The Modern Martial Immortal

Chapter 223: Escape

"Easy! Far too easy!" Someone said.

"Back then, when people from the Azure Edge Institute and the Divine Might Institute said fighting the Xuanming Sect’s cultivators felt as simple as catching frogs, I thought they were exaggerating. And now we’re enjoying the same thrill, cutting them down like vegetables," another one commented, laughing heartily.

"The mighty Great Sun Sword Sect... Twenty years ago, a scene like this would have been unimaginable. Do you remember that drill when the score was seven to forty? We were despairing! And now, not only had we won battle after battle against the Great Sun Sword Sect, we had even captured two of their Sky Patrol Warships in succession. It still feels unreal!"

"Twenty-five years ago, I made a post in the Void Psychic World, hoping that in twenty-five years the Nine Cauldrons Sect would at least have one Sky Patrol Warship and four elite battle institutes fully equipped with high-grade treasured artifacts. Everyone laughed at me, said I was daydreaming. But now? We have not just one, but three Sky Patrol Warships. Our elite battle institutes have grown to seven. And every sword cultivator in those seven institutes wields third-generation, or even fourth-generation, high-grade treasured artifacts. It far surpasses even my wildest hopes from back then."

One sword cultivator after another descended onto the Sky Patrol Warship, each filled with emotion.

Soon after they arrived, more cultivators flew in from afar, most of them high-tier sword cultivators. Their task was to take over and pilot the warship back to Sky Patrol Research Institute No. 3, where further study would continue. Just as the high-tier sword cultivators arrived, Yaoguang also stepped onto the warship.

"A third-generation Sky Patrol Warship? It feels slightly inferior to the one from the Infinite Star Palace." Recalling the differences between the two vessels, he gave a fair assessment.

"In terms of overall technology, the Infinite Star Palace is still more advanced than the Great Sun Sword Sect. After all, they are already starting to build their first fourth-generation warships, while the Great Sun Sword Sect has only just broken through with third-generation technology. Even now, they only have two third-generation Sky Patrol Warships... Well, they had two." Tang Fenghua spoke with a smile. As Li Qingshan’s disciple and a fourth-tier great sword cultivator who had forged a Dao Foundation, he possessed more information than most.

"True. Still, having one is better than none. With the skills we currently possess, once we fully understand the details of how this ship was created, building a more advanced third-generation Sky Patrol Warship will only be a matter of time," Yaoguang replied calmly.

Tang Fenghua glanced at him. In his mind, that sentence should not have been "with the skills we currently possess," but rather, "with the skills I possess." But of course, he would not say this out loud.

After all, whether it was the second-generation or third-generation Sky Patrol Warships, Yaoguang had been the greatest contributor. Yet, since Yaoguang willingly shared the credit with Sky Patrol Research Institute No. 3, none of them would object. Saying too much would only harm unity.

Yaoguang split off a portion of his psychic mind and observed the Azure Edge Institute and the Divine Might Institute, which were still fighting enemies along the sect's borders. Then he said, "Take this warship back. I will lead the Sea Guardian Institute to the East Sea. This time, we will completely annihilate the Great Sun Sword Sect’s three elite battle institutes and eradicate their influence in the East Sea!"

"Let others escort the warship. I will go with you," Tang Fenghua said with a grin. "Surely you do not really think that someone could steal this Sky Patrol Warship right under your watch."

Yaoguang smiled and acknowledged the point. Still, for safety, he left Bai Lu and over a dozen great cultivators behind to safeguard the vessel.

He then led more than one hundred and sixty cultivators out of the Nine Heavens Domain and charged toward the battlefield among the East Sea archipelago. ƒreewebɳovel.com

***

At the East Sea's islands...

The Divine Wind Institute, Divine Wood Institute, and Divine Mountain Institute, the three elite battle institutes that had attempted to invade the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s homeland, had been intercepted by the Azure Edge Institute and the Divine Might Institute.

In this battle, the Azure Edge and Divine Might Institutes held nothing back. The capabilities of the Purple Firmament Type 15 flying swords were being fully displayed. Even the powerful Great Sun Sword Sect could not equip all its sword cultivators with third-generation high-grade treasured artifact flying swords. Moreover, the Purple Firmament Type 15 outperformed standard third-generation high-grade treasured artifact flying swords in multiple aspects.

Thus, although the cultivators from the Azure Edge and Divine Might Institutes were fewer in number, the combat strength they displayed matched that of the Great Sun Sword Sect’s three elite battle institutes.

High above the East Sea archipelago, both sides clashed fiercely, exchanging blows in a brutal struggle. From afar, Heavenly Palace cultivators from the Great Sun Sword Sect, the First Yang Sect, the Thousand-Beast Sect, the Immortal Alliance, and the Infinite Star Palace observed the battle’s fluctuations. As they reported the situation, shock went through the minds of all their higher-ups.

Messages spread rapidly through the Heavenly Palaces. "How is this possible?! Since when does the Nine Cauldrons Sect possess such advanced flying swords?! Just a few years ago, didn’t they lack even the technology to refine second-generation low-grade treasured artifact flying swords? Weren’t they forced to stack expensive materials just to forge one?"

"I want the full specifications of that flying sword immediately!"

"This must be the Purple Firmament Type 15 our spies have been investigating. They have long suspected that the Nine Cauldrons Sect has not only broken through in low-grade treasured artifact flying sword refinement, but also mastered high-grade treasured artifact refinement. Otherwise, they would not sell low-grade treasured artifact swords so openly. Now it seems like the rumors are true! They did not simply achieve a breakthrough in the technology; they even managed to produce and deploy them on a massive scale!"

"Can someone tell me what is going on? My understanding was that the casualty ratio between the Nine Cauldrons Sect and the Great Sun Sword Sect used to exceed one to five. And now? What happened? Did the Nine Cauldrons Sect suddenly gain some divine advantage?"

Information converged from all directions. Every major power tried to get over the shock brought by the Nine Cauldrons Sect and the Purple Firmament Type 15 flying sword.

Unlike previous battles, which Yaoguang had carefully hidden, this time the Nine Cauldrons Sect deliberately refrained from concealing more than strictly necessary. They wanted to make it clear that they had only counterattacked after the Great Sun Sword Sect invaded their territory. As a result, any large sect possessing Heavenly Palace cultivators could observe the battle.

It was foreseeable that if the Nine Cauldrons Sect actually won this war, their standing in the Great Cangwu World would rise significantly.

***

At the command center of the Great Sun Sword Sect, Chi Songzi and several higher-ups were observing the battlefield through Heavenly Palace cultivators. But at this moment, every one of them wore an extremely grim expression.

Just then, a voice echoed through the chamber. "Bai Shi, I need an explanation!"

As the words fell, a figure projected downward into the hall. The moment they saw him, everyone present bowed respectfully. "Sacred Sect Master."

The descending figure was none other than Long Zechuan, sect master of the Great Sun Sword Sect, the supreme authority who stood above all others and who had tamed the divine beast Great Black Heaven.

Facing the Sect Master’s questioning, Bai Shi, though present only as a virtual projection, seemed to break out in cold sweat. He lowered his head and bowed deeply. "My apologies, Sect Master. This was a failure on the part of our Heavenly Palace Hall."

"It seems that prolonged comfort has made you forget your responsibilities," Long Zechuan said coldly before asking directly, "What is the situation with our Vajra warship?" frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

"We have just reestablished contact with the Vajra. It was attacked, but the situation remains under control for now..." Bai Shi replied.

"Is that so?" Long Zechuan’s expression remained indifferent. "Lord Lin Deng of the Infinite Star Palace has sent word that an abnormal interference has appeared within the Nine Heavens Domain. If I recall correctly, those disturbances were the signal you agreed upon to indicate a bad situation, weren't they?"

At those words, Chi Songzi’s body trembled. Bai Shi bent even lower.

"You all have disappointed me." Long Zechuan’s tone was flat.

"I am deeply sorry..." Bai Shi already understood. His tenure as hall master of the Heavenly Palace Hall had reached its end.

"Lord Lin Deng has also informed us that, according to their observations and assessment, the powerful high-grade spirit treasure from the Origin World is not in the hands of Li Qingshan. Instead, it has been entrusted to Yaoguang, the very one we were after. According to Lin Deng’s evaluation, with that spirit treasure and the combined-primordial-psyche array art he has mastered, his power is comparable to that of a true Dharma Form cultivator," Long Zechuan said indifferently. "At this very moment, he is leading the Sea Guardian Institute toward the battlefield. Within his forces, two Sky Patrol Warships have appeared simultaneously. One is the Jiao Dragon, sold by the Thousand-Beast Sect. The other... is our Great Sun Sword Sect’s own Spring Rain."

Hearing that their Spring Rain was now being piloted by the enemy Nine Cauldrons Sect and would even be turned against them, Chi Songzi, Teng Ye, and the others clenched their teeth.

"So what are you waiting for? Or do you truly believe that the Divine Wind Institute, Divine Wood Institute, and Divine Mountain Institute can withstand the Nine Cauldrons Sect forces, once they are also reinforced by a Dharma Form cultivator?" Long Zechuan’s voice carried unmistakable disappointment.

Chi Songzi and the others jolted upright. "Yes!"

They immediately contacted the chiefs of the Divine Wind Institute, Divine Wood Institute, and Divine Mountain Institute. "Our strategy has failed. The Nine Cauldrons Sect was prepared. Withdraw at once! All forces are to evacuate the East Sea immediately!"

The three institutes seemed incredulous upon receiving the order. Their chiefs even vowed to Chi Songzi that they could continue fighting. They insisted that the flying swords used by the Azure Edge and the Divine Might Institutes consumed enormous spiritual energy, and that victory would ultimately fall to them.

This blind confidence nearly made Chi Songzi curse aloud. "Idiots! Do you even understand who you are about to face?! A Dharma Form cultivator leading an elite battle institute, and two Sky Patrol Warships! If you want to die, do not drag our brave warriors down with you!"

Without hesitation, he issued a final command. "Full retreat!"