Chapter 81: Slaughter and Major News

Three months later, the survivors on Whitefish Island were in a state of turmoil.

Originally a sect led by a Low Manifestation Stage ancestor, the sudden spatial catastrophe claimed the ancestor’s life before he could react. The True Core elders of the sect also perished, leaving only one or two severely injured survivors.

The remaining Innate, Acquired cultivators, and common folk were almost entirely wiped out.

Yet, a few incredibly fortunate individuals managed to survive. Including the severely injured elders, nearly three thousand people remained, making them the last survivors of Whitefish Island.

This was undoubtedly a tragic event.

Though called an island, Whitefish Island spanned nearly ten million square kilometers and was once home to nearly five hundred million people.

Now, only three thousand were left.

It was a scene of utter devastation.

However, these three thousand people couldn’t even afford to mourn today. They were trembling under the oppressive aura of several True Core rogue cultivators.

A group of rogue True Core cultivators had joined forces to attack Whitefish Island.

The severely injured True Core elders of the island, despite using protective barriers, couldn’t hold them back. The barrier was breached almost instantly, adding injury to injury.

“Elder! Elder!” 

The disciples of Whitefish Island cried out, rushing to protect their dying elders.

Unfortunately, they were too weak to withstand the might of the True Core cultivators, being forced back and coughing up blood.

“Stop struggling. Hand over your techniques and resources, and we might consider sparing your lives,” one of the rogue True Core cultivators said calmly.

But the greed in their eyes was unmistakable. It was clear that even if the survivors handed over their heritage, these rogue cultivators would not spare them.

But if they didn’t, would they fight to the death?

Even knowing it was impossible, the survivors, driven by the instinct to live, wanted to take a chance, hoping these rogues would keep their word.

Shivering with fear, someone tried to respond in hopes of survival.

However, an even more terrifying aura descended from the sky.

The severely injured True Core elders and the rogue True Core cultivators were shocked. It was the presence of a Law Manifestation stage expert.

“How fortunate, it seems I’m not too late,” a voice tinged with delight came, as Lin Fanyun descended from the sky.

Over the past three months, his aura had grown deeper and more profound. During this period, he had experienced numerous battles, not only fully mastering the power of the second level of the Law Manifestation stage but also beginning to develop a formidable combat awareness.

The rogue True Core cultivators swallowed hard, their panic evident.

“Still not leaving? Do you want me to make a move?” Lin Fanyun snorted coldly. 

He had no interest in killing these small fry who hadn’t offended him.

The previously arrogant rogue cultivators, as if granted amnesty, didn’t dare linger for even a moment and quickly fled from Whitefish Island. The surviving people of Whitefish Island supported the two severely injured True Core elders and approached.

“Thank you, Senior, for saving our lives.” 

The elder struggled to stay upright. The attitude of this Law Manifestation stage expert was unclear, and he didn’t dare collapse, fearing he would never open his eyes again if he did.

“No need. Just hand over your techniques and resources. In return, I will spare your lives.”

Lin Fanyun waved his hand dismissively.

Hearing the exact same words from him made the people of Whitefish Island feel suffocated. They were at a loss as to what to do.

“Hmm? Are you unwilling? If not, then I’ll just have to go through the trouble of killing you all first and then search for it myself.”

Lin Fanyun’s terrifying words sent chills down their spines.

Facing a more terrifying expert right in front of them, the survivors of Whitefish Island didn’t even dare to hesitate this time and immediately gave in.

Handing over the techniques and resources of Whitefish Island, Lin Fanyun weighed them in his hand.

“Good, I’m very pleased with your attitude. Rest assured, I won’t harm you. Take my advice, if you lack the strength, leave the Abyssal Sea. This place is no longer somewhere you can survive.”

Lin Fanyun had no intention of annihilating them completely. The enmity between them wasn’t severe enough to warrant their extermination.

This was also because the people of Whitefish Island weren’t showing strong resistance. If there had been anyone fiercely defiant or deeply connected with the remaining survivors, Lin Fanyun would likely have left no one alive.

Of course, that also depended on whether the remaining people of Whitefish Island could even survive.

Lin Fanyun’s eyes flickered with contemplation.

Since they hadn’t left in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, escaping unscathed now was highly unlikely.

Sure enough, a day after Lin Fanyun left, the rogue True Core cultivators returned. They came back with a sliver of hope and were delighted to find the survivors of Whitefish Island still alive.

“You! What are you doing? The techniques and resources have all been taken by that Low Manifestation Stage expert! Whitefish Island has nothing left,” the severely injured True Core elder cried out in despair, coughing up blood.

However, the rogue cultivators had no intention of sparing the two True Core elders.

“Pah! Do you take us for fools? That man may have taken the techniques and resources, but he didn’t take your memories. I refuse to believe you haven’t memorized the techniques.”

“Recite the techniques. For every day you don’t, we’ll kill one person. For every mistake, we’ll kill ten.”

The eyes of the rogue True Core cultivators burned with greed. Resources were important, but techniques were even more crucial.

Whitefish Island had the heritage of the Low Manifestation Stage, something these rogue cultivators desperately desired.

For the next period, Whitefish Island was filled with endless cries of anguish and despair, which eventually fell silent, leaving the island in dead silence.

Countless tragedies like that of Whitefish Island were unfolding across the Abyssal Sea. A lament for the weak, a celebration for the strong.

Lin Fanyun, after a year of relentless battles, had seized a vast array of martial techniques and resources.

Just as he was preparing to continue his conquests and even seek out a demigod’s legacy, explosive news hit the main human network. Someone on the human network speculated about the recent spatial catastrophe and its subsequent effects.

“As everyone knows, a year ago, a mysterious spatial upheaval erupted deep within the Abyssal Sea, its impact spreading nearly a million kilometers. If not for the intervention of various true gods, the affected area would have been even larger. Countless races and factions in the Abyssal Sea suffered heavy casualties, leading to the widespread chaos over the past year. I dare to predict that this chaos will last for at least several hundred years. But that’s not the main point of my message today. Some of you may not understand the significance of a spatial upheaval. No matter how the spatial upheaval occurred, it’s clear that it’s beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators. But once a spatial upheaval occurs, the stability of space within its affected range is compromised. The embryonic demigod blessed lands, true god blessed lands, and celestial sovereign domains that depend on spatial stability will be disrupted and exposed. Do you understand what this means?”

As soon as this message was posted on the main network, it instantly ignited the interest of countless lurking cultivators.

Lin Fanyun was among them.

Without a demigod’s legacy, he hadn’t initially realized the far-reaching implications of the widespread spatial disturbances.

Now that this had been pointed out, he wasn’t foolish. He understood perfectly well.

“Embryonic demigod blessed lands, true god blessed lands, celestial sovereign domains—after the death of their respective cultivators, these realms drift through the Great Wilderness, their locations constantly shifting. Without special methods or conditions, it’s nearly impossible to stabilize them.”

And over the long ages in the Great Wilderness, how many such cultivators had perished?

Countless!

“Undoubtedly, the blessed lands and domains drifting into this unstable space are very likely to become exposed. Those already fixed in this area will inevitably be revealed.”

Embryonic demigod blessed lands, true god blessed lands, celestial sovereign domains—not only did they represent immense resources, but they also carried invaluable legacies.

The involvement of such high-level legacies would drive cultivators desperate for heritage into a frenzy.

“I thought the Abyssal Sea was already chaotic enough, but it seems it’s about to get even crazier.” 

Lin Fanyun could sense the impending storm, a scent of blood and bones intertwining in the air.

“When the time comes, even demigods might take action, and true gods could get involved too.”

A tremendous pressure loomed, but Lin Fanyun had no intention of backing down.

“With the system’s assistance in the path of physical cultivation, as long as I keep consuming, I can continuously improve. But I have a feeling that in the future, I’ll often face a shortage of rare treasures. When that time comes, to continue advancing in physical cultivation, I’ll need to rely on cultivating martial techniques to gain experience.”

Lin Fanyun’s plan was clear.

When there were enough rare treasures, consume them. When they were insufficient, gain experience through cultivating martial techniques.

Alternating between these two methods would maintain a high pace of advancement.

“This is an opportunity. I can obtain vast resources and higher-level techniques, making it absolutely worth the risk.”

In the shared memories from his true body, the decision was the same.

“The Abyssal Sea will undoubtedly become extremely chaotic and perilous in the coming times. The resources I currently possess are enough to gain sufficient experience points for my true body and me to reach the ninth level of the Law Manifestation stage, or even step into the demigod realm. But I am currently only at the second level of the Law Manifestation stage, and converting all these resources into experience points will require a lot of time. If it weren’t for the subsequent impacts of the spatial upheaval, I could continue honing myself, carefully avoiding those powerful beings I can’t handle yet. But the number of powerful beings that these blessed lands and celestial domains will attract is too great. It’s not wise to draw attention.”

After careful consideration, Lin Fanyun realized his combat awareness had already improved significantly, and he would have ample opportunities for major battles in the future.

He decided to abandon his plan to continue fighting for resources.

“Find a hidden place, improve my physical cultivation, and wait for the blessed lands and celestial domains to reveal themselves. This is the best strategy!”

Lin Fanyun decided to lay low for a while. Although it differed from his previous plan, plans were meant to change, as long as the goal remained the same.

Unfortunately, Lin Fanyun’s decision came a step too late.

The person who leaked the news on the main network had a deep background, which allowed them to understand the significance of the spatial upheaval.

However, many powerful entities in the Great Wilderness also possessed this knowledge. Before the news was exposed, many had already infiltrated and hidden within the region.

Some of these people changed their identities and joined the looting.

Others chose to stay hidden, planning to rob the robbers.

Only a small portion were there to cultivate in seclusion while waiting for the appearance of the blessed lands and celestial domains.

Unbeknownst to him, Lin Fanyun had become a prime target for the second group. He was seen as a fattened pig ready for slaughter.