370: Chapter 370 Interception on the Way

To break the blockade, they actually pinned their hopes on a Lower Realm Young Master who traveled with a "harem."

This was simply joking with the century-old foundation of the Jiuding Chamber of Commerce!

"Enshrine Li, watch your words!"

When Shui Changdong heard Li Xingzhou's near-accusatory words, his expression immediately darkened.

His originally gentle eyes became incomparably sharp, and a pressure belonging to a Golden Immortal emanated faintly.

He naturally knew Li Xingzhou meant well for the caravan, but he was even more aware of Lu Yuan's terrifying strength.

Forget bringing a few female companions; even if Lu Yuan brought a whole theater troupe, as long as he willed it, the Taixu Fortress would have to obediently let them pass!

"Worthy Nephew Lu is a distinguished guest I personally invited, and a great benefactor to our Jiuding Chamber of Commerce! His strength is far beyond your imagination; you will know once you go."

Shui Changdong's tone became stern, commanding without room for doubt, "This journey is of great importance."

"I will say it once more: all decisions along the way shall be based on Worthy Nephew Lu's wishes! You and everyone in the caravan must obey his command unconditionally! Do I make myself clear?"

Li Xingzhou's body jolted upon hearing this.

Looking at Shui Changdong's unprecedentedly serious expression, although his heart was still filled with resentment and doubt, he could only suppress his anger due to the President's absolute authority.

"...Yes."

Li Xingzhou took a deep breath, gave a cold snort, and stiffly cupped his hands. "Since the President has arranged it so, I shall obey."

He turned his head, his gaze coldly staring at Lu Yuan, his tone carrying a clear warning: "I hope Fellow Daoist Lu understands the priorities on this journey and causes less trouble."

"If danger is encountered, please follow my tactical arrangements. Do not ruin the Chamber's great affairs for your own selfish interests or to show off in front of these confidantes of yours!"

Facing Li Xingzhou's barbed warning, Lu Yuan did not get angry.

He looked at this enshrine, who was stubborn to the point of being somewhat cute, and a faint, slightly playful smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He liked subordinates who were principled and responsible; although his temper was a bit foul, he was reliable.

As for proof of strength... once they reached Taixu Fortress, there would be plenty of opportunities to shut him up.

"Enshrine Li is devoted to his duties; Lu admires that."

"Rest assured, I am someone who fears trouble most. As long as others do not provoke me, I am naturally happy to stay idle."

Lu Yuan replied indifferently, having no interest in arguing further with him.

He turned his head and nodded slightly to Shui Changdong: "Senior, please stay back; we are departing."

With that, he ignored Li Xingzhou and turned to lead Gu Qingxue and the other women, their robes fluttering as they stepped directly onto the merchant ship's broad deck.

...

"Set sail!"

Following Li Xingzhou's low, cold shout.

"Rumble—!"

A deafening roar erupted from the bottom of the merchant ship.

Around the massive hull made of Deep Sea Sunken Silver, the brilliant light of Formations burst forth.

A huge thrust instantly erupted, and the merchant ship shot through the air like a runaway horse.

In the blink of an eye, it broke through the clouds above Nine Cauldrons Immortal City and sailed into the vast, boundless Immortal Realm starry sky, full of the unknown and danger.

The starry sky of the Daluo Heaven was completely different from the tranquil night sky of the Xuanhuang Realm.

Here was a true cosmic abyss.

It was filled with violent Astral Storms, and meteor streams formed from shattered stars traversed the sky at speeds invisible to the naked eye, their power enough to easily pierce a Void Immortal's Physical Body.

Multicolored Immortal Dao Laws turbulence resembled brilliant auroras—beautiful yet deadly.

They twisted wantonly in the void; if one were caught in them by accident, they would be torn to pieces by the violent Laws.

Occasionally, through the merchant ship's Formation light screen, one could see Void Behemoths as massive as small planets cruising slowly in the extremely distant depths of space, emitting low roars that made the Soul tremble.

Under Li Xingzhou's personal control, the merchant ship cautiously avoided those dangerous spatial storms and sailed dully for several days.

During these days, besides occasionally guiding Gu Qingxue and the others in their cultivation, Lu Yuan spent most of his time resting with his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to the impending danger.

This caused Li Xingzhou, who had been secretly observing him, to feel an increasing sense of dissatisfaction, regarding him as nothing more than a superficial scion.

Finally, on the seventh day of the voyage.

"Alert! We are about to reach the outskirts of Taixu Fortress!"

As the guard responsible for the lookout issued a sharp warning, the atmosphere of the entire merchant ship instantly became solemn, and the air seemed permeated with a murderous aura.

Lu Yuan slowly opened his eyes, walked to the bow, and looked into the distance.

At the edge of his vision, the originally deep and empty starry sky was obscured by a massive, boundless shadow.

It was a vast star belt composed of countless broken giant meteors, fractured immortal mountain fragments, and various strangely shaped Immortal Artifact remains.

It was like a grayish-black dragon sleeping in the starry sky, baring its fangs and claws as it lay across the front, firmly guarding the only path to the Guanghan Domain.

This was Taixu Fortress!

The most important strategic hub in the northern Daluo Heaven!

As the merchant ship drew closer, a thick, nauseating scent of blood, mixed with violent and lingering Law fluctuations, rushed toward them like a tsunami.

Even through the ship's defensive light screen, Lu Yuan could clearly feel the lingering resentment and unwillingness of countless experts deep within that meteor belt.

Clearly, not long ago, this place had experienced an extremely tragic Immortal Rank battle, where even Golden Immortal powerhouses had personally descended to play the game!

"All hands on alert! Activate the highest defensive Formation!" Li Xingzhou's face was solemn to the extreme, his palms already seeping with cold sweat.

He knew that the real test was only just beginning.

The merchant ship slowly decelerated, attempting to pass through the narrow channel within the meteor belt.

Just then.

"Stop the ship! Deactivate the Formations and accept inspection! Otherwise, you will be executed without mercy!"

A thunderous shout, like a strike from the Nine Heavens, erupted from deep within the meteor belt, making the starry sky around the merchant ship tremble.

Immediately following.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Dozens of incomparably powerful auras instantly locked onto the merchant ship.

Two teams of Cultivators wearing different attire, their bodies emanating intense Killing Intent, flew out from behind two giant meteors like packs of predatory wolves, blocking the ship's path from both left and right.

The team on the left consisted of about dozens of people, all dressed in Purple-Gold Daoist Robes, with violent thunder light faintly swirling around them.

Their gazes were arrogant and superior, as if they were the Dominators of this starry sky.

The team on the right was similar in number, wearing black and white profound robes and carrying standard longswords on their backs.

Every one of them had a cold expression, with Sword Qi soaring to the sky, giving off a sharp and unbearable pressure.