Shi Yan slowly opened his eyes, his spirit soaring, his gaze flashing with brilliance.

After a night of arduous cultivation, Shi Yan felt utterly refreshed, sensing a subtle shift in his state of mind following the tribulations of the recent period.

His spiritual power extended, wandering through the third level of the iron ship…

The spiritual sense, like ripples on water, brushed against numerous flower pots. A rough count revealed several hundred pots on this level, some no larger than the palm of a hand, others as big as washbasins.

The spiritual power slowly stretched toward the second level.

Suddenly, a wave of different spiritual energy emanated from below, actively intertwining with Shi Yan’s own.

His expression changed, and Shi Yan swiftly withdrew his power, immediately realizing that the second level of the ship housed quite a few martial artists in the Hundred Tribulations Realm.

Several among them possessed particularly powerful spiritual forces, roaring like tidal waves, their presence fiercely imposing.

Realm of Status

Shi Yan took a deep breath, instantly understanding that those potent responses originated from the spiritual power of martial artists at the Realm of Status. There were perhaps several dozen such individuals on the second level, causing a secret jolt of alarm in Shi Yan.

“The Hundred Tribulations Realm is quite different from the preceding realms; during cultivation, one also needs rigorous tempering. Only by surviving various dangers and comprehending lessons within successive trials can one break through to the next stage,” Xia Xinyan said, having awakened at some unknown moment. She glanced at him and added coolly, “In the Hundred Tribulations Realm, mere profound Jing Yuan is insufficient. Even if you returned to the Yang family and consumed Heaven and Earth spiritual medicine, without adequate cultivation of the state of mind, rapid breakthrough would still be difficult.”

Shi Yan recognized the distinct nature of this realm, nodding. “Indeed. It seems that sometimes, danger isn't entirely a bad thing.”

“I have a premonition that once my body fully recovers, I should be able to step into the Realm of Status. I have experienced much lately; these experiences are enough to propel me further,” Xia Xinyan declared, her bright eyes sparkling.

“Realm of Status?” Shi Yan grinned, chuckling. “Does that mean catching up to you will be even harder for me?”

Xia Xinyan couldn't be bothered with him, letting out a soft snort before gracefully descending from the **.

“You two, get up and get to work.” A crisp shout echoed from the stairwell opening below. Moments later, a girl of about seventeen or eighteen appeared on this level, her brow furrowed. Pointing at Shi Yan, she commanded, “You move these flower pots up to the deck. The women are responsible for cleaning this floor. If the work isn't finished, there will be no food or fresh water.”

With that, the girl stomped back up the stairs, seemingly unwilling to linger on this level for another second.

“Time to work,” Shi Yan smiled. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. It seems this journey won’t be easy for us. Xinyan, if you can’t manage, I can help you after I finish my own tasks.”

“Unnecessary,” Xia Xinyan responded coldly. “Just watch yourself carefully, don’t get snatched by any of those men who prefer male companionship.”

Shi Yan’s face darkened with anger. “Are you trying to provoke me deliberately?”

Xia Xinyan’s eyes flickered, appearing quite pleased, and she replied placidly, “I’m warning you to be careful, looking out for your own good. You’re just ungrateful.”

Shi Yan snorted, choosing not to tangle with her further, and began moving the flower pots.

Time rushed by.

In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.

For ten days, Shi Yan rose at dawn to move the flower pots to the deck, and as the sun set, he carried them back down, repeating the cycle.

Xia Xinyan did the same, busying herself downstairs during the day, clumsily sweeping the accumulated dust from this level.

During these ten days, once Shi Yan finished his own duties, he would actively come down to help her clear the grime and dirt.

Gradually, Xia Xinyan’s demeanor toward Shi Yan softened from coldness. Sometimes, when they conversed, a rare smile would grace her lips, making Shi Yan feel as if he were bathed in a spring breeze, preventing the days from feeling monotonous.

After they finished their chores each day, the girl named Xiao Feng would deliver their rations of food and water.

The food consisted of salted fish and steamed buns, tasting quite poor. Shi Yan was not fussy, wolfing his down and still feeling hungry. Xia Xinyan, unused to such hardship, worked herself ragged daily only to eat substandard fare, and her appetite diminished steadily.

Every night, they would huddle together in the narrow side room, listening to the cries of exertion and cultivation from the men and women upstairs.

Initially, Xia Xinyan was deeply uncomfortable, her neck flushing red. She dared not look at Shi Yan, terrified he might succumb to beastly instincts and commit some outrageous act against her.

Later, seeing that Shi Yan remained completely self-restrained—though he, too, occasionally blushed deeply—he never made any move, and slowly, she let down her guard.

Eventually, they could even converse normally while listening to the sounds of passion drifting down from above.

Another day arrived.

Shi Yan spent three hours carefully carrying the flower pots onto the deck one by one. He returned immediately to the lower level, preparing to help Xia Xinyan clean the filth.

“What are you doing?” Suddenly, a sharp shout came from the lower level.

Shi Yan’s face darkened. He rushed down the stairs and saw Li Wei standing by the side room door, smiling while accosting Xia Xinyan.

Behind Li Wei stood three male disciples from the Yin-Yang Grotto-Heaven, all possessing cultivation at the first layer of the Hundred Tribulations Realm. The trio watched with careless grins.

Although Xia Xinyan’s condition had improved during this time, she still could not rashly expend her Jing Yuan, lest she negate all her previous efforts.

Li Wei himself had cultivation at the second layer of the Hundred Tribulations Realm. He was a core disciple of the Yin-Yang Grotto-Heaven and the nephew of that sallow-faced man, holding considerable status on this ship. His arrival was clearly ill-intentioned.

“Your appearance is admittedly a bit plain, but your figure is decent. The light down here is poor, so I can reluctantly accept you. Stop struggling. It is your blessing that I am willing to favor you. Submit to me, and you won’t have to toil cleaning this floor every day; the quality of your food will also greatly improve…”

Li Wei smiled, pushing into the cramped side room, disdainfully adding, “That brat can’t protect you. If you don’t want to end up as fish food, you’d best be obedient.”

“Girl, it’s your fortune that Brother Wei is interested in you. Your looks truly wouldn’t appeal to ordinary men; only Brother Wei has peculiar tastes and can still accept a woman with a good figure. If you behave, there will be benefits for you on this ship,” one of the Yin-Yang Grotto-Heaven disciples, standing near the doorway at the first layer of the Hundred Tribulations Realm, persuaded with a grin.

“Get out!” Xia Xinyan hissed from inside the room, her face icy, her eyes sharp with coldness.

“Heh heh, once I’m satisfied, I’ll be sure to step out carefully,” Li Wei chuckled, his eyes lewd and his smile ambiguous.

“Bang!”

A figure shot forward like a cannonball, his shoulder slamming into the three disciples blocking the door, making them stagger aside.

Shi Yan burst into the side room, his face grim, and kicked Li Wei hard in the back, sending him flying to crash violently against the wooden wall of the room.

“You’re courting death!” Li Wei wiped a smear of blood from his mouth and slowly rose, staring at Shi Yan with a cold sneer. “This is a Yin-Yang Grotto-Heaven vessel. You’re seeking your own demise!”

“Get out, immediately!” Shi Yan frowned, looking thoroughly annoyed.

“Kid, you’re finished!” The three martial artists outside rushed toward the door once they recovered.

Shi Yan’s body quietly petrified, his Yin energy and Jing Yuan coalescing into a Magnetic Ji field blocking the entrance.

The three martial artists of the Hundred Tribulations Realm slammed into the domain field, their bodies involuntarily beginning to spin.

Shi Yan’s expression hardened, his eyes like daggers as he lunged at Li Wei. His ten fingers became like spears, suddenly flashing with a sharp, cold light.

Li Wei’s expression shifted. He spread both hands, and a ball of grayish-white light abruptly erupted from his palms.

“Boom!”

Shi Yan’s ten fingers pierced the light orb. His arms went numb, but his fingers tore through the light mass, landing on Li Wei’s chest.

“Thump!”

Li Wei, who had just managed to stand, was driven back by the strike into the wooden paneling, his appearance utterly wretched.

Stepping forward, Shi Yan seized Li Wei by the neck and lifted him high, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. He sneered cruelly, “You dare even think about laying a hand on my woman? Believe it or not, I’ll slice off your fifth limb?”

Li Wei was held aloft by one of Shi Yan’s hands, his feet dangling uselessly in the air. Panic filled his eyes as he struggled desperately, his fists hammering against Shi Yan’s body.

Shi Yan’s body was petrified, overlaid by a layer of dark light shield. No matter how hard Li Wei thrashed, Shi Yan remained as immovable as a massive stone, utterly unyielding.

“Shi Yan!” Xia Xinyan gasped slightly, suddenly calling out, then gently shook her head, signaling him not to take Li Wei’s life.

This was the first time she had seen Shi Yan attack; his brutal and fierce offensive startled her.

Regardless of whether it was the martial artists outside or Li Wei inside, all possessed cultivation in the Hundred Tribulations Realm, with Li Wei being at the second layer. Yet, in a single exchange, Shi Yan had subdued all four. The three at the door were still spinning strangely—no one knew what trick Shi Yan had employed. Li Wei was even more pathetic, subdued almost instantly without the slightest chance to resist.

Shi Yan’s ruthless and ferocious methods greatly surprised Xia Xinyan, who was accustomed to seeing young talents, leaving her wondering how Shi Yan, newly entered into the Hundred Tribulations Realm, could possess such dominant strength.

“Scram!” Shi Yan flung Li Wei onto the ground and kicked him, sending him tumbling across the floor until he literally rolled out the door.

As the domain field retracted, the three martial artists from the doorway tumbled onto the ground.

Shi Yan stepped forward, blocking the entrance, his expression cold. “I’m not eating and drinking for free on your ship. If you dare aim for my woman again, you can forget about enjoying any woman for the rest of your lives. Get far away, and don’t let me smell your stench!”

Li Wei and the other three martial artists of the Hundred Tribulations Realm glared at Shi Yan through clenched teeth.

“Let’s go,” Li Wei stood up, his face contorted and grim. He turned and walked out.

The three Hundred Tribulations Realm martial artists shot Shi Yan hateful glares from the ground before silently rising and following Li Wei.

Shi Yan stood guard like a temple deity at the door, his eyes cold and sharp with lethal intent. He stated calmly, “These four boys won’t let this rest. We should prepare; perhaps we’ll have to jump overboard to escape. Damn it, I haven’t stolen their women, yet they dare to plot against mine? They really are tired of living!”

“Who is your woman?” Xia Xinyan shot back, biting her lip and glaring fiercely at him.

“Here, you are my woman,” Shi Yan turned back with a brilliant, toothy smile. “As for the future… that’s not set in stone yet.”

…V