Chapter 153: The Upheaval of Chiba Island

Qin Ming watched the retreating figure, his heart disturbed for a long time.

"It's actually Mo Lingwei."

"Didn't she choose to defect to the Zhao family back then in order to gather materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"Under the Nie family's tight control, how could she possibly have sneaked into Qianye Spirit Island?"

"Could it be that the remnants of the Zhao family also..."

Thinking of this, a chill ran down Qin Ming's spine!

If this were true, it meant the remnants of the Zhao family were plotting a major move against Qianye Spirit Island.

Furthermore, it was a grand plan that had been brewing for a long time.

Given that they held neither the numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators nor the Nie family's pseudo-core cultivator in regard, one could easily imagine the gravity of the situation.

"This place is too dangerous. I need to notify Aunt Long and make my escape immediately." Qin Ming was a decisive person and fled without a second thought.

Soon after, Qin Ming immediately sent a voice transmission talisman to Aunt Long: "Fellow Daoist Long, I have received news that Qianye Spirit Island is on the verge of drastic changes. Remaining here is extremely dangerous, and we must leave immediately."

"I won't return to the residence. I'll take my leave first. You should immediately gather your subordinates and evacuate this place."

...

Inside the residence of the Jingxue Pavilion in the valley.

Aunt Long was in a pleasant mood today, chatting with the Pavilion Master and several other high-ranking executives in a private room.

Suddenly.

The voice transmission talisman on her body flickered with a message. She opened it to find that it was actually from Fellow Daoist Qin.

Upon finishing the contents, her expression changed drastically, and she sprang up from her chair.

She then raised her hand and cast a soundproofing barrier, enveloping the entire room.

"Not good!"

"The situation has changed; we must leave Qianye Spirit Island immediately!"

Seeing Manager Long in such an uncomposed state, the other high-ranking executives were also taken a aback. Protector Li Mu frowned and asked, "What has happened?"

Aunt Long handed the voice transmission talisman in her hand to him.

Li Mu took the talisman and swept his divine sense through it, instantly turning grave as well.

"Since this news comes from Fellow Daoist Qin, it is most likely true."

"Let us not make a commotion. Under the guise of transporting goods, let us quickly retreat to the port."

"Take everything that can be carried, and leave behind whatever cannot be taken in time. Quickly notify our subordinates."

Inside the room, the members of Jingxue Pavilion quickly finalized their decision and prepared to evacuate Qianye Spirit Island in secret.

...

On the other side.

Mo Lingwei, whose face was disguised, wore a complex expression on her delicate features as she arrived deep underground within Qianye Spirit Island.

"Why did you take so long again?"

"Has everything outside been arranged?"

In the darkness, a hoarse voice rang out. As Mo Lingwei approached, a familiar face emerged from the shadows.

It was none other than Zhao Wuji, the eldest young master of the Zhao family. However, the calm and capable demeanor he once possessed was entirely gone, replaced by a malevolent aura and a face disfigured and distorted on one half.

"Everything has been arranged," Mo Lingwei said expressionlessly.

"Hehe! You'd better not play any tricks. From the moment you came to look for me, we have been grasshoppers tied to the same rope."

"Your entire Mo family is in my hands. If you try to act clever in front of me, you know what the outcome will be." Zhao Wuji warned with a sinister sneer.

Mo Lingwei turned pale, clenched her fists, and said nothing more.

"Wait here. The good show is about to begin."

With that, Zhao Wuji turned and walked deeper into the hidden subterranean passage.

A moment later.

Following the passage, he arrived all the way at the depths of the earth.

A bone-chilling cold emanated from the cave below, exuding a gloomy and terrifying aura.

Even Zhao Wuji swallowed hard with tension before continuing downward.

A spacious underground cavern appeared before him.

The rock walls here were carved with numerous complex array runes and restrictions, and over a dozen black chains as thick as arms extended into the darkness.

In the open space below, a withered, white-haired old man sat cross-legged. His vitality was dried up, and his aura was extremely unstable, as if he were about to draw his last breath at any moment.

Zhao Wuji walked over and spoke respectfully to the old man, "Reporting to Ancestor, everything has been taken care of."

"Very well, then let us begin," the aged elder replied immediately.

Zhao Wuji hesitated for a moment and asked, "Ancestor, do you really intend to go through with this?"

"Hehe! For me, Zhao Wuyang, to have roamed this life, forged a pseudo-core, and lived to this age, my time was already numbered."

"However, since the Zhao family no longer exists, what use is there for the cultivation world of the Lingqi Archipelago?" Zhao Wuyang said gloomily.

"Hehe! Even the Leiyuan Sect and the Lingyu Gate could not have imagined this."

"The reason why Qianye Spirit Island produces a drop of 'Mystic Yin Earthly Nether Spirit Liquid' every century..."

"...is because a Tier 3 demonic plant is sealed in the layer beneath it."

Just as Zhao Wuyang finished speaking,

"Cackle cackle cackle cackle~"

"Old Ghost Zhao, you've finally seen the light!!"

The chains deep within the cave rattled violently, and a bewitching voice rang out.

Then, countless vine-like blood-red tentacles crawled forward along the chains...

"Cough, cough! Today, I, Zhao Wuyang, shall feed the demon with my own body, and let these high-and-mighty sects experience what true terror is!"

"Hahaha!"

Zhao Wuyang's eyes flashed with madness as he let out a malevolent, wild laugh.

...

Outside Qianye Spirit Island.

Qin Ming hurried toward the port. As he reached the sentry gate, the Nie family elder who had escorted them in yesterday spotted him, stepped forward with a flattering smile, and asked, "Oh! Island Master Qin, it's so late. Are you planning to head out?"

"Yes, I have a sudden, urgent matter to attend to back home," Qin Ming replied calmly and steadily, his expression normal.

"Hehe! What a pity then, Island Master Qin only arrived a day ago and didn't even get to enjoy himself properly."

"However, Island Master Qin's important matters come first. I'll have someone open the formation to let you through right away," the Nie family elder said.

He was about to turn around and order the defensive formation to be opened.

At that exact moment.

Qin Ming looked up at the night sky outside, his pupils suddenly dilating.

Rumble!

He saw an overwhelming army of fierce beasts, both in the sky and the water outside the port, advancing toward Qianye Spirit Island.

What surprised him even more was a black giant ape, over ten zhang tall, with a pair of bizarre pupils and exuding a monstrous, terrifying aura. It followed at the back of the main beast horde, and its target was also Qianye Spirit Island.

The Nie family's outer perimeter guards also spotted this astonishing scene.

"Something's wrong! Enemy attack!"

"Quick! Activate the defensive grand array at full power!"

Immediately afterward, several signal flares burst into the night sky above Qianye Spirit Island with loud bangs.

The Nie family cultivators swiftly relayed the message back into the island.

Inside the spirit island's valley settlement, the people were still immersed in the lively and festive trading atmosphere.

A gorgeous spell exploded in the sky, illuminating the night like day.

The cultivators all raised their heads to look up, wearing bewildered expressions as panic began to set in.

"What is going on?"

"Isn't that the Nie family's warning signal?"

"Could a major disaster be about to happen?"

...

Qin Ming swept his divine sense outward. This wave of beast tide was coming aggressively; the number of Tier 2 fierce beasts alone reached dozens, including quite a few late Tier 2 formidable monsters. It was clearly premeditated.

Just as he was pondering how to make his escape,

Rumble!

An even louder, earth-shaking roar resonated through the entire Qianye Spirit Island.

In an instant, the earth shook and the mountains quaked, and the spiritual Qi within the island began to churn in chaos.