Yu Chen’s heart pounded against his chest as he watched the man soar out of the town, hovering in the sky above them.

A thick aura rolled off the pirate, blanketing the cove in a suffocating energy. His long, black hair twisted wildly in the air, lifted by the raw power radiating from him. His face, framed by a bushy black beard, was twisted into a rictus of rage as he glared down at the fleeing ship.

Yu Chen knew the sight should fill him with fear, but a rebellious joy filled him instead, a giddy thrill that only came from snubbing your nose towards someone more powerful.

The feeling was tempered by the grim realization that he might not live to tell the tale, and he hoped Yan Ziqi had a plan to get out of here.

Yu Chen turned to look at the man behind him, steering the ship in its mad dash toward open water. Yan Ziqi appeared unperturbed by the threat, and it comforted him to see his impassive face, showing no concern for the powerhouse raging behind them.

The other ships started to undock, beginning to pursue them through the cove. Yu Chen wasn’t worried about them, though, it was unlikely they’d catch up. Not only did they have a head start, but the vessel produced by Elder Jiang was meticulously built, undoubtedly capable of outrunning the shoddily crafted vessels most of the pirates crewed.

He felt two more auras rise into the sky behind them, joining the first.

Those? Those worried him.

The suffocating energy in the cove intensified further. Yu Chen’s heart sank as he looked over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he saw the three Golden Core cultivators hovering in the air. To his surprise they seemed weak for their stage, coming nowhere near the standard of the elders he’d encountered before. Maybe they were in the early steps of the stage, or perhaps they’d broken through with a subpar foundation.

Either way, it didn’t matter to him. A Golden Core was a Golden Core, and any of them could crush him like a bug.

Yu Chen cursed under his breath as the bushy bearded pirate shot towards them, streaking across the bay. Thankfully the other two held back, maintaining their position in the distance as they watched the pursuit unfold with cold interest.

Yu Chen glanced around uneasily, his eyes darting over the artificers as they rushed around the ship, activating the various formations and arrays inscribed aboard. One of them leapt to the prow, slapping a hand atop the figurehead and injecting it with a sharp jolt of qi.

The defensive formations carved into the figurehead flared to life, and a shimmering shield exploded outwards, encompassing the entire vessel. It was an exact replica to the one they’d had to break to board the ship, and he hoped it’d prove sturdier this time.

A fiery energy surged throughout the ship, powering the formations, and the rest of the scriptures inscribed across the vessel lit up as well. The deck atop the forecastle peeled back and a ballista rose up from within, mounted on a rotating axis that allowed it to pivot 360 degrees. The hull shifted as well, and barrels emerged, reminiscent of the weapons of war he still occasionally heard in his sleep.

It didn’t take long before the ship was bristling with weaponry and ready for war.

By now the mast was literally glowing with power, and the barely discernible buzz in the air had grown into a loud hum that resonated deep within his bones.

The mast functioned as a giant battery, powering the vessel as it journeyed across the river, and its value, if sold, was enough to take a mortal deep into Foundation Establishment. To create one a massive chunk of spirit stone had to be quarried whole, then carved into a long cylinder and encased in a unique alloy that allowed it to conduct energy throughout the entire ship.

In essence it housed the power of the ship–and was a significant part of the cost of its creation.

Yu Chen ran up the quarterdeck, standing beside Yan Ziqi as the bearded pirate gained on them.

“Can we escape?” Yu Chen asked, his voice tinged with worry as he watched the man hurtling towards them.

“Of course.” Yan Ziqi’s reply came swiftly, but his voice was tight, and his eyes narrowed in stress. “Don’t worry Yu Chen. There’s no need to fear any number of pirates, Golden Core or not. Not as long as the ship still has energy.”

As if to underscore his words the ballista atop the forecastle let out a sharp twang. Yu Chen watched as a jagged bolt of lightning shot forth, slicing through the air towards the oncoming pirate.

The man rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding the shot, only to scramble again as more bolts of lightning streaked towards him, cutting through the intervening space.

“You dare?!” He screamed in anger, his voice echoing with such force that rocks and pebbles tumbled down from the cliffs around them.

The attacks had stalled the man, buying them precious time, but it came at a cost.

Each shot had drained substantial energy from the ship. After all, they were powerful enough to threaten a Golden Core cultivator. Even so, the mast has barely dimmed, capable of holding an enormous amount of power.

They were halfway through the short passage leading to the yellow river when the pirate finally caught up to them.

His face was purple with anger as he let out a furious shout, dodging another lightning bolt that came his way before slashing down with the glowing sabre he wielded. A black tidal wave of spiritual energy poured forth, crashing down onto the vessel with terrifying force.

Yu Chen watched as the crackling energy washed over the shield, causing it to flicker. It lingered, eating at the shield, but in the end, it held firm, resisting the blow of a Golden Core cultivator.

The powerful blow sent them lurching forward, out into the open waters of the yellow river. Yu Chen stumbled as the deck heaved, and he had to grab the railing to avoid going overboard. Yan Ziqi was unfazed, yanking the wheel sharply now that he had room to maneuver.

The artificers were ready as the ship turned, and the spiritual artillery let out a volley of blasts as they came alongside the pirate, showering him in a wave of energy. He was sent flying backwards, smoking, from the force of the blows.

The deck rocked as the artillery barked once more, unleashing a barrage of energy that took various forms. Piercing beams of radiant energy shot forth, alongside balls of fiery qi that exploded in midair. The pirate dodged what he could, but some of the blasts displayed homing properties, forming bolts of pure energy that locked onto their target with unerring accuracy.

The attacks dimmed the mast considerably, but the pirate had received the worse end of the deal. His clothes were ripped and torn, and he bled from multiple places. His beard was smoldering, but his eyes were still lively, filled with a viperous rage as he glared down at them.

He revolved the sabre in his hands with a shout, swinging it over and over again as he sent vicious waves of black energy crashing down upon the ship. The shield flickered as the sheer number of attacks began to overwhelm it, but the vessel shot out another volley, forcing him to abandon the attack.

They hadn't stopped moving, putting some distance between themselves and the pirates cove as they outpaced the ships that had taken off in pursuit.

The fight would be determined by who ran out of energy first.

After all, the pirate couldn’t maintain his flight forever, and he spent more energy with every attack and defensive maneuver.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Although, they didn’t have endless resources either.

The ship had proven capable of holding off a Golden Core cultivator, but it wouldn’t be able to do so forever. The mast had already lost half its intensity, just from the short fight they’d engaged in so far. Yu Chen watched as some of the artificers hurried over, placing their palms upon the mast and using their own energy to recharge it.

The pirate recovered from their latest attack and was about to renew his assault, when he stilled, looking over his shoulder.

It took a second before Yu Chen felt it, but soon he sensed two powerful auras approaching in the distance. They grew closer, and his stomach fell as two new shapes appeared on the horizon.

They rapidly closed the distance, and Yu Chen saw that they were the two Golden Core cultivators from before. One was a man, wide and burly with a hint of mischief lurking in his eyes, while the other was a woman, beautiful in a roguish way. A wicked scar ran across her face, disappearing beneath an inscribed patch that covered her eye.

They surrounded the battered pirate who hovered in the air, breathing furiously.

“I didn’t think I’d see the day when Black Tide Zhu was outwitted by a handful of baby cultivators!” The woman said, and her laughter resounded across the water, clearly audible to Yu Chen and the artificers.

Pirate Zhu glowered at her, flexing his empty hand open and closed.

“Funny. But if you’re not going to help then get the hell out of my way!” He said with a roar as he lifted his sabre once more, sending another tidal wave of spiritual energy crashing towards the ship continuing to flee.

The black wave never reached them however, as the wide pirate interposed himself, blocking the blow with a large anchor that appeared out of nowhere.

“Iron Han, what is the meaning of this!” Pirate Zhu yelled in rage, but the other pirate only gave him a cold smile in return. “What happened to the truce?”

“What truce?” The woman on his other side cackled. “The truce was between captains, and without a ship you’re not a captain!”

Pirate Zhu clenched his teeth, his beard bristling as he looked back and forth between the two cultivators blocking his way to the ship.

“Good! Very good!” He yelled; his eyes filled with rage. “Fine! Tell me what you want! Help me get my ship back and I’ll even give you half of what’s in the hold!”

”But I’m warning you, continue to stand in my way and you’ll find out why they call me the Black Tide!”

The woman let out a harsh laugh.

“Your hold? I’m more interested in what's in your ring, Black Tide Zhu.” She said, her tone mocking.

Pirate Zhu’s face paled, and he took a half step back in the air.

“What are you talking about Mei?” He said, crossing his arms.

“Someone in your crew has loose lips,” she said, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down. “The rumor going around is that you intercepted a prize not too long ago, a sect vessel headed to the Auction Ship.”

She rose higher in the air, staring down at him imperiously.

“There must have been many good things aboard, yes? Bring them out now, or I’ll show you why they call me the Tidebreaker!”

She tossed the bearded man a sickly smile.

“But you already know why they call me that don’t you?”

The three figures faded into the distance as they fled, but Yu Chen could still hear them clearly. Their voices sounded out across the river, amplified by qi.

“Yu Chen, run down to the hold and bring up any spirit stones you find! Quickly now!” Yan Ziqi called out.

Yu Chen looked over at the words and saw Yan Ziqi wave his hand towards the mast, which had begun to dim, dangerously so. Yu Chen responded instantly, diving off the quarterdeck and scrambling down the short staircase that ran beneath the ship.

The space below seemed larger than its outer appearance would suggest, and Yu Chen had to run past a series of empty bedrooms, a galley and an open mess hall before he reached the door leading to the cargo hold, although he didn’t open it. He took a deep breath instead, calming his heart before reaching forward and placing his palm atop it.

Every spiritual vessel contained a cargo hold covered in spatial formations, allowing it to hold far more than it should have been capable of, like larger versions of the pouch he carried. Yu Chen closed his eyes, concentrating.

The connection had only been active a few seconds before he stumbled back, his concentration breaking apart at the sheer volume of items that flooded his mind.

The artificers wanted spirit stones?

They’d get spirit stones. Yu Chen laughed as he placed his palm back atop the door, willing the spirit stones within to appear.

The door opened and a veritable fountain began pouring out, but Yu Chen was prepared. He opened his spatial pouch, catching what he could as they fell, and the rest clattered down around his feet. Hundreds, no, thousands, of spirit stones poured forth in a wide variety of sizes and purities, and he collected them all without discrimination.

A shout came from up above and he cut off the connection, stumbling across the loose spirit stones rolling around the heaving deck as he ran back upstairs.

He arrived at a scene of devastation.

The mast no longer possessed a visible glow at all, and the shield surrounding them flickered, on the verge of collapse.

The three Golden Core cultivators fought in the air above them, Black Tide Zhu cursing viciously as he fought off the other two with desperation in his eyes.

Wicked attacks flew through the space between them, carving up the water below and occasionally striking the ship itself.

Yu Chen stopped in his tracks, captivated by the three powerful cultivators fighting in the air. it wasn’t until Tidebreaker Mei sent a gushing torrent of water racing into the sky that he finally caught it, realizing what he’d been missing, and his eyebrows shot up as he realized the true profundity of their fight.

At their level every attack contained a Concept, he simply hadn’t noticed it at first. It wasn’t until he felt the Concept of water resonate with him that he’d realized what was going on.

Now that he knew what to look for he could see that Black Tide Zhu’s attacks were tinged with the concept of decay, and he recalled how they’d eaten away at the shield surrounding the ship.

Iron Han, on the other hand, seemed to have some concept of weight, or density, in his attacks, and he fought with an iron anchor that radiated an impressive aura.

Yu Chen watched as a tidal wave of decay rolled across the sky towards the Tidebreaker, but she just lifted a hand, and the energy fell apart as it washed over her.

His jaw dropped, and he felt he’d truly witnessed something profound. His mind raced with ideas of how she could’ve done what he’d just seen.

She’d simply destroyed the attack, like she’d deleted it from existence! Or did she Cancel it? Perhaps it was Negation?

“Hahahaha!” His thoughts were cut off as Iron Han spoke out. “Your Null Tide is most impressive Meimei! It won’t be long before you form your false domain!”

She crooked a smile as she glared down at Pirate Zhu, who appeared helpless, and beside him with rage.

“I’m still far from forming my seed, brother Han.”

“The furnace! Hurry!” One of the artificers called out, bringing Yu Chen back to the present. He turned, seeing the man pointing towards a squat steel contraption near the mast, rising up from belowdecks.

One of the artificers who’d been clinging to the mast wavered, collapsing to the floor completely drained, and the other followed shortly after.

Yu Chen hurried over as the sound of fighting resumed overhead, shoving the lid of the furnace open. A wave of heat billowed out, but Yu Chen paid it no mind. He shoved his bag against the opening and willed the spirit stones out, watching as they tumbled forth, falling into the heart of the furnace.

They were consumed within, transformed into raw energy that fed directly into the mast.

Whatever detritus remained was ejected somewhere beneath the ship, but that didn’t concern Yu Chen right now.

He watched the mast in worry, letting out a sigh of relief as it began to glow once more. The shield around them firmed as well, once again shimmering with a radiant light.

The ship even increased in speed. He turned towards Yan Ziqi, seeing beads of sweat break out on the cultivator's forehead as he pushed it as hard as he could.

Cries of frustration came from Pirate Zhu as they began to pull away, disappearing into the distance.

Yu Chen hurried back below deck, retrieving more spirit stones to feed into the furnace, continuing until the mast was humming at full power.

He collapsed on the deck once he was finished, relief washing over him as the three terrifying presences disappeared from his senses. The waters had become calm once again, and even the sounds of fighting had disappeared.

Even so they didn’t slow down, continuing to move at full speed across the yellow river.

“This ship is so powerful! How did the pirates ever manage to acquire it?” Yu Chen couldn’t help but ask as he rose to his feet, approaching Yan Ziqi.

“Deceit and trickery, how else?” The man said, shortly, focused only on moving the vessel as quickly as he could. “But that’s Sun Yuan’s story to tell, not mine.”

Yu Chen only nodded in reply.

He lapsed into silence as the artificers activated the formations again, this time hiding the weapons and releasing the shields. Now that the other systems weren’t draining energy, The ship sped up again, moving even faster.

Once they’d gone further than the pirate's senses could reach, Yan Ziqi activated the spirit veil, cloaking the ship.

To Yu Chen’s eyes nothing changed, but the banner hanging from the mast shimmered, and the ship's speed cut down dramatically, the vessel shifting power around to hide them from sight.

Even so, Yu Chen continued to stare behind them for a long time to come.