Crescent Moon Island is the largest of the Near Sea Islands, and also the easternmost.

Its overall shape resembles a crescent moon, with the convex side facing the open sea and the concave side embracing the Near Sea Islands.

Viewed from a great height, it appears to be extending its arms, embracing the archipelago.

Hence, Crescent Moon Island has another name: “Embrace.” Embrace of holding, embrace of longing.

Whether Embrace Island or Crescent Moon Island, the illustrious Fishing Sea Tower’s main tower is located here.

“The bright moon rises from the sea, from here one gazes to the horizon.”

These words are inscribed on the cliffs of Horizon Terrace, from which it derives its name.

Legend has it that on Horizon Terrace, the highest point of the island, the founder of Fishing Sea Tower once stood alone, rod in hand, and fished for a dragon!

This is also the origin of the name Fishing Sea Tower.

Of course, for many, this is just a legend. Gilding one’s ancestors is commonplace, and even exaggerated claims are not unacceptable.

But the founder’s dragon-fishing tale is not recognized as history because dragons have been extinct since the late Middle Ages. While some forces have survived from the Middle Ages, Fishing Sea Tower is not among them.

That a Fishing Sea Tower powerhouse could roar and force back a Qi powerhouse is not surprising. The Fishing Sea Tower’s tough stance in the Near Sea Islands is a major reason for Qi’s slow progress here.

But this is undoubtedly unsettling.

The State of Qi has been planning for the Near Sea Islands for a long time. Although once jointly resisted by all the sects and forces of the Near Sea Islands, forcing them to withdraw,

they returned through maritime trade, with major aristocratic families as the vanguard, using a more gentle approach. After years of operation, it must be admitted that Qi’s influence in the Near Sea Islands ranks among the top three of all forces.

Some of Qi’s top noble families, like the Daze Tian clan, began to operate in the Near Sea Islands long ago. Furthermore, Chongxuan Minghe, the fourth son of the current head of the Chongxuan family, is personally stationed in the Near Sea Islands. Not long ago, the Tian family and the Chongxuan family reached a transaction, transferring the rights to develop Chongjia Island for ten years…

In short, Qi’s influence in the Near Sea Islands cannot be ignored. Of course, the Fishing Sea Tower’s leading position is equally deeply rooted.

The confrontation between Qi and Fishing Sea Tower is undoubtedly unsettling.

Hai Zongming, as an elder of the Fishing Sea Tower’s main tower, is not worried about this.

The Fishing Sea Tower and Qi have clashed countless times in secret, but rarely openly. The seemingly calm sea conceals undercurrents that never cease. The fact that Fishing Sea Tower still firmly holds the position of the leading force in the Near Sea Islands proves the outcome.

Indeed, Qi is incomparably strong, and few forces in the entire world can match it. But the Eastern Region is its root, and Qi can never fully manage the Near Sea Islands. Unless one day, it is overthrown in the Eastern Region and forced to turn to the Near Sea Islands, or completely unifies the Eastern Region.

And at sea, who does Fishing Sea Tower fear?

Fishing Sea Tower has the confidence to face everything at sea. This has been verified by history and will continue in the future.

At this moment, something else is bothering him.

Recently, after much effort, he found an ancient book. After studying it for a long time, he deciphered some hidden clues and verified them with previous gains, discovering new information.

“The core treasure in that abandoned sea tower is a mirror? A Rouge Mirror? But no mirror was found when the treasure was taken. Did someone take it beforehand? But some of the restrictions are clearly undamaged, indicating that no one broke in before.”

“No!”

He came to his senses and immediately realized the answer.

“Damn it! That little bastard Hu Shaomeng tricked me!”

He stood up in a rage: “I’ll grind his bones to dust!”

But Hu Shaomeng is already dead, and his body was not even brought back. Grinding his bones to dust would require going to the Yang Kingdom. Now that it is Qi territory, it is even more inconvenient.

Hai Zongming calmed himself down.

First of all, he knew about Hu Shaomeng’s death. This kid played with the feelings of a fellow disciple and harmed her, especially as the target was Zhu Suyao, who had a promising future in the sect.

A good cultivation seed was ruined by him, and she was lost in the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm.

It would have been fine if it was done discreetly, but his sister discovered it.

The sect rules could not tolerate this, and even Hai Zongming, as an elder, could not bend the rules. Moreover, when the news came back, Hu Shaomeng had already been killed, so there was no need to bend the rules.

Zhu Suyao’s master, that old crone, was not to be trifled with.

So he remained silent about Hu Shaomeng’s death.

But now that he knows about the Rouge Mirror, some things need to be reconsidered…

The most important question is, who has the Rouge Mirror now?

It would be possible if Zhu Suyao was still alive, but her sister, who has always been protected, could not possibly be Hu Shaomeng’s opponent.

Hai Zongming knows his disciple’s strength.

So did that old crone help? Did she secretly send an expert, or even act herself?

This matter needs careful consideration…

Hu Shaomeng has been dead for a while, and he has not reacted at all. That is to say, the person who took the Rouge Mirror does not know that Hai Zongming knows about the existence of the Rouge Mirror.

So now he is in the shadows, which is a huge advantage.

A treasure like the Rouge Mirror cannot be understood in two or three days. So there is still time. And there is no point in rushing now.

After Zhu Biqiong returned, she only stated Hu Shaomeng’s crimes, and did not say how she specifically killed Hu Shaomeng. Even if she wanted to say the detailed process, she would only tell her master.

Therefore, the first thing to investigate now is who left the Near Sea Islands under that old crone’s command when Hu Shaomeng died.

That person should be the one who killed Hu Shaomeng.

Whoever killed Hu Shaomeng should have the Rouge Mirror!

Of course, it is also possible that it was finally handed over to that old crone. That would be the worst outcome.

The old crone would definitely be able to weigh the value of that treasure. If he wants to get it back, he must plan carefully.

Thinking about it, Hai Zongming was filled with anger and could not help but smash the table with a palm: “Beast! It’s too good for you to die like this!”

At this time, Jiang Wang did not know that his actions in the Pine Forest Beast Nest had been noticed, and the risk had been eliminated due to a misunderstanding. He also did not know that in the distant Near Sea Islands, the aftermath of the Hu Shaomeng incident was still fermenting.

He has now arrived outside the Buddhist land of the Suspended Temple. The reason why he has not entered is that there are still some hidden worries.

He is not worried about how to enter the mountain gate of the Suspended Temple. With his current status and position, a dignified fourth-grade Azure Badge of Qi, a sealed lord, he should at least have the qualifications to pay a visit.

What he mainly wants to know is whether that old monk, Bitter Clarity, is at the Suspended Temple at this moment…