji snapped back to reality, hair disheveled, trembling with lingering dread, his back drenched in cold sweat—he immediately fled the place.

(End of Chapter)