Translator: Cinder Translations
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Feeling the terrifying energy outside the protective barrier, Song Wen sensed himself like a small boat in the midst of towering waves in the deep sea, constantly on the verge of being engulfed and swallowed by immense waves, drawn into an endless abyss.
The strength of these black-clothed individuals was extraordinary; each attack was beyond what Song Wen could withstand.
"All these people are at the Late Qi Refinement stage, even at the eighth and ninth layers," Song Wen's heart trembled.
But thinking about it, it made sense; without sufficient strength, who would dare venture into the poisonous miasma swamps to trouble the Yan family?
On the ship, everyone from the Yan family, including Guo Tao, under Yan Zhengping's command, was dispersed across various corners of the ship, preparing their respective spells.
Some summoned defensive artifacts, others activated runes, and some prepared offensive spells...
Only Song Wen seemed forgotten by everyone, completely ignored.
Observing this scene, Song Wen quietly moved towards the stern of the ship.
Song Wen understood that there was no one to protect him at this moment. Perhaps the Yan family even wished for his demise, diverting the attention of the Corpse Demon Sect away from inventorying the Rainbow Grass, focusing instead on chasing these black-clothed individuals.
Summoning his Corpse Puppet, Song Wen positioned it in front of him.
His right hand gripped the Ghost Head Shield, ready to activate it at any moment.
His left hand held a flight talisman, poised and ready.
By now, the large ship had sailed to the edge of the dense forest, surrounded by large trees. With his physical strength, Song Wen could leap tens of meters to nearby trees with effort. Later, aided by the flight talisman, he could quickly disappear into the depths of the forest.
The Shield Art was also activated by Song Wen. As his spiritual power grew stronger, the defensive capability of the shield art was no longer comparable to its previous state. However, against the attacks of these Late Qi Refinement cultivators, it was still somewhat inadequate, but better than nothing, providing Song Wen with some defense.
At this moment, among the group of black-clothed individuals, a middle-aged cultivator about forty to fifty years old flew out. He was the leader of these black-clothed individuals, Ghost Three.
Floating in mid-air, Ghost Three had a fully red Demonic Suppression Staff in front of him, carved with fierce ghostly figures, emitting rolling malevolent aura from the mouth of the ghost.
Ghost Three shouted loudly, "I didn't expect this ship's barrier to be so tough, like a turtle shell. It can actually withstand the attacks of over a dozen Late Qi Refinement cultivators. Yan Zhengping, afraid that you've used all the spiritual stones accumulated by the Yan family over the years to build these turtle shells."
Seeing Ghost Three appear, Yan Zhengping's face filled with immense anger.
"Ghost Three, you were chased to a miserable escape by my Yan family years ago. Instead of living properly, today you dare to collude with a group of criminals and challenge the dignity of my Yan family again."
"Yan Zhengping, your Yan family massacred my entire clan back then. Today, I will take it all back," Ghost Three hoarsely roared.
Yan Zhengping glanced around. The protective barrier of the large ship was now somewhat precarious under the attacks of the black-clothed cultivators. His face turned even colder, and he said coldly,
"Hmph! A group of petty characters dare to speak of invading my Yan family. Truly ignorant of the heights of heaven and earth. My Yan family has a Foundation Establishment Ancestor presiding, and behind us is the protection of the Corpse Demon Sect."
Yan Zhengping's voice was full of disdain for the black-clothed individuals, but the words spoken carried a hint of threat, almost as if lacking confidence.
Anyone with discerning eyes could see that the strength of the black-clothed individuals on the field far exceeded that of Yan Zhengping's side.
Currently, there were already more than ten black-clothed individuals present, all at the Late Qi Refinement stage, with four of them even at the ninth layer.
Looking at the Yan family's side, there are only four Late Qi Refinement cultivators and only two cultivators at the ninth layer.
Moreover, these black-clothed individuals should be constantly on the edge of life and death, ruthless and decisive in their actions. They exude an intense murderous intent. Even through the defensive barrier, Song Wen could feel the terrifying aura emanating from them.
However, as the local power, the Yan family has managed the Poisonous Miasma Swamp for more than a century. It's hard to believe they would be so easily defeated without any contingency plans. Song Wen absolutely didn't believe it.
"Foundation Establishment Ancestor! Corpse Demon Sect! Hahaha..."
Upon hearing this, Ghost Three seemed to hear an incredibly funny joke and laughed insanely.
"Do you think that we, along with these fellow Daoists, would dare attack your Yan family without any preparation?"
"Over the years, I, Ghost Three, have secretly investigated information about the Yan family."
"Your Yan family's ancestor has long been aged and out of sight for over a decade. Even if not dead, he is probably withered and unable to exert much combat power."
"Your Yan family has been colluding with the Nine Palace Sect for the past two years, secretly selling Rainbow Grass behind the Corpse Demon Sect's back. You thought you hid it well, deceiving everyone, but you couldn't hide it from my eyes."
"Do you still dare to boast about the protection of the Corpse Demon Sect? If they find out, they will probably refine your entire Yan family into soulless corpses, neither dead nor alive."
"Hahaha..."
In the midst of Ghost Three's laughter, the Demonic Suppression Staff in front of him suddenly erupted with a terrifying momentum.
It turned out that when he was talking with Yan Zhengping, Ghost Three had secretly primed the Demonic Suppression Staff, waiting for the right moment to deliver a fatal blow to the ship's defensive formation.
Ghost Three's explosive revelation caused various reactions among the people on the ship.
The thirteen Mid Qi Refinement cultivators of the Yan family all looked bewildered and incredulous, their eyes full of suspicion as they looked towards their family head.
The Yan family had actually betrayed the Corpse Demon Sect and sided with the Nine Palace Sect!
These mid-level cultivators of the Yan family had no idea beforehand.
Although the Nine Palace Sect primarily practiced orthodox cultivation methods, their conduct was somewhat unrestrained, with a taste of both righteousness and evil.
Unlike the Corpse Demon Sect, which indulged in demonic practices and ruthlessly slaughtered ordinary people and cultivators for resources, the Nine Palace Sect did not proclaim lofty ideals of righteousness and morality like those of renowned orthodox sects.
However, the Nine Palace Sect was still a sect that cultivated orthodox methods, definitely not favoring Yan family cultivators who specialized in poisonous techniques.
After all, no one liked to befriend practitioners who were filled with toxins and could potentially poison you at any moment.
From a certain perspective, poison cultivators were even more unwelcome than demonic cultivators.
Including Guo Tao and the other five Late Qi Refinement cultivators among them, all showed traces of panic on their faces. Clearly, they had never imagined their association with the Nine Palace Sect would be exposed so easily, and by Ghost Three at that.
As Ghost Three disclosed this to everyone, the Yan family had no retreat and could only fight to the death, killing all non-Yan family members present, delaying the leak of information, and then relocating their entire clan to the Nine Palace Sect, in order to have a chance at survival.
This was a plan they had already discussed with the Nine Palace Sect long ago, but now they had to accelerate the process.
Yan Zhengping's eyes were cold, filled with murderous intent, as he looked towards the stern where Song Wen stood.
(End of the Chapter)