Chapter 229: Fate Soul Fifth Rank, Parasitic Vine Armor, Old Liu Makes a Move! (8K)

From March 28 to April 5, Zhao Xing engaged in nine battles.

The battle with the most participants involved six people besieging him.

From April 5 to April 15, six battles occurred over ten days.

The battle with the most participants involved twelve people besieging him.

From April 15 to May 1.

Zhao Xing engaged in only three battles.

The most intense battle involved thirty Sixth-Rank cultivators!

But in the half-month following, not a single battle occurred.

Because his reputation had already been established!

Even without considering the connection to Liu Tianning, Zhao Xing's own strength was still enough to make others wary!

If you can't win, why force a fight? The other exploration teams weren't that stupid.

Thirty Sixth-Rank cultivators, five small teams, couldn't do anything to Zhao Xing and ended up with more than half killed by him. How could they fight?

Thus, from May 1 to May 16, Zhao Xing spent half a month in peace.

He also focused on catching spiritual fish in the sea.

"Based on my past life's experience, for a Fate Soul to break through to Fifth Rank, it must consume at least one thousand five hundred Yin-Yang Fish."

"I have already consumed one thousand and forty-three." Zhao Xing thought silently.

"If my Fate Soul breaks through to Fifth Rank, my various spells will advance further."

"These days, I haven't just caught Yin-Yang Fish."

"I've eaten quite a few other fish as well."

"The Five Fortunes: I have gathered Fire Fortune, Water Fortune, and Metal Fortune; only Wood Fortune and Earth Fortune remain."

"However, it doesn't matter if I don't gather Wood Fortune and Earth Fortune in the Eternal Night Sea."

"If I can break through to a Fifth-Rank Fate Soul, then the benefits of this Eternal Night Sea will be limited to the Dragon Whale. Everything else becomes optional."

Zhao Xing calculated with his fingers, then his Ten Thousand Dharma Clone piloted a flying boat to deliver the surplus spiritual fish to Night Fortress.

Now he and Xia Jing and the others are acting separately; mainly because his hate level is too high. If they stayed together, it would be less convenient and would affect Xia Jing, Chen Shijie, and others from gathering spiritual elegance.

They came to reap benefits, not to fight.

Acting separately is more efficient!

After all, with the existence of 【Water Immortal】 and 【Fish-Eating Grass】, their efficiency is far greater than that of ordinary teams.

……

Night Fortress, Ten Thousand Dharma Tower Ship.

Zhao Xing piloted a flying boat and began unloading the fish.

"Swish swish swish swish~~"

Immediately, several figures appeared on the tower ship.

Besides Ji Zixuan and Murong Xue, there were nine others.

They were all members of the 'Liu Tianning Exploration Team', mostly connections added in because Liu Tianning or Zhao Xing agreed to it.

"Senior Brother, so many again this time?" In Ji Zixuan's eyes, they sparkled. Purely because there were too many fish reflecting the light.

"Mm." Zhao Xing nodded. "Whatever you want to eat, pick it yourself."

"Thanks for feeding me, Senior Brother~" Ji Zixuan walked over to the fish pond with a smile, reached out, and selected a batch from the categorized fish ponds.

"Thank you, Lord Zhao." Murong Xue had become even more reserved, but since she was second in line to pick fish, no one dared object.

After Murong Xue and Ji Zixuan had picked their share.

Three familiar faces came over.

Han Bing, Feng Qi, and Cai Jin.

"Brother Zhao, thank you." Feng Qi and Cai Jin clasped their hands in a bow.

"It's all your teacher's arrangement," Zhao Xing joked. "I'm just a porter."

As for why Han Bing was here too, it was mainly because Han Bing had found his own opportunity during these days.

Previously, Zhao Xing and Han Bing encountered a mysterious 'Ten Thousand Forms Dungeon' within the auspicious land 【Seventy-Two Earth Palaces】 of the Geography Institute.

From this Ten Thousand Forms Dungeon, Zhao Xing comprehended 【Divine Movement Protection】, which combines two spells.

And Han Bing comprehended 【Extreme Cold Dungeon】.

The master of the Ten Thousand Forms Dungeon was Gong Wu Hou, whose real name was Gong Tiansi.

During the ceasefire rewards, Han Bing's official rank reached Sixth-Rank Lower.

With the Cave Heaven upgrading, he couldn't leave Yang City, so he went to 【Seventy-Two Earth Palaces】 to study, and as a result, Gong Wu Hou took an interest in him.

In early April, he managed to find a slot for Han Bing. He didn't join a team but used connections to be sent over to Liu Tianning's side to mix in and reap some benefits.

"I have some good news," Han Bing said in a low voice while selecting spiritual fish. "Wang Gong went to Crimson Lake as a Mid-Level Scout. It is said his harvest was excellent, and he has now been noticed by the Grand Team and promoted to High-Level Scout."

"Oh?" Zhao Xing said. "Not bad. Just as he said, a skilled craftsman can find work anywhere."

Actually, if Zhao Xing could form his own team, he would definitely invite Han Bing and Wang Ji, but Liu Tianning drew a line for him. Slots exchanged for favors must be for veteran Wu Hou or Kings.

Up to now, Zhao Xing has only used eight slots, with six remaining unused, still in the process of picking and choosing.

"Thanks." After finishing his selection, Han Bing went to his room.

"Young Master, thanks to your favor." A round-faced young man clasped his hands in a bow. His name was Liu Cheng'an, the youngest son of Prince Xin, Liu Yong.

"Hereditary Prince need not be so polite."

"Minister Zhao, thank you." Another middle-aged woman wearing a seven-colored magical robe approached and clasped her hands in a bow. "Teaching one to fish is a grace equal to rebirth."

"Lady Ya speaks too highly," Zhao Xing said, looking at this noblewoman. "Being able to assist Lady Ya is my honor."

Lady Ya, from a family of weavers, had originally made a very good marriage.

But her husband just died, and she became a widow.

She had no son, so she could not inherit the title; the vast family estate could only be guarded by herself.

Zhao Xing was dividing fish below, while Princess Youruo sat on the high platform holding a pot of wine, watching with utter boredom.

"Liu Lang, your disciple is truly considerate."

"For so many days, he has been fishing with all his heart, yet he has never troubled you once."

"Hmm, he is indeed excellent." Mentioning Zhao Xing, Liu Tianning revealed a slight smile.

Judging solely from Zhao Xing's battle record, one could see that Zhao Xing had made rapid progress these past days!

Especially the Straw Man Method, which had increased from eighteen straw men to thirty-six!

"He has gained experience, has not tarnished your reputation, and can handle relationships with all parties well."

"He is far less worrying than you were in your youth."

"Back then, he made Luo Hou jump with anxiety."

Princess Youruo covered her mouth and laughed.

"Old matters, why bring them up?"

"Very well, very well, let's not mention it." Princess Youruo placed one hand on Liu Tianning's chest, bringing the spout of the exquisite jade pot to Liu Tianning's lips. "Let us drink."

"I will not drink."

"Drink, drink~"

"..."

Liu Tianning could only take a symbolic sip.

A hint of a smile appeared on Princess Youruo's lips.

"This Zhao Xing truly gives one no peace." On the Dragon Scale Warship, Xing Ming, clad in black-gold battle armor with a long sword at his waist, looked at the intelligence report. "He keeps loitering at the edge of our designated area!"

"In over a month, the members who have died at his hands exceed fifty."

Looking at it, Xing Ming also had a splitting headache.

He feared Liu Tianning would intervene, so he had been restraining the alliance members from provoking Zhao Xing.

But alas, someone always went to provoke Zhao Xing.

As a result, more and more people died.

Instead, it cemented Zhao Xing's reputation as invincible at the sixth rank.

"The subordinates won't listen, so there's nothing we can do." Beside him, a square-faced, burly man carried a massive purple axe on his back. "Now they have quieted down a bit, knowing he is not someone to be trifled with."

"Restrain the fifth-rank members within the group," Xing Ming said. "Prohibit anyone from provoking Zhao Xing; once discovered, immediately expel them!"

"If we provoke Liu Tianning, then we won't need to do anything else; the journey to the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven can be declared cancelled in advance."

"Understood." The giant-axe burly man nodded. "I believe no one is foolish enough to do that."

"Young Master, today we have harvested another fifty thousand jin of spirit fish." On the sea ship, the strategist reported to Pei Pei Yuanchang. "Yin-Yang Fish, there are four hundred and one."

"Good, good, good." Pei Pei Yuanchang was delighted. "Quickly, according to the agreement, send them to Liu Tianning's Ten Thousand Dharma Tower Ship."

"Yes."

Pei Pei Yuanchang looked at the harvest list, extremely pleased.

Since attaching himself to Liu Tianning's powerful leg, his output had increased greatly!

At the very beginning, it was only over a thousand jin per day, but now, the spirit fish caught daily amounts to fifty thousand jin!

And there are also Yin-Yang Fish, these miraculous existences that can increase life souls.

"How is Marquis Yuanrang?" Pei Pei Yuanchang asked. "Is he safe and sound?"

"Young Master, the latest news regarding Marquis Yuanrang was half a quarter-hour ago; the specific location is in the northwest area of the Dark Stone Coral Reef." The subordinate pointed to the sea chart. "However, Marquis Yuanrang has always been elusive; at this moment, he may have gone somewhere else entirely."

Zhao Xing's strength has greatly increased now, and the activity of his clone has also become stronger.

Hit and move to another place, striving to minimize risk to the lowest level.

"Young Master, should we send someone to Marquis Yuanrang?"

"Do not act on your own initiative." Pei Pei Yuanchang said, "Can you not see? This is a trial Liu Tianning has given him."

"How can outsiders intervene?"

"If Liu Tianning truly only wanted to find spiritual treasures for his disciple, he could have mobilized and cleared out the entire Ice and Fire Island."

"But he did not do so. This signifies he is unwilling for others to interfere in Zhao Xing's affairs."

"We only need to do our part in the cooperation; do not act on your own initiative."

"Yes, understood."

On the Black Dragon Tower Ship.

The Nineteenth Prince, Ji Ye, looked at the intelligence report with a face as black as iron: "Liu Tianning, this scoundrel, is simply bullying people too shamelessly!"

"He just lets his disciple run wild in my territory?!"

"I have already sent a letter asking him to warn his disciple not to come east of the Coral Reef, yet he has shown no reaction at all!"

Ji Ye was very angry; he believed he had given Liu Tianning enough face.

In this month and more, his people had not failed to encounter Zhao Xing.

Each time, he only sent people to drive Zhao Xing away.

The heaviest strike he ever dealt was merely blasting apart three of Zhao Xing's straw men.

But this master and disciple pair gave absolutely no response, completely ignoring him, doing whatever they wanted.

As a Young Master of the Liang Wang, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

"He didn't take me seriously at all! Qin Chongwu, Huangfu Song!"

"Your subordinate is here." The two fifth-rank officials below immediately rose.

"If you encounter Zhao Xing again, immediately deploy fifth-rank cultivators and arrest him!" Ji Ye said. "Let Liu Tianning come ransom him in person!"

"Yes."

Zhao Xing had no idea at all about Ji Ye's fury.

Because Liu Tianning had never mentioned this matter to him.

But even if he had known, he probably wouldn't have held back.

You want to eat me? I want to eat you too!

How much is the face of Liang Wang's Young Master worth anyway?

"This is the place."

Zhao Xing activated his Heavenly Eye technique, scanning the depths of the sea. "There are Yin-Yang Fish here. Once I eat fifty more, my Life Soul will be able to break through."

Zhao Xing stopped the Blood Shadow Flying Boat, then scattered Fish-Eating Grass seeds.

"Splash~"

The waves swallowed the Fish-Eating Grass seeds, carrying the scent far and wide, and the Aquatic Immortals bloomed in the sea.

Before long, several black-and-white little fish poked their heads out, sneaking out from within the coral reef.

"They're here." Zhao Xing was full of anticipation. "Come on, come on."

He was in no hurry to act, waiting patiently.

Three quarters of an hour later.

By now, nearly a hundred Yin-Yang Fish had gathered beneath Zhao Xing!

"If I act now, scooping up fifty is absolutely no problem!"

Zhao Xing no longer hesitated and immediately struck.

"Ten Thousand Li Ice Seal!"

A pale blue light emerged from his fingertip.

The light sank into the seabed, and the seawater froze over at extreme speed.

This was a high-tier technique Zhao Xing had comprehended over the past month, through introspecting the twenty-four Solar Term diagrams and achieving a breakthrough in the Great Cold solar term.

The Polar Night Sea was indeed well-suited for comprehending the winter solar terms.

Zhao Xing's Five Elements talent, the Ice aspect of the Water element, was extremely high — the Drip Rain technique was proof of that.

Now, the Ten Thousand Li Ice Seal technique had reached the high-tier fourth-revolution level.

"Freeze!"

The instant the pale blue light entered the sea, the freezing effect spread rapidly.

The Yin-Yang Fish's perception was originally extremely sharp, but having been lured by the Fish-Eating Grass and Aquatic Immortals, their reactions were half a beat slow.

Once the Ice Seal technique descended, it quickly froze the majority, with only a small portion escaping.

"Rise!"

With a beckoning gesture from Zhao Xing, a large chunk of ice rose from the seabed and landed on the flying boat.

"Eighty-one!"

"That's enough."

Zhao Xing rapidly thawed the ice, his cheeks caving in as he gently inhaled.

All eighty-one Yin-Yang Fish were swallowed into his belly.

"Hum~"

A wave of dizziness came from within his mind.

Zhao Xing shook his head.

He felt as though double images appeared before his eyes, as if the sky itself was full of Yin-Yang Fish.

"Life Soul breaks through to fifth-rank, yin overwhelms yang — my physical body can barely contain it," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

The Life Soul resides in the womb; the physical body is essentially the house.

Now the house is too small, and the person living inside is too big.

Hence a feeling of constriction.

With his Life Soul reaching fifth-rank, Zhao Xing actually found himself unable to fully control himself, feeling very ill at ease.

"Divide!"

Zhao Xing pointed a finger, splitting off a large amount of Life Soul power and infusing it into twelve Myriad Law Straw Men.

As the glow of the Myriad Law Straw Men grew brighter and brighter, Zhao Xing finally felt at ease.

"Too many Myriad Law Straw Men will add burden to the Life Soul."

"But if the Life Soul is too strong, the Myriad Law Straw Men can also share the load."

Zhao Xing let out a long breath.

This was equivalent to adding a three-bedroom, one-living-room extension to the original house — an expansion.

Of course, normally cultivating the True Self Straw Men, such a situation would be hard to encounter.

It would only be that the Life Soul wasn't strong enough — never that there weren't enough Straw Men.

"My current twelve Straw Men are an enhanced version. They're much stronger than the other twenty-four. A single one, I estimate, has the combat power of an early sixth-rank."

With the Life Soul strengthened, control over the Myriad Law Straw Men greatly increased, and the number and grade of techniques they could hold also grew higher.

Like these twelve Myriad Law Straw Men avatars now — they could already cast high-tier techniques.

But the power would be somewhat reduced. For example, the high-tier fourth-revolution Ten Thousand Li Ice Seal, when cast by a Myriad Law Straw Man, would only be at the high-tier first-revolution level.

Moreover, the number of spells it can contain has an upper limit; even when strengthened, it can only hold two high-grade spells simultaneously.

The remaining twenty-four bodies can still only cast mid-grade spells, though they have a larger quantity of spells; all the mid-grade spells Zhao Xing knew before, the Ten Thousand Dummies, can be cast.

"Luckily, I consumed many Pang Yuan Qi Lingxiu before; my physical body is no worse than a sixth-rank martial artist. It has already reached the stage of Golden Bones and Silver Marrow, with blood and qi flowing like a river."

Although the Golden Bones have just formed and cannot compare to geniuses like Xia Jing or Long Xiao who have fully mastered them, Zhao Xing's physical strength is still extremely high.

"Now I can call myself 'Wu Simin'; even in hand-to-hand combat, I could probably take down several sixth-rank mid-to-late stage martial artists."

Zhao Xing sat on the flying boat, cross-legged in cultivation, adapting to the Ten Thousand Dummies and the new changes after his breakthrough.

Since the Fate Soul broke through to the fifth rank, the Heaven Eye Art and the Sleepy Bug Art have reached the high-grade Ninth Transformation!

The other high-grade spells are not lower than the Fourth Transformation; all have reached the 'Minor Success' realm.

With the Fate Soul strengthened and understanding of the Heavenly Dao deepened, 'comprehending the Dao' is mainly the Fate Soul's work; as long as one is not a martial artist, the strength of the physical body has little connection to comprehending the Dao.

A martial artist's comprehension of the Dao, some of which focuses solely on body cultivation to excavate the body's potential, makes a significant difference.

Just as Zhao Xing was comprehending the Dao, twenty li away, two flying boats were flying towards his direction.

When the distance was only ten li, Qin Qin Chongwu and Brother Huangfu Song successively discovered the existence of the Blood Shadow Flying Boat.

"Is that Zhao Xing?" Qin Qin Chongwu asked.

"It should be him," Brother Huangfu Song said. "The signature Blood Shadow Flying Boat, with a dummy standing beside it, it must be him without a doubt."

"Brother Huangfu, your sword technique is unparalleled, and you have cultivated the Great Strength Vajra Body; capturing Zhao Xing is no one else's task but yours," Qin Qin Chongwu said.

Brother Huangfu Song's face turned green: "Brother Qin, this is not about killing him. Brother Qin's Lei Ting Pure Origin Body is fast; for the Young Master's errand, who else but you?"

"..."

Qin Qin Chongwu and Brother Huangfu Song looked at each other, you looking at me, I looking at you, neither wanting to take on this task.

However, they could not pretend not to see, as there were others on the flying boat; if they did not handle the matter entrusted by Ji Ye, it would be even more troublesome.

After a moment of looking at each other, Qin Qin Chongwu said: "Brother Huangfu, there is no need for us to push and pull anymore; we are both serving the Young Master, and we cannot escape it anyway, so let us act together."

"Good." Brother Huangfu Song nodded. "As long as we catch him, Liu Tianning might not do anything to us."

"Delay is not an option; act quickly."

Brother Huangfu Song and Qin Qin Chongwu approached rapidly.

They actively suppressed their auras and soon flew silently within three thousand meters of Zhao Xing.

"Hmm?!"

Zhao Xing's Fate Soul suddenly gave a warning, and he looked up at the sky.

The Heaven Eye Art swept across, revealing two blurry afterimages; that was the effect of the Invisibility Robe.

Through the Invisibility Robe, Zhao Xing perceived that incredibly pure Pang Yuan Qi physique.

Clearly, they were two fifth-rank cultivators.

"Two fifth-rank cultivators, coming after me?"

Zhao Xing immediately fled.

"Discovered? Don't run!"

Qin Qin Chongwu and Brother Huangfu Song immediately accelerated.

If two fifth-rank cultivators like them could not even catch Zhao Xing, it would be too shameful.

At the same time, the dummy on the Ten Thousand Spells Tower Ship immediately reported to Liu Tianning: "Master, two fifth-rank cultivators are hunting the disciple!"

"Shua~"

Liu Tianning instantly vanished from the Ten Thousand Spells Tower Ship.

In the next moment, he appeared a thousand meters away.

Jin Guang flashed, and vines wrapped around Liu Tianning's body, as if a 'Vine Armor' had appeared!

If Zhao Xing could see it, he would be incredibly surprised.

Because the Vine Armor on Old Liu's body was actually an extremely rare seventh-grade 'Parasitic Seed' plant life form—the 'Floating Vine'.

Floating across the heavens and earth, covering ten thousand meters in an instant!

This refers to using the body as a seed to nurture the Floating Vine, which can transform into a symbiotic Vine Armor, greatly increasing the host's flight speed!

If the life of the Floating Vine is consumed as a price, this speed can be even faster!

"Someone is going to have bad luck." Princess Youruo held a jade pot, watching Liu Tianning's departing back. "The Ten Thousand Spells Tower Ship has already stopped so close to the Ice and Fire Island, yet there are still those who do not believe he will intervene?"

Princess Youruo took a large gulp, her eyes hazy: "When will he also burn the life of the 【Floating Vine】 for me..."

"Split!"

While piloting the flying boat to flee, Zhao Xing ordered the twenty-four dummies to fly off the boat.

Attempting to confuse the pursuers' vision.

Against one fifth-rank cultivator, he could try to fight; against two fifth-rank cultivators, with two warships behind them containing dozens of sixth-rank peak cultivators... if they formed a battle formation, stopping would mean giving himself up!

At this moment, do not rely on Liu Tianning's reputation; fleeing is the best strategy!

"Kid, your Dummy Art is not yet mastered!" Qin Qin Chongwu sneered, as they completely ignored Zhao Xing's dummies.

"Do you think you are the only one with detection methods?"

"Obediently return with us; we are not here to kill you," Brother Huangfu Song said. "If you continue to flee, we will have to strike!"

They did not strike, but Zhao Xing did.

If these two martial artists got close, where would he have any chance of survival?

"Teng Snake Transformation!"

"Cloud-Swallowing Domain!"

"Sleep Bugs!"

Zhao Xing let his clone control the flying boat while he himself immediately cast a spell.

The Soaring Serpent Transformation struck Huangfu Song, the light only flickering twice.

Scales formed on Huangfu Song's hands and chest.

But they quickly receded.

The Cloud-Swallowing Domain unfurled; the two men's speed only dropped slightly, still exceeding the flying boat's speed.

A fifth-rank cultivator's instantaneous burst speed was meant to surpass a flying boat that had just taken off.

The most effective, on the contrary, were the two Sleep Bugs!

They burrowed into Qin Chongwu and Huangfu Song's life souls.

In an instant, a thick wave of drowsiness came over them; the two men felt as exhausted as if they hadn't slept in years.

The Lei Ting Pure Essence Body's speed sharply dropped.

Qin Chongwu shook his head:

"This kid has some tricks up his sleeve! If this keeps up, he'll get away."

"Can't drag this out any longer, have the flying boats release the Battle Vajras!"

The two men immediately had the two flying boats behind them accelerate, drawing level with Zhao Xing's Blood Shadow Flying Boat.

"Swoosh Swoosh Swoosh~"

Fifteen high-grade mechanical puppets instantly transformed into streaks of flowing light, leaping onto the Blood Shadow Flying Boat's barrier.

"Boom!" "Boom boom boom!"

One Battle Vajra after another began madly smashing the Blood Shadow barrier.

"Heavenly Fire!"

Heavy flames ignited on the Blood Shadow barrier.

Zhao Xing split his focus, sharply sending the Blood Shadow Flying Boat into a dive, but still couldn't shake off these high-grade puppets.

Zhao Xing stayed calm amid the danger. While the enemy's flying boats hadn't yet fired their shuttle chains, he immediately steered the boat to plunge into the sea.

Once in the sea, he still had escape arts to flee.

Fifth-rank martial artists weren't nearly as fast in the sea.

As long as he could touch the seabed, he could use an escape art to get away; fifth-rank cultivators could only stare helplessly.

"Decisive enough!" Qin Chongwen's eyelid twitched. "No wonder Liu Tianning took a liking to him."

"What a fierce temperament! Lift it!"

Huangfu Song swiftly flew beneath the Blood Shadow Flying Boat. His entire body swelled, growing a full size larger, reaching five meters tall.

A ring of golden halo swirled around his body; at this moment he resembled a golden giant.

"Hah!" Huangfu Song stomped on the sea surface and actually sent Zhao Xing's flying boat rocketing back up.

"Boom!"

"Swoosh Swoosh Swoosh~" Eight chains instantly hooked the Blood Shadow Flying Boat, pulling it upward.

Zhao Xing was about to abandon ship and flee.

The Mist Concealment Art was already prepared.

But just then, both Huangfu Song and Qin Chongwen looked toward the horizon.

They saw a streak of rainbow light flash over, rapidly growing larger at extreme speed.

In a moment, it had already appeared within a thousand meters.

"Damn, it's Liu Tianning!" Qin Chongwen's scalp tightened.

"He really came!" Huangfu Song also got a jolt and hurriedly spoke: "Inspector Liu, this is all a misunderstanding…"

"Misunderstanding?" Zhao Xing cursed. "Misunderstand your eight generations of ancestors! Teacher, they're trying to kill me!"

"No, we didn't mean to kill you…" Huangfu Song tried to explain.

But he discovered Liu Tianning had begun to copy and paste, conjuring clone after clone in the air.

In just a blink, the sky was filled with Liu Tianning!

Their three boats, two fifth-rank cultivators, fifty sixth-rank cultivators, thirty Battle Vajras—all surrounded by Liu Tianning alone!

Huangfu Song: "…"

Qin Chongwen: "…"

The two men stared at this scene, scalps tingling.

They had only heard the legends of Liu Tianning and had truly never seen him in action.

Now seeing it firsthand, it was simply terrifying.

Over three thousand Liu Tianning auras, all at peak fifth-rank!

How could they fight this?

Liu Tianning looked at the two men calmly: "The moment I arrived, I saw the Blood Shadow Flying Boat burning with flames as it fell, eight boat chains piercing through my disciple's Blood Shadow Flying Boat, fifteen Battle Vajras comparable to fifth-rank cultivators boarding his ship…"

"You tell this official… this is a misunderstanding?"

Huangfu Song and Qin Chongwu were utterly unable to explain.

And couldn't explain it clearly even if they tried!

Saying they only wanted to capture Zhao Xing—who would believe it?

Besides, capturing wasn't allowed either!

"Whoosh~"

Liu Tianning's figure flickered, instantly passing through the barrier. In just one second, the Floating Vine Armor extended its tendrils, carrying Zhao Xing back into the sky.

"Step aside."

"Yes." Zhao Xing nimbly retreated behind Liu Tianning.

"Lord Liu, we were only following orders to bring him back. We had no intention of harming him." Brother Huangfu Song grew anxious.

"No need to say more." Liu Tianning said coldly, "I previously gave word to the seven great exploration teams, forbidding fifth-realm cultivators from acting against my disciple. Even if it was only to capture him, you've still broken my rules!"

Zhao Xing watched quietly from behind. This was Liu Tianning's consistent style — before cutting someone down, he'd tell them why he was cutting them down.

"Liu…"

Brother Huangfu Song was about to say more, but Qin Chongwu had already started fleeing for his life.

He immediately ordered every Vajra Warrior on the flying vessel to charge in one direction.

And he himself followed behind the Vajra Warriors.

Forming a spearhead, attempting to break through Liu Tianning's blockade.

"Bzzt-bzzt-bzzt~"

Lei Ting's Pure Element Body flickered — Qin Chongwu had already struck!

And then.

Qin Chongwu was dead.

He saw a row of Liu Tiannings before him raise a finger, and a grey rift, like a cloud-path's contrail, spread over.

Thirty Vajra Warriors disintegrated in an instant, becoming a pile of scattered materials.

The grey rift's momentum unabated, it swallowed Qin Chongwu in an instant.

His body also split apart in the blink of an eye.

"What a powerful Hou Hou Bian Art!" Zhao Xing's brow rose.

Old Liu's Hou Hou Bian Art far exceeded the level of his Soaring Snake Transformation.

And Brother Huangfu Song, seeing this scene, felt his soul flee in terror.

Qin Chongwu couldn't even last a single exchange. He was at the late Pure Element realm!

"Inspector Liu, my lord Liu!" Brother Huangfu Song had no fighting spirit at all: "Please spare my life!"

Liu Tianning was unmoved, still extending his hand to cast.

He was a man of rules, but once someone broke the rules, there was absolutely no room for plea-bargaining!

It was so back then, so now, and so it would remain in the future!

"Great Strength Vajra Transformation!"

Brother Huangfu Song tried to buy time. He knew Ji Ye was already on the way — if he could hold out a while, there might be a chance to live!

But he had clearly overestimated himself.

Once Liu Tianning struck, his Great Strength Vajra Body was immediately broken.

First it reverted to a normal human form, then crumbled inch by inch.

Before death, Brother Huangfu Song saw the shadow of a Black Dragon warship, but unfortunately, he didn't last until then.

"Liu Tianning!!!"

Ji Ye raced over in his warship at full speed.

But all he saw was the scene of Brother Huangfu Song crumbling to death.

"The rest of you may leave." Liu Tianning waved his hand, and two flying vessels along with the several dozen sixth-realm cultivators on them were all flung a thousand meters away.

He killed, but he did not kill indiscriminately.

Even if sixth-realm cultivators had acted against his disciple, they had not broken his rules.

"Liu Tianning!" Ji Ye said furiously: "You're going too far! Where has this prince offended you! How dare you strike such a killing blow!"

Ji Ye was shaking all over with rage. His two capable lieutenants had turned to flying ash just like that.

He had merely been capturing his student to teach him a lesson, and yet this man dared to kill Ji Ye's people?

"Let's go." Liu Tianning didn't even glance at Ji Ye, and left with Zhao Xing.

He had said the rules once, and would not say them a second time.

Liu Tianning despised fools who couldn't remember what was said — they were fools.

Naturally, he couldn't be bothered to say more.

"You — you! Good, good, good! Liu Tianning, what great authority you have!"

Ji Ye's fists loosened then clenched, clenched then loosened.

In the end, he didn't dare give the order to fight. Even though he was at the perfected fifth realm, even though his warship, together with its mechanical puppets, still held several hundred fifth-realm combatants, he could only watch helplessly as Liu Tianning departed.

On the seventeenth of May, Liu Tianning personally arrived at the outer perimeter of Ice Fire Island, slaying Qin Chongwu and Brother Huangfu Song, along with thirty high-grade puppets.

Liang Wang's Young Master Ji Ye raged impotently, watching him leave.

Once this news spread, it instantly swept through the seven great exploration teams, and even the entire Ten Sun Grotto-heaven.

Liu Tianning's strike, decades in the making, shocked the world once again.

Especially the forces from the Seventy-two Dao Academies — anyone who had lived a little longer or held a higher position recalled the old days of being dominated by Liu Tianning.

"Beat the small one, and the big one comes. This Ji Ye has truly lost his mind, to actually raise a blade against Liu Wanfa's disciple."

"Liu Tianning isn't old at all — he's only a hundred and twenty-seven years old now."

"They really don't take Liu Tianning's words seriously. He doesn't compete for the Polar Night Sea's Spiritual Show, only letting his disciple go train, and yet someone dares to move against him — aren't they just asking for death?"

"Who knows what Ji Ye was thinking."

"Hahahahaha, good, good. Thirteenth Brother, why didn't you dare to strike at Liu Tianning, hahahaha." Ji Dan laughed heartily on the tower ship. Upon hearing this news, he was so delighted he nearly jumped for joy.

What a pity — his good brother Ji Ye still held back in the end.

"Young Master, Zhao Xing's importance to Liu Tianning must be reassessed," Liang Ruohai said. "Young Master must devote more effort to befriending this man."