“That's impossible. Formations are carved into the hull specifically to deceive Sky Demons and conceal the treasure ship's tracks. Zhemu Sky Demons never travel alone, nor do they reveal themselves easily. Moreover, they act as the eyes of the Sky Demons. It would be one thing if you had killed it in the black mist, Fellow Daoist, but if its presence has truly been discovered on the treasure ship itself—”
The Wuwei Sect disciple's expression shifted. He exchanged a glance with his fellow disciple beside him and immediately ordered a Foundation Establishment disciple to strap on the Vermilion Bird Lock and go down to investigate.
The two of them did not take Nan Zhi's words as a joke. The former immediately stood up, cupped his hands to her, and said, “If what you say is true, Fellow Daoist, the treasure ship's tracks may have already been exposed to the Sky Demons. We must report this to the elders on the ship as soon as possible... Please excuse us, Fellow Daoist.”
With that, the Wuwei Sect disciple immediately flew off on his sword, leaving the onlookers in a flurry of hushed discussions:
“Sky Demons? Aren't those bizarre things only daring enough to stay in the black mist? They can't board the treasure ship, can they?”
“Didn't you hear what that human cultivator said? She slew that Zhemu Sky Demon right near the treasure ship!”
“A Zhemu only has a cultivation level comparable to human Qi Refinement. Aside from being hard to track, they aren't that difficult to kill. The ship is protected by formations and guarded by several Golden Core Masters. Why make such a fuss?”
“Pfft... You clearly don't know. Sky Demons are like bedbugs—you can't kill them all, and you can't burn them away. They are trapped in this Wuwang Sea all year round. Yet, these things have incredibly sharp ears and eyes, as if they possess the Thousand Mile Eye and Far Hearing Ear. Once a single Sky Demon finds a merchant ship, the entire swarm knows about it. That's why all the traveling treasure ships have concealment formations from the Qingjing Sect carved on them. That is the only reason they can avoid High-level Sky Demons and dock safely.”
“Of course we don't fear low-level Sky Demons, but a single High-level Sky Demon is comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator! A century ago, High-level Sky Demons invaded the Rakshasa Sea Market. If it weren't for the Sea Market Master, Lady Mingzhu, stepping in, biting off half of the demon's arm, and driving it back into the Wuwang Sea, who knows how many people would have died in the Rakshasa Sea Market!”
“Hiss! In that case, doesn't that mean the Splendid Platform is...”
“Pah, pah, pah! Don't let your minds wander. What if that female cultivator simply misidentified it?”
“How could the white jade board lie? That female cultivator definitely slew a Zhemu Sky Demon...”
“Speaking of which, that human female cultivator is truly formidable. Even Tu Jiuxiao, who has slain the most demons, probably couldn't stay in the black mist for a full shichen straight—”
“Over a thousand hungry ghosts, plus two Foundation Establishment demon beasts and a Zhemu Sky Demon... Tsk tsk... Wait, where did she go?”
Only then did the crowd realize that Nan Zhi had long since vanished from their midst. Even the Sea Dragon Kingdom woman who had been standing with her just a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.
At the very edge of the crowd stood a young sword cultivator dressed in yellow robes. He had clear, bright eyes and sharp, handsome features. He looked quite young and wore no ornaments whatsoever, save for a plain, ordinary sword hanging from his waist.
Staring at the astonishing string of numbers next to Ma Jiu's name on the white jade board, he couldn't help but tighten his grip on his sword, pursing his lips.
...
...
“My name is Hai Ying. Your name is Ma Jiu? You humans certainly have strange names.”
In an unnoticed corner, the Sea Dragon Kingdom woman sheepishly introduced herself. Finally, she asked, “Did... did you really discover a Zhemu Sky Demon at the bottom of the ship? That is not a good omen. Those things are like sharks in the water. Once a single one catches a scent of blood, a whole swarm will come chasing after it!”
“Of course. I might not be a good person in your eyes, but surely my character isn't so poor that I would make a joke out of something like this.”
Nan Zhi shrugged. She glossed over the part where she had actively tracked the Zhemu, merely claiming that it was a stroke of luck that she had run into the creature when it revealed itself. “I know very little about 'Sky Demons.' When we clashed just now, it felt incredibly bizarre. Even my weapon was nearly ruined. I wonder if I could trouble you, Fellow Daoist Hai Ying, to shed some light on this for me?”
“Those things don't just eat weapons. Formations, dharma treasures, talismans, spiritual swords, pills—as long as it contains spiritual energy, they can devour it.”
A hint of fear surfaced on Hai Ying's face, and she began to gesticulate with her hands. “A century ago, when I was still just a little sea dragon, I saw with my own eyes a High-level Sky Demon invading the Sea Dragon Kingdom. That Sky Demon's body was so massive it blotted out the sun, looking like a giant. Although it had a humanoid form, it devoured everything. Wherever it passed, everything turned into black water, and the spiritual energy was completely drained until that paradise became a spiritless land. Even now, there is still a section of the sea in the Rakshasa Sea Market that was defiled by a Sky Demon. For miles around, not a single blade of seagrass will grow, let alone any other living creature.”
“Devouring spiritual energy? No wonder everyone's expressions changed so drastically when they heard a Sky Demon was around, and those two Wuwei Sect disciples didn't even question it before rushing to investigate.”
Nan Zhi raised an eyebrow. “The treasure ship is sturdy, and the demon beasts and hungry ghosts of the Wuwang Sea can't break through the formation's defenses. But if they run into a Sky Demon that can even devour formations...”
The treasure ship would plunge, and the over a hundred thousand cultivators of various races aboard would all perish in the Wuwang Sea. Just thinking of that consequence was enough to send a shiver down one's spine.
She pondered for a moment, then raised another question: “Since they are so worried about an invasion by High-level Sky Demons, and we aren't far from Jueming Cliff, why not turn back immediately to avoid them? That way, they could preserve the lives of everyone on the ship.”
“That wouldn't work.”
Hai Ying no longer felt any of her initial aversion toward Nan Zhi, honestly shaking her head as she explained, “Sky Demons are interconnected. If they've truly locked onto the Splendid Platform, they won't easily let us go. They would follow us all the way to the shore. In the Wuwang Sea, the black mist acts as a barrier that prevents the Sky Demons from reaching land. But once we cross Jueming Cliff, we enter the mortal realm. If the Sky Demons follow us to land and enter the mortal realm, it would throw the world into utter chaos. There is an unwritten rule in the Rakshasa Sea Market: any merchant ship or tower ship targeted by Sky Demons is not permitted to dock easily, lest they bring a Sky Demon tide to the various nations.”
“So that's how it is. They would rather fight to the death than give the Sky Demons an opportunity to reach land and harm others. They truly live up to the name of cultivators of our generation.”
Nan Zhi rubbed her chin, looking in the direction where the two Wuwei Sect disciples had disappeared. A sudden thought floated up in her mind.
...
...
Meanwhile, after receiving Nan Zhi's report, the two Wuwei Sect disciples quickly informed the ship's manager. They then sent people down to investigate, and indeed discovered several traces of formations that had been gnawed on by Sky Demons.
When the manager of the Splendid Platform heard this, despite being a Golden Core cultivator, he broke out in a cold sweat of anxiety. He hastily sent someone to deliver the news to the Heaven-grade rooms.
Inside the Golden Cauldron Jade Pavilion, Heaven Grade Room One.
As the most luxurious suite on the entire Splendid Platform, the decorations and layout of Heaven Grade Room One were naturally exquisite and marvelous in every way:
The floor was paved with South Sea white jade, and a screen of North Sea red coral stood in the room. Behind strings of pearl curtains stood a massive, three-person-wide iridescent sunset clam, its half-open shell possessing a quality almost identical to top-grade white jade.
There was no incense in the room, yet a faint, natural chill hung in the air. A single breath felt as if the crisp scent of ice and snow was soaking into one's chest.
Outside the jade screen, resting on a weapon rack carved from walrus ivory as thick as a baby's forearm, lay a menacing trident that gleamed with a chilling light.
Draped in Spirit Swallowing Grass, Nan Zhi popped a Qi-Augmenting Pill into her mouth as she scanned the room's layout.
—There were people inside. Although the Spirit Swallowing Grass could isolate the divine sense of a Nascent Soul cultivator, she still did not dare get too close.
Behind the Jiao Silk, however, were the silhouettes of a man and a woman sitting extremely close to each other. Against the faint cold fragrance in the room, the atmosphere appeared increasingly hazy and intimate.
She hadn't accidentally walked into some mature, R-rated scene, had she?
Nan Zhi's movements froze.
Rate on N.U.
