Jin Xiaochai

Half a day later.

The other youths were still trapped in their dreams, while Shi Mu and the three others who had awakened dared not make any rash moves within the room.

Among them, Han Xiangxiu, after witnessing Ma Feiyun's death, had a face as pale as paper and kept close to Shi Mu as she sat nearby, clearly badly shaken.

Shi Mu, meanwhile, leaned against the cabin wall, continuing to rest with his eyes closed.

After who knew how much more time had passed, a sudden "bang" shook the entire great vessel, and an enraged, aged voice rang out from somewhere nearby.

"Ning Ping, how dare you enter Great Qi territory and injure this Sect's reception cultivators? Don't think you'll leave so easily this time."

As the words fell, another boom sounded from outside the ship, and the hull shuddered violently once more.

"And who do I hear? So it's Brother Zhao who's come in person. But since you know I'm not alone, you must have brought other helpers along. Why not call them all out?" The blue-robed man's voice also rang out from outside the ship, but it was eerily calm.

"Since Fellow Daoist Ning has said as much, this Yu will not stand on ceremony." Another cold male voice suddenly spoke up.

"Yu Qianji? You?" The blue-robed man, who had been perfectly composed a moment ago, lost his voice upon seeing the second enemy, a trace of fear creeping into his tone.

"Heh heh, Ning Ping, you never expected this, did you? Junior Brother Yu was nearby all along; as soon as I notified him, he rushed over. Call out Bone Tiger. This time, we'll teach your Black Demon Sect a lesson." The aged voice laughed heartily.

"Since Fellow Daoist Yu, a Star-rank sorcerer, has already shown himself, how could this Gu not have the courtesy to receive his instruction?" Another extremely gloomy voice emerged, its words clearly filled with wariness toward Yu Qianji.

Immediately after, the sounds of tearing air and explosions came in an unbroken stream from outside the great ship, causing the vessel to sway left and right as if caught in a storm.

"It's the Black Tortoise Sect people."

"Great, that means we're saved."

The curly-haired, broad-mouthed youth and another clean-featured boy whispered excitedly.

Han Xiangxiu's spirits lifted dramatically.

A flicker of joy also crossed Shi Mu's face.

Compared to the suspicious blue-robed man, being able to reach the Black Tortoise Sect was naturally the best outcome.

"Yu Qianji, even if we're no match for you, don't think you'll take these disciples back alive. Watch the power of my 'Startling Water Talisman'!"

After a short while, the blue-robed man's frantic voice came from outside the ship.

As his words fell, a sound like a towering wave crashed forth, followed by a great surge of water on one side of the vessel. The entire ship trembled and then began to slowly tilt and capsize toward the river.

"Not good, the ship is turning over."

Shi Mu and the others were all startled. They quickly stood up and pressed themselves against the cabin walls to keep from falling.

As for the other unconscious youths, they could not avoid sliding and tumbling. A few unlucky ones crashed into tables and chairs, even splitting their heads open.

What was astonishing was that even with such severe injuries, these few remained unconscious.

Such potent knockout drugs—far more powerful than anything recorded in the Zhong Craft Secret Manual.

Seeing this, Shi Mu was somewhat horrified.

"Thinking of striking so viciously? It won't be that easy. Black Tortoise Overturns Heaven!"

Just as the entire ship was about to flip completely over, the aged voice suddenly rang out.

Another "boom" came from the opposite side of the hull.

The ship swayed twice, then slowly righted itself and steadied.

At that moment, the blue-robed man let out a miserable cry, then spoke in a furious tone:

"Fine, fine. I didn't expect you old bastard to have cultivated the Black Tortoise Force to such a level. Next time we meet, I'll make sure you pay. Brother Gu, let's go!"

With a tearing sound, the blue-robed man, having suffered no small loss, fled together with his companion.

Naturally, the awake occupants of the lower cabin all broke into smiles of relief.

Sure enough, not long after, the door to Shi Mu's room was opened from the outside. A young man who appeared no more than twenty years old stepped in, clad in a golden robe with an exceedingly handsome face.

"Oh, this room still has this many awake. Good! To have managed this under such circumstances is not bad. Now, everyone up to the deck. We need to re-verify the headcount. Ah, I have a bottle of pills here; give them to the others first." The handsome youth, somewhat surprised to see Shi Mu and the other three, spoke in an exceptionally cold voice. It was the same voice they had heard earlier, belonging to the Star-rank sorcerer Yu Qianji.

As he spoke, the youth tossed a small bottle to the curly-haired, broad-mouthed youth.

The youth caught it and respectfully acknowledged the order, then began feeding the pills to the still-unconscious companions one by one.

Yu Qianji turned as if to leave the room.

"Senior Yu, I've discovered the Demon Soul Sect's plot. They seem to have installed the Wind Fire Sect's Divine Fire Thunder beneath the ship." Han Xiangxiu suddenly rushed forward, speaking to Yu Qianji in a flustered tone.

"What? Divine Fire Thunder! Where are they placed? How do you know?" Yu Qianji's expression changed drastically, and he immediately turned back to ask.

"Senior, there's no time. Let me first point out where the Divine Fire Thunders are hidden, and I'll explain in detail later." Han Xiangxiu stopped a few steps away, her face full of panic.

"Fine. I'll take you to see Brother Zhao first." The youth frowned briefly, then said decisively.

With a flicker of movement, he grabbed the girl's wrist and drifted out the door.

Shi Mu and the others exchanged bewildered glances.

But just then, the golden-robed youth suddenly let out a furious roar. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the girl he had been holding violently toward the door.

Just as the girl seemed about to smash her brains out, a tinkling laugh rang out. Her figure blurred, and she appeared on the ceiling as if by teleportation, feet up, head down, hanging upside down steadily.

The youth glared fiercely at the girl. With a flick of his golden sleeve, a "thump" sounded, and a half-foot-long black snake appeared on the floor, stiff as a board, seemingly already dead.

"Black Demon Snake! What a vicious method—you must be Jin Xiaochai of the Black Demon Sect!" Yu Qianji took one look at the black serpent on the ground and spoke with a face full of fury.

"As expected of the genius prodigy with the greatest hope of breaking through to Moon Rank in the Great Qi Kingdom, recognizing my identity so quickly. But you, sir, have been far too careless—how does my little darling taste? With that bite, I'm afraid you won't be able to sleep soundly for the next three or four years." Han Xiangxiu laughed, swaying like a blooming branch.

"Bone Tiger, Ning Ping—the two of you still dare to return?!"

Just then, another rumbling tremor came from outside the ship, mixed with the roar of "Brother Zhao!"

(Heavens, I had already finished writing before eleven, but Wang Yu discovered a logical issue during review, so after a major revision, it's now this late.)