Chapter 236 - 235: Sea Region Manhunt, Successful Capture

Inside a cramped, narrow cabin.

Hiss...

Marina sat on the bed, her forehead glistening with cold sweat.

Her current appearance was disguised; her features, skin tone, and clothes had all been altered.

She no longer looked like one of the indigenous people, but rather an ordinary-looking Yaoguang woman—plain and inconspicuous.

The old wooden door, damp with sea air, let out a grating CREAK as it opened.

Marina lifted her head and looked toward the door.

A small figure of a girl, about ten years old and dressed in linen, walked in from outside.

It was An Sha, the natural-born beast-talker from the indigenous tribe who possessed the power of telepathic communication.

She was also Marina’s student.

The little girl carefully closed the door behind her.

An Sha walked to Marina’s side, took out a small package, and said with concern,

"Priestess Marina, hurry and eat... Uncle Chen gave me an extra piece of Refined Grain Paste today."

Refined Grain Paste was a hard, dry block, similar to black bread.

It was a kind of unranked medicinal pill; eating one piece could provide a person with a full day’s sustenance.

But eating it was sheer torture.

Marina took a piece of the Refined Grain Paste and broke off a corner.

She held it in her mouth, letting her saliva and some water slowly soften it for more than ten breaths before she could manage to swallow it.

Even so, an uncomfortable sensation lingered in her throat.

’Honestly...’ Marina gave a bitter smile. ’This food is so awful...’

But there was nothing she could do.

Hunted until she had almost nowhere left to run and suffering from heavy injuries, she was in no position to be picky.

Besides, for mortals...

...this kind of food was already considered quite good. At least it was nutritious.

Yes, mortals.

Marina and An Sha had boarded this spirit ship disguised as mortals.

This spirit ship was leased from a marketplace by the Xu Family, a Qi Refining clan.

It carried a number of mortals, farming tools, livestock, and seeds... Its destination was Yuhua Island.

This was an Unranked Island, originally a nameless, deserted isle, but a passing Loose Cultivator had recently stumbled upon a spirit land there.

The spirit land wasn’t large.

However, it was more than enough to support the cultivation needs of a Qi Refining clan.

Thus, after a fierce competition...

...the Xu Family, having won the right to develop the spirit land, was preparing to relocate their clan to the island they had named Yuhua Island.

As a once-nameless, deserted island, Yuhua Island was uninhabited, barren, and primitive.

The Xu Family was a Qi Refining clan, after all. They couldn’t be expected to plow fields, raise pigs, and clear forests all by themselves, could they?

Did they still want to cultivate or not?

Therefore, as was customary, they had recruited some mortals to become the first subjects of Yuhua Island.

These mortals would work for the cultivators, developing the desolate island, cultivating the land, and producing grain to achieve self-sufficiency.

After many years, as they multiplied and prospered, they might even produce offspring with a Spiritual Root, who could then be absorbed into the clan as fresh blood.

It was under these circumstances that Marina and An Sha...

...boarded the spirit ship disguised as mortals, hoping to cover their tracks.

...

Seeing Marina finish the Refined Grain Paste...

An Sha asked softly with concern, "Priestess, how are your injuries? Are you feeling any better?"

"My injuries..." Marina gave a bitter laugh.

"I’m afraid it will take several more years to heal, and I’ll most likely be left with hidden wounds..."

"After all, it was a Foundation Establishment cultivator who wounded me..." She shook her head and sighed.

Marina, An Sha, and the others had not participated in the battle at the immortal city; they had remained behind to guard their island.

But not long after...

...the "life flowers" left behind by the Blind Saintess and Navasen withered and died.

This meant one thing: the Blind Saintess and Navasen were dead!

Sensing grave danger, Marina quickly disbanded the tribe.

To reduce their profile, she took only An Sha with her, left the island, and began their life on the run.

At that time, Marina’s state of mind was still relatively stable.

After all, as a "Second-Tier" Priestess with power comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she was relatively safe as long as she was careful.

However, in a certain marketplace...

...while trying to gather news about the immortal city battle, she used a tiny bit of her priestly power.

But soon after, trouble came knocking!

Countless spies and secret agents, like sharks that had scented blood, began to search for her frantically.

Somehow, a warrant for her arrest had been issued throughout the entire sea region!

Marina was terrified.

With no way to avoid them, she was forced to kill several Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

And then, the cultivators hunting her were replaced by those from the Foundation Establishment Realm...

’The Yaoguang’s Foundation Establishment cultivators... are so strong...’

Marina clutched her abdomen, sweat pouring from her forehead.

When pursued by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she had been forced to use nearly every trick up her sleeve just to repel him.

In the process, however, she had been severely wounded and had even resorted to using certain Secret Techniques.

As a result, for a time, she couldn’t even use the slightest bit of her extraordinary power...

If not for An Sha’s diligent care, she would have been long dead.

"It’s okay... We’ll be alright."

Marina sighed softly, pulling An Sha’s small frame into an embrace to comfort her.

...

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The piercing clang of the ship’s bell rang out, startling them both.

"Is that... a summons for everyone on board?"

"Priestess?" An Sha’s voice was filled with panic.

Marina forced herself to remain calm and shook her head. "It’s not necessarily about us."

"Perhaps the ship’s captain just wants to make an announcement."

"Come on, let’s go see."

Everyone on the spirit ship was registered.

If there was a general summons, not showing up would only arouse suspicion.

Following the flow of people, they made their way to the deck.

There, they saw that a large, five-masted ship had intercepted their colonization vessel. Cultivators in black robes, looking grim and efficient, were boarding.

"It’s them..."

Seeing this, the color drained from An Sha’s face.

Even Marina’s expression tensed, and she clenched her fists. "Stay calm."

A black-robed cultivator with a cold expression turned to the bowing and scraping Mr. Xu and asked, "Is everyone here?"

"Reporting to you, honored cultivator, all one hundred and fifty-six of them are here."

"Mm."

"Everyone, form a line for a blood test."

"A blood test?!"

Marina’s expression changed drastically.

Her disguise wasn’t powerful enough to alter her bloodline.

’Which means... I’ll definitely be discovered!’

At that thought, she lowered her head, a ferocious glint in her eyes as her body tensed.

An inspector approached. "Hold out your hand... You?!"

Marina exploded into action!

’Strike first!’

SWISH!

A verdant green leaf-blade materialized and sliced across the cultivator’s neck!

Blood sprayed into the air!

The deck instantly erupted into chaos as screams rang out.

Marina controlled the green leaf-blade. ’Good... they’re all just Qi Refining cultivators. I’ll kill them all and get out of here...’

But in the next instant, her movements froze, and she stiffly turned her head.

WHOOSH!

A tremendous, roaring streak of light tore through the sky!

For dozens of miles, the clouds parted like a receding tide!

The light scattered, revealing the figure of Qi Chengjian, standing upon the wind.

His indifferent, ice-cold gaze fell upon Marina, causing a bleak, bitter smile to form on her face.

"A Third-Tier... Fake Core Master?"