Immortality and Cultivation: I can extract entries from all things.

Three days later, on Qing Shi Island.

A light morning mist enveloped the island, which had just been attacked.

The new settlement of the Shi family is located on the east side of the island, nestled against the mountains and facing the sea. It is much smaller than the original settlement, but the buildings are brand new, indicating that a lot of resources have been invested in its reconstruction.

Zhou Xiaolan wore a long blue cloth dress and a bamboo hat, and her face was slightly disguised, making her look like an ordinary traveling herbal medicine merchant.

Behind her followed Zhou Qing and two elite members of the Zhou family, all dressed as shop assistants, pushing two wooden carts loaded with medicinal herbs.

"Young Miss, the Shi family's new settlement is just ahead."

Zhou Qing said in a low voice, "According to the scouts, Shi Lie handles affairs in the main hall every day at Chenshi (7-9 AM)."

Zhou Xiaolan nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the defensive fortifications surrounding the settlement.

Not right.

She was on high alert.

The settlement's defensive layout appears loose, but it actually conceals a hidden strategy.

Several seemingly ordinary sentry posts happened to form a crossfire coverage.

Even more suspiciously, there were fluctuations of spiritual energy in the direction of the mountain behind the settlement, as if a formation was in operation.

"Walk."

Zhou Xiaolan whispered, "As planned, we'll circle the perimeter of the settlement to observe the terrain."

The four people pushed the cart of medicinal herbs toward the entrance of the settlement.

Two guards from the Shi family were stationed at the entrance. After a routine check, they let the traveling merchant through.

Zhou Xiaolan felt somewhat relieved, but her vigilance remained.

The settlement was more lively than I had imagined.

Although the Shi family suffered heavy damage from the "sea monster," most of the core members of the family survived. The streets were bustling with people, and shops had reopened, creating a lively scene.

As Zhou Xiaolan walked, she secretly observed.

She noticed several unusual things.

First, the proportion of cultivators in the settlement is too high.

Logically, after the Shi family suffered a severe blow, they should have been mostly ordinary people doing odd jobs, but surprisingly, the majority of the people walking on the street were cultivators, and their cultivation levels were not weak.

Secondly, the back mountain area is heavily guarded, ostensibly to "guard against sea beasts," but the guards have a cold aura, completely different from the Shi family cultivators.

Third, she discovered the Dark Abyss Pavilion's mark in several hidden corners—a twisted vortex pattern identical to that of the Black Reef stronghold.

The Shi family is indeed problematic.

Zhou Xiaolan felt a chill run down her spine, but remained outwardly calm.

She winked at Zhou Qing, signaling him to memorize these locations.

The four of them went to a secluded corner and pretended to rest.

"Young Miss, something strange is happening in the direction of the back mountain."

Zhou Qing whispered, "That fluctuation of spiritual energy seems to be some kind of large-scale formation."

"I saw it."

Zhou Xiaolan said in a deep voice, "There is a hidden stone door at the bottom of that mountain wall, which seems to lead underground."

She had just used her divine sense to explore and discovered a place on the back mountain wall with unusually rich spiritual energy. The surface was covered with a disguise array, but it could not escape her perception.

"Shall we go in and investigate?"

Zhou Ming asked.

Zhou Xiaolan pondered for a moment.

The mission is to uncover the truth; merely observing from the outside will not yield the core intelligence.

However, further investigation carries extremely high risks; once exposed...

Fang He had said that this trip might be dangerous.

She recalled Fang He's reminder from that day, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

Danger? When has Zhou Xiaolan ever been afraid of danger?

"I went in alone to investigate."

Zhou Xiaolan decisively said, "The three of you stay where you are. If I don't come out within an hour, leave immediately and report to Inspector Fang."

"Young Miss!"

Zhou Qing said urgently, "This is too dangerous! Let me go with you!"

"no."

Zhou Xiaolan shook her head, "The smaller the target, the safer it is."

I am at the peak of the late stage of Qi Refining, and I have the ability to protect myself.

"It's best for you to stay outside and provide support."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the three of them: "This is an order."

Zhou Qing gritted his teeth and finally nodded: "Yes."

Zhou Xiaolan straightened her clothes, pulled her straw hat down low, and silently crept towards the back mountain.

---

Zhou Xiaolan concealed her presence using a breath-concealing technique, successfully avoiding the sentry posts on the back mountain, and arrived at the hidden stone gate.

The stone gate was covered with a faint spiritual light, forming a warning array.

After observing for a moment, Zhou Xiaolan took out a formation-breaking talisman from her bosom. This was given to her by Fang He before she left, specifically for breaking such warning formations.

The talisman that broke the formation was affixed to the stone door; its spiritual light flickered a few times and then dissipated.

Zhou Xiaolan gave a gentle push, and the stone door opened silently, revealing a stone staircase extending downwards.

Sure enough, there was an underground passage.

She took a deep breath, gripped the long sword at her side, and slowly walked in.

The stone steps wind downwards, with glowing stones embedded in the walls on both sides, illuminating the path ahead.

As Zhou Xiaolan walked, she used her divine sense to probe ahead.

The passage was about a hundred feet long, and at the end was a heavy iron gate, behind which were the auras of a large number of cultivators.

Zhou Xiaolan felt a chill run down her spine.

The aura was cold and eerie, just like that of the cultivators from the Dark Abyss Pavilion.

Just as she was about to approach the iron gate, suddenly—

"Miss Zhou, we've been waiting for you for a long time."

A cold voice came from behind.

Zhou Xiaolan turned around abruptly and saw more than ten cultivators appearing above the stone steps. The leader was a burly man with a sinister face. He was Shi Meng, the younger brother of Shi Lie, the head of the Shi family, and had a cultivation level of the ninth level of Qi Refining.

exposed!

Zhou Xiaolan's heart sank.

The fact that the other party could accurately identify her indicates that there really was a traitor within the Zhou family, and her actions had been leaked from the very beginning.

"Shi Meng".

Zhou Xiaolan said coldly, "The Shi family is indeed colluding with the Dark Abyss Pavilion."

Shi Meng sneered: "Collusion? Miss Zhou, you are mistaken."

The Shi family, being pragmatic and astute, chose a broader path.

He waved his hand, and more than ten cultivators behind him simultaneously summoned their magical artifacts, surrounding Zhou Xiaolan.

"Take her down."

Shi Meng said calmly, "The living are more valuable than the dead."

The battle erupted instantly.

Zhou Xiaolan no longer concealed her power, and her spiritual energy, at the peak of the late-stage Qi Refining realm, erupted in full force.

The longsword in her hand transformed into a streak of cold light as she unleashed the Zhou family's secret ice-based magic, "Mysterious Ice Thousand Kills," sending countless ice spikes shooting out in all directions.

"what!"

Two Shi family cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refining were unable to dodge in time and were pierced through the chest by ice spikes, dying on the spot.

"You've got some skills."

A hint of surprise flashed in Shi Meng's eyes, but he immediately sneered, "But today you can't escape even if you grow wings."

He personally took action, slashing towards Zhou Xiaolan with a blood-red longsword accompanied by a foul stench.

The oppressive aura of a ninth-level Qi Refining expert enveloped the entire area, causing Zhou Xiaolan to feel a sudden urge to catch her breath.

So strong!

She dodged to the side, and the longsword clashed with the blood-stained blade, producing a piercing metallic clang.

The immense impact forced her back several steps, leaving her hands numb.

"The Zhou Family's Xuanbing Sword Technique is nothing special."

Shi Meng grinned maliciously, his sword thrusts becoming even fiercer.

Zhou Xiaolan gritted her teeth and persevered, while simultaneously using her divine sense to observe any possible escape routes.

There were a large number of enemies behind the iron gate in front, the stone steps behind were blocked by Shi Meng, and there were hard rock walls on both sides.

She has been driven to the brink of despair.

Only forward!

She suddenly unleashed a move called "Freezing a Thousand Miles," sending a surge of icy air towards Shi Meng, temporarily halting his attack.

At the same time, he flashed and rushed towards the iron gate.

"Trying to run away?"

Shi Meng snorted coldly, his blade flashing like a rainbow, leaving a deep wound on Zhou Xiaolan's back.

Zhou Xiaolan let out a muffled groan, her clothes stained with blood, but she gritted her teeth and refused to back down. She cleaved open the iron gate with her sword and rushed inside.

Behind the iron gate was a huge underground space, brightly lit, where dozens of Dark Abyss Pavilion cultivators were cultivating or busy.

In the center, there was a large array that was in operation, emitting an eerie blood-red light.

This is... the secret stronghold of the Dark Abyss Pavilion!

Zhou Xiaolan was shocked.

The Shi family not only pledged allegiance to the Dark Abyss Pavilion, but also established such a large-scale base underground.

The scale of that formation was even larger than that of Black Reef Island.

"There are enemies!"

The cultivators of the Dark Abyss Pavilion discovered her and surrounded her, summoning their magical artifacts.

Zhou Xiaolan was already at her limit, with most of her spiritual energy depleted, and blood was flowing continuously from the wound on her back.

But there was no fear in her eyes, only a cold fighting spirit.

"The Zhou family disciples would rather die than surrender."

She whispered, gripping her longsword tightly.

She fought and retreated, moving deeper into the underground space in an attempt to find another exit.

But more and more cultivators from the Dark Abyss Pavilion gathered, surrounding her completely.

Shi Meng also came in, and looking at Zhou Xiaolan who was surrounded, he sneered: "Miss Zhou, just surrender."

You're already trapped, why bother struggling in vain?

Zhou Xiaolan leaned against the rock wall, her gaze sweeping over her surroundings.

There were too many enemies, and she had nowhere to retreat.

Could it be... that I am going to die here today?

Fang He's face flashed through her mind.

Fang He warned her that the trip was dangerous, but she laughed and said, "I've been through the Black Reef Island clearing operation, what's there to be afraid of infiltrating?"

Fang He...

A complex emotion welled up within her.

If there is an afterlife...

No, she cannot die.

The Zhou family needs her, and Fang He... needs her too.

Zhou Xiaolan suddenly looked up, a resolute look flashing in her eyes.

She took out a communication jade slip and activated it with her last bit of spiritual power: "There is a Dark Abyss Pavilion stronghold underground on Green Stone Island. The Shi family has betrayed us. I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shi Meng swung his sword and shattered the jade slip.

"court death!"

Shi Meng roared angrily, his blade flashing like lightning.

Zhou Xiaolan raised her sword to block, but her spiritual power was exhausted, and her sword was knocked away.

She staggered and leaned against the rock wall, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Shi Meng approached step by step, the tip of his knife pressed against her throat: "Miss Zhou, I'll ask you one last time, will you surrender or not?"

Zhou Xiaolan sneered: "Dream on."

A murderous glint flashed in Shi Meng's eyes, and he was about to make a move when suddenly—

A violent fluctuation of spiritual energy emanated from the depths of the underground space, and the large array suddenly shone brightly, with a blood-red pillar of light shooting into the sky.

"The ceremony begins!"

A cultivator from the Dark Abyss Pavilion exclaimed in surprise.

Shi Meng's expression changed slightly, and he turned to look in the direction of the formation.

This is a large-scale ceremony that the deputy sect leader has been planning for a long time, and it cannot afford to go wrong.

"Lock her in the dungeon and deal with her after the ceremony."

Shi Meng said coldly, "Miss Zhou, I'll let you live a few more hours."

Two Dark Abyss Pavilion cultivators stepped forward and took Zhou Xiaolan, who had exhausted her spiritual energy, away.

Zhou Xiaolan did not resist; she was powerless to resist.

But as she was being led away, she looked up at the crimson pillar of light, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes.

Fang He...you'll come, won't you?

---

on the ground.

Zhou Qing stared at the hourglass in his hand, his face pale.

An hour has passed, and the young lady still hasn't come out.

"withdraw!"

He gritted his teeth and ordered, "Return to Qing'ao Island and report to Inspector Fang!"

The four men pushed the cart of medicinal herbs and hurriedly left the Shi family settlement, heading towards the dock.

Behind them, the Shi family settlement remained calm, as if nothing had happened.