Folded Space, Ancient Secrets, Leaving Seclusion!

"This... this..." Zhu Qingyu was completely tongue-tied. She thought she had answered quite well, without giving anything away. Why had he suddenly asked such a question? Even so, clinging to a sliver of hope, she pressed on, "Nothing has happened at all! You're overthinking things, King Lu." Her current mission was to keep the situation regarding Bohai and the overseas islands under wraps. She didn't need to hide it for long—just a few days. The operation over there would be underway very soon. Once it was over, King Lu would find out, and everything should be resolved satisfactorily. At the very least, he wouldn't have to carry the burden. "Though we're in the New Era," Lu Yuan spoke, his voice remaining utterly calm, "as long as I switch on my communicator, I'll know practically everything. You can't keep it hidden." He repeated, "Speak." As he spoke, he drew out his communicator, preparing to turn it on. The more she tried to hide, the more he felt something was wrong. Of course, even if she said nothing, he had plenty of other ways to gather information. Even if he couldn't grasp the full truth immediately, he could piece it together. Zhu Qingyu froze. Knowing she couldn't conceal it any longer, she had no choice but to give up. Helplessly, she explained everything that had happened recently, from beginning to end. She told him about the conditions demanded by the Three Immortal Islands overseas, how Little Heavenly Master Chunyang had been taken hostage, and the authorities' imminent operation. "Penglai, Fangzhang, Yingzhou?" Hearing this, Lu Yuan did not speak right away, his mind turning rapidly. More than two years had passed since the initial cataclysmic shift. Counting the time, it was indeed about right. In his previous life, after the Three Immortal Islands appeared and came ashore, they had acted with intolerable arrogance. Eventually, they clashed directly with the authorities and other factions, causing catastrophic casualties. Although the mainland had firearms and heavy artillery, the other side possessed remarkably formidable beings, dragging the war out for several months. In the end, the authorities had been forced to make concessions, carving out so-called Daoist sanctuaries and handing them over to the immortal islands' control. Later, after the figures from those immortal islands entered the mainland, nearly every one of them held their heads high, brimming with condescension and arrogance. At its root, they believed they were a step ahead on the evolutionary path and wished to plunder all manner of resources from the mainland. Back then, he had felt profound indignation, yet because he was too weak, there had been nothing he could do. Originally, Lu Yuan had planned to depart temporarily precisely because he foresaw this development. He had wanted to resolve it as early as possible. After all, he now possessed the power to do so. He had never anticipated that his seclusion would cause him to miss the start. The authorities, for their part, had not wanted to keep troubling him and thus chose not to inform him. Yet... no matter what, Lu Yuan knew he had to make a trip to Bohai and the Three Immortal Islands. "Leave the rest alone. Just stay at Mount Tai," he said. Without further words, he walked straight out the door. Zhu Qingyu naturally couldn't stop him. Seeing this, she knew she had to report it immediately and hurried off in another direction. However, not long after Lu Yuan stepped outside, a figure appeared before him. With a faint smile and two dimples showing on her cheeks, it was Jiang Ningxian. She walked up to him of her own accord, skipping the pleasantries. "King Lu, are you off to settle the matter of the Three Immortal Islands outside Bohai?" "Why? Do you have a suggestion, Miss Jiang?" Lu Yuan halted. He wasn't in such a rush that he couldn't spare a moment. "Of course," Jiang Ningxian said. "Pardon my bluntness, but with King Lu's strength, dealing with those people will surely be child's play. However, sometimes when you strike, you must do so thoroughly. You should march straight into their home lair and eradicate any lingering trouble at the root." Hearing this, Lu Yuan offered a slight smile and remarked, "Miss Jiang seems to know the people of the Three Immortal Islands very well?" "Not particularly. I've only heard a little from my clan's elders." She paused to think for a moment before explaining. As it turned out, the Three Immortal Islands belonged to the folded spaces of this world. During ancient times, when wars were frequent, a fraction of people chose to flee overseas and hide away to escape the strife. Using special methods, they completely severed their islands from the outside world. Yet every so often, they would venture onto the mainland. After all, islands were just islands; their resources were limited, and resources were indispensable for cultivation and evolution. However, whenever major wars broke out, the people on the islands would shrink back like turtles into their shells, cutting off all contact with the outside world. After the Severance of Heaven and Earth, the three immortal islands became completely isolated. Those outside could not enter, and those inside found it exceedingly difficult to step out. Yet because of this, the islands preserved the ancient evolutionary conditions. Of course, as time marched on and resources were depleted, the world's natural energy dwindled as well. Now that the world had undergone a great upheaval and begun to recover, the elders of the Jiang clan had predicted that these people would inevitably emerge. Naturally, in the eyes of the Jiang clan, that group on the islands was nothing more than a joke, not even worth a second thought. The story was told to younger generations merely as an admonition: when facing great wars, one must never shrink back in cowardice. "In short," Jiang Ningxian sneered, "the resources of the three islands have run dry. They've come out to plunder more resources, and once the great catastrophe descends, they'll shrink back into their shells on the islands again." She felt nothing but contempt for such people. While everyone else fought desperately, some chose to run and hide. That in itself wasn't entirely unforgivable, but periodically creeping onto the mainland to plunder resources was utterly disgusting. "So that's how it is." Lu Yuan nodded upon hearing this. He had known of the Three Immortal Islands, but not their origins. With her explanation, everything made complete sense. In other words, those on the islands were the descendants of cowards and opportunists—no wonder they behaved so vilely. As for whether it was true, he had no doubt; he knew she had no reason to lie about such things. Without dwelling on it, he asked, "Then what did you mean earlier by marching straight into their home lair?" "King Lu can certainly crush anyone in your path, but what if they refuse to come out?" "Folded spaces, especially those sealed off through various ancient techniques, are naturally difficult to breach." Jiang Ningxian smiled and flipped her hand, revealing a jade slip. "This was crafted by an elder of my clan. It can temporarily tear open a passage, allowing King Lu to enter the three islands directly." When she had heard those tales from her elders, she had already thought about teaching them a lesson. However, it wasn't suitable for her to make a move just yet. Knowing that Lu Yuan wouldn't sit idly by, she decided to lend a hand. "In that case, my thanks." Lu Yuan was not one to stand on ceremony. Regardless of anything else, she offered it out of goodwill, so he accepted it. "No need, no need! Just don't forget my goodwill in the future, King Lu." Jiang Ningxian beamed, flashing her pearly white teeth. With her hands behind her back, she skipped cheerfully back toward her residence. Ever since she learned the Three Immortal Islands had emerged, she had planned on doing this. Now that it was done, she was naturally delighted. Seeing her leave, Lu Yuan shook his head faintly and turned his gaze toward the Bohai Sea. Mount Tai and Bohai were within the same broader region, so the distance was not particularly vast; there was no need to summon the Golden-Winged Great Peng. Still, he couldn't walk there on foot, so he first went up to Jade Emperor Peak. Upon learning of his intent, the Spirit Monkey dispatched an exceptionally swift Beast King golden eagle. Riding atop the golden eagle, Lu Yuan set off toward his destination. Meanwhile, along the shores of the Bohai Sea. Rifle fire roared incessantly as tongues of flame poured out without restraint. Military units were deployed along the coast—armored fighting vehicles, tanks, and even attack helicopters. Below them, the sea vessel of the Three Immortal Islands was already riddled with holes. "You mainlanders are utterly despicable and shameless! Launching a surprise attack—aren't you afraid of our retaliation?" Zhao Yuan, Zhang Yun, and the third leader were caught within the crossfire. They were in the Shackle Realm; bullets and grenades posed almost no threat to them. The crux of the problem was that the disciples they had brought from the three sects were all merely in the Awakening Realm. They could not simply shrug off such firepower. Under this devastating barrage, their casualties were severe—in a short span, over twenty had already been gunned down. Even Elder Ji and the other experts had intervened, keeping the three leaders thoroughly entangled. "Shameless? Just who is the shameless one here?" Elder Yun retorted, his expression gravestone-solemn, pouring even greater force into his strikes. It was clearly their opponents who had provoked trouble in the first place, yet now they dared to twist the blame. "Elder Ji, Elder Yun, the hostages have been rescued!" At that moment, the voice of Ice Fairy and her companions called out from the distance. Behind them were Little Heavenly Master Chunyang and Gu Sang. Though still bound by the Immortal Binding Locks, they had been moved into the safe zone. Ice Fairy knew she had been too hesitant and indecisive during their previous confrontation with the Three Immortal Islands. So when this operation commenced, she had volunteered to lead the rescue team. Now, backed by the heavy modern firepower outside, the rescue mission was a success! "Good!" Seeing that the captives were safe, Elder Ji's spirits rose. He exchanged a glance with Elder Yun, and both men fell back rapidly. At the same time, the field commander in the rear recognized that the time for the real assault had arrived and immediately barked an order! Bang! Bang! Bang! Boom! Boom! Boom! In an instant, an even fiercer wave of firepower was unleashed. The sea vessel, already battered and riddled with gaping holes, could no longer withstand the onslaught of modern weaponry and began to break apart. The authorities were the authorities, after all. Once they set their minds to it, unless an opponent vastly outclassed them, what ordinary faction could withstand their full might? Even though Zhao Yuan and his companions were in the Shackle Realm, they were still thoroughly suppressed. Especially now that Little Heavenly Master Chunyang and the others had been saved, the military fought with zero reservations. All manner of formidable weapons poured fire from the sky, the land, and the sea. Modern weaponry displayed its true might. At least for now, it had not been rendered obsolete. Fewer and fewer island disciples remained, until only the three strongest leaders were left standing. "Damn you all! When the masters and elders of our three sects arrive, every single one of you will pay the price!" Watching this unfold, Zhang Yun roared in fury, her voice laced with madness. She felt subjected to an immense humiliation. She truly had not imagined that the weapons of the mainland could be this potent. Even having attained extraordinary power and embarked on the evolutionary path, they could not fully withstand it. Though in the Shackle Realm she could disregard most mundane attacks, human stamina had its limits. If this continued, the situation would rapidly turn against them. When that happened, they would be the ones captured as prisoners. Moreover, with their ship destroyed, retreat was no longer an option. *Run!* Zhang Yun and Zhao Yuan exchanged a glance, both seized by the urge to flee. They were Awakened; even plunging into the ocean wouldn't kill them. "Elder Yun!" Just then, a commander in the rear called out, his face pale with shock. "Our sensors have detected numerous life signs far across the horizon—at least over a thousand individuals, according to preliminary estimates!" "What?" Hearing this, Elder Ji and Elder Yun's expressions changed. They snapped their heads up, gazing out toward the distant ocean. There, massive ships were coming into view, cutting through the waves at rapid speed. With their cultivation, they could sense numerous formidable auras aboard, most of them in the Shackle Realm. Without a doubt, it was just as Zhang Yun had declared. Those were the people of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou—their masters and elders. They were surging toward the coast, drawing nearer by the second.