Chapter 717: An Illegal Occupier

Emerald waves rolled in the East Sea as a bright, golden light dazzled the never-ending sea. Watching the morning sun rose from the horizon, Lin Feng and company had arrived on the mountain.

The group of them sat on Jieyu and the Kui Cow King and flew in the skies above the sea. Looking at the ripples on the sea, he smiled and said, "Earlier, I had only seen the icy North Polar Sea. Looking at this now is an entirely different experience."

Lin Feng said, "Heavens make many different sceneries, each with their own unique aspect."

Li Yuanfang lowered his head to look at the Kui Cow King and said, "Senior Kui Cow King, on the East Sea, are there any major powers or powerful cultivators that we should be aware of?"

"Because of geographical reasons, they are all limited by the Great Zhou Empire. There are very few cultivators and sects in the East Sea, but because of its size the Great Zhou Empire does not exert such a tight control over this place."

"One of the sects that you must pay attention is the Luofu Mystical Island. It is the strongest sect in the East Sea," the Kui Cow King paused for a while before continuing, "As for the East Heaven's Gate, I don't know much about it. To what I know, the Luofu Mystical Island is the strongest power on the East Sea."

"The Luofu Holy Man is a powerful independent cultivator. Many years ago, he reached the Immortal Soul Third Level and is one of the rare top cultivation figures like Zhuge Wanqiu's father, Zhuge Zhan. He occupied the Luofu Mystical Island but he has not created a sect. Instead, he allowed other cultivators and even ordinary mortals to inhabit the island."

The Kui Cow King added, "Legend has it that the Luofu Holy Man and Yan Nanlai, the current sect leader of the Great Void Sect, have deep ties"

"The Luofu Holy Man is just and fair. Every time the cultivators of the East Sea have a dispute, they would ask him to be the arbitrator. The Great Zhou Empire too treats him with respect."

As he listened, Lin Feng looked at the sea and asked, "Where is the Luofu Mystical Island?"

The Kui Cow King replied, "To the north of the East Sea. It's located near the Inter-World Passage between the Divine Lands and the Barren Expanses. It is also very close to the entrance to the Ying Sea. It can be said to be a major intersection and also a conflict-ridden area. If not for the power of the Luofu Holy Man, it may be hard to him to dominate the area and protect those under him."

Xiao Yan laughed softly and said, "It appears that even though the Luofu Holy Man has not submitted to the Great Zhou Empire, his relationship with the Great Zhou isn't too bad. It is similar to how the Huo Family helps the Great Qin Empire look after its southern territories."

The Kui Cow King said, "Yes, it's similar to that. When the cultivators of the Great Zhou Empire come into conflict with the cultivators of the East Sea, the Luofu Holy Man may intervene and dispense justice. His verdict is respected by all and if the matter isn't too serious, the Great Zhou Empire will let it be."

When others heard it, they nodded their heads. That's the spirit shown by the Luofu Holy Man, an Immortal Soul Third Level cultivator.

It was rare for an independent cultivator to achieve such a high level. For them to reach such a high level of mastery, it was difficult and every single powerful independent cultivator had his own signature moves.

This was because many independent cultivators kept a low profile. They did not fight and squabble like the major sects and hence, while it was rare for them to produce a powerful cultivator from their midst, they had longer lifespan.

Many extraordinary independent cultivators who chose to create their own sects often did well too. However, because of personal reasons, many chose not to.

After all, many founders of the current sects in the Divine Lands could be labelled as independent cultivators before they formed their own sects too.

However, it was difficult for lower-tiered independent cultivators to prove themselves, much more difficult than disciples of a particular sect. However, every single independent cultivator who had created a name for himself by reaching either Aurous Core, Nascent Soul or the Immortal Soul stage were special in their own rights.

The Kui Cow King continued, "Other than the Luofu Holy Man, the many other cultivators of the East Sea are mainly independent cultivators. They each occupy an island brimming with spiritual energy or an underwater cave and they do not talk to each other much."

"As for the Great Zhou Empire, many independent cultivators submit to them to a certain degree. They have to listen to some of the orders passed by the Great Zhou Empire but still, they maintain a high degree of autonomy. Some prouder ones who did not care so much about the Great Zhou Empire met unpleasant fates."

Zhu Yi asked, "What about the Vast Sea Sword Sect?"

The Kui Cow King answered, "The Vast Sea Sword Sect resided to the south of the East Sea. However, the Vast Sea Sword Sect and the Great Zhou Empire have similar strategies. Recently, they spent the bulk of their energy focusing on the mainland while maintaining just enough energy on the East Sea to ensure that their interests there are not compromised. Hence, many cultivators of the East Sea don't care much about them."

As Lin Feng listened, he said with a smile, "They did not care so much about it before. Now, their attention is likely to return to it."

The Kui Cow King said, "My lord is right."

Jieyu and Kui Cow King carried the group on their backs as they flew. As the Kui Cow King navigated, he chuckled and said, "My lord, my old house, Mount Liubo, is to the east of here."

Lin Feng smiled and asked, "Oh? I wonder if there are still members of your tribe there."

The Kui Cow King replied, "When our owner left Mount Liubo, my entire tribe went with him to the mainland. However, master has a medicine patch on the island. As it's hard to transplant these herbs, he left some people in charge there."

"Other than that, other than us the Kui Cows, there are another group of demons there who lived with our master and learned from him. They are the Spiritual Sea Horses. While our tribe left with our master, they stayed behind to help him take care of the island."

Lin Feng said nonchalantly, "If that's the case, let's go there for a visit. At least we will have a base for our expedition to the Ying Sea."

The Kui Cow King led the way as everyone headed east. Soon, a small island entered everyone's sight.

Lin Feng arched his eyebrows and asked the Kui Cow King, "Does the Flowing Waves Holy Man cultivate the Gui Water Yin Thunder Spell? It appears different from your mantra."

The Kui Cow King paused too in shock. He noticed something strange as he walked forward. As he sensed the flow of spiritual energy, he finally understood what Lin Feng meant. His cow eyes widened in rage.

"Someone occupied master's Mount Liubo and laid a spell formation over it. They changed the flow of spiritual energy on the island."

The Kui Cow King breathed heavily, "What is the old sea horse smoking? How can he allow someone to occupy master's Mount Liubo?"

Angrily, he rushed towards Mount Liubo. As he approached, he came close to the spell formation near the island. The red in his eyes dimmed slightly as he said, "This spell formation... is cast by an Immortal Soul stage cultivator? If that's the case, I can't blame the old sea horse."

Lin Feng looked calmly at the island and shook his head, "This illegal occupier appears to have left for now. He is not there."

He extended his palm and made a slicing action, splitting apart the formation out of the island. However, he did not leave any trace of himself. While the caster of the spell formation was mentally linked to his spell formation, with Lin Feng's Fences of Heaven, he had no inkling of what had just happened.

"Go, enter," said Lin Feng as if nothing had happened. "Clear the island and we will wait for the person to return."

"Do what you must and don't fear provoking him. Scare him till he does not dare to return anymore. He will know nothing. After the island is cleared, wait patiently for his return."

Lin Feng and the rest got off the backs of the Kui Cow King and Jieyu. The Kui Cow King rushed towards the island and Jieyu, who wanted to perform well in front of Lin Feng, went ahead. Baiguang did not do anything. Instead, she moved behind her husband and prepared herself.

Soon, curses could be heard from the island, "Who dares to trespass the mountain of the Freshwater Holy Man?"

From the pulsation of his spiritual energy, it appeared that the opponent was a Intermediate Nascent Soul stage cultivator. He flew from the island and was clad in black robes. He stared at the Kui Cow King angrily.

The Kui Cow King's voice was like a powerful thunder that resounded through the nine heavens, "The Freshwater Holy Man? Hmph!"

"Earlier, he listened to the lectures by my master and received instructions from my master. Only then did he reach the Immortal Soul stage. Now, he dares to occupy my master's Mount Liubo! Shameless!"

The Kui Cow King bellowed and thunder crackled in the skies above. Lightning turned in a circle as it charged towards his opponent.

The person was shocked upon seeing the Kui Cow King. He was not scared of the return of the Flowing Waves Holy Man but instead, it was because he thought that the Kui Cow King had joined the Celestial Sect of Wonders.

Thinking about it, he did not dare hesitate. He performed a gesture with his hands and bellowed, "Rise!"

Dozens of streams of Demonic Energy rose and were all concentrated on his body.

The Kui Cow King observed carefully and was even more enraged. The source of the Demonic Energy came from the his former comrades, the Spiritual Sea Horses.

These Spiritual Sea Horses did not bend the knee to their enemy but instead, they were controlled by some secret spell by someone. They were forced to become his pawns and right now, their Demonic Energy were channelled to someone else.

After obtaining the Demonic Energy of the Spiritual Sea Horses, the Nascent Soul stage cultivator's mana increased exponentially. He was almost able to challenge an Advanced Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

However, he did not increase his own power to battle the Kui Cow King as he shouted, "We can discuss it slowly! These Spiritual Sea Horses had restrictions placed upon them by my master. If these restrictions are triggered, they may die."

The Kui Cow King almost laughed in anger, "Well done, you are taking hostages now."

The disciple of the Freshwater Holy Man smiled and said, "Please don't get angry, Kui Cow King. Now, you have joined the Celestial Sect of Wonders. I don't want to battle with you but I want to leave a path for myself."

He looked at Jieyu and Baiguang and said, "Allow me to leave the island, that is my only request."

Baiguang said coldly, "If you have fled immediately, we may not have pursued you since there's no enmity between us. However, since you have used such a despicable move, could it be that you did something unforgivable?"

The Intermediate Nascent Soul stage cultivator was shocked. Before he could reply, a Demonic Commander stage Spiritual Sea Horse under his control shouted, "Kui Cow King, don't listen to his lies! He massacred many members of my tribe and his hands are stained with blood. Even the kids master left behind to look after the medicine patch were killed by him!"

"Stop talking so much!" The Intermediate Nascent Soul stage cultivator said coldly. Instantly, the Demonic Commander stage Spiritual Sea Horse whimpered.

The cultivator no longer cared about him. Instead, he looked at the Kui Cow King and said in a low voice, "Kui Cow King, now you have seen that the 64 Spiritual Sea Horses are under my control. I can promise you their lives, but you must let me leave and not pursue me."