Chaos erupted among the passengers aboard the ship. The boatman, a skilled divine ability user, was busy steering the tower ship and couldn't spare attention for the others.
Three Marvels Fortress is famed for its three marvels: insects, medicine, and beauties. The daughters of the fortress are renowned for their beauty—Consort Che of the imperial palace is a prime example. Their medical arts are exceptional, with many famous physicians adept at using gu to cure illness.
The foremost marvel of the fortress is its insects.
Three Marvels Fortress's insect army is truly terrifying. Those skilled in medicine are also masters of poison, and their venomous insects are unmatched. After being incorporated into the imperial army, the emperor ordered Three Marvels Fortress to form an insect corps, staffed by experts in insect control.
Now that Three Marvels Fortress has rebelled, their insect army has clearly turned as well. This battlefield is where the imperial forces clash with the fortress's insect troops.
By accident, they've wandered into the battlefield and come under attack from Three Marvels Fortress's insect army—a situation not easily resolved.
"These insects are impossible to guard against! The Grand Guardian's Sword can't handle this many!"
Quinn Shepherd's scalp tingled as countless golden insects swarmed toward him. Instantly, he split his focus—wielding the Grand Guardian's Sword against one of the soldiers while unleashing his yuanqi, sending forth countless hair-thin threads like a blazing red sun.
His yuanqi threads were each formed from impossibly slender yuanqi swords—now, they converged into a blazing sun, buzzing as they hovered in midair.
Yuyuan Kingdom's national arts—Falling Sun Sword Art.
The fireball spun rapidly, and in an instant, countless sword lights burst forth from that sinking sun, each blade piercing a golden insect. In a flash, a carpet of insect corpses littered the ground around Quinn Shepherd.
At the same moment, his Young Guardian Sword flashed like lightning, passing through a soldier’s chest and then returning, killing the man instantly.
"Excellent swordsmanship!"
The shipmaster gave an approving shout, handed the controls of the Cloudchaser Pirate Ship to his deputy, and quickly freed his hands. He produced a fire gourd, and when he uncorked it, a cloud of flame shot out, transforming into a nine-headed fire phoenix. Spreading its nine mouths, it spewed blazing fire, incinerating swarms of insects.
The nine-headed fire phoenix unfurled its wings, shrouding the airship and unleashing streams of fire. Several Three Marvels Fortress soldiers were burned to charcoal before they could even approach.
"This shipmaster’s cultivation is truly profound—he’s no less skilled than Young General Qin Feiyue!"
Quinn Shepherd’s mind stirred. The shipmaster was a burly middle-aged man, and his mastery of fire arts was indeed extraordinary—he must be a powerhouse of the Seven Stars Realm.
Just then, a terrifying tide of golden insects surged like waves. Amidst the swarm stood a woman in general’s attire. She extended a finger, and the insect tide surged forward, rushing toward the airship.
"The second marvel of Three Marvels Fortress—the girl really is beautiful."
The shipmaster chuckled. With a swish, the nine-headed fire phoenix was sucked back into the fire gourd, which grew larger and larger, becoming a massive vessel several people tall. The mouth of the gourd pointed downward, and a terrifying suction force swept up the incoming insect tide, drawing them all into the gourd.