Though Wang Fu's hands were busy, his gaze remained clear. The cycling red vapor not only enhanced his cultivation but also seemed to make the bodies of his concubines even smoother and more delicate. He carefully moderated the spell to avoid harming them.
Suddenly, sensing something, he looked up. A pitch-black orb materialized before him, casting a dim glow. Shifting scenes appeared across its surface.
Wang Fu’s brows rose as he chuckled, "Yangyi Evening Bloom. Not bad, rare to see these days."
Despite realizing that the demonic creature held a Lesser Yang spirit item he needed, Wang Fu made no move. He quietly observed, studying the fish demon’s expression. It wasn’t fearful at all, on the contrary, it looked elated.
"It really does have some skill," muttered Wang Fu.
Wang Fu wanted to watch a while longer, but the foolish creature reverted to its original form, a dead-fish face slick with slime. Its eyes were as large as windows and occupied nearly his entire view.
"Damn you, stupid fish."
Wang Fu waved his hand, and a man descended from the sky, bowing in greeting. He was a guest cultivator of Changxiao Gate. Wang Fu, still stark naked, didn’t mind at all and casually said, "There’s a fish demon to the north. Go retrieve the item from it."
The man accepted the command and departed. Wang Fu continued to observe through the black orb. After a while, he let out an angry laugh and cursed, "Useless!"
That man was blindly heading north, not only failing to catch up to the fish demon, but even trailing behind the cultivator chasing it. He was floundering across the sea like a brainless hog.
Unable to contain his frustration, Wang Fu scooped up a concubine, stepped onto the waves, and soared away with the wind.
The other cultivators from Changxiao Gate hadn’t even reacted before Wang Fu vanished. The remaining few, seeing an opportunity, hurried to the boat to gawk at the concubines, whispering to each other with clicks of admiration.
————
North.
Wang Fu’s unexpected movements had caught many off guard, but in the end, he had indeed pursued the bait. Li Qinghong and the others quietly let out a breath of relief. After some mental calculations, the situation seemed even better than they had initially hoped.
Both the fish demon and the cultivator had been operating around the area for years. When they saw Wang Fu pursuing them, the cultivator turned and fled in panic, while the fish demon changed direction and sped north, moving much faster than before.
This was beyond everyone’s expectations. It was clear now that the creature had been holding back earlier and planning to harm the cultivator behind it. This only further convinced Wang Fu of its authenticity.
What surprised everyone most was that Wang Fu didn’t act swiftly, but instead wandered about at a leisurely pace, carefully observing the fish demon, as if suspecting it might have an unusual bloodline.
The group remained quietly hidden beneath the dharma artifact. As soon as Wang Fu stepped into the formation, the Feng brothers simultaneously formed hand seals, red light bursting from their palms as they shouted in unison, "Rise!"
Eight crimson beams of light instantly shot up from the sea, piercing into the sky. The group revealed their figures, each occupying a position, looking down at Wang Fu from above. The red spiritual barrier overhead quickly closed, then faded into transparency, concealing the entire area and returning the seascape to its tranquil state.
Within the formation, Li Qinghong narrowed her eyes slightly. Wang Fu was now clad in a white feathered robe. He had large eyes,a broad forehead, and exuded an aura of uprightness. At this moment, he showed no signs of panic, but wore a thoughtful expression. Only the woman in his arms was unclothed and terrified.
Wang Fu’s gaze swept over the group. When his eyes landed on Li Qinghong and Chen Xuanyu, his expression gradually darkened. His voice was firm as he said in a low tone, "She’s a minor cultivator in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. She has nothing to do with this matter. I ask that you spare her life."
The 'she' he referred to was the woman in his arms. Wang Fu’s first words weren’t of anger or panic, but a plea for the safety of his concubine.
But Bi Yuzhuang was not about to comply. A strange, petal-shaped trident halberd had already appeared in her hand like a ceremonial weapon, mana silently flowing into it as she spoke softly, deliberately stalling, "This matter is of great consequence. I dare not act carelessly."
The Feng brothers had already formed seals before she finished speaking. Their spells transformed into two waves of golden rain that fell from the sky. Wang Fu's body lit up with white light, his feathered robe rising to shield him.
But these two brothers' spells were unexpectedly formidable. Though the golden rain appeared ordinary, it was forged from numerous spirit items. The white light on Wang Fu’s body flickered, forcing him to raise a hand and cast a defensive spell.
Holding up the white light with one hand, Wang Fu looked down at the woman and said solemnly, "Lightning and fire hurt. Let me bear it instead."
The woman choked back tears as her form dispersed like drifting petals. Wang Fu shook blood from his hand, and a pale-white longsword materialized, its glow pulsing faintly.
Level Beam!
He bent the sword in midair and threw it out, where it transformed into a storm of pear blossom-like white shadows. Thousands of swords flew through the air, slashing through the golden rain.
Bi Yuzhuang had long anticipated his Level Beam. Her dharma artifact floated in her palm, layers of red light unfurling like petals as she shouted, "Freeze!"
The tens of thousands of white sword shadows in the sky halted in an instant, frozen midair like a snowstorm suspended over the sea. Their reflections cast countless beams of white light into the water below.
The sword shadows of Level Beam were clearly not mere illusions created through sword energy or intent. Each one was a real, tangible white blade, sharp and distinct, that filled the sky. Though they had been poised to slash or stab, they were now all completely frozen in place.
Clang!
Chen Xuanyu drew his sword and leaped into the air. He arced above the countless white sword shadows and he unleashed a streak of black sword energy that cut through the sea of blades, aiming straight for Wang Fu’s chest.
Wang Fu’s expression grew solemn as he shouted, "Come!"
Dong!
A large bronze bell appeared in front of him, trembling endlessly as if it had just suppressed something beneath it. Wang Fu had no time to feel relief and shot into the sky.
Dong!
The black sword rain fell like a waterfall, making it nearly impossible for Wang Fu to move. He finally formed a hand seal and chanted a spell. But the Feng brothers’ arts summoned a sky full of crimson clouds that pressed down toward him. His dharma artifact was once again restrained, leaving him no choice but to change his spell for defense.
A deadly tribulation...
After exchanging only a few moves, Wang Fu felt a chill settle in his heart. He believed himself stronger than Bi Yuzhuang by a margin, and although he had estimated that Chen Xuanyu was at least his equal, he had never faced him before.
If just the two of them could already force him into such danger, how could he withstand the siege of five?
The Feng brothers are understandable, but why is Li Qinghong here? What right does she have to kill me?
He had no idea what wrong he had committed to draw even the Li Family into this ambush. But Wang Fu no longer had time to question anyone. Above him, black clouds churned with rolling thunder and lightning. The female cultivator stood cloaked in violet lightning.
Six slender, elegant command tokens shimmered before her, their runes lighting up one by one. Rich silver-white lightning flowed across the tokens, blending with the violet thunder on Li Qinghong’s body and gradually illuminating Wang Fu’s face.
"When yang reaches stillness, six thunders are born!"