326: Chapter 326 Cloud Boat Attack

The "wave-breaker" pierced through clouds and mist, sailing very steadily. The Spirit-Gathering Wind-Governing Formation engraved on the hull operated continuously, forming a Qi shield around the vessel to counteract the resistance of the astral winds caused by high-speed flight.

After three days of sailing, they were already thousands of miles away from the Qinglan Mountain Range. The landscape below gradually shifted from continuous mountain ridges to vast plains.

According to the itinerary, they would reach the Central Province territory, where the Imperial Capital was located, in about two more days.

The interior of the cloud boat was spacious. True Disciples were located on the upper level, which featured independent quiet rooms, observation decks, and small cultivation rooms.

Inner Sect Disciples resided on the middle level; the conditions were slightly inferior but still more comfortable than an ordinary inn.

The bottom level housed the control cabin, storage, and the quarters for accompanying deacons and Elders.

These three days of sailing were quite novel for most Disciples. Once the initial sense of freshness passed, most of them settled into their own routines.

Some were in seclusion in their quiet rooms, seizing the final moments to consolidate their cultivation. Others gathered in common areas to exchange cultivation insights or excitedly discuss speculations about the Supreme Ranking.

There were also those like Pei Tieshan who couldn't bear the loneliness and practiced their martial arts on the deck, drawing cheers from a distance from some Inner Sect Disciples.

Ye Tian spent most of his time in the quiet room assigned to him, continuing to contemplate Sword Intent and stabilize his cultivation.

Occasionally, he would go to the observation deck to lean against the railing and gaze into the distance, watching the churning sea of clouds and the magnificent mountains and rivers.

He also had small gatherings with old friends like Leng Feng and Lei Zhen to encourage one another.

Feng Xuan remained gentle and refined, occasionally discussing scriptures or experiences with Ye Tian.

Shui Qingdie was elusive, sometimes giving Ye Tian a meaningful smile.

Yu Miaoqing was as cold and aloof as ever, rarely interacting with anyone.

Dongfang Xinghe was almost never seen; it was said he stayed near the control cabin to study the cloud boat's protective grand Formation.

Yun Wuji was even more reclusive, to the point where his presence could hardly be sensed.

As for Tang Yun from Kaiyang Peak, he maintained a faint hostility toward Ye Tian, making no effort to hide the coldness in his eyes when their gazes met, though he didn't actively provoke him. Ye Tian didn't bother to pay him any mind.

This afternoon, the cloud boat was flying over a plain called the Falling Star Plain. This area was relatively sparsely populated, with groups of demonic birds occasionally streaking by in the far distance.

Inside his quiet room, Ye Tian used his finger as a sword, moving it slowly to comprehend Sword Intent.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed, and the movement of his fingertip paused.

Almost simultaneously, the entire cloud boat jolted slightly. The protective Qi shield outside the hull seemed to rub against something, making a soft "chi" sound.

Had it not been for Ye Tian's keen spiritual sense, it would have been nearly impossible to notice.

"Hmm?" Ye Tian stood up and walked to the porthole, looking outside. The cloud boat was still flying steadily. Below was the slowly moving, vast wilderness; the sky was clear and cloudless for ten thousand miles, appearing perfectly normal.

But the warning sign in his heart did not dissipate.

Having cultivated to this point, his intuition—honed through life-and-death trials—was often more trustworthy than his eyes.

He quietly spread out his spiritual sense, coordinating it with the Five Elements Sword Body's acute perception of energy to carefully probe the cloud boat's perimeter.

A moment later, his gaze narrowed.

In the high clouds about a dozen miles behind the cloud boat, there were three or four extremely stealthy energy fluctuations quietly tailing them.

They cleverly used the clouds and light refraction to hide their forms. If Ye Tian hadn't been intentionally searching, they would have been impossible to discover.

"Tailers... and they're hidden extremely well." Ye Tian's eyes turned slightly cold. Was it a coincidence, or were they coming for them? If it was the latter, who would it be? Ling Juexiao? Or some other force?

He pondered for a moment but did not immediately speak up.

Firstly, the other party had not yet shown hostility and was still far away. Secondly, there were two Sea Transformation Realm Elders, Xing Tiexin and Qinglan, stationed on the cloud boat, along with a sophisticated protective Formation. Ordinary scoundrels would find it difficult to shake them.

Perhaps it was just a cloud boat from another power traveling the same way, whose route happened to overlap?

However, for the next hour, those few faint fluctuations remained like shadows, maintaining a distance of about a dozen miles—neither gaining nor falling behind.

This could not possibly be a coincidence!

Just as Ye Tian was considering whether to inform Elder Xing Tiexin, the void about five miles ahead of the cloud boat distorted violently without warning!

Immediately after, three thick black chains emerged from a different dimension, suddenly piercing through the void and wrapping toward the bow, midsection, and stern of the "wave-breaker"!

"Enemy attack! Activate maximum protection!" From inside the control cabin came Elder Xing Tiexin's urgent, sharp shout!

The hull of the "wave-breaker" erupted with brilliant cyan-gold light. The engraved Formation runes flashed frantically, and the invisible Qi shield instantly solidified, turning into a light membrane that enveloped the entire cloud boat.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The three black chains struck the cyan light membrane almost simultaneously!

The cloud boat shook violently. The light membrane flickered unsteadily, its surface rippling with intense waves. Objects inside many cabins were knocked over, and some Disciples with lower cultivation were unable to stand steadily, crying out in alarm.

"It's the Void-Piercing Magic Locks! They can briefly tear through space for a sneak attack! It must be at least a third-grade Formation artifact!" a Disciple cried out in horror.

"Which scoundrels dare to attack the cloud boat of our Liuli Xuan Sect!" Elder Qinglan's cold voice echoed through the cloud boat. A soft wave of cyan light spread from her location, quickly stabilizing the vessel and reinforcing the protective light membrane.

"Jie jie jie... Liuli Xuan Sect? What a big name!"

A strange laugh came from the distorted void ahead.

A rift opened in the void, and three black war-boats—slightly smaller than the "wave-breaker," entirely pitch-black, and shaped like human skulls—slowly sailed out, blocking the path ahead.

The black war-boats were thick with Devilish Qi. Dozens of figures stood upon them, all wearing uniform black-and-red martial outfits and malevolent ghost masks. Their cultivation was at least at the True Martial Fifth Stage or higher, and the three leaders had even reached the True Martial Ninth or Tenth Level!

The three Void-Piercing Magic Locks had been fired from these three black war-boats.

"It's the Black Skull Bandits! Outlaws active in the Falling Star Plain area!" Some Disciples recognized the iconic Skull War-boats, their faces turning pale.

The Black Skull Bandits were notoriously fierce. It was said they were supported by a major power, specializing in robbing passing merchant caravans and Sect cloud boats. They were cruel and left no survivors.

"Black Skull Bandits?" Elder Xing Tiexin's figure appeared at the very front of the cloud boat's deck, his face ashen. "You bunch of rats who hide your heads and show your tails actually dare to block my Liuli Xuan Sect? You're looking for death!"

He pointed his fingers and made a stroke in the air. A Sword Qi pierced through the sky, slashing directly toward the middle black war-boat!

"Sea Transformation Realm? Hehe, we've been prepared for you!" On the middle black war-boat, the Ghost-faced Leader at the True Martial Tenth Level gave a strange laugh and suddenly crushed a black talisman in his hand.

"Buzz!"

Between the three black war-boats, an eerie black net instantly lit up, connecting the three vessels into one.

When Xing Tiexin's sharp Sword Qi struck the light net, it only caused the net to fluctuate violently and dim slightly, failing to break it in one blow!

Clearly, under the combination of these three war-boats, they possessed a joint defensive capability that could briefly withstand the attacks of the Sea Transformation Realm!

"Form the array!" the Ghost-faced Leader shouted.

On the three black war-boats, all the bandits simultaneously surged their true yuan. Streaks of black-red Evil Qi rose into the sky, forming a dark red Formation Domain that spanned several miles, enveloping the "wave-breaker" along with themselves!

Inside the Domain, the temperature plummeted, killing intent raged, and the mind was disturbed. Furthermore, a powerful suppressive force acted upon the Liuli Xuan Sect Disciples, making their true yuan circulation sluggish!

"It's a battle Formation!" Elder Qinglan's expression changed slightly. Her hands formed seals, and streaks of cyan light spread out, helping the Disciples steady their minds and counteracting part of the suppression.

"Everyone, hold your focus and form a defensive array! True Disciples, follow me to break the Formation and kill the enemy!" Elder Xing Tiexin made a prompt decision and commanded the crowd.

He saw that this Formation was quite troublesome and needed to be broken as soon as possible; otherwise, if it dragged on, the Disciples might suffer losses.

"Yes!" The Disciples obeyed with solemnity. Under the deacons' command, the Inner Sect Disciples quickly formed a circular defensive array.