Jiang Wang, still on his journey, was unaware that his creditor had already arrived at Boundless Isle. It wasn’t that he intended to default on the debt; he truly hadn’t recalled it at the moment.

Since returning from the Maze Realm, his attention had been solely on Skysea Platform. His debts, too, were only those incurred at Skysea Platform.

Ice Phoenix Isle is located in the northern part of the entire Near Sea Archipelago. It is perpetually covered in snow, with unmelting glaciers.

Frankly, that place belongs to the bitter cold lands. It is quite far from the prosperous areas of the Near Sea Archipelago and relatively barren in resources. The Stone Gate Li clan’s expansion overseas began somewhat late.

Unlike the Great Marsh Tian clan, who were among the first to respond to the Qi court’s call for overseas development and also developed the best among other aristocratic families, the Stone Gate Li clan, as latecomers, chose to find a different path when other forces were locked in fierce struggles.

However, only a family tempered in a difficult place like Stone Gate Prefecture could possess the resilience to face the bitter cold and the courage to develop barren land.

They carved out the future of a top-tier family on the unyielding glacial ice.

Now, Ice Phoenix Isle has been well developed. Moreover, the environment is exceptionally suited to Li Fengyao’s divine abilities, facilitating her cultivation. Therefore, she spends some time on Ice Phoenix Isle almost every year, and the island is now largely managed by her.

The dragon-ribbed boat sailed north.

The connection between Jiang Wang and Li Longchuan began with that Hillbow. They haven’t spent much time alone together privately; other friends have always been present. Traveling together on the same boat this time is a rare experience.

Jiang Wang is battle-hardened, and Li Longchuan comes from a scholarly family with deep roots. As a descendant of a military family, his experience is certainly not lacking.

The two of them sat cross-legged on the deck, facing the sea breeze and the sky, having plenty to discuss regarding both cultivation and combat.

“Speaking of which, Elder Qin Zhen of Sea Angling Tower had a very heavy killing intent when she was young…” Li Longchuan said as usual, but his eyes flicked towards the cabin.

Jiang Wang immediately received the message – something was happening in the cabin!

Li Longchuan possessed the divine ability of Subtle Illumination, and Jiang Wang had no doubt about his keen perception.

“Even you, from a military family, say her killing intent was heavy, so it must be truly heavy…”

As Jiang Wang spoke, he responded to Li Longchuan with his eyes, indicating that he was ready. He continued, “She’s the Second Elder among the Sea-Calming Elders, right?”

The moment the last word fell, *clang!*

The sword was unsheathed, and Jiang Wang charged into the cabin!

Out of consideration for the boatman on the other end of the cabin, he did not immediately unleash a large-scale Tao technique.

A semi-transparent arrow shadow, even before Jiang Wang, followed his thought – the arrow was released the instant he thought of it. Li Longchuan sent an arrow to scout the way!

However, the moment the cabin door was broken open, a panicked voice cried out: “Lord Jiang, it’s me!”

The haggard-faced middle-aged woman was curled up in a ball, trembling. She was indeed an acquaintance. Elder Fan Qingqing of the Five Immortals Sect!

Jiang Wang stopped himself and stayed his sword.

Li Longchuan’s thought-arrow also hovered in front of her – had she spoken a breath later, she would have been gone.

A Confining Realm cultivator like Fan Qingqing might be considered someone on Xia Isle, but she absolutely could not withstand an attack from either Jiang Wang or Li Longchuan, let alone face the two of them combined.

What was surprising was… how could she have quietly sneaked into the cabin, undetected by Jiang Wang?

Although Jiang Wang’s perception was not as keen as Li Longchuan’s, he was still recognized by most people overseas as the strongest in the Confining Realm, far surpassing Fan Qingqing!

“Why is it you?” Jiang Wang asked, frowning.

Fan Qingqing immediately turned red-eyed, on the verge of tears.

Before she could start crying, Jiang Wang quickly asked, “Elder Fan, what happened?”

The boatman at the other end of the cabin, who was controlling the dragon-ribbed boat, only then noticed the sudden change. He hurriedly grabbed an iron oar and rushed into the cabin. He looked at Li Longchuan: “Young Master?”

Without special circumstances, and unable to fly directly across regions, traveling by boat from Boundless Isle to Ice Phoenix Isle takes a considerable amount of time. So Li Longchuan had specifically arranged for a boat, and the boatman was also one of their own from Ice Phoenix Isle.

Seeing that Jiang Wang knew the middle-aged woman who had suddenly appeared, Li Longchuan dissipated the thought-arrow and waved his hand: “It’s nothing. Go back to steering the boat.”

The boatman turned around and left the cabin without hesitation, his actions swift and disciplined, as if in the military. The governance style of the Stone Gate Li clan was evident.

However, with this interruption, Jiang Wang had already roughly guessed what had happened.

The Five Immortals Sect testifying for Jiang Wang at Skysea Platform and siding with Boundless Isle was an attempt to rely on Boundless Isle’s connections to draw closer to the State of Qi, thereby escaping the exploitation of Madam Bijou and the forces behind her. But now… something had clearly gone wrong.

There was no need to think deeply; this matter was likely related to the revenge of Gu Huaixin’s faction.

At Skysea Platform, he and Ji Shaoqing fought a battle of life and death, but others were not idle; the world was still moving forward according to its earlier inertia.

And the protection promised by Boundless Isle… apparently did not take effect.

Perhaps Boundless Isle never really cared about the Five Immortals Sect, or perhaps Boundless Isle was willing but powerless, or even, though willing and powerful, simply didn’t have time to do anything.

Fan Qingqing was, after all, of such an age and had seen many storms. She shouldn’t have lost control of her emotions to the point of turning red-eyed the moment she met a young man. This was nothing more than seeking some sympathy in exchange for more help. Jiang Wang’s timely interruption prevented her from continuing to work up tears.

However, she did not immediately answer the question but glanced at the heroic Li Longchuan.

Jiang Wang said directly: “This is my friend Li Longchuan. You can tell me anything you need to.”

“No problem. You take your time.” Li Longchuan, however, simply turned around and walked back out onto the deck.

Jiang Wang trusted him, but he didn’t feel he should pry into all of his friend’s secrets. She was just a mediocre woman in the Confining Realm; since she cared about secrecy, he would humor her.

After Li Longchuan walked out of the cabin, Fan Qingqing again cast a spell to isolate the sounds inside and outside the cabin.

The Five Immortals Sect specializes in “form, sound, smell, taste, and touch.”

Their research in these areas naturally had its unique aspects.

All external sounds were isolated, creating a feeling of being back in the soundless decapitation order.

“If he wanted to perceive something, your spells, even if ten times more exquisite, wouldn’t be able to stop him.” Jiang Wang shook his head and asked, “What on earth is so important that you need to be so secretive?”

*Thud!*

Fan Qingqing knelt directly in the cabin: “Lord Jiang, I beg you to save me!”

This kneeling was truly sudden!

When she first met Jiang Wang earlier, she kept calling him “little brother.” But now, she only dared to call him “Lord Jiang.”

This shows, firstly, that her current situation is indeed difficult, and secondly, it fully proves Jiang Wang’s reputation after the battle of Skysea Platform.

Jiang Wang quickly moved aside, not accepting her kneel.

Regardless of the reason, the other party had stood up for him at Skysea Platform and was so much older than him. He truly couldn’t accept her bowing, so he reached out with a virtual lift and said: “Tell me what happened first. Then I’ll know what to do.”

He did not promise to help.

Those who value trust do not make promises lightly.

Fan Qingqing did not get up, only saying with red eyes: “The Five Immortals Sect is finished!”

“The sect’s great hall is also destroyed,”

“All the elders are dead!”

“The sect master is also dead!”