Crack... crash!
As Bighead coiled around it, the entire wooden ship gave off strange noises. Planks snapped one after another, the hold split open, and ever larger sections were crushed to pieces.
Some men, their blood running hot, still tried to raise axes to hack through his tentacles, but their more sensible companions grabbed them and shouted, "Do you want to die? That's an Earth Rank Stone Octopus! Run!"
The Gray-Robed Daoist had already reached the hold ahead of everyone else. Although Bighead, the Stone Octopus, had the ship in his grasp and was shaking it relentlessly, the Daoist moved as though on level ground. He swiftly slid over, untied the tether securing a Lifeform Manifestation Drifting Bird, and led it outside.
He pulled off the black cloth covering the Drift Bird's eyes and vaulted onto its back. The bird instinctively flapped its broad wings and took flight.
"Boss, wait for us! Wait for us!"
"Quick, hurry!"
"We can't stay on this ship! Get into the air!"
Seeing this, the others scrambled in abject terror, fighting over mounts to fly away.
Apart from these well-prepared bandits, there were also some mortal sailors aboard who seemed to have no cultivation. Despair filled their faces at the sight.
"Heavens, what are we supposed to do?"
"Help!"
"Stop! There seem to be innocent people aboard who were forced into this!"
Just then, Fang Qianyuan aboard the Ice Dragon also noticed the situation. He immediately formed a hand seal, sending a mental message through his spirit essence connection.
He was no rigid moralist, but things had not reached the point where killing was unavoidable. If he could avoid taking more lives, it was best to do so promptly.
Otherwise, with Bighead's crushing strength, breaking a wooden ship like this clean in two would have