Chapter 341

After landing on the island, according to the fragmented ancient texts, the entrance to the ruins may be located in a peculiar terrain at the island's center.

But the exact location and how to open the entrance still require us to search carefully and decipher it after landing.

The island's conditions are unknown, and the ancient texts offer vague descriptions; unknown dangers may exist, even ancient arrays, traps, or guardian beasts—this is why Shoutian has gathered skilled individuals to assist.

As for the distribution of the spoils.

Tong Tong Shoutian paused, his gaze sweeping over the group, his tone intensifying, "According to our overseas expedition rules, whoever discovers something and contributes more naturally gets more."

"My Tong family, as organizer and provider of the ship and intelligence, has the right to select one item first. The rest will be distributed by merit, with the Tong family acting as witness to ensure fairness. If anyone unfortunately perishes, their rightful share will be appropriately compensated to their designated person or family."

This speech, by highlighting the danger, painting a grand picture, and presenting a seemingly fair distribution principle, dispelled much of the lingering doubt in many hearts, making them even more eager.

Chen Mu listened, silently pondering.

"Priority selection of one item? The Tong family must already be certain the most valuable artifact in the ruins will end up in their hands."

"As for fair distribution?"

The prerequisite is surviving and having the strength to keep what you've gained!

……

In the dining hall, Chen Mu watched coldly as others burned with fervor and agitation, his own heart unmoved.

Meanwhile, the others were already flushed with excitement from the "Tiandao Sect ruins" and Tong Tong Shoutian's promised spoils; almost no one objected to the three-day schedule, all expressing agreement, eager to depart immediately.

Tong Tong Shoutian's smile widened—he was clearly pleased with their reaction.

He raised his cup again and declared loudly, "Good! Since none of you heroes object, we'll meet again in three days. Tonight, enjoy yourselves—no need to hold back!"

"…"

The rest of the dinner grew even more lively, cups clinking, laughter ringing, as if the Tiandao Sect's treasure lay just within reach.

In the following three days, the Tong family spared no effort in hosting this "expedition team."

Everyone was lodged in several fine courtyards near the Tong estate, supplied continuously with fine wine and food, and even given basic healing pills and map materials to show goodwill.

This generous treatment completely eased the nerves of many warriors who had previously been uneasy, strengthening their belief that though dangerous, this expedition would yield rich rewards.

Chen Mu used these three days to move quietly through "Tong City" under the guise of a lone cultivator, gathering more information on "Ghost Wail Island" and the Tong family, while secretly observing the Tong estate to confirm Tong Tong Shoutian was indeed preparing for sea departure—the dark silver breastplate remained constantly worn on his person.

Three days passed in a flash.

On the fourth morning, the sky was faintly light, the sea breeze cool.

More than thirty recruited warriors—including Chen Mu—and over twenty elite Tong family guards led personally by Tong Tong Shoutian, totaling over sixty men, assembled at the harbor.

The Tong family deployed a specially crafted medium-sized sea vessel: sturdy hull, deep draft, suited for coastal navigation and beach landings.

Everyone boarded the deck; the sails rose, and at Tong Tong Shoutian's command, the ship slowly departed from the Ice-Fire Island harbor, cutting through waves toward the northeast—Ghost Wail Island.

During the voyage, the weather was clear, winds and currents favorable; the half-day journey passed without incident.

At noon, the silhouette of an island appeared on the horizon.

The island was shrouded in a faint gray mist, its full form indistinct; only jagged black rocks and sparse, twisted vegetation could be vaguely seen—a sense of desolation, stillness, and strange malevolence lingered even at a distance.

"Ghost Wail Island has arrived!"

Someone whispered.

The ship anchored in safe waters about one li from the island.

Everyone transferred to several sturdy small boats and rowed toward the shore.

Stepping onto the beach of "Ghost Wail Island," their feet sank into coarse black sand and jagged stones.

The air carried the scent of the sea and a faint, indescribable decay.

Looking back, the ship had become a distant shadow; all around was endless sea and this lone island.

The expedition team, over sixty strong, consisted mostly of Innate Realm cultivators or elite warriors at Postnatal Eighth or Ninth Stage—except Chen Mu and a few others whose qi was unusually stable.

Tong Tong Shoutian himself wore the dark silver breastplate, a blade at his waist, surrounded by over a dozen loyal guards.

A veteran Tong family guard captain, at Seventh Stage Innate, led the front of the formation, holding a faded animal-skin ancient scroll.

The team cautiously left the beach and advanced inland.

Beneath their feet lay jagged rocks and low, twisted, dark-hued shrubs.

After advancing several hundred meters, they penetrated deep into the island's interior.

"Wu… wu… wu…"

A series of rising and falling, eerie sounds—like a woman's mournful weeping or a child's nighttime wailing—drifted faintly from crevices and caves ahead, carried by the wind into every ear.

The sound was piercing and sorrowful, especially chilling in the desolate silence—this was the origin of the island's name, "Ghost Wail."

Chen Mu activated his "Listen to the Wind" skill, carefully discerning: the source was dozens of natural wind caves of varying sizes and shapes scattered across a steep cliff ahead.

Sea winds poured into these caves; due to differences in angle, depth, and shape, they produced unique resonances and echoes that merged into a continuous, ghostly wailing.

Clearly, some in the team knew or suspected this, yet no one lowered their guard.

In such a strange place, any known danger might merely be a facade—the real threat often hid in the unknown.

Everyone gripped their weapons tightly, eyes sharp as they scanned the rocks, shrubs, and shadows, minds taut with tension.

Under the guard captain's lead, the team bypassed the wind-cave cliff and pressed onward toward the island's center—the area marked in the ancient texts as possibly holding the ruins.

The path was not smooth.

As they crossed a damp depression covered in black moss, the team was attacked by a species of black-and-white striped venomous scorpions native to the area.

These scorpions were no larger than a palm, swift in movement, their stingers laced with potent poison, and numerous—suddenly emerging from rock crevices and rotting logs, impossible to fully anticipate.

Fortunately, all who had made it to the island were skilled; their reactions were swift.

Blades flashed, fists and qi blasts roared, and the emerging scorpions were swiftly wiped out.

A few were grazed by stingers, but promptly took the detoxifying pills distributed earlier by the Tong family—no serious injuries; the team pressed on, no one left behind.

Yet, scorpions were easy to avoid—human treachery was harder to guard against; or rather, the island's own strange power was the true test!