The moment these beings emerged, they felt an incomparably dense surge of Innate Spiritual Qi rushing toward them. Looking closely, they saw that everything around them was an Innate Spiritual Root, leaving them rooted to the spot in stunned silence.
"Qing Ya, hurry and make the arrangements. Explain the island's rules to them and let them settle down peacefully."
Xuan Qing handed the Spiritual Roots and spiritual materials he had collected from the Western Continent to Qing Ya, telling the beings to take them around the island and cultivate them.
After giving Qing Ya his instructions, Xuan Qing prepared to cultivate the Fusang Wood. This was a major task, and he needed the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree's help.
He first communicated with the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree. After gaining its consent, Xuan Qing took out a Fusang Wood branch and a ball of Solar True Fire. Far away from the other Spiritual Roots, he opened up a separate patch of land and planted the Fusang Wood.
The Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree scattered a cluster of heaven-and-earth spiritual vitality, which drifted respectively toward the Shore Flower, the Innate Gui Water Spirit Apricot, and the second generation Fusang Wood, as though welcoming a new friend.
Gradually, the second generation Fusang Wood came to life. However, it would take a very long time to grow, requiring a long wait. The Shore Flower King, on the other hand, swayed happily, and her spiritual intelligence became even more complete.
After dealing with these matters, everyone returned to the Heart Nurturing Hall. It was also Han Xi's first time seeing a room filled with Innate Merit Spirit Treasures, and even she felt that her strong heart could barely take it.
When Xuan Qing had refined the Heart Nurturing Hall, he had not planned it very carefully. The entire Great Hall only had around ten bedrooms, and he arranged one for Han Xi as well.
Han Xi looked at her room in delighted surprise. The furniture inside was all Merit Spiritual Treasures. Thinking of the modern people's living habits Xuan Qing had described to her, she could not help feeling pleased.
Not long afterward, upon hearing that Xuan Qing had returned, the Heavenly Horse Patriarch and Bai Yu hurried to the Heart Nurturing Hall.
"Master, you're finally back!"
Bai Yu looked exhilarated and could not help soaring through the air.
The Heavenly Horse Patriarch looked at Xuan Qing somewhat awkwardly, unsure of how to address him.
"From now on, other beings can just call me Island Master. There's no need to be so reserved. Other than taking good care of the Spiritual Roots, simply follow Qing Ya's arrangements. I don't have that many rules."
Seeing the Heavenly Horse Patriarch's awkwardness, Xuan Qing quickly eased the situation.
"Thank you, Island Master. Some time ago, the Dragon Clan discovered this place. Zu Long led a large force to attack us, but they could not do anything to the Formation and eventually withdrew. However, they have surrounded our gates. Island Master, what should we do?"
Now that he had found someone to rely on, the Heavenly Horse Patriarch finally relaxed and explained their current situation. As a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, he understood everyone's predicament all too well.
"There's no need to panic. Continue as usual and focus on cultivation, but do not damage your foundations. The Dragon Clan cannot do anything to this great Formation."
Xuan Qing steadied everyone's emotions and encouraged their drive to improve. With the Dragon Clan looming over them, everyone was under immense pressure. Pressure created motivation, and only then could it spur their cultivation.
After hearing Xuan Qing's arrangements, the Heavenly Horse Patriarch had a general understanding and prepared to leave to cultivate.
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave. We just killed that giant dragon blocking our gates, so let's use its Dragon Meat for barbecue and see how it tastes. There's plenty of Dragon Meat. Later, Heavenly Horse Patriarch, take some back for your clan members to try."
"Yay!"
The moment Qing Ling heard about roasted Dragon Meat, she leaped up excitedly. She could finally taste that giant loach, and the frustration of having their gates blocked for countless years instantly vanished.
Ignoring Qing Ling as she danced about in excitement, Xuan Qing led everyone to the kitchen. After preparing the Dragon Meat, he placed it on the grill.
This was also the first time the Heavenly Horse Patriarch and Bai Yu had entered the Heart Nurturing Hall. Without Xuan Qing's permission in the past, they had not dared to come and go freely.
When they saw that even the cooking utensils were Innate Merit Spirit Treasures, they could not help feeling depressed. What kind of person was this? How could he possess such bizarre Spiritual Treasures?
Before long, the fragrance of meat filled the entire kitchen. Seeing that the meat was nearly done, Xuan Qing sprinkled on seasonings. The aroma became even more enticing, and the sight alone stirred everyone's appetite.
Xuan Qing distributed the roasted meat among them, and everyone began tasting it. Bai Yu often followed Qing Ling around, so he had eaten plenty of good food before.
However, Qing Ling did not possess Xuan Qing's skill. She immediately realized just how delicious his roasted meat was. From now on, she probably would not be able to stomach anything Qing Ling cooked.
It was the Heavenly Horse Patriarch's first time eating food, and he found the act rather curious. He also took a bite, finding the sensation uniquely enjoyable.
It was also Xuan Qing's first time eating Dragon Meat. Words that could only be used as a joke in his previous life had actually come true.
He secretly felt a burst of delight. Not bad, not bad. This tastes far better than Innate Spirit Fruit. It seems there is a reason the Dragon Clan belongs on the menu.
"Master, why is your roasted meat so delicious? Mine is so much worse. How did you do it? Was it because of the things you just added?"
Qing Ling had always been especially fond of food. Seeing Xuan Qing add something while grilling, she became curious.
"Here, these are seasonings. They're Innate Spiritual Plants, and there are plenty on the island. Go pick some yourself."
Xuan Qing took out several seasonings and introduced them to Qing Ling, telling her to prepare them herself in the future.
After finishing the roasted meat in his hand, Xuan Qing took out all the remaining Dragon Meat and also set down some seasonings.
"If anyone still wants more, make it yourselves. Grill it the way you just saw me do it. Bai Yu, make sure you do a good job. You'll need to take some back to your clan members later."
After eating a little, Xuan Qing was more or less satisfied. There was no need to eat until he was full in one sitting. What would he do if he got sick of it? He should turn his attention back to planning for the future.
He had to resolve the trouble caused by the Dragon Clan as soon as possible. Otherwise, no one would be able to leave the island in the future. His cultivation was still too weak. If it were not, how would the Dragon Clan dare be so arrogant?
Watching everyone eat happily, Xuan Qing felt the beauty of life. Still, strength was necessary!
After everyone finished eating and cleaned up, Xuan Qing took out the Innate Five Elements Origin Essence he had collected and handed it to Qing Ya.
"Use this essence when you make breakthroughs in the future. It can not only speed up cultivation but also strengthen your foundations. Once your cultivation is sufficient, come to Qing Ya to collect it."
Xuan Qing distributed the gains from this expedition. This time, he needed to enter seclusion properly and strive to break through to the Grand Luo Golden Immortal sooner.
Meanwhile, on the Dragon Clan's side, the death of an Early Stage of Grand Luo Golden Immortal dragon at the hands of the Formation caused a tremendous uproar. The other Dragon Clan members stationed among the islands discovered what had happened.
The Flood Dragon that had discovered Azure Nether Island last time had been rewarded for his merit and assigned to a nearby island. This time, after hearing the great disturbance from Azure Nether Island, he secretly came over to investigate.
However, he arrived too late. He did not find the giant dragon that had been blocking the gates, only Dragon Blood all over the ground. He knew something major had happened.
A Grand Luo Golden Immortal of the Dragon Clan had died. This was no small matter. It was highly likely that the island's owner had returned, so he quickly reported it to the Dragon Clan.
After Zu Long gathered the beings of the East Sea, he discovered that the Auspicious Qi of the entire clan was rising. Even his own cultivation was steadily improving. This was a great opportunity to surpass those great powers. He left Candle Dragon in charge of the clan's affairs and directly entered seclusion.
Not long after he entered seclusion, Candle Dragon came to the palace where he was cultivating and interrupted him from his enlightenment. Fortunately, Zu Long had not immersed himself too deeply, so the interruption had little effect.
"What brings you here? Didn't I entrust the clan's affairs to you? Did you encounter trouble gathering the Water Clan that even you cannot resolve?"
Zu Long looked curiously at Candle Dragon.
"Big Brother, the Flood Dragon who discovered those islands last time sent word that the Grand Luo Golden Immortal we dispatched from the Dragon Clan was killed. It seems the island's owner has returned. I could not make the decision myself, so I had no choice but to ask you to decide."
Upon hearing Candle Dragon's words, Zu Long immediately sensed that something was wrong. The Dragon Clan had not lost a single Grand Luo Golden Immortal until now.
As the Dragon Clan's top combat power, losing even one Grand Luo Golden Immortal would severely weaken them. This was a direct provocation against the Dragon Clan.
Candle Dragon truly could not make the decision on this matter. Zu Long needed to think it over carefully as well, or they would make another laughingstock of themselves throughout the Prehistoric Era like last time.
They could not fail to respond to the loss of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal. Otherwise, anyone would be able to trample over the Dragon Clan in the future. Yet they could only abandon gathering the Water Clan for now. This put Zu Long in an extremely difficult position.
He had no way to deal with the great Formation around that island. Even gathering the entire clan's strength would not work. The other side was hiding inside like a turtle shell, leaving their methods useless. They had thoroughly offended the other side last time as well. This was truly difficult to handle.
After pondering for a long time, Zu Long slowly came up with a helpless solution.
"Second brother, make a trip to Azure Nether Island. Make the spectacle as grand as possible, preferably so the entire East Sea can see it. Since they cannot come out anyway, just threaten them outside the Formation. Didn't our investigation reveal that the Island Master is merely a Grand Unity Golden Immortal? He poses no threat."
Hearing Zu Long's plan, Candle Dragon felt equally frustrated. He had never expected that one day, he would have to use words rather than force to threaten a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
Not long afterward, Candle Dragon assembled a team of Grand Luo Golden Immortals and set out with overwhelming momentum. However, they traveled very slowly, as though deliberately building up their prestige, advancing leisurely toward Azure Nether Island.
Countless Sea Clan beings hiding away were terrified by this aggressive force. Some beings who had remained neutral immediately pledged allegiance to the Dragon Clan, while other beings who relied on a few methods of their own were forced to flee the East Sea.
Yet some bold beings followed behind the force, wanting to see what great undertaking the Dragon Clan intended to carry out.
Candle Dragon noticed the situation in the sea but paid it no mind. This was a good opportunity to clean up the East Sea, making it much easier to control later.
To allow the Grand Unity Golden Immortals and Golden Immortals to keep up, the massive force traveled for more than eight thousand years before reaching Azure Nether Island. They then stopped outside the island.
This immense display had long alerted everyone on Azure Nether Island. When Xuan Qing saw the force, he could not understand the Dragon Clan's intentions. Were they not planning to attack?
"Listen up, people inside! You dared to kill a Grand Luo Golden Immortal of our Dragon Clan, so we will not rest until one side is dead! If not for this turtle shell, I would have crushed you ants to death long ago! Once our Clan Leader breaks through, you will be the first ones he destroys. Your good days are over!"
Candle Dragon opened his mouth and shouted loudly, establishing an image of the Dragon Clan's invincibility for the surrounding beings. Those harboring other intentions were so frightened that they immediately put away their petty schemes.
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