"Greetings, Young Master Li Xuan."
As Li Xuan appeared, Xiao Ran, Yan Qi, and Gu Yifan bowed respectfully to him. The people on the ship also showed a hint of relief upon seeing Li Xuan, as he was the one who had saved them from the three Martial Emperor realm experts earlier.
"Steward Xiao Ran, has your Treasure Pavilion offended someone?" Li Xuan asked, glancing at the energy barrier on the cloud ship that was on the verge of collapse.
Xiao Ran smiled wryly and shook his head. "Young Master Li Xuan, you jest. If our Treasure Pavilion had offended someone, would they have gone to such lengths to target just this one cloud ship?"
After speaking, Xiao Ran subtly glanced at Gu Yifan and Gu Feiyan. Due to their status, Xiao Ran did not explicitly mention them. It was clear that Xiao Ran was already aware of their identities.
Li Xuan nodded. It seemed there was only one remaining purpose for the arrival of these five cloud ships.
"Very well. To fulfill a promise is to be loyal. Since I have accepted Miss Feiyan's remuneration, I should naturally lend some effort. But Miss Feiyan, we had an agreement: if an insurmountable enemy appears..." Li Xuan began.
"Feiyan understands. If even Young Master Li Xuan cannot face the enemy, Feiyan will not implicate you or anyone else," Gu Feiyan interrupted before Li Xuan could finish.
Li Xuan looked seriously at Gu Feiyan. Then, with a thought, a burst of sword energy shot straight into the sky. His remaining five low-grade spirit swords formed a circle above, and he fixed his gaze on the five cloud ships.
"At this point, I believe there's no need for you to remain hidden, is there?" Li Xuan's voice, amplified by spiritual energy, carried forth, his expression unfazed.
"So, Qian Hong, Fei Mao, and Xia Yuan died by your hand." As Li Xuan finished speaking, five figures emerged from the five cloud ships. Three men and two women, their gazes all fixed on Li Xuan. However, upon seeing the sword energy above the Treasure Pavilion's cloud ship, their expressions turned solemn.
"So, those three were called Qian Hong, Fei Mao, and Xia Yuan. Does that mean you are their associates?" Li Xuan asked, nodding.
"What are they? How dare they be compared to us?" a man in white robes sneered, his eyes revealing disdain. "Your strength is not weak. It would be best for you not to meddle in this. Otherwise, your death would be a waste of your cultivation."
"Are you threatening me?" Li Xuan was taken aback. This person seemed to have significant backing. But after glancing back at Gu Feiyan and Gu Yifan, who looked bewildered, he turned back to the man in white. "I detest being threatened the most. Tell me, do you want me to leave, or do you want to kill me?"
"Threaten you... Do you really think you're someone important? Just a mere Great Sword Cultivator. Do you think the Central Region lacks Great Sword Cultivators? Boy, don't think that just because you became a Great Sword Cultivator in a desolate place like the Southern Region, you can be arrogant. Remember, this is the Central Region. Killing you would be like killing a dog!" the man in white sneered.
Li Xuan sighed softly and shifted his gaze to Gu Feiyan. "Miss Feiyan, originally, I only intended to escort you safely to the Central Region. Not killing anyone would have been ideal. But it seems my thoughts were a bit too naive."
"Everything is as you wish, Young Master," Gu Feiyan said, her heart stirred.
Li Xuan smiled and nodded, then looked at the man in white. "I dislike you very much. Therefore, you should die."
After speaking, Li Xuan didn't spare the man in white another glance and turned his attention to the other four.
"Ridiculous! Do you really think you're someone?" Seeing that he was ignored, the man in white sneered. Just as he was about to speak further, he suddenly felt something and looked down. At the same time, blood gushed out.
"You... you..." The man in white clutched his throat, looking at Li Xuan with terror. However, before he could finish speaking, his head detached and fell. His tall body then toppled backward.
Instant kill!
Another instant kill!
Witnessing the man in white die inexplicably, just like the three Martial Emperor realm experts before him, everyone was still shocked.
The other four's expressions changed drastically. They quickly activated their defensive barriers and watched Li Xuan with vigilance. The man in white was of similar strength to them, and if Li Xuan could silently kill him, he could easily eliminate them as well.
"Who exactly are you?" a woman asked, her eyes filled with thought, but she couldn't recall anyone matching Li Xuan's description.
"I am indeed the nameless nobody from the Southern Region that your associate mentioned. As for my name, you don't need to know it," Li Xuan said, shrugging. His eyes gleamed with joy. He hadn't expected that his swordsmanship, despite not breaking through to the Martial Emperor realm, had improved further after more than half a month of practice.
Li Xuan had a feeling that once he reached the Martial Emperor realm, his swordsmanship would allow him to contend even with peak Martial Emperors.
"Your Excellency, Bai Yu was the one who provoked you. We are not involved. Now that you have killed Bai Yu, can you let us leave?" The woman, though somewhat angered by Li Xuan's refusal to reveal his name, did not lash out. What a joke. If this person could easily kill Bai Yu, who could guarantee they wouldn't be next if pushed too far?
Meanwhile, the dozens of Martial King realm spiritual masters on the five cloud ships exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.
That young man had killed a mid-stage Martial Emperor, who was also an associate of the other four. Yet, judging by the woman's words, they were showing weakness?
Weren't these four going to seek revenge?
Or were they afraid of the young man?
For a moment, everyone was confused. Since when did Martial Emperor realm experts fear Martial King realm spiritual masters?
"Your target is her, isn't it?" Li Xuan pointed at Gu Feiyan and shook his head slightly. "I'm sorry, but I already promised her that I would escort her safely to the Central Region. Once we reach the Central Region, I will no longer intervene. If you are willing to wait, perhaps we can settle this in the Central Region?"
The corner of the woman's mouth twitched. If they waited until the Central Region, what would be left for them? However, the woman and the others now understood. Li Xuan was clearly intent on protecting Gu Feiyan until she reached the Central Region safely.
Now, they had only two choices.
First, they could combine their strength and attack Li Xuan.
Although they had heard of Qian Hong, Fei Mao, and Xia Yuan being killed before arriving, there was a vast difference between early-stage and mid-stage Martial Emperors. This was precisely why the five of them had been willing to act. But the instantaneous death of Bai Yu was still vivid in their minds, and it wasn't just the Martial King realm individuals; even the four of them were still reeling.
Second, they could immediately withdraw. But to leave like this, the four exchanged glances, their eyes filled with unwillingness.
"Your Excellency, is there truly no room for negotiation?" After a moment, the woman took a deep breath and looked at Li Xuan.
Li Xuan nodded slowly. "Either I die, or she dies. Hmm, but I must die first, otherwise, you cannot kill her. Now, what is your decision?"
The people on the Treasure Pavilion's ship looked at the woman. After all, her next choice would determine whether they could safely pass this ordeal. The other three on the five cloud ships also turned their attention to the woman, clearly awaiting her decision.
Under everyone's gaze, the woman exhaled softly, waved her hand, and walked back into the cloud ship. "Let's go."