Chapter 094
Chapter 94: Danger in Floating Boat City
At that very moment, ripples danced across the waters of the Underground Palace, and yet another wooden boat glided silently in from outside.
Upon the boat stood Shu Wan’er and her two companions. Elegant and poised, they scanned the other two boats already present. When their eyes fell upon Li Mu Sheng and Li Yuan Ling, wariness flickered briefly across their faces, but no fear remained.
Shu Wan’er paid no further heed to Li Mu Sheng and the others. Instead, she guided her boat to stop directly before the middle-aged man in luxurious robes and spoke coldly:
“Hand over the Qilin blood, or Floating Boat City will vanish from the Great Li Imperial Capital today.”
At these words, Han Mei Yan on the adjacent boat narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly caught off guard by Shu Wan’er’s straightforward demand.
Li Mu Sheng showed confusion, turning his gaze to Li Yuan Ling, whose face was now filled with shock. Her lips parted slightly as she murmured:
“So, the divine object they spoke of was actually Qilin blood!”
Turning urgently toward Li Mu Sheng, she quickly recounted all the tales and legends she knew concerning Qilin blood.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Underground Palace swiftly shifted.
Almost immediately after Shu Wan’er spoke, shadowy figures emerged abruptly from the darkness in every corner of the palace, gliding swiftly to surround all three wooden boats.
A powerful voice suddenly echoed from high above the palace:
“If you want the Qilin blood, let’s see if you’re capable enough to take it!”
As the words faded, the shadowy figures burst into motion beneath the flickering candlelight, blades glinting ominously in mid-air. They surged toward the three boats, murderously intent.
Li Mu Sheng’s brows knitted slightly. He had expected Floating Boat City to at least argue or hesitate briefly with the women. [These Martial World people truly waste no time.] Upon having their secret revealed, Floating Boat City decisively abandoned all pretense, not even bothering to feign ignorance before attacking outright. Clearly, they intended to silence everyone present permanently.
[Still, given the fame of Qilin blood in the Martial World, such ruthlessness is understandable.]
Li Mu Sheng shook his head slightly, noticing five martial arts masters with grim expressions already landing upon the wooden boat where he and Li Yuan Ling stood. Their strikes were lethal from the start. Blades and swords filled with Qi flashed fiercely, slicing the air with killing intent, aimed directly at their vital points.
There was clearly no intention of mercy—these assassins wanted nothing less than Li Mu Sheng and Li Yuan Ling’s lives.
……
Far above, deep within the vast underground chamber, a massive black iron ship hovered, slowly moving toward the palace center, pulled by iron chains from within the depths.
Tu Yao, Deputy City Lord of Floating Boat City, stood silently at the edge of the black iron ship, dressed in dark robes with his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze remained fixed on the scene unfolding upon the waters below.
Beside him, the elderly figure Sheng Shi An, bound in chains of darksteel, sat cross-legged, eyes lowered but similarly attentive. Yet his gaze was solely fixed upon Li Mu Sheng as he spoke quietly:
“First, test their strength. Soon enough, we’ll flush out whoever is behind them.”
Tu Yao nodded slightly, losing interest quickly. His eyes shifted instead toward the five individuals upon the other two wooden boats, his expression growing thoughtful as he remarked:
“The moves of that man and woman were cautious, revealing little of their origins. But those three young women appear to be using the Ripple Step technique from White Cloud Sect.”
Sheng Shi An’s brow furrowed slightly, replying with deliberation:
“Those three likely serve Fairy Lingbo. She made her name in the Martial World for her extraordinary movement skills and tracking ability. Given the current trio’s strength, they’d never dare challenge Floating Boat City so openly. If I am right, Fairy Lingbo herself may have already infiltrated the city.”
Tu Yao’s eyebrows tightened further. He scanned the palace below carefully yet sensed no hidden presence.
Sheng Shi An lifted his gaze briefly toward him and shook his head.
“Her technique is exceptional; you won’t easily detect her from this distance. We still have someone else to deal with. Leave Fairy Lingbo to Wei Bing for now.”
After a moment’s consideration, Tu Yao summoned a nearby shadowy figure, who appeared instantly and bowed respectfully.
“Inform Deputy City Lord Wei that Fairy Lingbo of White Cloud Sect may have already arrived in Floating Boat City. Tell him to stay vigilant within the city.”
The messenger acknowledged the command before vanishing swiftly.
Only then did Tu Yao turn again toward the palace below, his voice growing colder as he murmured:
“I underestimated the Martial World. We’ve barely obtained the Qilin blood, yet countless masters have already appeared. Once word spreads, these martial artists become harder to deal with than cats catching a scent of blood.”
Sheng Shi An’s eyes moved slightly, shaking his head slowly.
“That’s precisely why Su Chang Qing must dispose of the Qilin blood soon. Floating Boat City alone cannot hold back the entire Martial World.”
Saying nothing more, Sheng Shi An refocused his attention upon Li Mu Sheng. Suddenly, his cloudy eyes sharply contracted, and the darksteel chains around him stirred restlessly.
……
Meanwhile, back at Li Yuan Ling’s side, martial Qi surged swiftly around her body in response to the assassins. Golden shadows flickered over her form, golden lights gathering between her fists. Ready to test her martial prowess, she raised her head to face her attackers.
But just as she prepared to move, she discovered something strange.
The fierce killing intent that surrounded the five assassins had vanished entirely, as if wiped clean in an instant.
Li Yuan Ling furrowed her brow, cautiously observing them again.
The five figures remained standing stiffly upon the boat, their weapons halted in midair. Two blades hovered merely inches from her throat and chest but made no further move.
The intense sense of imminent danger that had filled her moments ago vanished completely.
Realization dawning, Li Yuan Ling spun sharply to look at Li Mu Sheng, who merely raised an eyebrow at her calmly.
“You did all this? But I didn’t even see you move!”
Li Yuan Ling slowly withdrew her martial Qi. She knew Li Mu Sheng was strong, but [isn’t this speed a little too unbelievable?]
Curious, she raised her hand and lightly pushed the tip of a sword in front of her. Instantly, the assassin holding it collapsed soundlessly to the deck.