Three hundred "Sea-Crossing Spirit Boats" were in utter chaos.
Screams and wails echoed through the heavens.
Everywhere, "Merchant Association cultivators" were being pursued by sword qi.
Blood flowed across the entire deck, a scene akin to hell on earth.
"Old Liu the Sixth" and the two young "Liu family disciples" beside him huddled tightly in a corner.
Sword qi rained down from all directions.
Remarkably, not a single bolt of such dense sword qi landed on the three of them.
"This spot is safe, brothers, hide here!"
A burly, fierce-looking "bald cultivator" charged forward, shoving "Old Liu the Sixth" and his companions aside without a word, intending to seize their hiding spot.
"Old Liu the Sixth" tried to resist.
"What are you doing? This is our place, you can't..."
"Old Liu the Sixth" and his two companions were weak in cultivation and power, no match for the ferocious "bald cultivator."
"Scram!"
The "bald cultivator" kicked out, sending "Old Liu the Sixth" sprawling to the ground.
A few of his cronies, like "ravenous wolves," pounced forward, grabbing the "young cultivators" next to "Old Liu the Sixth" like chicks and flinging them away.
"Old Liu the Sixth" and his companions tumbled in a heap, utterly disheveled!
The "bald cultivator" and his group, far from showing any sympathy, burst into hearty laughter.
The ceaseless, scattered "sword qi" imposed immense "death pressure" upon the "bald cultivators."
The intense and palpable "sense of death" enveloped them, driving them to the brink of madness!
Bullying "Old Liu the Sixth" and his ilk provided the "bald cultivators" with immense relief, alleviating their pervasive "shadow of death."
Not only were "Old Liu the Sixth" and his group robbed of their "safe haven," but they were also beaten and kicked. They were filled with anger and utter despair...
However, their cultivation was too weak, and they had no backing. They could only endure the bullying.
"Old Liu the Sixth" glared, cursing in his heart.
"Heavens, if you have a spirit, please punish these bullies severely..."
Before "Old Liu the Sixth's" prayer was finished, a sudden change occurred!
*Swish!*
A sharp sword qi, carrying an unparalleled edge, descended from the sky.
Originally, it was meant to strike elsewhere.
But, as if drawn by some unseen force, the sword qi suddenly changed its angle in mid-air, tracing a perfect arc towards the "bald cultivator."
Hahaha...
The "bald cultivator" was still laughing triumphantly.
"Old Liu the Sixth's" hiding spot was a "safe zone," and now that they had seized it, they would be safe...
*Thwack!*
A sharp pain struck his chest.
The "bald cultivator" didn't react at first.
He instinctively looked down.
What the hell!
"What in the world? My chest, why is there a gaping hole in my chest... What happened... This is impossible, this was clearly a safe zone, why is there a hole in my chest..."
His chest was pierced by the sharp sword qi, leaving a gaping hole.
Blood gushed from the wound, as large as an adult's fist.
As the blood poured out, the "bald cultivator" felt his life force draining away.
No, no, I don't want to die!
The "bald cultivator's" expression contorted.
Terror!
Horror!
Agony!
...
The "bald cultivator" raised his hands, as if to cover the terrifying wound in his chest.
However, his hands had barely lifted halfway when his body convulsed. Unimaginable pain surged like a tide, instantly crushing the "bald cultivator's" will.
*Bang!*
His hands could no longer be lifted. He crashed heavily to the ground.
His eyes were wide open, filled with pain and endless confusion, as he looked towards "Old Liu the Sixth" and his companions not far away.
Why, why... when you were here, it was a "safe zone," but when it's us, why is sword qi attacking?
Why?
The "bald cultivator" would never get his answer.
The sword qi had not only pierced his chest but also invaded his heart meridian, relentlessly tearing it apart until it was shattered.
*Puff!*
The "bald cultivator" spat out a mouthful of blood, his last breath filled with unanswered questions as he died.
After the "bald cultivator's" death, one after another, sword qi rained down from the heavens, attacking his "accomplices."
Those cultivators, filled with fear and rage, roared out.
"How can this be?"
"This was clearly a safe zone!"
"Old Liu the Sixth and the others were fine here, why are we being attacked by sword qi?"
...
The cultivators attempted a "death struggle."
Some activated their "defensive artifacts," while others unleashed their "defensive divine abilities."
However, it was all in vain!
The "sword qi" descending from the heavens grew in number, sharpness, and power!
The cultivators could withstand the first wave, the second... but by the third wave, the "sword qi" became denser and fiercer, almost transforming into a "sword qi tsunami."
*Swish, swish, swish!*
The violent "sword qi tsunami" descended, unleashing boundless destruction.
The cultivators' "defensive artifacts" were pierced one by one, their "defensive divine abilities" shattered.
All these individuals followed the "bald cultivator's" path, engulfed by the "sword qi tsunami" and dying without a burial place.
Just before being swallowed by the "sword qi tsunami," one cultivator instinctively looked towards "Old Liu the Sixth" and his companions.
"Old Liu the Sixth" and his group were no more than ten meters away.
Such a short distance, yet it was like "ice and fire"!
Unlike the scene of the surging "sword qi tsunami" and endless destruction on this side, "Old Liu the Sixth" and his companions were surrounded by clear, pristine space, not a single "sword qi" in sight.
They were absolutely safe!
This, this is damn unfair!
The last thought flashing through the cultivator's mind was "Heaven's will is unjust," and then he was swallowed by the "sword qi tsunami," dying without a burial place.
The group of villains, led by the "bald cultivator," were annihilated, not a single one remaining.
After their deaths, the sword qi raining down from the heavens seemed to possess consciousness. It stopped its frenzied descent as a "sword qi tsunami" and instead fell sporadically, one after another. A large portion of the "sword qi" then concentrated its attack on other "villainous cultivators."
Similar scenes unfolded on all three hundred "Sea-Crossing Spirit Boats."
However, situations like the "bald cultivator's" group being directly killed by "sword qi" were not common!
Most cultivators were severely injured by the "sword qi," with their Golden Cores destroyed or their limbs severed...