Chapter 680: Bloodbath at Four Islands, Acquiring the Fragment (Part 2)

Before Zhou Ding could finish speaking, a sharp bird call pierced through the air.

The next instant.

The sound of wings flapping melded together as a dense flock of birds took flight in terror, followed swiftly by a faint scream emerging from the depths of the dragon’s lair that he had been watching.

Flames soared skyward, illuminating the night in a bright red as shouts and fighting noises shattered the night’s tranquility.

“What… what is happening…”

Zhou Ding’s pupils suddenly contracted. Although he could not see clearly what was unfolding on the island, fear had already spread within him. Instinctively, he crouched down to hide in the shadows.

“Splash, splash, splash—!”

The once-calm sea began to turmoil, waves crashing more fiercely against the ship’s hull, causing the large vessel to pitch. Years of experience at sea instantly made him realize some ships were approaching.

His throat moved up and down as he gulped a large mouthful of saliva, and his expression changed dramatically after sticking his head out to look.

He saw pirate ships flying the sinister blood dragon flag racing from the Jiao Blood Gang’s main base defenses, numbering over a dozen and arranged to encircle the island.

“Impossible, how dare they, do they intend to attack the guests…”

Terrified, Zhou Ding exclaimed in shock but was quickly interrupted. Suddenly, a pair of calloused hands emerged from the darkness behind him, covering his mouth.

“My ancestor, please do not make a sound.”

“Third uncle?”

“No, from now on, you’re my uncle… You little brat, what are you standing there for? I must have owed you in my past life. Come with me quickly.”

The two bent forward; Zhou Ding’s limbs were no longer obeying his commands, so he crawled on all fours across the deck.

The old man, with a serious and fearful gaze, looked at the split into five battle ships’ flames, immediately understanding that the enemy intended to besiege both the main island and the four surrounding ones, clearly not allowing anyone to leave.

The Sea Pirates had indeed mustered a bear-heart and leopard-gall, planning to hold the island’s guests hostage!

This was the only possible motive the old man could think of. In his view, even if the Sea Pirates lost their minds, they would not dare to directly kill the distinguished guests on the island.

Most likely, they intended to kidnap these people to demand exorbitant ransoms from various major factions.

In this scenario, those esteemed guests might have a chance to survive, but he and his nephew were such insignificant figures; they likely wouldn’t escape this ordeal, destined to perish in this dragon’s lair.

This terrified uncle and nephew headed toward the bottom of the ship’s cabin. The old man knew that might be their only faint hope of survival in this disaster.

The slaughter continued simultaneously on the four islands, and the screams didn’t last long before the islands returned to silence, as the Sea Pirates moved bodies onto their ships.

“What about these ships?”

“Send some people to inspect; the rest follow me immediately. The Gang Leader orders that within half an hour, all corpses are to converge at Profound Turtle Island.”

The warships sped away, leaving behind a night scene with four empty islands flowing with rivers of blood and a nauseating stench.

In the underground hall of Profound Turtle Island, messages came back one after another; the people within nodded silently upon hearing them, all eyes converging on the hulking figure in the central position.

Everything was proceeding as they had anticipated, everything was ready except for the final crucial step!

“Ladies and gentlemen, next I will activate the island’s grand array. The blood fiend grand array has three core positions requiring oversight.” Liu Sha’s gaze swept across everyone in the hall, reading the fear and hesitation in their eyes.

“Rest assured, I, Liu Sha, will naturally also enter one position, while the remaining two positions need to be taken by two of you, which can be decided by drawing lots.”

“Alright, we’ll go with Gang Leader Liu’s suggestion.”

Soon, two people were drawn from the remaining nine— a dark-skinned, one-eyed man, Zhao Lei, Vice Gang Leader of the tenth-ranked pirate group, Tide Gang; and the other, Quan Feng, Hall Master of the Xuan Snake Sect, and arch-nemesis of Baili Hong.

“Since it’s settled, I’ll have to trouble Brother Du Gu and Brother Lu to lead our brethren to retrieve blood food.”

“Alright.”

Sect Leader Xuan She, Dugu Lie, said succinctly, uttering an icy cold word, while another burly man with a menacing face, as large as a bear, grinned and licked his lips.

“I’ve long had enough of those big faction scumbags; tonight, I finally get to kill to my heart’s content. The brains of these people must be delicious!”

Upon hearing this, even the other members of the thirteen pirate leaders slightly turned their heads. Lu Xue was a complete maniac, known for consuming human brains— a preference highlighted when he poured strong liquor on them while the individuals were still alive before digging them out to eat raw.

During battle, Lu Xue fought recklessly, exchanging injury for injury, to the point where even the other top-ranked half-step great cultivators among the pirates wouldn’t easily want to engage him.

Under the leadership of half-step great cultivators Dugu Lie and Lu Xue, the notorious pirates stood up and left the hall, their eyes glinting with savage blood lust.

“Wait.”

At this call, everyone’s steps paused, as Lu Xue frowned and looked toward Liu Sha.

“I don’t care about the others, but this time someone suspected to be from the Pill Cauldron Pavilion has come. This person’s identity seems to be not simple. Keeping him alive might be useful later when entering the Secret Realm.”

“Alright.”

Dugu Lie nodded, while Lu Xue turned impatiently and stepped out of the grand hall first, where numerous disciples from the Jiao Blood Gang had been waiting outside for a long time, forming a dense mass.

“Little brats of the Jiao Blood Gang, follow me in a bloodbath. Tonight, we must slaughter until rivers of blood flow.”

Lu Xue’s hand glowed with blood, and a great axe as tall as a person, gleaming with a chilling light, appeared. Carrying the battle axe, Lu Xue glanced toward the auction hall with a bloodthirsty smile.

Auction hall.

“Three hundred thousand!”

“I’ll bid three hundred and ten thousand!”

The auction continued inside the hall, items presented one after another. Amidst the fierce bidding, Su Mu’s left eyelid twitched incessantly, giving rise to an inexplicable unease, as if something bad was about to happen.

Su Mu’s gaze fell on the formations etched on the walls. The formations inside the hall blocked external sounds and probing, making it difficult to sense any outside movement while inside the hall.

“I’ve obtained the Flood Dragon Shocking Skill, it’s not wise to stay here any longer.”

Sitting in a corner, Su Mu’s brows furrowed as he got up, feeling several gazes, either bright or concealed, suddenly focus on him. Among them were Xue Hu, the auction host on stage, as well as several guards inside the hall, further intensifying Su Mu’s feeling of unease.

He stepped toward the door, immediately met by two guards who blocked his way, their intent clear.

“What, are you trying to stop me?”

Su Mu’s tone turned cold as he deliberately activated his Qi Blood to amplify his voice, instantly drawing all eyes on the scene onto him.

“Honored guest, the auction isn’t over, perhaps…”

A hint of mockery and killing intent flashed beneath the mask of Xue Hu on stage. In his mind, everyone present was as good as dead, and now a dead person wanted to escape?

Seeing it was Su Mu, to avoid alarming the others, Xue Hu forced a smile and opened his mouth to explain, only to be interrupted.

“What if I insist on leaving?”

The gazes of everyone inside the hall vacillated between Su Mu and Xue Hu, growing increasingly suspicious. Previously, there had never been an occasion where they were blocked from leaving early.

“Damn it, a bunch of fools facing death yet unaware, might as well frolic while you can.”

Feeling the changing glances, Xue Hu’s heart grew colder, but outwardly he tried to remain calm. He gestured for the guards to let Su Mu pass.

“Then please go, but keep in mind, Profound Turtle Island is the stronghold of our gang and must not be freely investigated. You two, escort the honored guest.”

“No need, I can leave on my own.”

Feigning arrogance, Su Mu resembled a disciple from a great power. Seeing this, Xue Hu sneered internally but nodded in assent.

“Please proceed.”

As the door opened, Su Mu turned and stepped out. The corridor appeared normal, with nothing seemingly out of place.

Yet, Su Mu’s deep eyes flickered slightly. At the moment he got up and his gaze met Xue Hu’s, the four Martial Momentums in his mind’s sea all trembled in unison.

Xue Hu had killing intent towards him, not just once. The response of the Martial Momentums confirmed his prior perception, indicating these Sea Pirates were up to no good.

“Are they targeting the Pill Cauldron Pavilion, or the Cyan Fish Gang?”

Su Mu’s mind raced; uncertain of the Sea Pirates’ intentions, the best course was to adhere to the strategy of fleeing when crises were imminent. Behind him, someone followed stealthily in the shadows.

However, at the moment he turned the corner, the person tailing him froze in place. The grey-clad individual, donning a green deer mask, vanished into thin air right before his eyes.

“Are you looking for me?”

A calm voice emerged from behind, sending chills down the spine of the stalker, his hair standing on end. Before he could react, a pale, slender hand clutched his neck faster.

“You, you…”

“Crack—!”

The commotion at the corner alarmed the guards concealed in the corridor shadows, and two puzzled sets of eyes swept over immediately.

“Who’s there?!”

“Tap tap—!”

Footsteps approached, growing more hurried step by step; the Hidden Guard’s Qi Blood surged within him.