A terrifying Primordial Qi Vortex was constantly expanding. At its center, Qin Ya sat with his eyes closed inside the Profound Vessel’s cabin. The power of his Leakless Body was fully unleashed as the surrounding Primordial Qi surged into him like a great river flowing into the sea.

His True Essence Qi Sea was already brimming, and the energy swept through his entire body before bursting forth, forming a pillar of qi that reached for the heavens. This pillar was a kaleidoscope of colors, emitting waves of profound energy. It connected the Divine Acupoint between Qin Ya’s eyebrows to the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, and a wondrous power began to coalesce within it.

WHOOSH...

Suddenly, Qin Ya’s perception expanded. He could see the Dancing Girls on the Profound Vessel, the seagulls gliding through the sky, and feel the gentle breeze wafting from the sea. He could even sense countless strange energies rippling through the void...

The most distinct among them were the energies he had personally comprehended: Ice and Fire, Wind, and Speed. Under these conditions, Qin Ya’s understanding of these profundities was skyrocketing at an unprecedented rate. ’This is it,’ he realized. ’Divine Thought!’

Divine Thought was a power unique to Extraordinary Martial Artists, the very tool they used to perceive the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth. It was the fundamental distinction separating the Extraordinary from those beneath them. The stronger one’s Divine Thought, the greater their advantage.

"Divine Thought... it’s the foundation for an Extraordinary Martial Artist to comprehend the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth and to command Primordial Qi. How profound, how unpredictable," Qin Ya murmured. He then immersed himself in comprehending these mysteries. The Heaven-Reaching Pass marked the first emergence of Divine Thought, a time when it was most active. Seizing this opportunity to study the profundities was exceptionally effective.

While Qin Ya was immersed in his enlightenment, the world outside had erupted into chaos.

The terrifying Primordial Qi Vortex continued to expand until it was a full three hundred zhang wide. A three-hundred-zhang vortex... The sheer scale of it was unheard-of.

On the Purple Luo Family’s Profound Vessel, everyone was stunned into a long silence.

At that moment, several more Profound Vessels arrived. One flew the flag of a blood-red long saber, another a golden lion. The flag on the last vessel bore a single character: ’Ancient’! That character alone was enough to make the other three powers wary.

For that was a Profound Vessel under the command of the Ancient King, one of the few Martial Arts Kings in the entire Celestial Dragon Sea Region, a power great enough to awe the other three factions into submission.

"Heh. The Purple Luo Family, the Lion Palace, and the Blood Saber Pirates." Atop the imposing Profound Vessel of the Ancient King stood a middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache. He glanced at the other three factions, a faint, contemptuous smile on his lips.

"We aren’t far from Liubo Island, so it’s no surprise to encounter the Ancient King’s men," Elder Purple Robe remarked calmly. "I just wonder about the origins of the Martial Artist who is breaking through. Is he here for the Ancient King’s banquet, like us? His Profound Vessel bears no faction’s sigil, and a Martial Artist with this level of Talent should not be an unknown."

"To think this Primordial Qi Vortex would attract the attention of the Ancient King, the Purple Luo Family, and the Blood Saber Pirates. I wonder who this prodigious Martial Artist could be, to trigger a vortex of this magnitude. Do any of you gentlemen know his origins?"

This came from a large, middle-aged man with long, curly, golden-blond hair standing on the Lion Palace’s Profound Vessel. He laughed boisterously, cupping his fists toward the other three factions.

"I, Huang Yunji, have spent considerable time in this sea region, but I have never heard of anyone capable of creating a vortex of three hundred zhang—no, it’s even larger than that now. The Martial Artist on that Profound Vessel is no simple character," Elder Purple Robe said with a faint smile.

"Isn’t that obvious?" At that moment, an utterly cold voice spoke up. On the Blood Saber Profound Vessel, a man who appeared to be in his thirties stepped forward, a thirty-foot blood-red long saber resting on his shoulder. His eyes, sharp as a falcon’s, swept over the crowd. "Why not just ask them?" he said coldly.

"You women," the Blood Saber Youth’s eyes swept over the Dancing Girls. "The Martial Artist on this Profound Vessel, the one at the Heaven-Reaching Pass. What’s his name?" Though his words were crude, his tone was so unexpectedly frigid it felt like being plunged into an ice cellar.

Fear rose in the hearts of the Dancing Girls.

Qingxu suppressed her fear, stepped forward, and said, "Greetings, esteemed sirs. The Martial Artist who is breaking through is the master of this Profound Vessel. As for his name, I am not at liberty to disclose it without his permission. I ask for your understanding."

"Impudence!!"

At that, Luo Bi stepped forward from the Purple Luo Family’s Profound Vessel and roared at Qingxu. "Do you have any idea who you’re speaking to?" he said coldly. "Forget a mere Earth Element Martial Artist like you—even the one breaking through would have to show us the utmost respect! How dare you..."

"Shut your mouth!!"

Before Luo Bi could finish, a cold shout cut him off. A frigid intent slammed into his mind, sending a chill through his entire body, making him feel as if his blood had stopped flowing. Seeing this, Elder Purple Robe stepped forward and gently placed a palm on Luo Bi. A warm current flowed into him, and Luo Bi slowly returned to normal.

The one who had silenced him was none other than the Blood Saber Youth.

"The grand leader of the Blood Saber Pirate Group, bullying a junior? Isn’t that a bit beneath you?" Elder Purple Robe said, staring at the Blood Saber Youth with a hostile edge to his voice. The Blood Saber Youth merely sneered in response.

"Beneath me? I’m a pirate. What the hell do I need dignity for?"

The Blood Saber Youth glanced at Luo Bi with utter disdain. "So this is a scion of the Purple Luo Family? What a disappointment. In my eyes, he’s not even a patch on that Dancing Girl. Her Cultivation might be poor, but she can still maintain her composure in our presence. She knows to protect her master; she’s loyal."

"How have I offended you?" Luo Bi asked in a low voice.

The Blood Saber Youth replied coldly, "I hate being interrupted when I’m asking a question. On account of you being a descendant of the Purple Luo Family, I’ll let it slide this once."

"You..." Luo Bi’s face flushed crimson with rage.

Elder Purple Robe placed a hand on Luo Bi’s shoulder and shook his head gently. Though arrogant, Luo Bi was no fool. He knew that no matter how strong he was, he was no match for a long-renowned Extraordinary opponent like the Blood Saber Youth. He swallowed his anger.

"Young lady," Elder Purple Robe began, turning back to Qingxu with a gentle smile and a slight bow. His demeanor was as pleasant as a spring breeze. "We only wish to make this Martial Artist’s acquaintance, as the phenomenon accompanying his Heaven-Reaching Pass is truly remarkable. We have no ill intentions, I assure you. Please, would you tell us his name?"

"This..." For all her composure, Qingxu was only at the Earth Element Realm. Faced with these four great powers, she was at a loss. After a moment’s thought, she steeled herself and said, "I am but a humble servant; I dare not make such decisions on my own. You, esteemed sirs, are all great figures of our time. You must know that the Heaven-Reaching Pass does not take long. I implore you to wait. Once my Young Master emerges from his seclusion, he can speak with you himself."

Hearing this, Elder Purple Robe glanced at the Primordial Qi Vortex, which was now well over three hundred zhang wide. His curiosity about the Martial Artist at the Heaven-Reaching Pass was thoroughly piqued, and he was loath to leave just like that. "It seems we have no other choice," he said.

"Making me wait for a mere Martial Artist undergoing the Heaven-Reaching Pass? The audacity." On the Ancient King’s Profound Vessel, the middle-aged man with the handlebar mustache gave an indifferent smile. He stepped off the ship and onto the open air. "Since you won’t come out, I’ll just have to force you out myself."

As his words faded, the man with the handlebar mustache thrust out his palm, blasting a strike toward the Profound Vessel.