274: Clear out Xuanqiong Fairy Island!

Island Master Yun Ting and the several elders behind him, seeing the control of the grand formation being stripped away and usurped by Ye Hangzhou at an unimaginable speed, and combining this with Li Shengyuan’s boundless pressure, vast as a ten-thousand-fathom deep sea, the last trace of struggle on their faces completely turned into ash-like despair.

Two Second Rank experts!

One of them was even a peerless fiend who could slay Venerable Cangming with a formation!

Even if all of them were tied together and given ten times more courage, it wouldn’t be enough for the opponent to crush them with a single finger… Resisting futilely?

That would only cause Xuanqiong Immortal Island to instantly fall into eternal perdition, with its heritage cut off and blood flowing like rivers.

“Your Excellency! Your Excellency, please calm your anger!”

Island Master Yun Ting could no longer hold on, and with a thud, he knelt in mid-air, his voice trembling with fear as he begged for mercy: “We surrender! We surrender!”

“We will immediately disperse the formation… No, no, the formation is already controlled by Your Excellency… We are willing to be captured without resistance.”

“We will hand over everyone involved with the Demonic Sect and all evidence, only asking that Your Excellency… only asking that Your Excellency show us leniency and spare the innocent disciples within our island!”

The several elders behind him also seemed to have their spines removed, collapsing to their knees, their bodies trembling, not even daring to raise their heads.

Li Shengyuan glanced at them indifferently, not surprised by such a pragmatic surrender.

“Since that is the case, have Venerable Xuanji come out to see me.”

“Yes! Yes! This junior will personally go and invite the Grand Elder!”

Island Master Yun Ting felt as if he had been granted a great pardon, quickly stood up, and was about to fly into the island, his posture humble to the dust.

Ye Hangzhou, however, remained silent, focusing on completely taking control of this “Grand Formation of the Zhou Tian Stars and Xuanqiong”.

Coal Ball tilted its head, its black eyes fixed on Yun Ting and the others, with a hint of mockery.

Time passed bit by bit in the oppressive silence.

Li Shengyuan stood with his hands behind his back, waiting patiently. The spiritual light in Ye Hangzhou’s hand gradually receded, indicating that his control over the grand formation was nearing completion.

However, Island Master Yun Ting, who had gone to “invite” the person, was slow to return, and the faces of the several elders who remained grew increasingly uneasy as time went on.

Finally, a figure stumbled out of the misty passage, it was one of the Fourth Rank elders who had followed Island Master Yun Ting back earlier.

At this moment, he was pale, his lips trembling, and when he flew closer, he almost collapsed as he reported:

“Reporting… Reporting to Your Excellency… The Island Master… the Island Master asked me to report… The Grand Elder… he is not in his bedchamber (bedchamber), nor in any of the caves he frequents… We have searched all possible places, but… but he is nowhere to be found!”

“What?!” The several elders kneeling on the ground suddenly looked up, their eyes filled with disbelief.

The elder delivering the message continued with a choked voice: “The Island Master said… he personally saw the Grand Elder this morning and even exchanged a few words…”

“But… but now, the Grand Elder’s soul jade slip shows no abnormality, but he… he is indeed gone! His important personal belongings and several of the island’s most precious treasures… also… also vanished without a trace!”

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a bolt from the blue, stunning all the Xuanqiong Immortal Island people present.

He was here this morning, but now he’s gone, and he even ran off with his belongings?

The only explanation was that the Grand Elder, Venerable Xuanji, had long prepared a way out.

The moment he sensed the arrival of a powerful enemy and that the grand formation was about to be breached, or even earlier, he had already performed a golden cicada shedding its shell, and slipped away alone!

He abandoned the sect that had nurtured him, and abandoned all his disciples!

“Impossible… This is impossible…” An elder muttered distractedly, his faith seemingly collapsing at that moment.

Island Master Yun Ting also flew back at this moment, looking distraught, his face devoid of color, his eyes hollow.

He opened his mouth to Li Shengyuan, but no sound came out, only endless bitterness and the despair of betrayal.

The Grand Elder he had seen this morning, who had earnestly taught him and worried about the sect’s future, had apparently already regarded them as pawns to be sacrificed!

A subtle hint of surprise also flashed in Li Shengyuan’s eyes.

He had expected the other party might struggle, negotiate terms, or even stubbornly resist within the formation, but he never expected Venerable Xuanji to be so decisive and ruthless, seeing the unfavorable situation and directly abandoning a thousand-year foundation and all his disciples, escaping alone… This ruthlessness and forbearance indeed exceeded his expectations.

“He left quite decisively,” Li Shengyuan commented lightly, his tone betraying no emotion.

At this moment, Ye Hangzhou cast the last incantation, and the entire vast misty grand formation emitted a low hum, then the pattern of the swirling mist suddenly changed, the original sense of an impenetrable barrier dissipated, replaced by a docile submission.

Coal Ball flapped its wings triumphantly: “Caw! Done! Now this broken island is ours to command!”

Ye Hangzhou nodded slightly to Li Shengyuan, indicating that the formation was completely under control.

“Let’s go in and see,” Li Shengyuan said.

Ye Hangzhou waved his hand, and the mist naturally parted to form a wide and stable passage.

The two men and one crow stepped in, and Yun Ting and the others dared not delay, following behind them trembling with fear.

Entering the interior of Xuanqiong Immortal Island, they saw pavilions and towers nestled among trees, spiritual birds flying, and abundant spiritual energy, truly a scene of an immortal realm.

However, at this moment, the disciples on the island had already been alarmed by the commotion outside, gathered together, everyone with fearful faces, watching their Island Master and elders follow behind two unfamiliar powerful figures like stray dogs, becoming even more silent than cicadas in winter.

Li Shengyuan and Ye Hangzhou swept their divine senses, covering the entire island, searching meticulously.

Indeed, there was no trace of any powerful aura belonging to a Second Rank cultivator remaining; Venerable Xuanji had indeed vanished into thin air, leaving behind a mess of an island, kept in the dark, and about to face reckoning.

Perhaps when Cangming was killed that day, he had already prepared his escape route… Li Shengyuan withdrew his divine sense, his gaze falling on Island Master Yun Ting, whose face was ashen and covered in sweat, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority:

“Yun Ting.”

Island Master Yun Ting trembled all over and immediately knelt to the ground:

“This junior is here!”

“Gather all disciples and elders on the island here immediately.”

Li Shengyuan commanded, his tone turning cold, “This Marquis gives you an opportunity to atone for your sins and render meritorious service. Point out everyone who has colluded with the Demonic Sect, even if there is only a slight connection.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the anxious faces below, finally settling on Yun Ting:

“Not a single one is to be let go.”

Island Master Yun Ting felt the cold killing intent in that gaze and shivered, knowing that his chances of survival were likely slim.

But this was the only chance for Xuanqiong Immortal Island to possibly preserve a spark of its lineage.

He did not dare to hesitate in the slightest, kowtowing heavily: “Yes! This junior will respectfully obey Your Excellency’s decree! This junior… will certainly do his utmost, with no concealment whatsoever!”

Soon, the entire Xuanqiong Immortal Island began to stir, accompanied by an unshakeable fear and despair.

A thorough purge was about to unfold on this overseas immortal island.

And one of the culprits, Venerable Xuanji, had already fled to an unknown location, taking with him the treasures he had plundered…