Chapter 3202: Chaos

On Qinglian Peak

If one person were to hold off the Soul Integration cultivator from Zhenhai Palace while another attacked Qinglian Island, they would simply be unable to breach the island's defenses.

"When I sent someone to visit Qinglian Island, the Wang family suddenly heightened their alert. Cultivators entering and exiting Qinglian Island are now subjected to rigorous screening, making it very difficult for outsiders to infiltrate. It seems something significant must have happened to the Wang family; otherwise, they wouldn't have suddenly tightened their security."

Reverend Tiansha said, frowning.

They had brought their disciples to Tianhai City to inquire about the Wang family's situation. Of course, their disciples were unaware of their true intentions.

Whether they succeeded or not, they would make their escape. The lives of their disciples were irrelevant; they were merely cannon fodder.

"I've already dispatched people to gather information, hoping to uncover the reason behind the Wang family's sudden increase in security."

True Monarch Tianshi sighed. He had originally intended to use magic to control low-level cultivators of the Wang family and enter with them, but with the heightened security, infiltrating Qinglian Island had become extremely difficult.

Furthermore, the Soul Integration cultivators from Zhenhai Palace also posed a problem.

"You don't mean to tell me you don't have a second plan! Don't tell me you didn't consider True Master Taihao. If the Qinglian Immortals are both on Qinglian Island when we attack, and the Soul Integration cultivators from Zhenhai Palace arrive, we'll be caught in a pincer movement and surely die. Even if we're not going to survive the fifth Great Heavenly Tribulation, I'm not tired of living; I'd rather live a few more millennia if I can."

Reverend Tiansha raised his doubts. The information was difficult to verify, and if the Qinglian Immortals were both on Qinglian Island, they would be utterly incapable of breaching its defenses.

Just as True Monarch Tianshi was about to reply, he pulled out a golden communication plate and cast a spell into it. A respectful male voice sounded: "Master, the latest news is that a core disciple of the Wang family snatched a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Scroll from a Fu clan cultivator. Several Void Refinement cultivators have gone deep into the enemy territory to provide support and are clashing with foreign cultivators."

"The Heavenly Void Jade Scroll! Can you be certain?"

True Monarch Tianshi's breathing became ragged.

"No, I can't. This news comes from the foreign races. Perhaps it's just an attempt to tarnish the Wang family's reputation, or perhaps it's true. During the last racial conflict, Zhenhai Palace obtained a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Scroll from the Grey Quail clan. It's possible the Fu clan also possesses a Heavenly Void Jade Scroll."

The man's voice was respectful.

"Understood. Continue to investigate."

True Monarch Tianshi put away the communication plate, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"The Heavenly Void Jade Scroll! Could the Wang family's sudden increase in security be because they acquired a page of it? That would explain things. But it's just hearsay; could it be false information?"

Reverend Tiansha asked, bewildered.

"I'm not sure, but where there's smoke, there's fire. What's certain is that core disciples of the Wang family are wreaking havoc deep within the foreign territories. This is perfect; we'll add fuel to the fire. If the strongholds of a few minor clans are attacked, or their core disciples suffer heavy casualties, who will the foreign races blame? It will undoubtedly be the human race, and the most powerful human forces in this sea region, apart from Zhenhai Palace, are the Wang family."

True Monarch Tianshi said excitedly.

If they could incite a racial conflict, the foreign races might help tie down the Soul Integration cultivators from Zhenhai Palace. Perhaps with good luck, they could even acquire high-grade tribulation materials or treasures from other minor clans, thus avoiding the need to deal with the Wang family.

Most importantly, they could operate under the guise of helping the Wang family search for the Heavenly Void Jade Scroll. If they couldn't defeat the foreign experts, they could always retreat to human territory.

"Let's do it that way. We might even obtain the Heavenly Void Jade Scroll or high-grade tribulation treasures from other minor clans, which would save us the trouble of confronting the Wang family."

Reverend Tiansha heartily agreed.

"There's no time to lose. Let's depart immediately."

True Monarch Tianshi and Reverend Tiansha left Tianhai City, taking some of their disciples to the foreign territories.

Tianfu Island, Tianfu Hall.

Tong Xiang sat on the main seat, her gaze grim.

Dozens of elders stood divided on either side, their expressions varied.

"The Heavenly Void Jade Scroll! Did He Guang possess the Heavenly Void Jade Scroll?"

Tong Xiang asked in a deep voice.

Clan members didn't always turn over valuable items they acquired; everyone had selfish motives.

"I'm not sure. However, he went treasure hunting with others, and while everyone else perished, he was the only one who returned alive. At the time, I sent someone to investigate him and found that they had fallen under an illusion, forced to kill each other. He possessed a Nine-Palace Illusion-Breaking Talisman, which allowed him to survive. As for what he obtained, that remains unclear."

A sweet-faced young woman in a red dress reported.

Tong Wei, the Deputy Hall Master of the Fu clan's Intelligence Hall, was primarily responsible for monitoring the movements of Fu clan cultivators, checking if they had been bribed, turned, or betrayed.

"Gather personnel and reinvestigate. Additionally, cease hostilities with the Fire Dolphin clan. Regardless of whether the Wang family obtained the Heavenly Void Jade Scroll or not, our clan alone is no match for them."

Tong Xiang commanded. Even if a Wang family disciple had snatched a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Scroll from a Fu clan cultivator, there was nothing they could do about it. Storm Qinglian Island? The Fu clan didn't have the strength. Multiple races allied together, however, might make it possible.

"Yes, Clan Leader."

Tong Wei assented.

Tong Xiang gave a few instructions, then dismissed the elders.

Silver Shark Island, Silver Shark Hall.

Yin Qing sat on the main seat, her gaze authoritative. Yuan Gang and dozens of other clan elders stood on either side, their expressions varied.

"The Heavenly Void Jade Scroll? Can it be confirmed?"

Yin Qing asked in a deep voice.

Last time, several Soul Integration cultivators were killed or injured because the Fire Dolphin clan mistakenly believed there were Qiankun Fruits in the secret realm, when there were none at all.

Now, with talk of another Heavenly Void Jade Scroll, she naturally wouldn't believe it rashly.

"Not yet. Perhaps the Golden Scale clan wants to provoke us into dealing with the Wang family, thereby triggering a full-scale racial war."

Yin Shan analyzed. They weren't fools who believed every rumor.

If there truly was a Heavenly Void Jade Scroll with valuable content, even a Mahayana cultivator personally intervening wouldn't be an issue. But to confront the Wang family without confirming the news would be to become someone else's pawn.

"Keep a tight leash on those below. I don't want any more blunders."

Yin Qing said gravely. She was due to undergo her second Great Heavenly Tribulation within five millennia and wished to avoid further complications.

She looked at a slender young woman in a golden dress and said kindly, "Enter the Soul Integration stage as soon as possible. Tell me if you need any resources."

The young woman in the golden dress was Yin Linger, a transformed Level 6 Nine-Colored Worm, currently at the Mid-Void Refinement stage.

"Yes, Ancestor."

Yin Linger agreed.

Yin Shan took out a silver communication plate, cast a spell into it, and his expression darkened: "Ancestor, human Soul Integration cultivators have invaded our territory. Yin Feng and Fellow Daoist He have been killed."

"Who did this?"

Yin Qing said with a grim face.

"According to survivor accounts, it was True Monarch Tianshi and Reverend Tiansha. Their motive is unknown. They suddenly infiltrated our territory, and Yin Feng and Fellow Daoist He happened to be out on business when they encountered them. After a bloody battle, Yin Feng and Fellow Daoist He perished. Some clan members managed to escape during their engagement. True Monarch Tianshi possesses a Soul Integration stage refined corpse."

Yin Shan said slowly.

Yin Qing's gaze flickered uncertainly. She was indeed somewhat annoyed. She had originally intended to let matters rest, but now human Soul Integration cultivators had attacked and killed Soul Integration cultivators of the Silver Shark clan. Wasn't this a blatant insult to her?

During the last racial conflict, the Silver Shark clan was in the wrong. This time, the human race had actively sought trouble, disregarding everything. It would be difficult to lead their people if they did nothing.

If human Soul Integration cultivators could kill those of the Silver Shark clan, they could also kill Soul Integration cultivators of smaller clans.

The more crucial the moment, the calmer she needed to be. Why would human Soul Integration cultivators actively invade without reason? Could it be that the Fu clan truly possessed the Heavenly Void Jade Scroll? Had a core Wang family disciple died in their territory, and those two Soul Integration cultivators delved deep into foreign lands specifically to find the Heavenly Void Jade Scroll? Or was this a trap designed by the Golden Scale clan, intended to incite a battle to the death between the Silver Shark clan and the human race?

"We have spies within the Golden Scale clan, don't we? Have them incite a racial conflict against the Wang family. For now, we shouldn't directly participate. Instead, deploy our masters to fully eliminate Reverend Tiansha and True Monarch Tianshi."

Yin Qing ordered. Directly sending people to confront the Wang family might very well fall into the Golden Scale clan's treacherous scheme.

By letting the Golden Scale clan charge ahead first, while simultaneously deploying Soul Integration cultivators to eliminate Reverend Tiansha and True Monarch Tianshi, they could save face, minimize losses, and even scheme against the Golden Scale clan—killing three birds with one stone.

"Yes, Ancestor."

Yin Shan agreed, his expression solemn.

Yaoguang Island, one of the Wang family's seven satellite islands.

In the southeastern corner of the island, on a towering peak that pierced the clouds, Bai Yuqi stood with a solemn expression.

Not long ago, Wang Moshan had given her a Heavenly Illusion Divine Stone and instructed her to set up an illusion array on Yaoguang Island to strengthen its defenses.

The seven satellite islands served as a barrier for Qinglian Island. For enemies to attack Qinglian Island, they first had to break through the blockade chain of the seven satellite islands.

If a Level 7 formation master were to set up an illusion array with the Heavenly Illusion Divine Stone, its power would be even greater. Bai Yuqi, however, set up a Level 6 Heavenly Illusion Great Array, using the Heavenly Illusion Divine Stone as the core to provide energy. Even so, the Heavenly Illusion Great Array's power was still formidable.

Of course, other clan members were unaware of what treasure served as the array's core.

Major arrays on important islands had multiple cores, and the materials used for these cores were also classified information. Clan members of insufficient rank had no knowledge of what these core materials were.

A moment later, a beautiful young woman in a purple dress flew over. Her eyes were like water, and her lips were red against her white teeth.

Wang Yuting, a Level 5 formation master.

"Ancestor Yuqi, everything is set up."

Wang Yuting said respectfully.

Bai Yuqi nodded, flew out of Yaoguang Island, and took out a shimmering silver nine-cornered array disk, into which she cast a spell.

Yaoguang Island became blurry, slowly disappearing from view. The next moment, Yaoguang Island reappeared on the sea surface a thousand miles away.

Bai Yuqi nodded with satisfaction. If enemies were to attack from Yaoguang Island, they would activate the formation, causing the enemies to fall under an illusion and attack a non-existent island.

Bai Yuqi changed her spell, the false Yaoguang Island vanished, and the real Yaoguang Island reappeared.

She returned to Yaoguang Island and commanded, "The family head has ordered heightened vigilance to strictly guard against enemy sneak attacks."

"Yes, Ancestor Yuqi."

Wang Yuhua assented.