At the same time, Shang Xingchen also noticed Chu Xuan's gaze. He subtly glanced over. Though he couldn't see through Chu Xuan's disguise, he instinctively sensed that the eighth leader, Chen Jin, shared something in common with him. They were both pretenders.
A face could be disguised, but a person's aura was much harder to mask completely. Especially for someone like Chu Xuan, with whom Shang Xingchen had collaborated many times before.
Aside from not knowing Chu Xuan's hidden trump cards, everything else was crystal clear to him. To put it dramatically, even if Chu Xuan turned into a woman, Shang Xingchen would still be able to detect that unique aura of his.
Chu Xuan also noticed that the two seasoned manipulators exchanged a subtle glance, and in that moment, they silently reached a mutual understanding.
The leaders exited the cabin and arrived on the deck, preparing to return to their respective ships.
Sima Zhen suddenly spoke up. "Eighth Brother, how is the repair of my longbow magic treasure coming along?"
Chu Xuan smiled. "It's almost done on my ship. Do you need it now, Second Brother?"
The eighth leader, Chen Jin, was slightly skilled in crafting tools, but his abilities were limited to repairing mid- to high-grade magic treasures. He couldn't handle high-grade magic treasures.
Sima Zhen indeed had a longbow magic treasure, which he had entrusted to Chen Jin for repairs a long time ago. But Chen Jin had dragged his feet, claiming the reward was too little and delaying the work.
Sima Zhen patted Shang Xingchen's shoulder. "You go with Eighth Brother and bring the magic treasure back."
"Yes." Shang Xingchen nodded and followed behind Chu Xuan.
Moments later, inside the ship's cabin.
The two exchanged glances, but neither spoke first.
After a while, Shang Xingchen suddenly laughed. "Fellow Daoist Chu, your progress in the Poison Path is astonishing. The poisons I just refined couldn't even harm you in the slightest."
Chu Xuan chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Shang is not bad yourself. My Gu insects can't even approach you."
The two had already engaged in several secret contests of poison and Gu techniques in just a short time in the cabin.After all, this was the best way to confirm each other's identity.
Shang Xingchen sighed. "Wei Ji said you were as good as dead. I didn't expect you to make it out of the Nether Fire Valley alive."
Chu Xuan smiled. "Fellow Daoist Shang, you too, didn't I hear that True Master Yin plans to sell both of you in the Starshatter Sea? Two mid-Nascent Soul cultivators—whether for corpse refining or ghost forging, you two would fetch quite a high price there."
Shang Xingchen shrugged. "Wei Ji really did get captured. He's still on Sima Zhen's ship. And his storage bag was taken by Pei Yuankui."
Chu Xuan couldn't help but laugh softly and nodded in acknowledgment. Wei Ji's capture hadn't exceeded his expectations. He continued, "So, Sima Zhen seems to be listening to your words?"
Shang Xingchen replied, "He's a descendant of a senior brother from my Nether Dao Sect. After the Sect's downfall, he came to the Starshatter Sea. He's now desperately seeking a way to escape the clutches of True Master Yin."
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He added, "Fellow Daoist Chu, I have a way to break free from True Master Yin. Would you be willing to join me?"
Chu Xuan's heart stirred slightly. "Speak, I'm listening."
Shang Xingchen smiled. "Our Nether Dao Sect has a small faction of cultivators who've managed to establish a foothold in the Starshatter Sea. They've gained some strength. We've long had communication through a sound transmission jade, but due to the vast distance, it hasn't been effective. Now, with the Nine Yin Island fleet so close to the Starshatter Sea, I've managed to contact several from the Yellow Spring Island and informed them of True Master Yin's injury, caused by the Netherfire King."
At this, Shang Xingchen looked at Chu Xuan with a smile in his eyes.
Chu Xuan pondered deeply. There was constant conflict between bandit cultivators. Today you strike me, tomorrow I devour you. True Master Yin was the strongest on Nine Yin Island, but he was now wounded, and gravely so. Once this news spread, other bandit cultivators would surely grow restless, eager to act. If he could indeed leverage such a force, perhaps there was a chance for him to escape alive.
Shang Xingchen continued, "If Fellow Daoist Chu is willing to cooperate, we will have the Flowing Wind Ship approach the White Cloud Ship. When the battle grows chaotic, and the magic spells fly, it's possible that the Flowing Wind Ship will be swept up in the storm."
Chu Xuan nodded slightly. "Alright, I'll cooperate with you."
Shang Xingchen smiled and nodded. "We're both new to the Starshatter Sea and unfamiliar with the land. We must work together to survive."
He paused for a moment, then suddenly spoke with respect, "Eighth Leader, that longbow magic treasure…"
Chu Xuan hesitated. "It's not completely repaired yet, but since Second Brother needs it, you may take it."
He walked into the crafting room and handed the longbow magic treasure to Shang Xingchen.
Shang Xingchen didn't waste any more words and turned to leave. Moments later, he departed on a fast ship, heading toward the White Cloud Ship where Sima Zhen was.
Chu Xuan watched his departing figure, his expression thoughtful. He wouldn't trust Shang Xingchen fully. At best, it was seven parts truth, three parts lies. They both sought to escape from True Master Yin—that was unquestionable.
But once True Master Yin was dealt with, could he really leave with Shang Xingchen?
Shang Xingchen had his allies in Yellow Spring Island, but Chu Xuan had none. If he followed Shang Xingchen to Yellow Spring Island, it would be like a tiger entering a wolf's den, surrounded by enemies.
Shang Xingchen had likely been eyeing him for some time. He couldn't fall into the trap the other had set. It was very possible that, just as he escaped from True Master Yin, he would be restrained by Shang Xingchen and his allies.
"I took the bait, as for the trap... well, anyone who wants to jump in, let them."
Chu Xuan gave a faint, knowing smile.
A month later, Chu Xuan's sound transmission jade vibrated at his waist. He infused it with Spiritual Qi, and immediately, Pei Yuankui's voice came through.
"We're about to enter the Starshatter Sea region. Everyone, be on high alert! Watch for ambushes!"
Chu Xuan made his way to the deck. The dozen or so bandit cultivators under his command were already on full alert. He gazed into the distance.
Before him, the once dull and barren starry sky now displayed a vast and fragmented expanse of landmasses. Beneath these land fragments, the waves gently rippled. The waves stretched far into the distance, seemingly endless.
The Starshatter Sea was formed from countless shattered star fragments, carried by the Three Thousand Weak Waters. Cultivators of the Nascent Soul realm and below could not enter the Three Thousand Weak Waters. Only those of the Deity Transformation realm could barely resist the corrosive nature of these strange waters.
"It seems there are no other fleets intercepting us," Chu Xuan observed, scanning the surroundings. He didn't sense the presence of any other fleets.
But just then, from the darkness ahead, a fleet suddenly emerged. The attack formations aboard the fleet immediately unleashed a series of powerful Spiritual Qi beams!
These beams shot directly toward the flagship of True Master Yin's fleet, the largest and most imposing of the ships. The sudden onslaught caught the Nine Yin Island bandit cultivators completely off guard. Especially when they realized that another fleet had surged out from the previously empty starry expanse to their side, their panic grew exponentially.
Chu Xuan quickly glanced at the emblems on the two attacking fleets and immediately understood. These fleets were from White Bone Island and Black Wind Island, both of which had been in constant friction with Nine Yin Island.
However, even White Bone Island and Black Wind Island had their own disputes. Now, they had inexplicably formed an alliance to besiege Nine Yin Island. It was clear they had learned of True Master Yin's severe injuries. Moreover, there was still the unknown fleet from Yellow Spring Island, somewhere out there…