Just then, a fat middle-aged man waddled onto the deck and sidled up to Justin Su, his tone full of flattery: "Seventh Young Master, we've still got more than three hours before we reach the Jade Maiden Sect. Why not head inside the treasure-ship and take a break?"
Skye Miao had adopted eleven sons; Justin Su was the seventh, so the Miao Clan servants always called him Seventh Young Master.
"No need."
Justin Su stared at the clouds ahead, answering coolly.
The fat man kept going: "Seventh Young Master, are you worried about this job? You really don't have to. From what I've heard, the strongest person in the Jade Maiden Sect is just mid-stage Golden Core. We've got five late-stage Golden Core experts with us, and you're peak late-stage yourself. If we wanted to wipe out their sect, it'd be a breeze. Those women wouldn't dare say no!"
"Alright, I get it. Go on, leave me be—I want some peace and quiet," Justin Su said again.
Hearing this, the fat middle-aged man looked disappointed and helpless. He'd heard Justin Su was a loner and hard to get close to. He'd hoped to use this chance to suck up to him, but clearly Justin wasn't interested at all.
In a flash, three hours passed. The treasure-ship was already flying above Jade Maiden Peak, and the disciples of the Jade Maiden Sect spotted it.
"Looks like the Miao Clan people are here!"
Even though the Jade Maiden Sect now had the Guardian Mountain Formation, she was still nervous and quickly sent someone to call Abbess Yvonne and the others.
Soon, Abbess Yvonne and five others arrived at the plaza with Lena Ling. Disciples from the Jade Maiden Sect also hurried over. Yara Snow wanted to drive them away, but Abbess Yvonne raised her hand to stop her, deciding to let the third-generation disciples stay and witness the Guardian Mountain Formation's power—giving them confidence in the sect.
Just then, a fat middle-aged man flew out from the treasure-ship above and hovered in the air, shouting loudly: "People of the Jade Maiden Sect, listen up! We are from the Miao Clan. You have one incense stick's time to hand over Lena Ling, or we'll destroy your sect!"
Lena Ling wanted to respond, but Abbess Yvonne signaled her to stay silent.
Sect Master Lana Snow replied loudly: "Our Jade Maiden Sect hasn't stopped Lena Ling from returning to the Miao Clan—she simply doesn't want to go. So, please don't make trouble here, or you'll just make the Miao Clan a laughingstock!"
Hearing Lana Snow's reply, the fat middle-aged man was stunned. He hadn't expected the Jade Maiden Sect to be so bold. Anger flared in his heart as he growled, "How dare your little sect defy the Miao Clan? Courting death!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the fat middle-aged man spat out a black inkstone and produced a jade-green brush. Dipping the tip into the inkstone, he began writing quickly in the air.
Soon, the character for "sword" appeared in the air.
Go!
With a casual wave, the character for "sword" burst into golden sword-qi, shooting down toward Lana Snow.
Buzz!
As the sword-qi flew out dozens of meters, a seven-colored barrier appeared above Jade Maiden Peak. All the sword-qi crashed into it, but the barrier remained completely unharmed—not even a ripple appeared.
Seeing his sword-qi blocked by the seven-colored barrier, the fat middle-aged man was stunned. Suddenly, something occurred to him and his face showed utter shock. He shouted, "Guardian Mountain Formation!"
How is that possible? How could a small sect like the Jade Maiden Sect have a Guardian Mountain Formation?!
Everyone knew that a Guardian Mountain Formation consumed huge amounts of spirit crystals. This one at the Jade Maiden Sect was set up with several hundred high-grade spirit crystals—equivalent to several million low-grade ones.
But the Jade Maiden Sect's total assets were only about a hundred thousand low-grade spirit crystals. Even if they scrimped and saved, went without food or drink, they'd never be able to afford a Guardian Mountain Formation.
Besides, not just anyone could set up a Guardian Mountain Formation. You'd have to hire a professional formation master—which was another huge expense.
Even the Miao Clan, one of the top powers in Yuyang Commandery, didn't have a defensive formation around their whole estate—only in certain critical areas.
And a formation constantly consumed spiritual energy—unless you were rich, you wouldn't dare set one up lightly.
Standing at the prow, Justin Su frowned at the scene. Why did the Jade Maiden Sect have a Guardian Mountain Formation?
Impossible! There's no way the Jade Maiden Sect could have a Guardian Mountain Formation. If you ask me, it's just for show—a bluff! Watch me break it!
Shouting, the fat middle-aged man dipped his brush in the black inkstone again and started writing rapidly in the air.
Buzz buzz buzz!
The air trembled and light flashed.
The next moment, dozens of spirit-beasts appeared from the fat man's brush, roaring as they charged downward.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
A continuous barrage of crashes rang out—it was the spirit-beasts furiously attacking the seven-colored barrier.
Seeing such a fierce attack, the third-generation disciples of the Jade Maiden Sect turned pale, terrified that the barrier wouldn't hold and the spirit-beasts would break through.
But as time passed, the seven-colored barrier remained unmoved while the spirit-beasts' glow grew dimmer and finally vanished.
Awesome!
Wow! We held them off!
Seeing this, the third-generation disciples of the Jade Maiden Sect couldn't help but cheer loudly. Hearing their cheers, Lana Snow and the others also broke into smiles.
As for the fat middle-aged man, his face turned extremely ugly.
"Drake Long, fall back. You can't break this Guardian Mountain Formation!" Justin Su's voice came from the deck.
Yes, sir!
He'd wanted to show off in front of the Seventh Young Master, but ended up making a fool of himself. Thinking of this, Drake Long hated the Jade Maiden Sect even more.
"Seventh Young Master, what should we do? This Guardian Mountain Formation is tough to crack!" Back on the ship, Drake Long said in a low voice.
"Let's join forces and give it a try first," Justin Su said after thinking for a moment.
The next moment, Justin Su and ten Golden Core experts from the Miao Clan flew out of the treasure-ship, hovering in the sky as their auras erupted.
Feeling the powerful pressure from the eleven experts above, everyone in the Jade Maiden Sect who'd been smiling now couldn't help but look worried.
"Abbess, can the Guardian Mountain Formation hold?" Lana Snow looked at Abbess Yvonne and asked.
There were six late-stage Golden Core and five mid-stage Golden Core cultivators up there. If all eleven attacked at full power, even a Nascent Soul expert might struggle to hold them off.
"Senior Azure said this Guardian Mountain Formation can withstand Nascent Soul attacks, so it should be fine!" Abbess Yvonne said, though she sounded a bit unsure.
Hearing this, Lana Snow felt much more confident: "That's right, Senior Azure is still with us at the Jade Maiden Sect. Even if the formation breaks, as long as she's here, we'll be safe!"