Stranger Danger

Something? Could it be the Gold Making Spring?

Gold Island's ultimate treasure, the Gold Making Spring, immediately came to Jin Manshan's mind. However, he rejected his guess just as quickly. Why would mindless monsters ever need the Gold Making Spring? Were they poor?

Therefore, the second possibility was greater.

"Some sort of demonic monster or Stranger may be controlling them," Jin Manshan said.

"I think so too." Yue Ling nodded in agreement. "Unfortunately, I was unable to locate the mastermind controlling these demonic monsters despite scouring the surrounding region for a very long time. I apologize for my ineptitude."

"It's not your fault." Jin Manshan shook his head. Forget Yue Ling, he hadn't discovered a thing either. It was because demonic fire was rampaging outside the island, and the surrounding energies were in utter chaos. There was only so far their spiritual senses could reach; certainly not enough to suss out the mastermind.

"I—"

Jin Manshan was about to say something when he blanched all of a sudden.

"Island lord? What's the matter?" Yue Ling noticed the change in his expression and asked.

"The Golden Peak Sky Holding Great Array is consuming energy at a prodigious rate. At this rate, it won't last long at all," Jin Manshan told her honestly.

At this point, there was no need to hide it any longer.

Yue Ling paled a little. "What... What should we do then?"

"Our first priority is to take out these demonic monsters. They—"

An explosion interrupted him before he could finish. The golden shield surrounding Gold Island flickered, and even Gold Island itself was shaking violently. It was even worse than when the tidal wave of demonic fire first impacted the shield.

"What's going on?"

Jin Manshan and Yue Ling subconsciously looked outside. The next moment, both of them turned as pale as a sheet.

It was because they saw a demonic monster.

There were countless demonic monsters outside Gold Island right now. They already knew this, and it definitely wasn't enough to steal their breaths away.

There was one demonic monster that stood out among the others, however. An extraordinary demonic monster.

In the sky, a squid covered in black-and-white patterns and almost as large as Gold Island was lying on top of the Golden Peak Sky Holding Great Array right now. It had eight giant tentacles that were moving here and there and almost wrapping the entire island.

"The King Squid..."

Jin Manshan's face was frozen, and his eyes were wide like saucers as he stared at the giant squid.

The King Squid was an Ancient-class Stranger. Gigantic in stature and infinitely strong, it could command the storm and casually overturn rivers and the sea with its tentacles. It was extremely terrifying to put it mildly.

Not only that, the King Squig was very tenacious and enjoyed a long lifespan. It was also as smart as a human being. It operated based on its self-interest, and it could weigh the pros and cons. It also recognized a threat when it saw one and would flee if necessary. This quality made the King Squid even more dangerous than it already was.

Therefore, the King Squid was a true overlord of the sea. Not even a Sage would dare to provoke it without thought.

Of course, the King Squid before them was an exception. For one, it had clearly been corrupted into a demonic monster.

The King Squid possessed both a human's intelligence and unbelievable power. Logically speaking, it should not have succumbed to the demonic fire and turned into a demonic monster.

And yet, this one had. Heavens only know what happened to it.

The King Squid was terribly powerful to begin with. Although it had lost its intelligence after turning into a demonic monster, it had also become twice as strong as before. Naturally, it was a threat. An existential threat.

Even through the Golden Peak Sky Holding Great Array, Jin manshan could feel its terrible power. It was enough power to terrify him, cower him, and make him feel as small as an ant.

Does the heavens conspire to destroy Gold Island?

First, the demonic monsters were attacking the island for some reason. Now, an Ancient-class demonic monster had shown its ugly mug. Just what was he expected to do here?

Jin Manshan could not help but lose hope and fall into despair.

It was at this moment the King Squid slowly opened its mouth and revealed its massive, deep mouthparts. From the bottom, it looked as if a hole had opened in the sky.

The next moment, the King Squid spat out a jet of sticky, ink black liquid. It struck the Golden Peak Sky Holding Great Array like an avalanche.

Rumble...

Golden light flashed immediately. It valiantly resisted the liquid and evaporated it all like fire.

However, the ink black liquid was endless. More was pouring out than the Golden Peak Sky Holding Great Array could evaporate. Slowly, the entire array was covered in it.

The bright, sunny Gold Island grew dark as a result.

It was both because the ink black liquid was blotting out the sky, and because the Golden Peak Sky Holding Great Array's energies were being rapidly consumed.

As if that wasn't enough, the King Squid was contracting its tentacles and squeezing the golden shield.

Crack crack crack crack!

Nail biting cracks erupted from above. Each time a crack popped, the golden shield created by the Golden Peak Sky Holding Great Array would dim a little more. Every time it dimmed, an extra crack would appear on its surface.

"What is that thing?"

"The King Squid... It's the King Squid!"

"The Golden Peak Sky Holding Great Array's about to break. It's over... it's all over..." I don't want to die... I don't want to die... Uuuuuu..."

"Will someone save us... will someone please save us..."

The sight of the crumbling array and the gigantic King Squid lying on top of it caused everyone on Gold Island to panic and despair.

On the tower, Yue Ling urged with a pale complexion, "The Golden Peak Sky Holding Great Array is about to break! What do we do, island lord Jin?"

"What do you want me to do?"

Jin Manshan muttered dazedly, "Even the heavens are conspiring to bring ruin to Gold Island. What can I possibly do to turn this situation around?"

"No, island lord Jin! There must be something you can do!" Yue Ling grabbed his arm and said urgently, "There must be!"

"There is none. Let's just die!"

Jin Manshan muttered dejectedly and despairingly, "Let's just die!"

"Get a grip of yourself, island lord Jin! The two seniors are still on Gold Island, aren't they? Go ask them for help!" Yue Ling said urgently.

"R-right! Warrior Ye and Miss Feng!"

Yue Ling's words snapped Jin Manshan out of the haze of despair. "I'll seek them out right now. They must have a solution to this."

Jin Manshan immediately took off toward the Arts Tower. Yue Ling followed closely behind after a strange glint flickered in her eyes.

"Warrior Ye! Miss Feng! We can't hold on much longer! Please, help us!"

Jin Manshan barged into the ninth floor of the Arts Tower and cried out urgently, but he cut himself off before he could finish whatever he was going to say.

It was because there was no one on the ninth floor. No one in the entire Arts Tower for that matter.

Where are they?

Where are Feng Qingyou and Ye Qing?

"Warrior Ye! Warrior Ye! Miss Feng!" Jin Manshan cried out a couple of times but received no response.

This time, there truly was no blood left on his face. He just stood there, stupefied.

Yue Ling was no less stunned and speechless than him.

Did... did they run away?!