Black clouds rolled in, the fierce winds howled, lightning flashes across the clear sea, roaring as if a ferocious beast.
A group of about 10 to 15 people, driving their carriages from south to north, arrived at the boundary of Qingyou Sea. A golden coffin, emitting dazzling gold light, was placed steadily at the center of the carriage. Each black-clad woman guarding the perimeter on horseback had their eyes alert with caution, holding their knives at their waists, ready for combat at any moment.
The leading woman was clad in a black robe, her long hair tied up high, her handsome face bearing a hint of cold, heroic spirit, and she carried a slender long sword at her slender waist.
The woman's name was Ning Xin, the protector of the Tiamo Sect in Youzhou, and she was one of the most capable lieutenants under the Empress Luo Wuxin of Tiamo Sect.
A few days ago, Ning Xin received the Empress's order to retrieve the golden coffin stored by the Heaven Dragon Empire and bring it back to Youzhou. As one of the Empress's most capable generals, she naturally did not disappoint and braved numerous hardships, eventually stealing the golden coffin after facing numerous experts from the Heaven Dragon Empire. She then continued northbound straight for the Hanhai Empire.
Further north, crossing the Qingyou Sea that separated Qingzhou from Youzhou, one could reach Youzhou and enter the main camp of Tiamo Sect.
A woman with short hair, also dressed in a black robe, rode up and approached Ning Xin's side, "Protector, the people who are to meet us are ahead. Once we board the flying beast, it will take only a day to cross this so-called ten-thousand-mile sea of Qingyou, and we can report to Your Majesty as soon as possible."
Ning Xin shook her head and looked up at the sky with sharp, eagle-like eyes. Listening to the distant thunderclaps, she looked grave, "The Empress ordered me to protect the golden coffin at all costs, avoiding any losses inside it; but this thunderclap couldn't have come at a worse time. With such weather, if we were to board the flying beast carelessly, we would both be in danger of being struck down."
People are not a problem, but what if the golden coffin has an accident? How can I explain to the Emperor? I think it's better not to take the flying beast and just sail across the sea directly”.
The woman with short hair glanced back at the golden coffin behind her, her eyes narrowing into crescents, and she asked with a knowing smile, "Protector, do you know the identity of the person interred in that golden coffin that has Your Majesty so concerned he sent you personally to retrieve it?"
"I don't know"
Ning Xin replied with cold indifference.
The woman with short hair was not to be dissuaded. "Ning sister, it's not that you don't know, but rather that you don't want to say. I remember that when I was serving the Empress earlier, there was only one man's portrait in her sleeping chamber. If I'm not mistaken, the person in the golden coffin is probably the one Your Majesty has been pining for all this time."
The woman with short hair is named Li Yueyue. She used to be the Empress's personal attendant, but after demonstrating outstanding strength, she became a combatant. Therefore, she is very familiar with everything in the Empress's sleeping chamber.
Ning Xin, upon hearing this, involuntarily tightened the reins on her horse, her face a bit unnaturally. There was envy and jealousy in her expression.
"I've heard that three hundred years ago, a young man saved the Empress when she was a lonely and helpless child, so the Empress fell in love with him... Ning sister, do you think that if we bring back the man in the golden coffin, will the Empress become addicted to male affection... If so, our position in her heart might..."
"Just a dead man, what difference does it make if he goes back? "
Ning Xin shook her head and laughed bitterly.
"That may not be the case, I've heard that the Empress possesses the ability to give life to the dead and turn white bones into flesh. A few days ago, when you collapsed in the golden coffin, those liquid spirits you vomited out might be something that brings people back to life; otherwise, how would Your Majesty have told us to return quickly? I suppose she would like to see her beloved one resurrected as soon as possible..."
"Shut up."
Li Yueyue was still talking nonstop, and Ning Xin was getting increasingly impatient. She turned around and stared at her angrily, the former innocently raising her hands to cover her mouth, afraid of being punished by the latter.
Ning Xin's face looked unpleasant, her mind in disarray, and her eyes seemed to have lost their spark.
Another thunderbolt descended from the sky, but unlike the one that had previously struck the Qingyou Sea, this one seemed to have a target, directly hitting the golden coffin in the midst of the procession.
Ning Xin immediately realized the danger, screaming, "Enemy attack? Quick, protect the golden coffin!"
The words were barely out when Ning Xin drew her slender long knife from her waist and slashed it ferociously into the thunder strike from above, barely managing to deflect the powerful lightning strike. However, her arms were left numb and shaking uncontrollably.
A series of dark shadows swept over the sea surface, approaching Ning Xin and her companions like specters. The thunderclaps boomed, suggesting that their group could be engulfed at any moment.
"Damn it, they are well-prepared. Form a formation, don't let them succeed."
Ning Xin roared in anger and ordered the people behind her to prepare their blades. The slender long knives were unsheathed, and the blades glinted in a terrifying display as they swept across the sky, combining their force to create a solid wall of blade light. This wall successfully deflected the ominous lightning strikes.
However, before the others could let their tense nerves relax, they saw the golden coffin they were protecting explode suddenly, shooting up into the air towards the approaching horde of black-clad figures.
Bringing the golden coffin safely back to Youzhou was the Empress's order. Ning Xin knew that their opponents were well-prepared, and it was impossible to return the golden coffin safely at this moment. So, she chopped at the golden coffin with her sword.
Even if the golden coffin is damaged, it cannot fall into the hands of traitors.
A flash of blade light cut through the air and struck the golden coffin, and the invisible force dissipated instantly. The golden coffin fell into the sea with that single blow.
The wind howled madly, and the waves crashed repeatedly. The golden coffin seemed like a solitary boat on the sea surface, listing uncertainly. Eyes burning with desire fixated on it, not just Ning Xin, but also the well-prepared group of black-clad figures who had come for it.
In that moment, the same idea flashed through the minds of everyone present.
First to strike is the best policy.
However, fate had other plans. Just as everyone was about to take the initiative to grab the golden coffin, a massive wave hundreds of feet high rose from the sea, followed by a fierce beast with staring eyes and a wide mouth, lashing out at the people approaching the sea.
"Savage, get away!"
Ning Xin roared angrily and followed with a slash, the blade light soaring into the sky, splitting the beast in two within a heartbeat. Blood splattered everywhere, staining the sea red.
The surging waves calmed down in the next moment.
But, the golden coffin that was floating on the sea surface had mysteriously vanished.
...
Suddenly, I received another God-level certification. Thank you, Brother "Yan Du for Time Too Late" for sending me the God-level certification.
At the same time, thank you to every reader who has sent gifts, ٩(￥A￥)۶
The second update will be available later.
