Eastern Sea.
Zhaoying Sea Area.
The sea surface was like a mirror, utterly still. Even when violent winds howled, the waters here remained calm as ice.
Xia Zhengqing, a Gu Immortal of the Xia Family, was stationed here as guardian.
The Zhaoying Sea Area was a super resource point, rich in Dark Path and Rule Path cultivation resources with enormous output. Although the Xia Family primarily cultivated the Water Path, these resources were immensely profitable when used for trade.
Xia Zhengqing was currently in seclusion when the grand formation around him suddenly blared its warning.
"Is it some ancient desolate fish straying past the boundary again?" Xia Zhengqing initially thought it was a ferocious undersea beast disrupting things and striking the immortal formation.
However, the next instant, his body and mind violently shook: "A powerful enemy approaches!"
Three Seventh Transformation Gu Immortals were charging toward him in unison.
Xia Zhengqing hurriedly urged the grand formation into defense.
At that moment—BOOM—the grand formation shattered. A fur-clad Gu Immortal wielding a massive hammer, his entire body wreathed in golden light, burst through and rampaged wildly through the formation's interior!
Xia Zhengqing spat a small mouthful of blood, terror rising in his heart.
He immediately understood—the three immortals from before were merely a feint. The one behind them was the true main force.
"A furman Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal?" Xia Zhengqing knew he stood no chance and immediately sent an emergency message to the family, while attempting to activate the inner-layer immortal formation to teleport himself away.
The next instant, he was teleported to a location a thousand li distant from the grand formation.
"Haha, just as expected — he was sent right over. Immortal Friend Dazhi is truly impressive," praised the Ice Crystal Immortal King.
Great Wisdom Immortal Mother smiled and shook her head. "Without the detailed intelligence provided by our Alliance Leader, how could I have calculated everything so effortlessly?"
When Xia Zhengqing saw them, it felt as though he had plunged into an ice pit.
Right here, there were two additional non-human Gu Immortals, and both were at the Eighth Transformation realm.
"When did Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals become so common?"
"And three non-human Eighth Transforms at that!"
Xia Zhengqing found it utterly incredible. Through gritted teeth, he demanded, "Who exactly are you all? Why are you targeting our Eastern Sea Xia Family?"
The Ice Crystal Immortal King couldn't be bothered with his questions. He waved his hand, unleashing a killing move that had long been prepared.
Xia Zhengqing was only at the Seventh Transformation level—how could he withstand an Eighth Transformation killing move? In an instant, he was encased in ice and imprisoned.
Eastern Sea, Xia Family headquarters — Hot Spring Blessed Land.
"Disaster! A powerful enemy has attacked — the Zhaoying Sea has fallen! Xia Zhengqing escaped through the immortal formation, but we've lost contact with him!"
Xia Zhengqing's warning had still reached the Xia Family in time.
Most of the family's Gu Immortals were gathered at headquarters, and none had expected such terrible news to fall from the sky.
"Truly a case of disaster striking from above while one sits peacefully at home!"
"Before he left, Xia Zhengqing sent word that the attackers included both human and non-human Gu Immortals. Among them was even an Eighth Transformation furman."
"Where did these people even come from?"
"They must be forces from the Black and White Heavens. Under the qi tide, the grotto-heavens have been revealed. I didn't expect so many non-humans to have survived, and they've come after us first!"
"That's perhaps understandable. If they don't seize this opportunity, once the qi tide subsides, the Five Regions will inevitably send scouts into the Black and White grotto-heavens. If they discover any non-human forces — let alone ones with an Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal — they will certainly be eradicated."
"Heh, back in the day, even Primordial Immortal Venerable and Star Constellation Immortal Venerable failed to find the non-humans hiding in the grotto-heavens. But now, with the world in upheaval, these non-humans have no choice but to reveal themselves."
The Xia Family Gu Immortals were not panicking. Although intelligence confirmed the existence of a non-human Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal, they had Gu Immortal Houses that could mount a defense.
However, before long, wave after wave of disastrous reports continued pouring in.
The Guangbo Sea and the Sheyu Sea had both been breached by this wave of non-human Gu Immortals! The Xia Family Gu Immortals guarding those two major resource points had fared even worse — they hadn't even managed to send word before contact was lost entirely.