Chapter 171: The Allure of the Ancient Wreck

Damn it, they actually slipped away!

Upon learning that the three rogue cultivators had escaped, City Lord Zhu was overcome with extreme anxiety.

Once those three rogue cultivators get away, the news about this ancient sunken ship will quickly be leaked. Although the vicinity of that stone island is the territory of our Zhu Family Immortal Village, how could other surrounding immortal villages possibly care about such boundaries?

The middle-aged cultivator said with a worried expression, Those aggressive immortal villages are as fierce as wolves and tigers. Once they catch the scent of blood, they will undoubtedly swarm here. How can we possibly withstand the bullying of these powerful villages? City Lord, you must take swift action!

Let's set sail and salvage the sunken ship!

Knowing that he could no longer afford to delay and lacking the time for thorough preparations, City Lord Zhu immediately led a large sea vessel in person, accompanied by several dozen cultivators from the immortal village, and headed toward the sea area near the stone island in an attempt to salvage the wreckage.

However, the situation was far from optimistic.

Although the Zhu family's fleet carried dozens of cultivators, they could only swagger on the surface of the water. Those who did not primarily cultivate water-element techniques were like landlubbers flailing blindly the moment they entered deep water, serving very little purpose.

Even true water-element cultivators, acting in groups of three or five, were no match for an extremely ferocious, same-tier demonic reef shark.

After arriving by sea vessel, a dozen Qi-condensing stage cultivators with water spiritual roots descended into the water in an attempt to approach the sunken ship, only to be promptly surrounded and attacked by several demonic sharks.

Deep beneath the ocean, how could they possibly match those fierce demonic sharks? After suffering several casualties, they retreated in panic and fled in defeat, returning in utter disarray with bruised and battered faces.

After escaping from the Zhu Family Immortal Village, the three rogue cultivators harbored immense resentment and split up to hawk the news of the ancient sunken ship to various other immortal villages in exchange for spirit stones.

By selling it to dozens of places in succession, they unexpectedly amassed two to three thousand spirit stones in one breath. Feeling that the matter was far too hot to handle and fearing it would invite disaster, the three of them hurriedly departed via teleportation arrays to seek refuge in the main immortal city.

Such news was fundamentally impossible to keep secret.

The city lords who acquired the intelligence were like creatures pumped full of chicken blood; one after another, they excitedly dispatched their most powerful fleets of warships toward the Zhu Family Immortal Village, determined to seize the ancient sunken ship.

The Peng Family Immortal Village was the closest immortal village to the Zhu Family Immortal Village, and the two shared a long-standing grievance.

The distance between the two immortal villages was relatively short, separated by only a few hundred miles.

City Lord Zhu had established his city first, initially utilizing the Peng family's spirit island as a subsidiary island.

City Lord Peng had arrived rather late in the Aolai seas and failed to find a suitable main island. After searching for more than half a month, he finally set his sights on the Zhu family's branch island and directly moved to seize it by force.

City Lord Zhu had been furious at the time, gathering all his cultivators and dispatching ships to tightly encircle the Peng faction on the island, only to be easily neutralized by City Lord Peng using the pacts of the Immortal Alliance.

Because the moment City Lord Peng captured the island, he immediately rushed to construct an immortal village.

The former branch island had thus become the main island of an immortal village; how could City Lord Zhu dare to launch an attack? He had no choice but to withdraw his troops filled with bitter resentment.

The two sides consequently forged a blood feud, followed by endless conflicts, both large and small.

City Lord Peng was also quite a formidable figure; he subsequently seized two more branch islands from other immortal villages and stubbornly carved out his development amidst such adversity.

Having fled the Zhu Family Spirit Island under the cover of night, the three rogue cultivators chose the Peng Family Immortal Village as their very first stop to sell the intelligence.

Upon acquiring the news of the ancient sunken ship, City Lord Peng was both pleasantly surprised and thrilled. Not only could he seize the ancient sunken ship, but he could also deal a heavy blow to his old rival—a prospect that excited him immensely. City Lord Peng immediately mobilized his men, preparing to launch an ambush against the sea vessels of the Zhu Family Immortal Village.

By the afternoon, preparations were largely complete, and they were fully geared up and waiting to depart.

The Peng estate steward suddenly rushed over, bringing news that left City Lord Peng utterly shocked: Lord City Lord, this morning, City Lord Zhu hastily led a sea vessel and dozens of cultivators toward the sunken ship's waters in an attempt to salvage the wreck, but they suffered a fierce ambush from underwater sea monsters. According to reliable information, several members of the Zhu family were killed, and they have already retreated.

City Lord Peng was instantly startled: Are the sea monsters near this ancient sunken ship truly so formidable? Do we know what kind of beasts they are, how many there are, and what their strength is? Exactly how heavy are the casualties of the Zhu Family Immortal Village?

The steward shook his head and replied: The timing was too tight. Our scout obtained this intelligence and reported back immediately, so there are no further details.

City Lord Peng fell silent for a moment.

City Lord Zhu's subordinates possessed decent strength, yet they had been defeated with such shocking speed. If they wished to salvage the sunken ship, the Peng family's current strength was simply insufficient; they would have to resort to other methods.

Waving his hand, he instructed: Send out more men to scout again. You must unearth the detailed situation.

Subsequently, City Lord Peng turned his head and said to another cultivator beside him: Pass down the order. We must not act with undue haste. Tell everyone to prepare themselves to set sail at any moment, and await further commands.

City Lord Zhu was in a foul mood. He had originally thought a pie had dropped from the sky and that his luck had turned, signaling his rise to prominence. Little did he expect that this pie would be so massive, heavy enough to crush him into agonizing misery.

Those few third-tier demonic reef sharks were not only immensely ferocious, but also exceptionally cunning and cruel.

The dozen or so cultivators under his command had just dived near the ancient sunken ship when the beasts suddenly emerged to launch a surprise attack, forcing them to flee back in panic. With the strength of the cultivators in the Zhu Family Immortal Village, there was simply no way they could hunt down these demonic sharks.

Crash!

In his fury, City Lord Zhu smashed everything within reach, pacing back and forth inside his study.

How could this happen? Since the ancient sunken ship appeared in the waters of my Zhu Family Immortal Village, it is a blessing bestowed upon me by the heavens. I should have obtained the supplies from this ancient ship in one fell swoop, achieved rapid development, shocked the world with a single brilliant feat, and looked down upon the lords of all the immortal villages in the Aolai Archipelago.

Could I have ultimately defeated the self-proclaimed premier immortal village—the Lou Family Immortal Village—and become the true undisputed number one immortal village of Aolai? But why, even after taking so many cultivators with me, did I still suffer casualties and have no choice but to retreat in defeat?

City Lord Zhu's eyes were bloodshot as he plunged into a state of frenzy.

The contrast between his previous boundless joy and excitement and his current massive disappointment was simply too great, leaving him utterly unable to accept the reality for a time.

He locked himself inside his study, and none of the other cultivators in the Zhu Family Immortal Village dared to approach.

It was not until the sky grew dim that City Lord Zhu finally calmed down. With a gloomy expression, he stepped out of his study and said to the trusted immortal guards standing watch outside: Immediately summon all trusted cultivators to the main hall for a meeting. I refuse to believe that I, Zhu Xiaotian, can find no way to deal with a few beasts!

City Lord Zhu said through clenched teeth, every single word sounding as though it were squeezed out from the gaps in his jaw.

Hearing this, the guard acknowledged the command and departed immediately, fearing he might incur City Lord Zhu's wrath.

Shortly thereafter, in the main hall of the city lord's estate, City Lord Zhu and his confidants began deliberating a plan for revenge.

This operation by the Zhu Family Immortal Village had indeed been somewhat hasty and careless.

When the three rogue cultivators had originally delivered the news, they had indeed mentioned that the demonic reef sharks were powerful, but City Lord Zhu had paid no heed at the time.

That was because among those three cultivators, the highest was only at the third layer of Qi condensation; City Lord Zhu had simply not taken them seriously, whereas he had no fewer than eight or nine mid-stage cultivators under his command.

Believing that the mere demonic sharks were nothing to be feared given his subordinates' strength, City Lord Zhu had dismissed the matter. Upon reflection now, he was consumed by endless regret.

Had he known earlier that these demonic reef sharks were so formidable, he would have made much more thorough preparations before setting out.

After a round of discussion, City Lord Zhu finalized several schemes for hunting the demonic reef sharks. He prepared a substantial number of spiritual weapons specifically designed for slaying sea monsters, as well as the bait that demonic sharks favored, resolving to go and contest with the beasts once more the very next day.

The next day.

City Lord Zhu once again set sail with his fleet.

To his surprise, in the vicinity of the stone island where the ancient sunken ship lay, his fleet happened to encounter a sea vessel bearing the banner of the Yang Family Immortal Village.

This is the sea territory under the jurisdiction of the Zhu Family Immortal Village! City Lord Yang, please leave immediately!

City Lord Zhu's heart sank instantly, and sensing that something was amiss, he shouted sternly.

Even so, City Lord Zhu still retained absolute confidence; this time, he had brought all three sea vessels of the Zhu Family Immortal Village, whereas the opposing side possessed only one.

Standing on the opposite sea vessel was a cultivator clad in white Daoist robes—none other than City Lord Yang.

City Lord Yang, for you to speak in such a manner is nothing short of overbearing. According to the regulations of the Immortal City Alliance, the only territory belonging to your Zhu Family Immortal Village is the single main Zhu Family Island. As for other islands and sea domains, I, surnamed Yang, will come and go as I please.

City Lord Yang let out a cold snort.

Furious, City Lord Zhu couldn't be bothered to argue further and directly instructed the captain behind him: Attack! Hit them hard! If they refuse to leave, drive them away!

Before long, the three Zhu family vessels fired in unison, launching six iron balls toward the Yang family's ship.

Chaos instantly erupted aboard the Yang vessel.

Shocked and enraged, City Lord Yang hastily ordered the vessel to withdraw while shouting angrily in curse: I was merely passing through this sea domain! City Lord Zhu, by launching a brazen attack on my vessel, are you intending to declare war on the Yang family?

Bah!

City Lord Zhu shouted loudly: You scheming bastard, do you think this city lord doesn't know why you came here? Don't even dream of touching my property! Scram!

Haha, very well, very well, City Lord Zhu. I, Yang, have made a note of this.

Driven to fury, City Lord Yang laughed out loud: I originally thought the news of the ancient sunken ship was false, but now I finally understand that the matter of the ancient sunken ship is true. Since this wreckage is out on the ocean, anyone is entitled to it. It belongs to all the villages of the Aolai Archipelago—you actually wish to swallow it all by yourself? Keep dreaming!

Possessing greater speed, City Lord Yang's vessel retreated at full throttle, quickly pulling away from the attack range of the three warships and fleeing in a disheveled state.

Lord City Lord, I'm afraid that fellow surnamed Yang will not let this rest; he will surely return!

A middle-aged trusted cultivator said with a worried expression.

Gleaming with red eyes, City Lord Zhu glared malevolently at the departing Yang family vessel: This ancient sunken ship belongs to me! No matter who dares to come and snatch it, I will fight them!

His chest was filled with boiling rage, and it took a long time for him to gradually regain his composure. He instructed his subordinates: Do not waste time! Prepare to hunt down these demonic reef sharks!

Just as City Lord Zhu prepared to hunt the demonic reef sharks and clear away obstacles for salvaging the ancient wreckage, however...

It was destined to be impossible for City Lord Zhu to peacefully salvage the ancient sunken ship.

In the waters surrounding the ancient wreckage, sea vessels from other immortal villages began to appear one after another, lingering in the distance with covetous eyes, making it utterly impossible for City Lord Zhu to commit a large amount of manpower to hunting the demonic reef sharks.

Meanwhile, this news spread as if it had grown wings. In just a day or two, the revelation that an ancient sunken ship had been discovered in the waters near the Zhu Family Immortal Village swept across the entire Aolai Archipelago like a bombshell.

Not only the immortal villages, but even numerous rogue cultivators obtained the intelligence.