On the river under the pitch-black night sky, one large and two small boats hurried onward through the night.
The large boat was a Jiujiang Sentry Ship, while the smaller ones were flat-bottomed swift boats. Both types had undergone special modifications: iron sheeting covered their vulnerable vital points, and Evil Suppression Talismans hung from their bows.
Yet all the boats were already battered and scarred, barely holding together.
"Stay alert! We're almost there!"
A Taoist holding a sword stood on the deck and shouted.
He had clearly endured many vicious battles. His Taoist robe was torn and soaked in blood, and one eye had been beaten blind. It was wrapped carelessly in white cloth, leaving him with a savage, sinister appearance.
But the others aboard were even more dispirited, despair filling their eyes.
After encouraging their morale, the One-Eyed Taoist turned toward the cabin.
Inside was the Da Li Bronze Bell transported from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. It was a Nation-Protecting Divine Artifact. Even though both parties belonged to the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect, obtaining it had required the other side to extend them a tremendous favor.
The people escorting it had also died in battle. Later, they would still have to visit and apologize.
If even this failed to save Jinling, then all his years of cultivation would have been for nothing.
But the Taoist had no confidence that they would succeed. He could only hope that the reinforcements would arrive sooner...
"Look! They're coming again!"
A terrified cry rang out from the small boat on the side.
The One-Eyed Taoist hurriedly turned his head. At some point, the river behind them had been shrouded in thick black fog. The mist churned and spread as if it were alive, soon blocking out the moonlight.
Then a bone-piercing chill swept through