Kowloon Island.
It was surrounded by the sea on all sides, with mountain peaks rising one after another across the island.
Compared to the grand splendor of a Saint's sacred ground like Golden Turtle Island, this place was far wilder.
The roars of strange beasts occasionally echoed through the forests, while several powerful immortal auras lurked deep within the island, perceptible even from a great distance.
Wen Zhong had clearly not come here for the first time.
The moment he arrived outside the island.
He immediately circulated his magic power and laughed loudly.
"Four fellow Daoists!"
"Wen Zhong has come to pay you a visit!"
His voice carried into the island.
A moment later.
A hearty laugh rang out from the depths of the forest.
"Grand Preceptor Wen finally decided to leave Zhaoge?"
Right after that, four streaks of escaping light rose into the sky one after another.
Lin Yuan looked up.
At the front stood a tall Daoist with a rugged face.
The other three had different temperaments, yet all carried the free-spirited savagery of those who had cultivated in the Overseas Realm for years.
Wang Mo.
Yang Sen.
Gao Yougan.
Li Xingba.
All four were present.
The instant they truly came into view.
A clear prompt finally sounded in Lin Yuan's mind.
[Detected four targets fated for death.] [Wang Mo.] [Yang Sen.] [Gao Yougan.] [Li Xingba.] [All four are deeply entangled in fated death tribulations tied to the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.]
Lin Yuan stood there with a perfectly solemn expression.
But fireworks had already begun going off in his heart.
Four.
A full four of them!
The system did not even need to explain any further.
To him, these were not four senior brothers coming out of the island to greet guests.
They were clearly four mobile reward chests that had grown legs and walked over by themselves.
After exchanging greetings with Wen Zhong, Wang Mo quickly noticed Lin Yuan beside him.
"This little Daoist friend looks unfamiliar."
Wen Zhong introduced him. "This is our fellow disciple Lin Yuan, an elite disciple newly accepted by Teacher Jin Ling."
"Lin Yuan?"
Upon hearing the name, Gao Yougan immediately gave him several extra looks.
"Are you the one who recently pulled Junior Sister Shiji back from Taiyi at Chentang Pass?"
Lin Yuan cupped his hands.
"Greetings, four senior brothers."
"That would be me."
Li Xingba was visibly intrigued.
"I also heard that, as an Earth Immortal, you fought your way into the top three of the Golden Turtle Island Minor Tournament, then advanced into the Heavenly Immortal realm yourself."
"It has only been a short while. The news already reached Kowloon Island?"
Lin Yuan was somewhat surprised.
Yang Sen laughed. "With so many people in the Intercepting Sect, how could news not spread quickly?"
"Especially since you are rather famous now, kid."
"A low-ranking registered disciple who first saved Shiji's people, then had Senior Sister Jin Ling personally go to Chentang Pass to back you up, only to receive a treasure from Teacher afterward."
"It would be hard not to remember you."
Wang Mo walked over and gave Lin Yuan's shoulder a heavy slap.
"Not bad."
"This is how disciples of the Intercepting Sect ought to act outside."
"When one of our own gets into trouble, save them first."
"As for reason..."
Wang Mo bared his teeth in a grin.
"So long as they are alive, we can discuss it slowly."
Lin Yuan's shoulder sank under the slap.
His Blackstone Dao Body stirred slightly, but he did not feel any pain.
Still, his impression of Wang Mo and the others improved somewhat.
These senior brothers truly suited the Intercepting Sect's overall style.
When you could fight, do not waste time talking.
And once they recognized someone as one of their own, they protected them fiercely.
"Senior Brother Wang is right."
Lin Yuan smiled with particular sincerity.
So sincerely that even Wang Mo found it a little strange.
"Junior Brother."
"Is there something on my face?"
"No."
"Then why are you looking at the four of us so..."
Wang Mo thought for a long while.
"So happily?"
"I have long admired your reputations."
Lin Yuan answered without hesitation.
"Seeing you all in person at last, I could not help being excited."
Li Xingba laughed.
"You know how to talk."
Gao Yougan stroked his chin.
"Why do I feel like this kid has just spotted some treasure?"
The smile on Lin Yuan's face stiffened.
This senior brother's instincts were rather sharp.
"You are overthinking it, Senior Brother."
Wen Zhong listened from the side and laughed.
"Fellow Daoists, let us go inside and talk."
Everyone entered Kowloon Island's sacred ground.
Wen Zhong did not beat around the bush.
He quickly explained the situation in West Qi.
When they heard that members of the Elucidation Sect had begun gradually intervening, the ease on Wang Mo and the others' faces slowly vanished.
"The Elucidation Sect is pulling the same stunt again."
Gao Yougan sneered.
"When mortal dynasties fight, they call on Immortals when they cannot win."
"If they can descend the mountain, then we of the Intercepting Sect naturally can as well."
Yang Sen looked at Wen Zhong.
"You came here this time to ask us to leave the mountain?"
Wen Zhong nodded.
"The Shang Army currently lacks anyone capable of confronting the Elucidation Sect's Immortals head-on."
"If the four of you are willing to help, Wen Zhong would be deeply grateful."
Wang Mo barely needed to think about it.
"We are fellow disciples."
"If you need something, just call for us."
The other three nodded as well.
Lin Yuan was not surprised in the slightest.
What truly concerned him was—
From the instant the four agreed to leave the mountain.
That faint sense of danger within his Innate Spiritual Perception noticeably grew stronger.
The Investiture of the Gods Calamity had begun truly dragging the four of them into a deadly trap.
Lin Yuan became vigilant.
The rewards were excellent.
But the prerequisite was saving them first.
This was different from Biyun and Shiji.
Shiji's path toward her death tribulation had been very clear at the time.
As long as she did not chase anyone to Qianyuan Mountain.
She could basically avoid it.
But the Four Sages of Nine-Dragon Island were entering the battlefield directly.
Their death tribulations would likely come more than once.
"Junior Brother."
Wang Mo suddenly called out.
Lin Yuan came back to his senses.
"Senior Brother Wang?"
"What are you spacing out for?"
"Come on."
"Didn't you say you wanted to follow Wen Zhong and see the world?"
Wang Mo laughed loudly.
"Today, your senior brothers will show you what real spell combat looks like."
The four did not delay either.
After making a few simple preparations, they left Kowloon Island with Wen Zhong.
Their destination was the Shang Army's camp.
Nothing happened along the way.
It was only when they truly arrived at the front lines that Lin Yuan first understood the difference between war between mortal dynasties and the Golden Turtle Island Minor Tournament.
The military camps stretched on without end.
Baleful energy soared into the heavens.
The martial aura formed by hundreds of thousands of gathered troops was difficult for even ordinary Immortals to ignore completely.
And in the direction of distant West Qi, several immortal lights flickered in and out of sight as well.
The moment Wen Zhong returned to camp.
A general delivered a military report.
West Qi had taken the initiative to challenge them today.
And several Qi Refiners stood guard before their formation.
Upon hearing this, Wang Mo laughed on the spot.
"Perfect timing."
"Now I will not have to wait."
Wen Zhong had intended to let them rest first.
But Wang Mo had already led Yang Sen and the other two out of the camp.
Lin Yuan followed without hesitation.
The first head-on clash soon erupted.
West Qi's side had originally assumed the Shang Army had merely gained several ordinary wandering Immortals of the Intercepting Sect.
Until Wang Mo and the other three truly made their move.
Four immortal lights bore down across the battlefield.
Treasure light thundered.
Several West Qi Qi Refiners were almost instantly forced onto the back foot.
Wang Mo sent one opponent flying with a single blow, while Yang Sen took the opportunity to seal off another's retreat.
Gao Yougan and Li Xingba worked together with exceptional familiarity.
The four of them had clearly cultivated and fought together for countless years.
They had no need to communicate in the heat of battle.
One glance was enough to know what the other three intended to do next.
"So these are the Four Sages of Nine-Dragon Island?"
The Shang Camp erupted with excitement.
A smile finally appeared on Wen Zhong's face as well.
Lin Yuan stood at the rear, watching intently.
Strong.
Far stronger than he was now.
Especially when the four joined forces.
Ordinary cultivators of the same realm could not gain the slightest advantage against them.
Before long.
West Qi could no longer hold on.
Several streaks of fleeing light retreated in panic.
Wang Mo stood in midair, his voice like rolling thunder.
"Who else does West Qi have?"
"Come out!"
The only response he received—
was the distant military formation rapidly contracting.
Gao Yougan laughed with particular delight.
"Fellow Daoist Wen."
"Didn't you say West Qi would be difficult to fight?"
"That's all?"
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