Chapter 842: Returned

After flying for many days, Qin Sang finally encountered other immortal cultivators, and from them he learned an astonishing piece of news.

During this period, a shocking upheaval had taken place in the Demonic Sea. It was something no one had foreseen.

The witch race’s stronghold, Tianwu Island, had suddenly come under attack by the demon race, and it had nearly fallen.

An unknown number of Transformation Realm great demons had hidden themselves within the beast tide. When they drew near Tianwu Island, they abruptly revealed themselves like divine troops descending from the heavens. By the time the witch cultivators noticed anything amiss, it was already too late.

The demon race had plotted long in advance. Their grand assault on Tianwu Island pierced directly into its protective array.

Countless Tianwu Island cultivators were slain or wounded, and the witch race suffered immense losses. Even more terrifying was that those Transformation Realm great demons had a very clear goal. After breaching the array, they charged straight toward the teleportation array.

One must know that Canglang Sea and the Demonic Sea had similar environments, each like a calm harbor amidst endless storms, but both were completely cut off from one another by the tempest. There was no natural passage between them.

Only the teleportation array, controlled by the immortal cultivators, allowed travel back and forth.

To this day, cultivators could not even confirm whether Canglang Sea and the Demonic Sea existed within the same waters, how far apart they truly were, or whether the only thing separating them was a storm belt.

Or perhaps they were worlds apart, connected only by the accidental discovery of the teleportation array.

But no matter the uncertainty, cultivators of Canglang Sea, whether righteous, devilish, human, or witch, held one common belief: The teleportation array must rather be destroyed than fall into the hands of the demon race. Otherwise, it would no longer be cultivators exploring the Demonic Sea, but the demon race invading Canglang Sea.

Had Tianwu Island fallen and the demon race seized the teleportation array, they could have invaded Canglang Sea directly. The witch race would be the first to bear the brunt, and the human race would not be spared either.

Qin Sang rested on a deserted island with those cultivators, listening to their rumors.

Even these people knew little of what had truly happened on Tianwu Island. Much of what they said was rumours.

But it had been a life-and-death struggle between Spiritual Infant grandmasters and Transformation Realm great demons. From the fragments alone, one could feel the cruelty and terror of the battle.

Qin Sang remembered that when he first entered the Demonic Sea through Tianwu Island, Elder Zhou had mentioned that several human Spiritual Infant grandmasters were stationed there.

During the great battle, they could not have stood apart. Many of them were surely dragged into it. Some Spiritual Infant grandmasters were said to have had their bodies shattered, leaving only their Spiritual Infants surviving.

The witch race’s losses must have been even more disastrous.

It was said that the demon race had once breached the teleportation hall itself. Fortunately, the outcome had not reached the worst. The demon race was ultimately defeated, and the teleportation array remained under the cultivators’ control.

Those Transformation Realm great demons lingered outside Tianwu Island for some time. Only after seeing no opportunity did they finally disperse.

However, news that Tianwu Island had nearly fallen spread like wildfire among cultivators, stirring up immense shock.

Suddenly, everyone felt endangered, including the Spiritual Infant grandmasters who had once ruled over their islands like kings.

In the Demonic Sea, only Desolate Island possessed defenses greater than those of Tianwu Island. If Tianwu Island had nearly been lost, then apart from Desolate Island, there was no safer place left.

Should another great war erupt between cultivators and the demon race, they would be the first to be swept aside.

Moreover, they had long been harassed by constant beast tides and lived in fear. When the news spread, they abandoned everything they had, leading their people back to Canglang Sea.

The cultivators Qin Sang had encountered had merely fallen behind during the escape. They dared not linger in the Demonic Sea and risked everything to reach Desolate Island, leaving their fate to fortune.

All of them were deeply anxious. From their fragmented accounts, Qin Sang roughly understood why Yuheng Island had been left without aid when it was besieged by the beast tide.

At that time, other islands too had beast tides lurking around them, blocking their paths. They were busy fending for themselves. When they later learned of the upheaval at Tianwu Island, they were too horrified to spare thought for anyone else.

Because Qin Sang had delayed too long recuperating and restoring the star turban after his breakout, he had missed that wave of mass exodus. The large islands he encountered on his way were not destroyed by beast tides, but abandoned voluntarily by cultivators.

"The demon race actually chose Tianwu Island as their target, striking the weaker witch race. Do they truly intend to push into Canglang Sea?"

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Qin Sang was shocked, utterly astonished. The teleportation arrays between the two seas were classified secrets.

In Qin Sang’s eyes, they seemed somewhat different from the ancient teleportation array he had once used. But in the present cultivation world, cultivators could never construct such vast and complex teleportation arrays.

Clearly, such arrays could not be built casually. Otherwise, like a rabbit with three burrows, there would not have been only Desolate Island and Tianwu Island in all these years.

The witch race must have paid a staggering price in lives to preserve Tianwu Island.

"The demon race failed in their surprise attack on Tianwu Island. With humans now on guard, will they dare set their sights on Desolate Island? Whether or not they return, cultivators will not dare relax. The Demonic Sea will not know peace for a long while."

Qin Sang contemplated silently, glancing at the others without revealing his thoughts.

Their gazes were fixed toward Desolate Island, their eyes filled with deep worry for the uncertain road ahead.

"With Heavenly Demon Transformation as my cover, I don't need to be afraid of the beast tides. Being trapped in the Demonic Sea does not endanger me. But for the sake of my external incarnation, I must return to Canglang Sea as soon as possible. I cannot remain here forever..."

Qin Sang thought to himself, "I wonder how things are on Desolate Island. If they forbid return to Canglang Sea in order to keep people stationed, that would be troublesome."

After learning the truth, Qin Sang dared not waste another moment. He immediately took leave of the others and sped off alone toward Desolate Island.

As he drew closer, he met more and more cultivators. From them, he learned more details and heard many tragic stories.

At last, Qin Sang safely arrived in the waters near Desolate Island.

Surrounding Desolate Island were numerous other islands. Those with spirit veins had been developed into subsidiary islands, guarding Desolate Island and forming its first line of defense.

When Qin Sang had visited in the past, these subsidiary islands seemed ordinary, with only patrols stationed around them.

But today, as he returned, he immediately sensed something unusual. From afar, he saw that the protective array of one such island was fully activated. Squads of guards patrolled the seas in rotation, leaving no blind spots, exuding an atmosphere of killing intent.

Wearing his cloak, Qin Sang was spotted the moment he appeared. A squad of guards flew out to meet him.

Seeing that Qin Sang was a cultivator, their wariness eased slightly. The leader, an early-stage Core Formation cultivator, addressed him politely yet firmly. "Daoist, from where have you come? Do you intend to enter the island?"

Qin Sang swept his gaze around and said, "I seek to reach Desolate Island and use the teleportation array to return to Canglang Sea. Please allow me to return."

The cultivator shook his head. "If you wish to go to Desolate Island, I cannot permit passage on my own authority. Please first follow me onto the island. Arrangements will be made for you there."

Qin Sang frowned slightly. Seeing that none of the others’ expressions seemed unusual, he considered briefly, then gave a small nod and followed them toward the island.