Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 218: Chapter 55: Crossing the Strait

“`

Yan Laosi gently exhaled and pushed forward with his palm.

The Spirit of the Duck slowly drifted backward. The surroundings receded and the old man’s figure emerged once again in Li Yan’s eyes.

“This!”

“Who is this guy? Where did Cai Qian find this fellow?”

“How strong must he be? He’s still standing on water~”

...

The crowd was in an uproar, buzzing with discussion.

Aboard the Spirit of the Duck, Cha Xiaodao flicked off cigarette ash, “I’m saying, can you just with bare palms stop the Spirit of the Duck?”

Li Yan replied indifferently, “I could smash a big hole in the boat. But no guarantees it will stop.”

Cha Xiaodao’s face grew serious, “I should be barely able to do it, but not as nonchalantly as him.”

Because their muscle and skin tissues are denser, those with the Fur Class heritage generally have greater strength than those of the Feather Class, though the Feather Class has better muscle elasticity and higher burst strength.

“Hehe, that’s not where my strengths lie in traveling the Yan Fu, it’s nothing.”

Li Yan laughed.

Being considered peers among the Ten Cities Peak, A Fleeting Glimpse could only provide so much information…

Li was vaguely able to discern that Yan Laosi was not a regular human but something like a “Calming Sea Salamander,” and that he had a subordinate relationship with Fiery Cauldron Sir, who was worshipped by the Cai family in their era. However, his weaknesses, abilities, and even origin remained entirely unknown to Li.

“Tianbao, no matter how strong this man is, can he withstand slashes and chops? We rain down arrows on him, and he’s bound to become a sieve.”

Gu whispered to Li Yan.

“You try.”

Li Yan gestured invitingly.

Gu nodded, walked to the corner of the boat, and picked up a Bullhorn Great Bow that had the draw weight of eight stones. Apart from the Gaoli ghost, there weren’t many in the Red Flag Gang who could pull it.

“Friend, it is you who are blocking our way. If anything happens, no hard feelings about life or death.”

Yan Laosi didn’t even lift his eyelids, “No need for more words, come on.”

Gu grabbed two Wrapped Iron Long Arrows, one in his mouth and one nocked on the bowstring, his arm muscles twisting, the bow drawn full circle, thump! The arrow flew out!

Pop~~

Just before reaching Yan Laosi’s eyelid, the Wrapped Iron Long Arrow shattered in the middle, the arrowhead, feathers, and shaft disintegrated, and the fragments fell into the sea.

“You’ve obtained some information,”

[Calming Sea]: The Calming Sea Salamander exerts a unique monster force on objects within a certain range. Requirements: At sea, non-living.

Note: The Calming Sea Salamander is a unique monster in the South Seas, often using [Calming Sea] to intercept ships and demand food and drink. However, since the invention of gunpowder and cannons, ordinary Calming Sea Salamanders have mostly disappeared.

Gu originally wanted to shoot another arrow but was stopped by Li, “It’s no use.”

“Tianbao, why not use the cannon?”

Gu looked reluctant.

“Hmm, that’s a good idea. Our cannon is good; he probably won’t be able to block it.”

Li Yan’s tone was inconclusive, but the corner of his mouth quirked down, “If we resort to firing cannons when just one person blocks us at sea, how can we save our faces?”

Gu anxiously retorted, “We brought over a thousand men, being blocked by him right here makes it even harder to save face.”

Li Yan flexed his fingers and leaned on the ship’s rail, with a smile that was not quite a smile, “Yan Laosi, you just said you’d take a step back to let one ship through, right?”

“Correct.”

Yan Laosi smiled broadly.@@novelbin@@

“But I brought twenty ships; what if you retreat more than one step?”

Li Yan fixated on Yan Laosi, his tone was flat.

“…”

Yan Laosi let his arms hang down, his eyebrows raised higher and higher, his mouth curling up to reveal a set of blotchy teeth, the simple and honest demeanor of the fishing village elder completely vanished. In its place was an aura of inhuman ferocity and malevolence.

“`

“Dragon Head, feel free to act as you wish, I’ll compensate for whatever is lacking,”

Before the old man’s words had finished, the sky suddenly darkened.

The spear was fierce and ferocious, howling as it approached!

Li Yan’s body spun like a soaring hawk, his great spear swinging in a half-moon arc, slashing downwards.

Yan Laosi roared out loud as he lifted his two small arms to block the white-gold Devouring Blade of the Tiger Head Great Spear. The muscles and veins on his arms showed a hard, cold metallic luster like that of ancient bronze.

Clang~

A clear, humming sound rang out, splashing water in every direction.

A spray of water, more than a meter high, burst under Yan Laosi’s feet, drenching his head and face.

The old man crossed his arms over his skull, revealing one cloudy eye that glanced at Li Yan, indeed without taking a single step back!

Li Yan tightened his grip on the spear shaft, and after thrusting his spear, he barely landed on his feet.

His toes tapped the surface of the water, which first splashed up a few droplets, then ripples scattered across the sea.

The full water droplets dancing in the air trembled, first freezing into fragments of ice, then plummeting into the sea, producing a crisp snap as they shattered into a spray of tiny particles. It was quite a sight.

A frosty white crack spread from the tip of Li Yan’s toes, forming a frost-blue spiderweb pattern.

Li Yan straightened his upper body, standing firmly on a piece of deep blue ice floe, staring at the old man from afar.

Nine Phoenix Power!

Around Li Yan, unbeknownst when, eight purple lotus-like flames spiraled, along with one wilted lotus stand.

A beautiful figure rose slowly behind Li Yan, her arms wrapped around herself, black hair flowing, skin white as milk, feathers fluttering,

Hidden Flight!

The Tiger Head Great Spear thrust out like a bolt of lightning, its black tassel moving leisurely, the spearhead like a tiger leaping high, plunging into a deep ravine.

Tiger Rises!

The spearhead struck the back of Yan Laosi’s hand, causing the old man’s whole arm to tingle with numbness. In an instant, he was unable to move!

A white feather hissed as it pierced Yan Laosi’s chest.

“Mmph~”

Yan Laosi’s expression changed, and he couldn’t help but take half a step back; in his pupils, the black-tasseled spearhead quickly enlarged.

His left hand supported the shaft, and his right thumb pressed down on the spear shaft, the Tiger Head Great Spear instantly melted into a sky of white-golden light, interspersed with a tempest-like, bone-chilling white feather shards, engulfing Yan Laosi who was using his arms to protect his head and face!

Swallow Through the Curtain!

A bone-chilling coldness spread out, causing the onlooking pirates to shiver involuntarily. Both men had a thick layer of ice formed under their feet, the continuing sound of freezing cracking in their ears. The continuous sonic booms and splashes of water froze midair into exquisite icicles. At a glance, it extended far and wide.

The spearhead rested on Yan Laosi’s elbow, flesh sticking to the layer of ice.

Li Yan lifted his spearhead, drawing out a stream of blood.

Yan Laosi clenched his fists, the layers of ice on his body falling off with a rustling sound, his body covered in tiny wounds and fragments of ice.

Xiaodao Cha closely observed the entire process, silently noting this fellow had made progress in controlling his strength.

“Huff~ Huff~”

The old man breathed heavily, his arms shaking uncontrollably.

“Thank you, Tianbao Dragon Head, for showing mercy,”

Li Yan turned his head, thumb up, mumbling something, and only turned back after a while.

“Forty-two steps, I don’t need the prize; once this matter is settled, have your boss send twenty-two gated boats to Lantau Island, I know you guys are wealthy, so I won’t stand on ceremony.”

Li Yan walked back along the ice.

He dove down and jumped onto the Spirit of the Duck.

“Set sail!”

Yan Laosi bowed his head and silently retreated to one side, as the Red Flag fleet majestically passed through the strait, heading for the Tianbo Division.