"What’s the plan?"

Xue Qingtan frowned and said, "How about we use the same method as last time? I’ll arrange for a group of Tribulation Cultivators to secretly deal with the Cangyu Islands."

Once the leading Cangyu Islands are annihilated, and we take the opportunity to wipe out or cripple one or two other Golden Core powers, this temporary alliance in the Chixue Sea Region will naturally collapse. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Ling Changqing shook his head and said, "Rather than spending so many resources and Spirit Stones to hire outsiders, I might as well hide my identity and hunt them down one by one. It would solve the problem all the same."

Tang Qiu Yao asked with a frown, "You’re going to act yourself? Won’t that be risky?"

"Don’t worry," Ling Changqing said. "My abilities to alter my appearance and shield my Qi Fortune have improved. Even a Divinity Transformation Powerhouse wouldn’t spot anything amiss, even if they were standing right in front of me!"

He was actually just looking for a reason to go out. ’How many years has it been since my last long trip?’

It wasn’t that he lacked resources at home, and he had his many peerlessly beautiful Dao Companions to keep him company. It was just that even a homebody needed a change of scenery now and then. He couldn’t stay cooped up in one spot forever.

’Besides, with Gong Ling to shield my Qi Fortune, I don’t have to worry about my identity being exposed at all.’

"In that case, why don’t Sister Qingxuan and I go with you?" Ling Qiyue said, her tone a little reluctant. "If anything unexpected happens, we can be there to help!"

To be fair, she really didn’t want Ling Changqing to leave, but she also didn’t want to upset him, so this was the best compromise she could offer.

"Alright," Ling Changqing said. "You two can pose as my maids and follow me. That should make things simple."

Yu Ruoshuang had wanted to ask to go as well, but considering her physical condition, she ultimately decided against it.

...

「Half a month later. The Cangyu Islands.」

As the Flying Ship drew steadily closer, they looked down from high above. A massive main island, shaped like a feather, came into clear view.

The island was even larger than Yu Long Island in the Feiyu Sea Region. It housed several Third Grade Spirit Veins, and with its fertile soil and abundant resources, it supported a large and prosperous population.

The current Gu Family, along with their vassals and followers, had occupied this domain for just over five hundred years since defeating the previous masters.

Apart from the main island with its superior Spiritual Qi Environment, there were hundreds of other islands, large and small, that also had Spirit Veins and were suitable for mortals. All of them belonged to the Cangyu Islands’ sphere of influence.

The conflicts among high-level Cultivators had little impact on the mortal citizens of these islands.

They had multiplied for generations, and now the total mortal population exceeded thirty billion, forming thousands of Mortal Dynasties and kingdoms of varying sizes.

"...This place looks pretty decent," Ling Changqing remarked casually from the foredeck. "If we take it over and manage it properly, doubling the family’s income wouldn’t be a problem at all."

"Yes. Once this power is eliminated, we can do just that," Ling Qiyue said nonchalantly from his side.

The Ling Family didn’t currently lack territory or Spirit Veins. The main problem was a shortage of personnel, so they had no choice but to nurture their members slowly.

However, according to Ling Changqing’s philosophy, it was better to let territory lie unused than to hand it over to a rival power.

As they neared the port city, the number of Cultivators in the vicinity gradually increased, with a constant stream of various Magical Artifacts, Spiritual Artifacts, and Escape Lights flying by.

However, the majority of the Cultivators they saw were only at the Qi Cultivation Stage. Foundation Establishment Cultivators made up less than a tenth of the crowd, and only occasionally could they sense the aura of a Pseudo Core Cultivator.

As for Cultivators at the True Pill or Golden Core Level, they were members of the esteemed ruling class and would not deign to show themselves so easily.

The cultivation level that Ling Changqing and the two women were currently displaying was at the Foundation Establishment Peak.

A cultivation level of this tier was high enough to avoid unnecessary trouble, but not so high as to attract the attention of the Cangyu Islands’ upper-echelon Elders.

"Should we just go to their doorstep and start killing them? Or should we think of another way?" Luo Qingxuan whispered.

"No rush," Ling Changqing replied. "Let’s check out the situation first."