The formation array on Black Pool Lake was different from before, and its range had expanded as well.

Fortunately, Di Wu Ya and Feng Jiu’er had arrived in time to save everyone.

Over the following two days, they passed through two more formation arrays.

With the combined power of Di Wu Ya and Feng Jiu’er—Dragon and Phoenix joined as one—no array, however formidable, was too much for them.

On the morning of the third day, Feng Jiu’er rose early and heard cheers from outside.

When Qiao Mu came in from outside, Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao had only just sat up in bed.

“Qiao Mu, what’s going on outside?” Feng Jiu’er got out of bed, throwing on a robe.

“Jiu’er, we can see the Feng clan’s territory now.” Qiao Mu sat down by the table with a delighted expression, picking up the water pitcher.

“We’ve finally arrived. But we still have no idea what’s happening up there.”

“Feng Qiongcang knows we’re coming, and he’s bound to make sure we can’t dock easily.”

Qiao Mu drank a cup of water, set the cup down, and stood up.

“Get up, eat a good meal. Xing Zizhou says if things go smoothly, we should be able to dock before noon.”

“We’ll dock by noon?” Xiao Yingtao stretched and also hurried out of bed.

“There’s bound to be a battle sooner or later. There’s nothing for us to fear.”

“If we were afraid, we wouldn’t have come at all.” Qiao Mu replied softly. “Hurry up, the sun’s already high—are you two still going to lie about in bed?”

“Alright, we’ll be quick. You go on ahead.” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand.

Qiao Mu glanced at the two women changing their clothes, raised an eyebrow, and turned to leave.

With thirty ships advancing together, there was no way to remain inconspicuous.

What exactly was waiting for them in the Feng clan’s territory, no one knew, but at the sight of Feng clan land, the brothers were all unusually excited.

But unexpectedly, when the fleet was still about a mile out, the ships all came to a stop, one after another.

Nearly every vessel seemed to have struck something, forced to halt their advance.

When the ships stopped, Feng Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, Xiao Yingtao, and the brothers were all standing at the bow, looking ahead.

The ship they were on was at the very front of the formation, and it was also the first to be forced to stop.

The hull shook violently before coming to a halt, and everyone aboard let out a cry of alarm.

“What happened? What’s going on?” Xiao Yingtao immediately turned and asked.

“I don’t know, we might have struck something.” The captain rushed over hurriedly.

“Quick, notify the other ships—everyone needs to be careful.”

“Yes, sir.” Several brothers acknowledged the order at once and scattered in all directions.

“Miss Jiu’er, I’ll send someone down to check the situation.” The captain said, looking at Feng Jiu’er.

“Be careful!” Feng Jiu’er nodded, her voice somewhat heavy.

“Yes.” The captain bowed his head and turned to leave.

Jian Yi, who had been sitting on the upper deck watching the small figure at the bow, rose and leapt down in a single motion, landing steadily beside Feng Jiu’er.

“I’ll go take a look too.” Seeing Jian Yi at Feng Jiu’er’s side, Qiao Mu turned and left.

The ship had only just stopped when the surrounding vessels began to halt one after another as well.

Some ships hadn’t slowed in time and collided—the sound of impact was far from gentle.

Feng Jiu’er looked around for a moment, then turned, her gaze returning to the distant coastline.

Sure enough, Feng Qiongcang would never let them dock easily.

What Feng Jiu’er hadn’t expected was that he would strike from the water—and that this far out from shore, no less.

When Di Wu Ya strode over, the captain had also returned.

“My lord, Miss Jiu’er, it’s as if there’s a mountain in the water blocking our advance.”

“Have all the ships stop and check the damage to their hulls thoroughly first.” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand.

“Yes, sir.” The captain bowed his head and left again.

Soon, Qiao Mu, drenched from head to toe, approached Di Wu Ya and Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, whatever’s beneath the water is strange. Do you want to go take a look?”

“That’s exactly what I intend to do.” Feng Jiu’er nodded, turning to look back at the coastline of the Feng clan’s territory ahead.

“Given the current situation, this reef is very likely man-made, not natural.”

Feng Jiu’er took a deep breath and turned her head to look at Di Wu Ya.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, do you remember what happened before we docked last time? Did you all encounter something like this before going ashore?”

At the time, Feng Jiu’er had been taken away by Yanu, so she had no idea what had happened.

“No, we didn’t.” Di Wu Ya shook his head. “This place is some distance from where we docked last time.”

“If we truly can’t get through, perhaps we can find another place to dock.”

“My lord.” Yu Jingfeng came rushing over, his clothes soaked through just like Qiao Mu’s.

It was clear he’d also just come up from the water.

“My lord.” Yu Jingfeng came before Di Wu Ya and clasped his hands in salute. “This wall blocking us underwater is very likely their city wall.”

“A city wall?” Feng Jiu’er looked at Yu Jingfeng, brows furrowing.

“Yes.” Yu Jingfeng glanced at Feng Jiu’er and nodded.

“Just now the captain and I went down to look together. He said this structure blocking our advance is indeed a city wall.”

“Why is the captain so certain?” Feng Jiu’er’s voice rose again.

“From what the captain says, the area around Qiangu Prefecture has been building this kind of wall for some time now.” Yu Jingfeng replied softly.

“Building a city wall underwater is undoubtedly a great deal of effort, but for a nation, a city wall is especially important.”

“I hear they wait for low tide, then bring in large stones to construct it.”

“My lord, Miss Jiu’er, right now what lies ahead of us could be described as an unbroken chain of mountains—sailing the ships through is essentially impossible.”

Xing Zizhou and Zhao Yusheng arrived in quick succession, one after the other.

“Is the tide rising right now?” Feng Jiu’er looked up at Zhao Yusheng as he approached, asking.

“Based on the current flow, the tide should start to recede soon.” Zhao Yusheng frowned slightly as he replied.

“We happened to approach right at the peak of high tide. Normally, we’d probably be able to see these mountain ranges hidden beneath the water.”

“The collision just now was quite forceful—there are cracks in the bow, and the brothers are working on repairs.”

“Is the damage severe?” Feng Jiu’er asked, frowning.

“Not too severe, it should be repairable.” Xing Zizhou replied softly. “Jiu’er, should we find another place to dock?”

“Once the tide starts to recede, it’ll probably be even harder for us to dock.”

Feng Jiu’er glanced back, her gaze settling on Di Wu Ya.

“Jiu’er, I should still be able to find the place where we docked last time.” Zhao Yusheng glanced at Feng Jiu’er and stepped forward to the very front of the ship.

“It should be to the west, a few miles from here.”

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, do you have any good suggestions?” Feng Jiu’er asked, looking at Di Wu Ya.

Di Wu Ya turned, gazing at the Feng clan’s coastline.

“We have no shortage of ships, but going back and forth would take a long time. Let’s wait until after the tide recedes to make a final decision.”

“I agree with Ninth Imperial Uncle.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “Right now the one advantage we have is that if we can’t get in, then by the same logic, they can’t get out either.”