Chapter 1299: Entering Qinglian Island

Yellow Sand True Monarch was a rogue cultivator who, in his early years, earned a living by hunting demonic beasts. He endured countless hardships before finally advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.

In his early years, he collaborated with Yellow Dragon True Monarch in hunting demonic beasts, developing a certain level of friendship.

Ten years ago, Yellow Dragon True Monarch approached Yellow Sand True Monarch, requesting his help to deal with the Azure Lotus Immortals.

Yellow Sand True Monarch, being only at the early Nascent Soul stage, refused without hesitation. However, upon learning that several Nascent Soul cultivators would be cooperating and that a generous reward was offered, he hesitated repeatedly but eventually agreed.

He reasoned that even if they were outmatched, multiple Nascent Soul cultivators working together could still break through an encirclement.

Madam Golden Butterfly came from a small family that offended a powerful clan and was subsequently annihilated. Only she survived. After centuries of arduous cultivation, Madam Golden Butterfly advanced to the Nascent Soul stage and used formidable means to destroy her enemies.

Yellow Dragon True Monarch had rendered her a great service in the past. When he invited her to deal with the Azure Lotus Immortals, he offered sufficient benefits, and Madam Golden Butterfly agreed, especially since several Nascent Soul cultivators would be working together.

Liu Haodong, from a certain cultivation family, owed Yellow Dragon Island an enormous debt of gratitude from his early years. To repay this favor, he was willing to undertake this mission.

Originally, there were six Nascent Soul cultivators, but True Monarch Yanshui changed his mind at the last minute. Thus, only five Nascent Soul cultivators attacked Azure Lotus Island. Aside from Yellow Dragon True Monarch, who was at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, Yellow Sand True Monarch and the other four were at the early Nascent Soul stage.

Azure Lotus Island possessed a Tier 4 formation; if they couldn't breach it by force, it would be a wasted trip. According to the plan, Yellow Sand True Monarch and Jin Yu, with the help of an internal spy, would enter Azure Lotus Island. They would seize the opportunity to control several Foundation Establishment cultivators, then lure and kill the Wang family's Core Formation cultivators, aiming to inflict as much damage as possible on the Wang family's high-level cultivators.

Yellow Dragon True Monarch and the other two would provide support from outside, to guard against unforeseen circumstances.

Yellow Sand True Monarch and Jin Yu stood inside a cyan flying boat. They had altered their appearances and suppressed their auras, disguised as Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even if a Core Formation cultivator attempted to investigate, they wouldn't detect anything unusual.

Not long after, Wang Jiyu and Fang Tianyuan flew out.

“Daoist Sun, Daoist Chen,” Fang Tianyuan said, pointing to Wang Jiyu, his face full of smiles. “This is Daoist Wang, whom I mentioned to you. Daoist Wang is a high-grade Tier 2 alchemist; you've certainly come to the right person this time.”

Fang Tianyuan felt deeply uneasy. The other party held leverage against him; if he defied their orders, they would reveal it to the Wang family, ensuring his death. Since death was inevitable either way, and with his children also in their hands, he could only obey.

“We've long heard of Daoist Wang's exceptional alchemy skills,” Yellow Sand True Monarch said, his tone full of flattery. “We've come this time to ask Daoist Wang to help refine two batches of Purple Dew Pills. Upon success, I, Sun, will certainly offer a generous reward.”

“All right! Follow me,” Wang Jiyu said, nodding. “Stay close and don't wander off. If you trigger our family's protective formation, even I won't be able to save you.”

Wang Jiyu turned, flying back the way he came.

The entire Azure Lotus Island was enveloped by a vast expanse of cyan mist, making it impossible to see clearly inside.

Not long after, he stopped and took out a cyan square token. He infused it with spiritual power, and a beam of cyan light shot out, disappearing into the cyan mist sea below.

The cyan mist sea churned and rippled, revealing a passage. Wang Jiyu leaped and flew inside.

Fang Tianyuan and the two others followed closely behind.

Yellow Sand True Monarch felt his vision blur, and suddenly found himself in a somewhat desolate clearing. Several miles away, stood a gigantic cyan city, over a hundred zhang tall.

The giant city was three thousand li long and nine hundred li wide. Above its entrance hung a glittering plaque with the four golden characters "Azure Lotus Immortal City" inscribed on it.

A team of cultivators in cyan armor patrolled the city walls. The city gate was wide open, but a light cyan barrier sealed the entrance, displaying a cyan lotus pattern on its surface.

Wang Jiyu walked in the lead, with Fang Tianyuan and the two others following behind.

“Stop, Daoist Fang, who are those two behind you? We've never seen them before!” a Foundation Establishment cultivator on the city wall shouted as they approached the city. Wang family cultivators all wore robes embroidered with lotuses and carried special identification tokens, making them instantly recognizable to outsiders.

“These two Daoists are my guests; they have a small matter they wish to discuss with me,” Wang Jiyu explained.

“Guests? Wait a moment, we'll ask our captain,” a tall middle-aged man said loudly. Over thirty years ago, when Zhang Wuchen came to give a warning, Immortal Zi Yue had issued orders for a seemingly relaxed but internally strict approach.

Wang Mengfen had specifically instructed the guards to strictly prevent outsiders from entering. Outsiders wishing to enter Azure Lotus Island had to obtain permission from two Core Formation cultivators. This order was only given to the guards; other clan members were unaware of it.

According to regulations, if an outsider entered Azure Lotus Island, the guards had to seek approval from two Core Formation cultivators.

The middle-aged man took out his communication disk and contacted the on-duty Core Formation cultivators, Wang Youwei and Wang Xianfen.

He contacted Wang Youwei, who, upon hearing that they were Wang Jiyu's guests, asked: “Have these two people been here before? Does Jiyu often invite guests to visit?”

“According to our records, they have not been here before. Uncle Jiyu rarely invites guests to visit.”

“I recall that the Clan Leader has just emerged from seclusion,” Wang Youwei replied. “Immediately consult the Clan Leader and let him make the decision.”

The middle-aged man agreed and contacted Wang Mengfen.

Yellow Sand True Monarch and Jin Yu maintained their composure. They kept a close watch on the guards on the city wall, ready to act at the first sign of anything unusual.

Yellow Dragon Island also had a strict vetting mechanism, and outsiders wishing to enter had to undergo strict scrutiny.

The middle-aged man put away his communication disk and said loudly: “Since they are Uncle Jiyu's guests, you may enter! However, Uncle Jiyu, you must keep a close eye on them, or you will be responsible for any consequences.”

The cyan barrier rippled and vanished.

“Understood. Let's go! Follow me in,” Wang Jiyu said, waving his hand.

Yellow Sand True Monarch and Jin Yu's expressions remained normal as they followed inside.

The guards' expressions remained unchanged, and Wang Jiyu's demeanor showed no issues.

Upon entering Azure Lotus Immortal City, they were met by a smaller inner city. The inner and outer cities were separated by several miles, and the area was empty.

Yellow Dragon Island was similarly arranged, so Jin Yu did not find this surprising.

Just as they approached the inner city, a sudden fierce wind arose, kicking up countless yellow sand particles.

They felt their vision blur, and suddenly found themselves in an endless yellow desert. Yellow Sand True Monarch, Jin Yu, and Fang Tianyuan were trapped within it, but Wang Jiyu was not caught by the formation.

On the inner city wall, Wang Mengfen held a pale yellow formation disk, his expression cold.

Wang Jiyu was either refining pills or training in the Illusory Demonic Pagoda, and he had little contact with outsiders. His sudden act of bringing outsiders as guests was truly strange.

Wang Mengfen's first instinct was that enemies had infiltrated Azure Lotus Island. Out of caution, he activated a portion of the restrictions. If the visitors had nothing to hide, he could explain that they had accidentally triggered the restrictions and offer an apology. However, if the cultivators had ulterior motives, they would certainly be exposed.