A Ribbon of Light

Vice Island Master Xiao's figure flickered repeatedly before he sped away. Just then, streaks of light flew overhead one after another, following Vice Island Master Xiao southward. Qin Sang keenly noticed that some of their gazes held an air of shared misfortune, showing that those forcibly conscripted by Vice Island Master Xiao were by no means few. "Greetings, Senior Brother Mu!" Someone flew out from the ranks atop a flying sword and landed before them. "Junior Brother Zhan!" Mu Yifeng recognized the man and introduced both sides. As it turned out, he was a junior brother from their own sect. "Junior Brother Qin, this is Junior Brother Zhan Yi. He is Martial Uncle Che's personal disciple, highly regarded by Martial Uncle Che, who brought him along to work on Stargazing Island. This is Junior Brother Qin Sang, Junior Brother Xie, and Junior Brother Mao... Junior Brother Zhan, is Martial Uncle Che not around?" Zhan Yi shook his head. "Master is in the east. Like Senior Xiao, he is currently gathering hands. The incident happened so suddenly that the island lacks manpower, so we have no choice but to conscript the traveling disciples of the various sects on the spot." Hearing this, Qin Sang sighed inwardly. It seemed he was truly doomed to this fate; no matter which direction he fled, there was no escaping it. Mu Yifeng hesitated before saying, "Junior Brother Qin is here on Martial Uncle Qi Yuanshou's orders to oversee our sect's herb garden. With an active mission on hand, he urgently needs to return to the sect to report. I wonder if some leeway could be granted?" Zhan Yi cast an apologetic glance at Qin Sang and sighed softly. "I'm afraid not. The conscription order came directly from the Island Master himself; no one may disobey. Even if Martial Uncle Qi were here in person, he would likely be unable to extricate himself if stopped. Senior Brother Mu just returned from the battlefield and has yet to recover from his severe wounds, so some leeway can be made for you to return to Stargazing Island first to heal. But Senior Brother Qin and the others must make this trip..." "This..." "Forget it," Qin Sang shook his head, stopping Mu Yifeng from pleading further. "Let us not put Junior Brother Zhan in a difficult position. We will just go. I'll leave the other junior brothers in your care, Senior Brother Mu." With his options exhausted, Mu Yifeng could only say, "The battlefield is chaotic and entirely unlike an ordinary duel. Junior Brother Qin, you must never lower your guard. Confer more with Junior Brother Zhan whenever something happens." Zhan Yi cupped his hands. "Rest assured, Senior Brothers. As long as it is within my power, I will certainly not hesitate to help. Moreover, the main objective of this trip is to rescue Senior Fang and the others; a major battle might not necessarily break out. The Island Master has already rushed over in person, and Master and the others are merely preparing for the worst, so there is no need to worry excessively." Mu Yifeng led the Qi Refinement disciples back toward Stargazing Island, while Qin Sang and the other two had no choice but to obey the orders and follow Vice Island Master Xiao south. Along the way, Qin Sang inquired with Zhan Yi and learned Vice Island Master Xiao's background. This man did not hail from any of the major sects; he was the disciple of the City Lord of Yinshan Pass. His cultivation had astonishingly reached the late Core Formation stage, and his status on Stargazing Island was exceptionally high, second only to the Island Master! *No wonder,* Qin Sang mused secretly. Facing Vice Island Master Xiao, he had not been able to summon even the slightest thought of resistance. The pressure emanating from the man was more terrifying than that of any Core Formation cultivator he had ever encountered. Earlier, Vice Island Master Xiao had casually condensed a water dragon, effortlessly shattering the Nether Silk Cloud and trapping everyone. They had been utterly powerless to fight back! If every Core Formation cultivator were that formidable, Qin Sang would never dare entertain any thoughts about that Kuiyin Sect Core Formation master again. So he had been a late Core Formation expert. What a relief! What a relief! Greatly relieved, Qin Sang turned to inquire with Zhan Yi about the developments in the overall situation. Unfortunately, Zhan Yi knew very little as well. Speeding along the way, more and more people were conscripted. As long as someone was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, none were spared. The group steadily grew, and they even encountered two more fellow disciples from Shaohua Mountain. Under such circumstances, sect camaraderie proved its worth; the few of them gathered together and joined forces with fellow daoists from the Taiyi Dan Sect and the Shangyuan Qingjing Palace. The others acted much the same as Qin Sang and his group, seeking allies to watch each other's backs. After traveling in a wide circle, they returned to the Luandao Waters. Qin Sang smiled bitterly to himself. By now, the Luandao Waters had lost its desolate appearance. Over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators were gathered here in groups of two or three, each group occupying a small island, none capable of settling down to meditate in peace. When they arrived, dozens of flying lights were also approaching from the east. Once both groups met, Qin Sang saw that the leader had the Red Dust Gourd hanging at his waist. It was none other than Martial Uncle Che, Che Yutao, whom he had not seen in years. Having not met for years, the impression Che Yutao gave Qin Sang remained just as profound and unfathomable. Separated by an entire cultivation realm, with such a vast difference, it was impossible for Qin Sang to discern his true cultivation level unless Che Yutao actively revealed it. "Await orders here!" Vice Island Master Xiao's voice rang in their ears. Qin Sang realized Vice Island Master Xiao was already gone without a trace, and when he turned back to look at Che Yutao, the man had vanished alongside him at some unknown moment. Knowing they had already rushed to the battlefield ahead, Qin Sang silently prayed that the Heaven-Traversing Alliance would have the sense to know when to stop and avoid escalating things too far. Gathering with their fellow sect members, they descended onto a small island. Qin Sang rarely spent time in the sect and hardly knew any of them. After Zhan Yi made the introductions and they became acquainted, they began discussing how to form arrays to slay enemies if events took a turn. There were more than ten fellow Shaohua Mountain disciples caught up in this incident, including a False Core stage expert named Teng Zhaogang. With Teng Zhaogang present, the anxious Xie Ying and the others finally found a backbone to rely on. Qin Sang was also glad to let someone else take the lead, readily deciding to follow Teng Zhaogang's direction and obey all his commands. Secretly, however, he was pondering his own survival strategy. Once the major battle began, if the Heaven-Traversing Alliance was on the back foot, he could rely on the elusive ebony sword to ambush enemies and claim a decent share of merits. He only needed to pick the right moment and retrieve the ebony sword as soon as he struck. If their side proved no match, he would keep a low profile and look for a chance to escape. He had spent years roaming outside and had extensive combat experience, making him fairly confident in his ability to judge the situation. As long as he remembered not to get greedy for merits or linger in battle, his life would likely not be in danger. What he feared most was a chaotic melee where he might be caught in the crossfire of Core Formation cultivators. Should such a situation truly arise, there would be no need to overthink—fleeing for his life would be the only option. Situated in the Luandao Waters, unable to see the battlefield and not knowing when the battle between the Core Formation experts would be decided or what kind of situation it would eventually devolve into, everyone could only wait with burning anxiety. In spite of all this, Qin Sang sat cross-legged on the ground, entering meditative cultivation to adjust his condition and prepare for any sudden change. Time ticked by, and in the blink of an eye, night fell. A crescent moon hung high, and the starry river glittered brilliantly. The surroundings remained peaceful, save for the undulating waves beneath the starry sky, which shimmered with specks of starlight that reflected the unease in everyone's hearts. Suddenly, a piercing screech tore through the long night, echoing from far ahead. In an instant, an uproar broke out across the Luandao Waters. "They're here!" "Form the arrays!" someone shouted. Across island after island, streak after streak of flying light lit up in fierce competition. Qin Sang snapped his eyes open, tightly gripping the Cold Metal sword and the Yin-Yang Compass in his hands. Following the agreed-upon formation, he swept to Teng Zhaogang's side to act as one of his flanks alongside Zhan Yi. At the same time, the fellow daoists from the Taiyi Dan Sect and the Shangyuan Qingjing Palace closed in toward them as well. Tension seized everyone's nerves at once. Above this cluster of desolate islands, a ribbon of light shone forth, rivaling the starry river itself.