A few breaths later, a streak of azure light stopped in midair.
The gusts stirred up by the Azure Flying Boat dispersed much of the demonic mist, revealing its true appearance clearly before Xu Yan.
"A high-grade flying magic artifact—the Azure Leaf Boat!"
Xu Yan narrowed his eyes. The Azure Leaf Boat was crafted entirely from century-old spirit bamboo and inscribed with a Flying Array. Its speed far surpassed that of ordinary Qi Refining cultivators.
However, the Azure Leaf Boat consumed enormous resources. Each activation required ten low-grade spirit stones, and it could only remain active for roughly the time it took an incense stick to burn.
Thus, apart from disciples of the Immortal Sects, only cultivators with deep pockets could afford one.
When the three aboard the Azure Leaf Boat saw Xu Yan stop rather than flee, staring greedily at the vessel beneath their feet, they immediately barked a cold rebuke.
"Death is at your door, yet you still don't know it! You even dare covet our sect's magic artifact!"
The speaker was one of the two Spirit Sword Sect disciples. His face was black as charcoal, his mouth broad and his teeth fanglike, giving him a terrifying appearance.
The other Spirit Sword Sect disciple looked quite ordinary, a trace of arrogance on his unremarkable face. He was also about to rebuke Xu Yan, but a voice beside him interrupted.
"Fellow Daoists of the Spirit Sword Sect, please stand by and cover me. Watch as I slay this rogue cultivator."
The voice was deep and rumbling. The burly man dressed in animal skins looked at Xu Yan with interest.
At these words, a flash of murderous intent shot through Xu Yan's eyes. This man had the lowest cultivation of the three, making him the first target to kill once