"Boy on the other side, I advise you not to meddle in affairs that aren't yours. This is a matter of our Heavenly Dragon Kingdom, and there is no need for you to wade into such muddy waters. Leave on your own, and we will surely present you with a generous gift!"
A fat man slowly walked out from the enemy flagship as he spoke. This person was presumably Li Gang.
"A generous gift? Does it include an Immortal Artifact? If not, I'm afraid I happen to enjoy meddling in other people's business. People in the jianghu call me the Vanguard," Xiao Yifeng laughed.
"Kid, you are merely at Qi Refining Grand Perfection, relying on an Immortal Artifact sword to spout wild talk. You must be tired of living!" the gray-robed Daoist said impatiently. With that, he turned into a gray streak of light and charged toward Xiao Yifeng.
Xiao Yifeng held his Immortal Artifact sword and entangled him, while Old Daoist Bichen engaged the other two. But facing two opponents at once, Old Daoist Bichen struggled immensely, his situation fraught with peril.
Just then, Su Miaoqing, who had been quiet all this time, suddenly unleashed a massive wave of Spiritual Power, drawing everyone's attention.
"Not good! Stop that girl, quickly!" the gray-robed Daoist shouted.
Hearing this, the yellow-robed Daoist who was fighting Old Daoist Bichen swiftly broke free and rushed toward Su Miaoqing.
Su Miaoqing rose slowly into the air, holding her fiery red Immortal Artifact sword with a solemn expression. Countless flames burned behind her. Suspended in midair like a Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, she pointed her sword toward the sky.
Su Miaoqing had already finished gathering her technique. A massive formation appeared in the heavens, releasing countless fireballs. At the center, a huge ball of flame crashed down toward the opposing ships.
The yellow-robed Daoist hurriedly turned back to save his fleet, striking down the incoming fireballs one after another. Yet there were simply too many. As they struck the ships and the sea, explosions resounded across the water.
"Three Immortal Masters, save the fleet first!" the fat Li Gang yelled.
The remaining two Daoists no longer cared about Xiao Yifeng or Old Daoist Bichen. Both rushed back, eager to preserve their ships.
How could Old Daoist Bichen and Xiao Yifeng allow them to leave so easily?
Xiao Yifeng's figure flashed, splitting into two avatars. Sword in hand, he surrounded the gray-robed Daoist. The gray-robed Daoist roared in fury, "You court death!"
Yet he underestimated Xiao Yifeng's strength. Red light blazed from the Immortal Artifact sword in Xiao Yifeng's hand. His true body and translucent avatar took up distinct positions around the gray-robed Daoist, raising their blades in unison to instantly deploy the Three Talents Sword Formation.
Xiao Yifeng raised his sword high. Countless strands of sword Qi rose and fell around him-it was the Heaven-Slaying Sword Qi. Yet this was entirely different from the version he had used to defeat Li Lifang. Not only was it bolstered by the Three Talents Sword Formation, but it was also executed alongside his avatar.
In an instant, dense sword Qi locked the old Daoist within the formation. He was left scrambling to defend himself, forced to take hit after hit just as Li Lifang had done.
Xiao Yifeng's hand seals moved without pause. All the rain of sword Qi converged into a giant sword of light, locking onto the gray-robed man before plunging straight down.
At the brink of death, the gray-robed man reluctantly pulled out a purple sphere and threw it into the sky. Countless bolts of lightning burst forth.
Xiao Yifeng's avatar was shattered by the blast, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Yet the gray-robed Daoist was far more severely injured. Turning into a streak of light, he fled instantly, abandoning the fleet behind him.
Xiao Yifeng let out a long sigh. Even with the power of the formation, he still could not handle a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator on his own-even one whose Human Dao Foundation Establishment was as fragile as paper.
Seeing their strongest companion flee, the remaining two Daoists realized the situation had turned against them. Their opponents had three people, and though the Qi Refining youth looked weak, he had so easily routed a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator.
As for the maiden who had cast the flame formation, she was clearly no ordinary figure either. Exchanging a glance, both Daoists turned into streaks of light and fled, abandoning their forces.
Old Daoist Bichen was heavily injured and did not dare pursue them. Xiao Yifeng was in even worse shape, his reserves entirely drained. Yet Xiao Yifeng shouted loudly, "Evil Daoists, where do you think you're escaping? Witness my Zhan Xian Sword Art!"
Terrified, the two fleeing Daoists spat out another mouthful of blood and burned their blood essence to execute a blood escape technique, speeding away as two crimson streaks.
Xiao Yifeng burst out laughing. He had merely been bluffing, but those two had been scared out of their wits. He declared in a deep voice, "Surrender and your lives will be spared!"
With their leading Immortal Masters gone, the opposing fleet lost all will to fight. They turned their ships in a desperate bid to escape, only to be blasted into chaos by the fire raining down from above. Amid cries and wails, soldiers dropped their weapons and fell to their knees.
Overjoyed, Zhang Tianzhi immediately directed his troops to disarm and guard the captives while pursuing the remaining fleeing ships.
Seeing the battle conclude, Su Miaoqing dispelled her spiritual arts and flew down to stand beside Xiao Yifeng. She looked down at the sea of flames she had created with a complex expression.
"Senior Sister, do you regret it?" Xiao Yifeng asked.
Su Miaoqing shook her head. "Like Fifth Senior Brother said, standing on different sides is not a matter of right or wrong. I stand on the opposite side from them; they can only blame themselves for picking the wrong side."
Xiao Yifeng looked at Su Miaoqing with newfound respect. He had not expected the girl to possess such clarity, assuming she would be upset for a while. It seemed she truly had an innate talent for the Dao.
After half an hour of cleanup, they secured a large number of captives, though a portion of the enemy fleet managed to escape.
Seeing that the matter was largely settled, the two floated back down to the deck.
"Thank you both once again for your aid. Zhang Tianzhi will never forget this kindness!" Zhang Tianzhi bowed solemnly to them.
"Yuge thanks you both. Otherwise, I do not know where I would have ended up," Yuge said, offering a graceful bow, her eyes shimmering as she looked at them.
Xiao Yifeng waved a hand and smiled. "It was merely a small effort. There is no need for such formality."
"Indeed, as members of the Righteous Path, it was only natural!" Su Miaoqing added.
"It may be a small effort to you, but to us, it is a life-saving grace. It is a pity Yuge has no way to repay it," Yuge sighed softly.
"I believe you still have matters to handle, and the two of us have exhausted much of our strength. We won't disturb you further and will return to our room to rest," Xiao Yifeng said, taking Su Miaoqing's hand as they took their leave.
Zhang Tianzhi and the others did not force them to stay. Zhang Tianzhi let out a complex sigh. "Fortunately, we allowed them on board. Otherwise, I fear we would not have survived this calamity."
Old Daoist Bichen nodded repeatedly. "Perhaps this is karmic retribution. These two are truly exceptional young heroes. To possess such profound strength at such a young age puts me to shame. Especially young friend Xiao-to nearly slay a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator while at Qi Refining Grand Perfection is truly rare in all my years."
Hearing this, Yuge turned around and gazed blankly at Xiao Yifeng's departing back, lost in thought.