“Father, do you really want to go?”
Inside the Divine Sonar Valley, the Family Head of the Chen Clan turned to the Sonar Thearch, his expression filled with seriousness and helplessness. The elders of the Chen Clan and Chen Chen stood by the side, waiting silently for the Sonar Thearch to answer the question. The Battle Thearch, the North Thearch, and the others had already sent their ambassadors to the Divine Sonar Valley, asking for the Sonar Thearch to come out to battle. The Sonar Thearch’s Divine Sound Heaven Skill was one of the most formidable skills among the thearchs. Just the Sonar Thearch alone was comparable to hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
“Can I not go?”
The Sonar Thearch closed his eyes, placing both of his hands gently on his ancient guqin[1]. He heaved a long sigh and said, “I can go to battle, but I will only help to fight the formidable martial artists of Sin Island. Once we reach the Endless Deep Sea, I will leave quietly.”
“Where will you go?” Chen Chen looked up and asked curiously.
“The Snow Region!”
The Sonar Thearch pointed toward the north and said, “It won’t just be me. Once I leave, all of you must move all our clansmen to the Snow Region as well. Bring Tang Xue and Tang Yan along with us. It is only after all of you evacuate this place that I will be able to leave.”
“Ah?”
Chen Chen looked astonished. His calm expression turned into a panicked one at once. Nervously, he said, “Grandfather, why are we leaving the East Imperial Continent? Will the human race lose this battle? All the clans are going out to battle. Even the Heaven Nether Sect promised to break open the Sin Island’s Nine Dragons’ God-Extinguishing Array to boost our might. Won’t the demons surely be defeated?”
“Keke!”
The Sonar Thearch laughed bitterly and shook his head. “There are some things that I cannot be sure of just yet, but I’ve guessed that some things are happening behind the scenes. These matters are not as simple as they look. Don’t ask too many questions. You will find out soon enough. If we don’t evacuate to the Snow Region, the Chen Clan will perish for sure. This is an order.”
“Yes!”
The elders and the Family Head of the Chen Clan responded respectfully at once. Although Chen Chen still had many questions that he wanted to ask, he held himself back. A while later, he spoke again. “Grandfather, are we really ignoring Jiang Yi?”
“We’re not ignoring him—we just can’t afford to entertain him!”
The Sonar Thearch waved his hand, sending everyone else out of the room. It was then that he helplessly said, “Don’t worry. The Mystic Thearch’s successor will not die that easily. This World-Destroying Sky Thunder Formation may be scary, but it will not stop this brat. The True Dragon will soar to the Nine Heavens sooner or later for sure.”
…
Sin Island!
Once the word got out that the East Imperial Continent was going to battle, the nine islands and the Gods Bestow Island went into chaos. Thirteen clans gathered at Gods Bestow City to discuss their strategy. Qian Wanguan and the others had returned as well. Situ Ao personally teleported them back to Sin Island using the Situ Clan’s own Void Transference technique.
Qian Wanguan and the others brought back news of Jiang Yi being captured, causing the thirteen clans to panic even further. What’s more, they heard from the East Imperial Continent that Ao Lu was behind the death of billions of people during this time. This caused Lei Banxian and the others to fly into a panic.
If Ao Lu was really behind this, that meant that nobody would be able to guess what would become of Sin Island, which was stuck between the Endless Deep Sea and the East Imperial Continent. The thirteen clans thus held a secret three-day meeting in order to decide their next move.
First: They would move the younger disciples out to preserve their family line. Situ Yixiao, Huangfu Taotian, and the other people of the younger generation must all be moved away. All the elderly, disabled, widows, and orphans must also be moved out to the Snow Region. This was because the Snow Region was extremely cold, and it was very far up north. It was millions of kilometers away from the East Imperial Continent; nobody was there that they could possibly come into conflict with.
The Saint Empress was there in the Snow Region, and so were the top ten sects. Neither the people of the East Imperial Continent nor the demons wanted to conquer that region. It was truly the end of the earth—a land apart from everything else that was happening in the world.
Of course, they could not set all of their eggs in one basket. This was not how the Great Clans worked all these years. The thirteen clans would send another group of disciples with their treasures and resources to a small, secret continent east of the Endless Deep Sea.
Second: They would send Qian Wanguan and Zhan Wushuang to the Endless Deep Sea to see Ao Lu in secret. Jiang Yi was close to Ao Lu. Qian Wanguan and Zhan Wushuang were the best representatives to send to him. If Ao Lu really was the mastermind behind everything, Ao Lu would not harm Qian Wanguan or Zhan Wushuang upon finding out that Jiang Yi died. Jiang Yi had saved Qianqian after all. Qianqian would surely step out to defend the two of them. If other people went along with the two of them, the entire group might not make it back.
Lei Tingwei was the one who came up with this idea. The aim was obvious, and there were many reasons for Situ Ao to object to the plan. However, Zhan Wushuang was a man of the Zhan Clan, and Qian Wanguan wanted to go to the Endless Deep Sea with him to plead with Ao Lu to rescue Jiang Yi. Thus, the plan went through.
Third: Everybody else was to stay behind and prepare for battle. They had to tell all of the mountain bandit corps to prepare for battle as well. The thirteen clans formed the essence of Sin Island. Without them, there would be nowhere for everyone else to escape to. Even if they run away from the island, they would be killed as well. Since all their descendants were here in Sin Island, nobody wanted to escape. All of them were willing to stand and fall together with the Gods Bestow Tribe.
Qian Wanguan and Zhan Wushuang left the very next day. Yun Fei, Situ Yinian, and the others followed the group heading toward the Snow Region. Neither Qian Wanguan nor Zhan Wushuang had any qualms about going. Without any formidable martial artists protecting them, they boarded a Heaven Fate Ship and headed straight toward the Endless Deep Sea to meet Ao Lu. If Ao Lu was the mastermind behind all of these things, they were prepared to die there. They would take it that they were keeping Jiang Xiaonu, who was alone at the Endless Deep Sea, company.
Situ Yixiao, Yun Fei, Huangfu Taotian, and the others began to leave quietly as well. Huangfu Taotian was the commander of the entire group. He alone bore the responsibility of keeping the young disciples of the thirteen clans safe. The thirteen clans did not let any Demigod follow him on the journey. Whether they would survive in the Snow Region would all be dependent on Huangfu Taotian and Situ Yixiao. Since the Saint Empress was around, they guessed that she would take care of them on behalf of Jiang Yi. Instead, the people that they were more worried about were the ten clans whom Jiang Yi had previously attacked.
The remaining people on Sin Island began to prepare for battle. All the formidable martial artists of the thirteen clans turned up in full force and began to patrol the nine islands and Gods Bestow Sea. All those who did not want to go to war with the East Imperial Continent nor be incorporated in the army were killed. At the same time, all the spies of the East Imperial Continent were killed as well.
The battle was going to happen soon. If their army was not strong, they would be defeated for sure.
In a short time, both the East Imperial Continent and Sin Island were prepared for battle. The weather in those few days reflected the mood in both islands. The sky remained dark, and clouds covered the sun. It seemed like a huge storm was brewing.
…
Swish!
East of the Gods Bestow Tribe, a top-grade Heaven Fate Ship broke through the air and appeared. Qian Wanguan was rich. Naturally, his Heaven Fate Ship would be the best of the best. It was a pity that there were very few guards on board the ship. The only other men there were those in charge of steering the ship. There was not one maidservant present.
The Heaven Fate Ship was flying very quickly. In just a couple of days, they arrived at the east side of the Gods Bestow Tribe. They would arrive at the Endless Deep Sea in no time. Both Zhan Wushuang and Qian Wanguan stood out on the deck, looking out into the endless sea. Their gazes were firm and determined.
Jiang Yi was their brother. There was no doubt that both of them would give all they could to save him in times of trouble. The only person who could save him now was Ao Lu. Thus, even if they would be walking right into the tiger’s cave, they had to go to the Endless Deep Sea to try their luck.
Swish! Swish!
The Heaven Fate Ship left the Gods Bestow Tribe and entered the Endless Deep Sea. The demons around them were not strong. They expected to meet much stronger demons after traveling a thousand kilometers more. There was a possibility that they might even meet demon sovereigns.
As expected!
In a few minutes, huge waves appeared in the Endless Deep Sea. Just as one of the waves rushed toward the sky, a sea snake leaped up and transformed into a human being in mid-air. He turned his cool gaze toward the ship and shouted, “Stop right there. This is the Endless Deep Sea. We don’t welcome you humans.”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Very quickly, wave after wave crashed all around them. Many sea demons showed their ferocious faces. All of them locked their gazes on Zhan Wushuang and Qian Wanguan. They threatened to attack them and overturn the entire ship.
A long spear appeared in Zhan Wushuang’s hand, and the powerful aura around him surged. Green battle armor wrapped his body up. He looked like a killing god. Qian Wanguan quickly took two steps forward and cupped his hands. “We are Jiang Yi’s brothers. We know your Princess Qianqian. This time, we have come to ask Ao—”
“You may be dismissed!”
Before Qian Wanguan could finish speaking, they heard a low voice come from inside the sea. The sea seemed to part in the middle and a cool-looking man in black armor stepped out of the waters. He waved his hand and said, “Men, the Thearch wishes to see you.”
“Lord Black Deity!”
Qian Wanguan and Zhan Wushuang immediately broke into a smile. The Black Deity came to receive them himself. Was he being polite, or was he inviting them into the trap?
“Go!”
No matter what, they had to walk into the Endless Deep Sea. The two of them quickly steered the Heaven Fate Ship to follow the Black Deity. The Black Deity led them back into the sea immediately, disappearing into the waters.
[1] The guqin is a seven-stringed plucked instrument that is similar to the zither.