"Although we have no conclusive evidence, the disappearances of those who venture out to sea are almost certainly connected to Netherblood Island! Leaving other cultivators aside, more than thirty-five thousand of our own tribespeople are involved, along with over a hundred thousand natives we recruited..."
Guihai Canglan pondered briefly before choosing her words and answering. After a pause, she quickly continued, "Precisely because of this, fewer and fewer people dare leave the island to explore the surrounding waters. Most remain on Nine-Dragon Island, and their troubled spirits make them harder to placate, throwing the island into even greater chaos!"
Tribal Chief Cloudsplitter added immediately, "If not for the Patriarch watching over us in secret, and the abundance of demonic beasts, sea beasts, and natural barriers on and around the island, Netherblood Island might already have invaded or infiltrated our island!"
Xiao Ying frowned in silence for a moment, then asked, "Have we negotiated with them?"
Tribal Chief Cloudsplitter answered promptly, "There have been no formal negotiations! However, we sent Hong Leopard Great Witch and nearly a hundred tribespeople there. They disappeared without a trace and were presumably imprisoned or killed!"
Xiao Ying's heart sank. He asked displeasedly, "And then? We took no further action?"
"Well..." Tribal Chief Cloudsplitter hesitated, unsure how to answer, and simply lowered his head in silence.
Guihai Canglan interjected with a bitter smile, "High Priest! Most of our tribe's experts left, leaving only Witch King Jin Yan and four Great Witches. Even with the Patriarch and numerous demonic beasts helping us, keeping Nine-Dragon Island under control has already stretched us to our limits. We can do little against Netherblood Island. Rashly starting a conflict would only plunge Nine-Dragon Island into greater chaos and make it harder to control! This is one of the main reasons we