Piloting the Demon-Repelling Skiff, the transit from the Tianfang Realm to the fleet's hiding spot took only half an hour.

As Zong Shou approached, he could sense the turbulent spiritual energy emanating from that direction. He instinctively raised an eyebrow, a flicker of astonishment crossing his eyes.

"It seems they're in a fierce battle, and the opponents are not weak—"

Judging by the ebb and flow of this spiritual tide, at least one of the combatants possessed the strength of the Immortal Realm. He couldn't help but furrow his brow; the strongest fighting power in the fleet consisted only of Ruoshui and Shi Ruolan.

Before he left, Ruoshui, aided by the Yu Xuan Zi Qing Pill, had already shown signs of breaking through to the Spirit Realm. Two parts spirit merging into one was more than enough to sweep aside peers. The thirty thousand soldiers in the fleet were also elites, one in ten selected from the Dry Ten.

But the issue was that Ruoshui did not possess the art of military slaughter; she couldn't command the might of ten thousand troops. And Shi Ruolan was still too young—

He could scarcely imagine the dire straits the fleet must be in at this moment. Zong Shou's heart pounded with urgency, and he spared no magical power, accelerating his flight. He also found it strange; the location he had chosen was extremely concealed. He had learned of it accidentally while perusing the texts of the Samsara Dao. It was an ideal place to hide troops, and yet, an Immortal Realm spirit beast shouldn't be passing through here so often. What twist of fate had occurred?

In a few breaths, he arrived. Zong Shou then stared at the scene before him in utter bewilderment.

The site of the intense battle was not where the fleet was hidden, but in a nearby boundary river. Six sky-vessels, each ten thousand zhang long, were locked in combat with a colossal beast whose body stretched a thousand zhang.

It resembled a golden fire-lion, covered in purple-gold scales. Not only was its size immense, but it was also lithe and agile. It charged through the void, occasionally roaring and snarling, shaking the very emptiness. However, despite its seemingly fierce demeanor, a weariness was already apparent in the beast's eyes.

The speed at which the six sky-vessels maneuvered through the void was in no way inferior. They circled the beast, coordinating their assault. If the fire-lion advanced, the vessels retreated. If the fire-lion fell back, the vessels immediately swarmed forward again, always maintaining a sufficient distance, ensuring it could never break free, slowly draining its strength.

From time to time, they unleashed simultaneous salvos of the Primal Extinction Crossbows. Enhanced by the spiritual masters aboard the ships, these bolts, while unable to critically wound the Immortal-rank Golden-Scaled Fire-Lion, still caused it considerable concern with their incessant bombardment. The sheer volume was staggering, blanketing the void. Coupled with their extreme velocity, evasion became impossible. Under the amplification of the grand formation's spiritual arts, the dozens of ninth-rank great crossbows could forcefully pierce even those thick golden scales!

It seemed each of the six ships had a Spirit Realm expert stationed aboard, ready to counter any unexpected divine abilities or magical powers the fire-lion might unleash.

Zong Shou paused, then stood to the side, watching silently. In just half an hour, the Golden-Scaled Fire-Lion was already riddled with countless wounds. Its previous lightness as it traversed the void was gone.

Zong Shou observed that the six vessels moved with impeccable order, anticipating almost every move and every possibility of the fire-lion. Even as the Golden-Scaled Fire-Lion displayed weakness, they showed no hint of carelessness, pursuing it cautiously, slowly grinding down its stamina.

"Six sky-vessels, all obeying commands as if they were their own limbs—very well done! Could this be Ruolan? No wonder this little girl managed consecutive victories against the Night Demons and the Great Yue Fleet with such a small contingent. Is this the skill of an unparalleled commander? Truly lives up to the name—"

If Zong Shou had not been present, Shi Ruolan should currently be campaigning on behalf of her elder brother, using a few battered ships to raid and seize provisions for the winter harvest, yet achieving unbroken victories, laying the foundation of an empire beneath the sea of clouds. Now, however, she was commanding these six sky-vessels to attempt the encirclement and kill of an Immortal Realm spirit beast for him!

"But these Primal Extinction Crossbows are an absolute black hole for resources. The consumption is enormous. I wonder where she procured so many ninth-rank beast cores in such a short time—"

Naturally, if they managed to slay this fire-lion beast, all the investment would be recouped and then some. Even a single scale from this Immortal Realm beast was worth far more than a ninth-rank spirit beast's entire body.

While lost in thought, one of the massive ships, perhaps through overeagerness, drew a little too close. The giant lion's eyes instantly flashed with sharp light. Its aura erupted, its speed suddenly surging as it lunged toward that vessel. Before it even arrived, the crimson flames swept forth. Its razor-sharp claws tore through the void, stabbing forward.

Zong Shou frowned slightly, summoning the Nameless Sword to hover beside him, ready to intervene. Yet, he was even more confused—how could Ruolan make such a basic tactical error?

The next instant, hundreds of spiritual talismans burst forth from the ship, isolating the flame's power and using it to propel the great vessel, increasing its speed by more than threefold! By a margin of millimeters, it evaded the space-shattering giant claws. Immediately, hundreds, even thousands, of Primal Extinction Crossbow bolts fired from all directions toward that spot in a concentrated volley. The fire-lion, caught completely by surprise, could not evade. After a mournful cry, countless bloody holes were blasted across its body.

"So it was a trap, luring it in? Interesting—"

Zong Shou's gaze flickered, and he recalled the Nameless Sword, continuing to observe.

However, what followed was uneventful and somewhat dull. It was precisely this tranquility that allowed Zong Shou to sense something extraordinary. Every step taken by the six sky-vessels seemed meticulously calculated, eliminating all potential accidents. They proceeded methodically, advancing gradually without haste. The process was smooth, utterly lacking any hint of improvisation.

The six ships and one beast battled fiercely for half a day. Only when they were certain the fire-lion was utterly exhausted did they simultaneously launch vast nets, firmly binding the massive creature. Following this, hundreds of talismans, resembling the Chaotic Spirit Talismans of Primal Extinction, were fired—a precaution against the fire-lion attempting a self-detonation of its beast core in a final act of desperation.

Two more hours passed until the beast finally went silent. Zong Shou’s form dissolved into light and shadow, rushing into one of the great vessels. This ship was his 'flagship,' also named Qian Tian. It had been forged from the massive piece of divine wood he seized from King Jiamingluo. Using that as the keel, the Kongqi Sect had meticulously carved and refined it. Not only was it the strongest of the six sky-vessels in combat power, but its hull was also the most robust.

Upon entering the ship, after his figure reached the small palace constructed specifically for him within, someone finally noticed his arrival. Then, all the guards in that area revealed expressions of joy.

Shi Ruolan was indeed there, seated beside his throne, issuing commands and directing the six sky-vessels. Cheers of earth-shattering volume echoed throughout the Qian Tian vessel. This hunt had resulted in zero casualties and immense profit. A single Immortal Realm Golden-Scaled Fire-Lion’s beast core alone was enough to cover all expenses and more. Not to mention the remaining parts of the lion, all rare treasures. Its tens of thousands of scales, if used sparingly, could forge over a thousand ninth-rank magic artifacts.

Initially, Ruolan was completely focused on observing the scene outside the vessel, while Ruoshui rested her chin on her hand, watching Shi Ruolan deploy her strategies with a languid yet keen interest. A moment later, perhaps sensing the change in the atmosphere, they both looked up and realized Zong Shou was standing before them.

"Brother Shou—Uncle-Master!"

Shi Ruolan’s initial reaction was delight, but then she seemed to recall something, complaining with a hint of grievance: "Uncle-Master, you must have arrived much earlier, right? Why did you insist on watching the show outside?"

Zong Shou made a face of wry suffering. Having a high seniority level wasn't always good; it just meant people aged you prematurely. So, he patted Shi Ruolan’s head: "There are no outsiders here. You are my sister; call me Brother or Royal Brother. You must know that in our Samsara Dao, we don't place too much emphasis on seniority; we only need to understand the principle of respecting the old and loving the young—"

If Zhao Yanran were present, she would surely erupt in a furious tirade, exposing Zong Shou’s hypocritical words. Who was it that had forced her to utter "Great-Great-Great Uncle-Master" multiple times, insisting that not a single 'Great' could be omitted?

Shi Ruolan, however, was delighted, basking in Zong Shou’s affectionate touch. She squinted, letting out a satisfied murmur, like a kitten's purr. Zong Shou, meanwhile, felt a sudden jolt, as if something was igniting inside him. His body grew hot, and carnal desire surged intensely. Was he truly a beast?

Shi Ruolan, though she had grown a little taller, was still reminiscent of the twelve-year-old girl known as her cherished Snow Lion.

Ruoshui remained silent, only watching Zong Shou with pure, clear eyes. Her gaze was tender and affectionate, as if asking how he had fared these past months and if he had encountered any danger. Only when Zong Shou’s body seemed to stiffen slightly did a hint of disdain appear in her eyes. At this moment, she was no longer the girl from years ago who was utterly uninterested in and ignorant of matters between men and women.

Zong Shou felt his face flush with embarrassment. He hastily withdrew his hand, coughed dryly, and activated his innate divine ability for changing the subject.

"It is truly strange. I don't recall our Qian Tian Mountain having such a reserve of beast cores. What is the deal with this Golden-Scaled Fire-Lion?"

Changing the topic was a skill Zong Shou had mastered and wielded flawlessly to divert attention from himself and others. The question he posed was precisely what he was curious about.

"A portion of these beast cores comes from our Sword Sect and Buddhist Faction, and the three factions of the Samsara Dao. Another portion was acquired by Miss Ruolan through hunting spirit beasts while leading the fleet. Miss Ruolan said it was best to be prepared, and indeed, it has proven useful now—"

This voice was steady and deep, yet carried a hint of sharpness. Zong Shou turned around in shock, his gaze filled with complex emotion. Standing before him was Feng Taiji, the very man who, in the past, had been hailed alongside him, his prestige almost eclipsing the other five of the Six Absolutes Sword Masters.

He recalled that upon their first meeting, this man seemed reserved but was actually flamboyant; though outwardly modest and polite, he was extremely self-assured. Looking at him now, it seemed Feng Taiji had completely transformed. He was steady, humble, and gentle as jade, instantly earning one's goodwill.

It was true that the Sword Sect and Buddhist Faction had both participated in this expedition to the outer domains. The former, in particular, held the greater weight. Was this Feng Taiji, then, the leader sent by the Sword Sect this time?

Zong Shou simultaneously admired the skill of Ling Chen, the Mountain Lord of the Myriad Sword Dome, in managing his people, and was curious as to why the Sword Sect had dispatched this particular individual. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit the novel website... to cast recommendation tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.) RQ

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