272: Chapter 272 The Zhao Family's Counterattack

The news that the Zhao Family was secretly transporting a 5th-grade barrier-breaking pill to Nanya Commandery eventually reached the ears of hostile forces.

Such a supreme treasure was enough to make countless factions green with envy. Capable of helping a Martial Sect Realm expert overcome a Bottleneck, the hostile forces naturally wanted to intercept and kill at any cost to ruin the Zhao Family's plan.

Just as the merchant ship's defenses collapsed and the three Martial King experts were about to board, two even more majestic Auras erupted from the bottom of the ship's hold, like a sleeping Dragon awakening.

Two figures swept onto the deck carrying biting gusts of wind. One held a heavy shield, and the other wore a saber at his waist. Their overwhelming Late Stage Martial King pressure filled the air, instantly suppressing the Auras of the three attackers.

"We expected you to come; how could the Zhao Family be unprepared?" the shield-wielding elder shouted in a deep voice. With a swing of his heavy shield, he blocked a heavy punch from one of the Martial Kings, the violent collision causing the air to ripple.

On the deck, a battle at the Martial King level erupted instantly.

Blades and swords flashed and intertwined, and energy shockwaves spread continuously, kicking up clouds of water mist. The merchant ship swayed violently in the fierce battle, in danger of capsizing at any moment.

The Zhao Family's two Late Stage Martial King experts coordinated perfectly. One defended as solidly as a mountain, while the other attacked as sharply as lightning, forcibly keeping the three attackers off the deck.

However, the opponents were clearly well-prepared as well. The three seemed to have mastered a combined attack Formation, their Moves ruthless and aimed directly at vital points. For a time, both sides were deadlocked, and the battle lasted from the afternoon until deep into the night.

At the very first instant the battle broke out, Ye Yisong had already taken out a message transmission jade talisman. Injecting his spirit power with his fingertips, the talisman instantly burst with a faint spiritual light, piercing through layers of energy fluctuations and speeding off in the direction of Luomu Mountain in Cangjiang Prefecture.

Ye Yisong knew that this attack was no small matter; three Martial Kings joining forces was certainly not easy to deal with. Although the Zhao Family was prepared, the battle situation was unpredictable. For his own safety, contacting his Family's Old Ancestor to come and support was the only way to ensure nothing went wrong.

After finishing the transmission, he suppressed his Aura and continued to hide in his room, using his Internal Energy to resist the aftermath of the battle outside while closely monitoring the course of the fight.

The three Zhao Family Martial Kings coordinated in pairs, instantly breaking the trio's unfamiliar combined attack Formation, yet without losing composure, preventing the three ambushing attackers from taking a single step forward.

The three scattered shadows shot down from the sky again. The black-clad elder's palm wind was like a blade, slashing directly at Zhao Zuoqiu's face. The blue-clad elder swung his palm to lock his throat, while the unnamed Martial Artist thrust his spear toward the flank, murderous intent chilling.

"Well come!" Zhao Zuoqiu's eyes flashed with intensity. The long saber at his waist left its sheath, bringing up a cold glint, and he advanced instead of retreating.

The blade collided with the black-clad elder's palm wind, sparking crackling energy. He used the momentum to spin, his saber momentum sweeping across like a rainbow, forcing the elder to retreat repeatedly.

"Your Excellency's palm power is chilling; it is quite similar to the style of the Nether Valley from back then." As Zhao Zuoqiu's voice faded, his saber Moves became increasingly fierce. Each strike was wrapped in rigid Internal Energy, dissolving all of the black-clad elder's offensives. Their figures intertwined in the woods, the sound of weapons colliding shaking the fallen leaves into the air.

On the other side, Zhao Zuoshi shook his arms, and his profound iron giant shield slammed onto the deck, blocking the unnamed Martial Artist's spear tip, sending sparks flying.

"Grandfather Zhao Fengchi!" he shouted deeply, exerting sudden force on the shield face, bending the spear shaft.

Grandfather Zhao Fengchi's figure was like lightning; his long saber slid out along the edge of the shield, slashing directly at the unnamed Martial Artist's wrist with a tricky and ruthless attack.

The two coordinated seamlessly. Zhao Zuoshi's shield was like a wall of copper and iron, blocking all attacks, while Grandfather Zhao Fengchi sought openings to counterattack, his saber light like a ribbon, forcing the unnamed Martial Artist into a desperate defense.

Seeing his companion in a bitter fight, the blue-clad elder suddenly changed his sword style, Sword Qi crisscrossing as he thrust directly into the openings of Zhao Zuoshi and Grandfather Zhao Fengchi.

Zhao Zuoshi spun his shield to protect himself, the edge of the shield deflecting the Sword Qi. Grandfather Zhao Fengchi took the opportunity to spin and slash sideways, his long saber grazing the blue-clad elder's shoulder, drawing a spray of blood.

"Rat, you are courting death!" Grandfather Zhao Fengchi sneered. His saber momentum became increasingly swift and fierce, forming an offensive and defensive loop with Zhao Zuoshi, trapping the blue-clad elder and the unnamed Martial Artist tightly.

Gusts of wind howled through the woods. Zhao Zuoqiu slashed open the black-clad elder's Protective Aura with one strike, the blade pointing directly at his heart.

The black-clad elder was shocked and furious. He exhausted all his strength to block with his palm horizontally, but he was shaken by the saber energy, his internal organs churning, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Meanwhile, Zhao Zuoshi and Grandfather Zhao Fengchi had already coordinated tacitly. The shield locked the spear's path, and the long saber pierced through the unnamed Martial Artist's shoulder blade. Seeing this, the blue-clad elder's mind was in chaos, and his sword Moves gradually lost their structure.

After half a day of bloody battle, the water area was dyed a faint scarlet, and both sides had exhausted most of their spirit power.

Although the Zhao Family's two Late Stage Martial King experts held the upper hand, they were also covered in wounds and could not take down their opponents for the moment. The three attackers were even more withered, with one of them bleeding continuously from his left arm, clearly unable to fight anymore.

"Retreat!" The leading black-clad Martial King, seeing that they couldn't win after a long attack and sensing a powerful Aura approaching rapidly from the distance, knew that continuing to fight would only result in losses. He made a decisive decision to order a retreat.

The three figures quickly reined in their attacks and darted into the water like ghosts, disappearing into the vast water area in an instant.

The three Zhao Family Martial Kings did not stop them, allowing the three to retreat.

Only after confirming that the enemies had completely retreated did the three Zhao Family Martial King experts breathe a sigh of relief and sit on the deck to regulate their breathing and heal their wounds.

At this moment, a stream of light had appeared on the distant horizon, moving with extreme speed and arriving above the merchant ship in an instant.

That was a middle-aged Martial Artist with black hair, his Aura unfathomable. He was none other than the Old Ancestor of Ye Yisong's Family.

Ancestor Ye Rongming's gaze swept over the battered merchant ship and the injured Zhao Family experts, finally landing on Ye Yisong's room. Seeing that he was not injured, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Ye Yisong pushed open the door, his figure flickering as he landed beside Ancestor Ye Rongming.

"Ancestor Ye Rongming has met three Fellow Daoists," Ancestor Ye Rongming said, cupping his hands in greeting. "The Ye Family will never forget this kindness. In the future, should you have any requests, the Ye Family will definitely not shirk from our duty."

"Fellow Daoist Ye is too polite," Grandfather Zhao Fengchi replied politely, quite satisfied that he was able to provide such rapid support; otherwise, who knew how long this battle would have lasted.

"Since our two Families are becoming in-laws, this small matter is not worth mentioning."

"Does Senior need to come to my Ye Family to rest for a while before continuing the journey?" Ancestor Ye Rongming offered, taking the initiative to show goodwill.

"No need. We still have important matters to attend to and cannot stay long. Fellow Daoist Ye, you may take Ye Yisong and leave," Grandfather Zhao Fengchi politely declined.

"Then I shall not disturb you further and will take my leave," Ancestor Ye Rongming bowed again.

Ye Yisong bowed to the two Zhao Family experts as a token of gratitude, and then he and the Old Ancestor rose into the air together, flying toward Luomu Mountain in Cangjiang Prefecture.

Behind them, the Zhao Family's merchant ship slowly adjusted its course and continued toward Nanya Commandery, but the bloodstains on the deck and the damaged ship hull were all telling the tale of this thrilling attempted murder.

Ye Yisong stood on the clouds, looking back at the water area that had just experienced a great battle. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Being ambushed on this return journey clearly indicated that the forces involved behind the scenes were far more complex than imagined.

Would he be dragged into it?

After returning to the Family, before the Provincial Examination begins, it would be better not to leave Luomu Mountain lightly. He should go into closed-door Cultivation for a few years, comprehend the rudiments of a Domain, and step into the Martial King Realm as soon as possible. Only then would he have a sliver of self-preservation power in this treacherous and unpredictable situation.