mǎn tiān fēi cǐ tóng shí ， zài rén zú mǒu piàn bù zhī míng de hǎi yù shàng miàn ， yī sōu jù dà de shàng gǔ zhàn chuán ， zhèng gāo sù fēi chí 。
满天飞此同时，在人族某片不知名的海域上面，一艘巨大的上古战船，正高速飞驰。
At the same time, in an unknown sea of a certain region inhabited by humans, a massive ancient warship was speeding along.
cǐ zhàn chuán zhǎng yuē qiān yú zhàng de yàng zi 。
此战船长约千余丈的样子。
This warship was about a thousand zhang (approximately 300 meters) long.
jiù tǐ jī lái shuō ， yǔ hóng yè dǎo zuì dà de zhàn chuán yě bù guò zài bó zhòng zhī jiān ， rán ér yī yǎn wàng qù ， shéi dōu huì xiǎo de liǎng sōu zhàn chuán bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ ， gēn běn jiù bú shì yí gè děng jí 。
就体积来说，与红叶岛最大的战船也不过在伯仲之间，然而一眼望去，谁都会晓得两艘战船不可同日而语，根本就不是一个等级。
In terms of size, it wasn't much larger than the largest warship on Red Leaf Island. However, just by looking at it, anyone could tell that these two ships were incomparable; they belonged to different tiers entirely.
cǐ zhàn chuán jū rán shì jīn sè dì ， xiǎn de zūn guì yǐ jí ， zào xíng yě yuǎn bǐ hóng yè dǎo de zhàn chuán jīng zhì hé lǐ ， liú xiàn xíng de chuán shēn ， wéi gān gāo gāo sǒng lì ， shàng miàn guà zhe yī fú dà qí 。
此战船居然是金sè地，显得尊贵以极，造型也远比红叶岛的战船精致合理，流线型的船身，桅杆高高耸立，上面挂着一符大旗。
The warship was golden in color, exuding an aura of great respect and dignity. Its design was far more intricate and reasonable compared to the warships on Red Leaf Island. The streamlined hull rose high with a tall mast, adorned with a large flag.
tuán àn gǔ piáo ér shén mì ， zuì xiǎn yǎn de shì zhōng jiān yí gè “ shèng ” páng biān hái yǒu bù shǎo niǎo shòu chóng yú ， sì hū shì zhuāng shì 。
团案古朴而神秘，最显眼的是中间一个“圣”旁边还有不少鸟兽虫鱼，似乎是装饰。
The deck was ancient and mysterious, with the most prominent feature being a "Holy" character in the center, surrounded by various birds, beasts, insects, and fish, seemingly for decoration.
zhè shì shèng chéng de biāo shì 。
这是圣城的标示。
This was the emblem of the Holy City.
huàn jù huà shuō ， yǎn qián zhè sōu zhàn chuán ， shǔ yú shèng chéng de zhí fǎ shǐ 。
换句话说，眼前这艘战船，属于圣城的执法使。
In other words, this warship belonged to the enforcers of the Holy City.
dōng hǎi sān zú dǐng lì ， yǔ hǎi zú yǒu liù wáng ， yāo zú yǒu sān huáng bù tóng ， rén zú zhè lǐ ， zhǐ yǒu yī qiáng dà de shì lì 。
东海三足鼎立，与海族有六王，妖族有三皇不同，人族这里，只有一强大的势力。
The Eastern Sea had three major powers standing in balance with the sea tribes having six kings and the demon tribes having three emperors. However, among humans, there was only one powerful force: the Holy City.
shèng chéng ， lì lái shén mì wú bǐ ， shèn zhì méi yǒu rén zhī dào xī jiū jìng shì zěn yàng yí gè shì lì ， mén pài 、 jiā zú 、 hái shì bié de shén me 。
圣城，历来神秘无比，甚至没有人知道牺究竟是怎样一个势力，门派、家族、还是别的什么。
The Holy City has always been shrouded in mystery; no one knew what kind of entity it truly was—whether a sect, family, or something else entirely.
wài miàn de chuán yán hěn duō 。
外面的传言很多。
There were many rumors outside.
yǒu rén shuō ， shèng chéng ， qí shí shì yī qiáng dà zōng mén ， cóng shàng gǔ zhī shí ， yì zhí chuán chéng ， yǒu rén shuō ， shèng chéng ， shì yóu yī xiū xiān jiā zú tǒng zhì ， tā men de xuè mài ， gāo guì wú bǐ ……
有人说，圣城，其实是一强大宗门，从上古之时，一直传承，有人说，圣城，是由一修仙家族统治，他们的血脉，高贵无比……
Some said that the Holy City was actually a powerful sect that had passed down from ancient times. Others claimed that the Holy City was ruled by a cultivation family with an incomparably noble bloodline...
hái yǒu rén shuō ， shèng chéng gēn běn jiù méi yǒu nà me shén mì ， pāo zhǐ bù guò shì yī xiē qián bèi de sōng sǎn lián méng ér yǐ ， yòng lái níng jù rén zú ， zhǐ yǒu zhè yàng ， cái néng zài cǐ jiè yǔ hǎi zú 、 yāo zú dǐng lì 。
还有人说，圣城根本就没有那么神秘，抛只不过是一些前辈的松散联盟而已，用来凝聚人族，只有这样，才能在此界与海族、妖族鼎立。
Still others believed that the Holy City wasn't as mysterious as it seemed, merely a loose alliance of elders used to rally human clans. Only in this way could humans stand on equal footing with sea tribes and demon tribes.
zhè yàng de shuō fǎ ， yě wèi dà duō xiū shì suǒ rèn kě ， yīn wèi zài hé píng shí qī ， shèng chéng què shí bù zěn me chā shǒu rén zú de shì wù ， zhǐ yǒu bào fā dà zhàn de shí hòu ， cái huì jiāng “ shèng lìng ” fā chū 。
这样的说法，也为大多修士所认可，因为在和平时期，圣城确实不怎么插手人族的事务，只有爆发大战的时候，才会将“圣令”发出。
This theory was widely accepted among cultivators because during times of peace, the Holy City rarely interfered with human affairs. It only issued "Holy Edicts" when major wars broke out, and all sects, families, and even scattered cultivators had to obey them; otherwise, they would be executed without mercy!
rén zú de yī qiè zōng mén jiā zú ， bāo kuò sàn xiū ， jiàn shèng lìng bì xū zūn cóng ， fǒu zé …… shā wú shè ！
人族的一切宗门家族，包括散修，见圣令必须遵从，否则……杀无赦！
There were once powerful sects that resisted, but they ended up being wiped out in a single night.
yě céng yǒu huī huáng yī shí de zōng mén fǎn kàng guò ， rán ér dōu zhǐ huàn lái yī yè miè mén de jié guǒ 。
也曾有辉煌一时的宗门反抗过，然而都只换来一夜灭门的结果。
For millions of years, there was no exception!
bǎi wàn nián lái cóng wú lì wài ！
百万年来从无例外！
Even daoist practitioners at the Cave Profound stage couldn't escape it. Over time, no one dared to defy the Holy City anymore.
shèn zhì lián dòng xuán qī xiū xiān zhě ， dōu wú fǎ táo guò ， jiǔ ér jiǔ zhī ， zài yě méi yǒu rén gǎn fǎn kàng shèng chéng le 。
甚至连洞玄期修仙者，都无法逃过，久而久之，再也没有人敢反抗圣城了。
When the Holy Edict was issued, all cultivators would submit willingly.
shèng lìng yī chū ， wàn xiū chén fú hǎo zài yì bān qíng kuàng xià ， shèng chéng de zhí fǎ shǐ ， hěn shǎo chū lái zǒu dòng 。
圣令一出，万修臣服好在一般情况下，圣城的执法使，很少出来走动。
Fortunately, the enforcers of the Holy City rarely ventured out in public.
zhàn chuán shàng xiū shì bù duō ， jǐn yǒu bǎi yú lái gè ， wú yī bú shì yuán yīng yǐ shàng wò wéi shǒu de shì liǎng míng lǎo zhě ， kàn shàng qù dōu yǒu qī shí zuǒ yòu ， yī míng tóng yán hè fà ” shēn chuān dào páo sàn fà chū yī gǔ piāo rán chū jiān zhī qì ， fǎng fú shén xiān lái dào le zhè lǐ ， hái yǒu yī rén ， zé xíng mào qí tè ， méi máo hú xū ， hái yǒu tóu fà ， jiē shì jīn sè， lián tóng kǒng zhōng yě yǒu yāo yì jīn guāng shè chū ， shí yǒu **， xiū liàn yǒu shén me tè bié de fǎ shù 。
战船上修士不多，仅有百余来个，无一不是元婴以上硪为首的是两名老者，看上去都有七十左右，一名童颜鹤发”身穿道袍散发出一股飘然出尖之气，仿佛神仙来到了这里，还有一人，则形貌奇特，眉毛胡须，还有头发，皆是金sè，连瞳孔中也有妖异金光射出，十有**，修炼有什么特别的法术。
There weren't many cultivators on this warship; only about a hundred or so, and none were below the Core Formation stage. The leader was two elderly figures, both around seventy years old. One had a youthful appearance with white hair and wore a Daoist robe, exuding an ethereal aura as if he were a deity. The other had golden hair, eyebrows, beard, and even his pupils shimmered with an eerie golden light, indicating that he might have practiced some special technique.
liǎng rén jiē shì dòng xuán qī xiū xiān zhě 。
两人皆是洞玄期修仙者。
Both were daoist practitioners at the Cave Profound stage—not mere manifestations like the Poison Dragon Ancestor but true corporeal forms.
bú shì dú lóng lǎo zǔ nà yàng de fēn shēn ， ér shì zhēn zhèng de běn tǐ lái dào le cǐ chù 。
不是毒龙老祖那样的分身，而是真正的本体来到了此处。
They stood at the bow of the ship, chatting merrily about something.
liǎng rén zhàn zài chuán shǒu ， zhèng tán xiào fēng shēng de bǎi tán zhe shén me 。
两人站在船首，正谈笑风生的摆谈着什么。
About ten daoists at the Separation Formation stage stood about a dozen zhang (approximately 3 meters) away, their faces showing great respect.
zài jù lí liǎng rén shí yú zhàng yuǎn chù ， zhàn zhe dà yuē shí lái míng lí hé qī xiū xiān zhě ， yī liǎn de gōng jìng zhī sè。
在距离两人十余丈远处，站着大约十来名离合期修仙者，一脸的恭敬之sè。
Suddenly, the elderly figure in the Daoist robe's brow furrowed as he revealed a look of shock on his face.
tū rán nà míng shēn chuān dào páo de dòng xuán qī lǎo guài méi tóu yī tiāo ， liǎn shàng lù chū hài rán zhī sè。
突然那名身穿道袍的洞玄期老怪眉头一挑，脸上lù出骇然之sè。
"Brother Qiu, what happened?" The balding old man with golden hair was taken aback. At their level, it wasn't easy to be stunned by something. Could this mission have encountered some unexpected changes? He wondered.
“ qiū xiōng ， zěn me le ？” jīn fà lǎo guài yī dāi ， xiū wèi dào le tā men zhè ge děng jí ， kě hěn nán fā shēng lìng tā men yě wèi zhī shī shén de shì nán dào shì cǐ xíng de rèn wù ， chū xiàn le shén me biàn gù ， xīn zhōng rú cǐ xiǎng zhe què jiàn nà qiū lǎo guài xiù páo yī fú ， fēi shè chū yī yuán pán zhuàng de shì wù 。
“邱兄，怎么了？”金发老怪一呆，修为到了他们这个等级，可很难发生令他们也为之失神的事难道是此行的任务，出现了什么变故，心中如此想着却见那邱老怪袖袍一拂，飞射出一圆盘状的事物。
But then, he waved his robe and shot out a round object.
yì líng pán ！
异灵盘！
An Anima Disk!
zhōu wéi de xiū shì jiē liǎn sè yī biàn suí hòu liǎng míng lǎo guài wù de shén shí ， jiē luò zài le shàng miàn ， hěn kuài ， liǎng rén de biǎo qíng dōu yīn chén le xià lái 。
周围的修士皆脸sè一变随后两名老怪物的神识，皆落在了上面，很快，两人的表情都yīn沉了下来。
The surrounding cultivators' faces changed as the two old monsters' spiritual senses landed on it. Soon, their expressions turned grim.
“ bù kě néng ， nà lǐ jiā xiū shì de gǎn yìng ， zěn me huì wán quán xiāo shī ， nán dào tā men fā xiàn le wǒ men de jiān shì ？”
“不可能，那李家修士的感应，怎么会完全消失，难道他们发现了我们的监视？”
"It can't be. The感应of that Li family cultivator should not have completely vanished. Did they discover our surveillance?"
“ hēng ， lǐ jiā xiū shì ， hái méi yǒu zhè yàng de běn shì ， nán dào shì gāi jiā zú ， yù jiàn le qiáng dí ， bèi dí rén miè qù ？” jīn fà lǎo zhě bù xiè de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr lǐ 。
“哼，李家修士，还没有这样的本事，难道是该家族，遇见了强敌，被敌人灭去？”金发老者不屑的声音传入耳里。
"Humph! That Li family cultivator doesn't have such abilities. Could it be that their clan met a powerful enemy and was annihilated?" The golden-haired old man's disdainful voice echoed.
“ zhè wǒ nǎ lǐ xiǎo de ， bù guò ruò shì rú cǐ de huà ， wǒ men má fán kě jiù dà le ， chéng zhǔ dà rén kě shì zhǐ míng ， yào jiāng zhè xiē ā xiū luó zú de yú niè shēng qín huó zhuō 。” dào páo lǎo zhě liǎn sè nán kàn de shuō 。
“这我哪里晓得，不过若是如此的话，我们麻烦可就大了，城主大人可是指名，要将这些阿修罗族的余孽生擒活捉。”道袍老者脸sè难看的说。
"I don't know, but if so, we're in trouble. Our city lord specifically instructed us to capture the remaining Arhats alive," said the Daoist-robed old man with an ugly expression.
“ hēng ， zhè yě zhèng shì yú mǒu bù jiě zhī chù ， qū qū jǐ míng yīnhún yú niè bà le ， jiù suàn zài wǒ men líng jiè qián fú hái yǔ rén hùn xuè jiàn lì le xiū xiān jiā zú ， dàn bù guò yī cǐ lí hé qī cún zài bà le 。 yǒu shén me dà jīng xiǎo guài de ， yǐ qián yù jiàn zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng ， dōu shì pài jǐ míng zhí fǎ shǐ chū shǒu ， zhè yī huí ， bù jǐn ràng wǒ men liǎng míng zhǎng lǎo qīn zì xíng dòng ， hái zhǐ míng le yào jiāng lǐ jiā de jǐ míng zhǎng lǎo shēng qín huó zhuō ， zhè jiū jìng shì zài gǎo shén me ？”
“哼，这也正是余某不解之处，区区几名yīnhún余孽罢了，就算在我们灵界潜伏还与人混血建立了修仙家族，但不过一此离合期存在罢了。有什么大惊小怪的，以前遇见这种情况，都是派几名执法使出手，这一回，不仅让我们两名长老亲自行动，还指名了要将李家的几名长老生擒活捉，这究竟是在搞什么？”
"Humph! This is precisely what I find puzzling. Just a few lingering souls and yīnhún. Even if they've been潜伏in our spirit realm, intermingled with humans, establishing cultivation families, they are merely Separation Formation stage existences. What's the big deal? In previous cases, we just sent a few enforcers to handle it. This time, not only did two of us elders have to personally take action, but the city lord specifically instructed us to capture and bring back several Li family elders alive. What's going on here?"
“ nǐ wèn wǒ ， wǒ yòu nǎ lǐ xiǎo de ， bù guò tiān wēi nán cè ， chéng zhǔ de mìng lìng kě bú shì wǒ liǎ kě yǐ chuǎi mó ， zhī dào dé tài duō ， kě wèi bì shì hǎo shì qíng ， hái shì tīng lìng xíng shì jiù xíng le 。” dào páo lǎo zhě dà yǒu diǎn xǐng zhī yì de shuō 。
“你问我，我又哪里晓得，不过天威难测，城主的命令可不是我俩可以揣摩，知道得太多，可未必是好事情，还是听令行事就行了。”道袍老者大有点醒之意的说。
"I don't know either, but heaven's will is unpredictable. We can't speculate about our city lord's commands. Knowing too much might not be a good thing. Just follow orders," said the Daoist-robed old man with a hint of awakening.
“ huà shì méi cuò ， bù guò yé xiōng ……” shuō dào zhè lǐ ， jīn fà lǎo zhě xiù páo yī fú ， jū rán shì fàng chū yī gé yīn de guāng mù ， yǐ dòng xuán qī de gāo shēn fǎ shù ， zhōu wéi shì bù kě néng yǒu rén tōu tīng de 。
“话是没错，不过耶兄……”说到这里，金发老者袖袍一拂，居然释放出一隔音的光幕，以洞玄期的高深法术，周围是不可能有人偷听的。
"True enough, but Brother Ye…" The golden-haired old man waved his robe again and released an隔音light curtain, using his high-level daoist techniques to ensure no one could eavesdrop nearby.
“ yú dào yǒu ， nǐ zhè shì wèi hé ……… dào páo lǎo zhě méi tou yí zhòu 。
“余道友，你这是为何………道袍老者眉头一皱。
"Friend Daoist Ye, what's your point?"
“ qiū xiōng ， nǐ wǒ xiāng jiāo ， yě yǒu shù wàn nián le ， shòu chéng zhǔ dà ēn ， ér jiā rù shèng chéng ， kě “……”
“邱兄，你我相交，也有数万年了，受城主大恩，而加入圣城，可“……”
"Alright, I'll take the risk. Brother Qiu, do you really think our city lord is still that person from before?"
“ yú dào yǒu ， nǐ jiū jìng xiǎng shuō shén me ？”
“余道友，你究竟想说什么？”
"Brother Ye, what do you mean? We just saw the city lord face-to-face not long ago. It can't be a fraud; appearance can be altered with disguise techniques, but his unique divine power is something only one person in the entire Eastern Sea cultivation world has."
“ hǎo ba ， lǎo fū huō chū qù le ， qiū xiōng ， nǐ zhēn de jué de chéng zhǔ ， hái shì dāng nián nà rén me ？”
“好吧，老夫豁出去了，邱兄，你真的觉得城主，还是当年那人么？”
"Perhaps, but I always feel strange about him. He gives off an eerie aura, and his commands are bizarre as well. Just this time…"
“ yú xiōng dì ， nǐ zhè huà hé yì ， wǒ men bú shì zuì jìn ， cái jiàn le chéng zhǔ miàn dì ， jué bú shì mào míng dǐng tì ， xiàng mào kě yǐ shī zhǎn yì róng zhī shù ， dàn chéng zhǔ xiū liàn de shén tōng ， nǎi shì dú mén mì shù ， zhěng gè dōng hǎi xiū xiān jiè ， yě zhǐ yǒu yī rén ér yǐ 。”
“余兄弟，你这话何意，我们不是最近，才见了城主面地，绝不是冒名顶替，相貌可以施展易容之术，但城主修炼的神通，乃是独门秘术，整个东海修仙界，也只有一人而已。”
"Hush, Brother Qiu. It seems you're overthinking it. The city lord closed himself away for a thousand years; after emerging, his demeanor would naturally change. What's so surprising about that? Your speculations are mere wind and shadow. As for the mission, it is indeed peculiar, but heaven's will is unpredictable. Our city lord has great talent and strategy, so why should we waste our thoughts guessing? Just do what he instructed."
“ huò xǔ ba ， dàn wǒ zǒng jué de chéng zhǔ guài guài de ， shēn shàng mí màn zhe yī gǔ guǐ yì zhī qì ， suǒ xià de mìng lìng ， yě gǔ guài yǐ jí ， jiù shuō zhè cì ……“……”
“或许吧，但我总觉得城主怪怪的，身上弥漫着一股诡异之气，所下的命令，也古怪以极，就说这次……“……”
The old man spoke with a stern voice before his tone softened as he sighed.
“ hǎo le ， qiū xiōng ， wǒ kàn nǐ shì xiǎng duō le ， chéng zhǔ bì guān qiān nián ， chū lái hòu xìng gé duō shǎo zì rán huì yǒu yī xiē gǎi biàn ， zhè yǒu shén me hào qí guài de ， nǐ suǒ shuō de ， bù guò shì cāi cè ， bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng bà le ， zhì yú rèn wù ， shì yǒu yī xiē qí tè ， dàn tiān wēi nán cè ， chéng zhǔ xióng cái dà lüè ， suǒ sī suǒ lǜ ， wǒ men yòu hé bì fèi xīn cāi cè ， zuò hǎo tā fēn fù xià lái de shì qíng jiù xíng le 。”
“好了，邱兄，我看你是想多了，城主闭关千年，出来后xìng格多少自然会有一些改变，这有什么好奇怪的，你所说的，不过是猜测，捕风捉影罢了，至于任务，是有一些奇特，但天威难测，城主雄才大略，所思所虑，我们又何必费心猜测，做好他吩咐下来的事情就行了。”
"Brother Ye, I know you're an honest person who can't stand sand in your eyes. But there are some things best left unspoken. Otherwise, one day, you might bring disaster upon yourself. Reaching the Cave Profound stage is already extremely difficult; even if our cultivation doesn't advance further, with our abilities, we could survive another few thousand years without any problem. Enjoy life while it lasts; why torment ourselves?"
lǎo zhě shuō dào zhè lǐ ， yǐ shēng sè jù lì ， suí hòu kǒu qì yī huǎn ， qīng qīng yī tàn ：“ yú xiōng dì ， wǒ zhī dào nǐ shì gěng zhí de xìng zi ， yǎn jīng lǐ róu bù dé shā zi ， dàn yǒu yī xiē shì qíng ， zuì hǎo hái shì bú yào qǔ guǎn ， fǒu zé ， shuō bù dìng nà yī tiān jiù huì qǔ huò ， nǐ wǒ néng gòu xiū dào dòng xuán qī ， yǐ shì jí wéi bù yì ， jí biàn xiū wèi bù néng cùn jìn ， yǐ nǐ wǒ de shén tōng ， zài dù guò jǐ cì tiān jié ， huó gè wàn nián ， shì jué duì méi yǒu wèn tí ， rén shēng dé yì xū jìn huān ， hé bì yǔ zì jǐ guò bù qù 。
老者说到这里，已声sè俱厉，随后口气一缓，轻轻一叹：“余兄弟，我知道你是耿直的xìng子，眼睛里揉不得沙子，但有一些事情，最好还是不要取管，否则，说不定那一天就会取祸，你我能够修到洞玄期，已是极为不易，即便修为不能寸进，以你我的神通，再度过几次天劫，活个万年，是绝对没有问题，人生得意须尽欢，何必与自己过不去。
"But…" The golden-haired old man was about to continue but saw his companion's expression and swallowed his words. Everyone had their own choices. Since the Cave Profound stage two thousand years ago, Qiu Old Monster had completely lost his ambition.
“ kě ……”” jīn fà lǎo zhě hái y jiù lái zhěng ] lǐ ]ù zài shuō ， kě kàn kàn tóng bàn de biǎo qíng ， zhōng yú jiāng huà ， chóng xīn yàn xià ， měi gè rén ， yǒu bù tóng de xuǎn zé ， qiū lǎo guài zì cóng liǎng qiān nián qián ， zài wú fǎ cùn jìn yǐ hòu ， yǐ wán quán shī qù jìn qǔ xīn le 。
“可……””金发老者还y就来整]理]ù再说，可看看同伴的表情，终于将话，重新咽下，每个人，有不同的选择，邱老怪自从两千年前，再无法寸进以后，已完全失去进取心了。
Though he was revered as a daoist practitioner at the Cave Profound stage outside, in reality, he merely lived day by day. In these thousands of years, he rarely practiced and instead indulged himself with food and drink, taking one concubine after another. What could be said to someone like him?!
At the same time, in an unknown sea of a certain region inhabited by humans, a massive ancient warship was speeding along.
This warship was about a thousand zhang (approximately 300 meters) long.
In terms of size, it wasn't much larger than the largest warship on Red Leaf Island. However, just by looking at it, anyone could tell that these two ships were incomparable; they belonged to different tiers entirely.
The warship was golden in color, exuding an aura of great respect and dignity. Its design was far more intricate and reasonable compared to the warships on Red Leaf Island. The streamlined hull rose high with a tall mast, adorned with a large flag.
The deck was ancient and mysterious, with the most prominent feature being a "Holy" character in the center, surrounded by various birds, beasts, insects, and fish, seemingly for decoration.
This was the emblem of the Holy City.
In other words, this warship belonged to the enforcers of the Holy City.
The Eastern Sea had three major powers standing in balance with the sea tribes having six kings and the demon tribes having three emperors. However, among humans, there was only one powerful force: the Holy City.
The Holy City has always been shrouded in mystery; no one knew what kind of entity it truly was—whether a sect, family, or something else entirely.
There were many rumors outside.
Some said that the Holy City was actually a powerful sect that had passed down from ancient times. Others claimed that the Holy City was ruled by a cultivation family with an incomparably noble bloodline...
Still others believed that the Holy City wasn't as mysterious as it seemed, merely a loose alliance of elders used to rally human clans. Only in this way could humans stand on equal footing with sea tribes and demon tribes.
This theory was widely accepted among cultivators because during times of peace, the Holy City rarely interfered with human affairs. It only issued "Holy Edicts" when major wars broke out, and all sects, families, and even scattered cultivators had to obey them; otherwise, they would be executed without mercy!
There were once powerful sects that resisted, but they ended up being wiped out in a single night.
For millions of years, there was no exception!
Even daoist practitioners at the Cave Profound stage couldn't escape it. Over time, no one dared to defy the Holy City anymore.
When the Holy Edict was issued, all cultivators would submit willingly.
Fortunately, the enforcers of the Holy City rarely ventured out in public.
There weren't many cultivators on this warship; only about a hundred or so, and none were below the Core Formation stage. The leader was two elderly figures, both around seventy years old. One had a youthful appearance with white hair and wore a Daoist robe, exuding an ethereal aura as if he were a deity. The other had golden hair, eyebrows, beard, and even his pupils shimmered with an eerie golden light, indicating that he might have practiced some special technique.
Both were daoist practitioners at the Cave Profound stage—not mere manifestations like the Poison Dragon Ancestor but true corporeal forms.
They stood at the bow of the ship, chatting merrily about something.
About ten daoists at the Separation Formation stage stood about a dozen zhang (approximately 3 meters) away, their faces showing great respect.
Suddenly, the elderly figure in the Daoist robe's brow furrowed as he revealed a look of shock on his face.
"Brother Qiu, what happened?" The balding old man with golden hair was taken aback. At their level, it wasn't easy to be stunned by something. Could this mission have encountered some unexpected changes? He wondered.
But then, he waved his robe and shot out a round object.
An Anima Disk!
The surrounding cultivators' faces changed as the two old monsters' spiritual senses landed on it. Soon, their expressions turned grim.
"It can't be. The感应of that Li family cultivator should not have completely vanished. Did they discover our surveillance?"
"Humph! That Li family cultivator doesn't have such abilities. Could it be that their clan met a powerful enemy and was annihilated?" The golden-haired old man's disdainful voice echoed.
"I don't know, but if so, we're in trouble. Our city lord specifically instructed us to capture the remaining Arhats alive," said the Daoist-robed old man with an ugly expression.
"Humph! This is precisely what I find puzzling. Just a few lingering souls and yīnhún. Even if they've been潜伏in our spirit realm, intermingled with humans, establishing cultivation families, they are merely Separation Formation stage existences. What's the big deal? In previous cases, we just sent a few enforcers to handle it. This time, not only did two of us elders have to personally take action, but the city lord specifically instructed us to capture and bring back several Li family elders alive. What's going on here?"
"I don't know either, but heaven's will is unpredictable. We can't speculate about our city lord's commands. Knowing too much might not be a good thing. Just follow orders," said the Daoist-robed old man with a hint of awakening.
"True enough, but Brother Ye…" The golden-haired old man waved his robe again and released an隔音light curtain, using his high-level daoist techniques to ensure no one could eavesdrop nearby.
"Friend Daoist Ye, what's your point?"
"Alright, I'll take the risk. Brother Qiu, do you really think our city lord is still that person from before?"
"Brother Ye, what do you mean? We just saw the city lord face-to-face not long ago. It can't be a fraud; appearance can be altered with disguise techniques, but his unique divine power is something only one person in the entire Eastern Sea cultivation world has."
"Perhaps, but I always feel strange about him. He gives off an eerie aura, and his commands are bizarre as well. Just this time…"
"Hush, Brother Qiu. It seems you're overthinking it. The city lord closed himself away for a thousand years; after emerging, his demeanor would naturally change. What's so surprising about that? Your speculations are mere wind and shadow. As for the mission, it is indeed peculiar, but heaven's will is unpredictable. Our city lord has great talent and strategy, so why should we waste our thoughts guessing? Just do what he instructed."
The old man spoke with a stern voice before his tone softened as he sighed.
"Brother Ye, I know you're an honest person who can't stand sand in your eyes. But there are some things best left unspoken. Otherwise, one day, you might bring disaster upon yourself. Reaching the Cave Profound stage is already extremely difficult; even if our cultivation doesn't advance further, with our abilities, we could survive another few thousand years without any problem. Enjoy life while it lasts; why torment ourselves?"
"But…" The golden-haired old man was about to continue but saw his companion's expression and swallowed his words. Everyone had their own choices. Since the Cave Profound stage two thousand years ago, Qiu Old Monster had completely lost his ambition.
Though he was revered as a daoist practitioner at the Cave Profound stage outside, in reality, he merely lived day by day. In these thousands of years, he rarely practiced and instead indulged himself with food and drink, taking one concubine after another. What could be said to someone like him?!