Chapter 897: Meeting Fellow Disciples

The elder hurriedly caught the iron token and, at a glance, saw that it was a command token belonging to a Core Formation cultivator of their own sect.

This person’s identity turned out to be a senior from the same sect. The token was genuine, bearing Landou Sect’s unique mark, impossible to forge. The elder and the others were all stunned.

These disciples came from various peaks of the Landou Sect, both the Five-Elemental Branch and the Yin-Yang Branch. They racked their brains, yet no matter how they tried, they could not recall that their sect had such a senior uncle.

***

Inside Dongming Island, the Core Formation cultivators sat within a bamboo lodge, admiring the strange and beautiful scenery outside. Fine wine and spiritual fruits lay before them as they conversed about the Dao, laughter occasionally rippling through the air. The atmosphere seemed very harmonious.

The bamboo lodge was not large, but there were not many Core Formation cultivators on Dongming Island at the moment, so even sitting apart from one another, the space still felt ample.

Abbot Lu of Landou Sect and several Golden Core cultivators sat at the center. Qin Sang, under the alias Ming Yue, sat beside Daoist Moyu, speaking little and listening more. In this short while, he had already heard quite a few insider stories about the various sects on Landou Island.

"Daoist Ming Yue, your cave dwelling was on Baogu Mountain of Tianxing Island? With your cultivation, you surely would not have been unknown. Before I took charge of Canglan Peak, I often traveled to Tianxing Island, yet I never once heard of you," Abbot Lu said with some curiosity as he looked at Qin Sang.

"I was only a rogue cultivator, truly an unknown figure. Moreover, before forming my core I spent my years in the Demonic Sea. When chaos swept the sea, I had no choice but to move to the Inner Sea and rented a cave dwelling on Baogu Mountain to settle. I seldom appeared in Tianxing City, so few people knew me. It is only natural that Abbot Lu had never heard of me."

Qin Sang took a sip of wine, his expression calm, then added with a sigh, "I do not know when the turmoil in the Demonic Sea will subside. Fortunately I sensed the danger in time and fled back to the Inner Sea, but all that I had built there was destroyed. Vexed and unable to cultivate in seclusion, I decided to travel for a while. Passing by this place, I happened to meet Daoist Moyu and have imposed upon him for a few days."

"The Demonic Sea!" A look of realization crossed Abbot Lu’s face. "No wonder Daoist Moyu praised you so highly. To venture into the Demonic Sea during the Foundation Building Realm takes courage. I must confess I would not dare do the same."

Others echoed their agreement.

Landou Island was not too far from Tianxing Island. Out of curiosity, many had visited the Demonic Sea and knew well how much danger lay hidden there. Hearing that Qin Sang had roamed it alone for so many years, they began to reassess his strength.

Qin Sang chuckled. "I was forced by circumstance. I envy you all for having a sect to rely on. Unlike me, once caught up in the turmoil, I became like a stray dog. Abbot Lu, I heard from Daoist Moyu that Senior Lu is currently at Desolate Island resisting the demonic beasts. Has any news come back? When might the beast tide be driven back?"

He asked with feigned urgency.

Abbot Lu’s gaze flickered, and some of his suspicion toward Qin Sang dissipated. He guessed that Qin Sang’s visit to Dongming Island was less for the ceremony and more to inquire about events in the Demonic Sea.

Seeing that the others were also keen to know, Abbot Lu did not conceal it. "My father may be busy; there has been no message lately. But I have heard from other friends that holding Desolate Island is not difficult. As for when the beast tide will recede, that is hard to say..."

As he spoke, a streak of light pierced the mist and shot straight into the lodge.

Abbot Lu’s face changed slightly. In a flash he appeared at the entrance, caught the light, and was about to inspect it when a muffled boom sounded in the distance, making the ground tremble.

The Golden Core cultivators present had exceptionally keen hearing. They faintly caught a few screams and recognized them as the Landou Sect disciples guarding the entrance outside.

"Who dares invade Dongming Island!" Daoist Huayang’s expression darkened, and he rushed out at once.

Abbot Lu moved even faster; his figure had already vanished into the mist. The others exchanged looks and quickly flew out of the lodge as well.

This matter did not concern Qin Sang directly, so he followed at the rear. If someone dared provoke Landou Sect, so much the better for him. The more chaotic things became, the more his plans might benefit.

Still, he was curious who had the gall to assault Dongming Island. When he reached the entrance, he saw Abbot Lu and the others facing off against three Core Formation cultivators.

The Landou Sect disciples who had guarded the gate lay groaning on the slopes to either side. With their level of cultivation, they had clearly stood no chance and had all been injured. Fortunately, the attackers had held back, so none were dead.

All three were strangers. Aside from the last young man, whose cultivation was slightly weaker, the other two were middle-stage Core Formation experts with powerful auras.

However, Abbot Lu’s side had more than a dozen Core Formation cultivators, and Abbot Lu himself stood at the peak of the late stage. Against such numbers, the three looked rather thin on strength.

Even so, they carried themselves aggressively and showed no sign of backing down.

What puzzled Qin Sang further was that when Abbot Lu and Daoist Huayang saw the intruders, their faces registered shock, their eyes turning oddly complicated.

The leader was a burly man. He glanced at Abbot Lu and let out a strange laugh. "What is this, Junior Brother Lu? Now that you are abbot and hold all authority, you no longer recognize your fellow disciples?"

An uproar followed. Cultivators from other sects froze with their astras in hand, uncertain whether to put them away or unleash them.

They had assumed an external enemy had invaded and were ready to stand together. Hearing the man’s tone now, it seemed he was a Landou Sect disciple, and they no longer knew how to proceed.

All eyes turned to Abbot Lu for confirmation. His face was extremely grim, and he did not refute it.

"Are the three of you also from the Landou Sect? Why have I never seen you?" the cultivator surnamed Qi asked.

A few faces showed thoughtful looks, as if some had guessed the truth.

Abbot Lu’s gaze hardened, and he demanded in a deep voice, "Senior Brother Gao, you have broken our agreement by coming here and even injuring the guarding disciples. What are you trying to do?"

So they are indeed from the Landou Sect. Could this be an internal conflict?

Though Lu Xiaoyun currently holds all authority within Landou Sect, the sect actually has two Spiritual Infant grandmasters, so his branch is not without potential rivals. It's just that the other grandmaster has been silent for many years, claiming to be in seclusion. If that person has awakened, and Lu Xiaoyun happens to be away... Those present are all old monsters who have lived for centuries.

Their thoughts raced.

A murmur swept the crowd as, one by one, they quietly put away their astras. As outsiders, they did not wish to cause a misunderstanding when the situation remained unclear.

"They were mere disciples with blind eyes who failed to recognize their senior uncles and still dared bar our way. Was I not allowed to teach them a lesson?"

The burly man sneered with open disdain. "We came to take back what originally belonged to our Douniu Peak and is now occupied by you. Junior Brother Lu, return what is ours, and I will leave without another word and never set foot on Landou Island again."