Chapter 261

Chapter 261: Wen Hou’s Escape

After hearing this sentence, Lou Yun and the others were naturally stunned. Earlier, when they arrived at Divine Weapon Island, not a soul was to be found, and now, Domineering Island was also deserted. What was going on?

Leng Cangqiong turned to Feng Yang and asked, “Are you certain you told me the right location?”

Feng Yang shook his head repeatedly. “I’m sure. Last year, I personally delivered supplies there with Steward Mei. I remember Domineering Island’s position clearly!”

Frowning, Leng Cangqiong said, “Logically, it should be correct. The island has numerous buildings and daily necessities, clearly indicating long-term habitation. But strangely, not a single soul was visible. To ensure I hadn’t mistaken the island, I thoroughly searched the entire hundred-mile radius. Still, not even a ghost was seen!”

Lu Da stammered, “Then… were there any bodies? Could they have been attacked, just like here?”

Leng Cangqiong shook his head. “Definitely not. I found no human corpses, not even animal remains. Everything was tidy, with no trace of fighting whatsoever.”

If the White-haired God of Death’s experience detected no signs of conflict, then no battle had occurred!

This was utterly bizarre!

Lou Yun’s mind raced to analyze the situation. First, Feng Yang couldn’t have lied. With Shui Lingluo’s assistance, Domineering Island’s forces had defeated Divine Weapon Island and captured all its people. Even if they knew Lou Yun would return with Leng Cangqiong for revenge, it made no sense to simply abandon an entire island!

Moreover, combining Domineering Island’s original inhabitants with Divine Weapon Island’s captives, the total likely exceeded five or six hundred people. How could such a large group vanish into thin air?

Leng Cangqiong continued, “Alright, all of you come with me. Perhaps I overlooked something. More eyes mean a better chance of spotting clues.”

Thus, Leng Cangqiong carried Feng Yang—who couldn’t control magical weapons—while Lou Yun and the other four flew on their magical weapons toward Domineering Island.

A thousand miles wasn’t far. The six soon reached the island. Since Leng Cangqiong had already scouted it, they didn’t bother hiding. They spread out, circling the island from the air before landing to examine every detail.

Everyone scrutinized carefully, yet after a full sweep, they found nothing. Aside from the lack of people, everything appeared perfectly normal.

Even Chang Xiang’s spiritual perception detected no energy fluctuations on the island.

Regrouping, the six exchanged puzzled glances before simultaneously shaking their heads with bitter smiles. None could unravel this mystery.

Finding no answers, the group saw little reason to stay and soon departed.

Back on Divine Weapon Island, the other five waited for Lou Yun’s orders. Lou Yun, now a leader without followers, rubbed his temples in frustration. After a long silence, he formulated a plan.

“Though we don’t know where Domineering Island’s people have gone, they can’t have just vanished. Most likely, they’re hiding to avoid our retaliation. The Eastern Ling Sea Area is simply too vast. With just six of us, finding them anytime soon is impossible.”

“Since we can’t locate them, let’s wait like waiting for rabbits. Knowing Mo Linsheng’s character, he’d never willingly abandon the home he worked so hard to build. He’ll return sooner or later. But we can’t station people long-term on Domineering Island. So here’s my plan: Lu Da, your Three Brothers of the Lu Family, and Feng Yang will remain on Divine Weapon Island. Set up defensive formations here. That way, if we face another attack, we’ll at least have a fortified base.”

“I’ll return to the mainland briefly to recruit more allies. As for Big Brother, go back to Yulu Mountain Manor first. I’ll join you there once I gather reinforcements.”

No one objected to this arrangement. Still, Lou Yun felt slightly guilty toward Lu Da and Feng Yang—especially the Lu brothers, who’d essentially been tricked into this. After all, Divine Weapon Island was desolate except for their small group. Expecting four people to guard such a vast place seemed harsh.

Just then, Chang Xiang suddenly alerted: “Someone’s approaching—it smells like Wen Hou!”

For Lou Yun, this was heaven-sent news. He sprang to his feet, too excited to speak, and dashed outside.

Confused by his sudden action, the others hurried after him.

Looking skyward, they saw a streak of light flying rapidly toward them. Lou Yun’s spiritual senses confirmed the energy signature: it belonged to Wen Hou.

With a whoosh, Wen Hou alighted before them.

Though Lou Yun had learned from Feng Yang that Wen Hou had surrendered and been captured by Mo Linsheng, the man now stood before them, smiling his familiar smile, entirely unharmed.

Overjoyed, Lou Yun rushed forward, gripping Wen Hou’s shoulders tightly. “It’s really you! Are you alright?!”

His exhilaration was raw and utterly genuine.

Wen Hou briefly examined the unfamiliar Lu brothers. Unfazed by their presence, he merely nodded. “I’m fine.”

"Come, let’s rest inside first!" From Wen Hou’s earlier flying speed, Lou Yun knew he must have rushed here at full power, with his spiritual energy consumption probably considerable.

Yet Wen Hou shook his head. "No need, I’m not tired. You already know what happened, right?"

"Uh-huh!" Lou Yun nodded. "We just returned from Domineering Island ourselves. Something strange happened there—there wasn’t a single person to be found!"

Wen Hou smiled. "Wrong. The people of Domineering Island were all still there. You just didn’t spot them!"

These words left everyone visibly bewildered. How could that possibly be?

If only one person’s innate senses were mistaken or interfered with, such a thing might occur. But Chang Xiang and five other powerful experts—six people in total—how could all their innate senses fail simultaneously?

Even if some bizarre formation had been laid out on Domineering Island, with the Three Brothers of the Lu Family present, they should have at least noticed something amiss!

"Haha, I’m not saying your innate senses were faulty or questioning your perception," Wen Hou continued before they could ask. "It’s just that you’d never imagine the hiding place Domineering Island’s people are using right now."

He added, "Right now, all the people of Domineering Island aren’t on Domineering Island. They are under Domineering Island!"

"Under Domineering Island?"

Everyone echoed the phrase in unison.

"Yes, under Domineering Island—meaning they are hidden within the sea itself!"

"How could that be? So many people hiding underwater?" Lu Da was the first to vigorously shake his head in disbelief. "We brothers experimented, trying to set up a formation underwater that could isolate it and let us live inside like on dry land. It proved utterly impossible!"

As Lu Da spoke, he looked at Lou Yun. However, he realized that aside from him and his two brothers, intense contemplation was etched on everyone else’s faces. Clearly, the idea of people hidden in seawater didn’t shock them like it did his brothers.

Indeed, whether it was Lou Yun, Leng Cangqiong, or even Feng Yang, they were also startled, but inwardly knew it wasn’t inconceivable.

Because of Shui Lingluo!

The Three Brothers of the Lu Family had never met Shui Lingluo, so naturally, they didn’t know she possessed a miraculous, defiance-of-all-cultivation-logic water control ability.

In water, Shui Lingluo was practically invincible!

Therefore, if Shui Lingluo could conceal people within the sea, even let them live there, it wasn’t completely unimaginable!

Still, Lou Yun and the others struggled a bit to believe it. They could understand Shui Lingluo hiding a few people underwater, but Domineering Island had over five or six hundred residents. How could Shui Lingluo, relying solely on her own power, manage to bring so many people into the sea?

Could her water control ability possibly be that immensely powerful?

Wen Hou, naturally aware of their thoughts, spread his hands and smiled. "That’s simply the fact. How she managed it, I don’t know."

Leng Cangqiong frowned. "Tell us the events in greater detail."

Wen Hou nodded. "Truthfully, I don’t know that much either. Although Tie Sha and I deliberately got captured, once we reached Domineering Island, everyone, including us, was thrown into prison cells. Seals were placed on us, restricting our use of spiritual energy. Of course, these seals had no effect on Tie Sha and me."

Lou Yun knew this best. Both Wen Hou and Tie Sha possessed mysteriously immense power within them. Unless the one laying the seal surpassed this internal power, such seals were useless!

Wen Hou continued, "Though Tie Sha and I could move freely, we decided to feign being sealed to find out how they planned to deal with us and satisfy our intense curiosity: how exactly did Shui Lingluo intend to guard against revenge from you and Elder Leng?"

"About a day later, we were taken out of the cells to the seashore. Floating on the water’s surface were five or six enormous bubbles! Before we could react to this sight, our guards forced us towards the bubbles."

"Strange to say, inside those bubbles, our breathing wasn’t hindered at all. We could even feel spiritual energy present. This was likely her unique ability!"

"Miss Shui and Mo Linsheng stood nearby, watching us. I specifically observed Miss Shui for a long time. When her gaze met mine, not a flicker of embarrassment or guilt showed. At that moment, I had to admit Miss Shui had utterly changed. Ah, if I had known she would become like this, I should have told you long ago!"