Just as Lu Yang had anticipated, when the large ship was midway through its journey, the skies changed abruptly. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and the ship was lifted a hundred meters high by the waves before crashing down onto the sea surface with a violent thud.

Had the ship’s hull not been reinforced by multiple array methods, it would have been shattered into pieces long ago.

Lu Yang thought to himself, I knew it would be like this. On this single ship, he had already encountered three Body Integration Realm cultivators, not to mention the number on the other two ships.

With so many high-ranking cultivators on board, to encounter such a terrifying storm clearly meant it was orchestrated by someone.

It’s known that Body Integration Realm cultivators possess a portion of the power of natural laws, and for them, dispelling a sea storm is but a matter of speaking the word.

Su Yiren’s expression turned grave as she protected Lu Yang and the four others, communicating telepathically, "Be careful. I tried to dissolve the storm using the power of natural laws, but it was useless. Someone is causing trouble behind the scenes, and they’re at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage!"

The dark clouds overhead tore open, and a pitch-black figure appeared in the sky, enveloped in storm and rain. The eyes that shone a ghostly green like amber seemed as though they came from the netherworld itself.

The pressure was as deep and unfathomable as a prison, steadfast and irresistible, weighing heavily on everyone’s hearts.

"It really is a Transcendance Tribulation Stage!" Su Yiren broke out in a cold sweat, having not anticipated such bad luck on this trip, encountering a Transcendance Tribulation Stage adversary.

Tao Yaoye and Man Gu became somewhat panicked upon hearing about the Transcendance Tribulation Stage. They rarely ventured out with Lu Yang and had never witnessed such a grand scene.

Lu Yang, maintaining his composure, telepathically explained the situation to everyone.

"Don’t panic, everyone. This is all part of the Second Prince’s plan. He wants to create a disaster so that we will all owe him a favor in his bid for power," he said.

"If I’m not mistaken, Elder Cang Mingzi is conveniently not on board at the moment. First, the Body Integration Realm cultivators will meet the enemy, then the Second Prince will come to ease our minds. He will ask us to join forces and overcome this hardship together. To make it convincing, he will even injure himself."

"At the critical moment, Elder Cang Mingzi will appear belatedly and battle the dark figure for three hundred rounds. Overpowered, the dark figure will be defeated and retreat in disgrace."

The group, relieved, felt indignant at the same time, believing the Second Prince had gone too far.

"Form up to meet the enemy!"

With a loud shout from the Second Prince, three figures flew out from each of the large ships, all of them at the Body Integration Realm!

The Second Prince, on this journey, was followed by nine Body Integration Realm cultivators!

These nine cultivators, all battle-hardened veterans, had anticipated combat might arise in the East Sea and had practiced numerous times in advance.

A covert and powerful surge of spiritual energy began to fluctuate; they were setting up an array method — the Nine Heavens Responding Thunder Array, inscribed with complex and profound talismanic characters. As their fingertips traced through the air, strands of light emerged from within their bodies, coalescing into a vast nine-sided net.

The nine Body Integration Realm cultivators each took their position at a corner of the grid, forming hand seals to harness the quintessence of heaven and earth.

Seeing this, the Second Prince hurriedly ran to Lu Yang’s side to calm him and the others, "Dear Daoist friends, do not panic. The Nine Heavens Responding Thunder Array formed by these nine Body Integration Realm cultivators is capable of countering a Transcendance Tribulation Stage; we will be safe."

Even though the Second Prince said this, Lu Yang, still a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, couldn’t help but feel panicked at the thought of a Transcendance Tribulation Stage making a move against him.

Trembling, he asked, "Where is Elder Cang Mingzi?"

The Second Prince showed a regretful expression, "Just a moment ago, he said he spotted a rare fish and wanted to catch it for a meal. We never expected to be attacked by a Transcendance Tribulation Stage adversary in such a short time!"

As they conversed, the mysterious Transcendance Tribulation Stage made a move, shattering an array at the bottom of the ship that stabilized the vessel. A wave crashed over them, and everyone, including the Second Prince, was tossed about helter-skelter, struggling to stand.

"Are we really going to be alright?" Meng Jingzhou clung to the side of the ship, his figure swaying from side to side.

The Second Prince, with a resolute look, assured, "We will be fine. I am willing to risk my life to ensure everyone’s safety!"

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were deeply moved.

The Second Prince looked up at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage dark figure who was fighting, and called out sternly, "Who are you exactly? I am the Second Prince of Great Xia, Jiang Zhu. Do you intend to make an enemy of Great Xia!"

The Transcendance Tribulation Stage dark figure let out a cold laugh, looking down at the Second Prince with disdain, showcasing the arrogance typical of the Transcendance Tribulation Stage.

"Nonsense."

With a single word from the Transcendance Tribulation Stage dark figure, the Second Prince felt a tightness in his chest and was blown away, crashing against the cabin and vomiting blood twice. His hairpin fell out, and his hair chaotically stuck to his face, making him look utterly pitiable, a stark contrast to his usual image.

Lu Yang, with all the composure of a sage, telepathically messaged everyone, "What did I tell you? To gain sympathy, the Second Prince was bound to get injured, and I must say, he plays his part quite convincingly."

"Maybe he got really hurt in order not to blow his cover," Meng Jingzhou said admiringly as he looked at the blood-spitting Second Prince, "He’s really committed for the throne; my opinion of him has changed."

Tao Yaoye and Man Gu looked up to Lu Yang with admiration, as everything that had happened so far had been within Elder Brother Lu Yang’s expectations.

"How dare you harm someone!"

Cang Mingzi arrived belatedly, bellowing in anger as he displayed boundless Dharma forms, silently chanting ancient spells. Instantly he triggered a resonance from the depths of the sea. The tumultuous waters, as though pulled by an invisible force, began to gather around him. The water no longer raged but followed some peculiar laws, gradually taking on the shape of a giant human figure.

The two sides engaged in a fierce battle, each displaying divine abilities that churned the seas, scaring the Sea Clan living below into trembling.

"Old Cang, that’s about enough acting, if we keep this up, the ship is going to fall apart," the Second Prince secretly transmitted a message to Cang Mingzi, feeling Cang was being far too reckless; just now, he hadn’t been lightly wounded.

The Second Prince’s plan was just as Lu Yang had anticipated, including the injury, which was part of the plan.

The Second Prince had asked Cang Mingzi to create a clone for him to fight against and ultimately defeat.

Moreover, the clone couldn’t have any distinct features—if it resembled any of the Sea Clan, afterward, if Lu Yang and the others started to cause trouble for that Sea Clan, everything would be exposed.

Given the power of the Seek Dao Sect and Lu Yang’s identity, it was very possible that Yun Zhi and Vast Sea Daoist Lord, these two Semi-Immortals, would join forces to come to the East Sea to settle accounts.

This was why he designed the clone to appear as a mere shadow.

Cang Mingzi was astonished, not understanding what the Second Prince was talking about: "The clone isn’t ready yet."

He had genuinely gone fishing just now.

Second Prince: "?"

He instantly realized something was terribly wrong.

Damn it, how did a real Transcendence Tribulation Stage show up?!

"Trouble."

Seizing the moment when Cang Mingzi was distracted, the Transcendence Tribulation Stage shadow stretched out a huge hand covered with talismans, potent enough to crush anything.

The Nine Heavens Lightning Array was pierced by the large hand, and like chicks, Lu Yang and the four others were swept away by the giant grasp, with Su Yiren, intending to save them, also caught in the grip.

After the Transcendence Tribulation Stage shadow captured Lu Yang and the others, the weather returned to normal, calm and peaceful, as if no battle had ever occurred.

The Second Prince slumped to the ground, utterly devoid of any post-disaster optimism.

"It’s over, Yun Zhi’s Junior Brother, the Meng Family’s Young Master got abducted on my ship, and their whereabouts are unknown."

Forget about the succession to the throne; he only hoped now that the Seek Dao Sect and the Meng Family wouldn’t come knocking to claim his life.

...

"Elder Brother Lu Yang, is our abduction also part of the plan?" Tao Yaoye asked uncertainly as they were trapped in a water bubble, with the immense claw hurrying across the East Sea, carrying the sphere in its grasp.

Lu Yang also felt that something wasn’t quite right; could it be that the Second Prince intended to play the hero saving another hero?

"Fairy, can you discern the origin of this shadow?"

"Hmm? Isn’t this the Kunpeng Clan?" Although the shadow tried hard to conceal its kind, it was immediately recognized by Fairy Eternity.

Lu Yang: "..."

He felt that the Second Prince couldn’t possibly have the capacity to get a Transcendence Tribulation Stage from the Kunpeng Clan to act in this play.