Chapter 693 278: Return to the Sect

The sea breeze caressed their faces.

The Treasure Ship left the Feiyan Islands, leaving the turbulent, undercurrent-filled waters behind as it sailed smoothly toward Dongji City.

On the deck, Elder Deng Ziheng let out a long breath, his tense Heart and Spirit finally relaxing a little.

He looked at Luo Zhixian, who stood silently at the bow with a calm expression, and remarked with emotion, "Peak Master Luo, that was truly perilous. I sensed many figures lurking on the outskirts of the islands, their auras obscure. There were even a number of spies from the Celestial Star Alliance among them."

Even for an experienced True Essence Realm master like him, the memory still sent a chill down his spine.

If Luo Zhixian and that Grandmaster from Yanzi Dock had truly come to blows just now, the situation would have likely spiraled out of control in an instant.

After all, this was the territory of the Celestial Star Seventy-Two Islands. The three powers—Yanzi Dock, Black Dragon Island, and the Celestial Star Alliance—were deeply intertwined and had always presented a united front to outsiders.

The Celestial Star Alliance, in particular, was known as the leader of the Seventy-Two Islands. Its power was immeasurable, and it would have been unimaginable if they had taken the opportunity to make a move.

The thought of the potential chain reaction weighed heavily on Deng Ziheng's shoulders.

Once a Grandmaster-Level melee erupted, it would no longer be a simple Sect skirmish. It could very well escalate into a massive storm that would engulf the entire Thousand Reefs Sea Region, even triggering an all-out confrontation between the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect and the Celestial Star Seventy-Two Islands.

"Rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

Luo Zhixian's gaze remained fixed on the sea ahead, his tone flat. "There is another hand pushing Yanzi Dock from behind. Their goal isn't just to protect a few Demon Sect brats."

"Master, you mean..."

Chen Qing's brow furrowed slightly as he picked up the thread. "The collusion between Yanzi Dock and the Demon Sect isn't as simple as it appears? Behind them... is it the Celestial Star Alliance?"

Luo Zhixian said slowly, "Yanzi Dock may have some foundation, but how would they dare to so brazenly collude with the Demon Sect? They even laid a death trap, intending to kill a True Inheritance Disciple of our Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. Without the tacit approval or even the encouragement of a more powerful force behind the scenes, those five old geezers wouldn't have the guts to face the pressure from our Sect."

He paused, then continued, "The great benefits promised by the Demon Sect were the incentive. But the only one who could embolden Yanzi Dock, making them think they could take such a risky gamble without fear of reprisal, is the Celestial Star Alliance. Those few from the Celestial Star Alliance probably wanted to use Yanzi Dock as a probing stone. They want to test the bottom line and strength of our Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, and also see how much trouble that shit-stirring Demon Sect can cause, so they can profit from the chaos."

Deng Ziheng nodded in deep agreement, his expression grave. "Peak Master Luo is absolutely right. Those old bastards from the Celestial Star Alliance are ambitious, and they've been itching to make a move for quite some time."

"They've never been content to be confined to the Thousand Reefs Sea Region and have always wanted to extend their reach into Yan Country. It's only natural for them to use Yanzi Dock to provoke us and test our attitude and strength. I just never expected them to be so deeply involved with the Demon Sect."

The Celestial Star Alliance... Chen Qing had often heard it mentioned during his temporary stay on Black Dragon Island.

It was the true behemoth of the Thousand Reefs Sea Region and the main force that had long contended with the Cloud Water Upper Sect, which dominated the Four Prefectures.

Its strength was far beyond anything Yanzi Dock could compare to.

"But I still don't understand."

Deng Ziheng's eyes were filled with confusion. "The Celestial Star Seventy-Two Islands are already at odds with the Cloud Water Upper Sect. There is constant friction, and the Cloud Water Upper Sect has even forcibly occupied several of their outer resource islands. At a time like this, instead of thinking about how to handle the pressure from the Cloud Water Upper Sect, why would they go out of their way to provoke our Celestial Treasure Upper Sect? What benefit is there in making enemies of two Upper Sects at the same time? Could it be... that they and the Demon Sect have some other, unknown scheme?"

He felt that the waters of the Thousand Reefs Sea Region ran deeper than he had imagined. This recent turmoil, it seemed, had not fully revealed the undercurrents flowing beneath.

Luo Zhixian's gaze was profound as he looked toward the distant horizon.

After a moment, he closed his eyes slightly. "I am a bit weary. I will go and rest."

He said no more, turning and walking into a Quiet Chamber within the ship's cabin to rest.

Seeing this, Deng Ziheng immediately collected himself and focused his full attention on steering the Treasure Ship.

Chen Qing, meanwhile, walked to the stern and took out a fishing rod.

He baited the hook and cast his line into the sea, his mind also quickly settling into a state of calm.

'The Celestial Star Alliance, Yanzi Dock, the Infinite Demon Sect, the Cloud Water Upper Sect... All these powers were intertwined in this vast sea, their interests and conspiracies like hidden currents. On the surface, it was calm, but in reality, it was fraught with danger.'

'For now, these were not matters for him to worry about. His current goal was to reach the True Essence Realm through cultivation as quickly as possible.'

The rest of the journey was uneventful. The Treasure Ship rode the wind and broke the waves, sailing with great stability.

Two days later, the familiar silhouette of Dongji City finally appeared on the distant horizon.

The Treasure Ship slowly approached the dock at Dongji City.

Huang Mei, He Shuang, Luo Qianjue, and the others, who had already received word and were waiting, immediately came forward to greet them.

"We welcome Peak Master Luo, Elder Deng, and Chen Zhenchuan on your triumphant return!"

Steward Huang Mei was the first to bow, her tone filled with sincere admiration.

He Shuang and Luo Qianjue followed close behind. As they looked at Chen Qing, their gazes held not only their usual complexity but also an added, indescribable shock.

Although they had not personally witnessed the earth-shattering events on Black Profound Island and what followed, the fragmented news they had received was enough for them to imagine the danger involved and the terrifying power Luo Zhixian had displayed.

Luo Zhixian gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

His gaze swept over the crowd as he said flatly, "The Demon Sect stronghold here has been eliminated, and the hidden threat is temporarily gone. Tomorrow, you all will return to the Sect with me. Elder Deng, you will remain in Dongji City for the time being to assist Steward Huang in stabilizing the situation and guarding against troublemakers."