Chapter 295: Chapter 294: Border Blockade, Asserting Dominance in the Outer Sea

"Halt your ship and prepare for inspection!"

The Spirit Realm Sea Region.

A fast spiritual ship, long and narrow with a sharp, protruding bow like a pair of shears, sped over, cutting through the whitecaps as it approached a merchant vessel.

High on the mast of this fast spiritual ship flew the Golden Patterned Spider Banner of the Spirit Control Sect!

Clearly,

this was a Law Enforcement Ship of the Spirit Control Sect!

"Halt your ship and prepare for inspection!"

The Law Enforcement Ship drew near and repeated the declaration with signal flags.

"Damn it!"

’These guys from the Spirit Control Sect are here to make trouble...’

The traveling merchant, Han Ping, drew in a sharp breath. He had a gut feeling that things were about to go south.

He was a merchant from the Cyan Profound Sea Region.

And recently, the conflict between the Cyan Profound Sect and the Spirit Control Sect had intensified, creating a tense atmosphere.

He had smelled danger in the air.

That was why he had set sail before the start of the hurricane season, intending to return to the Cyan Profound Sea Region.

But now,

not far from the Cyan Profound Sea Region,

his merchant ship had been intercepted by a Law Enforcement Ship from the Spirit Control Sect.

Han Ping’s heart clenched, and a shadow of dread fell over him.

’Can I take them out?’

Han Ping asked himself, a vicious glint appearing in his eyes.

These days, the words "sea merchant" and "sea pirate" were practically interchangeable.

Any spiritual ship with the courage and capability for long-distance trade was not to be trifled with.

However,

before he could retrieve the second-rank talisman he’d paid a fortune for—his ace in the hole—from his Storage Pouch,

HUMMM.

The spiritual pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage swept over them.

Han Ping’s hand, reaching into his Storage Pouch, froze, as did the expression on his face.

’A Foundation Establishment cultivator!’

At the same time,

cannon barrels swiveled.

Several dark muzzles rose, taking aim at his merchant ship.

The faint smell of sulfur filled the air.

’Ship-mounted cannons!’

Seeing this,

Han Ping’s expression changed drastically. "Quick, slow down and furl the sails!"

"Signal them! We’ll comply with the inspection!"

Han Ping caved.

There was no other choice. A fight was impossible...

He was certain that if a battle broke out, the Spirit Control Sect’s Law Enforcement Ship could slaughter everyone on his vessel within ten minutes.

This was a force they had no hope of resisting.

Therefore, he could only obey...

「Soon.」

CLANK.

A boarding plank was set up, and a squad of haughty, well-trained Spirit Control Sect cultivators boarded the merchant ship.

"Esteemed cultivator, here is our chamber of commerce’s tax payment certificate..."

Han Ping said with a placating smile, handing over the document.

When trading in the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region, it was only natural to pay taxes to the Spirit Control Sect.

Although Han Ping occasionally engaged in some dog-eat-dog business, he didn’t dare be careless on this point.

—After all, if he didn’t pay his taxes, the biggest shark in the entire sea region would soon come looking for trouble!

But unexpectedly,

the lead cultivator from the Spirit Control Sect took the certificate, glanced at it, and then contemptuously threw it on the ground.

Han Ping’s expression froze. "You... What is the meaning of this?"

"Ahem."

The lead cultivator gave a light cough to clear his throat.

Then, with an arrogant expression, he announced,

"In light of the Cyan Profound Sect’s deplorable attitude, its provocation of disputes, its disruption of peace in the sea region, and its incitement of conflict between our two sects..."

"...our Sect Leader, in the spirit of ’a small punishment to teach a greater lesson’ and ’curing the sickness to save the patient,’ has decided to impose comprehensive sanctions on the Cyan Profound Sect!"

"Any spiritual ship from the Cyan Profound Sea Region sailing out of or into our waters will be considered illegal!"

"Our sect’s fleet has the right to intercept, detain, and even... sink them!"

"Mr. Han... we’re impounding your ship!"

The corner of the lead cultivator’s mouth curled up, and his eyes filled with the cold, mocking smile of a cat playing with a mouse.

"What?!" Han Ping trembled all over.

"This is unfair!"

he shrieked.

Han Ping was all too familiar with the ways of the Spirit Control Sect—or rather, the ways of all major cultivation powers.

If they impounded his merchant ship, not only would his entire cargo be lost,

but he might not even get his ship back!

At this thought, blood rushed to Han Ping’s head, and he felt a wave of dizziness.

His heart was filled with indignation!

’On what grounds?’

’Why should he have to pay the price for the conflict between the Cyan Profound Sect and the Spirit Control Sect?!’

"On what grounds?"

The lead cultivator sneered.

The answer was simple: because their fists were bigger and their power was greater.

In truth, the Spirit Control Sect was also seething with anger. They had never expected the weakened and decaying Cyan Profound Sect to actually dare to bare its teeth at them.

And what’s more... they had even detained Wuying, one of the ’Four Shadows’!

This incident had brought great shame upon the Spirit Control Sect.

Thus, out of displaced frustration, the Spirit Control Sect had decided to retaliate against the merchant ships of the Cyan Profound Sea Region.

As for the consequences...

They didn’t care!

In their eyes, low-level cultivators were nothing more than ants.

The only thing that gave them pause was the Cyan Profound Sect backing them.

But...

’The Cyan Profound Sect has long since weakened!’

’After Qingxuan passed away,’

in the minds of the Spirit Control Sect cultivators, the Cyan Profound Sect was no longer in the same league as them!

’Besides...’

’Our sect’s main fleet has already reached the border of the sea region to act as a deterrent!’

’With the Cyan Profound Sect’s capabilities, what else can they do besides use despicable tricks to ambush Wuying?’

’Run their mouths and condemn us? Heh... is that all they’ve got?’

’Surely... they wouldn’t actually bring their fleet over? Would they dare?’

The lead cultivator from the Spirit Control Sect let out a disdainful scoff.

However,

the very next moment,

in his line of sight,

a brilliant light flared!

BOOM!

A massive explosion erupted.

A ball of fire engulfed the Spirit Control Sect’s Law Enforcement Ship!

The expensive, fast spiritual ship became a burning wreck and began to sink slowly into the sea.

SWISH.

An Escape Light shot out from the wreckage, its occupant shouting in panic, "Enemy attack!"

And then,

SHHNNK.

The sound of a thread slicing through flesh rang out abruptly.

On the merchant ship, before the horrified eyes of the Spirit Control Sect and chamber of commerce cultivators,

the Foundation Establishment cultivator was sliced into mincemeat by a water line that had appeared out of thin air!

"What?!"

"This..."

The Spirit Control Sect cultivators began to tremble.

They instinctively turned their heads to look into the distance.

And there,

a wall of sails appeared on the surface of the sea!

With the Ghostly Flood Dragon as its core, four Weiyuan-class Spiritual Ships were arrayed to its left and right in a flying-geese formation.

And behind this V-formation was another, even larger, cruising fleet in the same formation!

This secondary cruising fleet comprised sixteen hand-picked second-rank spiritual ships from the Cyan Profound Fleet and the Immortal City Fleet.

Twenty-one large warships sailed forth, riding the wind and cleaving through the waves!

The main force of the United Fleet had poured out in full strength, charging into the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region!

The Ghostly Flood Dragon, like a mountain on the sea, sailed up beside the merchant ship, and a figure slowly drifted down.

Su Ye sized up the Spirit Control Sect cultivators with great interest.

"Are you extorting our citizens?"

"Er... this?"

The lead cultivator from the Spirit Control Sect was deathly pale.

He bowed his back like a shrimp, scraping and groveling as he forced a smile uglier than a crying face.

"A misunderstanding... It’s all a misunderstanding..."

...

...

...

Reached 120,000 words for this month’s perfect attendance bonus!

Taking a day off tomorrow, November 1st.

I haven’t been in the best state of mind recently.

Writing a climactic plot in this condition would turn out poorly.

I’m going to rest and recuperate.