Mortal: Fairy Song Yu has issued you a task.

Chapter 123 Exploring the Magic Array

A streak of blue light pierced the sky and landed in front of the Chengxuan Hall on the mountainside of Tianzhu Peak.

Lin Jingchu and Song Yu stepped into the hall side by side and immediately noticed that the atmosphere inside was quite different from usual. More than ten disciples of the Three Immortals Sect had already gathered here, all of them possessing Foundation Establishment cultivation, and each of them had a solemn expression as they spoke in hushed tones.

Amid the noise, a familiar place name was repeatedly mentioned—Shuiluo Island.

Lin Jingchu glanced around and spotted Lu Fengzhi registering something behind the desk. He and Song Yu quickly stepped forward.

"Fellow Daoist Lu," Lin Jingchu greeted.

Lu Fengzhi put down the jade slip from his forehead and, seeing it was Lin Jingchu, asked, "Fellow Daoist Lin, are you here to hand over the Canghai Spear?"

Lin Jingchu took out a bulging storage bag and handed it over: "I have not failed in my mission. All thirty-three Canghai Spears are here. Please check them, Fellow Daoist Lu."

Lu Fengzhi took the storage bag, scanned it with his divine sense, and a look of joy appeared on his face: "Fellow Daoist Lin's skills are indeed superb, very good." As he spoke, he counted out another storage bag containing spirit stones from under the table and handed it over.

Lin Jingchu took the document and then asked, "The atmosphere in the hall is tense. Has something serious happened?"

Lu Fengzhi's expression turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "A few days ago, the Ghost-Eyed Demon Crab swarm attacked Shuiluo Island and slaughtered the island. Of the island's creatures, less than one in a hundred survived."

Song Yu stepped forward, a hint of doubt flashing in her cold eyes: "The Ghost-Eyed Demon Crab is at most level three, and it's naturally cautious. Once blocked by a magic array, it will retreat if it can't break through after a prolonged attack. Could it be that the defensive magic array of Water Luo Island is too weak?"

Lu Fengzhi shook his head, his brows furrowed: "The magic array on Shuiluo Island used to defend against sea beasts is called the Vast Ocean Azure Light Array. With its power, even without anyone controlling it, it wouldn't be difficult to hold off low-level demonic beasts for half an hour. However, according to the survivors of the Jiang family, the array collapsed in less than ten breaths, which allowed the demonic crabs to advance unimpeded, causing the tragedy."

As he spoke, he looked solemnly at Song Yu: "It is precisely because the collapse of the formation was so strange that the sect urgently summoned guest elders skilled in formations. Therefore, we need to trouble Fairy Song to wait here for a moment. Later, we will need to go to Shuiluo Island with the team to examine the remains of the great formation with other formation masters and find out the cause."

Song Yu's expression turned solemn, and he nodded without hesitation: "It is my duty, and I will certainly do my best."

Just then, a soft and charming female voice came from behind them: "These two must be the newly joined Guest Elders Lin and Song, right? I have long admired your names, and it is a rare treat to meet you today. You are truly a match made in heaven, and I am so envious."

Lin Jingchu and Song Yu turned around at the same time.

The speaker was a female cultivator in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Her appearance was only above average, but she had a voluptuous figure and a mature charm in her eyes.

Lu Fengzhi quickly introduced, "This is Fellow Daoist Xue Ning, also a guest elder in the sect specializing in formations, and she will be traveling with the group this time." He then briefly recounted the events at Shuiluo Island to Xue Ning.

Upon hearing this, Xue Ning covered her mouth with her sleeve, her eyes revealing just the right amount of fear and sympathy: "Is this really true? It's truly shocking. When did that Ghost-Eyed Crab become so rampant and ferocious? Sister Song, we'll have to rely on you a lot this time to explore that dangerous place."

Song Yu's expression was aloof, and his tone was indifferent: "Fellow Daoist Xue is too kind. I have been cultivating in seclusion for many years and have little experience in traveling outside. On this trip, I will have to rely on Fellow Daoist Xue's guidance."

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Lu Fengzhi did not delay any longer. He took out a communication talisman, whispered a few words, and then released it. The talisman transformed into a streak of fire and instantly shot out of the main hall.

Before long, the sound of something cutting through the air came from outside the hall. Two figures, riding magical artifacts, landed one after the other and stepped into the hall.

Lin Jingchu looked up and was slightly taken aback to find that all the people who had come were familiar faces.

The first person, with gray hair and white eyebrows, and a solemn expression, was none other than Enforcer Wang, whom he had met briefly in the market a few days ago. The other person was the monk surnamed Kong whom he had seen in the Jade Balance Hall.

Enforcer Wang's gaze swept across the crowd in the hall, and he spoke in a deep voice: "The elders of our sect attach great importance to the matter of Shuiluo Island. This time, I, Wang, will lead a team to investigate, firstly to ascertain the truth, and secondly to reassure the people of the vassal islands." He turned his gaze to Song Yu and Xue Ning, "I entrust the task of investigating the formation to you two."

The people in the hall responded in unison.

Without another word, Enforcer Wang flicked his sleeve and transformed into a streak of light, shooting out of the hall. The crowd followed closely behind, and immediately more than a dozen streams of light of various colors rose into the air from in front of Chengxuan Hall, rushing towards Shuiluo Island.

Lin Jingchu piloted the Azure Winged Boat, naturally flying beside Song Yu.

The cultivator surnamed Kong glanced over, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, and said, "Fellow Daoist Lin, we are on a sect mission to explore dangerous areas, not on a leisurely visit—"

Although the words were not finished, the implication was clear: what are you, a mere weapon-refining guest, doing here?

Lin Jingchu's expression remained unchanged as he chuckled, "Fellow Daoist Kong, you may not know this, but my skill in array formations is actually not much inferior to my skill in weapon crafting. Seeing such a horrifying massacre of demonic beasts on the island, I, as a guest elder of the Three Immortals Sect, feel deeply saddened and wish to do my part to investigate. Perhaps, from a weapon crafting perspective, I can also discern some clues about the collapse of the array?"

Before the cultivator surnamed Kong could say anything more, the law enforcement officer Wang spoke up, "I hadn't heard that Elder Lin was so proficient in formations. Well, one more person means one more force. The situation is urgent, let's hurry on our way."

Upon hearing this, the cultivator surnamed Kong's face twitched, but he ultimately remained silent, only letting out a cold snort and secretly increasing his speed.

All of them were Foundation Establishment cultivators, and their speed in using magical artifacts was not slow. Several days later, the outline of an island shrouded in gloom and death appeared on the distant sea.

We've arrived at Shuiluo Island.

The group pressed the flight artifact and stopped in mid-air above the island. The scene before them was chilling: what should have been a fishing village dock was now nothing but ruins, charred wooden beams leaning precariously, large patches of dried, blackened bloodstains scattered on the ground, along with broken shells and severed limbs, and a heavy stench permeated the air.

Enforcement Officer Wang's expression was solemn as he pointed to several remaining, faded array foundations on the shore: "According to the survivors of the Jiang family, the Ghost-Eyed Demon Crab broke through the array and landed on the island from here. Fellow Daoists Lin, Song, and Xue, I trouble the three of you to carefully investigate the remnants of the array, leaving no stone unturned."

He then turned to the others and said, "The rest of you, follow me and search the entire island for any lingering unusual energy or if any demonic crabs are still hiding. If you find any suspicious signs, signal the alarm immediately. Do not act on your own!"

"Yes!" The crowd responded respectfully and dispersed.

Lin Jingchu and Song Yu exchanged a glance and walked side by side toward the broken foundation of the array. Xue Ning's eyes flickered slightly, and she followed with light steps.