Chapter 2059: Desolate Forbidden Region Pt.2

As the fleet drew closer to the Desolate Forbidden Region, the Star Ships that had followed the Cai siblings out began to return one or two at a time.

Each time they came back, they would again lead away two or three medium Star Ships. Even Tian Mengzi had gone out once with them.

If not for Yuan Qiuyuan and Chu Jia having entered seclusion one after the other, those two would likely have been called upon by the Cai siblings to help as well.

Seeing their actions, Shang Xia could already guess that the Cai siblings had to have found refugee fleets from the Essence Yue Heavenly Field.

Sure enough, about a day later, guided and escorted by a few of their own medium Star Ships, scattered vessels began to arrive and join their fleet.

These new ships varied in size and form, carrying uneven numbers of cultivators, and their origins were just as diverse.

Overall, the quality of that group was not very high. Nearly 20 Star Ships joined, but only seven were medium Star Ships. The other 13 were small vessels, some no bigger than the tiny craft Shang Xia had once piloted himself.

But Shang Xia’s personal craft had been custom-built, and he, even then, had already been a high-level True Immortal, strong enough to withstand the dangers of the void.

Ordinary small Star Ships, if separated from a fleet, could never make long voyages alone.

From the time taken to bring them back, it was clear that those 20 ships had not traveled as a fleet. Most had merely drifted in loose groups of three to five.

They were packed full of cultivators of varying cultivation levels. There were even some who were merely in the Martial Realm, and the strongest was a second tier True Immortal.

The number of mortals on those ships was small, and they were only members of cultivator families.

They had fled when the Essence Yue Heavenly Field when the Beast Tide had invaded.

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

As such, their ships were crowded, and their supplies scarce.

So, when they encountered the Cai siblings’ search fleet, they readily agreed to join.

There was no doubt about it. A large Star Ship in the region and the presence of two high-level True Immortals helped a lot in persuading them, but mostly, they were simply trying to survive.

Anyone wise enough to escape the Essence Yue Heavenly Field knew that the Floating Star Region was under attack. They could not seek refuge elsewhere, and wandering the void alone was hopeless. It was better to join a fleet that looked like Star Pirates than to drift to their deaths.

As soon as they merged into the fleet, the refugees saw the other large Star Ship, the Spirit Ark, and their Azure Arks.

At the sight, their unease was greatly eased.

When the cultivators of the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field began distributing daily supplies from their own stores, suspicion diminished further.

After they were reorganized, with everyone on board distributed and the battle formation reformed, everyone cooperated well and everything went smoothly.

The Cai siblings, meanwhile, continued to search.

One more day passed and a few more ships returned with refugees. However, there were fewer this time. Only three medium and four small Star Ships joined.

One medium Star Ship that returned with two small ones carried True Immortal Hu, who brought instructions from the Cai siblings. The large Star Ship, Welcoming Snow, was to leave and join the Chasing Wind. They went to invite Tian Mengzi to join in their efforts once again.

Tian Mengzi immediately went to look for Shang Xia, and Shang Xia could naturally see that they weren’t asking him because they needed the strength of a third tier True Immortal. They wanted Tian Mengzi to join them so as not to make it look like they were trying to reform their Star Pirate Group and create another powerful faction secretly.

Tian Mengzi was no fool either. He could also see the meaning behind their actions and thus went to ask Shang Xia.

However... With Shang Xia refusing to do anything, Yuan Qiuyuan, Chu Jia, and the Giant Ape King in seclusion, he was the only one taking charge of everything! He couldn’t possibly leave and throw everything to their Sage, right?

Not long after, he received Shang Xia’s response, telling him to head over without worries.

Setting everything in order, he quickly departed with True Immortal Hu on the Welcoming Snow.

With both large Star Ships gone, all that was left were medium and small Star Ships to guard the Spirit Ark and the two Azure Arks.

Fortunately, veterans from the former Blizzard Pirates and the elites of the Tongyou Institution still held command. A few dozen Martial Dipper Realm cultivators were enough to keep order, especially as the refugees from the Essence Yue Heavenly Field were weary and broken in spirit.

Above all else... None of them panicked as they knew they had a Sage in charge.

Shang Xia was the true pillar of the fleet.

Yet his thoughts were not on the refugees. After more than two days’ journey, the vague outline of the Desolate Forbidden Region continent had begun to emerge in his sight.

Though still far, he could already sense the vast, tangled formation that enshrouded it, a fortress of interwoven restrictions, fragile yet deadly. A single touch might unleash a powerful chain reaction strong enough to swallow him.

Compared to it, the Spatial Vortex in the Original Stars Corner and the Nebula Forbidden Region were nothing.

Another day passed and there was still no word from the Cai siblings, and the fleet was nearing the Desolate Forbidden Region.

The colossal floating continent stretched across the void. By then, even ordinary Martial Extermination Realm cultivators and Martial Dipper Realm cultivators could see it.

The whole fleet soon knew their path led to the Desolate Forbidden Region. Some ran to the decks to stare while others grew fearful. The fear spread quickly.

The refugees from the Essence Yue Heavenly Field already outnumbered those from the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field.

Panic spread faster than the elites could contain it.

It was also then that the only second tier True Immortal among them stepped forward. Once from a Spirit World in the Essence Yue Heavenly Field, his soul had been damaged with the fall of his world and he had been trying to recover in seclusion.

Seeing as the situation was quickly spiralling out of control, he stepped forward to calm it. Everyone, be at ease. No one will seek death. The fleet is merely passing through the region. Our comrades from the Essence Luxuriant World already said the fastest route across the Floating Star Region is through the Desolate Forbidden Region. We are only passing by. Do not panic. Return to your cabins. If anyone causes trouble, do not blame me for being merciless!"

His mix of reason and threat worked. As they calmed down, he sighed with relief. However, he coughed twice right after as his cheeks flushed unnaturally red.

A gentle voice sounded in his ear the next second. "Your soul is damaged, and your dantian is broken. Your wounds are far worse than you let on."

Startled, True Immortal Qiu's coughing grew harsher. It was uncontrollable, each fit louder than the last.