1090: Red Dragon Island

Wherever the sword light passed, a massive rift appeared directly in the Void Realm, as if the Void Realm itself had been sliced open.

An eighth-rank manatee let out a miserable scream as it was sliced in two by the sword light, blood spraying into the air.

This completely enraged the manatees; countless manatees soared into the sky, rushing toward Jin Yaner one after another.

Jin Yaner did not hold back and began a massacre, the sword light in her hand flowing as she slashed out thousands of beams.

Raising her left hand, she unleashed several palms in succession. The terrifying palm prints reduced dozens of seventh-rank manatees to mincemeat.

As the sword lights fell, countless manatees were slain on the spot.

In just a few breaths, over a hundred manatees had died at Jin Yaner's hands.

When a powerhouse at the fourth level of the supreme realm goes all out, it is naturally no joke. With violent aura flowing, even with countless manatees rushing at her, they couldn't get close.

But Jin Yaner was anxious; most of those rushing her now were seventh-rank manatees. Once those eighth-rank manatees charged, she would have no choice but to flee for her life.

Just after she shattered two manatees with a palm strike, a voice reached Jin Yaner's ears.

"Fellow Daoist Jin, retreat!"

Hearing this voice, Jin Yaner couldn't help but look joyful. The longsword in her hand slashed out countless sword lights, striking down the manatees that had rushed before her.

Then she stopped lingering; her body faded, and she vanished from the spot instantly.

A few breaths later, she met up with Ji Wuchang. Behind them were dense swarms of manatees.

Neither of them spoke, sprinting madly toward the distance.

Soon, they met up with Chen Zhao, Zhang Mayi, and Qiu Yanxi. The five of them raced into the distance.

The manatees finally gave up after chasing for hundreds of miles, allowing the five of them to breathe a sigh of relief.

The five stopped. Qiu Yanxi panted heavily, her face slightly pale; she had truly been a bit scared just now.

Jin Yaner looked at Ji Wuchang, a look of hope in her eyes.

Ji Wuchang naturally knew what that look meant. With a wave of his hand, he took out eleven stalks of Ten-Leaf Ox-Bezoar Grass and thirteen stalks of Nine-Leaf Ox-Bezoar Grass.

"Fellow Daoist Jin, time was too tight; I only found these."

Jin Yaner's eyes were already fixed on the Ox-Bezoar Grass, a look of pleasant surprise in them.

Chen Zhao, Zhang Mayi, and Qiu Yanxi were astonished; they hadn't expected him to have gathered so many.

They all felt ashamed; everything they had gathered combined didn't match what this Fellow Daoist Ji had.

Jin Yaner reached out and collected the Ox-Bezoar Grass. She said solemnly, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Ji. Once we return, I will surely reward you handsomely."

"However, our gathering mission isn't finished yet. We still need to harvest one more thing."

"This thing is even more dangerous than Manatee Island. Everyone should be mentally prepared."

Ji Wuchang remained calm; he had come out this time specifically for experience.

Furthermore, he still held a large amount of Ox-Bezoar Grass. The fact that the Hundred Flowers Hall was willing to invite him at such a high price already demonstrated the value of these items.

No one spoke as they followed Jin Yaner, racing in one direction.

This time, the three of them flew for a full three days before stopping.

Now, before them, a tall mountain rose abruptly from the ocean.

Even though they were dozens of miles away, they could still feel the surrounding temperature rising, with thick smoke billowing in the distance.

"Everyone, this place is called Red Dragon Island. There is an active volcano there that erupts year-round."

"This island was formed by the continuous eruptions of the volcano."

"Furthermore, this volcano grows at a rate of more than one zhang per year. The temperature on it is extremely high; those below the Celestial Phenomenon Realm simply cannot endure it."

"At the base of this volcano live two Red Dragons, one male and one female. They are the cause of the volcanic eruptions."

"The male Red Dragon's cultivation base is very strong, infinitely close to the fifth level of the supreme realm. Even if I go all out, I can only stall it for about half an incense stick's time."

"The female Red Dragon is equivalent to the third level of the supreme realm, and her strength is equally terrifying."

"Our purpose for coming here is to go to the bottom of the volcano and find Red Fire Lingzhi!"

"I am certain this item is at the bottom of the volcano; we have already sent many people to investigate."

"Let's discuss now: how can we take the Red Fire Lingzhi and still retreat safely?"

Jin Yaner laid out the problem directly. She had been thinking about it the whole way but hadn't come up with a very good plan.

Ji Wuchang glanced at the distant Red Dragon Island, his eyes brightening. Lately, each Check-in only yielded three years of cultivation base, which was a bit low.

"Fellow Daoist Jin, since the Red Dragons are so powerful, why not just have the leader come? She is at the fifth level of the supreme realm."

The leader Ji Wuchang referred to was naturally Zhou Junyi. With her cultivation base, it shouldn't be difficult for her to come here and take the Red Fire Lingzhi.

"No, we've already considered that. She has to obtain another medicinal herb, and that place is even more dangerous, guarded by a Sea Demon at the sixth level of the supreme realm."

"Our time seems ample, but in reality, it isn't. All sorts of things can happen in the ocean!"

"We originally wanted to invite a powerhouse at the sixth level of the supreme realm to oversee things, but we simply couldn't; no one was willing to come."

"So, our current arrangement is already the result of careful consideration!"

Jin Yaner didn't hide anything and explained everything, so everyone understood.

Ji Wuchang's expression was calm as he said indifferently, "Fellow Daoist Jin, I can step in and kill that female Red Dragon. How about letting Fellow Daoist Chen Zhao take the Red Fire Lingzhi?"

When he said this, Zhang Mayi and Qiu Yanxi looked at him in disbelief.

A Cultivator at the fourth level of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm claiming he would kill a Sea Demon equivalent to the third level of the supreme realm—had they misheard, or was this man insane?

Jin Yaner and Chen Zhao, however, weren't too surprised. Chen Zhao glanced at Ji Wuchang, his eyes full of wariness.

"Fellow Daoist Ji, if possible, try not to kill the Red Dragons!"

"You may not know, but the Red Dragon clan is one of the overlords of the ocean. If a member dies, it will trigger chaos throughout the entire sea."

"When that happens, the Red Dragon clan might gather tens of millions of Sea Demons and march on Illusion Sea City!"

"Furthermore, many Cultivators have gone out to sea recently. If the Sea Demons riot, they will hardly have a chance to leave alive."

"Not to mention them, even we might not make it out alive. We would encounter sieges from countless Sea Demons along the way."

"My point is, we should find a way to take the Red Fire Lingzhi but try not to take the Red Dragons' lives."

Jin Yaner explained the stakes, causing Ji Wuchang to fall silent.

If they couldn't kill, it would be troublesome; it would make things feel restrictive.

"Fellow Daoist Jin, you must have your own plan. There's no need to be coy; just say it!"

Ji Wuchang finally understood; she had actually had her own plan all along, and it was very likely related to him.