Chapter 252: This is for what

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Zou Qi’s plan was simple: the Skyward Sect was facing a life-or-death situation. Since they were unwilling to retreat to Kyushu, their only option was to deflect the disaster elsewhere.

However, for this to succeed, there was a prerequisite: the Flood Dragon must not be controlled by Silverlight Island. Otherwise, it would be impossible to execute.

His conversation with Luo Fu confirmed this point for Zou Qi. Immediately, he instructed Yu Hongbao to seal off the Heavenly Secret, then proactively opened their formation and led his cultivators towards Silverlight Island.

They dispersed when they were forty zhang away, revealing the Flood Dragon pursuing them from behind. The dragon charged directly towards where the Silverlight Island cultivators were gathered. Just moments before, Silverlight Island had unleashed numerous spells and spirit artifacts to intercept the Skyward Sect, and these now coincidentally struck the Flood Dragon with resounding force.

The Flood Dragon's hiss echoed, its emerald eyes reflecting the panicked faces of the Silverlight Island cultivators. Its aura also began to turn savage.

Luo Fu, standing at the forefront of the crowd, felt his blood run cold. He felt as though his life had plunged from its peak to its absolute lowest point; such drastic ups and downs were truly exhilarating.

The Flood Dragon opened its mouth and spat out a cloud of emerald green serpent mist directly ahead. Many spirit artifacts, contaminated by the mist, clattered and fell.

“It’s over!” Luo Fu wailed internally.

When Zou Qi looked back, he saw the Flood Dragon spewing its mist. Overjoyed, he knew his plan had succeeded. Now, his task was simple: lead his team around to the rear of Silverlight Island, cut off their escape route, and let Silverlight Island deal with the Flood Dragon!

What was originally a crisis with their outpost on the verge of being overrun had, under his strategic brilliance, turned into a victory. He had even used the Flood Dragon to catch Silverlight Island off guard. He could almost envision the praise he would receive from the elders in his sect once this news reached them.

From now on, he would be highly valued by the sect, receive an abundance of cultivation resources, and perhaps even propose marriage to the Sect Master's only daughter, thus reaching the pinnacle of his life.

His beautiful dream suddenly shattered. The Flood Dragon, which had charged within twenty zhang of Silverlight Island's cultivators, did not attack them. Instead, it changed direction and pursued the Skyward Sect members.

Zou Qi's face immediately turned green. “Why? Why is this happening?!”

The Skyward Sect had never provoked the Flood Dragon. Why was it relentlessly targeting them?

Seeing that the Flood Dragon had actually changed direction, Luo Fu, who was about to shout a battle cry, swallowed his words.

A message arrived in his battlefield mark. He quickly checked it and found it was from Hao Ren.

Only then did he understand why the Flood Dragon had abandoned them and turned to pursue the Skyward Sect members. All of this was orchestrated by Lu Yiye.

He reached into his storage bag, pulled out a wine gourd, and tremblingly brought it to his lips.

The drastic ups and downs of life were simply too thrilling. "A drink to calm the nerves..." The wine went down, offering a slight reprieve. Luo Fu then shouted, "Only defend! Don't launch any proactive attacks!"

Hundreds of Silverlight Island cultivators gathered together. The body cultivators positioned themselves at the outermost perimeter, weapon cultivators behind them, and the more delicate spell and ghost cultivators at the very center.

Every single one of them was pale and terrified.

But after observing for a while, they realized the situation had become very subtle.

On their periphery, the previously scattered Skyward Sect cultivators had re-formed into a group. Led by Zou Qi and Yu Hongbao, they were desperately fleeing with astonishing momentum. Behind this group, the Flood Dragon was in relentless pursuit.

Centered on their position, the two sides continually chased and fled in circles.

The Flood Dragon occasionally spat out serpent mist, and bolts of lightning sometimes struck from its fleshy horns. From the Skyward Sect's side, screams occasionally echoed.

"What's going on?"

The Silverlight Island cultivators were bewildered.

Normally, being ignored like this would displease them; after all, hundreds of cultivators were gathered here, and ignoring them meant disrespect. But in the current situation, they wished for nothing more than to be ignored.

It wasn't exactly being ignored; the Skyward Sect had no time to attack them, as they were busy circling and fleeing. Meanwhile, the Flood Dragon was relentlessly chasing the Skyward Sect members and had no time to bother with Silverlight Island.

After observing for a moment, they confirmed that although their current situation was unusual, they were at least safe. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

For a moment, exclamations of wonder could be heard; after all, no one had ever experienced anything like this.

“Luo Fu, you dog-thief! How dare you still claim the Flood Dragon isn't controlled by your Silverlight Island!” Zou Qi's angry voice rang out.

By then, how could he not realize he had been deceived? This Flood Dragon was definitely controlled by Silverlight Island; otherwise, there was no reason for it to only target them. They had been desperately circling, yet the Flood Dragon clung to them like a maggot in the bone, impossible to shake off.

“Go to hell!” Luo Fu retorted, unwilling to be outdone. Just moments ago, when the Flood Dragon had charged at them, his heart had almost leaped out of his chest from fright.

“Your Silverlight Island is doomed!”

“You survive today first, you cur!”

A friendly and fervent exchange ensued between the two sides.

“Back to Kyushu!” Zou Qi roared unwillingly.

His original plan had failed. If they didn't return to Kyushu now, not only would their outpost be lost, but their cultivators would also suffer heavy casualties.

Led by him and Yu Hongbao, the Skyward Sect cultivators rushed directly towards the Heavenly Secret Hall.

Luo Fu's expression showed eagerness, clearly wanting to intercept the Skyward Sect members. However, considering that doing so might accidentally injure the Flood Dragon, and potentially draw its wrath, it would be unwise.

So, even though it was a rare opportunity, Luo Fu could only temporarily endure.

Looking out, the Skyward Sect cultivators, led by Zou Qi, were rushing towards the Heavenly Secret Hall, with the Flood Dragon in relentless pursuit, as if there was some irreconcilable feud between them.

Upon reaching the Heavenly Secret Hall, the Skyward Sect members did not rush in haphazardly. Instead, they quickly set up a formation, with the robust body cultivators blocking the Flood Dragon while the spell and medical cultivators withdrew first through the Heavenly Secret Pillar.

The two sides engaged in battle before the Heavenly Secret Hall, with incessant roaring sounds.

However, the Skyward Sect had already suffered significant casualties before this, and another group died while being chased by the Flood Dragon. Now, as more cultivators continuously returned to Kyushu, their defensive strength rapidly diminished.

Finally, at a certain moment, the Flood Dragon broke through the body cultivators' defense and plunged into the Heavenly Secret Hall. Immediately, several screams emanated from within; those were the cultivators who hadn't managed to return to Kyushu meeting their demise.

Thundering sounds came from within the Heavenly Secret Hall, as if the Flood Dragon was raging.

Survivors continuously fled from the Heavenly Secret Hall; it was impossible to remain inside. The Flood Dragon, with its body more than twenty zhang long, was wreaking havoc, making the hall a chaotic mess. Staying inside meant waiting for death.

Zou Qi lay in a pool of blood amidst the ruins, gazing at the scattered hundred or so Skyward Sect cultivators around him, his eyes filled with despair.

He knew that the Skyward Sect was finished!

Five li away, Lu Ye flipped onto the tiger's back and told Hao Ren, “Have your people make their move, but don't enter the Heavenly Secret Hall!”

Amber darted out, heading straight for the Skyward Sect's outpost.

Hao Ren and his sister followed closely, sending a message to Luo Fu halfway there.

Upon receiving Hao Ren's message, Luo Fu immediately gave the order. The hundreds of Silverlight Island cultivators who had remained in place surged into the Skyward Sect's outpost with a rumble.

At this moment, the Skyward Sect's outpost was like an undefended maiden's home, with hundreds of ruffians breaking in. Its fate was easily imaginable.

By the time Lu Ye arrived on Amber, thundering sounds still echoed from within the Heavenly Secret Hall, and the entire hall was trembling.

On the Heavenly Secret Hall's plaza, bodies and blood were visible everywhere. The casualties of the Skyward Sect cultivators were incalculable.

Perhaps some had escaped, but their numbers would certainly not be large. Even including those who had previously fled back to Kyushu, the Skyward Sect had suffered devastating losses at the Spirit Stream Realm level.

The Silverlight Island members were clearing the battlefield, and Luo Fu stood in the plaza, waiting.

“Senior Brother Luo!” Hao Ren and his sister approached with Lu Ye.

Luo Fu nodded slightly, then turned to Lu Ye, laughing heartily. “This must be Fellow Daoist Yiye, right? I've heard much about you.”

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist Luo!”

“Truly a prodigy of the Tiger Gate. Fellow Daoist Yiye's methods are remarkable; I am impressed!”

Although Lu Ye hadn't shown himself from start to finish, Luo Fu knew that the fundamental reason they were able to capture the Skyward Sect's outpost this time was the young man before him.

If he hadn't been able to command the Flood Dragon, how could the Skyward Sect have suffered such heavy losses?

He still couldn't figure out how Lu Ye, a seventh-level Spirit Stream cultivator, could command such a fierce creature as the Flood Dragon. However, he wouldn't inquire rashly; it was better not to let too many people know about this, as it could easily arouse suspicion from others.

The Skyward Sect's outpost had been captured, and naturally, the next step was to collect the spoils.

Luo Fu turned his head to glance at the noisy Heavenly Secret Hall, his expression solemn. He spoke, “Fellow Daoist Yiye, regarding all the benefits gained from this venture, my Silverlight Island will take twenty percent. What are your thoughts?”

As the guardian of a sect's outpost, Luo Fu could not act solely on personal preferences. Although he intended to befriend Lu Ye, business was business, and personal matters were personal. This time, he had brought hundreds of Silverlight Island cultivators, and having captured the Skyward Sect's outpost, they couldn't return empty-handed, or he wouldn't be able to account for it to his sect.

While Lu Ye certainly played a significant role, Silverlight Island was not entirely useless. If the hundreds of Silverlight Island cultivators hadn't arrived, the Skyward Sect, with its deep foundations, could have forced the Flood Dragon to retreat.

For Lu Ye, he had originally only intended to use the Flood Dragon to inflict some losses on the Skyward Sect. Silverlight Island's assistance at the crucial moment was an unexpected bonus.

It could be said that the arrival of Silverlight Island's cultivators completely overwhelmed the Skyward Sect's defenses. From their perspective, taking thirty or forty percent would not be excessive.

However, Luo Fu had other plans, which was why he suggested twenty percent, to avoid causing displeasure.

Lu Ye shook his head. “Let's make it fifty percent. We'll split it equally.”

Luo Fu immediately looked a little embarrassed. “Ah, this... that's not quite right, not quite right.”

“Fellow Daoist Luo, there's no need to decline. In fact, I have a favor to ask. If you insist on not accepting this, then it will be difficult for me to speak.”

He intended to form an alliance with Silverlight Island. By distance, Silverlight Island was the closest inner-circle sect to the Azureblood Sect. If an alliance could be formed, Azureblood Sect cultivators could then rely on Silverlight Island for cultivation in the future.

By offering more benefits now, would his sect's cultivators fear not being taken care of when they arrived at Silverlight Island later? When traveling abroad, having someone to look after you is completely different from having no one, a fact Lu Ye, who had often ventured alone, understood deeply.