How did this display of force look anything like an expedition to wipe out the mere Xu Household of Sea Prosperity Island?
Mingling with the crowd, Qing Chen looked up, and his heart could not help sinking.
Above the sea, a massive ship hung in the air.
The [War Treasure Ship] resembled a moving mountain, its entire hull cast from an unknown, dark metal;
a ferocious, man-eating shark's head was carved into its prow, and densely packed spirit cannon barrels protruded from both sides.
Hundreds of Condensed Jade Sect disciples stood solemnly on deck. Even the surrounding waves seemed to have quieted somewhat.
This was clearly the sort of reserve strength that should only have been deployed against a great lineage with deep foundations!
Why go this far against a lineage whose strongest members were merely in the Foundation Establishment Realm?
Qing Chen's gaze flickered, his thoughts churning.
Xu Jiuling... had indeed been laying plans all along.
Thinking back now, when he had made an exception and promoted Qing Chen to the inner sect two years ago, those vaguely worded pointers had probably been groundwork for today.
This seemingly imposing Foundation Establishment martial uncle was so deeply calculating that it chilled the heart.
His gaze swept ahead.
Li Feiyu was there, as were Xu Jiuling's three personal disciples, all of whom had long since reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining.
Somewhat to his surprise, Yue Lingshan was nowhere to be seen.
Otherwise, Qing Chen really would have liked to see for himself just what sort of woman she was.
Then, at the edge of the crowd, he spotted a figure who was not entirely unfamiliar-Mo Qiuxian.
The man remained as taciturn as ever, standing alone in a corner.
*So the peace within the sect these past two years was