Although the Flying Ship Lin Sheng's group had taken was not from the Feilin Boat Company, an accident still occurred midway. The ship was attacked by a dense swarm of Sparrowhawk birds that blotted out the sky and covered the earth.
Although Sparrowhawk birds were only first-rank, their numbers were overwhelming, and the battle was at close quarters. Swept along by the flock, the Flying Ship veered from its intended course. The cultivator piloting it was forced to land midway, drive away the flock first, and then take off again.
Just then, the Golden Core True Person stationed aboard announced that the Flying Ship had malfunctioned and could not reach Haoran City safely. They would have to return to Yuxing City for repairs. To preserve the boat company's reputation, they refunded the fare on the spot and told the cultivators aboard to make their own way to Haoran City.
Such accidents were not unheard of, so the cultivators who had taken the ship merely grumbled a few words before taking their refunded fares and leaving in groups.
However, Lin Sheng's group of nine viewed the matter as a conspiracy. They felt that someone had deliberately prevented them from returning to the sect safely.
As a former holder of the Treasure Map, Zhao Jinmu immediately suggested, "Senior Brothers, we should return to the sect separately, lest we all be wiped out in one pot. We must bring back the news the four True Persons asked us to deliver."
Lin Sheng also agreed with Zhao Jinmu's proposal. He sent a solemn voice transmission to everyone: "Form your own teams and return to the sect. No group may have fewer than two people. Use every last trump card you have and get back to the sect as quickly as possible. The news from