Xu Huang, treading on the sea as if walking on flat ground, naturally heard the ordinary people whispering on the cruise ship. His face was full of mockery.

A bunch of mortals. How dare they question and evaluate us Martial Ancestors?

"Heh."

With a cold snort, Xu Huang's Spiritual Power suddenly erupted from his body. He began to sprint across the water's surface, covering hundreds of meters in a single step. With each footfall, the sea exploded as if bombs had been dropped, sending up enormous plumes of water several meters high.

The scene was absolutely stunning. The cruise ship shook so violently that the people on deck staggered, nearly falling before they could steady themselves.

But this was only the beginning.

Another Seventh Grade Martial Ancestor stomped fiercely, and a water dragon materialized beneath his feet. Standing atop the dragon with his hands clasped behind his back, he sped rapidly into the distance. His white hair, fastened with a hairpin, fluttered in the wind, giving him the appearance of an Immortal.

There was also an old crone who stood on a flying sword, her unparalleled sword aura cleaving a trench several meters deep into the sea.

The most extravagant display came from an old man from the Northwest region nicknamed Feng Lang. This fellow was quite the showoff. Being a Martial Artist with a Wind Attribute seed, he conjured a silver-white wind wolf on the surface of the sea. He sat cross-legged on the wolf's head, flying low over the water. He even took out a gourd of wine and began drinking big gulps, his carefree laughter echoing across the waves.

"Flowers bloom with none to wear them, wine flows with none to ask me to drink, and I get drunk with no one to care! Hahahaha!"

…

Aboard the cruise ship, the tourists on every deck felt their scalps tingle. Even the likes of Wan Yuanshan and Su Daiyi were no exception. Their eyes shone with deep reverence.

So this was the might of the Martial Arts Grandmasters, who could command the elements and possessed terrifying Divine Skills!

Aside from Xu Lai, the eleven Martial Ancestors each used their most proficient methods to cross the sea, all while remaining vigilant against attacks from the others. After all, the journey from the cruise ship to Sea Temple Island was a full one hundred nautical miles. Although the Spiritual Energy within their bodies was vast, sustaining such feats for a long time was still a significant drain.

"Ah, my brother-in-law!"

Ruan Lan's gaze was dreamy as she finished watching the grand entrance of the eleven Martial Arts Grandmasters, only to spot a familiar figure in their midst.

It was Xu Lai!

He walked calmly on the surface of the sea, his pace unhurried. Hearing her voice, he even turned around, smiled, and waved. The moonlight sprinkled down, illuminating him. Dressed in a long white robe, he was the very picture of a graceful, handsome young master. Countless young women's eyes began to sparkle with infatuation.

Seeing that her best friends, Yu Xiaoxiao and Li Li, were also staring blankly, Ruan Lan felt a mix of pride and frustration. "Stop looking," she said. "He's a man you're destined never to have!"

"Lan Lan, how did our brother-in-law get mixed up in this?" Yu Xiaoxiao asked with concern. "I heard that Martial Artists have died in previous years. Is he…"

"Don't worry." Ruan Lan had great faith in her brother-in-law. He can't bear to die. He wouldn't be here if there was even the slightest bit of danger.

She knew her cheap brother-in-law was a massive softie for his daughter; how could he possibly bear to leave Yiyi behind?

But now she finally understood why Xu Lai was here.

From among the crowd of onlookers, someone well-informed shouted, "He's the Martial Artist representing Hangcheng's Su Family and Liu City's Jiang Family for the sea crossing!"

Few knew his name. But in East Sea City, the Su Family and the Jiang Family were quite famous.

***

「On the fourth level of the cruise ship.」

Thirteen people stood together, each one the Family Head or the one in power of the leading family from thirteen different cities. Unlike the tourists on the other decks, who were mostly there for the spectacle and had no idea how terrifying these Martial Arts Grandmasters truly were, the heads of the thirteen families felt their hearts clench. They had gambled their families' development for the next several years on this one chance for a fish to leap through the dragon's gate.

Seeing Xu Lai strolling unhurriedly at the very back, not showing off his skills like the other Martial Ancestors, many of them couldn't help but laugh.

"Niece Su, you've bet on the wrong horse," Wan Yuanshan, the Family Head of East Sea City's Wan Family, said with a light chuckle, shaking his head. "The other Martial Ancestors are already out of sight, yet the Martial Dao expert you hired hasn't even gone a hundred meters."

Su Daiyi's expression turned grim. Though she was anxious inside, she maintained a calm facade. "An early lead doesn't guarantee a final victory."

"That's true," Ling Chaoyang of Wen City's Ling Family said in a resonant voice. "Still, I suggest Niece Su prepare the cash soon. I want to see the money tonight."

The implication was clear: he believed the Ling Family would be the ultimate victor.

Before Niu Guihua from Hua City's Niu Family could speak, a thunderous boom echoed from the distant sea.

"A fight has broken out!" one Family Head exclaimed.

The cruise ship dared not get too close, lest it be sunk by the aftershocks of the battle. It could only follow slowly from a great distance. Fortunately, drones were broadcasting the fight live from high above. Twelve screens, corresponding to the twelve individuals crossing the sea, were projected in real-time onto a large display on the deck.

"It's Martial Ancestor Xu Huang and Martial Ancestor Niu Taishan clashing!" Old Jiang Ba narrowed his eyes.

Wan Yuanshan and Niu Guihua both held their breath, their focus absolute. Unfortunately, the battle was too frenetic for them to make out any details; all they could see was the sea churning violently.

Patriarch Ling's heart skipped a beat. Of the twelve Martial Artists crossing the sea, Xu Lai was the least threatening, while Niu Taishan, Xu Huang, and Feng Lang were all at the peak of the Seventh Grade, just half a step from the Eighth Grade!

Niu Taishan and Xu Huang were fighting each other…

Didn't that mean Feng Lang could use this opportunity to pull ahead quickly?

But before a smile could form on Patriarch Ling's face, the crazed old man riding the wolf's head was intercepted by a group of eight elderly men and women.

Eight Seventh Grade Grandmasters had joined forces. All to stop one man.

"Shameless!"

Ling Chaoyang slammed his hand on the railing. He knew that these eight Leading Families, all slightly weaker than the Wan, Niu, and Ling Families, had already formed an alliance. He just never expected them to target Feng Lang first.

One unexpected development followed another as battles erupted everywhere. None of the Grandmasters had any intention of crossing the hundred nautical miles peacefully. Their plan was simple: if they killed all their competitors, then they would naturally be the victors.

Except for Old Jiang Ba and Su Daiyi, the other eleven Family Heads felt a heavy weight in their hearts. The fighting had begun so abruptly that they could no longer make casual conversation, their eyes glued to the screens.

BANG!

A collision of Spiritual Energy stirred up massive waves, forcing the cruise ship to stop at a distance, which almost made everyone on board start swearing. This was especially true for Ruan Lan.

She had come specifically to see the Martial Dao experts, but now... the ship was stationary, the sky had completely darkened, and the sea was pitch-black. What in the world was there to watch?

"Would you bloody well move!" Ruan Lan stamped on the deck. "How can it be over before it's even begun? Get a move on!"

Yu Xiaoxiao was left speechless. Why do my best friend's words sound so strange?

***

When gods clash, mortals suffer.

Xu Lai was no mortal. He continued to saunter leisurely across the sea, eventually wandering right into the center of the battlefield.

Su Daiyi's beautiful eyes lit up. She had assumed Xu Lai would use the chaos as a cover to head for Sea Temple Island. Instead, he unexpectedly pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds and began to crack them open with great interest.

"Tsk, tsk. This level of fighting isn't very impressive, is it?"

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