Chapter 720: Careful and Cautious Zhou Shengtao

Jade Spring Island is the main island of the Zhou family.

At Jade Spring Pavilion, Zhou Shengtao and two Core Formation cultivators were discussing how to respond to the incoming enemy.

Zhang Wuchen set a trap, and the cultivators from the Sea Mist Sect and Whale Gate fell into it. Only two Nascent Soul cultivators escaped; everyone else was killed, including a Core Formation cultivator from the Zhou family.

The Zhou family, with a thousand-year heritage, had hired a fourth-tier artifact refiner to create a magical artifact called the Soul Pact Jade Book. Cultivators would leave their names on it with their vital blood. If a cultivator died, the page with their name would automatically burn. There were two possibilities: either the Zhou family's Core Formation cultivator was killed while attacking Green Carp Island, or the Whale Gate and Sea Mist Sect were caught in the trap, and the Zhou family's Core Formation cultivator failed to escape.

To be honest, Zhou Shengtao was not optimistic about this battle from the start. It was understandable that the Whale Gate and Sea Mist Sect didn't want to see the Zhang family grow stronger, but Zhang Wuchen, capable of reaching the Nascent Soul stage, was hardly an ordinary person. How could he fall into such an easy trap?

Of course, there might be reasons he didn't know. When Whale Gate asked them to send people, the Zhou family had no choice but to dispatch some forces to fight alongside Whale Gate.

"Multiple islands have been attacked, and several have already been captured by the enemy. The enemy has at least three teams, each led by a Core Formation cultivator. The exact number is unknown. Most of the attacking cultivators use puppet beasts, likely from the Thousand Puppets Sect. The Thousand Puppets Sect wouldn't attack us without reason; their Core Formation cultivators should have been ambushed. Considering that my eleventh brother, the Sea Mist Sect, and Whale Gate were caught in the trap, the Zhang family must have used a strategy of 'using a trick against a trick.'"

"No way! Many Core Formation cultivators from the Zhang family's affiliated forces have died, at least seven or eight. And there have been casualties among the Zhang family's own Core Formation cultivators."

Zhou Shengtao sneered, "Do we grieve if more Foundation Establishment cultivators from our affiliated forces die? If it weren't realistic enough, how would Whale Gate and Sea Mist Sect fall for it? I have to admire Zhang Wuchen for using himself as bait; otherwise, the people from Sea Mist Sect and Whale Gate wouldn't have been fooled. Now we're in trouble; the Zhang family is counterattacking. Fortunately, we kept a trump card. It's a pity that eighth brother is traveling and not in the clan. It will be difficult for us four to defend four islands. Tianyue, recall all clan members from important strongholds, especially Foundation Establishment cultivators; they are our lifeblood. As long as we have people, losing some property is nothing."

"Are we just giving up those islands? They have a lot of cultivation resources: spirit herbs, spirit grains, spirit fish..."

"If people die, can we protect these things? If we lose too many of our people, even if we can repel the enemy's attack, can we still control so many islands? Immediately issue the order: all personnel retreat to the four medium-sized islands. Take what property you can; if you can't take it, don't destroy it. Leave it for them!"

A yellow-robed man in his early thirties frowned and said, "Second Uncle, even if we can't take it, there's no need to leave it for them! Just destroy it."

Zhou Shengtao glared at the yellow-robed man and scolded, "They came all this way; you have to let them gain something. If they gain nothing, they will surely go on a rampage. We can't recall all our personnel, only most of them. This property is payment for our lives."

"Yes, Second Uncle."

The green-robed man accepted the order and quickly departed.

"Tianyuan, you take Zesheng and the others to teleport away. Send them to a safe place and then return. Go quickly and come back quickly."

Zhou Shengtao, looking a little worried, instructed a blue-skirted young woman.

"Second Uncle, is the situation really that serious yet? Don't we have a fourth-tier puppet beast?"

"Silence! The existence of the fourth-tier puppet beast cannot be spoken of lightly. This old man is also preparing for the worst. Who knows if there are any Nascent Soul old monsters among the attacking cultivators? There are countless forces coveting our Zhou family, which is a big piece of meat. We must have many backup plans. My eyelids have been twitching these past few days; I always feel like something big is about to happen."

The Zhou family, with its thousand-year heritage, naturally had trump cards, and the fourth-tier puppet beast was one of them. However, only the Core Formation cultivators of the Zhou family knew about this.

Third-tier puppet beasts could still be bought if one had enough spirit stones, but fourth-tier puppet beasts were difficult to acquire. Perhaps only forces with thousands of years of heritage would possess them. The Zhou family only obtained a fourth-tier puppet beast by chance. Driving a fourth-tier puppet beast required high-grade spirit stones. The Zhou family had spent a lot of effort and only managed to acquire two high-grade spirit stones.

If other forces knew the Zhou family had a fourth-tier puppet beast, even more forces would covet the Zhou family. Not to mention, Whale Gate would demand it from the Zhou family.

A fourth-tier puppet beast was something that could contend with a Nascent Soul cultivator. The Zhou family would not use it unless it was a matter of life or death.

In a vast expanse of sea, a cloud mass several hundred feet wide floated high in the sky. Wang Changsheng and the others sat on the cloud, every face beaming with broad smiles.

They had cleared many peripheral islands, plundering vast amounts of cultivation resources, ores, artifact refining materials, demonic beast materials, spirit herbs, spirit wood, and so on.

These peripheral islands were just appetizers; now it was time for the main course.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you and Fellow Daoist Sun will attack Jade Spring Island later, while we will attack Purple Sun Island. Make as much commotion as possible."

Zhang Guangyang pointed at a topographical map and said in a deep voice.

He planned to use a feint. Jade Spring Island, Jade Void Island, Purple Sun Island, and Black Flame Island were not far from each other. If the main island, Jade Spring Island, was attacked, it could force cultivators from the other three islands to return and defend, thus giving Zhang Guangyang an opportunity.

Wang Changsheng frowned, expressing some dissatisfaction. "Jade Spring Island is the Zhou family's main base. Who knows what trump cards they have? I think we can attack Jade Void Island and Purple Sun Island. The Zhou family had to send people to follow Whale Gate to attack your Zhang family's main base, so the Core Formation cultivators left behind definitely won't be able to defend four islands. We can't bear all the danger while you reap the benefits!"

Zhang Guangyang planned to split into two groups, sending Wang Changsheng and two Core Formation cultivators with half the forces to attack Jade Spring Island, while he attacked Purple Sun Island. Wang Changsheng naturally wouldn't agree.

"That's right. If Jade Void Island and Purple Sun Island are attacked, the Core Formation cultivators on the main island definitely wouldn't dare to leave. They don't know how many Core Formation cultivators we have. If we can capture these two islands, then we can attack the remaining Jade Spring Island and Black Flame Island, defeating them one by one."

Wang Ruyan voiced her opinion, naturally aligning with Wang Changsheng's view.

"That works too, but I'll need most of the forces. The garrison on Purple Sun Island must be considerable. If we don't have enough people, we won't be able to take it."

"No problem. My junior sister will attack Jade Void Island with Fellow Daoist Wang and his group. Fellow Daoist Zhang, you and your group attack Purple Sun Island. After taking these two islands, we'll regroup and discuss the subsequent battle."

Fairy Ziyue nodded and agreed.

Zhang Guangyang agreed, took most of the forces, and departed. Wang Changsheng and the other two, with a small portion of the forces, flew towards Jade Void Island.