Chapter 50: Chapter Fifty: Dark Clouds Obscure the Sun, Seeking Survival Amidst Chaos

Fang Xunzuo feared that after offering his treasure, he would be silenced instead of rewarded, turning his attempt to curry favor with the Fenyu Sect disciples into a farce. By nightfall, news of a Purple Luo Qiongzhi branch being on the ship had spread to every corner of the vessel.

Chi Song was aware of his scheme and felt a flicker of anger, though it was later smoothed over by his spiritual artifact.

The fellow passengers were merely at the Qi Refinement or Foundation Establishment stages, making them easy to deal with. He immediately recited an incantation, using his techniques to shroud the entire great ship in a total lockdown, preventing any intentional parties from leaking information.

During the night, a Foundation Establishment disciple attempted to send a message to a sect elder, only to be caught red-handed by Chi Song. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chi Song brutally shattered the disciple's dantian and threw him overboard!

This was a warning to the others—to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys—cautioning them not to harbor any ulterior motives.

Zhao Chun’s breath hitched; she hadn't expected his methods to be so decisive and cruel. Then, the thought occurred to her: if the news had leaked and sect elders had arrived to attack, the one facing death would likely have been Chi Song himself.

In the struggle between cultivators, life and death were always at stake; it was no wonder Chi Song was so cautious.

However, a different trouble now loomed before her and Meng Han...

"I went to ask the boatman. Both sets of cloud-treading ladders have been locked. It seems his intention is to have the great ship sail directly into the Eastern Region," Meng Han said as he pushed the door open. Now that Chi Song had eyes and ears everywhere, the two dared not speak much in public and could only exchange a few words in the cabin.

He poured himself a bowl of tea to moisten his throat and continued, "Judging by this route, he intends to pass by Fangjing Mountain. If he goes straight, he'll pass through rogue cultivator cities. He must be a prominent figure from one of them."

"It's just a hassle for us; we'll have to detour from the Eastern Region, adding several days to the journey."

Zhao Chun replied, "That doesn't matter. As long as no unexpected changes occur, we just need to disembark safely."

She only feared that Chi Song might suddenly develop murderous intent and silence all the passengers mid-journey—that would be a true calamity.

Meng Han nodded. This man was ruthlessly efficient; there was no guarantee he wouldn't harbor ill intentions. If that happened, with one of them at Qi Refinement and the other at Foundation Establishment, how could they possibly defend against the methods of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator?

He could only hope the ship sailed faster so they could reach the Eastern Region and make their escape.

The next morning, the boatman reported their progress, stating they had passed Fangjing Mountain. As the news spread, a myriad of anxieties brewed among the passengers, making the atmosphere increasingly somber.

As if by divine providence, the vast sea of clouds shifted abruptly in the afternoon. Thick mists replaced the white clouds, and the great ship slowed its pace, causing Chi Song to grow even more anxious.

Zhao Chun's cabin was located along the edge of the ship. Opening the outer window allowed her to see the sea of clouds, but at this moment, she could only see dark clouds pressing down, with a light drizzle faintly falling on her outstretched arm.

The distance was completely obscured, though she could vaguely perceive flashes of light within the cloud layers.

A thunderstorm was coming!

Zhao Chun's heart sank.

The first crack of thunder struck the top of the great ship, sounding immense yet feeling strangely formless.

It would not have been difficult for Chi Song to protect the ship and maintain its speed. However, fearing an ambush from external enemies, he dared not divert his attention and sat in his cabin to conserve his energy.

After the thunder, the rain fell. It did not hit the ship directly but lashed against the protective barrier surrounding the hull, creating a cacophony of noise.

With the threat of the heavens outside and a Nascent Soul cultivator within, the cultivators' irritability grew. Being trapped inside the ship only heightened the sense of panic.

Zhao Chun closed her door, refusing to listen to any rumors. She sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, silently chanting a calming mantra.

After an unknown amount of time, a deafening roar of thunder exploded, and the great ship rocked violently. She scrambled to her feet and pushed the door open, only to find Meng Han emerging with his blade drawn. They exchanged a glance and stepped outside together.

On the deck, someone shouted, "What happened?"

The boatman replied, "Thunder! It snapped one of the masts!"

The nine-sailed ship had three masts in total; losing one meant a third of its propulsion was gone, and the ship's speed would have to decrease further. Zhao Chun frowned.

Something was wrong!

She suddenly looked up. With a Nascent Soul cultivator guarding the ship, how could a lightning strike penetrate the defenses?

Before she could see clearly, her shoulder felt a heavy weight. Meng Han had also realized something and was pulling her toward the safety of the cabins.

Less than a breath after they moved, a beam of white light descended from the heavens, piercing straight through the deck!

The surrounding cultivators, unable to react in time, were instantly torn apart by the white light, flesh and blood flying everywhere!

"What lowly rogue is this, daring to cause trouble here!"

Amidst the howling winds, a figure hovered in the air—it was Chi Song, the one who had obtained the Purple Luo Qiongzhi!

His face was as grim as still water. It seemed the news of the spiritual artifact had not leaked at all; it was unclear whether this person was after the treasure or seeking vengeance...

"This seat is a presiding enforcer of Fengxian City! To dare violate the law before my very eyes, you should have weighed your own abilities!"

A sneer drifted through the mist, growing closer until a slender figure was revealed. The person had the face of a beautiful woman—or rather, the face of a youth of seventeen or eighteen—but looking down past the neck to the two large hands protruding from the sleeves, the skin was covered in age spots, clearly that of an old man!

"I weighed them, and that is why I am here." His voice was thin and soft, like the whisper of a mosquito. "I chose the moment when you were injured..."

Chi Song did not recognize this person, but Meng Han did. He whispered, "It's actually him!"

Zhao Chun asked, "Senior Brother, do you know him?"

Meng Han's expression turned grave. "I saw him once from a distance. I don't know his name, but I heard others call him the 'Skin-Stealing Old Daoist.' They say he loves handsome youths and peels off their skin to wear as his own, hence the name."

If that were the case, he was an evil cultivator.

The Hengyun World was dominated by righteous cultivators. Evil cultivators used depraved and ruthless methods, making them outcasts of the righteous path. Because they targeted mortals and damaged the karma of the Heavenly Dao, their reputations were so foul that it was no exaggeration to say they were targets for everyone to hunt.

Chi Song had cultivated for many years and had countless enemies. Seeing that the Skin-Stealing Old Daoist held no greed in his eyes, but rather was filled with hatred, he knew the man had come for revenge.

Chi Song felt a slight sense of relief. Seeing that the Old Daoist's aura was somewhat unstable, his anger flared. The man had actually dared to attack him just as he had entered the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm!

"A fine 'weighing' indeed! This time, I shall make you understand that even a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is nothing more than an ant in my eyes!"

When gods fight, mortals suffer.

As the two clashed, the aftershocks were so powerful that the great ship was in danger of capsizing!

They were thousands of meters above the ground in the heavens. If the ship broke apart, all passengers except for Foundation Establishment cultivators would almost certainly perish; those at the Qi Refinement stage had virtually no chance of survival.

The Skin-Stealing Old Daoist was weaker than Chi Song, but he was fighting with total disregard for his own life, intent on bringing Chi Song down with him!

Having just obtained the spiritual artifact, Chi Song was hesitant, causing him to fall into a temporary disadvantage. The more he fought, the more he was consumed by rage. Previously, he had considered the disciples and attendants on board, but now he cared for nothing, unleashing all his techniques to fight the Old Daoist in a chaotic struggle.

"The ship is breaking!"

Someone screamed, but Zhao Chun could no longer see clearly. The ship was in total chaos, with cries of terror and wails rising one after another.

With a massive boom, the remaining two masts also collapsed. Fierce winds rushed in from all sides, making it impossible for those at the Qi Refinement stage to stand. Fortunately, with Meng Han's assistance, Zhao Chun was not blown off the ship.

"Junior Sister Zhao!" Meng Han gripped the ship's railing. "These two are fighting so fiercely they have no time to watch us. This is our best chance to escape!"

Zhao Chun asked, "Senior Brother, do you have a way?"

Holding the railing with one arm, he reached out and produced a talisman, smiling into the wind. "I have something good!"

The talisman was pitch black and looked quite strange. Before Zhao Chun could ask, Meng Han pulled her aside just as a cultivator came flying past, falling into the clouds. Judging by his Qi Refinement cultivation, he likely had little hope of survival.

"We can't delay any longer!"

Meng Han threw the talisman outward. A hazy black light enveloped her, and almost the instant she jumped from the great ship, the hull shattered into pieces!