On the shattered deck, Zuo Qianhuang clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain as he slowly stood up from the pile of broken barrel fragments.

"Your Heavenly Moon Cult prides itself on being a righteous orthodox sect, yet you don't go after those vicious Starry Sky Bandits. Instead, you only bully honest folk like us?"

He glared at the short-haired elder before him, his eyes practically spitting fire as he ground his teeth.

"How dare a mere Tianhe Wanderer be so insolent!" a Divine Church disciple shouted, drawing his sword. "Show any more disrespect to Elder Ji, and I'll cut out your tongue!"

Elder Ji stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at Zuo Qianhuang as if he were an ant. "What difference is there between Tianhe Wanderers like you and the Starry Sky Bandits?" he said indifferently. "I don't wish to waste words with you. We're commandeering this ship today!"

Hearing this, Zuo Qianhuang laughed in fury, a powerful aura suddenly bursting forth from his body. Two Dao Jades quietly manifested in the void behind him.

"This ship is my life! If you want to take it, then come and try!"

A look of disdain crossed Elder Ji's face as he also unleashed his aura. Four Dao Jades appeared in the void behind him!

Seeing this, the mercenaries behind Zuo Qianhuang were all visibly shaken.

"Dao Jade Fourth Realm!"

"He's a Dao Jade Fourth Realm expert?!"

"Captain… maybe we should just let it go?" a mercenary urged as he walked up to Zuo Qianhuang, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him from acting rashly.

Frustrated to his core, Zuo Qianhuang could only swallow his pride. In the great realm of Dao Jade, the difference of a single minor realm was a chasm in power. He was in the Second Realm of Dao Jade; fighting an expert of the Fourth Realm would be like a moth to a flame. As the ship's captain, he had to think of his brothers and sisters under his command.

"Fine," he grit out. "Take the ship!"

"At least you know what's good for you."

Elder Ji smiled faintly and retracted his aura, the four Dao Jades dissipating with it. He then turned to the Divine Church disciples beside him.

"You few, head to the pilothouse. Set off for the Jialan Realm immediately!"

"Yes, Elder!"

Zuo Qianhuang watched the Divine Church disciples swagger towards the pilothouse, feeling so stifled he wanted to cough up blood.

"I'm sorry, everyone, but I've chartered this ship. We won't be going to the Jialan Realm just yet."

Just then, a clear male voice came from behind the crowd. Everyone immediately turned towards the sound, only to see a man and a woman approaching at a leisurely pace.

The man looked to be only seventeen or eighteen, a youth with a handsome, refined face and an ethereal demeanor. The woman was stunningly beautiful. Her charm was both seductive and yet touched with innocence, while her voluptuous figure contrasted with her pure-looking face, making it impossible to look away.

The newcomers were none other than Luo Xiu and Hua Muyan.

Elder Ji's gaze lingered on Hua Muyan, his eyes filled with unconcealed lechery. This woman would be a perfect Furnace Tripod. I must take her with me today.

"This young master, you…" Zuo Qianhuang said, taken aback when he saw Luo Xiu, and he hurried to his side.

Luo Xiu offered a faint smile and a reassuring glance. "Captain Zuo, leave this to me."

Zuo Qianhuang looked at Luo Xiu with gratitude, wanting to say something but hesitating. This young man before him was a complete enigma, shrouded in mystery. However, remembering that even an Emperor Realm Expert like Ai Kun was willing to be this youth's subordinate gave Zuo Qianhuang a glimmer of hope. Moreover, Elder Ji had already displayed the strength of a Fourth Realm of Dao Jade expert. The fact that this young man still dared to step forward, knowing this, was proof enough of his confidence.

"Where did this little whelp come from? Get lost!" a Divine Church disciple snarled, stepping before Luo Xiu and pointing a sword at him. "Don't you know my Divine Church has already requisitioned this ship?"

In the next instant, however, a streak of Sword Qi flashed through the air. The disciple's head fell to the ground—an instant kill. Ghost Sword Pathless.

Luo Xiu casually kicked the severed head until it rolled to a stop in front of Elder Ji, then walked unhurriedly towards him.

Elder Ji glanced at the head on the ground, then fixed his somber gaze on Luo Xiu. "A mere Earth Immortal… killing my Divine Church disciple…" he intoned coldly. "You've committed a crime that ten thousand deaths cannot atone for!"

Luo Xiu's figure flashed, appearing before Elder Ji in an instant. He raised a hand and slapped him across the face.

A crisp SMACK! echoed, and the entire deck fell silent.

Elder Ji clutched his face, his eyes trembling as he stared at Luo Xiu in disbelief.

Luo Xiu looked at him with a smirk. "My hearing must be going bad. Why don't you try saying that again?"

At that moment, everyone on the deck stared wide-eyed in disbelief. To slap a Fourth Realm of Dao Jade expert without revealing a hint of aura… What kind of power is that?

Elder Ji's body trembled as a powerful aura burst forth from him. "You little bastard, you're looking for—" he roared in fury.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

Luo Xiu's hand flew in a blur, landing several more slaps that directly shattered the elder's erupting aura.

To me, a mere Fourth Realm of Dao Jade expert is no different from someone in the Gathering Spirit Realm.

After several more slaps, Elder Ji was cowed into submission, forced to recognize the reality of his situation. This young man only radiates the aura of an Earth Immortal, but his true strength is far beyond that… perhaps even greater than the Dao Jade Realm!

"Who on earth are you?" Elder Ji asked, his voice now solemn. "Do you dare state your name?"

Luo Xiu raised an eyebrow. "What, planning your revenge already?"

Elder Ji took a deep breath. "Do you realize the consequences of provoking the Heavenly Moon Cult?"

Hearing this, Luo Xiu's gaze turned cold, the memory of the Heavenly Moon Cult besieging Mount Green Hills surfacing once more.

"Does your Heavenly Moon Cult realize the consequences of provoking me?"

Elder Ji stated, "My Heavenly Moon Cult has already joined the Three Thousand Alliance. Your actions today are equivalent to provoking the Three Thousand Alliance and the Heaven Azure Empire!"

Luo Xiu replied indifferently, "Then you better remember this… My name is Asura, and I'm the one who's going to steamroll your Heavenly Moon Cult and the Three Thousand Alliance."

At this, Elder Ji let out a contemptuous laugh. The other Divine Church disciples also began to chuckle.

"Such arrogance!" Elder Ji said, his voice deep. "You may have some strength, but your audacity is absurd. You actually fancy yourself capable of steamrolling the Three Thousand Alliance? Ridiculous!"

"The enmity has been forged today. We shall see! Let's go!"

With that, Elder Ji turned and waved to the other disciples, intending to leave. Although he found Luo Xiu's boastful words laughable, the fact remained that he was no match for him. For today, he could only retreat.

Just as they were about to fly away from the Breaking Sky, Luo Xiu spoke again.

"I have a habit. When I make an enemy, I prefer to settle the score on the spot."

"So, not a single one of you is leaving today."

"…"

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