C14 Disciple of the Shadowsea Cult

As the confrontation escalated, the onlookers quickly dispersed, keeping their distance from the brewing trouble. Yet, some audacious individuals remained at a safe distance, watching the unfolding drama with keen interest.

"A mere five-star Soul Weaver dares to act so brazenly in my presence? If Ning Chaoping were here, I might reconsider. But you? Who do you think you are? Today, I'll take it upon myself to teach you a lesson in his stead."

Hai Yunqi was already irked, and his annoyance only deepened when his strike was thwarted. He cast a contemptuous glance at Zhuang Hong and, with a flick of his wrist, a crimson streak of fire burst forth, solidifying into a longsword that floated ominously before him.

"Fire Qilin Slash!"

At his command, the suspended longsword rocketed forward, reaching Zhuang Hong's head in an instant. With a force that seemed insurmountable, it cleaved downward, flames swirling and morphing into a fiery qilin, a mythical beast with hooves ablaze, charging directly at Zhuang Hong.

Aware of his disadvantage, Zhuang Hong braced for impact. Hai Yunqi's reputation was well-established, and his signature Fire Qilin Soulcraft was known for its domineering power. Despite the impending strike, Zhuang Hong closed his eyes, standing his ground without retreating an inch.

True grit, Ning Que thought, admiring Zhuang Hong's courage. Most would cower in the face of such a formidable blow, but Zhuang Hong stood fearless.

Ning Xian'er was not one to simply watch from the sidelines. As she prepared to intervene, Ning Que stopped her with a reassuring smile. "Let me take care of this little problem."

Ning Que wasn't being overconfident; he had already conferred with Ling Jing. Ning Xian'er, a four-star Soul Warrior, wasn't as strong as Zhuang Hong. In this situation, Ning Que was the only one who could step in.

"Kid, this old man's soulcraft is nothing more than Advanced Yellow Rank. Today, I'll give you a glimpse of what a high-tier soulcraft can do."

Ling Jing's voice echoed in Ning Que's ears, and upon hearing it, his face lit up with eager anticipation.

Cultivation techniques are solely for training purposes, while the execution of powerful moves relies on soulcraft, which is also categorized into four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Back at the Ning family's council hall, Ling Jing had merely relied on his formidable wakan to wound Tsunami without resorting to soulcraft. Today, he volunteered to demonstrate it, and Ning Que was naturally thrilled.

Ning Que entrusted his body to Ling Jing's control. In a flash, he was standing before Zhuang Hong. Taking a deep breath, he lifted his palm, and the Qilin beast, conjured from the longsword, materialized before him. A dazzling blue halo instantly enveloped his hand, and with what seemed like a gentle push, he struck out towards the Qilin.

"Primordial Tide Palm."

A phantom wave erupted from Ning Que's palm, accompanied by the thunderous sound of crashing waves. The Qilin beast didn't even have a chance to struggle before it was obliterated. The formidable wave pressed on, heading straight for Hai Yunqi's location.

Ning Xian'er and the others watched, their eyes wide with astonishment. They looked at Ning Que, their expressions mirroring the same amazement.

What kind of soulcraft was this, with such an imposing presence? Hai Yunqi's renowned Fire Scale Soulcraft seemed like mere paper in the face of this palm strike.

"Kid, don't be too shocked. You've only just begun your cultivation journey and can't handle too much. For now, I can only use my self-created Profound Grade soulcraft. There are even higher grades, but it seems I'll have to save those demonstrations for another day," Ling Jing said, detecting Ning Que's astonishment. His aged laughter filled the air, tinged with a hint of smugness.

If he didn't show off, he might as well be dead.

Ning Que inwardly grumbled. Ling Jing always hinted at possessing valuable secrets but was never willing to share them freely. It was like being taunted with exquisite food and drink placed just out of reach, a truly maddening tease.

While the two shared their private jests, Hai Yunqi was far from fortunate. As the massive wave bore down on him, his expression turned icy, then shifted to one of sheer panic.

He had intended to provoke Ning Que into action, seeking vengeance for the past incident with Tsunami, but he hadn't anticipated the move to backfire so spectacularly.

"Fire Scale Sky-burning!"

Hai Yunqi could not afford to take Ning Que lightly. Losing to Ning Que in front of an audience would be a severe blow to his dignity. Without hesitation, he channeled his wakan throughout his body and bellowed. A stream of scarlet light erupted from his mouth, transforming into an inferno that roared towards the oncoming waves.

"Hehe, you think you can block my palm with that? Are you dreaming?"

Ling Jing chuckled, his palm radiating wakan, amplifying the wave even further until it clashed with the fiery sea.

A thunderous explosion echoed as a massive gust of air shot up from the space between them. Several bystanders lost their footing, tumbling to the ground.

The swirling dust obscured the figures of the two combatants. It took a while for the dust to settle, and only then could everyone see the outcome clearly.

Ning Que stood unscathed, a smile gracing his features, while Hai Yunqi looked significantly worse for wear. His blue robe was tattered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Despite his dark and foreboding expression, it was evident to all that he had been soundly defeated by Ning Que.

"Elder Hai, you've got some skill to still be standing after taking one of my palms."

Ning Que grinned, stepping forward and offering a courteous gesture to Hai Yunqi. Stung by the provocation, Hai Yunqi could no longer contain himself, and a mist of blood sprayed from his mouth in a dramatic display.

In Oceanwatch City, Hai Yunqi was a man of stature. Ning Que's words were akin to trampling his reputation into the dirt.

"To think that Oceanwatch City harbors such a young talent. I regret not coming sooner to witness this myself."

As Ning Que prepared to further taunt Hai Yunqi, he noticed a man in gray appear behind him. The man had a noble stature, his long hair tied into a bun, and a subtle smile played across his handsome face, giving him an air of innocence. The most striking feature was the black wave embroidery on his chest.

"A member of the Shadowsea Cult?"

Ning Que's brow furrowed. He was aware of the connection between the Hai family and the Shadowsea Cult, but the presence of this man at such a time demanded extreme caution.

The embroidery of black waves was unmistakably the insignia of the Shadowsea Cult.

"This is an affair between the Ning family and the Hai family. It seems to have no bearing on the Shadowsea Cult," Ning Xian'er remarked with a frosty tone, clearly recognizing the man's affiliation.

"Hehe, indeed, there was no connection, but as of late, the Shadowsea Cult has been in talks to collaborate on a minor matter with the Hai family. So, could I trouble you to overlook this incident, as a courtesy to me?" The grey-robed man's eyes sparkled when he caught sight of Ning Xian'er, his smile growing even broader.

"Not a problem. Hand over five hundred top-grade soulstones, and we'll call it even," Ning Que retorted, feeling a surge of irritation at the man's gaze.

"So, young man, you're not inclined to extend this courtesy to me?" The grey-robed man's face, once amiable, grew stern as his eyes bore into Ning Que, a hint of murderous intent flickering within them.

Ning Que shrugged. "The fact is, this old fellow sent someone to stir up trouble and attempt to extort the Ning family. My request for the soulstones is perfectly justified. Moreover, I don't even know you. Why should I give you face?"

"Are you certain you want to make an enemy of me?" The man in gray scoffed, pointing at Ning Que.

"Kid, you're unaware of the direct disciples of the Shadowsea Cult's Sect Master? It seems the Ning family is not keen on remaining in Oceanwatch," Hai Yunqi interjected with a sneer, watching Ning Que as if he were a simpleton.

"Brother Ning Que, this man is not to be trifled with," Ning Xian'er whispered urgently, her face stricken with fear as she tugged at the corner of his garment.

Ning Que looked at her, confusion written across his face. Ning Xian'er continued, "The Sect Master of the Shadowsea Cult has two direct disciples, both at the Soul Marshal level. We stand no chance against them."

"A Soul Marshal, that's indeed a formidable opponent. Lad, you're not strong enough. Even if I were to intervene, I couldn't exert much power. We should avoid entangling ourselves in this feud for now."

Ling Jing's voice emerged quietly, tinged with a sense of helplessness.

"Alright, take this old man with you."

Ning Que gestured dismissively. Realizing that a true fight might not end in their favor, he resigned himself to letting the matter go.

"Hehe, too late. I'm not just taking him; you're coming with me, too."

The man in gray smirked at Ning Que's concession and pointed behind him, setting his sights on Ning Xian'er.

"You've soured my mood, so she'll join me for a drink to lighten it. Surely, you wouldn't object."

"You're asking for it."

Ning Que's gaze hardened. He was done engaging with this man, especially now that he was targeting Ning Xian'er. His patience had reached its limit.

"Ling Jing, assist me."

With a low cry, Ling Jing wasted no time in responding. He struck out once more, sending a wave even more tumultuous than before crashing towards the man in gray.

"With just the strength of a Soul Weaver, your intricate soulcraft is futile."

The man in gray chuckled coldly, clasping his hands together and watching the approaching wave with scorn. He muttered an incantation, and a burst of wakan shot from his hands, forming a gray shield—the Shadow Aegis—before him.

"Want to take me on? Break through my Shadow Aegis first."

As the wave collided with the shield, it erupted in a thunderous crash. The shield stood unyielding like a mountain, and Ning Que's attack failed to make any impact.

"The strength of a mere insect. No one can protect the person I, Liu Yunlong, want to take."

The man in gray let out a self-satisfied smile, his hands falling to his sides as the shield vanished. He glanced at Ning Xian'er once more, his lips curling into a smirk as he whispered,

"Kid, this one's at least a Two-star Soul Marshal. If he had just reached the Soul Awakening stage, I might have stood a chance, but now, I can only ensure your safe exit. Anything beyond that is beyond my reach."

Ling Jing's voice resonated with a tight sense of resignation.

The man in gray took measured steps toward Ning Xian'er, while Ning Que clenched his jaw, filled with a deep sense of reluctance.

If he could just enhance his strength a bit more, with Ling Jing's assistance, he would undoubtedly have no trouble handling the person before him.

Was he to simply stand by helplessly as Ning Xian'er was whisked away by this individual?

"It's quite disgraceful for the direct disciple of the Shadowsea Cult's Sect Master to be throwing their weight around in the modest town of Oceanwatch. It would be quite the scandal if word spread."

As Ning Que racked his brain for a solution, a crisp voice sounded from behind him. Turning, he caught sight of a familiar purple robe entering his field of vision.