Chapter 1297: Storm Approaches

The Wang family and Yellow Dragon Island were destined for conflict. True Immortal Huang Long would naturally not stand idly by as the Wang family continued to grow.

True Immortal Huang Long meticulously planned their attack. He invited four Nascent Soul cultivators, including True Immortal Yanshui, and they prepared to storm Green Lotus Island.

Their plan was to eliminate the Green Lotus Immortals if they were present on the island. If the Green Lotus Immortals were absent, they would destroy the Wang family's high-level cultivators, leaving only a few low-level ones. By not completely wiping out the family, they ensured the Green Lotus Immortals wouldn't resort to a desperate, all-or-nothing retaliation.

True Immortal Huang Long naturally wouldn't openly invade Green Lotus Island, as that would be tantamount to a complete break with the Wang family, leaving no room for future reconciliation.

If the Green Lotus Immortals were absent from Green Lotus Island and True Immortal Huang Long led an attack to wipe out the Wang family's high-level cultivators, he'd eat his hat if the Green Lotus Immortals didn't retaliate. However, if the attackers were disguised and left no solid evidence, and the Green Lotus Immortals then sought trouble with Yellow Dragon Island, Yellow Dragon Island could appeal to the Sun Moon Palace for assistance.

The Sun Moon Palace needed Yellow Dragon Island to exist. Yellow Dragon Island, along with the Cold Flame Sect and Heavenly Sea Pavilion, served as pawns for the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea, specifically to curb the Supreme One Immortal Sect's expansion in the Coral Sea.

An elder relative of the Green Lotus Immortals was a disciple of the Supreme One Immortal Sect. Without irrefutable evidence, any move the Green Lotus Immortals made against Yellow Dragon Island could be interpreted as the Wang family collaborating with the Supreme One Immortal Sect to expand its influence in the South Sea by targeting Yellow Dragon Island. This would completely change the nature of the conflict.

In such a scenario, not only would the Sun Moon Palace not spare the Wang family, but the Ten Thousand Swords Sect would also not stand idly by.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, didn't we agree?" True Immortal Huang Long asked with a frown. "Why the sudden change of heart?" Their strategy had been to send people to infiltrate Golden Lotus Island to destroy its teleportation array. Then, five Core Formation cultivators would cause a diversion to hold off Guang Dongren, allowing True Immortal Huang Long and six other Nascent Soul cultivators to seize the opportunity and attack Green Lotus Island.

Having developed for many years, the Green Lotus Wang family surely possessed significant wealth. Insider reports indicated that the Wang family had a deep foundation, including over a dozen spirit arts.

"Fellow Daoist Huang, please calm down," True Immortal Yanshui said. "This matter is of great importance. If it succeeds, all is well. But if it fails, you can simply walk away, while our Lu family will be forced to break ties with the Wang family, or even openly fight them. The Lu family would suffer a huge loss."

True Immortal Yanshui haggled, noting that a full sixty years had passed since the foreign invasion, and various factions had largely recovered their strength. If the Lu family initiated hostilities, the duration of the conflict would be beyond their control. He reminded him that the Wang family had, for years, pursued a strategy of befriending distant powers while attacking nearby ones, forming marital alliances with several major forces.

Simply put, True Immortal Huang Long's offer wasn't lucrative enough for True Immortal Yanshui to agree to attack Green Lotus Island.

"Didn't we agree?" True Immortal Huang Long patiently persuaded him. "According to insider reports, the Wang family might possess Infant Spirit Fruits, fourth-tier puppet beasts, secret techniques for raising flood dragons, the legacy of a fourth-tier artificer, and two Five Dragon Tokens. These items are priceless. Crippling the Wang family would also greatly benefit your Lu family's future development."

In addition to True Immortal Yanshui, True Immortal Huang Long had also invited two rogue Nascent Soul cultivators and one from a cultivation family. The Green Lotus Immortals had gained widespread fame during the foreign invasion, thanks to a single decisive battle. When the two rogue Nascent Soul cultivators learned they were targeting the Wang family, they demanded an exorbitant price. True Immortal Huang Long had already paid them half the compensation before the operation even began. Now, even if he wanted to change his mind, he would still have to pay the remaining half, or they would directly attack Yellow Dragon Island.

Rogue cultivators were unbound by convention and considered the four seas their home. They were incredibly bold, operating on the principle that they were loyal only to whoever offered them benefits. True Immortal Huang Long found himself in an irreversible predicament.

To secure the cooperation of the two Nascent Soul rogue cultivators, he had already provided them with over five million in valuables, including magic treasures, artifact refining materials, and servant girls. Since they had already arrived, he would have to pay them regardless of whether the operation proceeded.

"That may be true," True Immortal Yanshui retorted, "but the Green Lotus Immortals are exceptionally powerful. I can simply keep Guang Dongren occupied for you. If you succeed, give me a share. If you fail, then so be it."

True Immortal Huang Long was furious. The Lu family had initially agreed to the plan but then went back on their word after he had gathered his forces, leaving True Immortal Huang Long in an irreversible predicament.

Just then, Lu Hengbin quickly entered the room, bowed, and reported, "Old Ancestor, the Wang family seems to have cultivated a third-tier flood dragon. There was a lightning tribulation on Green Lotus Island, and our insider heard a dragon's roar."

"Could it be Fairy Bai Ling's flood dragon?"

Lu Hengbin shook his head. "No," he replied. "Our insider has repeatedly assured us that Fairy Bai Ling is not on Green Lotus Island. His life is in our hands; he wouldn't dare lie."

Hearing this, True Immortal Huang Long's expression grew even grimmer. In just over thirty years, the Wang family had gained three more Core Formation cultivators, and now they also possessed a third-tier flood dragon. If Wang Qingshan were to reach the Nascent Soul stage, their problems would become enormous.

"I know, you may leave. Keep an eye on the Wang family's movements at all times."

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

Lu Hengbin acknowledged, bowed, and withdrew.

"Alright! Let's proceed!" True Immortal Huang Long said. "Fellow Daoist Lu, you must absolutely keep Guang Dongren occupied. If something happens to us, your Lu family will also suffer."

True Immortal Huang Long said meaningfully that even if their five Nascent Soul cultivators attacked Green Lotus Island and couldn't secure a victory, one or two of them could still escape. While it was difficult to say for the others, True Immortal Huang Long, having the highest cultivation, had a strong chance of getting away.

True Immortal Huang Long had a contingency plan: Huang Yuxu was stationed on Yellow Dragon Island, personally guarding the vital soul lamps of True Immortal Huang Long and Jin Yu. If their soul lamps were to extinguish, Huang Yuxu was to immediately take Yellow Dragon Island's valuables and go into hiding, seeking an opportunity to exact revenge on the Wang family.

"No problem," True Immortal Yanshui replied. "Keeping Guang Dongren occupied won't be an issue. However, you shouldn't delay for too long; make it a quick battle. The Wang family has many marital alliances. For instance, the Ye family of Red Leaf Island has frequently intermarried with the Wang family over the years, and they might send reinforcements."

True Immortal Huang Long nodded. "Unless the Wang family has a direct teleportation array, the Ye family's reinforcements won't arrive quickly enough," he said. "A quarter of an hour should be sufficient, assuming we can successfully infiltrate the Wang family. There won't be any issues with our insider, will he?"

"Rest assured," True Immortal Yanshui replied, "his son and daughter are in my hands. If he dares to disobey, I'll immediately kill them. However, you should still be cautious; nothing is absolute."

True Immortal Yanshui advised, still feeling somewhat uneasy, knowing that if the Wang family could be destroyed, the Lu family would also benefit.

"Naturally," True Immortal Huang Long sneered, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Wang Qingshan hasn't reached the Nascent Soul stage yet; heaven is truly helping me. Since he hasn't ascended, he never will."

If the Green Lotus Immortals were present on Green Lotus Island, their five Nascent Soul cultivators, working together, could still fight their way out. Regardless, even if this battle couldn't destroy the Wang family, it would at least severely cripple them.

Wang Qingshan was the most promising member of the Wang family and True Immortal Huang Long's primary target for elimination. He was resolute: given any opportunity, he would kill Wang Qingshan first.

The two finalized the specific steps, timing, and potential contingencies for the operation.

Half an hour later, True Immortal Huang Long departed from White Crane Island.