613: Ho Tung's intimidation

She flicked her finger, and the Medicinal Pill accurately landed in her mouth. A surge of even more mellow Spiritual Qi instantly spread, traveling along her Meridians and temporarily stabilizing the loss of spiritual power.

She turned her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over the somewhat restless fellow Disciples behind her, and said in a heavy voice.

"Everyone, pull yourselves together. The Forbidden Ground is dangerously unpredictable. The dissipation of spiritual power is only the beginning. You must act with caution from now on and must not be careless."

Despite giving such instructions, a trace of hidden worry surfaced in Lin Jing's heart.

That faint, seemingly non-existent sense of being watched was not something only the green-robed Cultivator from before had noticed; she had sensed it long ago. However, as the leader, she had to maintain her composure and not let this unease affect everyone.

Lin Jing's gaze swept over Jiang Lu beside her. Seeing that she was standing by the edge of the deck with her hands behind her back, staring blankly at the rolling mist below, and not holding any Medicinal Pills to replenish Spiritual Qi like the other Cultivators, Lin Jing couldn't help but ask.

"Jiang Lu, why aren't you taking any Medicinal Pills?"

Hearing this, Jiang Lu slowly turned around with a hint of helplessness on her face. She bowed slightly to Lin Jing and spoke in a steady, methodical tone.

"Master, this is still only the outskirts of the Forbidden Ground, and we haven't truly entered the depths yet. Although the rate of Spiritual Qi dissipation is fast, it is still within my limit. Moreover, the purpose of our trip is unclear, and it's impossible for us to leave easily in a short time. While the number of Medicinal Pills isn't scarce, we cannot afford to consume them so unrestrainedly."

She paused, lightly pressing her hand against her Dantian to feel the spiritual power slowly circulating within her body, and continued.

"Rather than being anxious to stabilize the Spiritual Qi in our bodies now, it's better to save the Medicinal Pills for the critical moment when we truly fall into danger and our spiritual power is depleted. At that time, a single Medicinal Pill might save a life."

After Jiang Lu's experiences, Lin Jing had officially accepted Jiang Lu as a Personal Disciple. Furthermore, due to her contact with the Forbidden Ground's power and the improvement of her Spiritual Root, Jiang Lu had successfully joined the ranks of the Lingxiao Immortal Sect's Core Disciples.

Hearing her analysis now, a flash of approval crossed Lin Jing's eyes. After a moment's thought, she felt that what Jiang Lu said was absolutely correct.

She had only thought about suppressing the dissipation of Spiritual Qi just now, neglecting long-term considerations. Jiang Lu's calm and far-sighted nature in the face of trouble was indeed rare.

She nodded and withdrew her hand that was about to take another Medicinal Pill, saying in a deep voice.

"You're right. I didn't think it through."

Several Cultivators nearby, hearing the conversation between the master and Disciple, also stopped their actions of replenishing with Medicinal Pills. Looks of realization appeared on their faces as they secretly admired Jiang Lu's meticulousness.

The flying boat continued to advance slowly through the airspace on the outskirts of the Forbidden Ground. The mist grew denser, and the sense of stagnation in the air became stronger. The speed at which the Spiritual Qi dissipated in the Cultivators' bodies seemed to quicken slightly, yet no one used Medicinal Pills easily anymore.

Just then, the expression on Lin Jing's face suddenly changed. Her originally steady gaze became as sharp as a blade, and her Body Integration Stage Aura was abruptly released. The invisible pressure made the Cultivators beside her subconsciously hold their breath.

She turned around sharply, her gaze locked onto the deck of the flying boat and the mountain forests on both sides. Her originally steady breathing became a bit hurried as she shouted sternly.

"Who's there?!"

While Lin Jing's stern shout was still echoing in the mist-filled airspace, in the next second, a uniform sound rang out from all around the three flying boats.

In the previously empty Void Realm, streaks of pale blue light patterns flickered. Subsequently, Imperial Soldiers wearing uniform battle armor slowly appeared.

They stood tall and straight like pines, their faces covered by cold visors. The energy guns in their hands glinted with a faint blue cold light, their muzzles accurately locking onto every Cultivator on the flying boats. The dense aiming points felt like physical pressure, causing the air to stagnate.

What horrified the Cultivators of the Lingxiao Immortal Sect even more was that the thick fog overhead was suddenly dispersed by a massive air current, and a colossal object appeared abruptly with an overwhelming pressure that blotted out the sun.

It was an Empire starship. Its hull was covered with turrets and complex energy patterns, and its pitch-black metal exterior glinted with a cold luster in the dim light, like a giant beast lurking in the sky.

The turrets at the bottom of the starship slowly rotated, and a faint energy halo condensed at the muzzles. Along with countless other turrets, they firmly locked onto the flying boats below. The most intimidating muzzles were fixed squarely on Lin Jing, who was at the lead.

After this period of covert surveillance, the Empire's troops had already accurately judged through their stature, Aura, and interactions with the other Cultivators that this Cultivator was the leader of this group.

"What... what is this thing?!"

The Cultivators on the deck turned pale, their hands trembling slightly. Looking at the starship overhead, their eyes were filled with unbelievable terror.

The Spiritual Qi within their bodies churned subconsciously, but under the dual threat of the starship and the energy guns, they didn't dare to make the slightest move.

Because their intuition told them that if they dared to act without permission, they would die.

Lin Jing's heart sank abruptly, and a strong sense of crisis instantly gripped her mind.

She didn't dare hesitate for a moment. With a flip of her jade-like hand, her spatial ring flashed, and a long sword, pure white and covered in immortal Dao runes, appeared in her palm.

But the moment she prepared to circulate her Spiritual Qi and assume a defensive stance, an inexplicable intuition exploded in her mind like a clap of thunder.

Born from the extreme sensitivity to danger of a Body Integration Stage Cultivator, she clearly perceived that if she dared to show any sign of attacking, the assault from the 'flying boat' overhead and the weapons in the hands of the 'strange people' around her would tear her to pieces at the same time.

"Master, don't be impulsive!"

At this tense moment, Jiang Lu stepped forward quickly and stood beside Lin Jing, her voice urgent yet steady.

"They are the Forbidden Land Faction I mentioned. They are by no means something ordinary Cultivators can contend with. If we strike now, it will only lead us to eternal damnation!"

Her gaze swept across the surrounding Imperial Soldiers and the starship overhead. She had already known of the Forbidden Land Faction' strength, but she hadn't expected their deployment to be so tight and their deterrent power so terrifying.

From the look of things, they were planning to give the Lingxiao Immortal Sect a show of authority... Hearing Jiang Lu's warning, Lin Jing's tense body stiffened slightly, and her intuition once again confirmed Jiang Lu's words.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent waves in her heart, and slowly released her grip on the long sword, withdrawing the weapon into her spatial ring with a flick of her fingers.

Then, she slightly cupped her hands toward the surrounding Imperial Soldiers, lowering her posture a bit, and said loudly.

"Everyone, we are envoys sent by the Lingxiao Immortal Sect. We come with no ill intent, but are here on the orders of our Sect to discuss important matters in the Forbidden Ground. We hope you will let us pass."

As soon as she finished speaking, a slight energy fluctuation sounded beside Lin Jing.

She subconsciously turned sideways on guard, only to see an Imperial Soldier slowly emerge from the Void Realm.