"Is this the last place that traitor stayed?"

A group of cultivators wearing pitch-black masks soared into the sky, their eyes coldly fixed on the Qunxing Archipelago below and the ruined Star Pole Island. The leader, emanating a powerful Spiritual Power Fluctuation from the Late Nascent Soul Stage, had eyes resembling two dark crescent moons.

"We received information that the traitor escaped to the Western Wasteland Domain."

"The Luo Guidance Needle points here. This is the last place the traitor lingered and the most likely place to find the World-Devouring Sentinel."

The other cultivators were similarly dressed, with pitch-black masks and black robes that exuded an aura keeping strangers at bay. They stood above the Qunxing Archipelago, gazing at it. Oddly, not a single cultivator or Loose Cultivator from the archipelago could detect their presence, treating them as if they were thin air. Cultivators from the Dao Sects of the Eastern Desolation Domain would recognize their attire; they were Demon Cultivators from Yin Moon Palace.

"The last place the traitor stopped? Is he already dead?!" muttered Situ Yue, the Yin Moon Palace Master.

The result was not surprising. The traitor had been hit by her Divine Yin Luo Palm during his escape; his body and soul would be eroded by Yin energy and gradually frozen. Apart from the few legendary life-saving Elixirs, no one could dispel the power of the Divine Yin Luo Palm. It was only natural for the traitor to have died.

"Could he have escaped using the World-Devouring Sentinel?" another questioned doubtfully.

"Impossible!" Situ Yue's voice resonated with absolute confidence. "Those old fools aren't stupid. They sent powerful Magical Beasts to guard it. Without Divinity Transformation Stage strength, escape is impossible."

If the World-Devouring Sentinel were so easily used, would Yin Moon Palace still be trapped here?

After obtaining the World-Devouring Sentinel, they had suffered a great loss at the hands of the guardian Magical Beasts. Three Nascent Soul Cultivators from Yin Moon Palace had perished, and only the Yin Moon Palace Master herself escaped, relying on her Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivation Level. She was gravely injured, and even a hundred years of recuperation wouldn't be enough for a full recovery. Just as she was recuperating, a traitor emerged from Yin Moon Palace, stole the World-Devouring Sentinel, and fled, his whereabouts unknown ever since. Yin Moon Palace spent a fortune to buy the Ancient Treasure, the Luo Guidance Needle, which finally provided a clue. They had traced the trail from the Western Wasteland Domain to this place, but the trail ended here.

"It has been taken by someone else..."

"Should we slaughter all the cultivators on the island? Extract their souls and refine them for information?" suggested a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

Yin Moon Palace was a sect of the Demonic Path and always acted without restraint. Regardless of whether the World-Devouring Sentinel is here, no one on this island can be spared.

"The Profound Realm Key has attracted many powerful experts to the Western Wasteland Domain. Don't let others become aware of this place," Situ Yue commanded. "Our actions must be covert. The Western Wasteland Domain is not the Eastern Desolation Domain; we must act with more caution here. Excessive killing could attract the attention of the Immortal True Sect's Divinity Transformation old monsters, and that would be a huge problem."

"You search for the World-Devouring Sentinel in secret; I'll look for the Profound Realm Key." Situ Yue continued, "A great disaster is imminent; we don't have much time left..."

The search for the World-Devouring Sentinel has run into problems; it might have already been seized by someone else. The Profound Realm Key has drawn numerous Nascent Soul Cultivators from the Four Great Desolate Domains. Surrounded by wolves, even Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivators like me aren't certain of seizing this treasure. If I can successfully acquire the Profound Realm Key, the World-Devouring Sentinel won't be as important.

"Be cautious. If you find anything, notify me immediately." As soon as Situ Yue finished speaking, black moonlight flickered, and she vanished as if by Instantaneous Movement. Seven Golden Core Cultivators from Yin Moon Palace remained, the weakest among them at the Middle Stage of the Golden Core. As long as they formed a Formation, they could fend off an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator to some extent.

「...」

"There isn't much of the Spiritual Medicine left for several Elixirs. Go to the Qunxing Archipelago and get some more," Jia Ren instructed his Insect External Incarnation.

Jia Ren had not returned to the Qunxing Archipelago, but that didn't mean he had completely cut off contact. The Spirit Medicine Garden was inconvenient to move and had always been managed by Zhang Pengpeng. The Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Grass used for experiments in the Bizarre Garden were all transplanted from the Qunxing Archipelago. The Elixir fodder for his various Spirit Insects, Spirit Beasts, and Spirit Fish, as well as the Elixirs he consumed for his own cultivation, amounted to a significant quantity. Having exhausted the Spiritual Medicine he initially carried, he now had to procure more from the Spirit Medicine Garden on Qingzhu Island.

There aren't many high-aged Spiritual Medicines left in the Spirit Medicine Garden… Jia Ren mused. He had obtained many such Spiritual Medicines, but unfortunately, after reaching the Golden Core Stage, the demands of his various Spirit Insects, Spirit Beasts, and Spirit Fish, especially those at the Third Rank, grew significantly. With over a hundred Third-Order Sound-Stealing Demon Mosquito Kings, the Thousand-Year Mysterious Turtles Clan, Fathead Fish Demons, seven Thunder Rhino Beasts, and a myriad of other Spirit Fish and Spirit Insects, they were all resource-draining behemoths, nearly depleting his reserves. Ninety percent of the high-aged Spiritual Medicines had been harvested; the remainder were either not useful or not old enough. Jia Ren's strength was growing too quickly, while the growth rate of the Spiritual Medicines in the Spirit Medicine Garden was too slow to meet his needs.

Once my Cultivation Level breaks through to the Middle Stage of the Golden Core, I can retrieve the hidden treasures of the Xuan Shui Sect and then go to the Western Wasteland Domain to purchase a batch of high-aged Spiritual Medicines.

The Insect External Incarnation streaked towards the Qunxing Archipelago. The Cave where Jia Ren resided was nearly ten thousand miles away from the Qunxing Archipelago, a considerable distance that would take the Insect External Incarnation several days to cover.

I always feel there's something unusual about the Qunxing Archipelago, the Insect External Incarnation thought as it approached, a sense of unease welling within it. It activated its Profound Water Spirit Eyes, its pupils emitting a faint blue glow as it gazed toward the distant Qunxing Archipelago. This was a Golden Core Level secret technique obtained from the Xuan Shui Sect, superior to the Soul Breaking Technique it had used before. The only regret was that it hadn't practiced it for long, and its Proficiency Level had only reached Grandmaster. It faintly sensed several formidable auras—definitely Golden Core Cultivators.

The resources of the Qunxing Archipelago were not abundant, and there weren't many mortals. Otherwise, powerful Sects would have occupied it long ago, leaving no place for Loose Cultivators. Golden Core Cultivators were rare here, occasionally passing by to hunt Magical Beasts or rest, but they never appeared in large numbers at once.

Thousand Mountains Sect cultivators? Three Golden Core Cultivators from the Thousand Mountains Sect had died at Jia Ren's hands, a staggering loss for them. If the Thousand Mountains Sect's Nascent Soul Cultivators hadn't been tied up guarding the Demon-Sealing Tower, Qianshan True Monarch would surely have come seeking revenge. The Incarnation couldn't be certain they were Thousand Mountains Sect cultivators, but caution was still wise.

To avoid detection, the Insect External Incarnation briefly scanned the area and then decisively deactivated the secret technique. Concealing its aura, it silently made its way toward Qingzhu Island. Upon arriving, it immediately sensed that something was wrong.

The Formation... it's broken! Has Qingzhu Island been discovered? How is Zhang Pengpeng? Does the Spirit Medicine Garden still exist? If the enemy is too strong, I won't hesitate to flee immediately. But first, I need to assess their strength before deciding. If there are no Nascent Soul Cultivators among the attackers, then relying solely on the Wind Thunder Talisman Pills from the Bizarre Mirror, I'm confident I can ensure they won't leave alive.

Under the Insect External Incarnation's control, a stream of seawater slowly surged into Qingzhu Island, flowing silently and unnoticed. Normal cultivators wouldn't pay attention to such a subtle current. A Xuan Guang Water Mirror materialized in its palm, allowing it to observe Qingzhu Island through the water and check for any issues. All areas appeared intact, with no signs of battle.

The intruder's strength must have been overwhelming; Zhang Pengpeng would have had no power to resist.

Water flowed into the Spirit Medicine Garden. Not a single intact Spiritual Medicine could be seen; all were withered, as if deliberately destroyed by a Yin-attribute secret technique. In the depths of the Spirit Medicine Garden, vast empty spaces were evident where Spiritual Medicines older than a hundred years had vanished. The Insect External Incarnation's expression turned as dark as a pot's underside, a faint killing intent stirring within it.

Such audacity! To steal my Spiritual Medicines and destroy my Medicinal Garden! Fortunately, ninety percent of the high-aged Spiritual Medicines were already used up, so not many were left. The loss isn't too significant.

The seawater flowed around Qingzhu Island once, scouring every area and confirming that no one was present.

Should I first determine if there are any Nascent Soul Cultivators in the Qunxing Archipelago? I won't risk facing Nascent Soul Cultivators to save Zhang Pengpeng; that would be suicidal. I'm in no rush to act. I'll wait patiently.

As the light of day gradually dimmed, nightfall came.

"Go!" Jia Ren mentally commanded. Hundreds of ordinary Qing Shui Spiders scattered quickly, becoming his eyes to investigate every corner. Daytime operations were too conspicuous; the spiders' night vision made operating at night more convenient. The Xuan Guang Water Mirror quietly materialized, scanning the island.

No one! Still no one!

Dozens of islands that should have teemed with cultivators were all deserted, without a single living soul. Where did everyone go? Has the Qunxing Archipelago become an uninhabited island of the dead? Jia Ren's attention, through the Incarnation, turned to Star Prosperous Island. Aside from the ruined Star Pole Island, it was the largest. Since Star Pole Island's destruction, Star Prosperous Island had become the new base for the Sect that formerly resided there. Earlier, the Incarnation had sensed several strong energy fluctuations, all emanating from this place.

The Insect External Incarnation didn't use the Xuan Guang Water Mirror. If any Nascent Soul Cultivators are lurking here, using a secret technique would surely alert them. It's better to rely on Spirit Insects and Parasitic Spirit Marks for reconnaissance. Even if a Nascent Soul Cultivator discovers them, I'll have enough time to escape rather than blindly stepping into an enemy trap. The battle at the Xuan Shui Sect's Xingluo Market left a profound impression on me. If not for my strength far surpassing that of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator, I might have perished or at least lost this Insect External Incarnation. With those lessons learned, I must be doubly cautious.

The Qing Shui Spiders had just set foot on Star Prosperous Island when they were repelled, unable to advance.

A Formation?! The intruders came prepared; they even set up a Formation here!

The Insect External Incarnation approached Star Prosperous Island like a phantom, silent and unseen. It used its Technique-Nearing-Dao Level Ban-breaking Finger, incapacitating several Formation nodes and allowing a multitude of Qing Shui Spiders to swarm in.

The Insect External Incarnation didn't enter. Instead, it observed the changes on the island through the shared vision of the Qing Shui Spiders. The scene outside Star Prosperous Island was starkly different from the inside, as if they were two separate worlds. A mountain of corpse debris was piled high. The few remaining cultivators were being thrown into a massive furnace in the distance, refined into Corpse Refiners. From even further away, shrill, pitiful screams echoed as cultivators' souls were tormented by black flames, their wails filled with unspeakable agony.

No wonder there were no living people on the Qunxing Archipelago. These malicious Demon Cultivators murdered them all, not even sparing ordinary folk! Corpse Refiners? Soul Drawing and Soul Refining?! Are these techniques of the Demonic Path?! The first Sect that came to Jia Ren's mind was the Corpse Demon Sect; they enjoyed using ordinary humans to create Corpse Refiners. But the Corpse Demon Sect has already been wiped out. Their Sect Master and elite disciples all died at my hand. How could they possibly still be around? Within the Western Wasteland Domain, only the Corpse Demon Sect was known for refining corpses. Could it be a Demon Path Sect from another Barren Domain? Why would they come to the Qunxing Archipelago? It can't be for revenge for the Corpse Demon Sect, can it…

"Fellow Daoist, you are truly cautious!" a voice suddenly called out. "Since you're here, why not come onto the island for a visit?"

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