Chapter 2056: Everyone Wins

With Shang Xia remaining completely on the sidelines, the fleet did not achieve a full victory against the Beast Tide.

Yet it had to be remembered... 17 large and medium Star Ships, along with those on board, faced over 1,500 spiritual beasts who were at least of the fourth rank and were led by a rank seven beast emperor. Against such odds, under Chu Jia’s command, the battle formation had slain over 500, including four beast kings, with one of them rivaling a high-level True Immortal.

That did not even count those injured or crippled, which would raise the number further.

By the time the tide finally broke free, including those from the back that attacked the Welcoming Snow, their strength was cut at least in half.

Of course, the fleet also paid a heavy price.

Other than True Immortal Hu’s ship which was used as bait and was nearly destroyed from the start, there were many other casualties. Moreover, True Immortal Hu’s ship was probably scrap by the time they returned. Thankfully, most of their cultivators survived, and the goods they were transporting were kept safe.

The other medium Star Ship that was flipped over at the end wasn’t so lucky.

Though the Giant Ape King saved most of its crew as it retreated into the battle formation, the vessel itself was lost, along with everything it contained.

Aside from the three Arks in the center which were protected by the rest, every ship suffered damage, and casualties were unavoidable.

Yet compared to the Beast Tide’s losses, it was undeniably a great victory.

All the more so, because it yielded immense spoils.

The corpses of the slain beasts of the fourth, fifth, and sixth rank provided precious materials vital for cultivation. Though some bodies were carried off, devoured, or destroyed in battle, at least two-thirds were recovered.

From them, countless future cultivators would be raised, or those who survived would grow much stronger.

When both sides withdrew, the Snow Swan Emperor had suffered a loss without gaining anything. Bitter as it was, it knew it had no chance to kill the Giant Ape King, not with the fleet’s defenses tightened.

Unless it begged aid from other emperors, at enormous cost and risk that they might seize its minions for themselves.

As for the fleet, after three years of traveling and such damage, they too were exhausted and unwilling to press further.

With no will to fight, the Snow Swan Emperor led its few hundred survivors away into the void.

The fleet resumed its course, following Yuan Qiuyuan’s charted route across the Floating Star Region, which would take them past the Desolate Forbidden Region.

Meanwhile, except for the helmsmen, the cultivators on board busied themselves processing the spoils from hundreds of slain beasts.

The Giant Ape King also left the Spirit Ark and, under many astonished gazes, stepped onto the deck of the Chasing Wind.

"Many thanks!" Its booming voice hurt the ears around it.

Clearly, though suppressed by the Snow Swan Emperor in battle, it had endured. The strain had driven its bloodline closer to fusion, and its aura leaked unconsciously, disturbing those nearby.

Yuan Qiuyuan descended from the platform on deck with a smile. "No need for thanks. It was a small effort. Had I been in danger, I’m sure you would not have stood by either."

The Giant Ape King glanced at him and growled, "You’re about to become a high-level True Immortal? That starlight you summoned... Was that a breakthrough in your art of stargazing?"

Yuan Qiuyuan replied, "It was a stroke of fortune. My cultivation and my technique advanced together, thanks in part to Senior Shang’s guidance in the boundless void."

The Giant Ape King turned to look at Cai Zhuifeng, who had arrived. It nodded once before speaking to Yuan Qiuyuan again. "I must soon enter seclusion to suppress my bloodline’s ascension. Until we return to the Spirit Frost World, I cannot fight again. Be careful."

With that, it returned to the Spirit Ark.

After it left, Cai Zhuifeng asked, "The Giant Ape King is advancing to become a rank seven beast emperor?"

Yuan Qiuyuan nodded. "It has to return to the Spirit Frost World for that to happen. Not only does it not dare to act recklessly now, it has to suppress its cultivation.”

"Seventh rank..." Cai Zhuifeng’s face lit up with longing before he asked again, "Will you also enter seclusion soon?"

Yuan Qiuyuan shook his head. "Not yet. At least not until we pass the Desolate Forbidden Region."

Cai Zhuifeng continued, "We received word from the Welcoming Snow. Hall Master Chu might enter seclusion."

Yuan Qiuyuan nodded. "Since she forged her unique path blending her cultivation and the dao of formations, each advancement in the understanding of the dao of formations reflects in her cultivation level. Though we didn’t achieve an overwhelming victory in this great battle, we managed to inflict heavy damage on the Beast Tide several times stronger than us. It’s natural for her to break through.”

Cai Zhuifeng nodded, then hesitated, as if holding something back.

Yuan Qiuyuan raised an eyebrow and asked, "True Immortal Cai, you are part of our Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field now. We’ve faced death together. Why be so polite?"

Cai Zhuifeng blinked, then laughed. "True. I was only wondering... Will we launch another hunt against the Beast Tide? To be honest, we are all exhausted and are hardly able to fight again."