Shadow Island.

After years of being shrouded in night, the city still flickered with neon lights. It seemed largely unaffected, remaining as prosperous and peaceful as ever.

Residents bustled methodically through the long streets, each busy with their own lives. At this point, it was impossible to tell day from night; the metropolis had truly become a sleepless city.

It was only when one looked at the newly installed clocks on the streets that they would realize it was not yet late into the night.

Gradually, the figures on the long streets dwindled. The citizens drifted into slumber, seemingly accustomed to this sunless life, still maintaining their regular routines.

As the time drew near. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The central high-rise remained brightly lit. The high-level officials of various departments were all seated in the small conference room. It carried the demeanor of the days when the direct disciples were still present. A meeting was currently underway.

Led by Grandmaster Lu, each department reported on their recent situations. Aside from their regular duties, the crucial defense work was also detailed out loud.

The meeting proceeded extremely smoothly; evidently, everyone was already familiar with this mode of operation.

No one interrupted throughout the entire process. The various reports were as mundane as usual, without any errors. Everything on Shadow Island was functioning normally.

Until the meeting concluded.

Only then did the crowd begin to chat casually, easing the previously solemn atmosphere.

Looking at the bright streetlamps lining the long street outside the window, Grandmaster Lu could not help but sigh in admiration.

The outside world is withering now. If we weren't here on Shadow Island, I'm afraid we would have been enveloped in darkness these past few years. Who knows how arduous life would be.

As soon as he spoke, the two old brothers, including Lu Qingshan, who were seated nearby, nodded in emotional agreement.

That's right. Who could have imagined that the outside world would undergo such a drastic change? The sun hasn't been seen for years. This is truly an unprecedented natural disaster!

If we hadn't entered Shadow Island back then, it's truly hard to imagine what kind of situation we would be in right now.

These few words made the atmosphere in the room increasingly heavy.

They originally intended to chat casually to relieve their boredom, but it had the opposite effect. As cultivators, their benevolence and compassion were hard to suppress. Just imagining the hardships of the outside world caused an indescribable sense of guilt to well up in their hearts.

It wasn't until Jiang Yuan spoke up that everyone turned their attention back.

Everyone, there is no need to blame yourselves too much.

The Heavenly Dao is unpredictable, and all things in the world have their destined paths. The fact that we are on Shadow Island and thus avoided this unprovoked disaster is due to our own karmic fortune. In the face of such a great tribulation, the fate of all living beings is no longer something we can control.

As cultivators, it is understandable to want to save the world out of the goodness of our hearts, but if we are powerless to help, we cannot force it.

Letting all things take their natural course is the true Heavenly Dao.

Hearing this, many sighed in agreement, a look of helplessness in their eyes.

Alas...

Elder Jiang is absolutely right. The hardships of the outside world are not what we wish to see, but they are also beyond our power to remedy.

If it weren't for the various divine artifacts left behind by Lord Fang Zaowu, it would be difficult for the living beings of Shadow Island to even save ourselves. We are only barely maintaining our livelihood now; how could we have the energy to care for outsiders?

That's true. This natural disaster is not something our power can reverse. We can only resign ourselves to fate.

Everyone, even so, we must steadfastly stick to our duties and defend Shadow Island to the death!

After a round of encouragement, the light returned to their eyes.

Exactly! Defending Shadow Island is our heavy responsibility. We absolutely cannot afford the slightest negligence!

This is the only thing we can do!

We have no way to reverse the natural disaster, but even if we have to fight to the death, we will absolutely not let anyone endanger Shadow Island!

Yes, over the past few years, relying on the electrical divine artifacts and power-generating miraculous objects left behind by Lord Fang, the entire island has been able to operate normally. The spiritual objects and various crops on the island seem largely unaffected. With such conditions, if we still fail to protect Shadow Island, how will we have the face to report back when the lords return in the future?

Well said! Over the past few years, the cultivators in the outside world must have been depleted of spiritual energy. It's impossible for their cultivation to skyrocket like ours. We enjoy the blessings of the divine land bestowed by the Mister, and we enjoy the various divine objects left behind by the lords. If we can't even fulfill our duty as guards, we truly have no right to live in this world!

The heated discussion in the conference room grew increasingly passionate, and everyone was pumped with enthusiasm.

Whether it was the regret of being unable to save the outside world or the gratitude of being on Shadow Island, it all poured out through their words, condensing into an unprecedented united fighting spirit.

Just as the heroes were feeling inspired, the sound of a transmission suddenly rang out!

Urgent report!

An anomaly has materialized in the sky near the island. All departments, return to your posts immediately!

An anomaly?

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Ever since they began guarding Shadow Island, not even a bird could easily fly in over the past few years. Although the natural disasters had grown increasingly terrifying lately, they hardly affected the island at all.

After such a long period of peace, an anomaly had actually appeared near the island?

No matter what the situation was, they had to investigate it thoroughly!

Instantly, the bigshots filling the room stood up in unison and rapidly flew off in all directions!

The waters near the outside of the island were originally the area of responsibility for Qing Huan Xiang and Gui Shoutian. Now that an anomaly had suddenly appeared, the two old brothers were naturally duty-bound to rush to the scene immediately to hold the line.

When they stood in the air above the waters outside the island, their eyes suddenly widened in shock!

In the sky, the phantom of a blue moon had actually materialized!

An eerie dark blue radiance covered the full moon hanging high in the night sky. The bewitching light exuded a terrifying pressure that made one's heart palpitate. Even though the two of them were highly experienced and knowledgeable, they had never seen such a phenomenon.

Exchanging alarmed and bewildered glances, they hastily used their work badges to transmit the image to the defense leaders of the various regions!

At almost the exact same time, the defense brigades of every region stared intently at the work badges in their hands.

In the projection.

The blue moon in the sky grew increasingly dazzling. Endless blue moonlight began to continuously cascade down, like the wilting of a gigantic, alluring flower, causing an inexplicable sense of tension to rise in everyone's hearts.

As the blue moonlight continued to emanate, another anomaly appeared!

Ripples akin to a flowing river actually began to undulate in the sky, and a spacetime gate impressively surfaced within them. A gloomy, cold aura descended like frost. Even just looking at the transmitted image made the defense brigades across all regions fall eerily silent!

The next moment.

The phantom of the spacetime gate slowly opened, and endless black shadows poured out from within. They fell onto the waters outside the island like a torrential flood. The densely packed figures were impossible to count, and all of them emitted extremely terrifying auras!

Instantly.

Qing Huan Xiang and Gui Shoutian exchanged a tense look, their eyes full of grave solemnity!

These figures are extraordinary!

They do not come with good intentions!

The two immediately took the vanguard, circulating their entire cultivation bases and assuming combat stances!

In a flash, endless demonic power and terrifying power of the Great Dao surrounded the two of them like threads of exotic colors. Their originally ordinary elderly appearances also began to continuously expand!

Under the augmentation of the terrifying spiritual power, the two figures towered from the ground, manifesting their fearsome true forms!

A hundred-zhang giant shadow with ferocious ram horns!

A ten-thousand-jin giant turtle shining with golden light!

That terrifying imposing manner was comparable to any known Demon Venerable in the world. Even when facing the ocean of black shadows, they were not the least bit inferior!

However.

Before these two could make a move, the densely packed figures actually began to fly toward them in a frenzy. This was followed by a series of explosive blasts that churned the nearby waters into towering waves and caused the earth to tremble incessantly!

Bang! Bang!

A terrifying explosion shook the heavens and the earth. Qing Huan Xiang, who had already transformed into a giant sheep, watched with trembling eyes!

"These dark figures!"

"Their fearless, suicidal battle tactics are exactly the same as those of the intruders who previously ambushed my Shadow Island!"