Chapter 358: Chapter 220: Lying in Wait, Ambushing the Reinforcements (Part 2)

Squad after squad of expressionless young mortal men in coarse cloth clothing were herded off the Tower Boat. Numerous fierce-looking Cultivators holding whips shouted loudly, brutally ordering them into square formations.

The mortals said nothing, silently obeying the Cultivators’ arrangements like the most docile lambs.

Although most of these Cultivators were only at the Qi Cultivation Stage, in the eyes of the unarmed mortals, they were nothing less than demons—beings who could decide their life or death with a single word.

The hull of the Tianzhou Skyboat was engraved with the Sect’s insignia. The Cultivators maintaining order were all Sect disciples, and Elder Suti even recognized the Stewards and Incense Masters leading them.

Seeing that everything was in order after a quick look around, Elder Suti breathed a sigh of relief and began to speak with the Steward who approached him.

"...Steward Luo, is it another ten thousand people this time?"

Su Ti asked nonchalantly, his hands clasped behind his back.

The Steward responsible for the delivery, Luo Kai, currently only had Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation. Facing a Pseudo Core Elder, he naturally didn’t dare show any disrespect, and said with a fawning smile:

"As you can see, Elder Su, there are twelve thousand mining slaves this time. Elder Gu is aware of the difficulties here, so he sent some extra hands over to work. He just hopes the output here won’t drop too significantly in the next couple of years..."

Su Ti frowned, a hint of displeasure in his tone.

"I am naturally doing my utmost. However... forget it. Why am I even telling you this? I’ll just speak with Elder Gu in person next time."

"Yes, yes. I am only responsible for the delivery. As for other matters, I have no say."

Steward Luo Kai replied hurriedly, presenting two large-capacity Storage Bracelets with both hands and saying:

"These are the resources allocated by the Sect. Please inspect them, Elder Su."

Su Ti raised his hand to take them. He briefly probed them with his Divine Thought, and the type and quantity of the supplies within became clear to him.

"Alright, that will be all..."

Before the words had left his mouth, a hand appeared out of thin air and effortlessly snatched the two Storage Bracelets away.

The next moment, the figure of a handsome, black-clothed youth with red lips, white teeth, and cold eyes emerged, giving him a meaningful smile.

"Who are you?! How dare you cause trouble here?"

Elder Suti roared angrily, a chill running through his entire body. ’To snatch something from my hands so nonchalantly... just how high is this uninvited guest’s Cultivation?’

Spiritual Light flared around his body as he hastily activated several defensive measures. His Lifebound Flying Sword also shot out, slashing viciously toward his opponent like a black rainbow.

"Too weak!"

Ling Changqing shook his head, raised his hand, and caught the Top Grade Spiritual Artifact-level Flying Sword. With a powerful twist of his hands, he snapped it in two.

With his current Middle stage Golden Core Cultivation, supplemented by a High Rank Body Cultivation Technique, a Spiritual Artifact-level Flying Sword like this could no longer harm him.

"How is that possible? Who... who in the world are you?"

Su Ti’s face turned deathly pale as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His aura weakened significantly.

"Dead men don’t need to know much. Be on your way!"

As Ling Changqing spoke, the Cloud Serpent Sword shot out from his body like a rainbow piercing the sun. It cut through space, carrying an incomparably sharp sword intent that shattered Su Ti’s defenses and beheaded him in a single strike.

In mid-air, a faint, almost imperceptible vortex of Spiritual Power appeared and vanished in an instant, effortlessly devouring Su Ti’s Divine Soul.

Only then did the surrounding guards and attendants react, roaring furiously as they drew their Weapons and swarmed forward to attack.

A piercing alarm bell echoed through the area. The light screen of the Protective Array was rapidly intensifying, and in just ten more breaths, it would be fully activated.

But Ling Changqing’s movements were clearly faster. He transformed into a streak of light, instantly breaking through the encirclement and vanishing into the depths of the mountain cave, leaving a group of Cultivators to stare at each other in dismay.

The strongest among them only had Foundation Establishment Cultivation; how could they possibly stop a Golden Core Master?

"...You little thief, where do you think you’re going?"

At that moment, two middle-aged men in black Daoist robes with grim expressions appeared before Ling Changqing. The auras they emitted indicated they both possessed Middle to Late Stage True Core Cultivation.

’They have some skill, but it’s still not enough to impress me!’

Ling Changqing performed a sword seal, and thousands of hazy sword-shadows descended, crisscrossing and slicing through the air. They transformed the area of several dozen yards into a chilling kingdom of Sword Qi, forcing the two men to scramble to parry as their expressions changed drastically.

The power of the Earth Grade Technique: True Understanding of the Sword Dao was immense. Coupled with his own advantage in Cultivation, Ling Changqing could completely overwhelm these two True Pill Cultivators.

"May I ask who you are, Fellow Daoist? What grievances do you have with our Cangyu Islands?"

One of the men demanded through gritted teeth. At the same time, he summoned an Iron Umbrella that gleamed with a black light. Multiple layers of light screens instantly formed around it, barely holding back the chilling Sword Qi that descended in waves.

The other man released four burly Daoist Soldier Puppets in Golden Helmets and Armor. Wielding Heavy Swords, they strode forward with a great RUMBLE and surrounded Ling Changqing.

"Quasi rank Three junk? You dare bring that out and embarrass yourself?"

Ling Changqing said disdainfully. With a light wave of his hand, he also deployed four Daoist Soldier Puppets, all of them Third Grade high rank.

The eight Daoist Soldier Puppets clashed. The difference in their strength quickly became apparent as the opponent’s four puppets were steadily beaten back, wisps of black smoke rising from their bodies. It was clear they wouldn’t last much longer.

"..."

That True Pill Cultivator’s face instantly turned ashen, whether from anger or fear was unclear.

Ling Changqing wielded his sword like the wind. His layered Sword Qi attacks were like a raging sea, crashing down in one endless wave after another. The Qing Hong Armor on his body bloomed with multiple layers of a hazy, multicolored light screen, blocking the two men’s desperate counterattacks.