"Here to pick someone up?"
The moment Zhou Xuan said those words, the atmosphere on the Star Gazing Platform exploded.
Old Ancestor Xuanming was the first to leap up. Fear twisted his aged face, and his voice shot up an octave.
"Pick someone up? What bullshit are you spouting, Zhou Xuan? Look at that thing! What part of it looks like it came to pick someone up? That monstrosity the old hag from the Court Guardian Pavilion cooked up is clearly this—a far more vicious trap!"
He pointed at the enormous blood-red ship hovering in the distant sea of clouds, spittle flying.
"It must be her! She conjured up this ghost ship to frighten us because she knows we're no pushovers. She wants us to throw our own ranks into chaos! We mustn't fall for it!"
As he spoke, the dangerous aura of his burning origin source began stirring again, ready to charge forward and fight to the death at any moment.
"Xuanming, calm down!"
The Alliance Leader barked, forcibly suppressing his unease.
Though he did not believe Zhou Xuan's judgment either, Old Ancestor Xuanming's frantic reactions would only make the situation more chaotic.
Old Ancestor Cangwu remained silent, but his grip on the scabbard of his azure sword had already made it creak.
His gaze moved back and forth between the Giant Ship and Zhou Xuan, filled with scrutiny and suspicion.
"Perhaps it isn't the Court Guardian Pavilion," he said abruptly. "Those skulking fellows from the Heavenly Strategy Pavilion also enjoy playing at gods and ghosts."
Emperor Jiang Wu, the steadiest of the four, drew a deep breath. His gaze fixed on Zhou Xuan's back as he asked gravely, "Young friend Zhou, this is no trifling matter. Why are you so certain?"
Every one of the four was an