273: Master Yunting! Reverse the island protection formation!

In the Jiangnan courtyard, amidst the pavilions and waterside structures, Luo Qingwan was enjoying tea and conversation with Yue Xiyan and a few other women.

When Li Shengyuan came to bid farewell, stating he needed to travel overseas, Luo Qingwan did not, as usual, ask to accompany him.

Instead, she gracefully set down her teacup, her eyes sweeping over the several exceptionally beautiful women present, a faint smile playing on her lips:

"I won't be going with you this time, Daoist friend. Please go attend to your important matters. My sister Xiyan and I, along with Xinrong and the other sisters, have found ourselves quite compatible. This is a good opportunity to stay in Jiangnan for a while longer, to... get to know each other better and make friends."

Her words were gentle. If the people of the Wen Dao Sect knew their Sect Master was talking about making friends, they would probably be shocked!

The aloof Sect Master had never thought of making friends; she only had one disciple, Luo Yuzhu... Yue Xiyan, Shen Xinrong, and the others also smiled and agreed, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Li Shengyuan smiled slightly and said nothing more, only instructing them to enjoy their travels with peace of mind.

After bidding them farewell, he met up with Ye Hangzhou, who had been waiting nearby.

Ye Hangzhou was still dressed in a simple green robe, his expression indifferent. Only Coal Ball, the black crow perched on his shoulder, was particularly lively, its eyes darting around.

"Let's go, Ye Hangzhou. Thank you for your trouble," Li Shengyuan said.

Addressing Ye Xingzhou nodded silently. Without any visible movement, he simply raised his hand and drew in the air.

Streaks of spiritual light flowed from his fingertips, quickly outlining a complex and precise small teleportation array before them.

The array patterns rotated, and space subtly warped.

Using a teleportation array was much faster than flying himself!

Coal Ball let out a timely "Caw!" as if saying:

"Hold on tight!"

The next moment, the spiritual light suddenly flared, engulfing the figures of Li Shengyuan and Ye Hangzhou.

The gentle scenery of Jiangnan vanished instantly, replaced by a slight sense of weightlessness from spatial travel.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, the surrounding scenery had completely changed.

A salty sea breeze hit their faces, and beneath their feet was a deep blue sea with gentle waves. Looking around, the sky and earth stretched wide.

However,

directly ahead, an endless expanse of dense fog obscured the sea and sky.

The mist churned, like a massive barrier, hiding everything within. No trace of an immortal island could be seen.

"Caw!"

Coal Ball flapped its wings, its hoarse voice acting as a spokesperson, "Addressing Ye Xingzhou says, this is it, no mistake! That Xuanqiong Immortal Island is hidden within this fog."

"This mist is the doing of their 'Grand Heavenly Star Xuanqiong Great Array.' It combines the power of the stars with the sea's momentum, forming a self-contained Lost area."

"Those who don't know what they're doing and barge in, even if the killing array isn't activated, nine out of ten will get lost in there until the end of time."

"Even if one tries to break it with brute force, an ordinary Second-Rank expert would struggle immensely to smash open this turtle shell, which uses the full power of the island. It's also easy to alert the guys inside, letting them slip away through another rat hole!"

Li Shengyuan's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. He simply looked calmly at the wall of mist:

"Since that's the case, Ye Hangzhou, it's up to you."

Ye Hangzhou silently stepped forward, spiritual light flickering in his eyes, as if countless runes were being born and extinguished within them.

He pointed his fingers like a brush, beginning to draw in the void. Invisible array traces probed into the mist, like the most precise probes, beginning to analyze and deconstruct the Veins of this ancient great array.

Coal Ball hopped around nearby, occasionally adding a few remarks:

"Heh, this node is cleverly hidden... Hmm, here, it needs to be activated with Gui Water Qi... Here, it draws upon the power of the myriad stars..."

"Found the spiritual energy circulation hub of this great array... Almost there, almost there. Dismantling this thing is just a bit of work."

With Ye Hangzhou's array mastery, breaking this array was indeed only a matter of time.

Li Shengyuan stood in the air with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering in the sea breeze, patiently waiting.

It must be said, having such a formation master was truly a great convenience!

Time passed bit by bit. Ye Hangzhou's crack progressed steadily, and the mist ahead began to churn irregularly. The humming sound of the array's operation also became clearly audible.

Just as the crack process was halfway complete, and the mist's circulation showed obvious stagnation... "Om!"

The dense fog ahead violently churned, then suddenly parted, revealing a narrow passage.

Several figures frantically flew out from it. The leader was dressed in a magnificent island master's robe embroidered with star and cloud patterns.

His face, which should have been refined and dignified, was now bloodless, his forehead covered in fine cold sweat, his eyes filled with unconcealed terror.

The aura around him indicated he was a Third-Rank cultivator, presumably the Island Master of Xuanqiong Immortal Island.

The several elders following him, with cultivation levels ranging from Third to Fourth-Rank, were also pale with fear, their bodies trembling slightly, like startled birds.

As soon as Island Master Yunting emerged, his gaze was immediately drawn to the exceptionally distinguished and unfathomable Li Shengyuan, and to Ye Hangzhou, who was breaking the array with profound techniques beside him.

The invisible pressure emanating from the two Second-Rank powerhouses made it difficult for him to breathe.

He forcefully suppressed the surging waves in his heart, bowed deeply in the air, his voice trembling uncontrollably:

"I... I am Yunting, Island Master of Xuanqiong Immortal Island. I did not... did not know of your esteemed presence and failed to greet you. I beg your forgiveness!"

He swallowed with difficulty and continued, "May I ask, esteemed sirs, what brings you here? If you have any commands, my Xuanqiong Immortal Island... will surely do its utmost to serve you!"

His posture was so low, almost obsequious, hoping for a glimmer of hope.

Li Shengyuan's gaze fell calmly on Island Master Yunting, a gaze that seemed to penetrate his soul.

"This Marquis, Li Shengyuan."

These three light words were like three thunderclaps, exploding in the ears of Island Master Yunting and the elders behind him.

The several people trembled violently, the last trace of color draining from their faces, their eyes filled only with utter despair.

It was him indeed!

That Great Qian God of Slaughter who had killed Grand Elder Cangming!

"Cangming Shangren colluded with the Demonic Sect and ambushed this Marquis. He has already been executed."

Li Shengyuan's tone remained calm, yet carried a coldness like a pronouncement, "Your Xuanqiong Immortal Island, cannot escape responsibility."

He paused slightly, looking at the ashen-faced Island Master Yunting, and offered what seemed like choices, but in reality, left no retreat:

"This Marquis has come only to punish the chief culprits, eliminate the remnants of the Demonic Sect, and have Xuanji come out to see me."

"If you are willing to voluntarily dismantle the great array, surrender, and hand over all those involved with the Demonic Sect and the evidence, some innocent disciples may be spared at discretion."

Island Master Yunting's lips trembled violently, his heart caught in a fierce internal struggle.

Voluntarily dismantle the great array and hand over everything?

Then wouldn't Xuanqiong Immortal Island's millennium foundation and countless secret treasures be at the mercy of others?

But if he refused... looking at the formation master beside him, constantly dismantling the great array.

And Li Shengyuan's unfathomable eyes, after the array was broken, the outcome would likely be the severance of their heritage and not a single soul left alive!

Just as he hesitated and struggled, cold sweat soaking his heavy robes, Li Shengyuan seemed to have seen through that sliver of hope in his heart.

He shook his head gently, his tone carrying a hint of faint sarcasm:

"It seems you intend to stubbornly resist and gamble your ten-thousand-year foundation entirely on this great array."

He no longer looked at the tottering Island Master Yunting and the others, and said calmly to Ye Hangzhou:

"Ye Hangzhou, there's no need to hold back. Break the array as quickly as possible. I want to see how many demons and monsters are hidden in this overseas immortal island."

Upon hearing this, Addressing Ye Xingzhou's hand seals suddenly changed, and his speed increased even further!

The invisible array patterns in the air suddenly burst forth with dazzling spiritual light. The mist ahead violently churned and vibrated like boiling water.

The "Grand Heavenly Star Xuanqiong Great Array" let out a mournful groan of unbearable strain, clearly on the verge of being forcibly torn open with a huge gap!

At this moment, Coal Ball proudly raised its head, "This great array will soon be under my control. By then, Xuanqiong Immortal Island will not only be unable to control the array, but they will also be trapped like turtles in a jar. Not a single one of them will escape!"

Island Master Yunting and the others were terrified out of their wits, retreating repeatedly, their faces ashen and helpless.

Especially Yunting, he found that the magical artifact in his hand that controlled the great array was indeed becoming weaker and weaker in its connection to the array!