A Mortal's Start in the Spirit Beast Mountain

Chapter 341 5 years

Although the Star Palace had already decisively shut down the large teleportation array leading to Tianxing City from Silver Shark Island after realizing the situation was not good, in an attempt to temporarily isolate the war from the outside world.

However, news of the Star Palace's repeated defeats and the loss of important islands under the fierce offensive of the Reverse Star Alliance on the Inner Star Sea battlefield still reached Silver Shark Island intermittently through various channels, some true and some false.

After all, although the distances between the islands in the outer sea are far and the journeys are dangerous, cultivators can still travel between them.

These messages, like pebbles thrown into a calm lake, stirred up ripples, and with the help of the Reverse Star Alliance, gradually shook the authority and popular support that the Star Palace had cultivated in this area for many years.

The most obvious changes came from the various forces on the island that were originally affiliated with the Star Palace, or at least maintained neutrality on the surface.

Among them, the "Four Major Merchants Alliance," led by "Feng Le Merchants" and composed of three other large merchants, acted the fastest and most blatantly.

They keenly sensed the decline of the Star Palace and the rise of the Reverse Star Alliance, and began to secretly contact the Reverse Star Alliance. Gradually, they opened up their hands and blatantly joined forces with the tentacles of both the righteous and demonic paths to begin to erode and seize the resources, shipping routes, and market interests that originally belonged to the Star Palace's control or influence.

The conflict quickly escalated from covert competition and poaching to open armed confrontation.

In a dispute over the ownership of a newly discovered medium-sized "Fire Cloud Crystal" mine on "Thunder Sky Island," the four major merchant alliances clashed head-on with the forces of Star Palace stationed on Silver Shark Island.

Several Core Formation stage cultivators from both sides clashed fiercely in the waters near Thunder Sky Island, their magical treasures exchanging blows and flashing with spiritual light.

Ultimately, the Star Palace side gained a slight advantage by relying on the array formations they had built up over many years, repelling the merchant alliance's first strong attack. However, they also paid the price of two Core Formation cultivators being injured, and failed to completely control the mine.

This battle acted as a fuse, instantly igniting the long-suppressed tension in the waters around Silver Shark Island. This sea area, originally dominated by independent cultivators who pursued freedom and resources, was instantly drawn into a vortex of conflict between two major factions.

The teleportation array leading to the Inner Star Sea has been closed. Most low- to mid-level independent cultivators find it difficult to survive alone in the dangerous depths of the outer sea, yet they are unwilling to give up the cave dwellings, connections, and resource acquisition channels they have cultivated here for many years.

Thus, driven by the pressure of survival and the potential for profit, many independent cultivators began to choose sides, either by being forced or by choice. Some joined the Star Palace faction to cheer and take on missions, while others sought refuge with the Merchant Guild Alliance and the righteous and demonic forces behind it, looking for protection and new sources of income.

Silver Shark Island and its surrounding waters suddenly became a scene of tension and constant friction. Small-scale fights, ambushes, and robberies occurred one after another. The relatively orderly "paradise for independent cultivators" of the past was gone forever, and the air was filled with the strong smell of gunpowder and unease about the future.

……

Time flies, and five years have passed since Luo Ming began his seclusion to attempt to refine the Golden Core.

On this day, on the top floor of Mingyue Tower, in that quiet room that belonged exclusively to Mingyue, decorated in an elegant and unique style, with a wide view, the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

Today, Mingyue wore a well-tailored moon-white palace dress, her black hair styled in a simple bun, adorned only with a jade hairpin, which made her skin appear even whiter and her face even more beautiful.

With a genuine smile of joy on her face, she was personally pouring tea for the guest sitting opposite her.

This person was tall and well-proportioned, wearing a spotless white robe with star patterns unique to the Star Palace embroidered on the collar and cuffs. His black hair was tied back with a ribbon of the same color, revealing a smooth forehead and a pair of bright, spirited eyes that always seemed to be smiling.

He exudes a unique and unforgettable refined charm, and his voice is like the clinking of jade stones, clear and melodious with a peculiar, androgynous, magnetic quality.

"Sister Yuling, it's been a full six months since you last visited Mingyue! Now that you've finally come, you must stay here for a few more days! Let me properly show you my hospitality."

Mingyue poured tea and gently pushed a cup of emerald green tea in front of the other person, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness and intimacy. She then took the other person's arm and gently shook it.

Judging from her rare display of girlishness, her relationship with this Star Palace cultivator known as "Yu Ling" is far from ordinary; they have clearly known each other for a long time and share a deep bond.

The Star Palace cultivator, called "Yu Ling," had her arm linked with Ming Yue's. A helpless yet doting smile appeared on her face as she gently tapped the tip of Ming Yue's nose with her hand, her voice soft and gentle:

"Moon, it's not that I didn't want to come and chat with you over tea, it's just that... as you've seen, the situation on the island is getting more and more tense every day. As one of the stewards of the Star Palace here, I'm swamped with many chores and simply can't find the time. I was only able to come here this time because I had a spare moment to check on you and see if you're doing well."

As she spoke, she picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and then put it down. The smile on her face faded slightly, and she began to tell Mingyue in a low voice about the increasingly serious situation in Silver Shark Island and the surrounding waters.

Although Mingyue has spent most of the past two years in Mingyue Tower, either in seclusion cultivating or studying talisman inheritance, she is not entirely ignorant of the outside world's situation. Jiang Rufeng, Wen Siyue, and others regularly report to her.

But hearing more detailed and core information from her longtime friend, who was also inside the Star Palace, she realized more clearly that the Star Palace was indeed at a significant disadvantage in this sea area and was in a rather passive situation.

"So the situation has become this dire..." Mingyue murmured to herself, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. If Silver Shark Island falls into complete chaos, Mingyue Tower will also find it difficult to remain unscathed.

Just as Mingyue was lost in thought, the person opposite her glanced around, and a seemingly casual, even languid smile suddenly appeared on her lips. She put down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, and asked in a pleasant, neutral voice, seemingly unintentionally:

"By the way, Yue'er, I wonder if your master has emerged from seclusion? I'd like to take this opportunity to pay him a visit and fulfill my duty. To be able to teach such an outstanding disciple as you, Yue'er, your master must be an extraordinary senior master."

The question was asked so naturally, as if it were just a casual expression of concern and politeness between friends.

However, upon hearing this, Mingyue's heart skipped a beat!

She was incredibly intelligent and instantly understood the true intention hidden beneath Ling Yuling's seemingly casual question! Considering the current predicament and pressure Xinggong was facing on Silver Shark Island, it was clear that the other party's question was intended to win over, test, and perhaps even seek cooperation on behalf of Xinggong!

Mingyue suddenly felt like she had shot herself in the foot.

When she saw her master's expression turn somewhat strange upon hearing the name "Ling Yuling," she was curious due to her girlish nature, and she also felt that Sister Yuling's cultivation, appearance, and status were all extraordinary.

So when I returned to Tianxing City last time, I also "tricked" the other party into coming to Silver Shark Island, claiming that "there are many opportunities here, which is suitable for training." In reality, deep down, I did have a vague thought that "if Master could be with Sister Yuling..."

As a result, when Master returned from the Void Heaven Palace, he was accompanied by a peerless beauty and a unique temperament, "Master's Wife" Yuan Yao! How could Mingyue dare to mention her little schemes from back then?

Furthermore, Luo Ming had specifically arranged for her that Mingyue Tower must not get involved in conflicts with other forces and should only develop quietly here.

"It seems the only way I can refuse is by saying that my master is currently in seclusion for cultivation..."

Just as Mingyue was carefully considering her words and preparing to speak—

"Buzz—!!!"

The entire Bright Moon Tower suddenly trembled without warning! It wasn't an earthquake, but a dull and brief tremor caused by some powerful force shaking the array's restrictions from within!

The building creaked softly, and the protective runes engraved on the surrounding walls and pillars suddenly lit up before quickly dimming.

Immediately afterwards, a scorching, domineering, and terrifying divine pressure, seemingly capable of burning everything and possessing a penetrating sharpness that cuts through illusions, erupted from the depths of Mingyue Tower without warning, like an invisible tsunami, instantly engulfing the entire Mingyue Tower!

This oppressive aura came quickly and went just as fast, lasting for less than a breath before receding like a tide, disappearing completely as if it had never existed.

But in that brief moment, both Mingyue and Ling Yuling in the quiet room clearly felt that oppressive feeling that made their hearts tremble!

Mingyue felt her breath catch in her throat, and her internal magical power became slightly stagnant, as if an invisible flame had swept through her soul; while Ling Yuling's clear eyes suddenly narrowed.

"This aura...it's Master!" Mingyue was filled with doubt and surprise, her face showing no sign of astonishment.

She could naturally recognize that this was her master Luo Ming's spiritual aura, but... the intensity and the fiery, sharp texture seemed to be much stronger and more refined than Luo Ming's before!

Could it be... that Master's cultivation has made a huge breakthrough during these five years of seclusion? Or has he finally recovered to his original strength?

Sitting opposite her, Ling Yuling, after her initial shock, suddenly had an astonishing gleam in her eyes! She suppressed the tremor in her heart, her mind racing.

"I never expected... that Mingyue's master is actually a senior expert in the Nascent Soul stage! And it seems that he has just achieved some success in cultivating some secret technique and has not been able to completely conceal his aura, which is why a trace of it has leaked out..."

Ling Yuling's mind raced, and she unconsciously stroked the seemingly ordinary but actually extraordinary warm jade bracelet on her right wrist.

Her eyes sparkled, and the languid smile on her lips had vanished, replaced by a sharp glint of excitement and determination.

At this moment, in the secret chamber at the bottom of the Bright Moon Tower, which was heavily guarded by multiple restrictions, Luo Ming slowly opened his eyes. A faint crimson-gold light flashed in his eyes, which then quickly disappeared, returning to his usual deep black.

He exhaled a long, hot breath, raised his hand and gently rubbed his temples, a look of lingering fear on his face.