These Qi Refining disciples were all inner sect elites of Rain Xiang Mountain. Though startled by Jiang Yang's sudden order, they did not fall into disorder.
They immediately followed the procedure they had rehearsed, swiftly gathering at the cabin's central Pivot Thunder to prepare the spirit array against the enemy.
The Foundation Establishment Realm boatman had received the voice transmission even earlier. By now, he had gradually slowed the Spirit Boat to a halt and concentrated all its spirit vigor.
The Spirit Boat was not particularly fast, and it was a full hundred zhang long. This made escape all but impossible when facing an enemy; even turning around was difficult. Thus, the vessel had been fitted with array patterns of exceptional quality, allowing it to hold its ground whenever danger arose and wait for reinforcements.
As the central hub turned and a rounded barrier formed, the abrupt Transformation aboard the Spirit Boat plainly did not escape the cultivators approaching in secret.
Seeing this, they abandoned all pretense, tore away their disguises, and accelerated sharply toward it.
Although they wondered how the Spirit Boat had reacted so quickly, an arrow loosed from the bow could not be recalled. They could not abandon this attack over a sliver of suspicion.
The bandit cultivators wore black robes, each with a veiled hat whose hanging gauze concealed their faces and blocked even spirit sense. More than a dozen had gathered, drifting over in a dense mass like a black cloud.
Before they even reached the Spirit Boat, the cultivator leading them raised his hoarse voice and shouted from afar:
"We brothers have traveled ten thousand miles only for wealth, with no wish to harm anyone. Open your spirit array at once, and we guarantee not a single person will be hurt!"
As soon as