Mu Yifeng

The distance was still great, so the screeching whistle was not loud, but it was piercingly sharp. Recalling the news he had learned from Xiong Li, Qin Sang's heart tightened. He submerged silently into the water, concealing his aura with all his might as he watched in secret. Before long, a red streak of light came speeding from the southwest, bursting into Qin Sang's field of vision. Someone was flying on a sword! Restraining his aura, Qin Sang remained motionless where he was. Looking through the surface of the water, he peered at the streak of light, then let his gaze sweep past it to look behind it. Sure enough, moments later, a white streak of light appeared, in relentless pursuit of the red. Because of the sheer distance, Qin Sang could only vaguely make out the red and white lights chasing each other across the horizon; he could not sense their auras. Even so, from the sheer momentum of their flight, he could roughly tell that both were at least late Foundation Establishment experts! The red light ahead looked somewhat unsteady, while the white light pursued at an unhurried pace, giving Qin Sang an impression as solid and steady as Mount Tai—as if the pursuer had the person ahead completely cornered. Could it be a Heaven-Traversing Alliance cultivator hunting down someone from the Lesser Cold Domain? The methods employed by cultivators on both sides were largely similar; it was impossible to discern their identities with the naked eye alone. Qin Sang floated beneath the water, the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner in hand. His eyes flickered with hesitation as he watched the two lights chase one another, speeding northeast in succession. Just then, from the direction the two lights had come, a rolling rumble echoed out. Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. Turning his head, he saw a treasure ship tearing across the waters, trailing far behind the two lights and giving chase at full speed as well. The treasure ship sailed over the water's surface shrouded in brilliant light, its momentum staggering and its intent to pursue entirely undisguised. The lake parted before the vessel, waves surging high to form two walls of water a good dozen zhang tall. Choppy waves churned, spraying droplets everywhere. Under the blazing sun, the ship faintly left ribbons of iridescent rainbows in its wake, an extraordinarily beautiful sight. Submerged beneath the surface, Qin Sang could already feel faint shockwaves coursing through the water. Focusing his vision through the wall of water, Qin Sang caught a hazy glimpse of the treasure ship's true form. Its structure was simple: both ends curled upward, with an awning in the middle. The hull was not large, resembling a common mortal black-awning boat. Yet there were no oars, nor was anyone steering it. A lone figure stood at the prow, presumably the vessel's master. In addition, several figures lingered at the stern, some sitting cross-legged and others standing. Most had their heads slightly raised, watching the two streaks of light in pursuit ahead, magic tools seemingly gripped in their hands, ready for battle at a moment's notice. Due to the distance, Qin Sang could not make out their features, let alone sense their cultivation levels. But they were clearly coming for the two lights ahead, and their strength was definitely formidable, especially with so many of them. "Of these three parties, which is friend, and which is foe?" Qin Sang took on a contemplative expression. If it were only the two streaks of light ahead, once friend and foe were determined, stepping in to rescue the victim would be no problem—and returning afterward would count as a major contribution. Qin Sang was confident in his abilities. As long as he picked the right moment to strike by surprise, slaying a late Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn't be difficult, even without deploying the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner. However, if everyone on the black-awning boat was a Heaven-Traversing Alliance expert, that would require serious deliberation. Just as Qin Sang was caught in hesitation— *Roar!* A sudden enraged roar broke Qin Sang's train of thought. Raising his head, he looked toward the sound and saw that the leading red light had stopped at some point. Yet Qin Sang could not see the figure within, for the light suddenly expanded, erupting into blazing flames that swelled into a massive fireball in midair. Tongues of flame spread outward rapidly, and from the center of the fireball came repeated furious roars. Hearing the roars, Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. He faintly found the voice familiar. Immediately after, the fireball convulsed violently as several fiery dragons formed of flame burst from the sea of fire, swimming around the fireball. Their crimson bodies soared across the horizon. Their peerless majesty resembled that of true dragons. Looking closely, there were exactly nine fire dragons—nine dragons playing with a pearl! Surprise surfaced on Qin Sang's face. The next moment, a powerful suction erupted from within the fireball, instantly pulling all the flames inside. The bodies of the fire dragons shrank dramatically in tandem, revealing a divine blade! A man stood tall in the air, holding the divine blade as nine delicate fire dragons coiled around it, roaring at the incoming foe. At the sight of this blade, Qin Sang's eyes narrowed slightly, and a figure instantly surfaced in his mind. Mu Yifeng! The Nine Fire Divine Blade was precisely Mu Yifeng's renowned magic tool. He and Mu Yifeng had met at Xuanlu Pass and shared tribulations together. Though their time together had been short, their temperaments had aligned, and they had gotten along quite well. Back then, after returning from the ancient cultivator's abandoned abode and parting outside Xuanlu Pass, several decades had passed without seeing each other. He had never expected Mu Yifeng to have also left Xuanlu Pass and come to the Yuncang Great Marsh. Moreover, his cultivation had likewise broken through to late Foundation Establishment. The power of the Nine Fire Divine Blade was more than a cut above what it had been decades ago, showing that Mu Yifeng had undoubtedly tempered and refined the magic tool countless times, pouring immense effort into it. Since it was Mu Yifeng, those behind him were unquestionably cultivators of the Heaven-Traversing Alliance! Mu Yifeng stood tall and proud in midair, his eyes blazing with wrath as he glared at his enemy, both hands gripping the Nine Fire Divine Blade tightly. Knowing that escape was hopeless, he seemed resolved to fight to the death, madly pouring spiritual power into the magic tool. An astonishing power of flames radiated from the Nine Fire Divine Blade, its substance transforming into something like fiery jade and releasing an intensely dazzling crimson divine light. This entire stretch of water was dyed red by the radiance of the Nine Fire Divine Blade, looking as though it had caught fire. "Die!" Mu Yifeng's voice was hoarse as he let out a world-shaking roar. The Nine Fire Divine Blade flew from his hands. Fierce as rushing thunder, swift as a shooting star! Seeing Mu Yifeng putting his life on the line and finding himself locked on by the Nine Fire Divine Blade, Mu Yifeng's pursuer dared not be careless. Hastily stopping his flight, he flung out an amethyst vase, muttering an incantation under his breath. The treasure vase inverted, its mouth aiming at the Nine Fire Divine Blade, and a surge of purple glow billowed forth, blocking the blade's path. *Poof!* The two magic tools collided, yet produced almost no sound. The purple glow was like a soft cluster of clouds. The moment the Nine Fire Divine Blade pierced it, the glow caved in, swallowed by the blade and dwindling at a pace visible to the naked eye. Although the vase continuously replenished the purple radiance, it lagged far behind the rate of consumption. The momentum of the Nine Fire Divine Blade was only slightly checked, still carrying an invincible aura. Gritting his teeth at the sight, the Heaven-Traversing Alliance cultivator jabbed a finger sharply toward the amethyst vase. The vase trembled slightly, its main body hurtling directly toward the Nine Fire Divine Blade to intercept it. Both men were formidable experts, and the battle unfolded at blistering speed. In the blink of an eye. By the time Qin Sang realized the person being pursued was Mu Yifeng, the two magic tools had already clashed. Qin Sang could see with his own eyes that Mu Yifeng's condition was extremely dire. Even if the Nine Fire Divine Blade managed by some fluke to slay his pursuer, he would be powerless to shake off the treasure ship coming up from behind.