Chapter 232: Destroy the Demon

Two months later.

Outside Wangyue Lake, two streaks of light pierced the sky, soon arriving before the island.

Inside the cave dwelling.

Qin Ming opened his eyes; his spiritual sense had already identified the newcomers.

A faint smile curled his lips. "Back already?"

Moments later, the mist illusion outside Wangyue Island opened a passage.

A few breaths later.

Two youthful figures—a boy and a girl—appeared within Wangyue Island, staring in disbelief at the scene before them.

They were Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue, returned from Lei Yuanzong.

Wu Wangfeng had sharp eyes and noble features; Wu Wangyue stood graceful and poised. One possessed a Grade Earth Spirit Root, the other a primordial spiritual body.

At barely fifteen, they had already reached Qi Refining Mid-Stage, a starting point most ordinary cultivators could never reach in a lifetime.

The entire Wu family on the island dropped their tasks and rushed out to greet them.

Wu Jiang and his wife were overjoyed; after years apart, Mu Ruyin, unable to contain her longing, embraced them both, ecstatic beyond words.

What followed was a warm, tender scene.

"Cough! Enough, enough!"

"That's enough. Let Wangfeng and Wangyue meet Qin Dao you first."

"Don't be rude!"

As head of the family, Wu Jiang, though thrilled, had grown considerably more composed over the years.

Seeing his children's cultivation had advanced, and that they were healthy and unharmed, he was already deeply satisfied.

In contrast, Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue, gazing at the island's surroundings, were left stunned, unable to recover their composure.

"Grade Three spiritual vein. Grade Three island-protection array."

"And the mist illusion as well."

"Father, Mother—is this really the same Wangyue Island we grew up on?"

Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue exchanged glances; even this environment surpassed the cultivation conditions they had at Lei Yuanzong.

"Of course. The island has changed a great deal these past years—there's too much to explain all at once."

"When you meet Uncle Qin, behave properly."

Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue nodded obediently; though they had trained elsewhere, their upbringing had always been excellent, and they understood propriety.

Half a cup of tea later.

Qin Ming stood waiting outside the spirit fields.

"Uncle Qin!"

"Uncle Qin!"

Upon seeing Qin Ming, Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue immediately bowed deeply.

But as they began to kneel, an invisible force lifted them, preventing them from completing the bow.

"Hehe! It's been many years—you've both grown so much. No need for such formalities," Qin Ming said with a smile.

"By the way, with demons and beasts rampant outside, how did you two return?"

Wu Wangyue replied sweetly, "Hehe! Uncle Qin, we came with the sect's vessel bound for Canghai Xiancheng."

"The elders ordered the ship to take a detour and dropped us off near Wangyue Lake."

Only now did Wu Jiang and his wife realize: two Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivators wandering alone outside would be no match for demons—even with such talent, they'd be snacks.

But Qin Ming's thoughts ran differently—he knew the truth.

Lei Yuanzong would not normally dispatch large vessels to Canghai Xiancheng unless something was amiss.

'It seems that after receiving my two Soul-Returning Pills, Lei Yuanzong is finally moving.'

'Likely, the three factions have already begun covert preparations to strike at the demonic plants on Qianye Island.'

Qin Ming pondered this, secretly assessing their cultivation. He found their foundations solid, their qi stable—clearly under the careful tutelage of Lei Yuanzong elders.

And they were cultivating the sect's highest-tier, non-transmissible cultivation arts.

"Excellent. Excellent."

Qin Ming praised them both, then, not wishing to disrupt the family reunion, dismissed them.

Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue felt no resentment that Qin Ming had never taken them as disciples.

Over the years, as prodigies of Lei Yuanzong, they had heard many legends about Qin Ming.

Their Master had said that even Lei Yuanzong elders treated Grade Two Superior Alchemists and Spirit Plant Masters with respect.

Perhaps Uncle Qin refused them because their talent still fell far short of his standards…

Below the island.

The Wu family was immersed in joyful reunion.

But Qin Ming sensed a great storm was about to descend upon the spiritual energy Archipelago. Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue stayed on the island for several days.

They had spent enough time with their family and were preparing to bid farewell to Qin Ming, heading to Canghai Xiancheng to rejoin Lei Yuanzong's vessel.

BOOM! CRACK! A violent explosion erupted from beyond Wangyue Lake, shaking the earth.

"What's happening?"

Not just Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue—the entire Wu family stood speechless, stunned by the sudden commotion.

Instantly.

A streak of emerald light flashed past, shooting from the main peak's cave dwelling, hovering midair.

Qin Ming had sensed the disturbance immediately.

"Less than half a year has passed."

"Have the three super factions already begun their assault on Qianye Island's demonic plants?"

"If Lei Yuanzong, Lingyu Men, and Canghai Xiancheng win, it's fine."

"But if that Grade Three Blood Curse Demon Vine wins, swallows the Golden Core elder's essence—its power could surge to unimaginable heights."

"Then the entire spiritual energy Archipelago will be slaughtered—even a Grade Three array may not hold it back."

"No good. If things turn dire, I must be ready to flee at once."

In mere breaths, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Qin Ming decided to go out and observe the battle from afar.

With his current cultivation, nothing below Golden Core could threaten him—he could defend himself easily.

Then.

Qin Ming landed among the spirit fields and issued a command to his life-plant, Changsheng Teng. Instantly, the towering vine dissolved into a pool of black mist, swirling and coiling around his arm, transforming back into its familiar black spirit-plant tattoo.

Other spirit plants didn't matter—they could be replanted. But this life-plant, tied to his quest for immortality, must never be lost.

"Wu Dao you, I'm going out to see what's happening."

"The island is safe. Under no circumstances should you leave unless absolutely necessary."

Qin Ming quickly instructed Wu Jiang, then summoned Silverwing Frost Bees and Xuan Shui Crocodile. Before leaving, he asked Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue: "When you left, didn't Lei Yuanzong's elders give you any instructions?"

"Uncle Qin, our Master only told us to return to Canghai Xiancheng immediately after visiting home. He didn't say anything else."

Qin Ming listened, thoughtful.

'It seems Lei Yuanzong has raised secrecy to the highest level.'

'After all, this concerns the sect's survival.'

'I wonder how Wei Wuya's breakthrough is going.'

Then, before the eyes of all, Qin Ming transformed into an emerald streak of light and vanished into the horizon.

Outside Wangyue Island.

Qin Ming mounted the Silverwing Frost Bees and raced toward Qianye Island at top speed.

His spiritual sense now extended nearly eighteen li—he could observe the situation from the periphery.

If anything looked wrong, he'd flee immediately.

Upon reaching the airspace above the spiritual energy Archipelago, Qin Ming was stunned by the sight.

The sky was utterly obscured by massive warships belonging to Lei Yuanzong, Lingyu Men, and Canghai Xiancheng.

Merely glancing, he estimated at least four to five hundred vessels—all heavily armed.

The combined fleet of the Seventy-Two Island Alliance had been large, but compared to this, it was insignificant.

The spirit cannons on the super factions' warships spat terrifying energy, unleashing devastating spells that rained down on the beast hordes below.

"This is a perfect chance to collect Blood Pearls!"

"But wait."

"That Grade Three Demon Vine hasn't shown itself yet."

Qin Ming watched countless demonic beasts' corpses explode into bloody mist under the spells, his mind already turning to opportunity.

Vast waves of beasts surged endlessly toward the skyships, impossible to kill off.

BOOM!

A far greater explosion shook heaven and earth.

Qin Ming looked toward the sound and saw the eastern side of Qianye Spirit Island—spiritual energy surged wildly, blinding spells flared, and a colossal fireball erupted skyward!

Like a miniature sun capable of destroying the world, it rose slowly over the island. The shockwave, even from afar, sent a soul-deep tremor through Qin Ming, a Grade Foundation Establishment cultivator. The entire Qianye Island shattered in an instant—three-quarters sank into the sea.

Thousands of demonic beasts perished in the waters.

"Is this really a clash between Jin Dan cultivators?"

Qin Ming hid among the clouds, his face filled with shock.

(End of chapter)