Among the mountains, many rogue cultivators had gathered after hearing the news. They looked toward the cloud vessel by the lake. Small groups formed, and discussions quickly spread.

"What's this supposed to be? A fight? But if they're here to fight, why not just start already? Why the heck are they standing around like this? If it's not a fight, then it's a visit. But who shows up for a visit with a lineup like that? Seven Adepts and over a hundred Initiates... With this kind of force, if they told me they were going somewhere to wipe out a major sect, I wouldn't question it at all."

"Yeah, true. I heard from people over at Devil's Cloud Cave that when their master visited Master Azure Yang, he kept it low-key and just brought a few attendants."

"So what, courtesy first, force later?"

"Looks like it."

Just like low-tier cultivators, who had their own groups, high-tier ones also entertained their own little societies. From this perspective, Huangfu Song had chosen the perfect time for this "visit." Several rogue Adepts had been organizing a private gathering not far from Luo Chen's territory. Upon hearing the commotion, they abandoned their cups of tea and came together to watch. At this moment, a few of them stood atop a peak and looked toward the clear waters of Surging Lake.

"I heard Huangfu Song is from the old Great Zhou's imperial family. I heard the Primordial Devil Sect crushed the Great Zhou as a warning but didn't completely finish them off. The ones who remained founded their own force."

"Looks like Huangfu Song's got his eye on Surging Lake because he wants to make a comeback."

"Oh, makes sense! That's some good insight you got there."

"Haha, what insight? These rumors have been circulating for years. I always thought Huangfu Song would go for Hundred Ghost Cavern. I didn't expect him to set his sights on Surging Lake instead."

"Ah, about that... One of the three leaders of the Demon Hunter Division, Ghost Spirit Child, has already given up on the Nascent Soul Realm. He's planning to start a family and pass on his inheritance. He reserved Hundred Ghost Cavern a few years ago, and he's been preparing it for himself."

The division had only three eight-star demon hunters, all at the ninth stage of Golden Core. They were the Angler, Purple Empress, and Ghost Spirit Child. After reaching the eight-star rank, the three took control of the division and rarely accepted missions. If one of them made the decision to give up on solitary cultivation, this kind of expansive spirit land with scattered spirit veins was in fact perfect for starting a large-scale force of their own. Spirit lands like Hundred Ghost Cavern and Surging Lake were few, and those who could put them to proper use were even fewer. But Huangfu Song was certainly one of those few, and it seemed that he was now .

"If things really blow up, do you think the division will intervene?"

"Haha, who knows. Perhaps those three leaders are already watching in secret this whole time!"

Amid the chatter, someone suddenly looked toward a man standing in the corner, looking unnaturally pale. "Fellow Daoist Duan Li, didn't you join the Society together with Azure Yang?"

Duan Li nodded, but his expression stiffened somewhat. He had joined this rogue Adept gathering to seek a way to treat his injuries, yet halfway through, everyone had run out to watch the commotion. What he had expected even less was that one of the central figures of this spectacle was someone he knew, Azure Yang. On second thought, it made sense. Surging Lake had long been coveted by many, and the moment he learned that Azure Yang had chosen this place, Duan Li immediately guessed something like this would happen. He had even tried to dissuade him at the time. But Azure Yang had insisted, and now this day had finally come.

He sighed. "Yeah, I did. We've kept in touch over the years."

Someone beside him laughed. "Then if he cannot hold on later, are you going to step in and help him?"

Duan Li froze. He opened his mouth but said nothing.

***

Lotus Picking Island lay within the Surging Lake. It was a large island with a mid-sized second-tier spirit vein. It did not sit at the center of the lake but closer to the shore. Because of this, its inhabitants were the first to notice the arrival of the cloud vessel.

Zhang Jiadi held his daughter Qingqing in his arms and watched the scene with a troubled expression. Behind him stood a group of rogue cultivators who had joined the Zhang family over the years. A cultivation family could not be built overnight. Some of these people were relatives from Wen Xiu's side, but most were rogue cultivators with little wealth and no backing. They joined the Zhang family for protection and access to a spirit land. In time, when the family grew stronger, they might be pushed to the margins. For now, however, they formed the core of the family.

Murmurs rose behind him, and most carried tones of worry and despair. The low buzz grated on his nerves like a swarm of mosquitoes. Zhang Jiadi turned sharply and shot them a fierce glare. The aura of a late-stage Initiate surged at once. "Quiet!"

Everyone was shaken. Over the years, Zhang Jiadi had been gentle and accommodating, even nicer than Wen Xiu. They had almost forgotten that he was the strongest in the family. His gaze sharpened as he swept it across the crowd. "There may be a fight soon, and when it comes, life and death will be decided in an instant. Our family stands under Senior Azure Yang; we will advance and retreat together. I don't want to hear any more negative talk. Anyone who disobeys will be executed. Anyone who tries to flee in the face of battle will also be executed."

Those who entertained such thoughts all paled. Someone tried to speak up, but the words died in their throat when they saw Zhang Jiadi's stern face.

Zhang Jiadi took a deep breath. He looked rather grave, but there was actually not much panic in his heart. Over the years, he had studied the details of the Coldlight Island battle, and his admiration for Azure Yang could hardly be greater. Seven Adepts? So what? In the Coldlight Island battle, Azure Yang had performed spectacularly against similar forces. More importantly, he had already staked everything on Lotus Picking Island. If Azure Yang was defeated, where would he go? Return to being a rogue cultivator? He himself could deal with that, but what about his wife and daughter? Thus, after the initial commotion, he had made his decision without hesitation. In this battle, he would live or die with Azure Yang!

***

Meanwhile, the cultivators aboard the cloud vessel gradually fell silent. Their expressions turned increasingly solemn as there was no reply from Surging Island. Huangfu Song stepped forward and stood at the bow, facing the wind. "I was hoping to settle this peacefully, but it seems the master here won't even meet me, let alone negotiate. In that case... we'll settle this by force."

With a sweep of his hand, the cloud vessel rumbled to life. It surged forward like a piece of land blotting out the sky as it entered the airspace of Surging Lake. At first, it moved extremely fast, but after just a few moments, it began to slow. An unseen force pressed down on it and hindered its advance. Not only that, but a powerful pulling force from the lake dragged the vessel lower and lower.

"Elder Ye, what's going on?" Huangfu Song asked the black-robed elder beside him. The man had once been the head of the Great Zhou's Imperial Observatory, and he was a master of formations.

Elder Ye remained calm. "It's a flight restriction formation. You usually see this kind of thing in major markets and immortal cities. It won't affect our ship."

He then narrowed his eyes and looked toward the lake below. "But there's another formation inside it. That's what's slowing us down and dragging us lower."

His fingers moved as he formed hand seals, trying to figure out what he was facing. After a moment, he shook his head. "No, there is not enough time, and the master here clearly prepared this in advance. I can't figure it out right away."

The gray-robed elder beside him snorted. "If that's the case, we'll force our way through!"

Huangfu Song nodded. "Fine, we'll go with Elder Gui's plan."

In the next moment, over a hundred Initiates sat cross-legged. They followed the prearranged formation and channeled their spirit power into the vessel. The cloud vessel shook and accelerated once more. Huangfu Song smiled. "It's only a few hundred li, we'll arrive in no time."

Just as he spoke, a sudden change occurred. A surge of spirit energy burst out from the lake. It formed eight massive chains that locked onto the cloud vessel and bound it in place. A tremendous force pressed down at once.

"How is this possible?" Elder Ye's expression changed drastically. The combined power of over a hundred Initiates, together with the vessel's formation, should have been enough to break through ordinary restriction formation. Yet now the vessel was descending, and there was no time to think.

"Master, please abandon the vessel!"

Huangfu Song's smile had long vanished as he looked at the group of Initiates. "What about them?"

Under such formation suppression, only Adepts could fly; Initiates could not. Elder Ye shouted, "Forget about them! Unless Azure Yang wants a blood feud, he won't go so far as to kill them all!"

Huangfu Song hesitated, but seeing the vessel about to crash into the water, he finally made his decision. "All of you, follow me out."

In an instant, the spirit pressure of his seventh-stage Golden Core erupted and shot into the sky. Behind him, six other Adepts followed closely. The formation still pressed down on them, but their combined strength was enough to force their way into the air.

On a solitary island within Surging Lake, a black wooden block floated quietly. It sensed the disturbance and let out a faint snort. "Luo Chen, you handle the rest yourself."

Over the years, Luo Chen had taken quite a lot from him. There was the Nascent Core Art, the Nascent Soul Pill formula, the Soul-Nurturing Wood method, and even the spirit vein elevation method granted by the Nether Origin Sect. And that was not to even mention all the formation knowledge and cultivation world insights.

Han Zhan was not a hired fighter. Helping deal with these minor opponents was already more than generous. Just seven Adepts: one late stage, two middle-stage, and four early-stage. With Luo Chen's strength, he could handle them easily. Moreover, there were Sages in the mountain range, and he did not wish to accidentally reveal himself.

***

The seven flew higher and higher. After breaking free from the formation's suppression, the lingering fear on their faces became clear.

As expected, forcing their way into someone else's territory was not so simple. They had not even met the owner yet, but they'd nearly been wiped out. It was far too dangerous. They could sense that the formation had not even reached its full power. If it had, at least one or two of them would have fallen. And just as they steadied themselves, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Are you people tired of living?"