Zhang Sanshan and Li Qingsong watched the battle while offering commentary.
Just as they prepared to move a little closer to the fray, Lin Hanjing’s voice rang out from inside the bronze giant.
“Honored seniors, if you have no intention of interfering, please leave as soon as possible.”
Although she addressed them as seniors, her tone carried a clear desire to drive them away.
In the fight against the Myriad Realms Flying Boat, Lin Hanjing held an overwhelming advantage.
Whether in attack, defense, or true essence reserves, she far surpassed He Shu’s side. Victory was only a matter of time.
During the earlier exchanges, Lin Hanjing had noticed that the Myriad Realms Flying Boat was refusing to flee into the void.
It was likely trying to borrow the presence of Zhang Sanshan and Li Qingsong.
Sure enough, the moment her words fell, Bai Liuli’s voice came from inside the flying boat.
“Honored seniors, if you are willing to lend us a hand, we will definitely offer generous thanks afterward!”
Zhang Sanshan and Li Qingsong remained silent upon hearing this.
Their gazes drifted toward the bronze giant, seemingly both intentional and unintentional.
Inside the bronze giant, Lin Hanjing snorted coldly at the sight.
These two old men really seem intent on getting involved.
Merchants chase profit.
The same principle applied to cultivators.
Why not earn a little extra on the side while they were at it?
Even if they themselves had no use for it, they could always pass it on to their descendants or junior clan members.
“I am Lin Hanjing of the Lin family from the Jade Water Immortal Kingdom, daughter of Lin Xiao. I am currently pursuing two enemy spies. If the two honored seniors are willing to assist, the benefits will naturally not be lacking.”
Lin Hanjing reported her identity concisely, her words carrying a hint of using her status to pressure them.
The Lin family was a well-known great clan of the immortal kingdom.
Their ancestor, Lin Bufan, was not only a Void Refinement great power but also an important minister at court.
The mere mention of the name was enough to intimidate Zhang Sanshan and his senior brother.
“You claim to be a member of the Lin family. How are my senior brother and I supposed to believe you? And how do you intend to prove it?”
“Hehe. My name is Lin Hanjing. I neither change my name when traveling nor alter my surname when sitting. Why would I need to prove my identity when I am standing right here?”
Even across the entire cultivation world, Nascent Soul cultivators were extremely rare.
Often, only one in a hundred Golden Core cultivators could form a Nascent Soul.
Thus, Nascent Soul cultivators were also symbols of a family’s strength and could usually be verified with ease.
Lin Hanjing’s words made it clear that her identity was reliable and unafraid of investigation.
But Zhang Sanshan and Li Qingsong were clearly not buying it.
Others might bow their heads because of the Lin family’s reputation, but they would not.
“Stop trying to pressure us with that. My senior brother and I are of one mind and share the same roots. We are both disciples of Thousand Mechanisms Master and Supreme Elders of Myriad Medicine Hall. Why would we fear your Lin family?”
Zhang Sanshan’s brows were tightly furrowed, his expression displeased.
Upon hearing the name “Thousand Mechanisms Master,” even Lin Hanjing was so startled that her mouth opened slightly.
Thousand Mechanisms Master — his original name unknown — specialized in the mechanical dao while also cultivating the array dao.
Lin Hanjing had once heard her father mention him in passing.
Combined with her own experience as a long-time array cultivator, she had some impression of him.
In his early years, Thousand Mechanisms Master had roamed the world and played among mortals.
He had faced the immortal tribulation and advanced to Body Integration at a mere three thousand two hundred years of age.
Now, at four thousand years old and in the prime of his life, he had four disciples under him, all at the Soul Transformation realm.
“Could the two of you possibly be the eldest disciple of Senior Thousand Mechanisms Master, Li Qingsong, and the second disciple, Zhang Sanshan?”
Lin Hanjing asked tentatively and received an affirmative answer.
“Correct. That is us.”
Li Qingsong’s expression relaxed, his tone even carrying a hint of pride.
However, while Lin Hanjing was momentarily distracted, the Myriad Realms Flying Boat — which had been circling the bronze giant — suddenly fled into the void once more.
“They got away again!”
Lin Hanjing pulled her attention back and snorted. She immediately gave chase as well, leaving only Zhang Sanshan and Li Qingsong on the field.
The two men exchanged a glance and nodded in tacit understanding.
***
Inside the Myriad Realms Flying Boat, He Shu had already woken up.
“It’s still no use. The shackles on my body carry sealing restrictions that block true essence and divine sense. I must remove them before I can mobilize my true essence.”
An artificial Golden Core had already been implanted inside He Shu’s body, filled with true essence.
Yet no matter what methods she tried, she could not sense her own divine sense.
Divine sense originated from the spiritual veins within the body and the mind. It carried a cultivator’s will.
The reason cultivators could mobilize their true essence to cast complex and varied techniques was precisely because divine sense served as the bridge of communication.
Several days earlier, He Shu had already discovered that she was completely unable to use her divine sense.
At the time, she had assumed Hua Yanyun had set up a sealing array inside the room.
After all, Mu Xinlian, who shared the same room with her, had also been unable to use her divine sense.
But now He Shu understood.
Hua Yanyun had not only placed restrictions inside the room — she had gone so far as to add an extra layer of insurance on the shackles themselves.
This move was truly insidious.
Without divine sense, one could not mobilize the true essence within the body.
Without true essence, a cultivator was left with almost no combat power.
“I have to destroy the cage and the shackles on me as quickly as possible.”
Shen Qingci understood even without He Shu saying it. He nodded.
“Step back a little.”
He drew the sword at his waist and poured true essence into it, slashing out a crescent sword qi as solid as substance.
The sword qi shot straight toward the bars forged from Jade-Smooth Profound Steel, sparking a series of sharp metallic clashes. Yet it only left a shallow mark on the surface.
Shen Qingci drew in a sharp breath of cold air.
It truly lived up to its reputation as a Soul Transformation level material.
Although the effect was minimal, at least there was progress.
As he continued swinging his sword and striking repeatedly, he finally managed to sever one of the bars.
With a breakthrough achieved, Shen Qingci bent the broken bar aside, creating a gap wide enough for He Shu to squeeze through.
While Shen Qingci was working on removing the shackles from He Shu, He Qingyuan’s voice suddenly rang out at an inopportune moment.
“Be careful. Those two old Soul Transformation monsters have caught up as well!”
“What?!”
In the void, the bronze giant continued pursuing the Myriad Realms Flying Boat, occasionally firing off spells to interfere.
Suddenly, two aged figures appeared to the left and right not far away.
Lin Hanjing was slightly surprised to see Zhang Sanshan and Li Qingsong appear so abruptly.
“Honored seniors, why have you followed us as well?”
Zhang Sanshan stood with his hands behind his back.
His figure moved like lightning, keeping pace with the bronze giant through speed alone.
He chuckled, wearing a kindly expression.
“Haha, little friend Lin. We came specifically to help you.”
“Help me?”
“That’s right. My senior brother and I discussed it. Although we have no intention of interfering in your grudges and enmities, since we happened to encounter this situation…”
Zhang Sanshan stroked his beard and smiled without finishing his sentence.
At the same time, Li Qingsong spoke up at the perfect moment and took over the conversation.
“The two of us are not coveting whatever you have. It is simply that my junior brother possesses the heart of a healer and cannot bear to watch people fight and kill one another.”
“Senior brother, stop joking. The void is filled with dangers and home to countless powerful demonic beasts. You two may be brawling among yourselves, but if you end up provoking something that should not be provoked… it would be difficult to clean up the aftermath.”
“……”
Zhang Sanshan’s words were full of deeper meaning.
One played the red face while the other played the white face.
Lin Hanjing understood their intention clearly. They simply wanted to extract benefits.
These two old foxes…