80: Communication strategy, the shadow appears

Cracks appeared in the layer of ice in Liu Qing霜’s eyes, a mix of shock and disbelief.

Chen Yao was her teammate, someone she spent day and night with, that seemingly lively woman who was good at healing… was actually a Devil Cultivator insider?

The impact made her cool, elegant face turn slightly pale, and the knuckles of her hand gripping her sword turned white from the force.

Lin Feng’s voice grew even deeper, as if narrating a terrifying nightmare: “But this is just the tip of the iceberg! Through reliable channels, we’ve discovered that the First Watchtower and Second Watchtower also have Foundation Establishment Cultivators who have been corrupted by Devilish Qi! They are lurking in key positions—Formation Masters, deputy commanders, logistics coordinators… almost everywhere!”

“Hiss––” Zhao Tieshan gasped, the immense shock even overriding his anger. His burly body swayed as if struck by an invisible heavy hammer.

“This… how is this possible? When did those devil brats… infiltrate so deeply?” He subconsciously looked at Wu Ming and Liu Qing霜, but seeing their equally grave expressions, his heart sank to the bottom.

Wu Ming finally stepped completely out of the shadows, his voice hoarse and urgent, filled with a strong sense of crisis: “What are they planning? Merely to attack and break through the watchtowers from inside and out?” He keenly grasped the crucial point.

Lin Feng took a deep breath and dropped the biggest bombshell: “Their plot is far beyond our imagination! In the core area of the main island, a Purple Mansion Realm Devil Cultivator is lurking!

This person is secretly arranging a vicious Formation called the ‘Etching Spirit Demon Mark’! Once the Demon Mark is activated, it will draw out the Nine Nether Devilish Qi from the seabed, forming a terrifying ‘Nine Nether Demon Tide’ that will sweep across the entire Qianshan Island Chain! By then, we… will all be reduced to dust! This Devil Cultivator might even be operating right under Lord Rock Immortal’s nose!”

“A Purple Mansion Devil Cultivator? Etching Spirit Demon Mark? Nine Nether Demon Tide? Right under Lord Rock Immortal’s nose?”

Liu Qing霜 could no longer maintain her composure. Her cool voice trembled slightly, and her icy blue eyes were filled with extreme shock and horror! This news was like a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens, exploding in her mind!

She suddenly took a step forward, and a sharp Sword Qi uncontrollably leaked out, condensing tiny ice crystals in the humid air.

“Impossible! Junior Martial Uncle Panshi is stationed on the main island, his Divine Sense covering all directions. How could a Purple Mansion Devil Cultivator lurk there undetected? Unless… unless…” She didn’t utter the rest of her words, but the unspoken implication sent shivers down everyone’s spines!

“Unless Lord Rock Immortal… he…” Zhao Tieshan’s face was ashen, the immense fear making his voice tremble. He couldn’t force out the rest of his words. This honest man, for the first time, felt the shadow of despairing betrayal from the highest level.

“Or, that Devil Cultivator has extremely advanced concealment methods, or… Lord Rock Immortal has already been deceived, or even…” Wu Ming’s voice was squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a deep sense of powerlessness, “…restrained.” He looked at Fellow Daoist Lin, “Fellow Daoist Lin, is this information absolutely reliable?”

“Obtained through a near-death experience, it’s absolutely true!”

Lin Feng’s tone was heavy, his gaze frank, “That Devil Cultivator personally said that he is collecting the essence blood and living souls of Cultivators on the island to set up the Demon Mark! Chen Yao was one of his minions collecting them!”

He recounted the fragmented words he heard in the stone cave, omitting the details of his own tracking, and focused on describing the Devil Cultivator’s wild claims and the horrors of the “Etching Spirit Demon Mark” and the “Nine Nether Demon Tide.”

A deathly silence fell within the cave.

Only the sound of dripping water and crashing waves relentlessly reminded them of the passage of time. A feeling of despair, like icy seawater, almost drowned everyone.

The enemy was not only lurking by their side but also at the highest level, plotting a monstrous conspiracy to destroy the entire island chain! This was no longer a crisis for a single outpost or watchtower, but a catastrophe!

“Then… what should we do?”

Zhao Tieshan’s voice held a trace of confusion and hoarseness, his massive axe seeming much heavier. He instinctively looked at Lin Feng, this “Loose Cultivator” who had displayed extraordinary abilities all along, now the only faint light in the darkness.

Liu Qing霜 also forcibly suppressed her churning emotions, her clear eyes refocusing on Lin Feng, with unprecedented gravity: “Fellow Daoist Lin, since you’ve gathered us, you must have a plan?” Her voice regained its calmness, but beneath that coolness lay a resolute killing intent.

Wu Ming said nothing, but his silent gaze was also fixed on Lin Feng, like a hound awaiting orders.

Just as the four were anxiously discussing countermeasures—

“Hmph! Sneaking around, gathering here to conspire, something is indeed amiss!”

A cold, resentful voice, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, suddenly echoed at the cave entrance!

Situ Ying! He had followed them at some unknown point!

His pale, effeminate face was contorted in a twisted, sinister grin. The soft sword at his waist flickered with dark light like a venomous snake! He had clearly seen Liu Qing霜 enter the cave, and a mix of jealousy and devilishness had made him risk following her!

“Situ Ying! What do you want?!”

Zhao Tieshan roared, blocking with his great axe.

“What do I want?”

Devilish flames danced in Situ Ying’s eyes, his voice sharp, “Are you few gathering here to betray the island chain and defect to the Devil Sect? Junior Sister Liu! Has this fellow named Lin seduced you? Come with me! Let’s go expose them to Iron Sword Shangren!” He actually turned the tables, while simultaneously reaching out to grab Liu Qing霜!

“Courting death!” A cold light burst from Liu Qing霜’s eyes, and her Ice Soul Sword instantly unsheathed, a condensed icy blue Sword Qi directly piercing towards Situ Ying’s wrist!

Situ Ying let out a strange laugh, and his soft sword, like a living creature, wrapped around the Ice Soul Sword Qi, dark light and cold gleam clashing fiercely! He didn’t linger in combat, parrying while suddenly activating a communication talisman!

A piercing shriek instantly tore through the silent night sky!

“Not good!” Lin Feng’s expression drastically changed! This scoundrel wanted to alert everyone!

Almost at the moment the communication talisman was sent, an incomparably sharp Sword Intent, like lightning tearing through the night sky, descended with a roar!

Iron Sword Shangren’s tall figure appeared at the cave entrance, his face ashen, his eyes sharp as swords, scanning the confronting group inside the cave!

The pressure of a Purple Mansion Cultivator descended like a mountain!

“What are you doing here?!”

Iron Sword Shangren’s voice was like ice, carrying a thunderous rage. Behind him, several Qi Refining Cultivators, startled, also gathered around with torches and Magical Artifacts, looking at the cave’s interior with suspicion and uncertainty.

Situ Ying looked as if he had seen his savior, immediately pointing at Lin Feng and the others and shrieking: “Junior Martial Uncle Iron Sword! Your Disciple discovered Lin Jiu, Zhao Tieshan, Wu Ming, and Liu Qing霜 secretly gathered here late at night! Your Disciple suspected they were plotting something nefarious and was about to question them, but they actually tried to kill me to silence me! Please investigate, Junior Martial Uncle! They must be Devil Sect spies!”

“Nonsense!” Zhao Tieshan’s face flushed with anger, his great axe pointing at Situ Ying, “It was clearly you, you devil brat, who followed Junior Sister Liu! A thief crying ‘stop thief’!”

The scene instantly became chaotic, with swords drawn and bows bent!

Lin Feng’s mind raced, knowing that any explanation at this moment, under Iron Sword Shangren’s fury, could be misinterpreted.