Chapter 977: Treasure Ship

Along the coastline, the battle intensified. Demon corpses drifted and piled up, staining the sea red. Spirit energy vibrated aboard the treasure ships, and lightning roared through the sky. However, after violent explosions, several ships disintegrated into fiery wreckage.

The entire Eastern Wu Alliance possessed a total of one Fourth-tier treasure ship, twelve Third-tier ships, sixty-seven Second-tier ships, and over a thousand First-tier ships. These treasure ships were comparable to the large-scale war artifacts of the immortal sects. Although their technology was less advanced and their functions limited, their power, augmented by special materials, was not significantly inferior.

The technology for these treasure ships was originally developed and perfected by the Eastern Land Imperial Court, which gathered skilled artisans from across the Eastern Continent and even invited top artifact refiners from other regions. The Fanhai Sect, part of the Ten Directions Hall, was responsible for this project, primarily to defend against the demon royal court in the seas. At its peak, the Eastern Land Imperial Court even possessed Fifth and Sixth-tier treasure ships, forming fleets that could not only suppress the seas but also patrol the skies! However, during the decisive battle against the Nine-Headed Great Sage, this treasure ship fleet, built by the Eastern Land Imperial Court with immense resources, was brought down by a single strike from a true spirit of the demon royal court. That battle nearly annihilated the essence of the entire Eastern Continent. Since then, the Eastern Land Imperial Court declined from its prosperous state and no longer had the capability or resources to construct new treasure ships above the Fourth-tier.

The major clans in Eastern Wu generally possessed the forging blueprints for treasure ships, which were deliberately disseminated when the Holy Land opened up this region. It was precisely by relying on these treasure ships that the various clans were able to establish themselves in Eastern Wu and develop over thousands of years to the present day.

To resist the desolate sea demons this time, the Eastern Wu Alliance brought out almost all of their most valuable treasure ships. Bags of spirit stones were poured into the ships' cores, transforming into immense energy that activated their protective shields and attack restrictions. Streaks of lightning, golden light, and water blades erupted, repelling wave after wave of demons surging from the sea. However, as each wave of demons fell, new waves swept in from the distant sea, revealing even more demonic figures. The number of demons seemed endless. Some had sturdy bodies, charging directly at the treasure ships, while others were swift and agile, dodging various spell attacks, letting out piercing roars, and furiously attacking the human cultivators on board. First-tier treasure ships, lacking sufficient protection, began to crash one after another under the relentless assault of the demons.

On the deck of a treasure ship, a cultivator in silver armor wielded a long sword, its light like a rainbow, slicing through a giant crab demon charging towards him. But just as he prepared to strike again, a huge pincer suddenly shot out from beneath the water, instantly snapping his long sword. Immediately, a powerful force dragged him into the sea, followed by a surge of blood. However, this emerging Second-tier giant demon was quickly targeted by three neighboring treasure ships. Three lightning bolts struck it, blowing it apart into countless fragments.

The treasure ship fleet and the demons surging from the sea intertwined, like two colossal tides colliding fiercely, raising monstrous waves of blood. Although outnumbered, the cultivators of the Eastern Wu Alliance, relying on their treasure ships to form battle formations, firmly held the coastline.

However, the power of the desolate sea demons was not to be underestimated. As the battle intensified, some Third-tier demonic beasts began to emerge from the deep sea. Their bodies were formidable, strong enough to withstand the lightning attacks of Third-tier treasure ships. Furthermore, compared to the less mobile treasure ships, these powerful demons were incredibly fast, utilizing water escape techniques. Each time they surged from the seabed, their explosive attacks could destroy treasure ships below the Third-tier.

Witnessing this situation, Sun Huanglong immediately piloted his Fourth-tier treasure ship into the fray. This ship, inscribed with water escape runes, could keep pace with the Third-tier demons. Like a golden dragon in the sea, it wove back and forth across the battlefield, each impact reducing a Third-tier demon to scattered flesh. Yet, even so, his brows were tightly furrowed, as he saw more demons emerging from the distant sea. The battle had only just begun. In areas of the battlefield beyond the reach of the Sun family's Fourth-tier treasure ship, other ships were battered and precarious from demon attacks. Several had even been rammed through, their defensive enchantments shattered. The cultivators on board could only mount their artifacts and engage in close-quarters combat with the demons on the sea surface. Water splashed, and flesh scattered; the scene of battle was utterly brutal.

Just as both sides were locked in fierce combat, a thunderous roar echoed from the depths of the ocean, shaking the very sky. Then, an enormous demon burst from the sea. Its body was covered in tough scales, and its eyes burned fiery red like flames. A ferocious aura swept through the surroundings—undoubtedly, this was a Fourth-tier being! It commanded towering waves, surging towards the Eastern Wu coastline. In its wake, treasure ships were shattered one after another, and cultivators appeared utterly insignificant before its might. The appearance of the Fourth-tier demon immediately heightened the tension on the battlefield. Many cultivators of the Eastern Wu Alliance showed traces of despair on their faces. Although Sun Huanglong maintained a calm expression, guiding his Fourth-tier treasure ship to block the Fourth-tier demon's path, his face could not help but turn pale.

"Where are the people from the Five Elements Sect? Why haven't they arrived yet?" In their desperation, a cultivator from Eastern Wu shouted this question. Had the Five Elements Sect not promised support, they would never have willingly gone to war against the desolate sea demons. "It's all fake, all fake! The Five Elements Sect just wants us to die here, to exhaust the desolate sea demons..." A cultivator with a severed arm, dishevelled and screaming wildly, cried out. His family's treasure ship had been breached by demons, and he was the sole survivor after falling overboard.

At this critical juncture, Sun Huanglong, from his Fourth-tier command ship, directed all Third-tier treasure ships to focus their power. In that instant, all the Third-tier treasure ships of the major clans unleashed their strongest attacks. Lightning crackled and fire soared over the sea, forming brilliant, dazzling beams of light that slammed into the Fourth-tier demon. However, even such attacks only left slight marks on the demon's scales. It seemed largely unharmed; instead, it grew even angrier, letting out a more deafening roar and intensifying its assault. At the same time, Sun Huanglong, piloting his own treasure ship, unleashed a Fourth-tier arcane blue divine thunder. The power of this Ren Water Thunder, which consumed most of the spirit stones in the ship's core furnace, was naturally immense, reaching the peak of Fourth-tier attacks. The Fourth-tier demon that bore the brunt of this strike had one of its massive pincers pierced and shattered. Blood dripped down, staining the sea a faint blue-green. Yet, this sight filled everyone in Eastern Wu with despair. This was their most powerful attack, yet it still failed to kill the Fourth-tier demon.

Just as many were preparing to turn their ships and flee back to land, a crisp yet subtle clap of thunder echoed in everyone's ears. Simultaneously, the Fourth-tier demonic beast, powerful as a divine demon, suddenly erupted with an unprecedented surge of demonic energy. Unbeknownst to them, a golden sword light, accompanied by thunder, had already struck its neck. Were it not for its robust physique and tough scaly hide, its head would likely have fallen off instantly! Even so, with a clang of the sword, a deeply visible gash was carved into the Fourth-tier demon.

"Sword Fiend Thunderous Sound! It's Senior Golden Light!" Upon witnessing this scene, the Golden family's Core Formation ancestor immediately exclaimed in surprise and joy. Their clan also practiced sword cultivation, and three of their disciples had even joined Golden Light Cliff, making them most familiar with Mo Douguang's sword techniques. Only Nascent Soul sword cultivators could so easily cleave through the Fourth-tier demon's scaled hide.

At that moment, layers of colorful radiance suddenly lit up on the distant horizon. Suddenly, a golden-glowing flying ship emerged from the horizon, and the despair on the faces of the Eastern Wu Alliance members immediately vanished. Following it, hundreds of other flying ships of various colors, shimmering with spiritual light, appeared and sped towards the sea. "They're here! The Five Elements Sect is here! The Five Elements Sect's army has arrived!" Someone immediately shouted, his face beaming with ecstasy. The Eastern Wu Alliance members cheered from their treasure ships. The previous atmosphere of despondency and despair was swept away, and everyone resumed wielding their artifacts and casting various spells, attacking the demons surging from the sea.

At this very moment, the Fourth-tier demon, which Mo Douguang had struck from afar, roared furiously. Its entire body ignited with a layer of crimson blood flame. As its giant pincer swung, a scarlet blade of blood flame cleaved the sea, heading straight for the Sun family's Fourth-tier treasure ship. Accompanied by a blinding flash of spiritual light, Sun Huanglong activated the treasure ship's defenses to their maximum. An oval, arcane blue light shield enveloped the entire ship, with the section at the bow facing the blood flame blade appearing particularly dense and thick. With a colossal roar, the Sun family's treasure ship was instantly knocked back several thousand meters by the demon's attack. Several lower-tier treasure ships that couldn't evade were crushed to splinters. Witnessing this, other Third-tier treasure ships, which had initially intended to provide aid, were immediately piloted by the Core Formation cultivators of their respective clans to scatter across the sea, avoiding becoming targets for this powerful demon. If their treasure ships faced such an attack, they would undoubtedly disintegrate instantly. "Such a being should be left to the Five Elements Sect!" This thought surfaced in the minds of everyone in the Eastern Wu Alliance at that moment.

However, the Fourth-tier demon seemed quite intelligent. Seeing that its attack had only dimmed the spiritual light of Sun Huanglong's Fourth-tier treasure ship and caused its shield to flicker, it knew it would take at least two or three more strikes to destroy it. It immediately changed direction and charged towards the nearest Third-tier treasure ship. Coincidentally, it was the Golden family's treasure ship. The Golden family's ancestor cursed loudly, but issued the most correct command: for all clan members to abandon ship and flee. He himself, leading his two most valued descendants, immediately transformed into golden escape lights and flew towards Sun Huanglong's treasure ship. With a deafening boom, the Third-tier treasure ship, facing the Fourth-tier demon, was torn in half as if made of paper. Just as the demon prepared to attack the other Third-tier treasure ships, a thunderous sword roar sounded once more. A golden-glowing flying sword traversed the void and struck again at the gash previously made on the Fourth-tier demon. This time, however, the demon was prepared. Its massive pincer, burning with blood flame, moved with incredible agility and clamped down on the Longevity Sword just as it was about to strike. The incredibly sharp sword energy collided with the demon's blood flame, unleashing terrifying energy fluctuations. Concentrated at that point, ripples spread out across the sea surface, permeating the area. Many First-tier treasure ships of the Eastern Wu Alliance, caught in the aftermath of Mo Douguang's clash with the demon, shook incessantly. Some, heavily damaged during the battle, even disintegrated completely.

"How bold!" With a cold shout, a slender figure appeared in mid-air—it was Mo Douguang. Unifying with his sword, he arrived at the battlefield first, with the speed of Sword Fiend Thunderous Sound. Facing his own flying sword, golden light shone in his eyes. The continuously trembling Longevity Sword suddenly erupted with multicolored radiance. The blood flame, which had previously held its ground, immediately dispersed piece by piece under the multicolored radiance, like a flame doused with water. Within the crimson light, Mo Douguang, controlling the Longevity Sword, severed the Fourth-tier demon's massive pincer. Then, with a surge of divine sense, the Longevity Sword leaped like a startled swan and pierced the previously made wound. With a *whoosh*, the demon's head was severed by the Longevity Sword!

This scene left all the Eastern Wu cultivators present utterly shocked. The powerful demon, which in their eyes was as unvanquishable as a demon god, had been so easily slain. "Is this the power of a Nascent Soul sword cultivator?!" And the Five Elements Sect had three more Nascent Soul cultivators as powerful as this one. Furthermore, the most formidable, the One-Yuan Dao Child, was rumored to be as strong as the other three combined. "With the Five Elements Sect's support, these desolate sea demons no longer seemed so terrifying!" Thinking this, the Eastern Wu Alliance cultivators instantly rallied, their morale greatly boosted, and charged towards the remaining demons.

After slaying the demon, Mo Douguang felt a little strange. "This was perhaps too easy." He had thought it would take at least a few hundred rounds of combat. Nevertheless, since he had slain it, he wouldn't be polite. He guided the Longevity Sword to pierce the demon's body, intending to retrieve its Fourth-tier inner core. "Eh?!" But Mo Douguang pierced the demon's corpse straight through with his flying sword and found no trace of an inner core. "What's going on? Could it have been a fake Fourth-tier demon? Or did someone take the inner core right under his nose?" As Mo Douguang pondered in confusion, the demon's corpse before him suddenly ignited with blood flame. Then, a crimson shadow emerged from within, grinning as it transformed into a ray of bloody light that shot towards his glabella.