"It's Fellow Daoist Qu!" Immediately, Randy Jen realized what was happening—Joe Di was reinforcing the protective array.
It wasn't just Randy Jen—Julia Lou and Skyler Xue also saw Joe Di arranging the formation and became excited. They thought they were doomed, but hadn't realized one of their companions was a formation master.
But at this moment, none of them dared approach Joe Di, worried that any disturbance might disrupt him. All they could do was wait quietly, powerless to intervene.
Joe Di wasn't actually a formation master—he was an Immortal Array Expert. He wasn't just reinforcing the protective array; he was completely redesigning it.
Randy Jen's protective array was a third-grade immortal array, usually more than adequate. When beasts attacked, the array would instantly alert everyone aboard the boat.
But facing the Lunar Celestial Sea Storm, this third-grade array was almost useless.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Several towering waves crashed over, engulfing the small wooden boat. To Randy Jen and the others’ amazement, no matter how many waves struck, the milky-white crests couldn't tear through the protective array Joe Di had set up.
Joe Di breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't further strengthen the array; as it stood, the sixth-grade immortal array should be enough to withstand this Lunar Celestial Storm.
The Lunar Celestial Storm came swiftly and left just as fast. In only half an hour, the raging storm over the Lunar Celestial Sea vanished.
Joe Di stopped reinforcing the array. Randy Jen and the other two hurried over, bowing respectfully. "Fellow Daoist Qu, if not for your intervention, we would have perished."
"We're teammates, helping each other is only natural. I think we've reached Shadowfire Isle." Joe Di swept his divine sense across the area. After the massive storm, only two boats besides theirs remained; the rest had been dragged beneath the Lunar Celestial Sea.
It made Joe Di sigh. Even at his cultivation level—seen as an immortal by mortals—life was still as fragile as an eggshell.
Randy Jen replied seriously, "That's true, but you really did save our lives, Brother Qu. I was lucky to find someone as skilled in arrays as you for our team."
Even the usually quiet Skyler Xue muttered, "Yes, Fellow Daoist Randy is right. You truly saved our lives, Brother Qu."
Julia Lou nodded. "What worried us most about the Lunar Celestial Sea was the mist, followed by storms like this. Luckily, we didn't encounter a storm vortex this time."
Upon hearing Julia Lou's words, everyone fell silent. If not for Trevor Qu, the array master, they wouldn't have survived this storm. If they'd encountered a vortex, not even Trevor Qu's skills would have saved them.
Randy Jen broke the silence. "Just a few more days to Shadowfire Isle. We planned this trip to take less than three months round trip. By the usual pattern, the next Lunar Celestial Mist shouldn't appear for another three months. We didn't encounter the mist, but instead, something even rarer—a Lunar Celestial Sea Storm."
Because Joe Di's mastery of arrays saved them, the other three's attitude toward him changed—they even began to see him as their leader.
The next few days passed without danger. As Randy Jen predicted, on the fifth day after the storm, Joe Di's divine sense detected a huge island shrouded in mist, its features completely obscured.
"We're here." The wooden boat quickly crossed over a thousand meters, stopping at the edge of a massive reef.
Joe Di and the others rushed onto Shadowfire Isle, while Randy Jen stowed away his flying ship.
"Fellow Daoist Randy, there's mist all over Shadowfire Isle. Could this be the same sea mist as in the Lunar Celestial Sea?" Joe Di had read many jade slips about the area, but none covered everything.
Randy Jen quickly explained, "This mist is completely different from the Lunar Celestial Sea's. That mist can make people lose their way and end up somewhere unknown, but this only blocks sight and divine sense."
Not far from Joe Di's group, another wooden boat landed and five cultivators hurried ashore. They glanced at Joe Di's group, seemingly surprised they survived the recent storm.
However, these cultivators ignored Joe Di and his companions, quickly disappearing into the depths of Shadowfire Isle.
"Brother Qu, which direction should we go?" Randy Jen looked to Joe Di, whose strength now put him in a secondary position.
Joe Di realized Randy Jen had no idea where the Yanlight Divine Iron was located. "Let's follow those people ahead for now. Once we're inside Shadowfire Isle, we'll see."
As soon as they left the shore and entered the depths of Shadowfire Isle, Joe Di sensed a strange aura. It felt like stepping into a gloomy underground tomb, yet within the chill, there was a faint, scorching flame presence.
No wonder it's called Shadowfire Isle—the name fits perfectly.
"Those people are out of sight now." After entering the depths of Shadowfire Isle, Julia Lou's divine sense lost track of the five cultivators.
Shadowfire Isle's suppression of divine sense wasn't nearly as strong as the Lunar Celestial Sea, but for someone like Julia Lou, whose divine sense was typical of an early-stage Ascendant Lord, it was limited to about half a kilometer.
"Don't worry, just follow me." Joe Di's divine sense extended nearly ten kilometers, allowing him to clearly track the five people ahead.
These five were moving extremely fast, clearly not here by chance like Randy Jen. They must have a specific destination to be moving so purposefully.
After another half incense stick's time, Joe Di's divine sense found where the five were headed—a vast ruin spanning several kilometers, with faint traces of ancient buildings.
At the edge of the ruins was a large flat area, where at least a hundred people had gathered.
Joe Di hurried over, and after half an incense stick, Randy Jen and Julia Lou's divine senses also reached the area. Julia Lou exclaimed in surprise, "There are so many people here!"
A medium-built man stood atop a collapsed pillar, speaking loudly. Soon, Joe Di and his group saw over a hundred people split into four groups.
When Joe Di's group approached, the speaker noticed them and casually pointed, "You four are the last to arrive. Go to the fourth group."
Joe Di frowned slightly. He didn't mind which group, but first he wanted to know why there were four groups and what each group's task was. Since they arrived late, they hadn't heard anything.
Sensing Joe Di was about to speak, Randy Jen quickly tugged him and whispered, "Brother Qu, that man is likely an Immortal King. Let's just join the fourth group for now."
"Wait—" Joe Di had just spoken when the Immortal King's powerful aura pressed down on them. "Everyone's been assigned to a group. You four who arrived late, hurry to your group and don't waste everyone's time."
With over a hundred people split into four groups, Joe Di and his companions standing in the middle seemed out of place.
Joe Di cupped his hands. "We arrived late and don't know what the groups are for. Could you please explain?"
The Immortal King's face turned cold. "If I have to explain to every latecomer, how will we get anything done? You have three breaths to join your group."
Because there's an ancient marketplace below, full of treasures. The entrance is hard to find, so we've split into groups to search. Once it's found, we'll notify the others to attack the protective array together..." Someone quickly sent a message to Joe Di.
Joe Di heard this and was about to return to his group when the Dao Fire in his Purple Mansion suddenly jumped.
Feeling the Dao Fire's movement, Joe Di was ecstatic. Last time in Skyveil Pit, the Dao Fire's jump led him to the Celestial Fire Spirit.
Now that the Dao Fire jumped again, it clearly meant another treasure had appeared.
"What, do you think I can't handle you?" The Immortal King approached Joe Di's group, his tone icy.
"Will you join me, or go to the group?" Joe Di ignored the Immortal King and turned to ask Randy Jen.
Before Randy Jen could answer, Julia Lou spoke up, "We came together, so of course we'll stay together."
Joe Di nodded, then turned to the approaching Immortal King and said calmly, "Anyone can enter Shadowfire Isle. We don't want to join a group; we'd rather search on our own. Is it mandatory to follow your orders here?"