Star Martial Soaring Cloud

Red silk ribbons wrapped around branches, colorful paper spread out, and the three gilded characters "Cangya Village" were all filled with joy.

With lanterns hanging high above the eaves and the aroma of wine filling the air, this pirate's lair, usually gloomy and menacing, now exudes an incongruous and absurd liveliness.

On either side of the gate, two guards leaned against each other and chatted quietly, their words filled with excitement and anticipation.

"We're definitely going to have a good drink when we change shifts later!"

"It's a pity we have to endure another two hours. Hopefully, those starving devils will leave us some good wine and goods!"

"Who?"

One of the guards caught sight of a figure slowly approaching in the darkness, instantly gripped the hilt of his sword, and shouted angrily.

The newcomer was dressed in black, gripping a long, silver-white spear with a red tassel in his backhand. The spear was long and slender, its blade gleaming with a cold light that shone piercingly under the pale moonlight.

Zhou Qian did not answer.

The spear trembled, its cold light flashing. The two guards didn't even have time to draw their swords before they fell silently to the ground, lifeless.

"Great!" On the high ground not far away, Erdan clapped his hands excitedly, his eyes full of admiration.

The boy witnessed such swift and decisive killing for the first time, and his heart pounded like a drum.

"Erdan, remember my instructions." Xie An squatted down beside him, his voice extremely low. "If we lose this battle, you immediately take Lu Yang and escape. Zhou Qian has also prepared a small boat on the other side. From this moment on, you are no longer a acquaintance of us."

As he gave instructions, he took out an array plate from his sleeve, and with a faint flow of vital energy at his fingertips, he gently covered it with fine array patterns.

"This is the second lesson Zhou Qian taught you: Even if you've made all the necessary preparations, you should still be prepared for the worst."

The Nine Palaces Illusionary Array is activated.

The array plate emitted a faint glow, and the invisible spiritual light spread outwards like ripples, quietly enveloping the entire mountain stronghold and the surrounding area for several miles.

The primordial energy of heaven and earth began to distort, the surrounding light and shadow shifted unpredictably, and the scents of plants and trees intertwined in a chaotic manner.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" Inside the gate, a pirate discovered his fallen comrade and immediately shouted a warning.

The urgent sound of gongs rang out, and squads of pirates poured out of their various tents, armed with knives and spears, and charged toward the gate of the stronghold.

Their faces were still flushed from drinking, and their steps were unsteady and staggering, but the blades in their hands were sharp and their killing intent had not diminished.

"You old scoundrel Xiang Tian, ​​come out and face your death!"

Zhou Qian looked up to the sky and roared, the sound waves like rolling thunder, echoing throughout the entire Cangya Village.

Instead of retreating, he advanced, spear in hand, striding into the gate. His silver spear swept across, the wind whistling fiercely, instantly sending the first few pirates who rushed in flying.

"Where did this wild brat come from, daring to trespass and cause trouble in my Cangya Village!" A one-eyed cultivator at the peak of the Fish Leap stage smashed the wine bowl in his hand, wiped the wine stains from his lips, and pounced on Zhou Qian with his sword in mid-air. The sword light was like a bolt of lightning, fast and extremely swift.

Zhou Qian swung his spear in a circular motion, the tip drawing a sharp silver arc, forcing back the surrounding pirates. Then, he held his spear horizontally to block the large sword that was about to strike him down.

"clang--!"

The clang of metal rang out, and sparks flew everywhere.

At the same time, Zhou Qian kicked his right foot upwards, aiming straight for the one-eyed cultivator's lower abdomen.

The one-eyed cultivator twisted his waist in mid-air to deflect the force of the kick, and then used the momentum to flip over Zhou Qian's head.

Zhou Qian's spear followed like a shadow, its tip gleaming coldly as it pierced straight into the opponent's back, the chilling light instantly reaching his body.

Without turning his head, the one-eyed cultivator dragged his sword and slashed backhand. The sword and spear clashed again, and a piercing metallic sound suddenly rang out.

But this shot was just a feint. Zhou Qian had already slid his spear close, clenched his left fist, and with a heavy force, slammed it into the opponent's lower back.

"Bang!"

The one-eyed cultivator was blasted away, crashing heavily onto a table of wine and food, shattering cups and spilling wine all over the floor.

Zhou Qian frowned slightly but did not pursue.

His gaze swept past the chaotic crowd, looking deep into the mountain stronghold, where he keenly sensed an eerie and restrained aura.

"You fool, how dare you ruin my grand plan!"

Xiang Tian finally showed up.

He was nearly fifty years old, with a burly and robust build, a face full of menacing features, and a short beard under his chin. He usually exuded a bandit-like air, but now his face was filled with a chilling killing intent. He wore a dark red robe, and at his waist hung the ghost-headed broadsword that had accompanied him through half his life of plundering.

As the head of a village, his authority cannot be challenged.

Moreover, there are distinguished guests in the stronghold. If the enemy is not killed quickly, how can he save face?

"Chop him up!"

With a roar, he swooped down from the sky like a roc spreading its wings, his ghost-headed broadsword carrying a bloody and malevolent aura as it slashed towards Zhou Qian.

More than ten pirate leaders followed closely behind him, each wielding a weapon, their battle cries deafening.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

A group of ruthless bandits pounced on them, their momentum overwhelming.

Zhou Qian remained calm and fearless, wielding his spear with wide, sweeping movements, the spear shadows swirling like dragons, the silver light spreading out like a ribbon.

He fought and retreated, deliberately moving towards the village gate in an attempt to lure the group of thugs out of the village.

One step, two steps, three steps.

The moment everyone stepped out of the village gate, the world suddenly changed.

Xiang Tian felt a blur before his eyes, and the familiar land beneath his feet suddenly became unfamiliar.

He could recognize every rock, every blade of grass, and every path in this territory he had occupied for more than ten years with his eyes closed, but now everything around him had changed.

It was supposed to be pitch black at night, but now it was as bright as day.

It was not the warm brightness of sunlight, but a pale, cold light that poured down from the dome, illuminating everything in minute detail.

But when you look down, there is not a shadow at your feet.

The trees swayed slowly, not because of the wind, but because the branches shifted on their own.

Each ancient, vigorous tree, like a silent traveler, slowly moves and shifts, its branches intertwining and crisscrossing, sometimes blocking the way ahead, sometimes opening up new paths.

Wild grasses grew wildly along the ground, like long, green snakes that wrapped around pedestrians' ankles before suddenly loosening their grip.

"Not good! It's a high-level illusion array! We've run into a tough opponent!" Xiang Tian's expression changed drastically, and he roared sharply, "Quickly, go and get Brother Sandao to break the array!"

But his voice seemed to be swallowed up by an invisible barrier, and his words became muffled as soon as they came out, as if separated by a thick water curtain, so that even he could not hear them clearly.

What alarmed him even more was that the dozen or so men who had been following him had all vanished, leaving him surrounded by emptiness, with no sound of people or weapons.

He was isolated.

The Nine Palaces Illusion Array is now fully activated.

Wang Xiao was unfamiliar with the mysteries of formations, so he only noticed Zhou Qian's unusual spiritual senses, but failed to discover that Xie An's talent in formations was nothing short of monstrous.

The world's formations are divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, with distinct power and hierarchical barriers.

The Heavenly Array is incredibly powerful, capable of imprisoning all cultivators. Even those at the Divine Sense Void Realm level find it difficult to escape; the National Protection Array is a prime example.

Although a level-eight formation cannot trap a cultivator at the Divine Sense Void Realm, it can unleash a combat power comparable to that of a cultivator at the Divine Sense Void Realm.

The Xuan-level formations mostly correspond to the Dragon Gate Divine Realm, and the three Xuan-level formations of Heaven and Earth are all dynamic formations that can be changed and evolved at will.

Only the Yellow Rank is a fixed formation, with a fixed effect and no room for flexibility.

Xie An single-handedly and through a month of hard work set up a complete living Xuan-level illusion array. Such talent is rare in the world.

At this moment, the plants and trees in the formation shifted, the light changed, and white mist rose, separating each person who entered the formation into a different space.

Some pirates were trapped in the thick white fog, unable to see their own hands, and swung their swords wildly, but found nothing. Others found themselves on a sheer cliff, trapped in a desperate situation, and dared not move an inch. Even worse, some encountered their companions in the fog, mistaking them for enemies and drawing their swords against each other. Only when the fog cleared did they realize that the people lying in the pool of blood were their own men.

"I...I killed Old Zhang with my own hands?" A pirate gripped his blood-dripping longsword, trembling all over, his face deathly pale.

"Head to the heavens, prepare to die!"

Zhou Qian emerged from the mist with his spear, the silver spear piercing the air and thrusting straight at Tianmen.

As expected of a ruthless bandit who had dominated the East China Sea for ten years, Xiang Tian remained calm and composed even when trapped in a large formation. He used his ghost-head broadsword to block and deflect the force, then used the force to retreat and engage in a fierce battle with Zhou Qian.

The two were evenly matched in cultivation, and for a time, spears and swords clashed, metal clanged, and they fought to a standstill.

At the same time, Xie An stepped out of the mist, holding a short sword, and rushed straight at the pirate leaders who were trapped and separated by the formation.

Although his strength was inferior to Zhou Qian's, he used the formation as cover, his figure was unpredictable, appearing and disappearing in an instant, and his sword light was fierce and surged, killing two leaders in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Qian caught a glimpse of Xie An handling the situation with ease, which put his mind at ease.

This formation is their greatest source of confidence in fighting thirteen opponents with only two of them.

Without a formation, such a rash move would surely lead to their deaths; with a formation, the entire mountain stronghold would be their home ground.

The two, one open and one covert, one orthodox and one unorthodox, were like tigers among sheep, slaughtering the pirates and causing them to retreat in disarray.

Inside the house in the village, Wang Xiaojing stood still, a faint smile on her lips, and said softly, "If you move, you will die."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Is this kid an idiot?"

"Watch me chop this arrogant brat up with one stroke..."

Before he could finish speaking, the laughter in the room stopped simultaneously.

It was as if an invisible hand was gripping everyone's throats tightly, their smiles frozen on their lips, turning into muffled swallowing sounds.

It's all because Wang Xiao disappeared.

It didn't truly disappear; rather, the naked eye could no longer keep up with its extreme speed.

But out of the corner of their eyes, they saw the white-clad figure sweep across the narrow hall like a ghost, and when it stopped again, it was already standing in front of Luo Sandao.

A fair hand firmly gripped Luo Sandao's neck.

Luo Sandao's eyes were wide open, his pupils almost bulging out, and his mouth was agape, only able to exhale but not inhale.

His hand was still on the hilt of the knife, and the weapon was only half an inch out of its sheath before he froze completely.

His abundant vital energy was completely locked up by a domineering and invisible force, leaving his limbs weak and powerless, and he clearly felt death approaching step by step.

Both were at the Dragon Gate Consciousness Sea Realm. The moment Wang Xiao made his move, Luo Sandao reacted instinctively, raising his hand, drawing his sword, and retreating in one smooth motion.

But in Wang Xiao's eyes, all his movements were as slow as withered leaves falling, ridiculously slow.

Wang Xiao's claw strike was utterly unremarkable, lacking any fancy moves, surging energy, or overwhelming pressure; it was utterly bland.

Luo Sandao even subconsciously felt that this claw was very slow and that he could easily avoid it.

Yet this claw strike is natural and flowing, like a mountain breeze, a stream, or a spring petal falling from a tree, perfectly natural.

In this minimalist claw, Luo Sandao saw countless variations.

He suddenly realized that no matter how he dodged or fought back, he couldn't avoid this claw.

This claw strike, though seemingly slow, was actually incredibly fast, sealing off all his escape routes and anticipating all his reactions.

Then, like a chick caught by an eagle, he was firmly held and lost all his life.

"Is this reason sufficient?"

Wang Xiao's voice rang out again, calm and even, devoid of any emotion.

But to everyone inside, it sounded like death whispering in their ears.

Inside the room, the pirates' legs trembled and their teeth chattered. Their swords and knives fell from their hands and clattered all over the floor.

No one dared to flee, no one dared to move, no one dared to utter a sound; the entire hall was deathly silent.

Wang Xiao slammed Luo Sandao's corpse heavily onto the wooden table.

With a loud bang, the wooden table shattered, and the corpse crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

This loud noise was the last sound the people inside the house heard in this world.

"Hey, I told you not to move, why are you being so impulsive?" Wang Xiao shook his head gently, his tone calm, as if he were advising a stubborn friend.

Before he could finish speaking, the other person was no longer in the house.

The battle in front of the village was nearing its end, and Zhou Qian and Xie An were clearing out the remaining bandits.

Erdan squatted on the boulder, his eyes fixed on the direction of the mountain stronghold, his little fists clenched tightly.

Wang Xiao ran out into the night, carrying a wooden stick he had picked up from somewhere.

He deliberately ran until he was out of breath, then shouted at the top of his lungs, "Erdan! Don't be afraid! I'm coming!"

Erdan turned around and saw Wang Xiao's feigned bravery, and couldn't help but roll his eyes: "Alright, Brother Lu Yang, you can come earlier next time."

"I...I was just afraid of holding you back." Wang Xiao bent over and supported himself on his knees, pretending to be exhausted.

Erdan, too lazy to expose him, turned around and clung tightly to Xie An's arm, his eyes gleaming with fervent light: "Brother Xie! Teach me formations! That formation just now was amazing! It enveloped everyone instantly, turning night into day, with strong winds and thick fog. I want to learn it too!"

"You're learning formations, but you're not going to save your sister?" Zhou Qian said calmly.

"Ah! I almost forgot about my sister!" Erdan slapped his forehead and stomped his feet in frustration.

"Hurry up and go! Xie An, you go with him." Zhou Qian pushed him helplessly.

Erdan took off running into the village, but stopped after a couple of steps. He turned back to Xie An and said, "Brother Xie, you promised me! You can't go back on your word!"

Xie An did not respond, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a smile.

Zhou Qian watched the two figures disappear into the distance, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly turned around and bowed deeply to Wang Xiao.

"Thank you, Brother Lu Yang."

Wang Xiao was slightly taken aback: "Hmm? What do you mean by that?"

"I once had the opportunity to consume a rare fruit, which gave me a spiritual sense far beyond that of ordinary people." Zhou Qian raised his eyes, his gaze frank and clear, and offered an explanation, "That's why I noticed it just now."

Wang Xiao's all-out attack and Luo Sandao's desperate resistance, along with the immense pressure unleashed by the two Dragon Gate Divine Realm cultivators, could not be concealed.

It was only for a moment, but Zhou Qian still managed to catch it.

Wang Xiao smiled knowingly, neither denying nor defending himself.

He took out the fairy ephemera from the cellar, its white petals gleaming softly in the moonlight, and handed it to Zhou Qian.

"I was originally thinking about how to let you discover this fairy epiphyllum flower, but now I can only lend it to you for the time being. Remember to return it to me later."

Zhou Qian gazed at the extraordinary flower, his eyes welling up with tears. He was about to bow in gratitude when Wang Xiao stopped him.

"No need for a grand gift, just consider it a small token of our friendship. Hurry up and clean up the mess. If you have any extra silver notes later, remember to share a few with me."

Zhou Qian carefully put the fairy epiphyllum into his bosom, nodded emphatically, and then strode into the village.

Half an hour later, a small boat carrying four people slowly sailed away from the nameless island.

At the stern, Coral sat quietly to one side, with Erdan squatting beside her, tightly gripping his sister's hand, as if the person in front of him would vanish into thin air if he loosened his grip even slightly.

"Sister, are you really not coming home with me?" Erdan's voice was muffled, filled with reluctance.

Coral was indeed a very beautiful woman, with delicate and gentle features, soft and delicate eyebrows and eyes, and fair and translucent skin, completely unlike a woman from an island who was exposed to the wind and sun all year round.

It was a delicate beauty, a tender beauty, like a flower blown by the wind into a crevice in a reef, stubbornly blooming in harsh conditions, yet never losing its tenderness.

Wang Xiao couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of heaven; such a beautiful woman was born in such a harsh and cold fishing village.

"Little brother, do you think... that place can still be considered my home?" Coral gently touched Erdan's face, her voice soft, without resentment or sorrow, only a faint, resigned calm.

Erdan pursed his lips, speechless.

"This is a good opportunity to go out and see the vast world." Coral smiled faintly, her smile containing both relief and anticipation for the future. "There are countless mountains and rivers in the world, and I have never seen them before."

"Don't be so upset, Erdan." Zhou Qian walked over from the bow of the boat, reached out and ruffled the boy's hair. "The villagers of Qianwan are kind and honest, and with our family here, your sister will be fine. On the contrary, you should study hard, practice your skills, and come visit her more often when you have the chance."

"I understand! Brother Zhou, Brother Xie, I will definitely work hard and become a great hero like you as soon as possible! And Brother Lu Yang, see you next time, I hope you won't be so 'cowardly' anymore!"

As the small boat docked, Erdan leaped off and ran home without looking back.

The moonlight stretched his shadow long and thin, and Erdan's steps were light and resolute, without the slightest pause.

He dared not turn around, afraid that if he did, all the strength he had built up would vanish and he would be unable to hold back his tears.

He was determined to become a real man because he had seen real men.

"You little rascal..." Wang Xiao watched the boy's departing figure and scolded him playfully, but her eyes were full of gentle smiles.

With a gentle stroke of the oars, the small boat left the shore, and Dongji Island gradually receded and shrank, eventually becoming a blurry black dot on the horizon.

"Brother Zhou, Brother Xie, I'll take my leave now. See you again in Qianwan Village, and may we venture to the capital together someday!"

Wang Xiao leaped into the air, his figure soaring straight into the sky, transforming into a sharp streak of light, speeding towards Yuhang and disappearing into the night in an instant.