Three Months Later.
The Iron Wind Continent was in a panic.
A legend had spread among the merchant guilds. They called it the "Ghost City."
It appeared in storms. It descended on mining towns and trade convoys. It stripped them bare—taking stones, weapons, and people—and vanished before the Alliance patrols could arrive.
In the skies above the Jade Valley, a massive merchant fleet was flying.
"Keep a sharp lookout!" The Commodore shouted. "The Ghost City was sighted in this sector!"
"Radar is clear, sir!"
Suddenly, the sun blinked out.
A massive shadow fell over the fleet.
Above them, decloaking from the clouds, was the Golden City of Profound Gold. But it was no longer gold. It had been painted matte black. Cannons bristled from every tower.
"It's them!" The Commodore screamed. "Signal the Alliance!"
On the throne of the flying city, Mo Tian swirled a glass of wine.
"Jam their signal," he ordered.
[System: Electronic Warfare - Active.]
The merchant ships' comms went dead.
"Fire."
The city's main cannon—a Dragon-Head Cannon powered by the fossil Mo Tian had found—fired.
BOOM.
A beam of void energy vaporized the escort frigates.
"Board them," Mo Tian commanded.
Thousands of Ascenders, flying on black swords, swarmed down from the city.
Mo Tian watched the plunder. This was efficient. He was gathering resources faster than any honest cultivation method allowed.
But he was bored.
"System," Mo Tian asked. "Any interesting loot?"
[Scan Complete.] [Target Ship: 'The Celestial Crane'.] [Cargo: Standard.] [Passenger Manifest: VIP Detected.] [Identity: Princess of the Immortal Alliance.]
Mo Tian paused.
"A Princess?"
He smiled.
"Well, well. It seems we caught a mermaid."
He stood up.
"Tell the boys to be gentle with the flagship. I want to meet this royalty."