Yang Jing pushed open the door to his cabin and saw the terrified expression on Steward Wang’s face.

"Steward, what’s going on?"

"The Black Wind Thieves! They’re on board! My Lu Family’s disciples are on deck fighting them. The Black Wind Thieves are ruthless. If they win, I fear no one on this Flying Boat will be left alive."

Steward Wang stammered, completely at a loss.

"Steward, calm down. This area may be remote, but it’s still the heartland of the Fiefdom. We just need to hold out for a while. Fearing reinforcements, the Black Wind Thieves will surely retreat on their own."

Yang Jing said, reassuring Steward Wang.

As he spoke, he beckoned for Chi Yu and Yellow Foot to come out of the cabin and join him.

"Daoist Master, the two children’s Cultivation is low. Out there, stray blades have no eyes. It would be better to let them hide somewhere on the ship. I know this Flying Boat like the back of my hand. There are several secret hiding places. I can guarantee their safety!"

Steward Wang said.

"That won’t be necessary. I’m confident I can protect my two grandchildren."

Yang Jing pointed a withered finger at Steward Wang and said,

"The situation is volatile. Steward Wang, take me to meet up with your Lu Family’s Cultivators at once!"

Steward Wang nodded repeatedly and quickly led Yang Jing down the Flying Boat’s corridors, toward the sounds of battle.

Along the way, they encountered countless fleeing Independent Cultivators. These were all passengers on the Flying Boat with low Cultivation. They had managed to escape the battle between the Black Wind Thieves and the Lu Family Cultivators and were now terrified out of their wits.

Unfamiliar with the Flying Boat’s layout, they were running around like headless chickens.

Yang Jing had Steward Wang gather the Independent Cultivators.

"Everyone, how can you be sure there aren’t more Black Wind Thieves waiting outside? If you flee now, you’ll just be jumping into a trap they’ve set. We’re better off staying with the Lu Family’s Cultivators, defending the Flying Boat, and fighting the Black Wind Thieves alongside the Lu Family disciples."

He appealed to their reason and then showed them his Identity Jade Token, proving he was an Inner Sect Disciple of the Five Elements True Spirit Sect. Only then were the Independent Cultivators reluctantly convinced.

Still, quite a few Independent Cultivators left anyway, but Yang Jing paid them no mind. Such cultivators had no sense of security. They would rather face the Black Wind Thieves waiting outside than risk staying on the Flying Boat, only to be tricked into serving as cannon fodder.

Yang Jing swept his gaze over the Independent Cultivators who remained, his eyes lingering for a moment on a coarse-looking Cultivator who had two young men behind him.

"Everyone, follow me."

He retracted his gaze and headed toward the heat of the battle.

Seeing Yang Jing take the lead himself instead of using them as cannon fodder, the Independent Cultivators felt a sense of relief and followed close behind him.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the corridor ahead. Several heavily wounded Lu Family disciples, their faces masks of terror, came scrambling toward them.

Their Cultivation levels ranged from Late Stage Qi Refining to Qi Refining Perfection. They had only boarded the Flying Boat for a chance to visit Celestial Square Marketplace and broaden their horizons. They never expected to run straight into the Black Wind Thieves.

"Move! Get out of our way!"

The Lu Family disciple in the lead roared viciously at Yang Jing and the Independent Cultivators blocking the corridor.

He had already activated the Magical Artifact in his hand, looking ready to cut a bloody path through them if Yang Jing didn’t move.

"Young Master Wengang! Has the Lu Family... been defeated?!"

Steward Wang asked in horror upon seeing Lu Wengang’s wretched state.

Just then, a high-pitched buzzing filled the air, catching everyone by surprise.

Lu Wengang was about to fight his way out when hundreds of Gu Insects shot toward them like fiery meteors. The insects were no bigger than a fingertip, their bodies covered in tough carapaces.

Their heads were grotesque, each sporting a pair of pincer-like mandibles that glinted with a cold light.

The fleeing Lu Family disciples scrambled to activate their Defensive Spirit Lights, but after the intense battle with the Black Wind Thieves, both their Magical Power and Magical Artifacts were depleted.

The Spiritual Artifacts they summoned only sent the Gu Insects flying when they struck.

The Gu Insects were injured but not killed. After shaking their dizzy heads, they took to the air again, pouncing upon the Defensive Spirit Lights and Defensive Spiritual Artifacts of the Lu Family disciples.

Under the insects’ relentless chewing, the resilient Spiritual Light and Magical Artifacts rapidly lost their Spiritual Essence as holes were gnawed through them.

Amid the terrified screams of the Lu Family disciples, the Gu Insects burrowed into their bodies. Their flesh twitched and rippled, visibly tracing the paths of the insects moving within.

A group of Lu Family disciples, all with considerable Power, were devoured in moments by the Gu Insects, their bodies torn open and disemboweled.

The horrific sight made many of the more faint-hearted Independent Cultivators retch on the spot.

"Heh heh heh... Fellow Daoist, you have a cruel heart. You clearly possess the Power of a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, yet you just stood by and watched as those Lu Family disciples became food for my little pets."

A Black Wind Thief in a black robe sauntered out from around the corner. He wore a black Conical Hat with a dark veil that obscured his face.

Sated on the Cultivators’ flesh and blood, the Gu Insects buzzed with delight, taking to the air and circling around the Black Wind Thief.

Yang Jing watched the Gu Insects with great interest.

In order to raise Chi Yu, he had collected many tomes on the subject of cultivating Demon Insects and Gu Insects, so he recognized their species at a glance.

They were Skull-Eating Gu. Their carapaces were incredibly tough, and they loved to feed on brain matter. In a swarm, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would have to be wary.

"Those Lu Family disciples had already lost their nerve. If I had saved them, not only would they have failed to stay and fight with us, but they would have also thrown our ranks into disarray, giving you, fellow Daoist, the perfect opportunity to unleash your Gu Insects for a massacre."