Showdown

The magical ship belonging to Wenren Tinghai, the New Jia Explorer of the Demon Kingdom, is Seventh-Rank Thousand Character Artifact. The ship is equipped with three great arrays set up by top-tier Saint Mind Master, the power of which is self-evident, and also increases the value of the ship several times over.

Even though Wenren Tinghai was a living Demon Minister, with his current cultivation level, he is not qualified to be assigned this ship. However, the Demon Kingdom is going to conquer the Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin, and the Demon Country Crown Prince faction wants to capture Li Weiyi and find the whereabouts of Yu Yaozi and Zen Sea Observing Mist. With these two major missions on his hands, he naturally has a powerful weapon.

Wenren Tinghai named this ship "Tinghai Ship," implying that he had no intention of returning it and demonstrating his confidence in completing the mission.

The main hall of the Tinghai Ship was extremely spacious and ornately decorated, with octagonal palace lanterns lit up and incense burning in the censer.

Wenren Tinghai comes from a wealthy and powerful family and is someone who knows how to enjoy life to the fullest.

The wine on the table, steaming and fragrant, was Jade Brew purchased from a time-honored shop in Carefree Capital. Aged for six hundred years, it was just like its name, "Drunk Longevity," capable of intoxicating Longevity Realm Martial Cultivator.

Each pot is priceless.

Wenren Tinghai looked at Zhao Tang and Li Weiyi across from him, who were drinking one cup after another, and his face was very cold. He only regretted that he had not poisoned the wine beforehand. These people from Lesser Yang Division had no idea what politeness was.

"This wine is definitely not cheap; it can actually restore magical energy so quickly," Li Weiyi exclaimed in admiration.

Zhao Tang, wearing a scholar's cap, with delicate features and a scholarly air, smiled as he held his cup, "This wine is brewed from the rare fruit of an ancient tree that has stood for ten thousand years, and it's also aged in spirit crystals in a wine vat. It's rich in magical energy and inexhaustible in essence. Each pot is incredibly expensive. Moreover, it's not something ordinary people can buy. We've all benefited from the favor of the third-ranked scholar."

He then downed another glass, completely absorbed in the drink.

Qing Ziqin was taken to the next cabin by Nangong and Yan Zhiruo to recuperate from her injuries.

Tang Wanzhou sat opposite Wenren Tinghai, her sword resting on the table. Outside the half-open window beside her, the vast and bright moonlight shone on her face, giving her already fair and jade-like complexion an even more luminous glow.

Wenren Tinghai pondered for a long time before letting out a wicked smile, "If it's just the Departed Spirit Army of the Seven Grievances Plain and the Ancient Ye City, what is there for my Demon Kingdom to fear? Let them come, bury them all."

"Moreover, the Demon Kingdom will definitely be their ultimate goal."

"The Sentinel Spirit Army is the number one enemy of the departed spirits. Dao Palace Shinju has a deep grudge against Chu Yutian. The Western Demon Race and the Seven Grievances Plain are often at war."

"The wisest choice is to wait until you are both severely weakened, then our Demon Kingdom can clean up the mess, collect the treasures left behind by your deaths, and also collect the treasures from the remnants of the undead army."

"If you want the Demon Kingdom to join you in the attack, to pay a heavy price, to suffer a crushing defeat... that's fine too. After all, when facing the Netherworld of the Departed, all living beings should unite, share a common hatred, and not be too concerned with personal gains and losses."

Wenren Tinghai's lips curled into a smile, his captivating phoenix eyes fixed on Tang Wanzhou at close range. After a long while, he said again, "But on one condition: leave Li Weiyi to me."

"As long as Li Weiyi is captured and sent to Carefree Capital, or if I can search his soul to uncover Yu Yaozi's secrets, the Demon Kingdom will pay any price."

"Saint, you have two choices, which one do you choose?"

Li Weiyi and Zhao Tang immediately lost their appetite for drinking.

Zhao Tang snorted, "I didn't expect the esteemed New Jia Explorer of the Demon Kingdom to be so short-sighted. He's so unable to distinguish right from wrong when it comes to matters of principle. What's the point of talking to him? Saint, let's go directly to Gu Zhenxiang!"

Wenren Tinghai leaned back against the chair, gesturing for the guests to leave. "Please, everyone! Hmm... you still have one option: escape quickly, perhaps in time. But Li Weiyi, the Demon Kingdom will definitely capture him."

Zhao Tang slammed his hand on the table. "Without any old grudges or personal feuds, to openly plot against the Sentinel Spirit Army, does the Third Scholar know what the consequences will be?"

"Did I? I was just saying, don't take it seriously. Even if I do make a move, I'll definitely hide my identity and won't leave you any evidence." Wenren Tinghai put his hand to his mouth and whispered, his unbridled arrogance easily igniting his opponent's anger.

He likes to provoke his opponents first.

Creating anger is the simplest, most direct, and most effective way to weaken your opponent.

Tang Wanzhou stood up, his eyes sharp. "I originally intended to prioritize the greater good and temporarily set aside the grudges at the bottom of the East China Sea, but you've angered me!"

"So what? Even with enough Dragon Soul Origin Light, you'll have to wait at least two or three years to reach the Peak Third Realm. I don't think Chu Yutian will let you live that long. Once the news of you breaking the third Longevity Lock gets out, bloodshed will inevitably follow."

Wenren Tinghai level has risen from the Early Third Realm to the Peak Third Realm. He did sense a dangerous aura from Tang Wanzhou, but that was all.

He didn't believe that Tang Wanzhou had the potential to defeat him across two minor realms.

Wenren Tinghai deliberately laid out the conditions in order to sow discord between Tang Wanzhou and Li Weiyi.

In Wenren Tinghai's view, Tang Wanzhou might refuse now. However, if Lesser Yang Division were to fall into a deadly situation and she herself were in dire straits, she might very well use Li Weiyi as a bargaining chip to make a deal with the Demon Kingdom.

As long as the two of them develop a rift and become suspicious of each other, Wenren Tinghai will have an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

Unbeknownst to him, Li Weiyi had already reached a level of combat strength that even a Son of Heaven's Disciple would take seriously.

The members of Lesser Yang Division disembarked and boarded the jade boat.

Wenren Tinghai stood at the ship's railing, reminding them from afar, "I forgot to tell you, Gu Zhenxiang has entered Chunze. Now, the Demon Kingdom's power in the Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin is under my control. Saint, I await your good news."

Yu Qi, the top expert under a hundred years old in the Demon Kingdom's Imperial Guard, is a member of the royal family. He watched the departing jade boat and said in a deep voice, "Why didn't you make a move on the boat just now? With the formation on the boat, even if you couldn't suppress them all, you could at least have captured Li Weiyi and that mysterious woman from the Ancient Years Clan."

Nangong's identity as a member of the Ancient Years Clan is a secret to most people, but the higher-ups of the Demon Kingdom are fully aware of it.

Yu Qi was one of the three people in charge of managing the Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin of the Demon Kingdom, so he was naturally very interested in Nangong. He was interested in the secrets she held, as well as in her as a person, because he knew she was the most beautiful woman in the Sacred Hall Life Realm.

"Because they are members of the Sentinel Spirit Army, killing Sentinel Spirit Army is a serious crime."

Wenren Tinghai returned to the main hall with his hands behind his back. What he truly feared was the power bestowed by Yu Yaozi that Li Weiyi might possess.

Even if they were to make a move, it would be a sneak attack. They would strike unexpectedly and defeat the opponent in one blow.

Alternatively, let the Taiyin Sect fill the gaps first.

Having suffered a crushing defeat, how could the Taiyin Sect not seek to regain its former glory?

Time has taken over a quarter of the view ahead, and its spherical shape is now clearly visible. The mountains before it appear as low as black mounds of earth.

"Mo Duanfeng saved us, and he's still alive," Li Weiyi said.

The people present all showed expressions of joy.

"That's great, but why doesn't he join us?" Yan Zhiruo carried her pipa on her back, her severed hand now reattached.

Tang Wanzhou stood on the bow of the ship, deep in thought and wary of his surroundings, "He was confident that he could outmaneuver the Taiyin Sect, but he didn't expect to be severely injured by Chu Yutian, and even his knife and whistle were stolen. How can someone as concerned about his reputation face us? If I were him, I would also hide."

But Bai Chuan is dead!

Li Weiyi then recounted the story of Jingzhen's soul-devouring and possession, and also mentioned Lu Qing, who was hanging outside the Fanye Valley.

Everyone fell silent.

Zhao Tang said, "No matter what, in the battle of Fanye Valley, if Bai Chuan hadn't held back the enemy's top fighters, we might not have been able to break through. This grudge must be avenged, Jingzhen must be killed."

Li Weiyi suddenly turned to Nangong: "Nangong, if you don't tell us the truth, I suggest we immediately abandon our cultivation in the Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin and leave as soon as possible."

"Cultivating in the Netherworld can indeed allow one to catch up with martial artists who are older than us. However, each weak cycle only lasts about a year, so even if one cultivates entirely in the Netherworld, it will only take ten years."

"Compared to the dangers ahead, I think giving up might be a wiser choice."

None of the people present were fools; they had already realized that Nangong was hiding something.

However, Li Weiyi's attack at this time still surprised and intrigued them.

What is the reason?

Standing at the stern of the ship, wearing a white mask and with her black hair swaying in the wind, Nangong met everyone's gaze before turning to Li Weiyi: "You've pushed me to the edge of a cliff!"

Li Weiyi spoke about it in front of everyone from the Lesser Yang Division, rather than in a private discussion, because he wanted to get a clear answer immediately so he could make a definite decision.

He felt a strong sense of crisis and knew he couldn't afford to delay any longer.

Tang Wanzhou didn't quite understand their conversation, but knowing there must be something going on, he asked, "What exactly happened?"

Li Weiyi said, "It is said that the Ancient Years Clan has long mastered the method of avoiding the curse and freely entering and exiting the Withered-Prosperous Belt. The Departed Spirit Army is most likely here to investigate this matter."

"What?"

Even Tang Wanzhou, Zhao Tang, and Yan Zhiruo, who are all calm and composed people, were not immune to shock.

Judging from Nangong's expression, they knew that this was likely true.

"No wonder, no wonder the Demon Kingdom has been migrating its residents to the Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin on a large scale. They must be suspicious as well," Zhao Tang suddenly realized.

Li Weiyi said, "It's not just the Demon Kingdom; the experts from the Dao Palace are also searching for answers at the border. Nangong, what do you say?"

Nangong neither confirmed nor denied, her tone gentle. "I cannot answer you, because I cannot make a decision."

She then bowed deeply and said, "Please keep this a secret and do not divulge a single word of it."

Everyone present understood that her silence was an affirmative answer.

Seeing Nangong's caution and humility, Li Weiyi felt a pang of guilt and secretly wondered if he had made a mistake by pressuring her like this. After all, she carried the lives of countless clansmen on her shoulders.

The jade boat, over thirty meters long, sped swiftly, cutting through the wind and waves.

Li Weiyi came to the bow of the ship and stood side by side with Tang Wanzhou.

He released a burst of spiritual light, isolating himself from the outside world. He asked, "Did I do something wrong?"

Tang Wanzhou smiled and said, "You just raised a question that many people already know about. How she responds and answers is her business. She chose to believe us, so she gave an affirmative answer. If Chu Yutian asked her, do you think she would respond the same way?"

"She trusts us, so she doesn't want to lie to us?" Li Weiyi asked.

Tang Wanzhou said, "More than that! I think she needs something from us, she just hasn't said it yet."

"If she asks, will you help her?" Li Weiyi asked.

Tang Wanzhou pondered for a long time, then suddenly said, "Why don't we discuss whether or not to retreat? I don't want to retreat! Just as Wenren Tinghai said, the armies of the Seven Grievances Plain and the Ancient Ye City are not so terrifying as to be insurmountable. On the contrary, this is a battle in which we living beings have never had the advantage before, and we probably won't encounter a second one like it."