Chapter 385: Dark Shadows Stir

The Lei Yuanzong's Du Yuan lawship sped swiftly through the skies.

The one responsible for escorting this cargo was a Gao Jie Foundation Establishment Elder of Lei Yuanzong, named Shen Yuanxiong.

Shen Yuanxiong had a bald head, eyes gleaming with cunning, wore a blue-and-gold magic robe, and had a stout build.

This job of his was the most lucrative in Lei Yuanzong—just slipping a few extra items or people onto the ship could net him a fortune.

Thus, even if offered the Sect Master's seat, he wouldn't trade it.

And on the entire ship, he ruled absolutely, wielding immense power, indulging in tyranny, and living in utter comfort.

The Lei Yuanzong lawship sailed through Wei territory, and no one dared lay a hand on it.

Shen Yuanxiong had held this position for decades, unshakable.

"Elder Shen!"

"Elder Shen, greetings!"

All Lei Yuanzong disciples bowed deeply in reverence upon seeing Shen Yuanxiong.

Under the eyes of all, Shen Yuanxiong strolled calmly out of the cabin and headed toward the upper pavilion.

"Friend, who resides in the upper pavilion?"

"Why is Elder Shen so interested in that place?" asked a thin middle-aged man inside the cabin, addressing a Lei Yuanzong duty disciple.

"We… don't know. We dare not inquire into Elder's affairs."

"."

Moments later.

Shen Yuanxiong arrived outside the luxurious suite on the upper deck, cleared his throat, and spoke carefully:

"True Person Qin, the lawship will reach Yunze Great Wilderness in three days."

"We'll soon pass through a stretch of toxic mists—it will be bumpy. I wanted to warn you in advance."

"Hmm. I know. Go about your duties."

Qin Ming's faint voice drifted from inside the room.

"Yes! True Person Qin, should you need anything, call me anytime!"

After speaking, Shen Yuanxiong bowed respectfully toward the room, then quietly withdrew.

Qin Ming slowly opened his pitch-black eyes. "Over a month… finally arriving?"

Just as he was about to walk to the window for some air—

BOOM! The thousand-zhang Lei Yuanzong Du Yuan lawship suddenly shook violently, as if colliding with a colossal object, then came to an abrupt halt.

Qin Ming immediately unleashed his spiritual sense to scan.

Amidst the impenetrable mist and toxic fumes, three massive black lawships formed a triangle, surrounding the Lei Yuanzong Du Yuan vessel.

The Lei Yuanzong escorting cultivators instantly activated their spiritual shields and rushed to the deck—only to see dozens of black chains lashing toward the Du Yuan lawship from the opposing ships.

The defensive array activated; a blue energy barrier rose around the Lei Yuanzong lawship, forming a spherical shield.

THUD! THUD! THUD! The black chains slammed into the ship's array, sparking and crackling with electricity.

Immediately after—

The Lei Yuanzong Du Yuan lawship shook violently again.

Fortunately, the black chains failed to breach the defense.

"Attack!!"

Alarms blared across the entire ship—no one could have imagined anyone would dare target a Lei Yuanzong lawship.

As the senior Elder in charge, Shen Yuanxiong flew out with four or five Foundation Establishment cultivators, his face grim.

He had barely stepped outside when a crimson streak slashed through the sky and struck the lawship's protective barrier.

Instantly, the supposedly unbreakable shield ignited as if burning, and a massive hole tore open.

"Second-rank Supreme Break-Seal Talisman!"

Shen Yuanxiong was stunned and furious, his face dark as if dripping with ink.

"Hahaha! The big fish of Lei Yuanzong has finally been caught!"

A flash of black light appeared on the opposing ship's bow—five figures with thick spiritual energy, all Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators.

Among them, the three leaders had reached Foundation Establishment peak.

"Yin Rong of Yuan Mo Men!"

"Blood Fiend of Wan Hun Valley!"

"Ghostfire Hermit of Bai Huo Jiao!"

Shen Yuanxiong instantly recognized them—his face turned ashen.

"How could you possibly know our lawship's route?"

"No—there's a traitor on board!"

In that instant, Shen Yuanxiong knew exactly what had happened.

The enemy had clearly prepared thoroughly—three Foundation Establishment peak cultivators.

Now, with the defense breached, their situation was dire.

But Shen Yuanxiong remembered the presence aboard his ship—and his heart steadied slightly.

The sinister-faced man, Yin Rong, gave Lei Yuanzong no time to react.

He summoned a Ghost Banner, sweeping it across the Lei Yuanzong lawship.

Countless spectral entities wailed forth, radiating ferocious energy, surging toward the crew.

Shen Yuanxiong hastily chanted a spell and summoned a crimson spirit sword to fight back.

But the cultivation gap was vast, and two other Foundation Establishment peak demonic cultivators watched hungrily.

Soon, he could no longer withstand the spectral attacks.

"True Person Qin! Save me!"

In desperation, Shen Yuanxiong abandoned all pride and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Hehehe! Shen, screaming won't help you."

"Die!"

Yin Rong formed a hand seal—out flew a second-rank late-stage specter, transforming into a massive white skull that slammed toward Shen Yuanxiong. Meanwhile, the other Lei Yuanzong escorting Foundation Establishment cultivators battled the demonic cultivators.

"Brothers! Seize the Lei Yuanzong lawship—we'll be rich!"

The Lei Yuanzong side was pushed back relentlessly; hundreds of demonic cultivators crawled over the black chains onto the ship.

"Hahaha! My specters are hungry for a Gao Jie Foundation Establishment soul!"

As Yin Rong's withered claws reached for Shen Yuanxiong's head—

BOOM! Suddenly—he froze. His pupils shrank violently; his breath choked off, as if an invisible giant hand had seized his throat, silencing him instantly.

"G-g-g!"

"E-e-e!"

THUD! The next moment, Yin Rong's face twisted in terror.

In midair, the invisible hand clenched tightly.

Yin Rong instantly exploded into a cloud of blood mist.

Then, several black vines abruptly sprouted, absorbing all the blood, forming a single crimson bead.

The Blood Fiend of Wan Hun Valley and the Ghostfire Hermit of Bai Huo Jiao screamed in shock: "Spiritual Sense Manifestation!"

"Something's wrong! Retreat! There's a Jin Dan Ancestor on this ship!"

But it was too late—they tried to flee, only to see countless black vines emerge from thin air.

As if growing wildly through the atmosphere, they wrapped around the two.

The Blood Fiend's eyes filled with panic—he frantically pulled out a second-rank Supreme fire talisman and hurled it at the vines.

But to his despair, the black vines were immune to fire and water—no effect at all.

Gradually, their screams faded—within moments, they, like Yin Rong, became crimson beads.

Yet the Blood Fiend remained frozen—he didn't understand why he hadn't died yet. He stared at the corpses around him, terror flooding his heart.

The demonic cultivators, having never witnessed such eerie and terrifying power, scrambled to flee.

But then, a black cloud gathered in the sky—and a chilling rain began to fall, icy and bone-deep.

"Ahh!"

As the Yin-evil cold rain descended, the low-level demonic cultivators fell like cut wheat, entangled by black vines, drained dry, and turned into crimson beads.

Shen Yuanxiong and the others had barely escaped death—now, seeing this bizarre scene, their scalps prickled.

Then, space twisted—and Qin Ming's figure materialized.

A mountain-like spiritual pressure descended; the demonic cultivators on the ship finally snapped back to reality, all forced to kneel, utterly powerless to resist.

Qin Ming's face expressionless, he walked toward the Blood Fiend of Wan Hun Valley and began casting the Soul-Search Technique.

"P-P-Predecessor, spare me!"

"No! Aaaah!"

"."

After the Blood Fiend's agonized screams ended, Qin Ming slightly frowned.

Then his spiritual sense expanded, instantly covering the entire lawship.

Five or six passengers aboard the Lei Yuanzong Du Yuan lawship were yanked out by his spiritual sense and dumped onto the deck.

Among them was a thin middle-aged cultivator.

Shen Hezhou looked at the people before him and instantly understood what had happened.

But his face turned deathly pale, his heart plunging straight to the bottom.

Because these cultivators were the ones who had bought cabin tickets from him and been smuggled aboard.

"Thank you, Senior Qin, for saving our lives!" The other elders of Lei Yuanzong first bowed deeply to Qin Ming in heartfelt gratitude.

All the cultivators aboard Lei Yuanzong's vessel had witnessed the heavenly might of True Person Qin, and were all lost in profound shock and awe.

A Jin Dan True Person's intervention had nearly crushed the situation outright.

Then, the other elders of Lei Yuanzong, faces flushed with anger, turned to Shen Hezhou and demanded:

"Elder Shen, explain—what exactly is going on?!"

"Negligence in duty! You nearly ruined everything!"

"If not for Senior Qin, we'd all be dead in the hands of the demonic sects today!"

"Once we reach our garrison, I will report this to our sect!"

The other escort elders of Lei Yuanzong had also sensed something amiss, and turned on him without mercy.

Shen Hezhou was left speechless, consumed by regret.

Inside the chamber.

Qin Ming put the blood pearl into his storage bag.

Just now, he had extracted further intelligence from the Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator of Wan Hun Valley.

First, the Jin Kingdom had secretly fallen under demonic control and was infiltrating the other three kingdoms.

Second, the Six Demonic Sects appeared to be preparing a major move against the three kingdoms and several major immortal cities.

"The Six Demonic Sects failed to use the tiger to devour the wolf—now they're stepping in themselves."

…

Three days later.

Yunze Great Wilderness.

Lei Yuanzong's magic vessel landed smoothly within a bustling immortal city.

This immortal city was originally intended to be the "Yunze Immortal City," jointly built by Lingyu Men and Jin Yun Valley.

These two major sects of the Wei Kingdom were defeated in their final battle and vanished entirely from history—now their efforts had merely benefited Lei Yuanzong.

Qin Ming had no interest in Lei Yuanzong's affairs; after telling Shen Hezhou and the others,

he flew straight toward the third-rank spiritual vein.

(End of Chapter)