Several months later, on land beside the Mingdu Sea.
Clusters of ancient, ash-gray palaces stood side by side. Demons of every kind passed among them, while snakefolk in soft armor patrolled the grounds. All was peaceful.
Clouds drifted through the sky, where an Azure-Gold Warship hung suspended. A great gold-and-scarlet banner stood upon it, pouring torrents of crimson fire downward, while the demon generals gathered around it continuously cast Spirit Treasures of every kind into the flames.
An elderly cultivator with white hair and beard was overseeing the work, directing the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Azure Dew and Flame Feather Guards to jointly activate the [Bingyang Banner] and refine the Treasure Ship.
The aura radiating from this elderly cultivator had already reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage. He was none other than Yang Yanxiang, who had received Xu Xuan several times during his past visits to Deep Abyss. Though this old Fire Crow's bloodline was impure, his Artifact Refining skills were considerable. Yang Yuanxin had summoned him to refine the Treasure Ship through a joint-refinement method.
Most of the Spirit Treasures Xu Xuan had acquired lately had gone into the Mistlight Warship. He had even worked on it himself, taking advantage of the local terrain to refine the Treasure Ship. Mistlight was now gradually recovering its former grade, returning to the Purple Mansion Tier.
Inside the main hall, Xu Xuan sat upon a throne carved from black stone, with Yang Yuanxin and Lu Lian seated to either side. Below them, Hidden Rosy Clouds, dressed in colorful robes, led a group of aquatic folk awaiting orders.
Xu Xuan looked at the lady of the Azure Horned Serpent lineage and asked in a low voice:
"Have any powers from Heaven Pool come to ransom the people we captured?"
"[Great Southern Grace Temple]