Several months later.
Fang Qing and Qin Ruxue received intelligence from the battlefield.
"Lightning flashed and thunder roared near Heavenly Heart Island, while black winds swept through—suspected Core Formation battle?"
Holding a sound-transmission talisman, Qin Ruxue praised, "Sect Leader Shi must have broken through the False Core Realm and refined the Tide-Birth Pearl, gaining Core Formation combat strength—"
"But there was no further news, nor any report of a Core Formation cultivator's death—rather, an anomaly suddenly appeared on Heavenly Heart Island, with a pillar of light shooting into the sky—then rumors that the island held ruins abruptly spread throughout the Lesser Vast Sea."
Reading the latter half of the sound-transmission talisman, Fang Qing's expression turned grave.
"So—Patriarch Ruan and Sect Leader Shi joined forces, yet still failed to take down Black Origin True Person?" Qin Ruxue was somewhat startled.
"Not only that. Black Origin True Person immediately countered by spreading news of the ruins across the world—this has put Ruan Zhixuan in an unfavorable position as well. If she cannot open the ruins quickly and seize the benefits within, she may end up making a wedding dress for someone else—once more outside Core Formation cultivators arrive, it will become a situation where both sides bleed."
Fang Qing sighed.
"Therefore—the next step is peace talks?"
Qin Ruxue was rather surprised.
"That's right. If both sides make peace and jointly develop the secret realm, then as this sect's foremost formation master, you will certainly be transferred to Heavenly Heart Island."
Fang Qing watched Qin Ruxue.
If she went there, it would be like planting a spy, allowing him to know every detail of the ruins' development.
"Alas—the cream of this sect's formation masters was previously led by Senior Brother Profound Formation, and all of them were lost on Heavenly Heart Island—"
Qin