The midday on Snow Dragon Island was never truly scorching hot. Especially near Snow Dragon Mountain, the cool breeze sweeping down from the peaks kept those at the base refreshed, never feeling uncomfortable in the slightest.

In a four-story wooden building, Hua Meng and Huang Nan, two Heavenly Position martial artists hailing from the Gu Family and the Tianchi Holy Land respectively, sat facing four younger martial artists including Gu Linglong and Zhai Yanqing. Cao Zhilan, He Qingman, and Pan Zhe sat separately, eating fruit with complicated expressions.

After Hua Meng and Huang Nan disseminated the message Stone Rock had demanded they release, they relentlessly pressed Gu Linglong and Zhai Yanqing about their experiences, finally gaining a hazy understanding of the origins of the Yin Mei Clan and the Wing Clan, causing them to secretly shudder. Now that the Endless Sea already faced the threat of the Demon People, the sudden emergence of the Yin Mei Clan and the Wing Clan from the Abyss Battlefield, both possessing transcendent capabilities, greatly astonished Hua Meng and Huang Nan, leaving them utterly unsure of these two clans’ true intentions.

“It won’t be long before the Family Head arrives. I hope nothing untoward occurs by then…” Hua Meng looked at Gu Linglong, his expression darkening slightly.

“The Family Head has always been arrogant, and he’s not fully aware of the strength of the Yin Mei Clan and the Wing Clan. If he becomes enraged, he might instigate conflict with those two clans, and that situation would be truly troublesome.” Gu Linglong, deeply familiar with Gu Xiao’s temper, nodded in agreement, “Let’s hope the old man can sense the unusual nature of this island.” Zhai Yanqing’s delicate brows were deeply furrowed, and she sighed softly in her heart, also worrying that the Holy Mother Wu Qin might not grasp the current situation on the island and cause some mishap.

Pan Zhe and Cao Zhilan sat to one side. Having survived Stone Rock’s repeated soul trials, Pan Zhe was dispirited and listless, utterly stripped of his former demeanor.

Now, the mere sight of Stone Rock caused him an instinctive chill, his very soul trembling. During the previous period in the Land of the Forsaken, Stone Rock had used him as his most frequent testing subject, focusing all sorts of esoteric and perilous soul trials upon him.

That stretch of time was undoubtedly the darkest, most unforgettable nightmare of Pan Zhe’s life. The mere thought of Stone Rock made him grit his teeth in suppressed fury, yet also filled him with genuine dread.

“You’re back. What do you plan to do?” Cao Zhilan was the most composed.

Her exquisitely clear face betrayed no anger, no impatience; it was still as placid as an ancient well, revealing no extraneous emotion. “Pan Zhe, let me offer you a piece of advice…” “Hmm?” A glimmer of spirit returned to Pan Zhe’s haggard eyes as he offered a wry smile towards the beauty beside him.

“What suggestion?” “Stop thinking about seeking revenge against Stone Rock. You won’t be able to handle that fellow,” Cao Zhilan said softly after a moment of hesitation.

Pan Zhe’s lips trembled, and he instinctively glanced out the window before shaking his head, murmuring, “Did that guy plant something on me? You can sense it, can’t you?” Cao Zhilan’s beautiful eyes held a hint of pity as she nodded lightly, exhaling a breath as fragrant as orchids.

“I believe he planted a unique restriction within your soul. Even if that restriction were broken, it would leave a shadow of him deep within your psyche.

If you were ever to face him in direct combat, I think you wouldn’t stand a chance.” Pan Zhe let out a bitter, layered laugh, knowing she spoke the truth. He drooped his head with a sigh of dejection, muttering to himself, “He’s a monster, far harder to deal with than Yang Mu and the others.

Alas, I hope I never run into him again; I’m done fighting that guy…” Cao Zhilan looked at him with surprise, gazing at him deeply for a moment, realizing that Stone Rock had already crushed the future leader of Penglai Holy Land mentally. A strange sensation fluttered in her heart.

The elderly man in green robes and the Holy Mother Wu Qin of the Tianchi Holy Land descended slowly, stepping through the void until they materialized directly in front of the wooden house where Hua Meng, Huang Nan, and the others were gathered. Gu Xiao, his temples streaked with white and his hair tied with a blue kerchief, possessing the refined air of a scholar, let out a loud shout upon landing, “Where is the Master?” Wu Qin appeared benevolent, her holy robes fluttering around her, radiating an elegant aura of the Sacred Journey.

Her eyes were bottomless, filled with a wisdom capable of piercing the hearts of men. Once they arrived, the two discreetly released their divine senses, completely enveloping Snow Dragon Island.

However, after sweeping their senses across the entire island once, they still failed to detect the aura of any Divine Realm experts, nor even a single Heavenly Position expert. This caused Gu Xiao and Wu Qin to be secretly amazed, and their vigilance towards the island gradually sharpened.

Before coming, they had received messages from Hua Meng and Huang Nan stating that there were Divine Realm experts on this island, and more than one. It was precisely because of this information that these two figures, capable of causing tsunamis by merely stomping in the Yuanluo Sea region, had condescended to grace this place with their presence.

Although they found it hard to believe that Divine Realm experts truly resided on this island, they did believe there must be masters at the peak of the Heavenly Position, just one step shy of the Divine Realm. Yet, upon arriving, they found nothing—not even any strong fluctuations of life force.

This left the pair stunned. Inside the four-story pavilion, Hua Meng and Huang Nan heard Gu Xiao and Wu Qin’s booming shouts.

They tried to respond loudly, but discovered their voices could not penetrate the strange silver ripple encircling the outside of the wooden building. A certain soul-based restrictive barrier existed around the four-story structure, a barrier that prevented spiritual exploration, making it impossible for those nearby to sense their presence.

“Don’t bother trying.” As Hua Meng and Huang Nan tried to shout out, Cao Zhilan suddenly stood up, walked silently to the window, and gazed toward Gu Xiao and Wu Qin from afar. Her delicate face was filled with shock and horror.

“The Gu Family Head, Gu Xiao, and the Tianchi Holy Mother, Wu Qin, both possess the cultivation of the first heaven of the Divine Connection realm. Such profound and terrifying realms of cultivation, yet they cannot detect our presence… this…” Cao Zhilan did not finish her sentence, but the shock and fear in the hearts of Hua Meng, Huang Nan, Gu Linglong, and the others inside the room were palpable, their hearts racing uncontrollably.

“Impossible, absolutely impossible…” Gu Linglong mumbled, unwilling to accept the reality. “My great-grandfather is a Divine Realm expert; how could he not sense us so close by?

He must be doing it deliberately! Yes, it must be intentional!” “Nothing is impossible,” Cao Zhilan took a deep breath.

“I have been secretly observing the Yin Mei Clan. I’ve discovered that this peculiar race’s understanding of soul profundities far exceeds ours.

Don’t deny this; we have all experienced it firsthand. That Zha Ji’s physical essence was not inherently thicker than ours, yet he could easily control us through specialized soul techniques.

Just this alone shows how terrifying their comprehension of soul profundities is.” Pan Zhe slowly nodded, his expression grim. “Miss Cao is correct.

This race is indeed superior to us in this aspect.” “The three commanders of the Yin Mei Clan likely also possess Divine Realm cultivation. At the same level, their comprehension of the main soul and the sea of consciousness should be deeper than that of the Gu Family Head and the Holy Mother.

That is simply the factual assessment we must accept, otherwise, the barrier they set up would not be undetectable to the Gu Family Head and the Holy Mother,” Cao Zhilan frowned, a bitter edge to her lips. “I only hope they understand the situation on the island and refrain from acting too arrogantly.” Gu Linglong and Cui Yanqing exchanged startled glances, then a shared, faint worry surfaced.

A majestic figure rapidly swept over from the distant snow mountains, soon coming to a halt before Gu Xiao and Wu Qin. “I am Stone Rock, from the Yang Family of the Galuo Sea Region.

I pay my respects to you both, seniors.” Stone Rock cupped his hands in greeting, his manner respectful, and offered a calm smile. “I am delighted that you two seniors have traveled a thousand miles to reach us.” “Stone Rock?” Gu Xiao’s eyes turned into chilling, sharp swords as he looked down at the young man with arrogance.

“I have never heard of you. Tell your Yang Family elders to speak; you are not qualified.” With just a glance, Gu Xiao discerned Stone Rock’s true strength—only at the third heaven of the Status realm—and clearly did not take him seriously, lacking even the patience for more conversation.

“Release the people first,” Wu Qin maintained her benevolent facade, yet her tone was quite cold. “I must see the people from our Holy Land before I will converse with your Yang Family.

Yang Qingdi has been restrained; I wonder if your Yang Family has anyone else worth our time.” Stone Rock’s brow tightened, and the smile on his face gradually turned cold. “It seems you two seniors look down on me greatly.” Gu Xiao shook his head.

“It’s not that we look down on you; it’s that you lack the standing to negotiate with us. Young man, call out your Yang Family elders.

Your Yang Family is destined to sink in the Endless Sea due to its transgressions now. Antagonizing us at this time would truly not be a wise move for your family.” Wu Qin remained silent, walking around the area on her own, releasing gentle waves of energy, seemingly assessing the surroundings.

“If it weren’t for you targeting the Yang Family and colluding with the Demon People to deal with us, the Demon People would not have entered the Endless Sea, and you would not be facing your current predicament,” Stone Rock suddenly snorted coldly, speaking bluntly. “The arrival of the Demon People in the Endless Sea is entirely due to your own stupidity.

It’s unbelievable that even now, you remain so unrepentant.” “Hmph?” A streak of sword-shaped electric light flashed within Gu Xiao’s pupils, shooting directly toward Stone Rock. Peerless sword qi suddenly burst forth from the finger-length lightning bolt!

Within that tiny flash of electricity were contained dozens of terrifying, distinct sword intents. These intents spread everywhere, as if ready to tear the very heavens apart.

In Stone Rock’s eyes, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of towering greatswords descended from the nine heavens and ten earths, enveloping him entirely! The sword intents were omnipresent, causing him to experience a sense of powerlessness, as if he could only turn to dust along with the essence of the sword intent.

Gu Xiao needed only the lightning in his eye to make Stone Rock lose even the will to resist. “Chi!” A plume of pitch-black feather suddenly manifested before Stone Rock.

The black feather swayed, sending out thousands of dark ripples. As the ripples spread, the world was enveloped in blackness, and the daytime instantly turned to night.

“Boom! Boom!

Boom!” A series of earth-shattering explosions followed immediately. As Stone Rock cried out in confusion, Gu Xiao’s startled cry suddenly reached his ears.

The darkness vanished in an instant, and sunlight reappeared. Gu Xiao’s face was grim, his eyes wide with horror.

He roared, “There truly is a Divine Realm expert!”