Stripped of his command, Ling Chen remained silent, as everything was within his expectations. All his actions were merely to lure out the traitor and expose their tracks. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

However, Ling Chen's silence seemed normal in the eyes of others. To them, he's just a brash young man who boasts arrogantly, but becomes timid at critical dangerous moments, a common trait among geniuses from the Saint Families.

After obtaining command over the troops, Heaven Cloud Half Saint began mobilizing the forces to meet the enemy.

"White Dragon Half Saint, you lead five hundred men to a frontal assault and intercept the Witch Fiend Sect forces attacking head-on."

"Water Heart Half Saint, you lead five hundred men to attack the enemy's flank, break through their side, and launch an attack from behind."

Heaven Cloud Half Saint sent out White Dragon Half Saint and Water Heart Half Saint one after another.

"What about me? What should I do?"

Ling Chen asked.

"Envoy Ling Yu's identity is special, and maybe the Witch Fiend Sect people are targeting you. It's safest for you to stay here."

Heaven Cloud Half Saint said with a smile.

"Is this Heaven Cloud Half Saint a traitor?"

Knowing full well what the other party intended, Ling Xue quietly transmitted a message to Ling Chen. It seemed that Heaven Cloud Half Saint had malevolent intentions by intentionally leaving them on the ship.

"It's not clear whether he's a traitor, but he definitely plans to make a move against us by deliberately sending away the other two Half-Saint powerhouses."

Light flickered in Ling Chen's eyes as he spoke.

"What should we do? Are you confident in facing him?"

Ling Xue asked nervously.

A Half-Saint powerhouse is someone with one foot in the Saint Level, and this Heaven Cloud Half Saint is also a Half-Saint of the Ling Family, with formidable strength.

Can Ling Chen handle a master of this level with his current abilities?

"Later, you and Kong Xuan deal with the others; leave this Heaven Cloud Half Saint to me."

Ling Chen did not clearly state his confidence. It was indeed his first time facing a genuine Half-Saint powerhouse.

Once nearly all the troops were sent out, fewer than a hundred people remained on the ship. Besides the dozen or so on Ling Chen's side, the rest eyed them with ill intent.

"The atmosphere seems a bit off."

A burly man swallowed nervously, sensing the strange atmosphere.

"Get ready for battle."

Kong Xuan beside him had already prepared, reminding them sternly.

"Ling Yu, Ling Xue, now that the outsiders are all gone, only us, the Ling Family, remain. Why are you so tense? Come, let's sit down and discuss strategies for breaking through the encirclement."

Heaven Cloud Half Saint appeared very affable.

"Sure, I've long wanted to get closer to Uncle."

Ling Chen also smiled and stepped forward.

Each harbored ulterior motives; when they were still ten meters apart, Ling Chen suddenly extended his right hand, flicking a finger, abruptly releasing a burst of sword qi directly at Heaven Cloud Half Saint's face.

Almost simultaneously, a poison needle shot from Heaven Cloud Half Saint's sleeve, aiming at Ling Chen's vital point.

Clang!

The sword qi and the hidden weapon clashed fiercely, sparking intensely before shattering. The poison needle grazed Ling Chen's face without injuring him in the slightest.

"Attack!"

Seeing the failed surprise attack, Heaven Cloud Half Saint's expression darkened. As his voice fell, Ling Hai and Ling Feng, prepared in advance, launched their assault. Instantly, a dozen sword qis tore through the air towards Ling Chen ferociously.

On Ling Chen's side, Ling Xue, Kong Xuan, and others took action, launching fierce attacks to intercept Ling Hai and Ling Feng's assaults.

Ling Chen stamped his foot, his body soaring into the air, landing atop a mast, looking down at Heaven Cloud Half Saint. "Heaven Cloud Half Saint, what are you doing? How dare you attack the Special Envoy, do you intend to betray the Family?"

"Betray the family? Ridiculous."

Heaven Cloud Half Saint sneered disdainfully. "I'm merely cleaning out threats for the Family. A youngster with unknown origins like you, what qualifies you to occupy your current position? For the stability of the family, you'd better leave your life here completely!"

"Then let's see your skills."

Ling Chen's expression remained calm, his body retreating swiftly, landing on the sea behind.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Thinking Ling Chen was fleeing, Heaven Cloud Half Saint's eyes turned cold. With a wave of his hand, his Treasure Sword unsheathed itself, transforming into a white light traversing the Void. He followed, positioned on this streak of white sword light, approaching Ling Chen like a meteor.

"Sword-control Flight Technique!"

Ling Chen recognized Heaven Cloud Half Saint's technique. This Sword-control Flight Technique had been seen before on the Burial Dragon Ancient Land, on the Soaring Sky Swordsman Lin Chaonan. Unexpectedly, Heaven Cloud Half Saint also mastered this swordsmanship.

However, Ling Chen had no intention of escaping. He stabilized himself on the water, and as soon as he steadied, with a flip of his palm, a fiery red glow appeared in his hand, revealing a deep crimson Treasure Sword.

It was the Red Sky Sword.

Ling Chen originally didn't plan to use the Red Sky Sword, but facing an opponent like Heaven Cloud Half Saint, not using it would significantly lower his chances of victory.

In Heaven Cloud Half Saint's hand was evidently also a Half-Saint level Treasure Sword, shining brilliantly and emitting a starry glow, sharp and imposing, its formidable aura felt clearly from afar.

Gripping the Treasure Sword, Heaven Cloud Half Saint eyed Ling Chen, "In my eyes, Ling Chen, you're merely a genius. You might not have realized how vast the world is, but today, I'll let you understand this fact and let you know that your so-called strength is insignificant."

He finished speaking, and an immensely overwhelming Sword Momentum surged from Heaven Cloud Half Saint, radiating in all directions.

"Junior Half-Saint Peak!"

Sensing Heaven Cloud Half Saint's aura, Ling Chen deduced that he was still at the Junior Half-Saint level. The strength of Half-Saint powerhouses is generally divided into Junior, Intermediate, and Advanced stages.

Fortunately, Heaven Cloud Half Saint was still at the Junior stage. Otherwise, Ling Chen might not feel he had much chance of winning.

"Such powerful Sword Momentum!"

Feeling the Sword Momentum of Heaven Cloud Half Saint, Ling Chen was shocked. Although his cultivation wasn't particularly strong, the Sword Momentum was unexpectedly powerful, far surpassing the Junior Half-Saint level. If not honed through normal means, then it was likely refined with certain Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Otherwise, the Sword Momentum couldn't reach such a level.