Diexin struggles as the shadow chains tighten around her limbs.
Cold power seeps into her meridians.
She feels it clearly.
The chains are not only restraining her body,
They are sealing her cultivation.
Her butterfly qi wings flicker violently, then dim.
Her spiritual flow becomes sluggish.
The more she struggles, the tighter the suppression grows.
Above the harbour, Chu Feng's dragon aura suddenly trembles.
His movements lose some of their earlier dominance.
The shadow woman presses him harder.
Diexin's heart sinks.
She understands instantly.
The chains are not simple restraints.
They are part of a coordinated suppression formation.
Her capture destabilises Chu Feng.
Her mind races,
Then falters.
Is this the end?
Because she was obsessed with revenge…
Because she refused to let go of the past…
Now her unborn child will die with her.
The thought strikes deeper than fear.
Her resistance weakens.
For a fleeting moment,
She almost gives up.
Then,
Arrows streak through the rain.
Sharp.
Precise.
They pierce into the five shadow figures anchoring the chains.
Each arrow carries a sealing rune.
The shadow qi falters.
The five masked figures cry out as lightning-infused arrows explode on impact.
The chains around Diexin flicker,
Then dissipate entirely.
She inhales sharply.
Her cultivation surges back.
Stabilising herself midair, she descends onto the empty pier below.
Rain pours heavier for a breath,
Then thunder rumbles across the sky.
From the harbour entrance,
Another group arrives.
White-masked figures.
They move in disciplined formation.
Lightning crackles around their weapons.
Without hesitation, they engage the black-cloaked attackers.
Lightning against shadow.
Brilliant flashes illuminate the flooded streets.
Chu Feng's men regroup as well.
Snake blood qi erupts from their palms, twisting like venomous serpents as they attack the shadow assassins.
The harbour becomes a battlefield of three factions.
Thunder splits the sky.
A massive spear of lightning descends toward the Sublimation Stage woman.
She reacts instantly.
Kicking Chu Feng away mid-collision, she raises a shield of condensed shadow.
The thunder spear crashes against it.
The explosion shatters already damaged buildings into powder.
Diexin looks upward.
A figure stands in the sky.
Lightning coils around his arm.
Sublimation Stage cultivation radiates from him.
The woman's expression darkens.
"Duan Lei," she says through clenched teeth.
Diexin's eyes flash.
Duan Family?
The white-masked figures…
Are they from the Duan Family?
Duan Lei's gaze sharpens with interest.
"You know me," he says calmly. "But I don't know you."
The woman's lips thin.
"Are you going to get involved in this?"
Duan Lei tilts his head slightly.
"What do you mean?" he replies. "You are destroying property and harming the people of Song Kingdom."
Silence answers him.
Rainwater drips from shattered beams.
Duan Lei points toward her.
"Ready to be captured."
Lightning erupts around his body.
He moves,
Like a thunderbolt tearing through the clouds.
He strikes.
The woman counters with a wave of shadow that rises like a tidal wall.
Lightning and shadow collide violently.
The shockwave flattens nearby buildings completely.
Chu Feng rises again, dragon qi blazing, attempting to join the assault.
Duan Lei speaks sharply without looking back.
"You should escape."
Chu Feng hesitates,
Then glances toward Diexin.
Below, a white-masked figure appears beside her.
The figure speaks in a female voice.
"Lady, follow me."
Diexin narrows her eyes.
The woman reveals a token,
Duan Family insignia.
Recognition flashes in Diexin's gaze.
She nods.
Without delay, she follows the masked woman toward another pier.
Chu Feng lands beside them moments later.
Together, they board a waiting ship.
The sails unfurl.
The vessel pushes out into the rain-dark sea.
Behind them, thunder and shadow continue clashing over Dongji City.
Hours later,
The city fades from view.
The rain lessens.
Diexin turns toward the masked woman.
"Where are we going?"
The woman removes her mask.
A fair, apple-like face appears.
Diexin freezes briefly.
Recognition dawns.
She had seen this woman at the Duan Family estate.
A maid.
"Xaoli," Diexin says softly.
Xaoli smiles warmly.
"Lady, you recognise me."
"I do."
Xaoli nods.
"Lady, Marquis wants you to go to Beihai Island."
Chu Feng, overhearing, steps closer.
"He got a new one," he says coldly. "So he is sending the old one away."
Xaoli's expression hardens instantly.
She shoots Chu Feng a sharp glare.
"We saved you because you protected our Lady. Another bad remark about our Marquis, and we will throw you off this boat."
Chu Feng snorts dismissively.
Diexin quickly grips Xaoli's arm, turning her gently.
"Don't mind him," she says quietly. "Tell me why he is sending me to Beihai Island."
Xaoli gives Chu Feng one final dirty look before answering.
"Lady, Marquis trusts you. He is sending you on an important mission."
Diexin listens carefully.
"He wants you to establish a base on Beihai Island. Gather intelligence about the Eastern Sea. Secure resources."
Silence stretches for a moment.
Then Diexin nods.
"Okay."
Her voice is steady.
"When will we arrive?"
"Two weeks," Xaoli replies.
Diexin glances briefly at Chu Feng,
Then looks back at Xaoli.
"Is there a room where I can rest?"
"Yes, Lady. Follow me."
Xaoli leads her below deck.
Chu Feng follows as well, complaining about room arrangements and arguing for a separate cabin.
Xaoli ignores him coldly.
Inside her cabin, Diexin closes the door.
The sound of waves replaces the chaos of battle.
She sits.
Finds a stable posture.
Closes her eyes.
And begins cultivating.
Her breathing gradually steadies.
The rocking of the ship becomes rhythmic beneath her.
Spiritual energy from the surrounding sea air seeps into her meridians as she refines it carefully.
The turmoil of the harbour battle lingers in her mind, but she forces it down.
Stability first.
Emotions later.
A knock sounds at the door.
Before rising, she extends her perception.
It is Chu Feng.
She opens her eyes slowly and stands.
The cabin is small.
A narrow bed bolted to the wall.
A wooden desk.
A single chair.
Through the small window, night wind carries the scent of salt and distant storms.
She opens the door.
Chu Feng stands there, expression serious.
"Diexin," he says quietly, "I want to talk to you about Beihai Island."
Her interest sharpens.
"Let's talk on the deck."
Minutes later, they stand side by side beneath the vast night sky.
The ocean is black and endless.
Moonlight ripples across the waves.
The wind tugs at their clothes.
Chu Feng leans slightly against the railing.
"Beihai Island is located to the north," he begins. "It is ruled by family clans. Large and small."
Diexin nods, listening carefully.
He continues, "On the other side of the Eastern Ocean, there is another landmass. Beihai Island sits between the two regions. It is considered a free-trading island. Merchants from both sides gather there."
Understanding dawns in her eyes.
That explains it.
Merin did not send her there randomly.
Beihai is a crossroads.
Information flows as freely as goods.
Resources from across the world can be obtained there.
For someone seeking intelligence and materials, it is the perfect base.
She turns to Chu Feng.
"What are you going to do?"
He exhales softly.
"My organisation is exposed now. Living in the Song Kingdom will become increasingly dangerous. I plan to relocate them to Beihai. Establish a new foundation there."
She studies him briefly.
Ambition still burns in his gaze.
They speak quietly for several more minutes, discussing trade routes, clan politics, and maritime dangers.
Eventually, they part ways.
She returns to her cabin.
Closes the door.
And resumes cultivating.
Days pass.
Far away,
Shi Yang flies at full speed over the mainland, heading toward Songji City.
Wind tears at his robes.
He absorbs spiritual energy frantically, stabilising his recent breakthrough to Fourth Stage Spiritual Refiner.
He had entered seclusion to delay his Dao Partner ceremony with Yi Miran.
He succeeded in breaking through.
Then fled before dawn.
The sect never expected the sect master's son to escape.
If he became Dao Partner with Yi Miran, no core disciple could challenge his succession.
That future suffocated him.
Now he races toward the capital.
He intends to take Xingli.
Then flee to the centre of the mainland.
Beyond the reach of Purple Lotus Sect influence.
The world is spherical.
A vast mainland surrounded by sea.
Between the east and west lies a massive ocean dotted with thousands of islands.
At the opposite side of his sect's territory lies the Great Lake Region.
Beyond their influence.
That is his destination.
He flies faster.
At the same time, he transfers the power of the Purple Lotus from his body into the angel egg within his spatial bag.
The golden locket at his chest dims further.
Only hours remain before it stops concealing him entirely.
Then,
He sees a black speck ahead.
It grows clearer.
A man stands midair.
Purple robe.
Double-ringed pupils.
Lotus mark upon his forehead.
Shi Yang halts abruptly.
His expression darkens.
"Uncle."
Shi Yunli stands calmly in his path.
"Nephew," his uncle says evenly, "you have had your fun. Let's return."
Shi Yang's jaw tightens.
"I am not going back."
"You must. Your future Dao Partner is waiting."
"My future Dao Partner is Song Xingli. Not Yi Miran."
Shi Yunli shakes his head slowly. "Song Xingli is already married. How can she be your Dao Partner?"
Shi Yang's eyes widen.
"That's nonsense. Xingli would never break her promise."
"Her father married her off."
The words hit like thunder.
Shi Yang's aura trembles.
"It is impossible."
"It already happened. Come back with me."
"I will not return before seeing Xingli."
Shi Yunli sighs.
"Then you leave me no choice."
His aura erupts.
Peak Fourth Stage Spiritual Refiner.
A three-petal purple lotus manifests beneath his feet.
Shi Yang's own aura flares in response.
Initial Fourth Stage.
The collision of their spiritual domains dyes the night sky purple above them.
Energy distorts the clouds.
Shi Yunli moves first.
Purple fireballs surge forward, blazing through the air toward Shi Yang.