129 Shuying's Contingency

Yunqing Sea Region.

On a picturesque island by the sea stood a magnificent and splendid palace. The island’s lord was one of the Four Demon Kings of the Yunqing Sea—the Serpent Demon King.

Blessed by nature, the island enjoyed eternal spring, its scenery exquisite and endlessly pleasurable. The Serpent Demon King had no need to wreak havoc beyond his domain.

He was a lecherous and lustful creature, whose bed was always graced by the most seductive beauties from various demon clans. Often transforming into a handsome man, he would venture out to seduce alluring human cultivators and bring them back for debauched pleasures.

He never forced himself upon anyone; instead, he preferred to present himself as a beautiful youth. With profound cultivation and an extraordinary aura, the human female cultivators believed their encounter was a fateful blessing and indulged in passionate intimacy.

Sometimes, when the cultivators’ partners or former lovers came searching, he would not slaughter them immediately. Instead, he would capture them, openly revel with the women before ending their lives, seeking a cruel satisfaction.

Under his demonic influence, these human female cultivators gradually changed, becoming skilled in seduction and eventually turning into playthings on the island, some even gifted to other Demon Kings or their subordinates.

Originally a straightforward and rough demon cultivator, the Ox Demon King had also become indulgent and decadent under the “care” of the Serpent Demon King.

Within the entire Yunqing Sea, besides the Gu family’s two Golden Core elders, there was only one other independent master at the Golden Core realm.

The three great human Golden Core cultivators, unfortunately lacking strong legacies, could only maintain a precarious balance against the Four Demon Kings, barely holding the peace in the Yunqing Sea.

When the demonic tide from the Myriad Demons Island swept through, the humans had no choice but to restrain themselves considerably.

On this day.

Inside the Serpent Demon King’s lavish bedchamber, he was indulging wildly with a newly seduced human female cultivator.

Suddenly, a note from a zither outside pierced the air, chilling him as if doused with a basin of ice water.

His expression flickered, and hastily donning his robes, he transformed into a streak of azure light and flew outside.

In the sky, three vast and profound presences radiated like blazing suns, emitting intense waves of energy.

There was also a graceful figure seated midair, fingers gliding over a zither.

The Serpent Demon King dared not delay. He swiftly ascended and knelt on one knee before the woman, respectfully greeting, “Serpent Demon King pays respects to Lord Shangguan.”

Behind her stood two men and one woman, all of Golden Core rank.

Among them was a lean old man, one of the Four Demon Kings renowned alongside the Serpent Demon King—the Ram Demon King.

A tall woman was the Eagle Demon King, another of the Four Demon Kings.

The middle-aged man with a beard and a seemingly dull demeanor was the mount of the Demon Emperor of Myriad Demons Island—their true form a black dragon.

Legend held that there were eight Demon Emperors on Myriad Demons Island, five of whom slumbered on the ocean floor for years.

Only three were publicly known.

This black dragon was the most active Demon Emperor in recent millennia, the mount of the White Xi Demon Emperor.

Shangguan Wan’er, the woman before him, was one of White Xi’s five most favored disciples.

Though her cultivation was only at the Completion of the Dao Foundation stage, it was enough for the Serpent Demon King to kneel before her.

“Apologies for disturbing your pleasure, Serpent Demon King,” Shangguan Wan’er said calmly.

The Serpent Demon King immediately bowed his head repeatedly, saying, “I dare not, I dare not!”

Her beauty, figure, and aura were unparalleled—something the Serpent Demon King had never witnessed in his life.

Yet now, he dared not meet her gaze.

“Come with me to handle a matter,” Shangguan Wan’er said lightly before transforming into a gentle glow and vanishing.

When next seen, she was already miles away.

The Serpent Demon King and the Ram Demon King, among others, quickly followed.

Though her realm was lower than theirs, Shangguan Wan’er’s combat strength surpassed the Serpent Demon King.

On Myriad Demons Island, it was said she had defeated human Golden Core cultivators in battle multiple times.

The five demons swept through the sky, heading unmistakably toward Flower Blossom Island.

Midway, they encountered a colorful cloud, atop which stood a stunning young woman surrounded by dozens of finely dressed men and women.

The three great Demon Kings were ready to attack, but Shangguan Wan’er silenced them with a cold snort.

She merely glanced at the Flower Blossom Island cultivators and continued walking.

The black dragon followed silently.

The three great Demon Kings exchanged glances and hastened to follow.

—

Above the sea.

Ren Shuying watched the five demons leave with unease, her brows knitting deeply.

“Are they headed to Flower Blossom Island?”

“This is bad. They’re in danger!”

The elder of Flower Blossom Island acted decisively, waving her hand to release countless flower petals into the air.

The petals spun rapidly, soon forming a complex and profound array.

Ren Shuying then embedded over a hundred superior spiritual stones into the formation.

“You will pass through this array and teleport directly back to Flower Blossom Island.”

With a flourish of her sleeves, she activated the formation.

Countless radiant petals danced as waves of spatial energy rippled outward.

A disciple hesitated, “Master, activating this formation consumes a million inferior spiritual stones. Isn’t this wasteful… all because of those five great demons just now?”

Ren Shuying nodded, her delicate face cold, “Time is tight. Speak no more. Quickly enter the formation.”

The disciples dared not object and entered one after another.

Ren Shuying formed hand seals, and the formation sprang to life.

In the next moment, dozens of Flower Blossom disciples vanished from the array without a trace.

The Flower Blossom Island teleportation array was a marvel of the Eastern Sea cultivation world.

Today, only the Golden Core cultivators of Flower Blossom Island could, with a mere gesture, teleport dozens of people across countless thousands of miles in an instant.

Of course, such a feat consumed vast amounts of spiritual stones.

Another key was that Flower Blossom Island had long prepared a reception formation on the other end.

Ren Shuying only needed to set up a temporary teleportation array here…

Afterward, she formed hand seals again, and countless pink petals appeared around her.

“Good thing I left a hidden hand on Flower Blossom Island…”

She murmured to herself, then vanished from sight.

—

On Flower Blossom Island.

Two rosy-cheeked children in short sleeves and shorts played and ran along the ridges of spiritual fields, their laughter like silver bells.

Suddenly, a green sprout broke through the soil in the flower field!

Moments later, it grew leaves and roots, then blossomed into an incomparably beautiful flower.

The petals soon withered and fell away.

More than a dozen petals fluttered and formed a delicate little formation.

Within the array, a shimmering figure slowly materialized, graceful and alluring.

A flash of swordlight approached from afar.

Pei Luanjing smiled slyly at Ren Shuying, her lips curling in teasing amusement.

“Sister, weren’t you returning to Flower Blossom Island?”

Her voice carried a trace of displeasure.

“If you truly wished to find my senior brother, you could have waited until I was off the island. Why sneak around so furtively?”

Ren Shuying replied calmly, “You misunderstand. I came specially to inform you all that four Golden Core great demons are currently headed this way, and judging by their aura, their intent is hostile.”

“Is that true?”

Pei Luanjing’s expression shifted immediately as she formed hand seals to activate the island’s protective array.

Boom!

A luminous barrier spread over the island’s sky, lightning flashing fiercely, blotting out the sun.

The Great Taiyi Golden Thunder Array.

Outside the formation, a curious voice sounded—

“Huh? How did that female cultivator get ahead of us?”