60: Ghostland

The massive flying ship was enveloped by an invisible force, soaring beneath the clouds at extreme speed. At this altitude, ordinary Mortals couldn't see clearly, but cultivators could see it distinctly, with the large flag of Dongming Sect fluttering above, extremely eye-catching.

Any cultivator who saw the words 'Dongming Sect' would stop and gaze from afar; even cultivators occasionally passing by beneath the clouds on flying swords would steer clear early, their eyes filled with both reverence and fear.

"Dongming Sect! One of the Southern Chu Kingdom's Three Hegemon Sects, controlling the entire Nine Provinces of the Southern Chu Kingdom alongside the other two great Hegemon Sects!"

Even the Twelve Phase Sect, once immensely prosperous and unrivalled in prominence, was personally eradicated by Dongming Sect, making it a truly colossal existence.

Not to mention rogue cultivators, even ordinary Sects and cultivation families would immediately retreat in front of Dongming Sect.

Furthermore, there are rumors that behind Dongming Sect, deep within the vast universe starry sky, lies a significant origin. Many of Dongming Sect's True Disciples gradually faded from the Southern Chu Kingdom's view because they went to cultivate in that deep Universe.

"However, I have heard that Dongming Sect currently shows a subtle trend of being suppressed by the Southern Chu Kingdom's other two great Hegemon Sects, because both of those two great Hegemon Sects seem to have produced Heavenly Pride accompanied by Innate treasures, their momentum astonishingly fierce, and there is more than one such individual."

"Even within the Southern Chu Kingdom's Royal Family lineage, which only controls one province, it is said that Heavenly Pride accompanied by Innate treasures have emerged."

Yet, Dongming Sect, as one of South Chu's three hegemons, has remained silent. Especially recently, the Twelve Phase Sect, which was annihilated by Dongming Sect, seems to have revived and has been constantly causing trouble for Dongming Sect. This is not a good sign!

Of course, even through voice transmission, those small Sects, families, or rogue cultivators would not dare to say such things in front of Dongming Sect's traveling flying ship.

No matter how much Dongming Sect might be suppressed, it is still a hegemon of the Southern Chu Kingdom and can still suppress a region.

However, the Disciples and Elders on Dongming Sect's flying ship clearly paid no attention to those cultivators passing by on flying swords.

Even the usually cautious Lu Chen had no time to look around, because at this moment, he was thinking: "If danger truly descends..."

With the Grand Elder and Third Elder present, as well as six Elders from Mingjing Peak and Doujian Peak, and the True Disciples of the six Peak Lords, the danger shouldn't be great, and these Elders might not be unprepared.

"It's better to rely on oneself than on others." As Lu Chen's thoughts turned, he had already quietly retreated outside the crowd.

In a secluded corner of the flying ship, Lu Chen quickly summoned two Golden Armor Dao Soldiers.

Hmm, if there's really danger, let the Dao Soldiers bear the brunt first; at least he won't be caught off guard.

Almost at the same moment Lu Chen summoned the Golden Armor Dao Soldiers, the Third Elder subtly glanced at a certain secluded corner, his lips twitching: "Quite vigilant!"

Then, a hint of a smile played on his lips: "Not bad!"

The ability to foresee or sense impending crisis is not a talent just anyone possesses.

And the ability to fully trust one's own premonition and immediately take action, not entrusting one's safety entirely to these Elders and the Peak Lords' True Disciples, is even rarer.

Cultivators like this often live longer. Unless their luck is extremely poor, when any danger descends, such people can often turn peril into safety and successfully escape.

Clearly, Lu Chen is this type of cultivator.

Very steady, so steady that the Third Elder, this Sword Fighting Peak Lord, even...

...liked him more and more!

"Boom!"

Without any warning, Dongming Sect's massive flying ship suddenly experienced violent tremors.

Soon, a Disciple shouted sternly: "Who dares to attack my Dongming Sect flying ship?"

"How bold!"

"Seeking death!"

Stern shouts rang out one after another, and more Disciples flashed to the edge of the flying ship.

Outside the flying ship, a feather fan so large it seemed to cover the sky was waving. With a forward wave, heavenly fire like falling meteors crashed down onto the invisible Restriction on the flying ship, causing the ship to shake incessantly.

With a reverse wave, majestic sword energy gathered like a pouring heavenly river, slicing through the Void and causing ripples. The sound of the sword whistling was deafening, and it finally slashed down onto the flying ship, nearly overturning it.

Fortunately, the protective Formation on the flying ship showed no signs of breaking, steadily blocking the heavenly fire meteors and heavenly river sword energy from the outside.

"'Heavenly Fire Sword Feather,' that fan has indeed arrived!" The Third Elder suddenly rose from the flying ship. On his already somewhat domineering and youthful face, a few more traces of chilling killing intent appeared.

"Just in time!" As his voice rose, the Third Elder took a step. As his voice fell, the Third Elder's figure silently disappeared, leaving only his aged voice echoing on the flying ship: "All Disciples, remain seated on the flying ship. Do not go outside the flying ship. Otherwise, bear the consequences of life and death yourselves."

"Boom!" Terrifying fluctuations emanated from outside the flying ship. Immortal light erupted, seemingly engulfing the entire sky, obscuring even the light of the great sun. If there were no surprises, the Third Elder had started fighting with the unknown existence outside the flying ship.

"My intuition was indeed correct, there's really danger!" Lu Chen was still in that secluded corner.

With the Third Elder gone, these Senior apprentice-brothers on the flying ship were unreliable; none of them could fight. It truly was better to rely on oneself than on others.

However, he was very obedient. The Third Elder said not to step out of the flying ship, so he insisted on not stepping out of the flying ship.

How dangerous it was outside! Someone who could fight the Third Elder to such an extent couldn't be much weaker than the Third Elder. Even if he had more Golden Armor Dao Soldiers, going out would just be sending them to their deaths. Staying put honestly was the best outcome.

Moreover, the protective Formation on this flying ship seemed very powerful. The sky-covering feather fan outside definitely couldn't break the flying ship's Formation in a short time. In other words, it was currently very safe on the flying ship.

"Could it be that damned Twelve Phase Sect causing trouble again?" Lu Chen focused his gaze outside the flying ship, but the commotion from the Third Elder fighting with someone was too great. Sword energy soared into the sky, and divine light filled the Void, making it impossible to see clearly.

Only vaguely visible were figures seemingly wearing Azure Dragon masks, Kirin masks, and Peacock masks, surrounding and attacking the Third Elder.

Further away, astonishing battles also erupted outside Dongming Sect's other two flying ships. The Grand Elder, as well as the six Elders from Doujian Peak and Mingjing Peak, and the True Disciples of those Elders, were all caught in fierce combat.

However, with Lu Chen's level of strength, he couldn't see clearly whether Dongming Sect had the upper hand or if the remnants of the Twelve Phase Sect had the advantage.

"How bold! No wonder you dared to attack my Dongming Sect flying ship, knowing that this old man and others were present. So it turns out there are despicable entities disguised as remnants of the Twelve Phase Sect assisting you!" Suddenly, the Third Elder's startled and angry voice came from the battlefield engulfed in divine light, vast and clear, echoing in Lu Chen's ears.

'Cultivators from outside the Twelve Phase Sect are impersonating people from the Twelve Phase Sect to oppose Dongming Sect?' Lu Chen's heart jumped!

Who is so audacious? They dare to follow these remnants of the Twelve Phase Sect to provoke Dongming Sect within the Southern Chu Kingdom. Aren't they afraid of being found out by Dongming Sect and having their lineage directly annihilated?

No, since they dare to attack Dongming Sect, those guys impersonating the Twelve Phase Sect must have a certain level of confidence!

"Sword Fighting Peak Lord, I didn't let you completely perish three hundred years ago. Today, I shall grant you another sword strike!" A cold, low voice came from outside the flying ship. It sounded like a female voice. Following that, terrifyingly cold sword energy erupted, slicing through the Void and creating turbulent currents. The resulting gale was like a tsunami, even sending the massive flying ship flying.

'The person who inflicted a Dao injury on the Third Elder three hundred years ago has come?!' Lu Chen felt a bit restless. This momentum was very wrong! But the flying ship was flipped by the gale produced by that terrifying sword energy, rolling beneath the clouds, causing all the Disciples on board to sway and shake along with it.

In Lu Chen's vision, the sky and ground were spinning back and forth. In a daze, Lu Chen seemed to see another gloomy, dark firmament, replacing the real world with the great sun hanging high, abruptly enveloping the flying ship.

Not just the flying ship Lu Chen was on, the other two flying ships were also not spared, both were swept into and swallowed by that gloomy, dark firmament.

At the same moment, from within the clouds, a withered hand reached out. With a casual beckoning, the dark firmament continuously shrank and folded, finally transforming into a scroll, which was seized by the withered hand.

"Hehehehehe, having entered this old man's 'Boundless Ghost Domain Scroll,' you juniors of Dongming Sect, wait to be devoured by ten thousand ghosts, your souls and bodies consumed until death!"