Chapter 751: Acting

Just as Lu Yang had predicted, halfway through the journey, the weather suddenly changed. Lightning flashed and thunder roared as the ship was lifted a hundred meters high by the waves, only to plummet down and crash onto the sea surface. If not for the multiple reinforcing formations on the ship, it would have shattered into pieces long ago.

Lu Yang thought to himself, "I knew this would happen." On this ship alone, he had already seen three Integration stage cultivators, not to mention those on the other two vessels. With so many high-level cultivators present, encountering such a terrifying storm was clearly no accident; it had to be man-made. After all, Integration stage cultivators possess partial control over the power of rules, making the dissipation of a sea storm a trivial matter for them.

Su Yiren's expression was solemn as she shielded Lu Yang and the four others. She transmitted a message: "Be careful. I tried to use the power of rules to dispel the storm, but it was ineffective. Someone is deliberately causing trouble behind the scenes, and it's a Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator!"

A large hole ripped through the dark clouds, and a shadowy figure appeared in the sky, enveloped by wind and rain. Its emerald-green, amber-like eyes glowed faintly, as if it had emerged from the netherworld. A pressure like a prison, unfathomable, unyielding, and irresistible, weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

"It truly is a Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator!" Su Yiren broke into a cold sweat, dismayed by her terrible luck on this trip, having encountered such a powerful figure. Tao Yaoye and Man Gu became somewhat flustered upon hearing there was a Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator. They rarely traveled with Lu Yang and had never witnessed such a grand spectacle.

Lu Yang, composed as ever, transmitted a message to the group, explaining the situation. "Don't panic, everyone. This is all part of the Second Prince's plan. To solidify his position, he wants to create a disaster so we'll owe him a favor. If my prediction is correct, Senior Cang Mingzi is conveniently off the ship right now. First, the Integration stage cultivators will engage the enemy, and then the Second Prince will come to reassure us, asking us to weather the storm together. To make it more convincing, he'll even injure himself. At the critical moment, Senior Cang Mingzi will make a grand entrance, battling the shadowy figure for three hundred rounds. The figure will then be defeated and flee."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, yet at the same time, they were indignant, feeling that the Second Prince was going too far.

"Form ranks and face the enemy!" the Second Prince shouted loudly, and with a series of whooshes, three figures, all Integration stage cultivators, flew out from each large ship. For this journey, the Second Prince was accompanied by nine Integration stage cultivators. These nine Integration stage cultivators were all battle-hardened veterans who had long anticipated potential conflicts in the East Sea and had practiced extensively in preparation.

A hidden yet powerful spiritual energy fluctuation emanated from them as they set up their formation: the Nine Heavens Thunder Responsive Array. Intricate and mysterious runic characters were inscribed upon it. As their fingertips swept through the air, rays of light surged from their bodies, coalescing into a colossal nine-sided net. The nine Integration stage cultivators each stood at a corner of the grid, performing hand seals to draw in the primordial energy of the world.

Seeing this, the Second Prince quickly rushed to Lu Yang's side, reassuring him and the others: "Fellow Daoists, don't panic. These nine Integration stage cultivators have formed the Nine Heavens Thunder Responsive Array, which is capable of resisting a Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator. Everything will be fine."

Despite the Second Prince's reassurance, Lu Yang, being a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, couldn't help but feel uneasy about a Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator's intervention. He asked tremblingly, "Where is Senior Cang Mingzi?"

The Second Prince displayed a look of regret: "Just moments ago, His Venerable self mentioned he'd spotted a very rare fish and wanted to catch it for a meal. I never imagined that shortly after, we would be attacked by a Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator!"

As he spoke, the mysterious Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator made their move. A stabilizing formation at the bottom of the ship shattered, and a massive wave crashed over them, throwing everyone, including the Second Prince, off balance and making it impossible to stand steadily.

"Will we really be alright?" Meng Jingzhou struggled to grip the ship's edge, his body swaying precariously.

The Second Prince's expression was resolute: "Nothing will happen. Even if it costs me my life, I will ensure your safety!"

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were deeply moved.

The Second Prince looked up, gazing at the warring Tribulation Transcending shadowy figure, and sternly demanded, "Who exactly are you, esteemed sir? I am Jiang Zhu, the Second Prince of Great Xia. Do you intend to become an enemy of my Great Xia?"

The Tribulation Transcending shadowy figure scoffed coldly, looking at the Second Prince with disdain, fully displaying the arrogance befitting a cultivator of its stage. "Nonsense." The Tribulation Transcending shadowy figure uttered a single word. The Second Prince felt a constriction in his chest and was sent flying backward, crashing into the cabin. He spat out two mouthfuls of blood, his hair ornament fell off, and his hair stuck haphazardly to his face, making him look utterly miserable and completely unlike his usual dignified self.

Lu Yang, composed as ever, transmitted a message to everyone: "See, what did I tell you? The Second Prince would definitely get injured to gain sympathy. And honestly, he's acting quite convincingly."

"Maybe he genuinely got injured to make the act more convincing," Meng Jingzhou said, looking at the bleeding Second Prince with admiration. "He's truly desperate for the throne. My perception of him has changed."

Tao Yaoye and Man Gu looked at Lu Yang with adoration, as everything that had happened so far was precisely within Senior Brother Lu Yang's predictions.

"How dare you injure someone!" Cang Mingzi arrived late, roaring in anger. He unleashed his Boundless Dharma Form, silently chanting ancient incantations that instantly resonated with the deep sea. The churning seawater seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, gathering around him. The water, no longer violent, followed a strange principle, gradually coalescing into a colossal humanoid shape.

The two sides engaged in a fierce battle, each displaying their unique abilities, churning rivers and overturning seas, terrifying the sea creatures dwelling below who trembled in fear.

"Elder Cang, the act is good enough. If you keep fighting, the ship will disintegrate," the Second Prince secretly transmitted to Cang Mingzi. Elder Cang had been too unrestrained in his attacks; he had truly injured him quite badly.

The Second Prince's plan was exactly as Lu Yang had predicted; even his injury was a calculated part of it. The Second Prince had asked Cang Mingzi to create a clone, so he could engage it in battle and ultimately defeat it. Furthermore, the clone couldn't have any identifiable form. If it resembled a specific sea creature, Lu Yang and the others might later demand retribution from that race, thus exposing the entire scheme. That's why the clone's appearance was designed to be a mere shadow.

Cang Mingzi was astonished, not understanding what the Second Prince was saying: "The clone isn't ready yet." He had genuinely gone fishing moments before.

The Second Prince was dumbfounded. He instantly realized something was terribly wrong.

"Oh no, why is there a real Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator here?!"

"Trouble." Seizing the moment Cang Mingzi was distracted, the Tribulation Transcending shadowy figure extended a massive hand, covered in runes and capable of crushing anything. The Nine Heavens Thunder Responsive Array was torn apart by the massive hand, and Lu Yang and the four others were snatched away like small chicks. Su Yiren attempted to rescue them but was also swept up by the hand.

After the Tribulation Transcending shadowy figure abducted Lu Yang and the others, the weather returned to normal. The wind died down, and the sea became calm, as if no battle had ever occurred.

The Second Prince slumped to the ground, utterly devoid of any optimism despite having survived the ordeal. "It's over. Yun Zhi's junior brother and the Meng family's eldest young master were abducted from my ship; their whereabouts are unknown." Forget about discussing the imperial succession; now he only hoped the Dao Seeking Sect and the Meng family wouldn't come knocking for his life.

"Senior Brother Lu Yang, is our abduction also part of the plan?" Tao Yaoye asked uncertainly. They were trapped inside a water sphere, which a gigantic claw was holding as it flew rapidly across the East Sea.

Lu Yang also felt that something was amiss. Could it be that the Second Prince was planning to stage a hero-saves-hero act?

"Fairy, can you discern the origin of this shadowy figure?"

"Hmm? Isn't this just a Kunpeng?" Despite the shadowy figure's efforts to conceal its true form, the Immortal Fairy saw through it at a glance.

Lu Yang was speechless. He doubted the Second Prince possessed the ability to hire a Tribulation Transcending stage Kunpeng for a theatrical performance.