“Boom!”

“Boom!”

Within the super storm region, lightning frantically erupted, each strike more powerful than the last. The sky’s color also alternated between bright and dark.

In the pilot’s cabin, Luo Zhilong’s hands trembled violently, his eyes flashing with shock and terror.

Outside, Li Qingyang stood with sword pointed toward the sky. Lightning frantically struck down and made contact with the sword tip, causing the Heaven-Slaying Thunder Pattern to burst with brilliant light.

Using the sword to draw lightning, safe and sound.

Heavens above!

This was too terrifying!

Xiao Zuiji, standing on the deck, also wore an astonished expression. He clearly hadn’t expected that Li Qingyang could actually use natural forces to charge his weapon with lightning!

This was Jun Changxiao’s idea. When he saw the lightning gathering in the firmament, he speculated—could it be used to charge the Heaven-Slaying Thunder Pattern?

As expected.

It worked!

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

The lightning power in the firmament continued to bombard recklessly. After making contact with the weapon, it instantly merged within and was devoured, transforming into pure lightning-element energy.

Li Qingyang said with burning eyes, “If I use my ultimate technique again, combined with my own Lightning Punishment Body, the power will only be stronger!”

Perhaps realizing that the targeted human was somewhat unusual, the black clouds gathered overhead very reluctantly began to gradually disperse. The sky became completely clear.

“It’s over!”

Luo Zhilong exclaimed joyfully.

Jun Changxiao, however, said speechlessly, “It ended this quickly?”

He had been thinking that after his disciple’s divine weapon accumulated lightning, he could use his body to withstand it, thereby enhancing his Lightning Punishment Body.

“Whoosh!”

Li Qingyang waved with one hand. The Heaven-Slaying Thunder Pattern, after multiple rounds of nurturing, was now angled diagonally, with lightning-element luster swirling from sword tip to blade. It looked far more imposing than before!

“Sect Master.”

His eyes burned as he said, “Your disciple has a feeling that if I use my ultimate technique, I might be able to kill a peak Martial Emperor or even a Half-Saint!”

“Not bad,” Jun Changxiao said.

Luo Zhilong immediately felt a bit dizzy.

Peak Martial Emperors and Half-Saints were existences looked up to by all. For an Eternal Ages Sect disciple to actually have the feeling he could kill them—this was simply too arrogant!

Those close to vermilion become red, those close to ink become black.

Though Li Qingyang could still maintain his rare and precious kindness, he still couldn’t avoid being led slightly astray by Dog Sheng.

Take just now for example.

If it were the him of the past, he would simply have strode forward boldly and raised his sword to draw lightning. But instead, he summoned the Heaven-Slaying Thunder Pattern from his spatial ring and drew the sword from its sheath with a finger flick.

Though the action didn’t have an intense showing-off aura, because it was too flowing and graceful, extremely elegant, it was simply a model of invisible showing off!

When he could have been plain and simple, he had to make it flashy.

Without question, he had been infected by Jun Changxiao.

As for having just entered Martial Emperor not long ago but daring to boast about killing peak Martial Emperors and Half-Saints, that also had quite the Dog Sheng style!

…

The super storm ended, and the Ancient Penetrating Warship once again flew at extreme speed toward due east.

Because the ship’s speed was too fast, even though the black clouds covering thousands of li hadn’t completely dispersed, they had already burst out from within.

Luo Zhilong looked back at the gradually fading cloud mist, his heart unable to calm from the shock as he thought, “We passed through the first natural disaster so easily!”

When he first encountered such severe weather, he had experienced nine deaths and one life, nearly losing his life there.

One hell, one simple.

These were absolutely two very distinct extremes!

“Old Luo.”

Jun Changxiao walked in and said, “What other disasters are ahead?”

Luo Zhilong said, “The second natural disaster is called Rolling Stones. Similar to the super storm, but instead of spraying lightning, it’s stones falling from the sky. As soon as they touch the ship’s body, it will shatter into pieces!”

Rain, snow, hail, and there’s even falling stones?

Jun Changxiao casually blurted out, “There won’t be falling blade mountains and seas of fire ahead, will there?”

“There are.”

“They really exist?!”

System: “Surprise! Shock!”

…

“Whoosh—”

The Ancient Penetrating Warship continued forward across the firmament. However, because they had already entered the deep sea region where dangers were everywhere, Jun Changxiao slowed the speed considerably.

On the sea surface, they could successively see many sailboats. Some were safe and sound, some had shattered decks showing scorched black conditions—apparently they had experienced the super storm and been struck by lightning.

“Sect Master.”

Li Qingyang pointed to a dilapidated sailboat below and said solemnly, “All the martial artists on board are dead.”

Jun Changxiao, however, was puzzled. “These ships should all be heading to the Eastern Sea Fisher State. The journey is clearly extremely dangerous—why would they still go to their deaths?”

“Because…” Luo Zhilong said earnestly, “Wealth, fame, power!”

The corner of Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched as he said, “Don’t tell me the Eastern Sea Fisher State is hiding some great secret treasure left by someone, making countless martial artists rush forth one after another?”

Luo Zhilong said, “The Eastern Sea Fisher State has many natural mineral veins. This represents enormous wealth. Several thousand years ago, a mining boom formed, and to this day it still attracts countless people to go one after another.”

“Natural mineral veins?”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes immediately lit up.

“It’s over.”

The system thought to itself, “This guy’s purpose for going to the Eastern Sea Fisher State is no longer to save Master Fan, but to focus on mining!”

“What about fame and power?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Luo Zhilong paused briefly and said, “Decades ago, I stayed in the Eastern Sea Fisher State for a period of time and learned that it established itself as nations, with a total of ten empires of formidable strength, constantly at war with each other.”

“Martial artists with decent strength who pledge allegiance to an empire and establish illustrious military achievements can be ennobled with official positions, enjoying fame and power.”

“I see.”

Of the three—wealth, fame, and power—Jun Changxiao still preferred the first. He had absolutely no interest in the latter two.

The system added, “The host also has no interest in beautiful women.”

Luo Zhilong said, “Decades ago, the Eastern Sea Fisher State’s震威 Empire had a new emperor ascend the throne. He implemented bold reforms and declared war on other empires, showing a posture of unifying Fisher State.”

“Every place has ambitious people.”

Jun Changxiao changed the subject and said, “Old Luo, have you heard of Master Fan?”

“I’ve heard of Master Fan Yezi, the renowned casting master of the Nine States,” Luo Zhilong said.

“Fan Yezi?”

Jun Changxiao thought of the master swordsmith from the late Spring and Autumn period to the early Warring States period in his own world, and couldn’t help but sigh, “Do masters skilled in casting all like to take ‘Yezi’ as their name?”

“Sigh.”

Luo Zhilong shook his head and said, “Back then, Master Fan also traveled to the Eastern Sea Fisher State with me. Now, though, his life or death is unknown.”

“Traveled with you?” Jun Changxiao said in surprise.

Luo Zhilong said, “Many renowned casting masters traveled together. From our conversations, I learned they were invited by the Great Emperor of震威 to go to the震威 Empire to appraise a miraculous ore.”

“Great Emperor of震威?”

Standing outside, Xiao Zuiji heard this and the corner of his mouth immediately showed disdain.

As one of the ten great Martial Emperors of the Xingyun Continent back in the day, whether self-titled or externally called, he was the Night Emperor. For someone in the corner that was the Eastern Sea Fisher State to dare use the title “Great Emperor”—they were truly so arrogant they wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun!

“Drift bottles from Master Fan have consistently reached the southeastern coast of Beginning State. How could his life or death be unknown?” Jun Changxiao asked, puzzled.

Luo Zhilong shook his head and said, “Southeast Beginning State and the Eastern Sea Fisher State are separated by extreme distances. For drift bottles to float over would take at least several decades, right?”

“…”

Jun Changxiao thought to himself, “I almost overlooked that point.”

If the system had a physical form, it would definitely jump out immediately, spread its legs wide and point at him, roaring, “What do you mean ‘almost overlooked’—you clearly only thought of it because someone reminded you!”

Drift bottles floating over required a long time.

That is to say, Master Fan’s call for help also had to be moved forward by several decades. Whether he was alive or dead now could only be marked with a question mark for the time being.