"Where has Xu Yi gone? Has he given up on Star Pole Island after four years of absence?"

Outside the cave of Island Master Xingji, two patrolling guards walked by, their eyes fixed on the cave, filled with resentment.

The two men had mediocre appearances, just Late Stage Qi Refinement Cultivators who would go unnoticed in the Qunxing Archipelago.

"Are you tired, Brother Yu?" Yu Sheng looked up, his gaze cold.

"He Daoyou, you jest. The task our master entrusted to us is of the utmost importance; how could I dare neglect it?"

Neither man was a mere Qi Refinement Realm Cultivator; it was all a disguise.

One was a former Internal Affairs Director of the Town Demon Alliance who had a grudge against Jia Ren, and the other was a disciple of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, already at the Late Golden Core Stage.

Two powerful Golden Core Cultivators had been lying in wait at Star Pole Island for more than four years.

To date, there was still no sign of Xu Yi.

Without finding Xu Yi, how could they possibly find his concealed true body and obtain the Incarnation Secret Technique?

"We'll wait ten years, a hundred years if we have to! I don't believe we can't outlast this fellow!"

Killing intent boiled in He Yuan's eyes. Even constant hunters may eventually be pecked by the geese.

The numerous overt and covert benefits of being the Internal Affairs Director were highly coveted. Xu Yi had cost him this position, resulting in a grievous loss.

He wanted not only to find Xu Yi and obtain the Incarnation Secret Technique but also to make the one in hiding beg for life and crave death.

His uncle had already promised him a share of the Incarnation Secret Technique, on the condition it would not be leaked. The position of Internal Affairs Director might be gone, but better positions awaited him in the future. As long as they could capture Xu Yi's true body and obtain the Incarnation Secret Technique, this misfortune could very well turn into fortune.

"Another fourteen years should suffice."

The Nascent Soul Cultivator would not give up on the Incarnation Secret Technique. Once his rotation in the Demon-Sealing Tower was over, he would take matters into his own hands. He would never rest until he obtained the Incarnation Secret Technique!

The two concealed the fluctuations of their aura, appearing to be ordinary junior cultivators of Star Pole Island, loyally patrolling and guarding their territory.

"Huh, is someone spying on us?!"

The Middle Stage Golden Core and Late Stage Golden Core cultivators were highly perceptive and immediately noticed they were being watched.

They had experienced a similar sensation three years ago. Before they could locate the target, it had vanished into thin air, never to stir again.

Has our long wait not been in vain? Has the fish finally taken the bait?

The sensation came quickly and vanished even faster, as if it had never occurred. The two exchanged a glance and split up, using secret techniques to search the area.

Just then, a somewhat stout man wearing a Star Pole Island Taoist Robe strode toward them.

"You two, come with me. There's work to be done."

The newcomer was the Deputy Island Master of Star Pole Island. The two men had been on Star Pole Island long enough to be thoroughly familiar with its intelligence network.

This person was the second-in-command, a close confidant personally promoted by Xu Yi to manage Star Pole Island, effectively making him the spokesperson for Island Master Xingji.

Yu Sheng had once probed him with the Heart Nightmare Technique, discovering the man was a fool who didn't know Xu Yi's true identity. He was just an insignificant pawn, conveniently placed and ultimately dispensable. Others in their faction had also investigated him carefully and found nothing unusual. Xu Yi hadn't been in the Qunxing Archipelago for long, and Star Pole Island seemed like a mere side project, perhaps established solely to obtain the Town Demon League Command Token. However, as long as there was a sliver of hope, they would not give up.

"May I ask what task the Deputy Island Master has for us?"

A mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator dares to order us around?

A barely perceptible, mocking light flashed in their eyes.

"Which Sect do you hail from?"

The Deputy Island Master, walking in front, suddenly turned around, an amused look on his face.

What the hell?! Has he seen through our identities?! Or... is there something wrong with this Deputy Island Master? Could Xu Yi have returned to Star Pole Island and be using the Deputy to inquire about our affiliations?

"At last, you've slipped up!"

"Deputy Island Master, you... had better clarify what you mean!" Yu Sheng's eyes shimmered as he surreptitiously activated the Heart Nightmare Technique.

This was a special mind-beguiling technique that influenced the target's mental state, compelling them to reveal hidden information.

Once they could ascertain Xu Yi's true body, powerful tracking methods would naturally become available.

Then, obtaining the Incarnation Secret Technique would be as easy as reaching into a bag and taking it.

Huh, what's going on? The Heart Nightmare Technique isn't controlling the target?! How is this possible?!

This technique was Yu Sheng's most reliable method; even a Middle Stage Golden Core cultivator would feel its effects, let alone an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Yu Sheng had been sent to Star Pole Island to capture Xu Yi precisely because the Heart Nightmare Technique was renowned as one of the most potent interrogation secret techniques. Using it to control Xu Yi would reveal his true identity.

In an instant, a surge of killing intent assailed him.

Yu Sheng looked up in the direction of the murderous aura, sensing nothingness, no danger at all, as if the sensation was an illusion.

As a Golden Core Cultivator with rich combat experience, he understood the truth in an instant. An illusion! "Thousand Defense Shield Array!"

A black, round shield-type magical treasure appeared. It first multiplied into ten, then these multiplied again, with hundreds of them transforming into thousands.

Thousands of black round shields formed an array that linked heaven and earth, protecting him completely and leaving no gaps.

BANG!

The sound of metal striking metal rang out continuously as hundreds of illusory round shields shattered in succession.

Five Third-Tier Flying Rigor Corpses attacked from five different directions, but all were blocked by the Thousand Defense Shield Array, leaving him unharmed.

The Mirror Flower Illusion Moon technique, combined with the Third-Tier Flying Rigor Corpses, failed to kill the enemy in one blow; the ambush was unsuccessful. Indeed, it was not so easy to kill a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator.

The hundreds of shattered black round shields reformed to their original state, creating an impenetrable wall of shields.

He Yuan felt an intense murderous intent assaulting him. His movements stiffened and slowed, as he found himself trapped within a vast water prison.

Looking around, he discovered he was in a world of ice and snow, locked within the water prison, as wisps of frigid air seeped in, threatening to freeze him solid.

"Flame Wave Fan!"

A flame fan, red as fire, materialized in He Yuan's palm. Wherever its flames passed, ice and snow melted away.

With a wave of his hand, the fan transformed into a gigantic flame bird tens of meters long, which screeched as it flew towards Xu Yi, who was controlling the water prison from a distance.

The firebird scorched the heavens as it spread its wings, each beat sending out waves of searing heat.

The battle had only just begun. Jia Ren's two sneak attacks had failed, placing him at a disadvantage.

"This is an illusion!"

"Illusion-Breaking Bead!"

Yu Sheng, still within the Thousand Defense Shield Array, had long noticed the abnormalities of this place. He promptly threw out a Third Rank Illusion-Breaking Bead.

This treasure was specifically for breaking illusions; a Third Rank Illusion-Breaking Bead could dispel any illusion technique created by someone below the Nascent Soul Realm.

The images of the Deputy Island Master, the world of ice and snow, and the water prison all vanished. What remained were the five Flying Rigor Corpses attacking the Thousand Defense Shield Array. Further away, He Yuan was seen wielding his life-bound magical treasure, the Flame Wave Fan, unleashing a flame bird with a swing that struck nothing but empty air.

The Insect External Incarnation stood hundreds of meters away, perched atop a gigantic Thousand-Year-Old Black Turtle. It unleashed a torrent of black water and a slash from a silver-gleaming flying sword-type magical treasure.

"Be careful!"

He Yuan, misled by the illusion technique, had attacked in the wrong direction.

Hundreds of black shields materialized around He Yuan. The black water sprayed by the Thousand-Year-Old Black Turtle and the attack from the Seven Star Sword broke through nearly a hundred of these shields but ultimately lacked the power to break through completely.

"We will have the chance to meet again."

With a flip of his hand, Jia Ren made the Thousand-Year-Old Black Turtle and the five Flying Rigor Corpses disappear from sight. He then mounted the Seven Star Sword and flew away.

"Are you a cultivator from the Tianxing Sect? Didn't the entire sect vanish?"

The Seven Star Sword is a magical treasure of the Seven Stars Sect. Could this person and the Incarnation Secret Technique both originate from the Seven Stars Sect?

"Once I capture you, I will surely get my answers," Yu Sheng declared, his eyes turning dark as he prepared to use some kind of secret technique.

"You won't get away! Earth Dragon Bind!"

A furious voice erupted from underground, and a giant dragon formed from earth rose to block Jia Ren's path.

It was the third Golden Core Cultivator, ambushing them on the island!

Miao Cheng had been lurking underground all along, using a technique to mask his presence, making him seem like a corpse and thus undetectable. At the critical moment, his Earth Dragon Bind struck, its earthen maw opening to swallow its victim whole, subduing the enemy in a single move. From the moment Xu Yi set foot on Star Pole Island, his fate was sealed.

BOOM!

The Insect External Incarnation, restrained by the Earth Dragon Bind, plunged into an endless mire of sinking earth, struggling to escape.

"Caught him?!"

"Haha! Quickly use the Heart Nightmare Technique! I want to find out where this fellow's true body is!"

Miao Cheng and He Yuan laughed heartily, their faces filled with indescribable exhilaration. Four years of lying in wait had not been in vain! Once the Heart Nightmare Technique unveiled Xu Yi's true form, his main body would have nowhere to hide.

No, this is too easy!

This person knows we're on Star Pole Island. Why would he walk into a death trap without some assurance of success? Could it be… we're still within an illusion?!

Realizing this, Yu Sheng's expression changed drastically, and he decisively threw out a second Illusion-Breaking Bead.

BOOM!

The surroundings rippled like water and changed. Xu Yi, who was supposed to be restrained by the Earth Dragon Bind, had vanished, leaving only an ordinary tree in his place.

The five Flying Rigor Corpses, which they thought had disappeared, were still in place, poised to strike.

A brilliant, moon-like silver sword light flashed. Miao Cheng's body was instantly dismembered by this attack, dissolving into a rain of blood. He didn't even have a chance to defend himself before death claimed him. The first strike was a success; one of the three Golden Core cultivators had been eliminated.

The Insect External Incarnation recalled the Seven Star Sword, its gaze sweeping over Yu Sheng and He Yuan with a hint of regret.

Its targets had been the two more powerful Golden Core cultivators. Unfortunately, the Thousand Defense Shield Array was still active, making it difficult to breach. As the saying goes, it's better to sever one finger than to merely injure all ten. Thus, it could only focus on eliminating the weakest link.

"Impossible!"

"The Illusion-Breaking Bead shattered the illusion! How can you... Is your main body also here?!"

"This is a double illusion!"

The powerful illusion technique Xu Yi employed would incur a backlash to some extent if broken, rendering it unusable again for a short period.

After Yu Sheng used the Illusion-Breaking Bead to dispel the illusion, he had subconsciously believed they were safe. He hadn't realized that as the old illusion dissipated, a new one had formed. This new illusion was virtually indistinguishable from reality—ninety percent real and only ten percent false. Had he not remained vigilant and kept the Thousand Defense Shield Array active, all three of them might have been decapitated. Such a terrifying illusion technique and meticulous planning! One slight misstep, and they would have faced irreversible doom.

Cold sweat beaded Yu Sheng's forehead from fright. He looked at the Insect External Incarnation as if facing a formidable enemy and warned, "Be careful! This person is no ordinary Golden Core cultivator to be trifled with!"

On the surface, they had to deal with five Flying Rigor Corpses, Xu Yi (the incarnation), and a Third Rank mid-stage Thousand-Year-Old Black Turtle. However, there was also his hidden main body to contend with, making the situation slightly overwhelming for the two of them.

However, knowing full well that Xu Yi commanded five Flying Rigor Corpses, how could they not have countermeasures prepared?

"Corpse Suppression Talismans! Go!"

Five jade-colored talismans flew out, instantly transforming into streaks of jade light that vanished in a flash.

The five surrounding Flying Rigor Corpses sensed the danger and frantically tried to dodge the Corpse Suppression Talismans, their fear palpable. A massive, glowing character for "Suppress" manifested and descended, freezing the five Flying Rigor Corpses in place. The mystical power from the talismans flooded their minds, turning them into immobile 'stakes.'

"Now that your claws have been chopped off, let's see what other tricks you have up your sleeve!"

The battle evolved rapidly. Yu Sheng and He Yuan had been at a disadvantage, but the release of five talismans instantly turned the tide.

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