Chapter 53: Chapter Fifty-Three: Master Displays His Might

The magnificent cloud boat appeared before the few people; Shi Ran went from hell to heaven, tears still in her eyes, and she delightedly looked toward Ling Xiao, "Master, this this this..."

Ling Xiao gave an inscrutable nod, "The Lotus Flower Secret Realm is extremely dangerous, after all—let it take you there!"

What is the master saying? Shi Ran rubbed her ears; the master meant they didn't need to sleep under the stars and wind, but could stay in their own rooms, flying above the clouds.

"So good…!" Shi Ran was overjoyed and about to jump down, but Ling Xiao gripped her even tighter, "Be quiet!"

Shi Ran stuck out her tongue, finally remembering she was a patient, "Master, you went out half a day just to buy this big thing, it's really beautiful!"

The three disciples behind followed suit, all utterly shocked that Ling Xiao had bought such a huge cloud boat.

"Still, it's the junior sister!" Mei Ruoxue laughed, "Even the eldest senior brother said that as long as the junior sister speaks, the master will surely buy this cloud boat…"

Mei Ruoxue smiled and turned her head, only to see Ling Xiao gazing at her faintly, a thread of cold in his eyes like entwining spider silk, tightly wrapping her unfinished words, leaving her unable to utter a single syllable!

"Um… Master, let's board the cloud boat first!" Xiao Muyu mediated, "Junior sister has just recovered from a serious illness; resting early is best!"

Ling Xiao nodded, lightly leapt, and steadily held Shi Ran as they stepped onto the cloud boat.

After the other three had boarded, the master and disciple's silhouettes had already vanished; the cloud boat moved slowly, piercing the cloud layer.

"Senior sister!" Gu Yusheng said, "This time I and Junior Sister Ruan harvested a Seven-Night Gleaming Gold Mushroom; may I exchange it for your Purple Dream Pearl Hairpin?"

Mei Ruoxue nodded, "Ah Sheng, thank you!"

Gu Yusheng smiled indulgently, saying, "Then I'll go put it away first; wait for me!"

Mei Ruoxue nodded, and only after she could no longer see Gu Yusheng's figure did she say, "Senior brother, do you have something to tell me?"

Xiao Muyu's habitual gentle smile faded slightly; he stepped closer, lowered his voice, carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern: "Junior sister, you were… too rash just now."

Mei Ruoxue blinked slightly, then realized he was referring to her saying, "Even the eldest senior brother said that as long as the junior sister speaks, the master will surely buy this cloud boat."

A trace of regret crossed her face; she whispered, "It was my momentary lapse. But… third senior brother, you also saw—this cloud boat is so splendid and huge, costly beyond measure, the master…"

Clearly, the master had always been icy toward everyone, often ignoring Shi Ran, yet now he watches as Shi Ran is about to surpass her!

Mei Ruoxue paused, her gaze sweeping over the cloud boat's interior—carved beams, painted pillars, and the exquisite furnishings suffused with spiritual aura—"The master… is perhaps overly indulgent toward the junior sister. I merely… feel it strange, even…"

"Even… unfair?" Xiao Muyu finished for her, his tone devoid of blame, instead tinged with understanding. He let out a soft sigh, "Junior sister, the master's actions have their own reasons. His different treatment of the junior sister may stem from some other cause. As disciples, to speculate recklessly or speak carelessly will only provoke the master's displeasure, even… invite disaster."

He recalled the master's icy gaze just now; the back of his neck still felt a chill. "Choose words and actions carefully, especially before the master. Some thoughts are best kept in the heart."

Mei Ruoxue bit her lip, seeing Xiao Muyu's sincere concern in his eyes; the lingering resentment and doubt in her heart slowly settled—perhaps the master merely pities her, having felt compassion for Shi Ran. She nodded, "Thank you, third senior brother, for the reminder; I will keep it in mind."

Just then——

"Boom——!!"

A deafening roar exploded violently, the entire cloud boat shuddered and lurched violently, as if struck hard by an invisible giant hand!

The spirit patterns on the hull flared with blinding light instantly, then flickered wildly, unstable, emitting a strained humming from being overloaded.

The hull emitted a grating creak, as if it might fall apart any moment.

"Enemy attack?!" Xiao Muyu's face changed drastically; he instantly drew his Jade Cold Sword, spiritual power surging around him, took a swift step to shield Mei Ruoxue ahead, and vigilantly stared at the violently fluctuating defensive barrier beyond.

Mei Ruoxue was caught off guard, flung sideways by the immense inertia; had Xiao Muyu not been quick-eyed and quick-handed to grab her, she would have fallen from the cloud boat.

Her face turned deathly pale, still shaken, she gazed at the violently trembling spiritual light barrier beyond—only to see the formerly magnificent tranquil cloud sea now torn open by a huge rift, violent chaotic currents like tangible blades slicing the barrier, and furthermore, numerous piercing, destructive purple-black beams, like a meteor shower, shot down from deep within the cloud layers, slamming hard into the cloud boat's shield!

"Crack!" The heart‑rending shattering sound rang out; the outermost layer of the cloud boat's defensive spiritual light, as fragile as glass, suddenly shattered under the impact of another especially thick purple‑black light column, leaving a huge breach!

Violent energy turbulence and deadly attacks surged through the breach in an instant! Several arrows of condensed purple lightning tore the air, emitting piercing shrieks, straight toward Xiao Muyu and Mei Ruoxue on the deck!

At the critical moment!

A figure appeared before the breach as if by teleportation. Ling Xiao had arrived at some point, his stance as steady as a mountain. Facing the terrifying assault capable of tearing apart a Golden Core cultivator, he did not even flicker his gaze.

All he did was casually sweep his wide sleeve.

No earth‑shaking momentum, no dazzling radiance. Where his sleeve passed, space seemed to be gently smoothed by an invisible hand. The violent energy flooding in was like striking an absolutely unscalable sighing wall, instantly vanishing into nothing.

Those several deadly purple‑lightning arrows were like being dropped into an unfathomable cold pool—not even a ripple arose before they were completely annihilated, and along with the torn defensive barrier breach, under a mighty, irresistible force they swiftly mended and reinforced, returning to radiant splendor, indestructible.

The cloud boat's violent shaking ceased instantly; only the muffled thunder of the external energy impact remained, along with the humming of the internal spirit patterns operating at full capacity.

"Mas… Master!" Xiao Muyu and Mei Ruoxue, having just steadied themselves from the shock, hurriedly bowed, their voices trembling with the aftermath of survival.

"Master!" Gu Yusheng came from behind, "No trouble at the rear!"

Ling Xiao's gaze swept over them lightly, then fell upon the deep cloud layer outside the defensive barrier where purplish‑black light surged; his eyes were sharp as blades, as if he wanted to pierce the layers of mist to see the attackers' true faces.

"The Lotus Flower Secret Realm has not yet arrived, yet the evil spirits already appear." Ling Xiao's voice was not loud, yet it cut clearly through the cloud boat's humming and the external rumble, carrying a bone‑deep chill, "It seems this journey into the secret realm will be… more interesting than expected."

Before his words faded, the purplish‑black light in the depths of the cloud layer suddenly converged; a more terrifying, deeper pressure, as if emanating from the Nine Nether Deep Abyss, surged like an invisible tide, instantly enveloping the entire cloud boat! That pressure was so strong that the just‑stabilized barrier trembled violently again, spiritual light flickered wildly, and emitted a piercing wail.

This time, even Ling Xiao's gaze tightened for an instant

Such immense pressure—good! Truly good! This is a challenge thrown at them for the battle below!