Yu Chen stood at the bow of the spirit vessel, watching as the yellow waters of the river parted before them.

Yan Ziqi stood atop the quarterdeck behind him, one hand on the massive wheel that steered the ship. Although it wasn’t strictly necessary, as Yu Chen had come to find out. If he chose to, he could command the vessel with nothing more than his mind. Spirit vessels were soulbound items, and once attuned it was less an independent object and more an extension of one’s own self.

He wore the same robes Yu Chen did, along with the other artificers who paced the deck, attending to the various components on the spiritual vessel. Black, grungy robes, marked with a few flairs of colors and oddly patched.

The vessel had also been turned pitch-black, through some means or another. Even the spirit veil, in the form of a banner, was black, and it hung from the mast with the single character for death marked upon it. It gave off a shockingly oppressive aura that gave the entire ship a vicious and domineering look as it cut through the river.

Few birds appeared this far out as the land had long since faded into the distance, leaving nothing but endless water for as far as the eye could see. However, the occasional marine life made itself known, such as the river dolphins that currently swam alongside the vessel.

They frolicked in the waters around them, cavorting around as they easily raced against the ship. Occasionally one would duck beneath the waters, only to appear on his other side, playing some game he knew nothing about. A foreign intelligence lurked in their eyes, showing they weren’t simple creatures.

Each one possessed the aura of a Stage 1 spirit beast, nurtured as they were by the spiritual waters that surrounded them. Thankfully, such beasts couldn’t survive in the shallower areas of the river, as they’d choke to death in waters that didn’t possess a sufficient level of spirituality. It was the way of the heavens, and it left room for mortals to exist alongside the boundless river.

Yu Chen couldn’t help but wonder just how much energy was hidden within the waters that spread out endlessly around him. What was currently being emitted was akin to the patch of orchids he’d found Lan She in, as though the entire river was a spiritual treasure, one that had only increased in power the closer they traveled towards the center.

He felt the small snake shift against his waist as he thought about her, as their connection caused her to stir. She was currently resting against the warmth of his stomach, as she often did, content to sleep away her days. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought as he slipped a hand into his robes to caress her.

That was more than alright, he thought as he rubbed a thumb across her scaled head. He’d always felt a sense of responsibility towards the little snake, and he was content that she was able to sleep in peace.

His thoughts were interrupted as he saw the faintest smudge appear in the distance. Cultivation had made his eyes sharp, and he watched as it slowly grew in his vision, resolving into a small island as they approached.

They were far beyond the point where mortals could safely travel, the spirit beasts were proof of that. The depths of the river were a place where only immortals set foot, but that didn’t mean they were empty.

Far from it.

After all, mortal cities dotted the coast, as numerous as the stars in the heavens, giving birth to countless millions upon millions of people. More cities lay further inland, empires that stretched thousands of miles in every direction, and this mass of humanity created more than its share of immortals.

And immortals lived a long time.

Besides which, the river itself contained such intense spirituality that many along its shores found themselves drawn to journey the water, and for those ship hands and crewmates who made a living on the sea, breathing, even without a technique, could cause one to eventually break through.

Islands too, existed in these deep waters, like the one they were currently on a course towards. These small spits of land contained cities full of immortals, powerful sects, and more besides.

Indeed, the river was a lively place, filled with its own ways and customs.

Of course, it had predators as well.

There were those who preyed on others, pillaging their good fortune, robbing and looting as they made their way, cultivating less favorable techniques.

Pirates, for lack of a better word.

The island grew clearer in his vision, transitioning from a dot on the horizon to a large landmass that spread out before him. Jagged cliffs jutted out of the earth in the shape of a horseshoe, creating a natural harbor that protected what was inside from inclement weather and prying eyes.

Yu Chen turned away from the sight, climbing the quarterdeck to speak with Yan Ziqi, who stood helming the craft.

“Senior.” He said, bowing his head slightly as he approached the other man.

Yan Ziqi nodded back towards him as he approached, his shoulder length hair blowing in the strong winds that helped push the ship along. A fierce grin crossed his face as he gestured towards the horizon.

“Not too much longer now, eh?”

Yu Chen nodded, glancing towards the island that was rapidly nearing.

“You’re sure they won’t be expecting us?”

Yan Ziqi simply shrugged his shoulders, briefly casting his eyes towards the sky. He turned his attention back towards Yu Chen, and his voice was musing as he spoke.

“Am I sure? No one can be sure of anything, I fear. Still, the old man was the one who laid out the plan, and I trust him with my life.”

Yu Chen hesitated briefly at the mention of the elder, before asking a question that’d been weighing on his mind.

“Why did Elder Jiang choose to send me after the vessel? Why not just send Sun Yuan himself?”

Yan Ziqi sighed, and Yu Chen could see the thoughts turning in his head as he considered what to say. The man cast a glance his way, weighing him in that analytical way of his before speaking.

“Truthfully, the old man would have. He was only waiting for Sun Yuan to approach him himself.” Yan Ziqi said, speaking slowly as he turned his gaze back towards their destination. “The elder was close to flying off on the spot when he heard what happened, planning to retrieve the vessel himself.”

“After all, he cannot stomach the idea that something he created would be used to commit atrocities.” The man shook his head, looking contemplative. “Only, Sun Yuan never showed up.

“Instead, he spent his days grieving, and eventually turned to drink. The old man was still holding out hope that one day the boy would wake up and come demanding justice.”

Yan Ziqi sighed, and a complicated look appeared in his eye.

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“In truth, I have no idea what the elder is thinking, only that he desires to see Sun Yuan return to himself again.” He cast a glance Yu Chen’s way, and he once again felt as though he were being weighed and measured.

“Perhaps he sees something within you. You possess a vision few others have, and that might just be the catalyst Sun Yuan needs in order to shake himself from his misery.”

The older man fell silent, and Yu Chen did as well, watching as they sailed through a break in the cliffs that formed a small channel between the sharp rocks around them. Reaching the other side, they entered into a quiescent bay where the waters shifted in slow, lazy currents.

A crescent beach appeared, covered in soft white sands that yellow waters gently lapped against. Not too far away a small town had formed, and the buildings within were a strange mix of the mundane and esoteric. Some were ramshackle things that were barely held together, composed of driftwood and the bones of river creatures, while others were much stranger, seamless metal spires that reached into the sky and floating pagodas that were tethered to the ground with chains.

It was a pirate’s haven, and how the artificers had known to find it Yu Chen couldn’t say.

Docks ran out into the bay, long wooden piers to which a number of black ships were lashed, each one flying a banner that marked it as the property of murderers, thieves and rapists.

One in particular caught his eye. Most of the vessels were grungy, ill formed things, but not this one. It was of an obviously higher quality than the others, and its luminous metallic hull was inscribed with dense scripts that shone like works of art.

It was beautiful, and Yu Chen could tell an immense amount of painstaking detail had gone into its creation.

Even the sails that hung from its thick mast were finer than the others, woven from spirit silk that shimmered under the light of the sun, and the figurehead seamlessly attached to the prow had been carved into the face of a beautiful woman. Her eyes were closed, as if in deep repose, and all manner of protective wards had been carved into her surface.

Their ruse seemed to work. No alarm came as they slid into the dock alongside the magnificent ship, although a few strange glances were cast their way. Yu Chen watched as a large man began approaching their ship, walking with a bit of swagger in his step. Perhaps he was what passed for a dockmaster in these parts.

A gangplank lowered to the dock and Yu Chen played along with the others, laughing and jostling as they strode off the ship, looking just like a group of pirates off to enjoy a bit of time in the town.

Their group came to a halt as the dockmaster stopped them, and one of the artificers stepped forward to speak with the man, distracting him. Yan Ziqi took advantage of the distraction, and while the two conversed in the background he strode up next to the gorgeous ship, where he pulled out a talisman emitting a sharp aura that Yu Chen immediately recognized as belonging to the elder.

He tossed the talisman, and it flew out, floating through the air to rest against the ship’s hull. The protective aura surrounding the ship shattered like glass at the touch, and Yu Chen heard startled shouts ring out in the air as the men aboard panicked, rushing around at the sudden event.

The dockmaster looked over, startled, and the artificer he’d been speaking with took advantage of the momentary distraction, striking him when he least suspected. He fell to the ground unmoving, and the others leaped into action, boarding the ship. Yu Chen joined them, cycling his movement technique as he jumped atop the vessel.

The deck rolled beneath his feet as he landed, but he hardly had time to notice, having to hurriedly duck out of the way as a sharp sabre came flying towards his head. The man wielding it emitted an aura at the peak of the Qi Condensation stage, but Yu Chen only gave him a cold smile.

He pushed, leaping across the deck, and his thrice tempered body brought him alongside the man in an instant. The sabre wielding fellow’s eyes barely had time to widen before Yu Chen’s fist slammed into his chest with an audible noise, sending him tumbling across the deck. Yu Chen took another step, bringing him next to the man once more, and threw a hard overhand left that let out a sharp crack as it connected with the man’s jaw. This blow sent him overboard, where he landed with a soft splash in the yellow waters below.

More pirates began swarming the ship, some boiling up from belowdecks, while others ran up the gangplank that led from the docks. Not all ran towards the ship, however. A few were running away from the fight, no doubt heading into town to warn the others.

“Hurry, they’ll be on top of us soon!” One of the artificers called, and Yu Chen responded, jumping back into the fray.

He was in his element as he moved across the deck, striking the pirates with the full force of his condensed qi. Every blow downed a man as he danced through them, avoiding the sharp steel they sent his way.

They weren’t very skilled. They were the sort that used numbers to their advantage, overwhelming their foes, but Yu Chen’s powerful movement technique and brutal blows ensured they could never bring their numbers to bear.

It was a near thing the elder had planned, and they’d arrived precisely on time to attack when the ship was least defended. Somehow, he’d caught wind of a meeting taking place between a number of the pirate captains, including the one that had been responsible for murdering Sun Yuan’s father and stealing his spirit vessel.

Yu Chen frowned as he cast a glance towards the town that was boiling with men, looking like a kicked ant hill. The man was somewhere out there, along with the strongest in his crew.

Well, not all of the strongest.

He winced, stumbling to his knees as an intense wave of power washed over him. Turning, he looked up towards the quarterdeck to see Yan Ziqi engaged in combat with another Foundation Establishment expert.

To Yu Chen’s eyes they looked like gods as they clashed atop the ship. The mighty pirate the artificer was facing fought with both hands, a glowing sabre had spun into existence within his left, while his right shot forth trails of flame that circled through the air to strike at the other man.

Yan Ziqi on the other hand fought using the tools of his trade, quite literally in fact.

The items he used to refine his artifacts were artifacts in their own right, and they swirled around him a maelstrom of terrifying energy.

Metallic hammers alight with glowing runes flew through the air alongside sharp chisels in all sizes, tongs, pliers, and even a small pair of tweezers, wicked sharp. An etching brush, an inkwell, a lens, even scissors - Yu Chen had to tear his eyes away as the sheer number of artifacts crackling with power oppressed him from a distance.

Warning bells rang out from the town before amplifying mystically, sounding terrifyingly loud as they spread across the entirety of the hidden cove.

Yu Chen let out a soft curse, launching himself towards the nearest pirate and landing a devastating kick to his chest that sent him overboard. The artificers fought all around him, in a style all their own. They lacked the numbers, but they were much more skilled, and they fought using techniques that clearly outclassed the pirates.

Another wave of power erupted behind him, and he turned, watching as artifacts were sent flying through the air as the pirate let out a mighty roar, pulsing with power.

“Yan Ziqi, they approach!” One of the artificers called out, the sound of worry in his voice.

Yan Ziqi didn’t blink at the words. He threw up an arm and all the artifacts spinning through the air came flying back, diminishing in size as they flew up his sleeve.

He threw out his other arm, and Yu Chen watched in awe as a veritable armory appeared behind him. A thin steel crescent arched towards the sky, and numerous weapons hung from it, each crackling with a unique energy. Swords, axes, hammers, sabres, each meticulously crafted.

“Gungnir.”

He spoke, and a spear lifted off of the rack, bristling with power. A truly wicked aura spread out to cover the ship, and the pirates all around quailed at the oppressive energy it emitted.

The face of the mighty pirate he was facing barely had time to pale before it disappeared forever. He’d tried to raise his saber, using it to shield himself from the blow, but the spear hadn’t even faltered as it passed through, turning his head into a red mist that lingered for half a second before falling to the deck below.

Yan Ziqi let out a soft sigh, and Yu Chen couldn’t help but notice the way his hand had trembled. It appeared as though the attack had taxed him dearly, but he didn’t rest. The last of the pirates fell and he flicked his hand once more, causing the ship they’d arrived on to rapidly shrink as it flew towards him to nestle within his sleeve.

Finished, he strode to the helm and grabbed the wheel, taking control of the vessel. The talisman Elder Jiang had given him had not only broken open the defensive wards on the ship, but it also interfered with the control its current owner had over it.

Not that he was around at the moment.

Yu Chen helped repel the pirates that continued to leap aboard as Yan Ziqi began reversing the vessel, burning the spiritual energy stored in the mast with abandon as they as they left the cove.

Suddenly, an intense wave of spiritual energy washed over them, and Yu Chen’s face paled as he saw a powerful cultivator flying through the air, anger writ across his face.