1117: Chapter 678_2 1117: Chapter 678_2 Tang Yanran obtained an Energy Stone, which she used to create something—a poison!
It was a new invention of hers, and she had already prepared an antidote.
When her family members arrived, she even shared the poison with them to use against enemies and Demonic Beasts.
Tang Yanran did not join Dugu Yan’er’s team; the three of them led groups of women in separate batches!
Each group tried to maximize their respective strengths.
And with the poison Tang Yanran provided, even more potent than the ones they had made before, their abilities were enhanced!
However, this particular poison wasn’t meant to deal with Demonic Beasts this time, as there were already many capable men handling that task, and Dugu Yan’er’s exceptional Jin Cancan was constantly proving its value!
In truth, seeing such powerful Spiritual Pets, how could others not feel envious?
Some people also had their own Spiritual Pets, though they were far less formidable!
For women skilled in poison or female cultivators in general, contracting a Spiritual Pet also depended on fate—or even personal preference!
The sky was brimming with cultivators hovering above, launching a brutal massacre of the Demonic Beasts contained within the Array!
From a distance, numerous low-level cultivators were observing from afar, hoping to glean some experience or even secretly learn a Spell or two.
For a cultivator to become powerful, they must watch how others wield their Spells.
On the ground, various cultivators who couldn’t undertake such high-risk tasks could only watch from a distance.
Their role was to intercept any Demonic Beasts that might break through the Formation.
Jiang Tang steered his flying arrow above the sea, soaring at incredible speeds like a rocket, streaking across the water like a meteor!
If not for his exceptional Eye Power and extraordinarily strong Divine Sense, no one would even detect his flying arrow.
It wasn’t as though he didn’t notice the envious and jealous gazes aimed at him—whether back in the Cultivation World or now, no matter the place: a Civilization Country, Eternal Star, even this starry ocean, or lands resembling Earth-like continents!
Amidst the endless expanse of sea, Jiang Tang could feel the aura of Nanhuang.
The waves surged on the ocean’s surface, and beneath the waters lay an abundance of seafood!
Piloting his Flying Artifact, which resembled a vessel, Jiang Tang was not currently using it as a submerged submarine vessel.
He was confident—no one would dare target this vessel of his.
After all, this was no ordinary ship but a Flying Artifact.
Who would be so blind as to attempt to steal it?
Let’s see if anyone even has the capability to try that!
And if someone did, well, they would be asking for trouble, as Jiang Tang was not one to be trifled with!
Sailing across the rarely tranquil ocean surface, Jiang Tang noticed the profusion of unique seafood beneath the waves—each a treasure on its own.
Without hesitation, he kept collecting!
All kinds of fresh, delicious seafood were being meticulously stored in his Storage Bags designed for food!
Unbeknownst to him, some pirates—or more precisely, cultivators akin to pirates—had already set their sights on his flying arrow, intending to rob him!
Invincible Sect—a Major Sect situated on a southern island in the Nanhuang Sea—was so elusive that no one could see the island from the ocean’s surface.
The island’s design incorporated an Illusion Array.
The seas around this island connected multiple small countries in all directions.
If these countries wished to conduct commercial trade, their ships were required to pass by the island!
The Invincible Sect, a mysterious organization, was far from a Righteous Sect—it was akin to a band of pirates.
This sect operated as pirates because of how their resources were obtained—looted riches that were later sold off!
Even their daily necessities, such as food and drink, were pillaged goods!
On one particular ship that belonged to the Invincible Sect—a Sect based entirely on islands—there were five long-term Golden Core Stage cultivators aboard, who had recently recruited 200 disciples from the Mortal World.
All these recruits possessed at least Triple Spirit Roots; those with Quadruple Spirit Roots or Five Elements Spiritual Roots were outright rejected.
The 200 disciples were gathered from various islands in Nanhuang’s Mortal Regions, even from some small clans.
People had heard tales of the Invincible Sect, rumored to be based on an island shrouded in mystery.
Without an invitation, it was impossible to enter the island!
What lay beyond the vast sea was a secret—outsiders saw only an endless ocean and the phantom mirage of the island!
Legend had it that this Major Sect in Nanhuang was no weaker than the most formidable Major Sects in terms of power.
Other sects allowed ordinary disciples to take Sect entrance tests of their own volition.
The Invincible Sect, however, only recruited disciples once every two years.
Members of the island-based Sect ventured out to capture and transport recruits!
Recruiting every two years yielded a large intake.
But even so, there were not enough elite disciples in the Mortal World to fill their ranks!
As time wore on, the Sect was forced to lower its standards, now even accepting those with Quadruple or Five Elements Spiritual Roots!
After all, they were also competing with other Sects in places like Ten Directions City for disciples—but even the infamous Invincible Sect had to compromise!
Few knew that joining the Invincible Sect meant entering a den of thieves, where even a good person would be turned into a criminal!
Parents of mortal children with Spiritual Roots never realized that sending their children to the Invincible Sect doomed them to this fate!
Once inside this den of thieves, even the innocent were corrupted.
The Sect’s mysterious and deviant nature made it easy to brainwash its recruits!
Forget about academic success and glory—anyone who joined the Sect was trained in piracy and immoral practices.
Once inside, they might remain for centuries or pass away from old age.
Upon joining, parents of Mortal World children believed their offspring had become Immortals, forever severing ties with their mortal families.
Some parents, hoping for a brighter future for their children, dreamed of their success elevating their family or clan!
Mortal families who sent their children to Sects understood that the long lifespan of a cultivator meant eventual separation through death.
The odds of returning were slim.
It wasn’t as though enlightened children were ungrateful—it was simply a fact that parents were often fated to be forgotten by their offspring!
Regardless of where they went or the power they amassed, parents might never see them again.
They could only hope and believe their children had become Immortals and brought honor to their families!
Other Sects occasionally permitted disciples to return home after gaining recognition in the Immortal Realm, providing their families with pride and closure!
The Invincible Sect, however, was different—once a disciple entered, they never returned.
Why, then, were there still so many eager to join such a mysterious Sect?
Why would parents willingly entrust their children to such an institution?
Of course, the Sect would stage grand performances—Golden Core Stage cultivators of tremendous power would inspire confidence in the parents, showing them how joining the Sect led to immense strength!
For those deemed qualified, the Invincible Sect even offered monetary compensation to the families—silver or gold coins usable by mortals.
In Nanhuang, where many islands relied on fishing and trade routes, some families were wealthy, while others were impoverished!
The compensation brought joy to many—their children’s participation, even if they never returned, secured wealth for the family, a deal already concluded with this payment!
As pirates, the Invincible Sect lavished wealth during recruitment, knowing full well the money and treasures had been plundered and resold!
The Sect suffered losses annually—recruits who perished during rigorous training or were required to sacrifice themselves in brutal confrontations against formidable enemies during raids!
As pirates, they often encountered tough opponents.
Overwhelming numerical advantages ensured their victory, though not without casualties!
The Sect’s ruthlessness left no survivors from their raids, silencing any who’d spread word of their deeds!
Not every commercial vessel became a target of their plundering spree, either.
In cities and ports, the Invincible Sect operated an intricate network of contacts and spies!
Information gathered beforehand gave them a tactical edge.
Some commercial ships, bearing certain trade emblems, were under their “protection,” acting as bodyguards for a price!
With money collected for such services, they also prevented other pirates from raiding their protected ships!
The Invincible Sect simultaneously engaged in piracy and bodyguard services, a chaotic yet calculated duality!