Chapter 1049: Besieging Ice Ape Island (No Update Today)

Ice Ape Island, measuring 4,700 li in length and 2,300 li in width, is the ancestral home of the Ice Ape Clan. It holds immense significance to them and cannot be allowed to fall.

Shi Tianyuan, the patriarch of the Ice Ape Clan, possesses a late Nascent Soul stage cultivation.

Current intelligence indicates that at least thirteen Nascent Soul cultivators are attacking the Ice Ape Clan, putting Shi Tianyuan under considerable pressure. If this situation is not managed effectively, the Ice Ape Clan will inevitably suffer severe losses; in a worst-case scenario, it could face annihilation.

"Fellow Daoists," Shi Tianyuan asked, "do you truly intend to wipe us out?" His gaze was grim as he looked at Chen Qian and the young woman in the green dress opposite him.

While two late Nascent Soul cultivators harassed Ice Ape Island, four other islands were also simultaneously attacked by Nascent Soul cultivators.

"Exterminate you?" Chen Qian sneered. "Why didn't you voice such concerns when you were slaughtering our human cultivators?" He spoke with thirty-six gleaming red flying daggers circling erratically around him.

"We are not trying to exterminate you," Shi Tianyuan replied sincerely. "We have taken a group of cultivators captive, and I can arrange for our clan members on the front lines to release a portion of them." He understood clearly that without offering some concession, they would not withdraw their forces. "Furthermore," he added, "I can offer you four Ice Glaze Fruits and some millennium Profound Jade. What do you say?"

Chen Qian's face twisted into a sneer. "The Ice Glaze Fruit trees are right here on Ice Ape Island," he said coldly. "Do you think four Ice Glaze Fruits are enough to send us away? Do you take us for beggars?"

"However, if you were to offer us several dozen pieces of ten-thousand-year Profound Jade, we might consider it," the young woman in the green dress said with a smile. It was rumored that Ice Ape Island contained a Profound Jade Cavern, which yielded Profound Jade. While ten-thousand-year Profound Jade was the most valuable, it was notoriously difficult to mine.

Shi Tianyuan's expression turned cold. "Since that's your stance," he retorted angrily, "there's nothing more to discuss. I'll be watching to see how you intend to capture our Ice Ape Island."

As he spoke, a beam of white light shot from his mouth, revealing a colossal white bell, its surface intricately carved with the image of a white giant ape. The bell lacked a lid. Gripping the bell with both hands, he directed it towards Chen Qian and the young woman.

"Roar!"

A deafening roar erupted, and a vast, white sound wave surged forth. As the white sound wave swept past, the void rippled and froze, and the surface of the sea likewise turned to ice.

Chen Qian and the young woman in the green dress heard the monstrous roar, their ears ringing and their heads spinning. The Ice Ape Roar, an innate divine ability of the Ice Ape Clan, had its power amplified severalfold by the artifact.

The white sound wave instantly reached them. The young woman in the green dress manifested a green jade ruler, giving it a gentle shake. A vast expanse of green ruler shadows surged forth, striking at the oncoming wave. A resounding crash echoed. The dense array of green ruler shadows was unable to halt the white sound wave and was shattered to pieces.

Chen Qian changed his incantation, and the thirty-six red flying daggers converged, forming a colossal red shark that lunged towards the white sound wave. With a loud bang, the red shark was likewise sent flying back, disintegrating into thirty-six red flying daggers, their blades coated with white ice shards.

The white sound wave continued its advance. The young woman in the green dress, with a graceful sweep of her hand, unleashed a hundred-zhang-long azure sword energy that struck the white sound wave, shattering it completely.

A rumbling sound of thunder echoed from high above, and the sky darkened. A massive black cloud, spanning dozens of li, materialized in the heavens. Dozens of Core Formation stage Ice Apes were seen forming a circle, their bodies radiating a white spiritual glow, evidently channeling a powerful spell.

"Not good, retreat quickly!"

Chen Qian and the young woman in the green dress's expressions changed drastically as they hastily retreated, but it was already too late. Countless snowflakes drifted down from above, transforming into tens of thousands of white ice blades that relentlessly rained down upon them. The thirty-six red flying daggers spun erratically around Chen Qian. Any white ice blade that approached within fifty zhang was instantly shattered by the daggers. The few that managed to slip through were likewise pulverized by the azure sword energy unleashed by the young woman in the green dress.

Several streaks of light appeared on the distant horizon, rapidly approaching. It was Wang Changsheng and his companions. Currently, six Nascent Soul cultivators had arrived at Ice Ape Island, including Wang Changsheng and two others, while five more were still en route. In a battle of this caliber, Core Formation cultivators like Wang Mingren were primarily responsible for engaging the Core Formation stage Ice Apes.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you've arrived just in time," Chen Qian said grimly, his eyes glinting with cold light. "Let's combine our efforts and finish this quickly."

Upon seeing so many Nascent Soul cultivators, Shi Tianyuan's expression shifted, and he prepared to retreat to Ice Ape Island. However, a clear bell chime resonated, causing his mind to waver and him to pause in a brief trance.

"Not good!" Shi Tianyuan inwardly cursed, his hair standing on end.

A red light suddenly flared above his head, revealing an egg-sized red orb. Faint shadows of numerous demonic beasts could be discerned on its surface. This was the Demon-Suppressing Orb, a replica of the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure, the Myriad Demon Orb, capable of temporarily immobilizing demonic beasts below the fifth rank. The red orb spun rapidly, and the demonic beast shadows seemed to come alive. Chirps of insects, roars of beasts, and cries of birds echoed in succession, as a vast expanse of red radiance shot forth, instantly engulfing Shi Tianyuan.

Shi Tianyuan's eyes were wide open, his body completely immobilized; even wiggling a finger proved an immense struggle. Thirty-six red flying daggers, thousands of azure flying swords, a colossal golden fire crow over ten zhang in size, a dense multitude of blue fist shadows, thirteen yellow flying darts, and dark energy blasts, among other attacks, converged overwhelmingly on Shi Tianyuan, intending to deliver a fatal blow.

"Roar! Roar!"

A series of furious roars erupted, and wave after wave of white sound converged to meet the incoming attacks. Simultaneously, countless snowflakes descended from high above, forming a white ice shield dozens of zhang tall that materialized before Shi Tianyuan. A deafening roar of explosions followed. The white sound wave was pulverized, and the white ice shield proved equally ineffective. A dazzling array of colorful spiritual light engulfed Shi Tianyuan's body.

Wang Changsheng's brow furrowed slightly. Could even a late Nascent Soul stage demonic beast survive a direct assault from eight Nascent Soul cultivators? Suddenly, one of the snowflakes gleamed with a dazzling white light, revealing Shi Tianyuan's figure. His face was pale, and his aura was weak, indicating severe internal injuries. Had he not used a substitute artifact, he would have perished long ago.

Clutching the white giant bell in both hands, he roared, and a deafening monstrous cry accompanied a massive white sound wave that surged forth. Upon hearing this, the Nascent Soul cultivators like Wang Changsheng were relatively unharmed, but the Core Formation cultivators collapsed, spitting out large mouthfuls of blood before losing consciousness. Chen Qian and the others swiftly unleashed their attacks, a flurry of magical spell lights illuminating the air as they shattered the white sound wave.

Seizing the moment, Shi Tianyuan retreated to Ice Ape Island, refusing to engage further. The Ice Ape Clan's protective grand formation was a top-tier fourth-rank array. With Shi Tianyuan fully focused on defense, it was expected to hold for at least a day or two without unforeseen circumstances.

Li Jiong looked at Chen Qian and stated gravely, "Fellow Daoist Chen, let's make this quick; we shouldn't prolong the fight." The Divine Weapon Palace's Forbidden-Breaking Orb artifact was an excellent tool for dismantling formations. With its assistance, they would find it much easier to breach the array.