Fu Dongming could not help feeling a little awkward. He knew Lu Xiaotian disliked being approached by irrelevant people, but these few were disciples of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion and fellow disciples of Fu Jiaojiao, so he had to show them some courtesy and could not easily offend them. Fortunately, Lu Xiaotian showed no intention of stooping to their level. Fu Dongming could not help wondering: Lu Xiaotian should not have been very old. Though he might have taken a Beauty-Preserving Pill, his eyes were clear, and he carried none of the weathered air of age. Fu Dongming had seen countless people and believed he possessed this much discernment.
Their ages were not too far apart, yet Lu Xiaotian's steady bearing was no less than his own. Compared with him, those Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples fell far short. Fu Dongming was also curious what sort of experiences were needed to forge such calm composure as Lu Xiaotian's.
Fu Dongming's ship was quite large, with more than thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators serving as guards. The flag of the Heavenly Sea Pavilion hung from its prow. According to Fu Dongming, the forces scattered throughout the Blue Demon Sea were as numerous as stars in the sky, even more complicated than the countless islands strewn across the sea. Many desperate fugitives roamed about, making a living by robbing passing merchants and cultivators. Their route was relatively peaceful, but they still encountered powerful demon beasts from time to time. Though few in these waters dared oppose the Heavenly Sea Pavilion, there were always those who risked everything. The cargo aboard this ship was worth no small sum. This time, Fu Dongming was also taking the shipment onward to the higher-ranked Brightstone Island.
The ship, built from fourth-rank spirit wood, sped swiftly across the sea