Chapter 1651: Attack and Ambush

Jinfeng Island is the Dongfang Family's stronghold, named for its resemblance to a golden phoenix.

After Tianlan Realm cultivators invaded Dongli Realm, the Dongfang Family intensified patrols, dispatched more family members to guard, and significantly heightened their defenses.

In the northwest corner of Jinfeng Island stood a steep and majestic peak, shimmering entirely with golden light, like a mountain of pure gold.

Jinfeng Peak, one of the Dongfang Family's forbidden areas, was accessible only to its high-ranking members.

At its summit stood a magnificent and opulent palace, featuring golden bricks and glazed tiles. Large stone pillars were carved with lifelike golden phoenixes, and a lacquered golden plaque bore the three silver characters "Jinfeng Hall."

Inside the hall, over a dozen Dongfang Family cultivators were discussing military affairs. A clean-shaven, square-faced middle-aged man sat on the main seat, his gaze commanding.

Dongfang Yubin, the head of the Dongfang Family, was also Dongfang Yulin's youngest clan brother.

"The war is becoming increasingly tense," Dongfang Yubin began. "Fifth Brother sent word for us to dispatch a group of experts to the front line. We should..."

Before Dongfang Yubin could finish speaking, a deafening roar erupted, the entire Jinfeng Hall shook violently, and alarms blared loudly.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Dongfang Yubin's expression darkened. He was the first to leap out of Jinfeng Hall, and he gasped sharply.

In the sky, a red cloud several zhang wide hovered. A burly, ruddy-faced old man in a red robe stood atop it with Long Hanji. The red-robed elder had large hands and feet, his eyes like lightning. Red rings adorned his hands, feet, and even his nose, making his attire bizarre.

The red-robed old man's aura was noticeably stronger than Long Hanji's; he was clearly a Soul Transformation cultivator. This was Yan Que, the Barbarian Race's only Soul Transformation cultivator, at the early Soul Transformation stage.

Yan Que had originally intended to observe for a period, not wanting to join the war too early. The Tianlan Realm's momentum was fierce, and joining immediately would result in too great a loss. The entire Barbarian Race had fewer than twenty Nascent Soul cultivators; interfering in a realm war would be inviting their own demise. The Human Race was busy dealing with Tianlan Realm cultivators and had no time to spare for the Barbarian Race. As long as the Barbarian Race didn't side with the Tianlan Realm, there would be no issue.

Long Hanji led two Soul Transformation cultivators to the Barbarian Race. They convinced Yan Que with their strength, promised great rewards, and presented a Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure, the Sky-Burning Axe, thus winning him over.

The Dongfang Family held significant influence in the South Sea and had a good relationship with the Sun Moon Palace. Situ Mei also persuaded the Tianlan Realm to destroy the Dongfang Family, using them as a sacrifice to rally support.

Within these ten years, Tianlan Realm cultivators were not idle. Besides dealing with the Dongfang Family, they also sent people to open other seals, such as the Myriad Ghosts Sea. After all, Dongli Realm was not their territory; even if all its cultivators perished, the high-ranking officials of the Tianlan Realm wouldn't care.

"Fellow Daoist Yan," Long Hanji said with a faint smile, "we have demonstrated our sincerity. Now it's your turn." Eighteen Soul Transformation cultivators from the Tianlan Realm had already arrived in Dongli Realm, a fact most Tianlan Realm cultivators were unaware of, let alone those in Dongli Realm.

Yan Que nodded and said, "This old man keeps his word. I hope you do the same." He flipped his hand and took out a giant axe, glinting with red light. Its blade had a scarlet flame pattern, and its handle bore several small cracks. It was the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure, the Sky-Burning Axe. This treasure had been damaged and remained unrepaired to this day, which was why it had been given to Yan Que. The Sky-Burning Axe was a heavy-type magical treasure; its maximum power could only be unleashed in the hands of a body cultivator.

"Dongfang Family," Yan Que said with a cold expression, "today marks your demise." A vast swath of scarlet flames erupted from the Sky-Burning Axe in his hand as he swung it towards Jinfeng Island. The void tore open, and a scarlet axe blade over a thousand zhang long shot out, slashing towards Jinfeng Island.

A crimson-gold light screen enveloped the entire Jinfeng Island. The scarlet axe blade struck the screen, causing the island to shake violently and the light screen's spiritual glow to dim, yet it remained intact. After all, as a cultivation family that had produced Soul Transformation cultivators, their protective formation was a Fifth-rank array and would not be easily broken.

"As expected of the Dongfang Family," Yan Que muttered to himself, "their protective formation can withstand a blow from a Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure."

"Don't dawdle," Long Hanji urged, "if we delay too long, Soul Transformation cultivators from Dongli Realm might arrive." She shook her sleeve, and a red light shot out. After a deafening dragon roar echoed, the red light transformed into a scarlet flood dragon over a hundred zhang long. The scarlet flood dragon, enveloped in raging flames, struck towards Jinfeng Island. The scarlet flood dragon was manifested from the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure, the Red Flood Dragon Sky-Burning Sword, and its power was immense.

Yan Que nodded and once again wielded the Sky-Burning Axe, unleashing a scarlet axe blade ten thousand zhang long that cleaved towards Jinfeng Island. With two Soul Transformation cultivators wielding two Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures, no matter how strong the Dongfang Family's protective formation was, it could not withstand them.

After a world-shattering roar, the crimson-gold light screen shattered like foam. Flames erupted skyward on the island, and a group of Dongfang Family cultivators were torn to bloody shreds.

Just then, the sea below began to churn violently, and a massive whirlpool, a hundred miles in diameter, appeared. It emitted a deafening roar and generated a powerful suction force. At the same time, dots of spiritual light emerged in the void. After blurring, they transformed into a black butterfly ten thousand zhang wide. The black butterfly continuously flapped its wings, releasing a vast cloud of fragrant black powder that flew directly towards Long Hanji and Yan Que.

Just as the two were about to cast spells to defend, a loud Buddhist chant came from the horizon: "Amitabha. Two fellow Daoists are wreaking havoc. This humble monk must seek a proper discussion." Hearing this sound, their heads buzzed. Taking advantage of this moment, the black powder landed on them and immediately emitted wisps of green smoke.

At the same time, dots of golden light emerged in the void above their heads, transforming into a golden giant palm over a hundred zhang large. The palm's surface was enveloped in a layer of golden Buddhist light as it rapidly descended.

Long Hanji and Yan Que rapidly fell towards the massive whirlpool below, seemingly about to be shredded by the powerful vortex. After a deafening dragon roar echoed, Long Hanji transformed into a scarlet flood dragon over a hundred zhang long and immediately spouted raging flames that struck the blue whirlpool. The Sky-Burning Axe in Yan Que's hand burst forth with dazzling firelight. He cleaved towards the whirlpool below, and hundreds of scarlet axe blades ten thousand zhang long flew out, cleaving towards the massive whirlpool.

Boom!

A massive roar erupted as the massive whirlpool exploded, sending sea waves splashing a thousand zhang high.

A golden light and a red light appeared on the horizon; after a few flashes, they stopped. The golden light revealed a plump, fair-skinned monk in a golden robe. This golden-robed monk, Master Haoyue, possessed kind eyes and a benevolent face, and was at the early Soul Transformation stage. The red light revealed a wrinkled old woman. The old woman wore a black long robe embroidered with numerous black butterflies. She was Granny Black Butterfly, also at the early Soul Transformation stage. The sea surface churned violently, and a blue-robed elder with youthful features and white hair surfaced. It was Jiao Lin of the Sea Race, at the mid Soul Transformation stage.

They had long anticipated that Tianlan Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators would launch a sneak attack and were waiting for them to fall into their trap.

"Kill them," Jiao Lin said with a cold expression, "and use their heads as a sacrifice to rally our forces." He waved a small blue banner, causing the sea to churn violently, forming a blue whirlpool ten thousand zhang high that headed directly towards Long Hanji and Yan Que. Granny Black Butterfly and Master Haoyue also attacked, targeting Long Hanji and Yan Que.

For a time, roars were incessant, and powerful airwaves surged. The powerful airwaves shattered the buildings on Jinfeng Island, and low-level cultivators caught in the aftershocks of the battle were directly torn into bloody rain, perishing instantly. With five Soul Transformation cultivators battling here, the commotion was naturally immense.