"Yi Wood Vine Technique!"

The captured Black Wind Thief cried out in alarm. He wasn’t shocked by the technique’s profoundness—it was clearly one of the crudest Five Elements Techniques in the Five Talisman Scripture. Even an Outer Disciple could cast it with ease.

But how could a mere Yi Wood Vine Technique possess such astonishing power?

Yang Jing feigned a look of exertion.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and attack! This old Daoist can’t hold on for much longer."

The stunned Independent Cultivators jolted back to their senses. They hastily activated their Spells and Talismans, unleashing a storm of Spiritual Light from their various Magical Artifacts that rained down upon the two Black Wind Thieves.

The Black Wind Thief who practiced Body Refinement, upon realizing the Cyan Vines were only restraining him without harming his physical body in the slightest, burst into wild laughter.

"You worthless pigs and dogs, you think you can harm my Undying Dharma Body?"

He let out a coarse, booming laugh. The various attacks landed on him without causing any pain or even an itch, merely making the Spiritual Light of his Gang Qi flicker.

The Qi Cultivation Independent Cultivators already had limited means. When they saw their attacks were almost completely useless, their ranks fell into disarray.

"Old man! You made me lose face like this! Once I break free, I’ll wring your head right off your neck!"

The bald, burly man threatened Yang Jing viciously.

His ferocious appearance and demeanor terrified the Independent Cultivators hiding behind Yang Jing, their morale plummeting.

Yang Jing put on an act of someone whose Magical Power was nearly depleted, struggling to hold on.

Just then, a figure hiding behind Yang Jing suddenly snatched up Chi Yu and Yellow Foot, leaping into the air and landing behind the two Foundation Establishment Realm Black Wind Thieves.

Yang Jing revealed a look of shock.

"Steward Wang! Why!?"

That Steward Wang reached up and peeled off his own face, revealing a completely new, unfamiliar one underneath.

"Jie jie... As expected of an old ghost who started as an Independent Cultivator but managed to climb all the way up to an Inner Sect Disciple of the Five Elements True Spirit Sect. To think you could hold off three of us all by yourself. No wonder the Bishui Zhang Family entrusted you with protecting their two Direct Descendants and bringing them back to the Lu Kingdom."

"Huan Xi, you had such a good opportunity! Why didn’t you take the chance to launch a sneak attack and take the old man’s life?!"

The bald, burly man roared in dissatisfaction.

"Idiot! Did you really think this old man let his guard down? How could someone who came from the ranks of Independent Cultivators ever truly trust anyone? He’s been wary of a sneak attack from behind this entire time."

The infamous Huan Xi, renowned across the three kingdoms for his Skin Cloaking Illusion Skill, berated the bald, burly man with scorn and sarcasm.

The wild and unruly bald man didn’t dare to retort after being scolded. He just struggled with all his might, trying to break free from the Cyan Vines’ restraints.

"Everyone, this old man doesn’t know anything about any Direct Descendants of the Bishui Zhang Family. These are my own biological grandson and granddaughter. As long as you let them go, this old man will stand down and not interfere in this matter."

Yang Jing’s eyes lit up when he heard "Direct Descendant of the Zhang Family."

Of course, Huan Xi’s Disguise and Face Changing Skill couldn’t fool his Grotto Dark Dharma Eye. There were several Flying Boats heading to the Lu Kingdom, but the reason he specifically chose this one belonging to the Lu Kingdom’s Royal Family was that he had spotted the disguised Huan Xi at the sky-port with a single glance.

’Changing one’s face for no reason must mean he’s up to something.’

Yang Jing just hadn’t expected that while he was targeting Huan Xi, Huan Xi had mistaken Chi Yu and Yellow Foot for the Direct Descendants of the Bishui Zhang Family and was targeting him in return.

"Hmph, you think you can fool me with such a paltry trick?"

As Huan Xi spoke, he reached out and pinched Yellow Foot’s chubby cheek, intending to break his disguise.

He hadn’t expected Yellow Foot’s flesh to be so firm. He pinched and tugged a few times but failed to break the so-called disguise.

’This is real?’

Even for a veteran Tribulation Cultivator like him, Huan Xi was taken aback.

At that exact moment, Yellow Foot suddenly struggled, erupting with terrifying Giant Power and instantly breaking free from Huan Xi’s grip.

Yang Jing flicked his finger, launching another Golden Light Qi Sword Spell.

The Sword Qi whistled through the air. Despite dodging with all his might, Huan Xi still had an arm severed. Chi Yu, who had been held by that arm, immediately rolled away and escaped.

Huan Xi stared at his severed arm, dumbfounded. He simply couldn’t comprehend it. An ordinary Golden Light Qi Sword Spell, when cast by a common Outer Disciple, would struggle to even break his skin. But the Qi Sword Spell this old man launched was like the Sword Qi of a Sword Cultivator—completely unstoppable.

"You were prepared all along!?"

He clutched his severed arm and stared at Yang Jing.

"This old man has eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. Though I may not know the name of the Black Wind Thieves, the methods of Tribulation Cultivators like you never stray far from the source. For a big job like plundering a Flying Boat, how could you not plant a spy on board to scout things out?"

Yang Jing said with a beaming smile, flicking his finger once more.

Huan Xi’s eyes nearly split from fury. Yang Jing’s tone made him sound like some senior veteran in the business of tribulation cultivation. Seeing the Sword Qi launched, he hastily activated the Defensive Spiritual Artifact hidden on his person. However, he never expected the Golden Light Qi Sword Spell to curve in mid-air and pierce directly into the ear canal of the burly man who practiced the Body Refining Skill.

With a sound of scraping metal, the burly man’s Protective Gang Qi was pierced straight through by the Sword Qi. The Sword Qi shot through his brain and exited out the other side.

The bald, burly man blinked in disbelief before his massive body collapsed to the ground with a THUD.

"You were holding back!"

Huan Xi’s voice was as sharp as if his testicles were being squeezed. He had never imagined that a random old Daoist he had provoked would possess such astonishing Power.