The sea breeze brushed against their faces.
The Treasure Ship left the bounds of the Flying Swallow Islands behind, casting that sea region—where undercurrents still churned—far astern as it sailed steadily toward East Pole City.
On deck, Elder Deng Ziheng let out a long breath. Only then did his tightly wound nerves relax somewhat.
He looked toward Luo Zhixian, who stood quietly at the bow with an indifferent expression, and said with feeling, "Peak Master Luo, that was truly perilous just now. I sensed quite a few figures lying in wait around the outer perimeter of the islands. Their auras were obscure, and there was no shortage of Tianxing Alliance spies among them."
Even this experienced True Origin Realm expert still felt lingering fear in his heart.
If Luo Zhixian and that Grandmaster from Swallow's Nest had truly come to blows, the situation would likely have spiraled out of control in an instant.
After all, this was the Tianxing Seventy-two Islands. Swallow's Nest, Black Dragon Island, and the Tianxing Alliance had forces and interests intertwined as deeply as tangled roots, and they had always stood shoulder to shoulder against outsiders.
The Tianxing Alliance in particular claimed the position of leader among the Seventy-two Islands. Its strength was unfathomable. If it had taken the chance to make trouble, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Thinking of the chain reaction it might have set off, Deng Ziheng felt a heavy weight settle upon his shoulders.
Once a Grandmaster-level melee broke out, it would no longer be a simple conflict between sects. It could very well turn into a colossal storm sweeping across the entire Thousand Reef Sea, even provoking a full-scale confrontation between the Tianbao Supreme Sect and the Tianxing Seventy-two Islands.
"Rest assured. I know my limits."
Luo Zhixian kept his