Returned

After flying for many days, Qin Sang finally encountered other immortal cultivators, and from them he learned startling news. During this time, a shocking upheaval had struck the Demon Sea—one that nobody could have foreseen. Tianwu Island, the stronghold of the Witch Clan in the Demon Sea, had suffered a surprise attack by the demon race and was nearly overrun. An unknown number of Transformation stage great demons had concealed themselves within the beast tide. Only as they drew near Tianwu Island did they suddenly reveal themselves like divine troops descending from the heavens. By the time the Witch Clan cultivators sensed anything amiss, it was already too late. The demons had plotted this for a long time. Launching a massive assault on Tianwu Island, they breached the island-protecting grand formation in a single stroke. The cultivators stationed on Tianwu Island suffered countless casualties, dealing the Witch Clan a grievous blow. What was more terrifying was that the Transformation stage great demons had a crystal-clear objective: having breached the formation, they charged straight for the teleportation formation. It was well known that the environments of the Canglang Sea and the Demon Sea were similar; both were like peaceful harbors nestled within endless storms, entirely cut off from each other by the tempest, with no natural passage between them. Only the teleportation formations controlled by cultivators allowed travel back and forth. To this day, cultivators were unable to determine whether the Canglang Sea and the Demon Sea even existed within the same expanse of water, how far apart they were, or whether only a single storm belt separated them. Or perhaps they were worlds apart, linked only by the accidental discovery of the teleportation formations. Yet all cultivators of the Canglang Sea—whether righteous or devil, human or witch—shared a single consensus: they would rather destroy the teleportation formation than let it fall into demon hands. Otherwise, it would no longer be cultivators carving out territory in the Demon Sea, but the demon race invading the Canglang Sea. If Tianwu Island fell and the demons seized control of the teleportation formation to invade the Canglang Sea, the Witch Clan would bear the brunt of the onslaught, and humanity would not be spared either. At that moment, Qin Sang and those cultivators landed on a deserted island, where he listened to them recount the rumors. These people did not know the full details of what had occurred on Tianwu Island that day either; much of what they shared was hearsay. It had been a life-and-death clash between Nascent Soul Patriarchs and Transformation stage great demons. Even from piecemeal accounts, one could easily sense the cruelty and terror of the battle. Qin Sang remembered that when he first came to the Demon Sea by way of Tianwu Island, he had heard Elder Zou mention that human Nascent Soul cultivators were stationed there, and in considerable numbers. When the grand battle erupted, they could not remain aloof and were drawn into the fray as well. More than a few Nascent Soul Patriarchs had their physical bodies shattered, barely escaping with their Nascent Souls intact. The losses sustained by the Witch Clan were undoubtedly far more catastrophic. It was said that the demons once fought their way into the Teleportation Hall. Fortunately, the worst-case scenario was averted: the demons were ultimately repelled, and the teleportation formation remained under cultivator control. Those Transformation stage great demons lingered outside Tianwu Island for a long time, only dispersing once they saw no further opportunity. Nevertheless, once news of Tianwu Island's near fall spread, it sent shockwaves through the cultivation world. For a time, everyone felt in peril, including the Nascent Soul Patriarchs who ruled over their own islands. In the Demon Sea, nowhere possessed defenses that could rival Tianwu Island except for humanity's Dahuang Island. If even Tianwu Island had nearly fallen, nowhere else was safer than Dahuang Island. If another grand war erupted between cultivators and demons, their islands would be the first to be wiped out. Furthermore, having endured relentless harassment from the beast tide for so long, they had already been living on edge. The moment the news broke, they abandoned their foundations one after another and led their subordinates in a frantic retreat back to the Canglang Sea. The cultivators Qin Sang met had accidentally fallen behind their main group on the road. Not daring to linger in the Demon Sea, they were braving the dangers to make their way toward Dahuang Island, left to fend for themselves. Everyone was weighed down with deep anxiety. Hearing these scattered fragments of information from them, Qin Sang finally understood why Yuheng Island had found no help when besieged by the beast tide. Back then, beast tides had loomed near the other major islands as well, hemming them in so tightly that none could spare attention for others. Later, upon learning of the catastrophe at Tianwu Island, they were gripped with terror and had no room to care for anyone else. After breaking through the encirclement, Qin Sang had spent too much time recovering his breath and letting the star conch gather power, missing that wave of mass evacuation. The grand islands he had seen along the way had not been overrun by the beast tide; the cultivators had abandoned them voluntarily. *The demon race actually chose Tianwu Island as their target, attacking the relatively weaker Witch Clan. Could they truly be trying to push into the Canglang Sea?* Qin Sang was stunned, finding it profoundly unexpected. The teleportation formations between the two regions involved guarded secrets. In Qin Sang's eyes, they seemed somewhat different from the ancient teleportation array he had used before, yet in the present cultivation world, cultivators could never construct teleportation formations so vast and intricate. Clearly, formations of this kind could not simply be erected anywhere at whim. Otherwise, taking precautions against danger, there would not have been only two locations—Dahuang Island and Tianwu Island—over all these years. To defend Tianwu Island, the Witch Clan must have lost countless experts. *The demons failed in their surprise raid on Tianwu Island, and humanity is already on high alert. Will they set their sights on Dahuang Island next? Whether they stage a comeback or not, cultivators will not dare let down their guard. The Demon Sea won't regain its calm anytime soon.* Pondering the situation silently, Qin Sang cast a discreet glance at the others. They gazed toward Dahuang Island, fully aware of the uncertain road ahead, their eyes laden with deep apprehension. *Under the cover of the Heavenly Demon Transformation, I have less to fear from the beast tide, so being stranded in the Demon Sea wouldn't pose an immediate threat to my safety. But for the sake of the external incarnation, I must return to the Canglang Sea as soon as possible and cannot stay here indefinitely...* Qin Sang mused to himself, *I wonder what the situation is like on Dahuang Island. If they bar people from returning to the Canglang Sea in order to keep hands around to defend the island, that will be troublesome!* Having learned the truth, Qin Sang did not dare delay for a single moment. He promptly took his leave of the group and set off alone, speeding toward Dahuang Island. As the distance to Dahuang Island closed, he encountered more immortal cultivators, gathering more detailed information while also hearing many tragic stories. At long last, Qin Sang arrived safely in the waters surrounding Dahuang Island. Scattered around Dahuang Island were numerous other isles. Those with spirit veins had been developed into subsidiary islands to flank and protect Dahuang Island, forming its first outer line of defense. In the past, when Qin Sang visited, these subsidiary islands had appeared ordinary enough, with only patrol guards circling the perimeter. Returning today, he spotted one of the subsidiary islands from afar and immediately sensed an unusual atmosphere. The island-protecting grand formation was fully activated, and squads of guards alternated patrols over the sea surface, leaving no blind spots amid a grim, forbidding air. Cloaked in a mantle, Qin Sang had barely appeared before a squad of guards spotted him and flew over to intercept him. Upon confirming that Qin Sang was a cultivator, the wariness on their faces eased slightly. The leader, an early Core Formation stage cultivator, spoke in a measured, neither humble nor haughty tone, "Where does Daoist friend hail from? Do you intend to come ashore?" Qin Sang swept a glance over his surroundings and replied, "This poor Daoist needs to head to Dahuang Island to take the teleportation formation back to the Canglang Sea. I hope Daoist friend might grant passage." The cultivator shook his head. "If Daoist friend wishes to go to Dahuang Island, I do not have the authority to let you pass. Please accompany me to the island first; someone will make arrangements for you." Qin Sang frowned slightly. Seeing nothing unusual in the expressions of the other guards, he considered the matter briefly, then gave a slight nod and followed behind them toward the subsidiary island.