Within the hour, more than a dozen disciples arrived one after another. Leo counted twenty-nine from Azure Lotus Peak alone bound for the Bloody Battlefield.

  When the group was complete, two sword beams, one blue and one red, shot down from the heights of Azure Lotus Peak. The arriving cultivator had dark robes that fluttered in the wind and eyebrows as sharp as swords—none other than Peak Master Satt, the strongest Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Azure Lotus domain. The woman in the red dress beside him was unfamiliar to Leo, but someone who could stand alongside Peak Master Satt was undoubtedly important to Azure Lotus Peak.

  "Everyone here?" Peak Master Satt inquired.

  "Two short." The woman in the dress replied.

  "Masters Haw and Thorne are already at the main hall. No need to wait for the latecomers. We depart now for the main hall." Peak Master Satt nodded, rising on his flying sword. "All disciples, follow me!"

  As the two Foundation Establishment cultivators soared into the air, the twenty-nine disciples released their spirit birds. The main hall was normally off-limits, and the disciples' faces showed excitement. Leo was also curious about this immortal palace. But perched on his crane, his mind was more occupied with how to handle Sylas. Sylas alone might be manageable, but he had also mortally offended Lowell. If the two joined forces, he would have no chance. He had felt some pride in possessing two magic artifacts, believing he could survive the Bloody Battlefield. His battle with the hawk-nosed elder had shattered that pride. The cultivation world was vast, and exceptional individuals emerged endlessly. Arrogance at any time could prove fatal.

  The Palace's main hall was ancient and grand. Two massive stone lions crouched on either side of the mountain path. The winding, rugged path led to a huge stone archway inscribed with the words "Palace of the Heavenly Apex." Leo glanced at it and felt an overwhelming sword intent surge through his mind. Startled, he quickly looked away. A quick glance at the other disciples showed their faces equally pale—they had been affected too.

  Passing through the archway, they entered a broad square where a enormous flying ship hovered. It was over fifty meters long and about ten meters wide. Movable wooden panels lined its sides, shielding something behind them. At the prow stood two gray-robed elders, one tall and thin, the other stout. They appeared ordinary, without a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation. But no one mistook them for commoners. Behind them, over thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators stood in reverent silence, scarcely daring to breathe.

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  "A Kite Warship!" Not only the disciples, but even Peak Master Satt and the other Foundation Establishment cultivator were stunned.

  "Satt, usually so composed, now looking astonished?" The ruddy-faced elder chuckled.

  "Masters Haw and Thorne." The two Azure Lotus Peak Foundation cultivators, recovering their senses, hastily bowed.

  "Greetings, Masters Haw and Thorne." Sylas, Kael, and the others stammered, whether from awe or fear, none could say. They had only heard of Golden Core elders; now they saw them.

  "The Ancient Sword Sect and Verdant Pill Palace have both deployed grand flying warships. Our Palace may not match these great sects, but we must put on a proper display, lest they think little of us." The stouter elder, Thorne, chuckled, urging them, "Enough, board the ship. Once the more distant Heavenly Summit Peak disciples arrive, we can depart."

  "Yes, Master Thorne." Peak Master Satt acknowledged, then sent a message to the Azure Lotus Peak disciples: "On board, behave. Anyone causing trouble will be severely punished."

  "Who'd cause trouble among strangers?" Leo muttered inwardly. Peak Master Satt, once an unapproachable figure to Qi Refining disciples, now seemed like a well-behaved child before the Golden Core elders. The cultivation world's rigid hierarchy was starkly apparent. Only unyielding strength commanded respect.

  Soon, the Heavenly Summit Peak disciples arrived. Leo's heart tightened—among them was Lowell. As Leo watched, Lowell glared back with open hostility. Sylas, observing their exchange, smiled faintly.

  The Bloody Battlefield would be anything but peaceful. Leo feared the scheming Sylas more than the aggressive Lowell, but fretting was useless. Seizing the remaining time, he refined the Shadowless Needles taken from the old woman, hoping to increase his chances.

  The Kite Warship sped through the clouds, mountains shrinking to dots below. Normally, Qi Refining cultivators dared not fly so high even on spirit birds. For a few days, the disciples marveled at the scenery. Then boredom set in. But with Foundation and Golden Core elders aboard, no one dared complain.

  "Impressive, Satt. Your Azure Lotus Peak has some promising seedlings." Thorne noticed several Azure Lotus disciples—Kael, Leo, and others—quietly meditating while others fidgeted.

  "These few are diligent, but their aptitude is lacking. Otherwise, they might amount to something." Peak Master Satt frowned.

  "You know, cultivation is mysterious. Aptitude and fortune are important, but those who achieve greatness often rely less on innate talent and more on perseverance, on an indomitable spirit. Forgetting one's limitations, single-mindedly pursuing the Dao—if you grasp this, when fortune smiles, you may form your Golden Core. If not, you may miss the chance." Thorne corrected him.

  "I am enlightened." Peak Master Satt nodded thoughtfully.

  "Meditate on it. These words were spoken to me by my own superiors." Thorne waved, dismissing him.

  The Kite Warship flew for days, tens of thousands of miles from the Palace. Neither Qi Refining nor Foundation disciples knew how much farther. Then, in the distance, dozens of flying warships of various sizes came into view.

  The two largest dominated the sky. One, nearly a hundred and fifty meters long, flew a cyan banner—the Ancient Sword Sect's ship, the foremost sect in the Moonwatch cultivation world. Its central tower rose several stories. The other, equally immense, belonged to Verdant Pill Palace. Cultivators lined its decks, exuding the confident aura of a great sect.