Chapter 189

Chapter 189: Turning Hostile

The five didn’t expect Zhou Luo to stay behind, but the situation was urgent and he was a formation master, so they could only follow his arrangement.

The group quickly passed through the opening, continuing to move closer to the island.

After they vanished, the gap in the water curtain sealed shut, like a wall standing between both sides.

Zhou Luo held a formation plate and remained in place.

The surrounding water surface began to shift abnormally, and shadowy figures emerged from below.

Attacks from the formation had already reached his location, and those magical beasts were also stirring restlessly.

First, Zhou Luo called forth Little White and began moving toward the position he had calculated.

This formation was far less complex than yesterday’s, making it relatively simple to deduce.

Though he couldn’t crack it swiftly, it was sufficient to counter these assaults.

Zhou Luo had chosen not to leave solely to let Little White eat more magical beasts and strengthen itself.

After all, this was a Spirit Beast with the potential to reach the Third Level, and with such an opportunity, it had to be nurtured well.

On the other side of the water curtain, Wu Gang and the others faced another formation attack.

This time it was a series of energy explosions.

When they stepped into the area, the surrounding energy suddenly concentrated and burst out instantly, causing widespread destruction and injury.

The five were caught off guard; even with protective spiritual light and many defense methods, they were thrown into disarray and forced apart.

Simultaneously, another water curtain emerged, closing in from all sides to isolate them in a sealed space.

Seeing that prison-like water curtain, Wu Gang’s mind wavered, and he quickly applied an Ethereal Symbol to his chest.

Instantly, his spiritual energy surged, and he swung his great blade forward in a strike.

He had readied many methods for this Illusionary Forest journey.

But the danger here exceeded his expectations, repeatedly trapping him in passivity.

"Damn it."

Wu Gang cursed softly as he watched the leaping magical beast.

He had to escape fast—or even if he survived the beast, endless illusions would ensnare him.

With resolve, he retrieved a red potion.

This high-grade spiritual potion briefly enhanced his strength, serving as one of his final two trump cards.

Now, he had no choice but to use it.

He shoved it into his mouth; the next second, surges of spiritual energy flowed through his meridians, and immense power expanded from within.

A scarlet glow emanated from his entire body, and his great blade rang out crisply.

Flames Connecting Cities!

Wu Gang bellowed, and terrifying flames suddenly erupted from the great blade.

The fires shot forward, linking into a line and morphing into an inferno that stormed toward the water curtain ahead.

Bang—

A tremendous boom echoed as the sparkling curtain of water was blasted apart by raging flames, several magical beasts instantly perishing in the inferno.

He leaped forward, piercing through the watery screen.

The next moment, he arrived in another area.

In this space, Wei Qinghong, missing an arm, was frantically hurling spiritual symbols, also attempting to breach the water curtain ahead.

The instant Wu Gang appeared, she whipped her head around.

Their eyes locked.

A second later, Wu Gang charged swiftly, a large broadsword in hand. Blazing flames coiled ferociously across the blade’s surface, radiating terrifying power.

Spotting Wei Qinghong isolated, he wasted no time; his intent was clear—kill her here and now.

Isolated behind the water curtain, their mental strength was impeded.

This was a perfect chance to eliminate her.

Wu Gang had already made up his mind: once they boarded this island, he’d demand to leave with the treasure.

Afterwards, Wei Qingtao, grieving his lost sister, surely wouldn’t dare oppose him.

As for Shangguan Qianxue, being an Immortal Sect disciple, she probably wouldn’t care about these things and likely wouldn’t intervene.

And Xu Changsheng? He would find a way to win him over later. That would leave Wei Qingtao completely isolated.

Under such circumstances, he could absolutely monopolize a top-grade magical artifact.

If the island held only one treasure, well, the other three could just squabble over whatever was left.

Seizing the chance to neutralize a potential threat? Wu Gang wouldn’t let that slip.

Wei Qinghong naturally grasped his murderous intent. As he surged towards her, she retreated rapidly, simultaneously throwing out several talismans.

"Don’t even struggle," Wu Gang sneered, his momentum undiminished.

Having ingested a potion, his spiritual energy had surged, making his techniques all the more ferocious.

The talismans, flung into the air before they could unleash their power, were severed cleanly by a single sweep of his blade. Terrifying blazing flames erupted like a gigantic beast poised to devour Wei Qinghong.

Wei Qinghong, already crippled by the loss of her arm, was significantly weakened.

Facing his overwhelming assault, completely outmatched, she screamed in despair, "Wu Gang! I curse you to die a wretched death!"

A cold smile touched Wu Gang’s lips as he started calculating inwardly how best to disguise her murder as another casualty of the defensive formation.

BOOM—

Just then, the surrounding water curtains trembled violently before collapsing with a splash, seemingly drained of all power, falling limp and useless.

The formation’s defensive function was deactivated.

With the water screens gone, Wu Gang’s lethal attack on Wei Qinghong was exposed to the others.

"Wu Gang, you seek death!"

Wei Qingtao, seeing this scene, roared with eyes wide in fury. He lunged forward, a dazzling blue light bursting from his longsword as violent sword energy erupted toward Wu Gang.

Wu Gang hadn’t anticipated the water curtains vanishing so abruptly.

But at this moment, he had no way to retreat and could only press forward.

Liu Tie reacted swiftly when he saw Wei Qingtao charging toward his leader, immediately stepping in to block him. Shangguan Qianxue had intended to save Wei Qinghong, but a flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes. Earlier, she had indeed promised Wei Qingtao to protect her. But now was not the same as before. If she intervened, she could save her—but what came after? The two factions would tear apart completely. On which side would she stand then?

Facing this question, she instinctively thought of Zhou Luo. If it were that guy, he would surely choose to watch from the sidelines. After all, whoever won or lost didn’t affect him. Right now, the array was already half broken. Landing on the island was surely inevitable. With two fewer people, she would be able to get more.

Standing by coldly went against the principles of her practice. But so-called principles were built upon success in one’s cultivation. Before achieving that, keeping to oneself was the wisest choice.

On the other side.

Wu Gang had already rushed in front of Wei Qinghong. He swung his blade, stirring up endless flames.

The brilliant firelight illuminated Wei Qinghong’s pale face. She wanted to stop it but had no strength to reverse fate.

Boom—

The flames fell, enveloping Wei Qinghong’s body.

"No!"

Wei Qingtao roared with fury, his eyes turning crimson.

Before him, Liu Tie stared coldly, blocking him with all his might.

Having smoothly dealt with Wei Qinghong, Wu Gang sighed deeply in relief.

He glanced deeply at Shangguan Qianxue not far away, then without a moment’s hesitation, charged at Wei Qingtao once more.

Watching his younger sister die before his eyes, Wei Qingtao knew there was no hope left for him to turn the tables. Furious rage didn’t drown his reason; instead, he decisively pulled back and frantically escaped in the direction he’d come from.

Wu Gang could no longer spare a thought for the array and bellowed.

"After him!"