"Hehe, I didn''t expect you to be prepared. However, I wonder how you discovered us?" The Xuanming Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator asked, standing atop the black fog without a hint of panic.

    Junior Master Zhao and Uncle Dai did not instantly strike; battles between Foundation Establishment Cultivators are extremely perilous, and even against two opponents, they weren''t guaranteed victory.

    The main concern was the Xuanming Sect cultivators'' myriad of insidious methods which they needed to cautiously counter.

    "The disciples of Xuanming Sect have stretched their hands to the Great Xia Central Capital City. How could we possibly not notice the ambitions of Xuanming Sect!" Junior Master Zhao said coldly while channeling his Spiritual Power Pattern.

    "Damn it, which bastard ruined the plan!" The Xuanming Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator cursed inwardly, very irritated.

    He knew that no cultivators from the sect were sent into the Great Xia Central Capital City, for it was a place of mortals.

    It was an unspoken rule that sect wars did not involve the mortal realm. If both sides targeted mortals, given the cultivators'' powers, they were capable of annihilating all mortals within their control.

    This would result in both sects lacking replenishment of spirit root seeds, leading to a lack of successors for both.

    This continent wasn''t just home to these two sects; if they were weakened, it would provide opportunities for other sects.

    As for activities of Xuanming Sect cultivators in the mortal realm, it was inevitable.

    Let alone the mortal realms under Sky Sea Sect''s control, even those under Xuanming Sect''s rule often saw cultivators causing trouble.

    This was due to the cultivation techniques practiced by Xuanming Sect. Many bizarre techniques became stronger and were mastered faster when supported by an abundance of flesh and blood.

    "Xuanming Sect hasn''t sent disciples into the mortal realm!" The Xuanming Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator explained, needing to clarify this point.

    No matter whether the other party believed it or not, Xuanming Sect had to express their stance.

    "No need for more words!" Uncle Dai, seemingly impatient, swung his sword, sending a beam of light toward a Xuanming Sect Qi Refining Cultivator.

    His move signaled the beginning of a fierce battle. Junior Master Zhao sent a talisman flying toward the Xuanming Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator, his task being to hold him off.

    Once Uncle Dai finished off the Xuanming Sect Qi Refining Cultivators, they could join forces to eliminate the Xuanming Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

    "Ah!" A scream rang out as a Qi Refining Cultivator from the opposite side was impaled through the heart by Uncle Dai''s sword, his body falling from the sky.

    Senior Brother Ma and Senior Brother Wu could only reluctantly fight back, as all four opposing Qi Refining Cultivators were in the late-stage Qi Refining, and they struggled to handle any one of them.

    They truly fought desperately, throwing out talismans as if they cost nothing, managing to block two late-stage Qi Refining Xuanming Sect cultivators.

    It was uncertain how long they could hold out, as this desperate struggle couldn''t last.

    Li Shiming saw two Xuanming Sect Qi Refining Cultivators flying towards him, and at that moment, the Flying Boat suddenly flew downwards—clearly, the two Foundation Establishment Masters also understood that if the Flying Boat was destroyed in the air, falling from such a height, no disciple would survive.

    The two Xuanming Sect Qi Refining disciples chased after the Flying Boat, quickly leaving the Foundation Establishment battleground far behind.

    "Stay calm!" Li Shiming suppressed the panic in his heart, his brain and the IBM z15 constantly exchanging information, analyzing and judging the situation on the battlefield.

    By now, he could see the environment below; the Flying Boat was heading toward a lake.

    "Good luck everyone!" he looked back and silently wished in his heart.

    The Flying Boat was equipped with an Array for protection, something he had come to understand over many days of missions.

    The Array could not withstand the sustained attack of two late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators. This Flying Boat was not a combat vessel; to transport disciples who were mortals, it had fewer Arrays to make space for living facilities necessary for mortals.

    But if he could draw away one late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator, the survival chances of the young ones inside the Flying Boat would be significantly greater.

    Of course, this was also his way of self-rescue. He could not entrust his life solely to the Flying Boat''s defenses.

    Knowing that the Flying Boat''s defenses couldn''t hold off the attacks of two late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators for long, staying on the Flying Boat was tantamount to waiting for death.

    He instantly activated a ''Basic Light Body Talisman'' for himself and also reinforced it with the only ''Intermediate Earth Armor Talisman''.

    Besides, he reinforced himself with a ''Basic-level Invisibility Talisman'', making his figure disappear from sight.

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    He also knew that the effects of ''Invisibility Technique'' were extremely weak against cultivators, especially against late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

    But at such a time, he wouldn''t pass up even the slightest chance to increase his chances of survival.