Star Martial Soaring Cloud

The journey south was much smoother than expected.

The alliance's orders had already spread throughout the Demon Island, and cultivators from various regions had mostly gathered in the designated safe zones.

Along the way, not to mention cultivators, there were very few signs of fighting.

Those once ubiquitous severed limbs, charred campsites, and dried, blackened bloodstains are now a thing of the past.

Occasionally, you can see a few newly turned graves standing on the freshly turned soil, soft and loose, clearly indicating that someone hastily buried their companion's body.

"It seems the appeasement efforts of the various alliances have worked," Su Qinhe said softly, her gaze sweeping over a simple grave by the roadside.

There was no tombstone in front of the grave, only a broken sword stuck in the ground, its cold blade gleaming eerily in the twilight.

Wang Xiao nodded without saying anything.

Time was of the essence, so they traveled day and night, only stopping to rest for a moment when they were extremely tired.

With Wang Xiao and Lin Yueyao around, most of the strange beasts on the Demon Island could be detected in advance and avoided by them.

One grew up in the jungles of southern Xinjiang, deeply familiar with the ways of survival in the mountains; the other lived in the wilderness of Qixing Mountain for ten years, possessing an almost instinctive sensitivity to the tracks of wild animals.

The two worked together flawlessly and encountered no danger along the way, not even the occasional attacks from strange beasts.

Even when passing the southern teleportation array, the entire ruins were empty, without a single person in sight.

"The cultivators of the Rainbow Palace have all left." Lin Yueyao stood at the edge of the ruins, looking at the shattered array stones on the ground, her tone calm and unwavering.

There are two major powers in the Southern Frontier, but everyone only knows about the Rainbow Palace.

Qingcheng Sword Mountain has always considered itself a heavenly land and has never recognized the division of the Nine Provinces and Five Regions; as for the Rainbow Palace, the number of cultivators who entered the island this time was pitifully small, only ten.

"After the great upheaval on Demon Island, Yun Qingyao immediately gathered the disciples of the Rainbow Robe Immortal Palace together. After counting, only seven remained." Yan Zixi leaned against the broken wall, her expression solemn. "They immediately chose to go to the East Coast Alliance. That girl Yun Qingyao looks gentle and weak, but she is decisive in her actions."

Lin Yueyao nodded gently, without asking about the whereabouts of the three missing people.

Some things are better left unasked.

According to the original plan, the Demon Island would have at least four alliances—East Coast, North Plain, South Frontier, and West Wilderness.

The Xuanyuan family of Zhongzhou did not send anyone to the island this time. Qingcheng Sword Mountain in the southern border is a sect that operates independently. The Nishang Immortal Palace was merged into Dongbin at the first opportunity. After the Buddhist and Taoist sects moved east, they took root in Dongbin and naturally would not establish a separate sect.

As a result, only two major alliances remained on the vast Demon Island.

One is the Northern Plains Alliance, led by Lin Shisan and Ye Wuhen, which currently has about sixty members.

The other is the Dongbin Alliance, which brings together local Dongbin residents, remnants of the Southern Frontier, and disciples from both Buddhist and Taoist sects, totaling over a hundred people.

One hundred and seventy people.

Wang Xiao silently did some mental calculations, feeling a heavy weight on his heart, making it hard to breathe.

Five hundred cultivators arrived on the island in great numbers, but now less than two hundred have survived.

In just over two months, most of the victims were killed or injured.

Such casualties are the highest in the history of the Demon Island Trials, but this is not the end yet.

Those who came to the island this time were all young talents from various schools and sects.

This devastating price is something even the most powerful and well-established forces would find difficult to bear.

They were originally the future pillars of various schools and sects, whom each school painstakingly cultivated, and the foundation and hope of their respective sects.

If they all perish here, it would be equivalent to the major powers losing a generation of their lineage.

No one can bear such a consequence.

"In that case, it's understandable that the Great Qian Dynasty, the Yun family of Beiyuan, and the Ye family of Nanjiang didn't allow their own children to participate in the Demon Island Trials," Su Qinhe sighed softly, her tone full of regret.

Wang Xiao was silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Yes, accidents are uncontrollable. The Demon Island is a world of its own, with strange rules that no one from the outside can interfere with."

He paused, his gaze fixed on the distant, hazy sky. The thick, low-hanging clouds exuded a sense of oppressive stillness. "After this upheaval," he said, "their children will have one less large number of formidable competitors if they simply grow up peacefully."

"But everything has two sides." Yan Zixi suddenly spoke, her tone unusually serious and solemn. "If these surviving cultivators can fight their way out of the Demon Island and return alive, having survived this life-or-death catastrophe, their names will surely be recorded in the history of all the major sects."

She looked at Wang Xiao, a slight smile playing on her lips, her eyes sparkling: "The result is important, but the experience is equally important. The storms, hardships, and tears you endure will eventually shine brightly as long as you persevere and reach the other shore."

Wang Xiao was slightly taken aback, then smiled knowingly: "Miss Yan is right. Those who survive a great calamity are sure to have good fortune in the future."

As the ancients said: "When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first test his mind, strain his muscles and bones, starve his body, leave him destitute, and thwart his endeavors."

Only through rigorous training can one forge great talent; by overcoming numerous obstacles, one's character and cultivation will undergo a transformation, emerging from the cocoon like a butterfly, free to soar in the sky and leap in the sea.

"Well said!" Yan Zixi clapped her hands and laughed, staring at Wang Xiao with seductive eyes, her tone teasing, "If Young Master Lu ever rises to prominence, don't forget the beauties who suffered with you today."

Yan Zixi's witch-like nature always reveals itself unintentionally.

Su Qinhe and Lin Yueyao were already used to it, but it was tough on Wang Xiao.

He was the only man in the group and had to constantly resist Yan Zixi's allure.

Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, Wang Xiao quickly changed the subject: "Let's get going, let's not delay our journey."

Su Qinhe covered her mouth and chuckled, while Lin Yueyao blinked, looking completely bewildered.

Lu Shu reappeared in the woods by the roadside at some point, standing quietly under a tree, watching this scene with a calm expression.

"Hey, do you think there's something fishy about the fact that the Xuanyuan family didn't participate in this trial, and that such a big change happened on Demon Island?" Wang Xiao suddenly thought of this and said something surprising, breaking the moment of relaxation.

"Young Master Lu, isn't that a bit like judging a gentleman by your own petty standards?"

"This matter is of great importance; without substantial evidence, we dare not make any rash speculations!"

"Thinking about these things now is useless and will only cause more trouble," Lin Yueyao interrupted their thoughts.

Of the group, only she was unaware of Wang Xiao's relationship with the Xuanyuan family, and in front of everyone, they always referred to Wang Xiao as Lu Yang.

With three beautiful women accompanying him along the way, especially the witch Yan Zixi by his side, the journey was not boring at all.

She always had endless funny stories and jokes to tell, and she would tease Wang Xiao from time to time, making him laugh heartily at his embarrassed and blushing face.

But Wang Xiao's mind wasn't on that.

What he cared about most was Lu Shu, who had been silently following him all along and appeared from time to time.

Since leaving the bamboo house, Lu Shu has followed the group at a distance, neither approaching them nor leaving quietly.

Whenever the group stopped to rest, it would appear in the nearby woods, quietly watching them.

Wang Xiao naturally wouldn't let go of such a great opportunity.

Every time Lu Shu appeared, he would eagerly approach her, take out the spiritual herbs and fruits he had carefully picked along the way, and hand them over with a beaming smile.

"Brother Deer, are you hungry? Try this; it's sweet, juicy, and tastes delicious!"

Lu Shu didn't even glance at him, his expression aloof.

"And this one? I went out of my way to pick this spiritual herb; it's incredibly fresh and full of spiritual energy!"

Lu Shu slowly turned his head, completely ignoring him.

"How about I give you a back massage? My skills aren't as good as Miss Yueyao's, but they're not bad either, I guarantee it'll feel good!"

Lu Shu stood up and walked away slowly, showing no mercy whatsoever.

Wang Xiao stood frozen in place, holding the spirit herb, her smile gradually freezing on her face, filled with embarrassment.

Yan Zixi, standing to the side, laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight, clutching her stomach and teasing, "Young Master Lu, if you used this same level of attentiveness towards Lu Shu in another place, you'd probably be holding a baby by now!"

She wiped away tears of laughter, her tone both coquettish and reproachful: "With three beautiful women around, you're most interested in a deer? Are you even a man?"

Wang Xiao remained unfazed and retorted seriously, "Miss Yan, you are mistaken. The Deer-Shu is an ancient auspicious beast; to befriend it is a great opportunity that countless cultivators would kill for. Besides—"

He glanced at Yan Zixi and added casually, "If I were to be too attentive to you, people would probably accuse me of having ulterior motives and ulterior motives."

Yan Zixi was momentarily speechless, then laughed even more heartily: "Oh dear, Young Master Lu, when did you learn to be so sarcastic?"

But as she smiled, a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

This sense of loss was not due to Wang Xiao, but also came from Lu Shu.

It's impossible not to be tempted by an auspicious beast, especially one from the Dragon Gate Divine Realm.

Even if you don't subdue them, just establishing a good relationship with them will bring you great benefits in the future.

As the most beautiful woman in Kyushu, Yan Zixi has always been the focus of everyone's attention, and she is the most dazzling presence wherever she goes.

However, this deer-like creature remained indifferent to her, even ignoring her completely. In its eyes, her status was probably similar to that of Wang Xiao.

According to Wang Xiao, the difference is huge.

Lu Shu has given me quite a few eye rolls. Who among you has this unique "honor"?

Yan Zixi tried to lure Lu Shu with rare spiritual herbs and used all sorts of means to please her, but Lu Shu didn't even lift an eyelid. This sense of defeat made the proud and arrogant girl feel particularly uncomfortable.

If Lu Shu were to be so distant and indifferent to everyone, she could accept it, but unfortunately—

"Sister Yueyao, it's come looking for you again," Su Qinhe said softly, her tone tinged with amusement.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Lu Shu had walked up to Lin Yueyao's side at some point, lowered his head, and gently rubbed his fluffy head against her arm. His expression was affectionate and docile, and there was no trace of his aloof and arrogant demeanor.

Lin Yueyao smiled and reached out to gently stroke its head.

The deer squinted its eyes and let out a soft, sweet moan, as if it were trying to please the creature.

Yan Zixi felt a tightness in her chest and a deep sense of frustration as she watched this scene.

She has always been the center of attention, always the center of attention wherever she goes. When has she ever been neglected like this?

"Perhaps only Miss Lin possesses the earthy charm that the deer-like creatures love," Su Qinhe said softly, her tone thoughtful. "Among us, only Sister Yueyao has that genuine human warmth. And what the auspicious beasts protect is always the human world."

Wang Xiao groaned incessantly, "I'm down-to-earth too! I can cook, I can serve in formal settings, I can even grow vegetables and farm—I can do everything..."

"Perhaps it's because Young Master Lu is a man," Su Qinhe said calmly.

Everyone was taken aback at first, then burst into hearty laughter.

Wang Xiao opened his mouth, but was speechless.

Lu Shu stayed by Lin Yueyao's side for a long time before reluctantly leaving. Before leaving, she even turned back to look at Wang Xiao.

That look clearly carried a hint of naked contempt, making Wang Xiao so angry that his teeth itched, yet he was helpless.

With close friends by my side and auspicious beasts accompanying me, the atmosphere along the way was not oppressive at all, but rather light and cheerful.

But there was one thing that remained like a boulder, weighing heavily on everyone's minds and refusing to be shaken off.

Tianyi Teaching.

After the battle at the northern teleportation array, Qin Wuming and his group seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace whatsoever.