Chapter 88 I Am Shen Yan!

Advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage did not bring about any spectacular celestial phenomena—no heavenly flowers blossomed, nor did golden lotuses spring from the earth. The surroundings of Azure Lotus Island remained as tranquil as ever.

Yet, when Shen Yan stepped beyond the boundaries of Azure Lotus Island, he keenly noticed that the area was now teeming with numerous cultivators.

“It seems the deaths of dozens of cultivators haven’t deterred the disciples of Kui Water Sect,” he mused, rubbing his forehead in frustration. The relentless behavior of the Kui Water Sect disciples, like moths drawn to a flame, left him feeling helpless.

Just then, as he crossed the perimeter of the island’s protective formation, his brow furrowed sharply. Not far off, two massive flying vessels hovered in the sky, each bearing the insignia of their respective sects—one belonging to the Jade Immortal Sect, the other to Kui Water Sect.

“They’ve finally arrived,” Shen Yan remarked, a peculiar smile playing across his lips as he gazed at the Jade Immortal Sect’s flying vessel.

These tower ships and flying vessels were merely ordinary low-grade magical artifacts, yet they were highly prized modes of travel among cultivators of the Eastern Sea. Tower ships were used by those in the Qi Refining stage, restricted to sailing upon the sea’s surface, whereas flying vessels required Foundation Establishment cultivators to activate, allowing flight through the skies.

When the Vast Sea Immortal Sect first announced that Zhou Shun, a late-stage Qi Refining disciple, had reported the location of a spiritual spring, the news unsettled many Jade Immortal Sect cultivators. How could Zhou Shun, an inner disciple, intend to claim such a treasure for himself?

The subsequent revelation that the spiritual spring was situated within Kui Water Sect territory changed their perception. Was Zhou Shun truly not a spy sent by Kui Water Sect, attempting to lure Jade Immortal Sect’s Qi Refining disciples to their deaths with tales of a spiritual spring?

For a long time, the Jade Immortal Sect cultivators scoffed at Zhou Shun’s discovery, hardly considering any assistance in defending the territory.

Events that followed only seemed to confirm their suspicions: a late-stage Qi Refining disciple defeated a sword cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining, slew a cultivator wielding four magical artifacts head-on, and then toppled the renowned patriarch of the Luo family, famous along the Eastern Sea shore for decades.

By then, Jade Immortal Sect was convinced that Zhou Shun’s report of the spiritual spring and the ensuing battle for the spiritual land was a drama orchestrated entirely by Kui Water Sect.

Thus, the elders not only forbade sect disciples from involvement, they even ordered them to keep away from Azure Lotus Island, and promptly expelled Zhou Shun from the sect.

This matter caused considerable unrest on Quiet Cloud Island, but before the dust could settle, an even more astonishing rumor spread: three true disciples from Kui Water Sect and Ripple Sect vanished near Azure Lotus Island, along with dozens of ordinary Qi Refining disciples.

Receiving the news, Jade Immortal Sect was skeptical, but their spies placed within Kui Water and Ripple Sects confirmed its truth. Suddenly, the Jade Immortal Sect’s leadership realized that Zhou Shun might not be a traitor after all, but a genuine hero.

He had, single-handedly, slain dozens of Qi Refining cultivators, including three true disciples at the peak of Qi Refining, and most crucially, Zhou Shun had accomplished all this without any help from his sect.

What did this mean? It meant that Zhou Shun’s combat prowess was already comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators!

In response, Jade Immortal Sect hurriedly revoked Zhou Shun’s traitor status, and quickly dispatched personnel to Azure Lotus Island, intent on helping Shen Yan defend the spiritual spring.

Kui Water Sect, upon hearing the news, also sent their own forces to Azure Lotus Island, thus setting the stage for the scene at hand.

As Shen Yan, disguised as Zhou Shun, appeared, beams of spiritual light shot out from the opposing flying vessels, converging upon him.

Observing the leader, Shen Yan frowned. The man’s cultivation was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Shen Yan had never seen this Jade Immortal Sect cultivator before; clearly, he was not an elder from Quiet Cloud Island, but someone from the Jade Immortal Sect’s main sanctuary.

As for the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Kui Water Sect, Shen Yan paid him little mind. The man was merely at the early Foundation Establishment stage, just like Shen Yan himself. Though newly advanced, Shen Yan was confident he could easily handle a fellow cultivator of the same rank.

“Zhou Shun, come here,” the Foundation Establishment cultivator called, flying through the air atop his artifact and addressing Shen Yan with an imperious tone.

Shen Yan frowned. Although the man was a Jade Immortal Sect disciple, his haughty demeanor was displeasing. Despite Shen Yan’s lack of attachment to the Jade Immortal Sect, he had performed a tremendous service—was this the attitude he deserved?

Or perhaps… Jade Immortal Sect had sent him deliberately, for a purpose?

Could it be that Jade Immortal Sect intended to escalate the conflict with Kui Water Sect, to raise the stakes between the two sects?

While pondering this, Shen Yan moved forward, riding a streak of spiritual light toward Liu Jing.

“Zhou Shun, your service to the sect has been considerable. You shall be rewarded upon your return. However, I have a question: you’ve been in the sect less than ten years—how could you so easily slay dozens of cultivators?” Liu Jing asked, as Shen Yan obediently approached, casting a cold glance at Xiang Chunfang and then posing his question with a casual air.

This inquiry immediately drew the attention of all present—not only Xiang Chunfang, but even the Qi Refining disciples of Jade Immortal and Kui Water Sects watched with curiosity.