In order not to arouse the suspicions of the Senluo Sect and Pan Si Island, Yuan Ming and Xi Ying specifically altered their appearances and concealed their cultivations, entering the workshop under the guise of the Xiao Family. With Xiao Fangcheng leading the way, neither party would pay much attention to them, which was perfect for their covert scheming to break the situation from within.

"That's good. Before the people from Pan Si Island and the Senluo Sect arrive, just put on an act, Xiao Fangcheng. Don't let anyone notice any flaws too early," Yuan Ming nodded and casually instructed.

Xiao Fangcheng nodded, put away his compass, and left the room. He took his role seriously, diligently ensuring the operation of the workshop's great array.

In the room, Yuan Ming and Xi Ying continued to discuss methods to break the situation.

"...The key actually lies with Pan Si Island. Our current identities are somewhat awkward, and it's not suitable for us to get involved directly," Yuan Ming analyzed.

"It's actually not much of an issue. Sooner or later, my father will see my stance clearly. You don't need to worry too much when making plans," Xi Ying shook her head slightly.

"I have my own considerations. Apart from the Wu Yue Sect, this matter is actually a sect rivalry between Pan Si Island and the Senluo Sect. There's no reason they shouldn't exert themselves while we take the brunt," Yuan Ming said with a smile.

"Yes, but that Five Elements Spiritual Vein is of great use to us, too. Rather than waiting for those two sects to take it, we might as well take the initiative. We'll extract the Five Elements Spirit Marrow from it and secure some benefits for ourselves first," her eyes sparkling with eagerness, Xi Ying said.

"You're really on the same page as me. However, Pan Si Island and the Senluo Sect's surveillance of that area is not weak. It will be somewhat risky for us to sneak in," Yuan Ming reminded her.

"That's why such tasks should be left to the experts," Xi Ying said with a smile. With a light tap on the Spiritual Beast Bag, Yinkong and the Five Elements Child emerged from the bag, landing in front of the two.

"...After infiltrating the Five Elements Spiritual Veins, just find and hide the Five Elements Spirit Marrow, no need to come back for now. Cultivating there for a while will benefit you as well, just be careful not to be discovered," Xi Ying simply described the location of the spiritual veins and gave her orders.

At this, Yinkong and the Five Elements Child showed great excitement, repeatedly ensuring they would complete the mission before vanishing in a flash of silver light.

...

One day later.

Above Bamboo Sea Square, Black Tiger and Xiao Fangcheng stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the sea, seemingly waiting for something.

Soon, a massive flying boat slowly emerged above the sea. The flying boat was a dark purple with a web of white patterns covering its hull, and a purple flag hung from its mast, adorned with the characters for "Pan Si," giving it an especially sinister appearance.

At the bow, two people, one seated and one standing.

The seated woman was strikingly attractive, her Nascent Soul Late-stage Cultivation apparent. She had crescent-moon, peach blossom eyes that were half-open, as if she was always on the verge of sleep, and her light red lips were slightly parted. She wore a tight-fitting dark purple robe that outlined her curvaceous figure, and her light purple hair was braided long over her left shoulder, with the end hanging in front of her chest without touching her body.

Behind the woman stood a man who bore a resemblance to Black Tiger, though his expression was more solemn and serious.

On the deck behind these two, ten Core Formation Cultivators stood, among them the shadow of Xiao Yao, brother of Xiao Ying.

Black Tiger and Xiao Fangcheng were both visibly pleased at the sight of the flying boat. However, at that moment, they heard a thunderous rumbling behind them. The ground trembled as if a colossal creature was approaching.

Surprised, they turned their heads only to see a ten-zhang tall creature emerging from the vast bamboo forest. The creature was a dark yellow, with the head of a cow and the body of a snake, ten long legs that resembled human hands crawling on the ground, yet its speed was very fast, comparable to the flying escape speed of a Core Formation Cultivator. MyVirtualLibraryEmpire(MVLEMPYR)appreciatesyourreadershipat

thesource.

Atop the creature's head stood Luo Yongqi with his hands clasped behind his back, looking tranquilly at the flying boat on the sea. His gaze met that of the lady's on the bow, and he calmly nodded his head, a surprisingly composed gesture for encountering an elder from a rival sect in the Nascent Soul stage.

Behind him stood Xing Rong and another Nascent Soul-stage man with a back-carried sword, both standing quietly with their hands folded, their gazes sweeping over Xiao Fangcheng without any discernible expression.

Apart from the three Nascent Souls, eight more Core Formation Cultivators stood upon the back of the giant creature. Though fewer in number than those from Pan Si Island, their overall cultivation levels were subtly superior.

Shortly after, both the flying boat and the giant creature drew near to Bamboo Sea Square, and seemingly by some unspoken agreement, they both stopped ten miles away from the square. All the Core Formation Cultivators stayed at the giant creature and flying boat. Only the Nascent Soul Cultivators stood up and flew across, meeting above the square.

"Hehe, who would have thought — it's been a while since we've seen each other, and Fellow Daoist Xiao has broken through to the Nascent Soul stage. Island Master Luo has gained a formidable general. Congratulations are in order," Luo Yongqi was the first to speak, addressing something unrelated to the spirit vein.

However, at his words, Xiao Fangcheng's expression darkened, and the enchanting female cultivator and Island Master of Pan Si Island, Luo Zhu, also let out a cold laugh.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, as a venerable elder of the Senluo Sect, it's rather beneath you to use such words to stir up trouble, isn't it? My Pan Si Island has been on friendly terms with Red Lotus Island for generations and has never harbored any intentions of annexation. Such talk of subordinates is baseless," Luo Zhu said, crossing her arms.

"If you say so, let it be so," Luo Yongqi replied noncommittally, shaking his head.

"Enough of that irrelevant talk. Let's discuss the matter at hand. My Pan Si Island is set on that Five Elements Spiritual Vein. At most, we can offer some resources in compensation in exchange for the vein. What do you say, Fellow Daoist Luo?" Luo Zhu waved her hand and asked.

"Not much. We of the Senluo Sect are not willing to give up the vein lightly. If Fellow Daoist insists on monopolizing it, then there's no point in further discussion," Luo Yongqi shook his head, his tone still calm and steady.

"What does Fellow Daoist Luo imply?" Luo Zhu was not annoyed in the slightest, clearly aware that the Senluo Sect would never accept her recent proposal.

"Joint ownership, independent development," Luo Yongqi stated indifferently.

"Heh, that sounds simple coming from you, Fellow Daoist Luo. But even so, there should be some rules on how exactly to divide things up, right?" Luo Zhu chuckled softly.

"Of course, but such details, when have they ever needed the intervention of us Nascent Souls? Let the Core Formation Elders haggle over them. Alright, I've traveled for an entire day and am quite tired; let's start the detailed discussions and debates tomorrow," Luo Yongqi shook his head, turned around, and together with Xing Rong and the man carrying a blade on his back, flew back to where the great beast was.

Watching their departing figures, Luo Zhu's gaze flickered for a moment, but she did not speak up to stop them.

"Island Master, isn't Luo Yongqi being too easy-going this time? Could there be deceit involved?" Behind her, the Black Tiger couldn't help but speak up.

"Hmph, deceit is certain. With Luo Yongqi's character, the fact that he's willing to sit down and discuss this matter with us is already very suspicious. Tonight, you and Black Leopard keep a close watch on the Senluo Sect's camp, and remember to report immediately if you spot anything," Luo Zhu instructed.

"Yes." Black Tiger and another Nascent Soul cultivator who had accompanied Luo Zhu promptly responded.

"Tonight, I must also trouble Fellow Daoist Xiao; please ensure the Great Array runs without fault," Luo Zhu suddenly turned to Xiao Fangcheng, a glint flickering in her eyes.

"Rest assured, Island Master Luo, I will give it my all," Xiao Fangcheng clasped his hands, his expression candid, as though he never harbored any ulterior motives.

That night, at midnight, inside the City Lord Mansion of Bamboo Sea Square.

Soft knocking sounds echoed from outside the room.

"Come in."

Along with a languid voice of consent, Xiao Fangcheng pushed the door and entered, bowing to Luo Zhu, who was reclining on a soft couch.

"Island Master Luo."

"Ah, it's Fellow Daoist Xiao. What brings you to me so late? Could it be that there's an issue with the workshop's formation?" Luo Zhu asked.

As she spoke, an inconspicuous spider dropped from her hair, silently and stealthily creeping towards Xiao Fangcheng.

"The formation is intact. It's just that Island Master Luo and the disciples of Pan Si Island might be in danger," Xiao Fangcheng said, lifting his head.

"Oh? Why does Fellow Daoist Xiao say so? You've scared me quite a bit," Luo Zhu appeared somewhat surprised, sitting up a little straighter.

Outside, Yuan Ming, using the Void Transformation Technique, concealed himself and quietly observed everything happening inside the room.

At this moment, he could also faintly sense that Luo Zhu's speech carried an invisible power capable of subtly influencing Xiao Fangcheng's perception of her.

However, this did not interfere with his purpose for having Xiao Fangcheng meet with Luo Zhu.

"Has Island Master Luo heard of the Wu Yue Sect? That once destroyed Soul Cultivation Sect is stirring once more, seeking to unify Yunhuang again. They've made many arrangements across the Five Domains, and here in the Southern Border, their target is none other than Island Master Luo and Pan Si Island," Xiao Fangcheng earnestly relayed.

"Really? Where did Fellow Daoist Xiao hear this intelligence? Don't let others deceive you," Luo Zhu opened her mouth wide in a show of shock, but if one observed closely, her eyes were bright and unflustered, betraying no sign of surprise.

She seemed to have already known about this?

Yuan Ming caught the subtle change in Luo Zhu's expression and felt puzzled.

Nevertheless, he still instructed Xiao Fangcheng to speak of the Senluo Sect's schemes in detail:

"I am ashamed to say that it was Xing Rong from the Senluo Sect who informed me. Using the Transplanting Technique as bait, he wished to have me suddenly betray during the negotiations with your island, to control the workshop's Great Array and help them slay Island Master Luo and Fellow Daoists Black Tiger and Black Leopard on the spot, thus annexing the island and accomplishing the great task of unifying the Southern Border. And behind their scheme, the mastermind is none other than Venerable Xian Kong from the Wu Yue Sect."

"Oh, what a clever plan. But fellow Daoist Xiao, why didn't you say anything earlier and chose to tell me only now? Are you trying to leverage the situation?" Luo Zhu asked while her fingers made a slight movement.

At the same time, Yuan Ming noticed that a spider had climbed up behind Xiao Fangcheng's neck and, following the motion of Luo Zhu's fingers, was about to bite through his skin.

"What is the meaning of this, Island Master Luo?" Yuan Ming prompted, and Xiao Fangcheng's expression changed immediately as he reached behind his neck and crushed the spider with his hand.

Seeing this, Luo Zhu assessed Xiao Fangcheng with evident interest.

At the same moment, Yuan Ming also noticed that a strand of Divine Sense seemed to emerge from Luo Zhu's hair and sweep over Xiao Fangcheng.

This Divine Sense was extremely covert; if Yuan Ming hadn't previously experienced the power of a Half-step Spoken Witch's Divine Sense through the Stealing Heaven Tripod, and become very sensitive to such probing, he might not have even noticed it.