Monk, I have come to tell you that Xiaoyu is dead. Yunfeng Island lies between the spheres of influence of the Tianchi Holy Land and the Gu family. The Gu family is located in the east of the Hengluo Sea Region, while the Tianchi Holy Land is in the east of the Blackwater Sea Region. Yunfeng Island, positioned centrally between these two great powers, has always been a haven for pirates.

Due to the relatively thin Heavenly Spiritual Qi surrounding the islands near Yunfeng Island, it is rare for the common people living in this area to produce anyone truly remarkable. Even martial artists with moderate cultivation levels tend to seek cultivation elsewhere—either on islands controlled by the Tianchi Holy Land or those affiliated with the Gu family.

Pirates who operate across the major sea regions often only seek temporary refuge on these nearby islands after a successful raid, daring not to linger in the main territories. They come here to conceal their spoils, wait for the heat to die down, and then quickly depart.

After leaving the Jialuo Sea Region, the Xia family mobilized all their resources to relocate, setting their new home on Yunfeng Island and the few small isles surrounding it.

These desolate isles, previously only frequented by pirates, have now become the Xia family’s dying refuge, indicating just how difficult their circumstances have become.

Previously, the Xia family survived in the Jialuo Sea Region under the protection of the Yang family. Because of the Yang family's dominance, the Xia family had inadvertently offended numerous other factions.

With the Yang family’s decline, the Xia family naturally suffered the consequences, experiencing a severe erosion of their power under the oppression of the Tianxie Grotto-Heaven in the Jialuo Sea Region.

When the Demon Race invaded, the Xia family fled the Jialuo Sea Region to evade the main thrust of the attack. However, several major powers in both the Hengluo Sea Region and the Blackwater Sea Region were already hostile toward the Xia family.

If the Xia family rashly entered any one territory, they risked immediate provocation. In their current state, they dared not take chances and ultimately chose Yunfeng Island.

Even so, martial artists from the Gu family, the Dongfang family, and the Tianchi Holy Land frequently cause trouble around Yunfeng Island, subjecting the Xia family members to ridicule and harsh words. Were it not for the greater crisis posed by the Demon Race, and the orders they received to refrain from overt action, they might have already attacked the Xia family.

Xia Shenchuan was deeply frustrated, his brow perpetually furrowed in recent times, sighing day in and day out.

“Patriarch, people from the Gu family and the Tianchi Holy Land have arrived again. Should we attempt to negotiate properly with them this time? Look at us, hiding here is not a sustainable solution.” Many within the clan were becoming restless. “This place, which even pirates avoid staying in for long, is truly unsuitable for cultivation.”

On a barren peak, Zhou Yu, a Celestial Rank enshrinement of the Xia family, stood bowing, advising with a wry smile.

The barren peak was barely two hundred meters tall, yielded no usable medicinal herbs, housed no spirit beasts, and the Heavenly Spiritual Qi was exceedingly sparse—extremely unsuitable for martial artists to cultivate.

There were about ten similar barren peaks nearby, all alike, yielding no usable resources whatsoever.

In the more distant forests, only extremely low-level small beasts resided; even slaughtering them all would not yield any significant materials for cultivation.

The members of the Xia family now lived in the valleys nestled between these barren peaks, sharing the space with some itinerant refugees.

Once one of the fifteen great powers of the Endless Sea, the Xia family had now fallen to such straits—truly an extremely awkward and desperate predicament.

Many Xia family members, accustomed to the life in the Jialuo Sea Region, found it incredibly hard to adapt here all at once, with some clamoring to leave.

Recently, the Gu family and the Tianchi Holy Land spread word that they sought marriage alliances, proposing to send Gu Yu from the Gu family and Feng Hai from the Tianchi Holy Land to marry Xia Xinyan, thereby linking the families. If the Xia family agreed, the Gu family and Tianchi Holy Land would immediately cede several spiritually rich islands for the Xia family’s residence.

The intentions of the Gu family and Tianchi Holy Land quickly spread throughout the Yunfeng Island area. Many Xia family members, unable to bear the hardship of Yunfeng Island, naturally began entertaining the idea, eagerly pleading with Xia Shenchuan to accept the proposal from those two factions, trading the lifelong happiness of Xia Xinyan for a more comfortable living environment.

“Those good-for-nothings!” Xia Shenchuan snorted coldly. He was well aware of the recent gossip on the island and the true colors of some of his clan members. “Pay them no mind. The situation in the Endless Sea is uncertain right now. Both the Gu family and the Tianchi Holy Land are eyeing the strength we still possess. The marriage alliance is a pretense; their true aim is to use our Xia family as cannon fodder.”

Zhou Yu nodded. “We understand, but many clan members do not. Alas, they grew too accustomed to their comfortable lives in the Jialuo Sea Region. Suddenly arriving on Yunfeng Island, they naturally cannot adjust. I fear if this continues, they might not be able to resist and will secretly leave. By then…”

Xia Shenchuan’s expression shifted. “Is there truly such a tendency?”

Zhou Yu smiled wryly and slowly nodded.

Xia Shenchuan’s face instantly darkened, a flash of killing intent crossing his eyes. “Watch them closely. If they dare disobey my orders, I will execute one or two of them as a warning to show them they don't know their place.”

Zhou Yu shuddered, his voice trembling. “Patriarch, if you start acting against your own clan members, the situation might become even tenser.”

“I can’t worry about that now,” Xia Shenchuan said grimly. “The current state of the Endless Sea is too complex. Neither the Hengluo Sea Region nor the Blackwater Sea Region is guaranteed safety. Once the Demon Race makes a move, these so-called great powers will struggle even to protect themselves, let alone have the capacity to worry about us. The moment we enter their sphere of influence, our fate will be to be used as cannon fodder to test the Demon Race’s fangs. Better to force them to stay with harsh measures than to let the Demon Race kill them.”

Zhou Yu pondered for a moment, then silently agreed.

The Gu Family, Myriad Sword Peak.

Countless long swords were plunged into the mountain peak from all directions. Under the sunlight, these swords glittered brilliantly, refracting multicolored rainbows—a magnificent sight.

These long swords resembled a sea of blades, many of which faintly possessed sentience, occasionally emitting a buzzing hum. Myriad Sword Peak was the Gu family’s sacred ground, naturally formed, possessing a miraculous ability to nurture swords. Many high-quality, tempered long swords were embedded here, enduring wind, rain, sun, and starlight.

Over time, these long swords often developed sentience.

This phenomenon was extremely mysterious; no one knew why Myriad Sword Peak possessed this capability. Ever since obtaining this peak, the Gu family utilized these divine swords to become one of the fifteen great powers of the Endless Sea.

Myriad Sword Peak was undoubtedly the very foundation of the Gu family.

An aged man in a green robe, his face withered, sat cross-legged atop the tip of one sharp sword. Amidst the surrounding five-colored sword light, the old man appeared tranquil, seemingly absorbing sword qi to cultivate some profound technique, with wisps of sword spirits flashing momentarily around him—utterly mysterious.

“Whoosh!”

A fat martial artist flew aboard a three-foot silver sword, soaring through the air amidst a sharp whistling sound, suddenly arriving at Myriad Sword Peak.

“Big Brother!” Gu Ji’s toes rested lightly on the silver sword, hovering respectfully behind the green-robed elder as he whispered, “Hua Meng was captured on his way to the Three Gods Sect. Also, Xiao Linglong has been captured…”

The green-robed elder’s brow twitched, but he did not open his eyes, saying faintly, “Linglong went to the Abyss Battlefield, how could she be there? Furthermore, who dares to capture Hua Meng? Could it be that the Demon Race has already begun their advance?”

“No, Hua Meng sent word saying… saying it was people from the Yang family.” Gu Ji replied.

“Yang family people?” The green-robed elder sighed softly and finally opened his eyes. His deep gaze was utterly still, like water in an ancient well. “Are there still Yang family members in the Endless Sea? Hua Meng is at the second level of the Celestial Realm; any Yang family member capable of capturing him should be famous. Who is it?”

“Someone I haven’t seen before.” Gu Ji shook his head. “He said he came from the Abyss Battlefield. Hua Meng’s message indicated that the person wants you to go over there personally to retrieve them.”

“For me to go personally?” The green-robed elder scoffed. “Could Yang Qingdi be there?”

“Yang Qingdi is not there, but Hua Meng said there should be… there should be a Divine Realm expert there.”

“A Divine Realm expert?”

“Yes, and he also said there might be more than one!”

“More than one?” The green-robed elder’s eyes suddenly shot out thin beams of sword light. As the light flashed, the mountain peak opposite Myriad Sword Peak erupted in continuous explosions. Many rocks on that peak shattered, and the entire mountain trembled as if about to collapse.

Gu Ji lowered his head, not daring to say more.

“It seems I really must make the trip.” Gu Xiao, the master of the Gu family, pondered for a moment, then suddenly soared upwards. In the surrounding sea of swords, divine blades whistled out, surging into his body and vanishing.

At the same time.

The mistress of the Tianchi Holy Land, the Tianchi Holy Mother, also received the news. After a moment of shock, she acted decisively, setting off from the Tianchi Holy Land, heading directly toward Snow Dragon Island.

While traveling to Snow Dragon Island, Gu Xiao and the Tianchi Holy Mother dispatched the intelligence they had gathered.

Soon after, the Three Gods Sect also received intelligence, and various factions within the sect learned of the changes on Snow Dragon Island.

The abnormality on Snow Dragon Island quickly spread across the major sea regions of the Endless Sea.

Snow Dragon Island.

Under the leadership of Di Shan, Yu Rou, Ya Meng, Yi Tianmo, and others, the members of the Yin Ghost Clan and the Winged Clan swiftly mapped out the terrain near the Kohler family’s location and began setting up dense restrictions and barriers, turning the area into a forbidden zone.

In a short time, numerous caves were excavated within the belly of Snow Dragon Mountain.

The Yin Ghost Clan members, accustomed to cold and gloom, claimed these caves as their cultivation grounds and burrowed inside to practice diligently.

The Winged Clan, meanwhile, felled ancient trees to construct wooden structures. Under the actions of the Yin Ghost Clan and the Winged Clan, Snow Dragon Island was subtly undergoing transformation.

“What exactly do you want?” By an artificial lake belonging to the Kohler family, Gu Linglong glared fiercely at Shi Yan. “The Demon Race is stirring in the Jialuo Sea Region, and all the major sea regions face enormous peril. At a time like this, you should release us immediately and work together to fight those demons! Why are you still imprisoning us?”

“Work together with you?” Shi Yan sneered. “If not for you people, how would the Demon Race have entered the Jialuo Sea Region? You lot chased us all the way to the Abyss Battlefield. Do you think I’ll pretend none of that happened just because of the Demon Race invasion? What a joke!”

“Then, what… what are you planning?” Gu Linglong felt a chill in her heart, sensing something ominous.

“You will know soon enough,” Shi Yan replied calmly.

PS: Recommend my brother’s new book, The Most Monstrous Genius, accessible directly from God of Slaughter—it’s quite good~ Synopsis: The story of the monstrous martial monk Yong Sheng from Tianlong Temple who leaves the monastic life to cause chaos in the city. Master Yong Sheng declares: Form is emptiness, emptiness is form; this poor monk desires to empty something…