On the ninth day of the month, numerous disciples gathered early in the Sect Square.
Xiao Chen surveyed his fellow disciples around him. Many of them were faces he was seeing for the first time.
Even more people were studying him, their eyes brimming with curiosity.
Elder Liu from the sect's Spirit Herb Garden had arrived early, so no one spoke. They simply waited in silence.
At a quarter past the hour, another unfamiliar elder appeared. "My apologies, Junior Brother Liu. I was a little late."
Elder Liu smiled. "I just arrived as well."
He then introduced him to everyone. "Some of the newer disciples may not have met Elder Fu, so let me introduce him."
"Elder Fu is a Guest Elder of the sect. His Sword Art has reached an unfathomable level, and among those of the same realm, he has few rivals."
"For this trip to the Flame Pool Secret Realm, Elder Fu will lead the team."
Xiao Chen joined the other disciples in cupping his hands. "Greetings, Elder Fu!"
Elder Fu merely nodded indifferently, then waved his hand and tossed out a palm-sized boat.
The little boat swelled against the wind. In less than three breaths, it became a flying boat more than ten zhang long.
The massive hull hung in midair, casting a vast black shadow that blanketed half the square.
Boom!
Though it descended slowly, it still kicked up a great cloud of dust.
"Board the boat. We depart!"
After speaking, Elder Fu gave a light leap and landed directly on the bow of the ship, a full five zhang above the ground.
The disciples quickly boarded via the lowered gangplank, gaining an even clearer sense of just how enormous the Spirit Boat was.
There were around sixty people, yet even the foredeck was not