Using Magic to Fight Magic

Ever since subduing the Yamata no Orochi in the Gloomy Forest, Xiang Nan had been itching to try his hand at the Spirit-Binding Island.

For the past few days, he had been farming monsters as usual during the day, and when night fell, he would use the Cleansing Heart Incantation to absorb the lunar and stellar energy to strengthen the spiritual Qi within his body.

However, ever since the Yamata no Orochi vanished, it had not appeared again. Along with it, Lu Ming and Lu羽 had also gone missing.

As for those two unfortunate brothers, who knew whether they had kicked the bucket or not?

As long as they didn't pop out to ruin his day, Xiang Nan didn't really care about whether they lived or died.

Using his spiritual sense to probe his spatial storage, he found that after the fierce, bullet-storm attacks on mystical beasts recently, his ammunition was almost depleted.

If Spirit-Binding Island was truly like the legends said, populated mostly by transcendent-tier mystical beasts, then no amount of bullets would be of any use.

Transcendent-tier mystical beasts possessed extremely resilient physical bodies that were impervious to swords and guns.

You had to fight magic with magic!

Turning his back to the others, Xiang Nan stepped forward a few paces and gazed at a small island in the distance amidst the lake. That island was the legendary Spirit-Binding Island.

The breeze blowing across the lake brought a touch of dusk's coolness.

After a moment, Xiang Nan turned around. "I have decided. Tomorrow morning, I am going to Spirit-Binding Island to find the Spirit-镇 Stone."

Xu Jiya's eyelashes fluttered. "You? Brother Xiang Nan, you mean... you're going alone?"

"How can that be? How could such an exciting thing happen without me, Su Yao?" Su Yao strode forward, grabbing Xiang Nan's arm. "Xiao Nan, don't you even think about leaving me behind."

"My cultivation is the highest here. If anyone goes, it should be me," Meng Qingwan said with a face full of absolute certainty.

"Hey, hey, what do you mean? I'm not weak either, alright? Someone still has to tank the damage. Brother Nan, let me team up with you." Li Xiang was unwilling to be left behind either.

At that moment, the Daoist of the Three Channels, who had just finished a dispute, ambled over with an impatient expression. "You guys are way too heartless, leaving me all alone to educate that bunch of hot-headed, righteous youths while you all stand here enjoying the cool breeze. I'm not playing this game."

"Who left you alone? Weren't we helping out too?" Zhang Xing and Du Ning followed closely behind.

"You guys came just in time. Brother Xiang Nan is planning to go to Spirit-Binding Island alone," Xu Jiya said, a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone. "Everyone knows that place is one of the entrances to the earth abyss. It's been a forbidden zone for ten years, and no one dares to set foot there."

"Boss, how can you do that? Spirit-Binding Island must be crawling with transcendent-tier mystical beasts, and your cultivation is only... only..." Zhang Xing stammered for a long time, unable to finish the sentence.

Everyone knew that Xiang Nan's cultivation was only at the second tier when he entered the Spirit Void. His subsequent cross-tier atavism had not been revealed to them. As for why he possessed glowing wings resembling a mysterious bird, Xiang Nan had brushed it off as a spiritual skill obtained from a spirit pearl.

His cultivation progress was simply too fast, and the cross-tier atavism was too abnormal. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it was safer to keep it secret for the time being.

Besides, he already possessed the ability to conceal his cultivation, so no one could probe it anyway.

The Daoist of the Three Channels looked at Xiang Nan speculatively and smiled knowingly, "Don't let your imagination be limited by mere tiers of cultivation. In my opinion, Xiang Nan's abilities have long surpassed the third tier, and it's very likely he can already rival the fourth. Everyone has different talents and encounters. Maybe he really can make it back alive from Spirit-Binding Island."

"Spit, spit, spit! You crow, what do you mean 'maybe'? Be confident, drop the 'maybe', Xiao Nan will definitely come back alive!" Su Yao stamped her foot anxiously.

The Daoist of the Three Channels rolled his eyes. "Isn't that exactly what I meant? So what are you all worrying blindly for? Besides, don't I, a fifth-tier expert, have to accompany him?"

Xiang Nan looked at the Daoist of the Three Channels and chuckled lightly, "That's right, you really do have to go."

Wasn't the Daoist of the Three Channels following him precisely because he coveted the Tai Chi Diagram artifact in his possession? The Daoist wouldn't let himself die inexplicably on Spirit-Binding Island, either. Bringing him along would genuinely be of some help.

"He's allowed to go?" Su Yao was stunned. "No way, Xiao Nan, then I have to go too."

"You can't go." Xiang Nan's refusal was utterly decisive.

He glanced at Li Xiang and Meng Qingwan, who were both eager to try. "None of you can go. None of your cultivations have crossed the fourth tier; I'm afraid you wouldn't even be able to break through the barrier separating Spirit-Binding Island. Even if by some miracle we all made it onto the island, it is said to be filled with transcendent-tier mystical beasts. I would have to divide my attention to protect you, and chances are we'd all end up dead. Only with me and the Daoist of the Three Channels going will our chances of winning be higher."

Everyone fell silent. After all, everything Xiang Nan said was the truth.

"As for me, don't worry, I won't die. Even if I run into danger, don't I have the Resurrection Herb? One spirit herb is basically a resurrection armor, completely foolproof."

Seeing Xiang Nan speak with such certainty, Xu Jiya bit her lower lip slightly. After a brief moment of thought, she pulled Su Yao's sleeve. "Yaoyao, since Brother Xiang Nan has already made up his mind, we should support him. With the Daoist of the Three Channels accompanying him, I believe they will return safely."

With that, Xu Jiya began to undress.

"Hey, hey, Jiya, what are you doing?" the Daoist of the Three Channels asked with a wicked grin. Was she about to offer a farewell embrace? Or perhaps a sultry parting dance?

Aside from her thin outer jacket, her fitted T-shirt was also peeled off. The Daoist of the Three Channels stared wide-eyed, full of anticipation, only to reveal the golden-threaded soft hedgehog armor she wore underneath the T-shirt.

Xu Jiya removed the soft armor and looked ardently at Xiang Nan. "Brother Xiang Nan, you should wear this. Its defensive capability is much stronger than yours."

"Actually..." Xiang Nan originally wanted to refuse, but seeing Xu Jiya's caring gaze, he simply couldn't bring himself to do it.

Truth be told, he had the Golden Light Bagua Shield protecting him, so he didn't need these external items at all.

"Thank you, Jiya." Xiang Nan accepted the golden-threaded soft armor and handed his own basalt-iron soft armor to Xu Jiya in return. "Don't worry, it's only for three days. I will definitely come back."

Xu Jiya pouted. "Is there any need for 'thank you' between us? Brother Xiang Nan, whether we find the Spirit-镇 Stone or not, three days from now, we will be waiting for you right here."

"Xiao Nan." Su Yao, standing nearby, pulled a long face, wanting to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back.

The atmosphere instantly turned somewhat sorrowful.

Xiang Nan waved his hand broadly. "Alright, look at the time. I'm so starved. Let's get a good meal, sleep soundly, and we'll deal with tomorrow's business tomorrow."

"I'll go process the battle-camel meat and boil some noodles. I guarantee everyone will eat their fill," Meng Qingwan said, turning around to walk toward the camp.

"Qingwan, wait for me. We'll go help too." Xu Jiya grabbed Su Yao and hurried after her.

"Brother Nan, I'll go help stoke the fire. I can't be of any help on Spirit-Binding Island, so I'll handle things here," Li Xiang said, taking a deep breath and rallying his spirits.

"Mm, I'm counting on you to look after them." Xiang Nan smiled faintly.

"Don't worry. As a real man, taking care of a few beauties is my bounden duty." With that, he too headed toward the camp.

Zhang Xing and Du Ning naturally followed along to help out as well.