"Peasant, I hail from—"

The gold-haired youth’s figure suddenly vanished, and the members of Diamond Quicksand fell one by one. By the time the leader realized what was happening, the sharp blade of a great sword was already at his neck.

"Do you think my crew would fear your kind? Who do you think you are?"

Viel swept his great sword, effortlessly knocking two advancing Sky Knights away.

"Our spoils are ours. Since you dare to rob, yours will be ours too."

"Do it!" Morales excitedly unfurled a shadow curtain.

Li Ang shook his head and began using Spiritual Manipulation to enhance his teammates. He had just begun casting when Farina had already launched a dragon flame fireball the size of a washbasin.

...

"Damn! Damn, damn, damn, damn! Those idiots are so pathetic! Why is their ship so powerful, blasting us like stray dogs!" Viel cursed through gritted teeth as he applied burn ointment in pain.

"Captain, don’t insult the stray dogs. We were blasted worse than them." Morales said weakly, lying beside him.

"No way!"

Viel jumped up: "We need our own ship too! One that’s stronger and bigger than those beasts’, so next time we see them, we’ll ram them beneath the Bloody Red Land!"

"That would invite endless retaliation from the powers behind them," Rams said from the side.

"Hehe, as long as no one knows." Viel laughed.

However, later on, from logging Shipbuilding Treasure Wood to the team growing stronger, the members of The Soul Apex never faced Diamond Quicksand head-on again.

...

"Look! This is our ship, our home, the Holy Sanctuary!"

Viel shouted joyfully, amongst years of adventurous companions, transforming from the most composed to seemingly the most reckless, or perhaps his original intent had never changed.

"Although it’s not quite there yet, with successive upgrades and enhancements, it’ll become a powerful warship strong enough to lead us into the Demon Disaster Realm." Viel stroked his chin, imagining the future.

Li Ang looked beside him, in reality, no matter who, having their own good ship always brought a faint smile to their face; nobody could be unhappy.

Ah, the Holy Sanctuary...

Li Ang also began to look forward to what life would be like on the brand-new large flying airship.

Having seen some famous Sky Cavalry on their missions, their flying airships were as renowned as their group names, would the Holy Sanctuary be like that one day too? Or would it be sunk halfway through? Uh, it shouldn’t be thought of that way; with these companions, maybe Viel’s hope of standing at the apex would truly come true. Li Ang smiled.

...

The Decomposition Light Wave pierced through the deck of the Holy Sanctuary, slicing the hull bit by bit under the stroke of a magic staff.

Li Ang remained expressionless, increasing the magic power output. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Li Ang, we’re back!" Zoe raised both arms high, gathering with others by his side.

Farina and Morales had complex expressions, the Dragon Witch looked at the light beam in Li Ang’s hand and sighed long. The youth with beast ears shook his head, smiling helplessly twice: "If you’re going to destroy it, then destroy it thoroughly, ensure nothing is left behind."

"I will."

At this moment, the phantoms of the past that just emerged in Li Ang’s mind quickly dissipated; he now only wanted to quickly obliterate this Annihilation Star Soul, freeing the Eternal Summer from its hideous flesh entanglement.

Beside him were new companions who had grown, and they were eagerly anticipating continuing forward aboard a beautiful new ship.

"Goodbye."

Whispering the last word to the Holy Sanctuary, the Decomposition Light Wave completely pulled it out from the Star Soul Flesh, dissolving the bow of the Holy Sanctuary blocking the core, revealing the core behind it.