The passage to the Never Aging Gate had already been cleared.
Lu Hua toyed with the ring in his hand and said indifferently, "Actually, there was no need to make such a big fuss just to kill an old dog like you. But Jade Terrace Mountain was worried you might escape, so they brought a few more people just in case."
Beside him, the Guardian said nothing, quietly emanating the might of someone at the peak of the Mountain Moving Realm, pressing down on Cao Gao until he was bent over.
"I'd be happy to kill you myself, but Jade Terrace Mountain clearly doesn't want to owe me any favors. What a pity. I'll let Jade Terrace Mountain's people do the honors."
Lu Hua shook his head slightly and twisted the ring on his finger. He called softly into it, "Go ahead, Junior Sect Leader."
"Mm," came the cold reply from within the ring.
On the ferry, a purple-robed elder slowly emerged, an indifferent smile lingering at the corners of his mouth, his hands clasped behind his back.
Lu Hua's gaze sharpened. He hadn't expected the Junior Sect Leader to send out this elder who had only just entered the Inverse Sea Realm. It seemed they were taking Cao Gao quite seriously.
The purple-robed elder held out one of his hands from behind his back and said lightly, "I'll slit your throat, rip out your soul, and kill you thoroughly. I'm quite fast about it. If you cooperate and don't struggle, you shouldn't feel too much pain. Remember not to resist."
Cao Gao's murky eyes flashed. All he could see were slender fingers, emanating an icy chill, already poised at his forehead between his brows.
"Alright?"
The purple-robed elder smiled as he asked.
His fingers erupted with surging spiritual power. In the next moment, they would slice open Cao Gao's neck and sever his head.
The ferry suddenly shuddered, and a tiny hole appeared in the hull near the bottom of the boat.
The slicing fingers of the purple-robed elder slammed into a purple-golden flying sword instead.
His expression changed drastically. In a flash, his figure flickered to the back of the boat as he asked grimly, "Who is it?!"
Silence. The scene was still.
Then, crisp footsteps sounded.
First, a golden flying sword came into view.
Next was a figure in white robes, twirling the golden sword in his hand. He smiled at the people on board.
"Greetings."
Cao Gao's expression froze, then his entire being seemed to come alive with excitement. His voice shook. "Senior...!"
Chen Xia waved a hand at him. "I took the liberty of helping you out a bit. Don't worry about it."
"Th-thank you, Senior!" Cao Gao's cheeks even trembled. He bowed deeply to Chen Xia with clasped fists.
The purple-robed elder watched with knitted brows, unsure of Chen Xia's identity that could elicit such a reaction from Cao Gao. But judging by the two flying swords, he was clearly no ordinary figure.
"Sir, I don't suppose you want to interfere in my Jade Terrace Mountain's affairs? That wouldn't be good." The purple-robed elder frowned as he spoke, a hint of warning in his tone.
"What's not good about it? I love getting involved in other people's business. In the future, I could even help you and your wife out in the bedroom if you want. I'm always glad to help others," Chen Xia replied lightly with an arched smile.
"Such insolence. Does Sir really think my Jade Terrace Mountain is a paper tiger?" The purple-robed elder growled through gritted teeth.
"Nope," Chen Xia shook his head. "I never once considered you guys as tigers, not even paper ones."
"Alright, alright!" The purple-robed elder said "alright" three times in a row. He was clearly furious at Chen Xia's audacity. His gaze shifted to Lu Hua.
"Friend, please ask your Guardian to back me up. Once we're done, the Junior Sect Leader will owe you a favor."
With his hands behind his back, Lu Hua seemed quite interested. "Does an Inverse Sea Realm cultivator really need to ask a Mountain Moving Realm peak master for help holding the line?"
"There is strength in numbers." The purple-robed elder replied as such. At the same time, he had already summoned his life's treasure, a Purple Thunder Deathflower.
"Go on then," Lu Hua beckoned, signaling for the Guardian to step forward and assist, while he watched the scene unfold with great anticipation.
He hadn't expected such a climax to liven up their dull, decade-long voyage.
As for his own safety, Lu Hua had no worries at all. This was the Never Aging Gate's ferry crossing. He was the eldest grandson of the Never Aging Gate's Second Elder. Nothing could go wrong here.
Outside the crossing was a mighty Inverse Sea Realm level six expert guarding the place.
The purple-robed elder exhaled and continued, "Don't be stubborn. Leave quickly, lest you..."
His words abruptly halted as he formed incantations with his hands. The Purple Thunder Deathflower bloomed instantly, enveloping Chen Xia within.
The Guardian reacted swiftly. Gripping his spirit treasure flying sword, he closed in on Chen Xia in a flash, coordinating with the purple flower's attack.
Chen Xia put down the golden sword in his hand. He stretched out two fingers, pointing ahead, an arrogant smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
"A Mountain Mover. An Inverse Sea. How amusing."
His two fingers lightly tapped forward, seemingly piercing only the empty space before him. Yet a flash of sword intent flickered by.
The Purple Thunder Deathflower froze mid-air, blocked by the purple-golden flying sword.
"Quick, attack! Why are you hesitating?" The purple-robed elder called out urgently upon seeing the Guardian's motionless figure.
As these words left his mouth, the Guardian's sword-wielding form toppled backwards. There was a clean hole between his brows. His soul was extinguished along with his life.
Dead beyond dead.
Lu Hua's smile froze as astonishment flooded his face. He instantly grasped the gravity of the situation.
The purple-robed elder immediately turned and fled without the slightest hesitation.
Anyone who could so easily instant-kill a peak Mountain Moving Realm cultivator was absolutely not someone he could contend against. This person had to be at least a level two or three Inverse Sea Realm master.
He had to run quickly and get the Never Aging Gate's mighty one to handle this matter.
But why would Cao Gao know someone like this? It made no sense!
The purple-robed elder's mind churned chaotically as his figure continuously flickered away.
It seemed like he had fled several hundred li when his next flicker bumped right into a hand, as if it had been waiting there all along.
When he came to, he found his head gripped by the hand, dragging him back onto the ferry.
"Leaving without even saying goodbye, how rude," Chen Xia said lightly with a chuckle.
The purple-robed elder's eyes widened in shock. He immediately turned and yelled at Lu Hua, "Hurry, summon that mighty one, hurry!"
Lu Hua gritted his teeth and instantly crushed the jade tablet at his waist, sending up a pillar of sky-piercing radiance.
Chen Xia held the purple-robed elder's head, making him face Chen Xia. He asked curiously, "Have you always been this impolite?"
Unable to break free, the purple-robed elder could only gnash his teeth and shout, "I'm an elder of Jade Terrace Mountain's Inner Sect! If you kill me, Jade Terrace Mountain will never let you off. And beyond them is the Blue Sky Sword Sea..."
Slap!
His body instantly slammed onto the deck of the ferry, his head pinned down tightly by a foot.
Chen Xia patted his somewhat disheveled white robes and said flatly, "Don't threaten me with Blue Sky Sword Sea. I have no interest in hearing that useless name."
In the distance, an immense aura rapidly approached.
A delighted smile broke out on Lu Hua's face. He bowed towards the front. "Greetings, Elder."
The purple-robed elder's face also took on an expression of hope as he continuously yelled, "Save me, save me!"
Cao Gao's face was full of worry and regret. He hated himself for dragging Chen Xia into this.
The vast aura landed. At first, it paused, then immediately bowed deeply to Chen Xia with clasped fists.
"Greetings, Senior!"