The Snake Spirit Way army's movements had long since been detected by Earth Pass Island's patrolling cultivators, and many in the Condensed Jade Sect had heard the news.
Black clouds churned where sea met sky, like ten thousand iron warhorses charging.
The Snake Spirit Way's Snake Spirit Treasure Ship had already revealed its menacing form. The copper flood-dragon head at its prow breathed savage light amid the dark clouds, its approach fierce indeed.
At the harbor outside Earth Pass City, Spirit Crane True Person stood with his hands behind his back, his expression hard as iron as he surveyed the forces.
Hurried footsteps sounded behind him. An Inner Sect disciple scouting the sea rushed over, his face deathly pale, and reported breathlessly, "True Person! Several miles outside the harbor, there's one Snake Spirit Treasure Ship and ten warboats, all bearing serpent patterns. They're flying the Snake Spirit Way's banners!"
Spirit Crane True Person's brows knitted tightly, and he sighed inwardly.
Months ago, when the treasure ships of the Three Corpse Demon Sect and Cold Mountain Temple had attacked, he had faced them alone.
Now the Snake Spirit Way had brought troops to the city gates. The situation was exactly the same as before, and once again he was alone.
Senior Brother Songshan had yet to return from his inspection patrol. He had sent Qing Chen several Voice Transmission Talismans in succession, but they had sunk like stones into the sea, without the slightest reply.
Recalling his last encounter with the Three Corpse Demon Sect and Cold Mountain Temple, Spirit Crane True Person felt that, terrifying as their forces had been, they had most likely not intended to attack the island.
But the Snake Spirit Way was a top-tier power renowned for its ferocity. Once it laid siege to a city,