Chapter 132: The Island of Safety

Qin Ming had just returned to Moon-Watching Island when he saw Wu Jiang running toward him with a look of utter panic. "Fellow Daoist Qin, something terrible has happened!" Wu Jiang cried out anxiously. "The Seventy-Two Islands Loose Cultivator Alliance has launched an assault on the Zhao family. The great war has begun!"

Qin Ming’s expression remained calm. Unhurried, he replied, "I know. I saw it as I was returning just now."

Wu Jiang was astonished by his composure. As the saying goes, when gods fight, the innocent suffer. Seeing how indifferent Qin Ming acted, Wu Jiang couldn't help but wonder: did Fellow Daoist Qin feel no concern at all?

Seemingly sensing Wu Jiang’s anxiety, Qin Ming said lightly, "Rest assured, Moon-Watching Island is safe for the time being. If you are worried, you may bring your family from White Rock Island here to wait out the storm."

His sense of security stemmed from confidence in his current strength: his body-refining technique had reached the first transformation of True Essence Manifestation; he possessed a Foundation Establishment-level great demon with Earth-grade bloodline; he had his life-bound spiritual plant, the Longevity Vine; and he was protected by a second-tier high-grade defensive array. Even if he encountered a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had more than enough strength to protect himself. There were only a handful of such experts in the Lingqi Archipelago—one could count them on a single hand. As for Golden Core ancestors, they would never deign to cast their eyes upon such a remote corner. Anyone below the late Foundation Establishment stage who dared to run wild on his island would essentially be walking to their death. He was actually in need of blood pearls to accelerate the growth of his Longevity Vine, and such intruders would provide exactly that.

Moon-Watching Island was far from the center of the storm and remained relatively safe. However, the Wu family’s White Rock Island was different; its location in the heart of the archipelago meant it would likely be caught in the flames of war before long.

With Qin Ming’s consent, Wu Jiang notified Mu Ruyin and immediately rushed home to handle the arrangements. Two days later, Wu Jiang arrived at the foot of Moon-Watching Island with dozens of his direct kin. His father, Wu Hanyuan, whose hair had already turned half-white, approached Qin Ming with tears in his eyes and said gratefully, "Thank you, Senior Qin, for taking us in! Otherwise, our Wu family would never have survived this crisis. And as for my boy, Wu Jiang, it is thanks to your care over these years that he has achieved what he has today."

Wu Hanyuan clearly understood the situation well.

"There is no need for such formality, Fellow Daoist Wu," Qin Ming replied. "Since Wu Jiang runs errands for me, I should naturally look after him. From now on, just call me Fellow Daoist."

...

Seven days passed. Having exhausted their third-tier restriction-breaking talismans, the Seventy-Two Islands Loose Cultivator Alliance found themselves completely powerless against the remaining third-tier defensive array of Thousand Leaf Spirit Island. However, the Zhao family was no pushover. Instead of cowering behind their formations, they allied with the families that had defected to their side and launched a fierce counter-offensive across the Lingqi Archipelago.

In an instant, the region was carved into numerous battlefields of varying sizes. The White Rock Island where the Wu family had resided, along with neighboring islands, suffered devastating ruin. Other families were not as fortunate as the Wu clan; caught in the crossfire, they were decimated one after another. Only the Wu family had managed to escape the catastrophe.

Qin Ming’s Moon-Watching Island, located in the far north, remained isolated from the chaos. It stood as if apart from the world, enjoying a rare and tranquil peace.

The members of the Wu family began to work even harder, cultivating spirit rice and tilling the spirit fields.

Meanwhile, Qin Ming released the Profound Water Crocodile to patrol the waters around Moon-Watching Island around the clock, ensuring he would be the first to know of any anomalies. As for the Six-Winged Frost Bee, it had been gathering strength since its last failed breakthrough, waiting for another opportunity. After being fed the blood pearls from the Longevity Vine, the vine thrived, and the swarm of spirit bees living beneath it benefited greatly.

After observing the Six-Winged Frost Bee queen for a long time, Qin Ming pondered his options and retrieved a demon core and a vial of beast essence blood from his storage bag. The demon core, a second-tier early-stage Flame-Feather Hawk core, had been acquired by Mu Yuanshan at the previous auction. The essence blood, obtained by Qin Ming, was that of a Green-Blooded Suanni—a genuine Earth-grade bloodline. Both items would aid in the bee’s breakthrough, but consuming them carried far greater risks than using refined pills.

Qin Ming was undecided. Just then, the Six-Winged Frost Bee in the hive seemed to sense his thoughts. It flew out from under the Longevity Vine, flapped its three pairs of purple wings, and hovered before him. After hesitating for only a moment, it moved toward the vial of second-tier Suanni essence blood.

Qin Ming was stunned. The danger of consuming high-grade bloodline essence far outweighed that of the Flame-Feather Hawk core. If the breakthrough failed, the bee would almost certainly perish on the spot. Yet, the intent the bee projected to Qin Ming was devoid of fear; it was filled with firm resolve. This spirit bee had been with him since he was a spirit farmer at the Spirit Feather Sect. While it had not participated in his battles, it had performed meritorious service time and again in dealing with pests that plagued his spirit plants. Qin Ming would be heartbroken to lose it.

"Very well," he sighed. "Since you have come this far, I will grant your wish."

If it succeeded, it would be a heaven-sent transformation for the Six-Winged Frost Bee. If it failed, all its previous efforts would vanish like smoke.

Qin Ming removed the seal from the jade vial, and a thick, pungent smell of blood filled the air. The Six-Winged Frost Bee did not hesitate, pressing its mouth to the vial and draining the Green-Blooded Suanni essence. Within a few breaths, the vial was empty. It flew back under the Longevity Vine and began to attempt to refine the essence to break through to the second-tier great demon stage.

The bee fell into a deep slumber. Three days later, Qin Ming sensed a vast surge of energy emanating from beneath the Longevity Vine. A massive vortex of spiritual energy gathered above the island, pouring into the bee’s body. Its skin began to split, and countless shocking cracks appeared across its frame.

It hissed incessantly, seemingly enduring immense pain. An hour later, the outer layer of the Six-Winged Frost Bee’s skin shed in layers, and its entire body underwent a radical change, turning a shimmering silver-white.

*Boom!*

The aura of a second-tier Foundation Establishment great demon erupted from its body!

"The breakthrough was a success!" Qin Ming’s face lit up, but his heart immediately tightened again—the most critical step remained: the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation.

*Rumble!*

A terrifying celestial phenomenon descended once more. The Wu family members on the island had grown accustomed to such sights. Soon, bolts of lightning struck the silver bee. To Qin Ming’s astonishment, the bee, having reached the Foundation Establishment stage, was wreathed in a silver light that allowed it to withstand the heavenly tribulation. The spirit-warding effect bestowed upon it by the Longevity Vine had reached an incredible intensity.

By the time it endured the seventh and eighth bolts, its aura began to wither; it had reached its limit. It lay dying. But the ninth, most powerful bolt of lightning had yet to fall. In its current state, it was unlikely to survive. Qin Ming was frantic, yet he dared not intervene; a mistake in such a tribulation could result in his own death.

*Crack!*

The final golden bolt of lightning descended!

Qin Ming groaned in despair, "It’s over..."

The Six-Winged Frost Bee let out a mournful cry, seemingly accepting its fate. But just then, the Longevity Vine, which had stood motionless, suddenly stirred! Countless black vines danced in the air, and profound silver runes swirled out. Like living tentacles, the vines surged forward with an unstoppable momentum,迎击向那道金色雷劫 to meet the golden lightning head-on.