Chen Wentian was thankful that none of his disciples panicked and started screaming. Lin Qingcheng a few years ago might have done that. But now, they were all strong cultivators equipped with immortal treasures. They didn't make him lose face.
The flyboat continued to crash through layers and layers of thick clouds. They were almost vertical, going straight down like a meteor. At any moment, they could meet the ground and be turned into pancakes.
Chen Wentian just smiled lightly. The crew of the Skyward General wasn't shouting or crying. The old immortal named Yu Yanwu, who was still in control of the wheel, didn't seem bothered either. Therefore, this was definitely a setup.
After a few more seconds of weightless freefall, the flying ship leveled out and slowed. A vast forest appeared beneath them, a sea of green occasionally broken by cone-shaped karst mountains. Soon, a wide, meandering river came into view, along with a human settlement along its banks.
"Oh? A bonus sideshow? I didn't know flying boats had this kind of service." Chen Wentian said casually.
Yu Yanwu laughed but didn't reply.
The Skyward General came to a halt and landed in a clearing near the settlement which consisted of a bunch of log houses. It seemed more like a temporary arrangement than a permanent one.
Chen Wentian was about to make another snide comment when he was greeted by a gust of spiritual force. It was another immortal, a Spirit Lord, and they weren't friendly.
Chen Wentian rose slightly into the air, floating above his disciples to protect them. He crossed his arms over his fat belly and waited.
The middle-aged man with wild gray hair and a wrinkled face arrived, flying over from the settlement. His appearance was of one who no longer cared about appearances. It could only be described as disheveled and frightful.
"What are you, a beggar or an immortal?" Chen Wentian asked before the other could speak.
The newcomer's eyes bulged and he spat angrily, "You… fuck your grandmother… I am Immortal Dangerous God Yu Baosi! You're on my turf now!"
Chen Wentian almost laughed. An immortal title like Dangerous God would never be accepted by any respectable, mainstream immortal organization. It was something only bandits could come up with, by people who lived without rules.
Chen Wentian turned to the older immortal who had flown over, "Relatives, I assume?"
Yu Yanwu sneered, "At least you're not as dumb as you are fat. Now…"
Both of their spiritual auras surged, converging around Chen Wentian and locking him in place.
Yu Yanwu smiled cruelly, "You seem to have a lot of money, spending a million taels of gold without even blinking. We'll make it simple. Think of it as a provincial tax. Drop all of your belongings and we'll let you go. I will even escort you and your people safely to the Temple of the Clouds. If you don't…"
His decrepit eyes roamed toward Chen Wentian's disciples. Finding nothing good to look at, he turned back to Chen Wentian with an expression full of derision. "If you don't, we'll make you watch as I let my disciples have some fun with your... women."
Chen Wentian frowned but didn't reply.
Yu Baosi laughed loudly, "Of course, if you want a fight, that's fine too. If you think you have the ability to fight two against one on our turf, you're welcome to try."
At those words, Chen Wentian spread his spiritual sense. He quickly detected several simple formations around the clearing. They weren't anything special and only served to prevent him from escaping. This didn't matter since he wasn't planning on escaping in the first place.
Chen Wentian finally smiled, spreading his thick arms wide in a friendly gesture, "How about this? You both swear a spiritual oath to follow me and be my underlings from now on… do that and I won't kill you all."
"Wha… hahaha! Are you crazy? Hahaha!" Yu Baosi clutched his stomach as he laughed.
Yu Yanwu also joined in the laughter for a little while before glaring at Chen Wentian once more, "Listen up, fatass. I know that your brain is filled with lard but you should be able to understand this. Your only choice is to surrender. Otherwise, we'll beat you to death."
Chen Wentian shrugged, "I think my offer is quite fair."
Yu Yanwu's expression darkened, "Fine, looks like we have to teach you a lesson. Baosi, hold him down. I'll go see if there is a pretty face among these veiled women."
"Got it, uncle." Yu Baosi said and drew a shining sword out his spatial bag
It was clearly a Spirit Lord Realm weapon. He brandished it with expert confidence and carefully approached Chen Wentian.
Chen Wentian clicked his tongue in annoyance. The Martial Brilliance Continent was truly on another level. Even bandit spirit lords could afford an immortal weapon. He drew an ordinary steel sword and held it casual manner.
Yu Baosi struck first. His sword turned into a streak of light, launching three glowing sword blades at Chen Wentian.
Chen Wentian's figure blurred as he moved to dodge. He flew higher and swung his ordinary sword. His actions were lazy but it was filled with sword intent. The power of Dugu's Tenth Sword erupted sweeping across the distance.
Yu Baosi's eyes narrowed but he didn't retreat. The treasure sword in his hand danced and waved, creating a web-like pattern in midair. Chen Wentian's sweeping slash arrived and smashed into Yu Baosi's defensive formation.
Spiritual energy surged as sword auras clashed. On one side was the strange sword art of a bandit of the Martial Brilliance Continent. On the other was the supreme sword Dao of a heavenly sword expert. After several seconds of collisions, both sides seemed evenly matched.
Seeing this, Yu Yanwu also acted. But instead of attacking Chen Wentian, he leaped toward Lin Qingcheng and the others. His intention was clear, to grab them as hostages and force Chen Wentian to surrender.
However, before he had crossed half the distance from the bridge to the front of the ship, a large golden phantom erupted from Lin Qingcheng. It coiled around her and her sisters, forming the shape of a golden serpent.
Yu Yanwu scoffed and raised a hand which turned the color of silver. A sharp power collected at the center of his palm. One strike seemed capable of smashing through the thickest of shields.
Pa!
His palm struck the body of the transparent beast made of pure spiritual energy.
But nothing happened. His immortal might was completely absorbed by the defensive might of the golden serpent.
"What? What trickery is this?" Yu Yanwu spluttered.
He raised another silver palm and struck with all his might.
Pang!
It only served to create a loud noise like a child hitting a drum. The shiny scales on the golden serpent's body shimmered from the blow. But it held firm.
Yu Yanwu then launched a series of rapid attacks, including silver punches and even kicks. The golden serpent bore all of it silently and firmly like a brick wall against a toddler's tantrum.
---
Thank you to all my patrons!
Support me and read ahead by 150 or even 300 chapters!
p atreon.com/kigreenwriting
Join my discord for updates, delays, and my ramblings :)
d iscord.gg/dY5UApw