"An instant transmission array?"
Wei Tu was a little surprised. He hadn't expected the Six Desires Sect to be so well equipped, actually carrying something as rare as an instant transmission array.
The instant transmission array was similar to the Lesser Shift Talisman, both being treasures for saving one's life. The difference was that the instant transmission array could transfer more people over a longer distance—over a hundred li—and could be used multiple times. But compared to the Lesser Shift Talisman, its drawbacks were obvious.
First, it was slower to activate. Even though it was called "instant," this was only in relation to ordinary transmission formations, and it couldn't compare to the Lesser Shift Talisman, which worked the moment it was crushed. Second, before use, a cultivator had to set up a matching transmission array at the destination in advance. Without this preparation, the instant transmission array was just a fancy but useless trinket.
Clearly, the Six Desires Sect had already planned their escape before attacking the Ascending Cloud Flying Boat. They had prepared for failure before even thinking of victory.
"Trying to run?"
At the prow of the Shenjia Sect's spirit boat, a tall man in golden robes stood. Seeing what was happening, a cold light flashed across his face. At the current speed of the Shenjia Sect's spirit boats, they'd barely reach the flying boat by the time the Six Desires Sect used the instant transmission array to get away.
"No way!" The golden-robed man let out a furious shout, stomping hard on the deck beneath his feet. His body shot out at breakneck speed, turning into a streak of blinding golden light as he charged straight for the crystal yellow array gate.
To rush alone into the middle of the enemy—no matter the mundane or cultivation world—was almost always courting death. But this golden-robed man's strength was overwhelming. In just a blink, as he neared the Ascending Cloud Flying Boat, a few Six Desires Sect bandits in his way were instantly smashed into blood mist with just a few casual blows.
"Third stage body refiner, peak level?"
All the bandits of the Six Desires Sect were shocked and dared not approach this kind of monster. They didn't even dare use magic treasures to attack him for fear of drawing his wrath. Against a peak third stage body refiner, besides the six leaders, none of them would last a single move.
"Wang Tianwu, take it easy! After this job, we'll leave for good. All the goods here—we can split them half and half. You take fifty percent!"
The Six Desires Sect leader, codenamed Tianren, along with two Golden Core companions, rushed forward and blocked the path to the crystal yellow array gate, trying to negotiate. To hide their identities, their voice was altered, rough and indistinct, hard to tell if it was male or female.
"Fifty percent?"
Wang Tianwu let out a cold laugh, obviously scoffing at the offer. Without another word, he stomped on the deck again, barreled forward like a raging bull, both hands bursting with golden light, locked straight on the crystal yellow array gate hundreds of paces away, not giving the Six Desires Sect any time to stall.
"Wang Tianwu, do you really think we're afraid of you?"
"How about seventy percent? We'll give you seventy!"
The three leaders of the Six Desires Sect—Tianren, Wanghou, and Egui—negotiated while unleashing various techniques to delay him as much as possible.
The fight broke out at once. Wang Tianwu was held back by the three, and even though he relied on his powerful body to dodge and deflect all the attacks from magic weapons, not a single scratch showed on him.
"Just a bunch of crooks, you see the Shenjia Sect and you still dare to resist!"
Wang Tianwu roared. In an instant, a dazzling golden radiance exploded from his body, forming a set of golden armor around him. With his power raised to new heights, he smashed through every magic weapon the Six Desires Sect threw at him—demon sticks, spirit swords, three-pronged tridents—all of them flickered and nearly broke when sent flying away.
Crack! Crack!
As the magic weapons shattered, Wang Tianwu flashed past the bandits and stood before the crystal yellow array gate. He raised both fists and smashed the instant transmission array to pieces.
With the array destroyed, panic and fear swept over the bandits. Without the transmission array, now that they were surrounded by the Shenjia Sect, they were like turtles in a jar—no way out, no way in.
"Wang Tianwu, you dare ruin my plan?" The bandit leader, Tianren, looked utterly grim, every word squeezed out through gritted teeth. With his cultivation, he was confident he could fight his way out, but with all his years of groundwork ruined in an instant, how could he possibly let this go?
"While the Shenjia Sect's spirit boats haven't closed in yet, you'd better retreat!"
After giving this order, Tianren flickered and reappeared right in front of Wang Tianwu, launching into a fight.
But what no one expected—
The "Tianren" leader who'd just been driven back by Wang Tianwu was suddenly fighting at a much higher level. He unleashed a blazing, pale purple spiritual flame that wrapped around his whole body and started burning Wang Tianwu's golden armor.
"Purple Capital Thunderfire? Are you Ji Zhang?"
Wang Tianwu abruptly retreated, putting some distance between them. His eyes were locked onto the "Tianren" leader and his voice was full of shock.
Before the operation against the Six Desires Sect, Shenjia Sect had already speculated about the identities of the six leaders. They believed these people were likely from famous cultivation sects—turned into bandits just for the sake of resources. Still, Wang Tianwu hadn't expected that one of the Six Desires leaders would turn out to be Ji Zhang, the most talked-about direct disciple of the Tianyi Sect's sect master.
—Purple Capital Thunderfire was the signature art of the Tianyi Sect master's line.
"Ji Zhang? Heh, Wang Tianwu, you really know how to frame people."
The "Tianren" leader flatly denied it.
"Whether you're Ji Zhang or not, today Shenjia Sect is enforcing the law. We won't show any mercy."
Wang Tianwu frowned, his voice cold.
But even as he spoke, he didn't fight with his full strength anymore. Instead, he held back a little. If the Six Desires Sect leader was truly the famous Ji Zhang from Tianyi Sect, capturing him would only bring trouble, humiliating both major sects. It wouldn't do Shenjia Sect any good. On the contrary, letting "Ji Zhang" escape might earn them some favor from Tianyi Sect.
After a while, Shenjia Sect's spirit boats finally arrived, completely surrounding the remaining Six Desires Sect bandits.
"Retreat!"
The "Tianren" leader gave the order, then, together with "Wanghou" and "Egui," broke through Shenjia Sect's encirclement and fought their way out.
…
After they had retreated to a safe distance—
The black mist that covered the "Tianren" leader's face faded, revealing a cold, sharp visage. If Wang Tianwu had been there, he would have recognized this face immediately as Ji Zhang, the Tianyi Sect master's direct disciple.
The remaining "Wanghou" and "Egui" also revealed themselves: one was an old man with a weathered face, the other a bald monk.
"Where's the third?"
Ji Zhang's expression was grave and he spoke in a low voice.
This time, the Six Desires Sect had fallen into a trap, losing not only most of their ordinary followers but also losing the fourth and fifth leaders—"Diyu" and "Chusheng." Now, of the six leaders, only the three of them remained alive. The third, "Xiuluo," was missing—status unknown.
"This time Shenjia Sect struck too suddenly, too dangerously. But the third is good at disguise… Probably hiding inside the Ascending Cloud Flying Boat."
The old man replied.
Ji Zhang nodded slightly, then looked at the bald monk and said, "Old Six, the third is your sister. Keep in contact with her. She's carrying all the loot we managed to get this time…"
Because of his special status, Wang Tianwu and Shenjia Sect had let them go. But during their breakout, most of their storage bags were seized by Shenjia Sect cultivators.
A total loss, and no gain.
"Yes, eldest brother," the bald monk replied quietly, palms pressed together.
…
An hour later—
All the remaining bandits inside the Ascending Cloud Flying Boat had been killed by Shenjia Sect cultivators. Barely any survived.
"Strange, why haven't Liang Tu and the others contacted me by now?"
Wang Tianwu frowned deeply.
The Qingming Sect might be a subordinate sect of Shenjia Sect, but only the Liang clan of Qingming Sect were his real personal force—people he could rely on for dirty work.
In other words, Liang Tu and his group were truly his trusted aides.
"Dead?"
Wang Tianwu took out a communication device and tried to contact them, but there was no reply from the other end. His face turned ugly.
The three Golden Core subordinates might not count for much to him in terms of raw strength, but they were practically his entire personal force. Now, all three had died at once… Everything he'd worked for was gone overnight.
"Check! Search the entire Ascending Cloud Flying Boat. Find the killer who murdered Liang Tu and the others."
Wang Tianwu's voice was dark as he gave the order.
He understood the Six Desires Sect's style. They wouldn't kill travelers for no reason. This time, with Liang Tu, Liang Yijiang, and Gu Xianglan all dead, it was clear someone was targeting him.
As soon as he finished speaking, the order once again threw the newly-stabilized flying boat into chaos.
"Just like the Six Desires Sect, they started by searching the luxury suites and merchant cultivators, not the regular guest cabins."
Inside his cabin, Wei Tu saw this and finally let out a sigh of relief.
With his setup, Yu Wencheng and his protector Old Hong wouldn't be able to pass any investigation. Even if they told the truth, Wang Tianwu would never believe them—unless the two of them could endure the Shenjia Sect's soul search technique and prove themselves innocent.
But soul searching was the most unbearable thing for any cultivator.
Especially for a prodigy like Yu Wencheng—once someone else read his soul, he might never break through to the Nascent Soul stage for the rest of his life.
His potential would be completely ruined.
Just as Wei Tu expected—
Soon, the Shenjia Sect cultivators who found suspicious evidence broke out in a fierce battle with Yu Wencheng and Old Hong, and the waves of power spread through the whole passenger section.
"Your Highness, you go first!"
"I'll hold off the pursuers for you."
Outside the flying boat, Old Hong's face was flushed, blood light burning around his body as he blocked Wang Tianwu and his Shenjia Sect cultivators.
As a protector, Old Hong was leagues stronger than the likes of Granny Ke or Granny Ma. His cultivation was already near the peak of Golden Core. Now, burning his own blood essence, he was even stronger.
Wang Tianwu's group, on the other hand, had just finished a fierce fight with Ji Zhang and the others—their spiritual power was less than thirty percent left. Up against Old Hong's desperate last stand, they were pushed back.
Yu Wencheng, protected by Old Hong, didn't waste any words. He gave Wang Tianwu a deep look, then crushed a Minor Shift Talisman and teleported away.
Even though the one who framed him was to blame for Old Hong's death, it was also due to the arrogance and dominance of Wang Tianwu and Shenjia Sect. Yu Wencheng quietly made a mental note against Wang Tianwu.
"You hold him off. I'm going after that Kang Kingdom cultivator."
Wang Tianwu didn't get bogged down with Old Hong. After exchanging a few blows, he pulled back and immediately flew after Yu Wencheng.
Puff! Puff! Puff!
Surrounded and under siege, Old Hong couldn't hold out for long. He spat up blood, his aura quickly fading.
"It wasn't me and the young master who killed your people…"
Old Hong wanted to get out one last explanation, but at this point, he didn't even have the chance to finish his words.
A long spear pierced through his body. Old Hong's eyes dimmed, and as his life faded, his face was full of unwillingness.
Half a day later.
Wang Tianwu, having failed to catch Yu Wencheng, returned to the Ascending Cloud Flying Boat, frustrated, and started questioning the Shenjia Sect cultivators about what they'd found.
"In the room, Liang Tu left clues behind, and there was also residual special poison from the fight…"
All the evidence pointed to Yu Wencheng and Old Hong as the killers of Liang Tu's group, but Wang Tianwu wasn't so sure. It was all too convenient.
Of course, maybe Yu Wencheng and Old Hong were just clumsy, and forgot to clean up the clues.
"But why would Yu Wencheng kill Liang Tu's group for no reason?"
Wang Tianwu just couldn't understand. And he couldn't think of anyone else on the boat who'd have a motive to kill those three.
"Any other clues?"
Wang Tianwu turned to the Shenjia Sect cultivators, his voice heavy.
"Your direct disciple, while you were off chasing Yu Wencheng, another cultivator slipped away from the boat," a Shenjia Sect disciple reported.
"We checked—this person was one of the passengers, named Lu Ming."
"What?"
Wang Tianwu's face darkened. Now he was sure—the escaped "Lu Ming" had to be the real mastermind who'd framed Yu Wencheng.
No way it was just a coincidence. The moment he left to pursue Yu Wencheng, someone used the chaos to run.
…
But the fleeing cultivator wasn't Wei Tu—it was a Six Desires Sect bandit that Wei Tu deliberately let go.
Wei Tu knew framing Yu Wencheng wasn't a sure thing. Just having those clues wouldn't guarantee the Shenjia Sect believed Liang Tu's group were killed by Yu Wencheng. It was a matter of luck.
After setting the stage, he didn't have a fixed plan—he was ready to adapt as things changed. If Wang Tianwu grew suspicious… Wei Tu would just escape, no hesitation.
And just by chance, while the Six Desires Sect and Shenjia Sect were fighting, a Golden Core bandit, desperate to avoid being hunted, disguised himself and hid in the room next to Wei Tu's. Already feeling guilty, the bandit wanted to flee once Wang Tianwu left in pursuit. Wei Tu gave him a little nudge, and the bandit willingly became Wei Tu's scapegoat.
…
Meanwhile—
A hundred li away from the Ascending Cloud Flying Boat.
The Six Desires Sect bandit, wearing Lu Ming's face, suddenly faltered mid-flight and crashed into the forest below.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
The birds in the woods scattered in all directions.
"Yi Yun? I'll remember you."
The bandit, still with Lu Ming's face, was full of resentment. If that cultivator named Yi Yun hadn't ambushed her, she would have stayed safe on the flying boat. Now she had to risk everything to escape. If she hadn't fled in desperation and drained her power, she wouldn't have fallen into this wretched spiritless place.
As she spoke, her disguise spell faded, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face.
The only flaw was—this stunning female cultivator was completely bald.