The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

Just like before, after setting up the formations, Fang Luo and the others first had the Hidden Dragon Guards lure some pirates into the array, letting them use the opportunity for practical training.

Meanwhile, Fang Luo continued to deploy additional formations. On this island, there were many innocent people—but also many pirates.

Fang Luo's objective was clear: not a single pirate would be spared. All had to be eliminated.

There were also five Great Saint-realm pirate chiefs that absolutely could not be allowed to escape.

Fang Chen said, "Once we finish off these five strongholds, I don't believe the Sea of Stars will ever see pirates again."

With seventeen of the eighteen strongholds eradicated, anyone with a functioning brain and fear of death wouldn't dare turn to piracy here again.

At that point, the Sea of Stars would finally become a true land of fortune.

As time passed, the Hidden Dragon Guards killed more and more pirates, finally drawing the attention of the five-stronghold leadership.

"This situation looks exactly like last time... Could it be them again?"

"Hurry! Notify the stronghold leaders!!"

Before long, all five stronghold chiefs were informed and gathered in one place, their faces grim.

They had anticipated that Fang Luo's group might return to strike at the remaining eighteen strongholds—after all, they'd already come twice before.

But what they hadn't expected was for their return to be so soon.

"Damn it! It's only been a few years, and they've already advanced from True Saint to Great Saint?!"

"This is just monstrous!!"

"Enough! You four go out and stall them—I'll go find Elder Li!"

Elder Li was the Saint King-level cultivator they'd spent immense resources to hire. He hailed from another continent and had fled to the remote Cangzhou after offending a powerful force.

"Why don't you stall them and I go find Elder Li?"

"Yeah, why you?"

"Because I'm the weakest!"

"...Fine."

The four stronghold chiefs flickered and appeared above the island. Their divine senses spread out and quickly pinpointed the unusual disturbance.

"Die, you bastards!!"

Without hesitation, they unleashed their sacred weapons and attacked the location of the formation.

BOOM!!!

Four Great Saint-realm cultivators struck simultaneously—their momentum terrifying, shaking heaven and earth, darkening the skies.

But Fang Luo had anticipated this. He quickly pulled the Hidden Dragon Guards out of the formation.

CRACK!!

The formation Fang Luo had arranged was instantly reduced to dust, and the pirates that had been lured inside didn't make it out—they were pulverized alongside the shattered array.

"So it really is you lot! How dare you act so boldly in our territory—you're asking to die!!"

"This time, you won't be leaving alive!!"

Though the five pirate strongholds feared Fang Luo and his companions—evidenced by their desperate consolidation of islands and hiring of a Saint King expert—their fear had turned to rage.

They had dominated the Sea of Stars for over a thousand years as part of the famed Eighteen Strongholds. Yet now, they had become stepping stones in the trials of these three juniors. It was a humiliation they couldn't accept.

Their desire to kill Fang Luo's group and erase that humiliation was overpowering.

None of the four held back; they all unleashed their most powerful attacks.

Their cultivations were:

Three at the Fourth Heaven of the Great Saint realm

One at the Fifth Heaven of the Great Saint realm

Meanwhile, the last remaining chief, a Third Heaven Great Saint, rushed to the secluded chamber of Elder Li.

"Elder Li, the Chief of Qiuyu Stronghold seeks an audience."

Despite being a Great Saint, he was exceedingly cautious before a Saint King, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.

After softly calling out, he waited for a moment—but heard no response from within.

He wanted to probe with his divine sense but feared offending Elder Li. Using divine sense to scan someone stronger than you was practically asking for death.

So even though he was extremely anxious, he could only wait respectfully.

Meanwhile, the other four chiefs on the battlefield were growing impatient and sent him urgent transmissions.

"What's going on?! Where's Elder Li?!"

"These three little bastards may not be high in realm, but they're freakishly strong—we can't beat them! Tell Elder Li to hurry!"

Helplessly, the Qiuyu Chief replied, "I called for Elder Li... but there's been no response from inside."

"Call again! Louder this time!"

"Alright..."

The Qiuyu Chief reluctantly knocked again and shouted,

"Elder Li, are you there? Those three enemies have arrived. We humbly ask your aid in slaying them!!"

A moment later, a low, unfamiliar voice responded from within:

"Wait a moment."

Hearing this, the Qiuyu Chief was both overjoyed and confused.

Because... that voice didn't sound like Elder Li's.

But doubts aside, he assumed Elder Li had perhaps cultivated some technique that changed his voice and left it at that. He turned and left—blissfully unaware.

Back on the battlefield, the Qiuyu Chief returned and joined the fight, helping relieve some pressure from the other four.

"Did Elder Li say anything?" they asked him anxiously.

"He said, 'Wait a moment.'"

Hearing this, the four instantly relaxed. As long as Elder Li was around and willing to intervene, those three enemies wouldn't escape.

With renewed morale, they fought with even greater ferocity.

This puzzled Fang Luo's group.

"What the... Did they take some kind of stimulant? Why the sudden power spike?"

"No matter."

Fang Luo and company had their own confidence—and it was greater than their enemies'. So while puzzled, they weren't concerned.

The three cooperated seamlessly, each wielding multiple sacred weapons. The five stronghold leaders simply couldn't match up.

Soon, the weakest of them—the Chief of Qiuyu—was injured. If the fight continued, he'd be the first to die.

"What's going on? Why hasn't Elder Li appeared yet?"

"I'll go check."

Taking advantage of his injury, the Qiuyu Chief slipped away.

But the moment he reached Elder Li's chamber, an overwhelming force dragged him inside—and he was instantly killed.

Back on the battlefield, the loss of one more combatant caused the remaining four to fall into even deeper trouble, driven into retreat after retreat.

"What's happening? Didn't the Qiuyu guy go to fetch Elder Li? Why can't I sense his aura anymore?"

"Could he have run away?!"

"Impossible! If Elder Li intervenes, everything will be resolved—why would he flee?"

"Unless... Elder Li isn't there."

Hiss—!!!

That terrifying thought exploded in their minds, spreading panic like wildfire.

Logically speaking, with such an intense battle happening right above the island, anyone within a ten-thousand-mile radius could feel it. Elder Li was definitely on the island—he should have sensed it.

But he hadn't shown up.

Could it be... he was really gone?

Their only source of confidence, the foundation of their daring resistance, was Elder Li.

Now, with him nowhere to be seen, they were truly in chaos—terrified, desperate, and exposed.