Chapter 495: Celestial Soldiers Under the Command of Heavenly King Zhen!

Fairy Yu looked vastly different from before. Despite her current disheveled state, she exuded a strikingly cold elegance mixed with a sliver of ferocity that flickered in her eyes. Her aura was extremely weak, and her spiritual energy seemed depleted, but it was clear that her cultivation had advanced beyond the Foundation Building Realm, as she had entered the Golden Core Realm!

Fang Chen was quite surprised by that. It had only been a decade or so since they last met. If Fairy Yu had reached early or mid stage of the Foundation Building Realm, it would have been normal, especially with the support of the Void Immortal Sword Sect. However, for her to have condensed a Golden Core in such a short time was astonishing. Moreover, Fang Chen gleaned a crucial piece of information from the Golden Core cultivators who were pursuing her.

The Void Immortal Sword Sect has rejected Fairy Yu? Why? What has happened in these past years?

Fairy Yu panted heavily as she landed on the deck. The late-stage Golden Core Realm cultivators who were chasing her did not take immediate action but instead looked warily at Senior Chi and the others.

"Are you all in league with this demoness?" one of the Golden Core cultivators asked coldly.

The Golden Core Realm cultivators on the ship were slightly taken aback and looked at each other in confusion as they did not recognize the female cultivator in front of them.

The Golden Core cultivator in the green robe was the first to respond, cupping his fist and bowing. "I am Chi Youquan, the guardian of this merchant ship. The shipowner hails from the Yulin Sect of the Taichu Empire. We do not know this female cultivator. Please do not misunderstand."

The expressions of the late-stage Golden Core Realm cultivators eased up a bit. One of them said blandly, "If that is the case, join us in capturing this demoness. You will be rewarded."

Senior Chi's eyes flickered, and he glanced at the female cultivator. To be pursued relentlessly by several late-stage Golden Core Realm cultivators and still not be defeated indicated that she had to possess formidable strength. Or she might have an astonishing background. Chi Youquan didn't want to get himself mixed up in any of this. That was especially the case after he had heard the name "Void Immortal Sword Sect." If it was the sect he knew, this trouble was not something he could get involved with easily.

Fairy Yu suddenly laughed softly. "Everyone, you've chased me all the way here, but now you hesitate to act?"

Her laughter was enchanting, and the fierceness in her eyes softened as she exuded an incredibly seductive aura. The cultivators on the deck were mesmerized, and a strange thought rose in their minds.

"Such a woman exists in this world..."

The Golden Core Realm cultivators on the deck exchanged glances; even they had almost been tempted.

"Everyone, this matter is not for us to meddle in. Please resolve it among yourselves," Senior Chi said slowly, cupping his fist.

"Do you know who she is? She is an expelled disciple of the Void Immortal Sword Sect, a sword cultivator who fell into the demonic dao, massacring cultivators in the Central Continent Empire. She has reaped countless lives," one of the late-stage Golden Core Realm cultivators said while looking down at the others. "We are celestial soldiers under the command of Heavenly King Zhen from the Central Continent Empire. We have orders to hunt her down. Helping us capture her would be a great merit. Now that she is exhausted and out of spiritual energy, it is the perfect time to act. Do not miss this opportunity."

His words caused the cultivators present to be deeply moved.

Central Continent Empire's Void Immortal Sword Sect?!

The woman in front of them was actually a sword cultivator who had fallen to the dark side?!

And that Heavenly King... what kind of background was this!? Even the esteemed late Golden Core Realm cultivator claimed to be his celestial soldiers...! Nameless soldiers!

The background of that Heavenly King had to be extremely intimidating for a Golden Core Realm cultivator to refer to themselves in such a way when under him.

Elder Xu and the others couldn't help but smile bitterly. How could they get mixed into this trouble on New Year's Eve? Both of these sides were entities they couldn't afford to provoke. It didn't matter which side they picked.

When the immortals fought, it was the common folk that suffered.

Judging by the current situation, they feared that even Senior Chi wouldn't be able to handle it.

Looking at Fairy Yu, Fang Chen muttered, "Fell to the dark side...."

His divine soul left his body as he silently observed the Fairy Yu. Her demeanor and temperament were indeed completely different from before. Her rapid advancement to the Golden Core Realm might have a great connection with why she had fallen to the dark side.

But why!? Why did the Void Immortal Sword Sect not care about this matter, leaving it to other forces in the Central Continent Empire to handle?

Senior Chi’s eyes were slightly unfocused. "H-Heavenly King Zhen...."

Ever since he was young, he had heard the elders in the sect mention that in the Central Continent Empire, those who could be crowned as kings were all cultivators of the Upper Three Realms.

The difference between those cultivators and the cultivators of the Lower Four Realms was too vast, like the difference between clouds and mud. They could eliminate an entire region on their own easily.

"You guys are quite clever. You’re afraid of falling into my hands, so you plan to use them to test me?"

Fairy Yu smiled lightly. "I am indeed depleted of spiritual energy now, there's no need for this trouble. Go ahead and make your move; perhaps you will capture me and take me back for a reward."

Those who were previously tempted suddenly realized an important point.

Oh right. Why weren’t those late Golden Core Realm cultivators taking action themselves, but urging them to do it instead? It's clearly an attempt for them to test the female cultivator!

Although she was a disciple of the Void Immortal Sword Sect who had fallen to the dark side, she was still a sword cultivator through and through! A sword cultivator who was also a Golden Core Realm cultivator! Who knew how powerful her sword was?!

Thinking of that, Senior Chi and the others took a few steps back subconsciously.

"You all are truly a bunch of useless people, not knowing how to cherish the opportunity to ascend to the heavens that lies before you."

One late Golden Core Realm cultivator couldn't help but curse and look at his teammates. "If we join forces to attack her, even if she's hiding some tricks, she won't be able to wipe us out completely! If we can capture this woman, there's a chance for us to reach the Nascent Soul Realm. In fact, there’s even hope to step into the Middle Three Realms!"

Thinking of the generous rewards from Heavenly King Zhen, the eyes of those Golden Core Realm cultivators became heated. However, after a few breaths, they still showed no intention of taking action. Evidently, no one is willing to take this risk. If the opponent had been fleeing, it would have been fine, but the fact that she stopped indicated that she was preparing some kind of attack.

Quite a few Golden Core Realm cultivators had died at her hands lately, including some who were at the grand completion stage of the Golden Core Realm.

A mid-stage Golden Core Realm cultivator on the deck suddenly spoke up. "If we capture her... is there really a chance to ascend to the Nascent Soul Realm?"

The other Golden Core cultivators looked at him with surprise.

"Heavenly King Zhen is an Upper Three Realms cultivator. Even the dirt under his fingernail might be comparable to a high-grade spirit stone to all of you. All of you must be aware of how important high-grade spirit stones are to break through bottlenecks."

A late Golden Core Realm cultivator chuckled lightly. "The opportunity is right here. Treasure it well."

High-grade spirit stones!?

The cultivators on the deck became restless. Even some Foundation Building Realm and Qi Refining cultivators started looking at Fairy Yu with a sliver of greed in their eyes. Some were lusting after her beauty, but most were lusting after the hidden treasures on her!

Forget about high-grade spirit stones! For the cultivators on the ship, even mid-grade spirit stones were beyond their reach!

A Golden Core Realm cultivator suddenly raised his sleeve. "Young lady, please forgive us."

A sharp flying sword flew out, aiming directly at Fairy Yu’s back.

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Fairy Yu simply waved her sword lightly, and the opponent's flying sword was instantly annihilated by the sword light, along with the Golden Core Realm cultivator. Before he died, endless regret and self-blame appeared on his face.

Everyone watched as the spot where the Golden Core Realm cultivator had just stood turned into a small pile of ashes as they fell into silence.

Fang Chen recognized that sword. "The Void Immortal Sword...."

The female sword cultivator had used that technique before, and it had reduced her lifespan when she used it. In contrast, Fairy Yu's lifespan didn't seem to have been affected.