Chapter 280

Chapter 280: The Saint

As the Narwhal sailed toward its destination following Emil’s coordinates, a massive Skyship thousands of kilometers away raced toward the Dusk Graveyard.

This Skyship bore no resemblance to those commonly seen in the Sea of Clouds.

Typical Skyships—including those from the Arad continent—were long and streamlined, with small side wings and large rudders, resembling oceanic fish. Larger ones took the shape of sharks or whales. Collectively, they were called "fish-shaped Skyships."

But this vessel was different.

It resembled a giant vulture, its colossal wings blotting out the sky as it glided above the clouds. With a wingspan stretching a hundred meters—enough to land the Narwhal with room to spare—its wings housed massive air intakes that inhaled and expelled air, propelling the craft forward.

A "bird-shaped Skyship," built with alchemy techniques far surpassing the Sea of Clouds’ capabilities.

Had Midi the reincarnator witnessed this, the words "Demon Realm" would’ve flashed through his mind.

This was a Demon Realm cruiser.

Not the genuine warships used eons ago by King Bacal of the Tyrant Dragon to attack the heavens, but an imitation. Yet even this replica outperformed modern Skyships.

Its crew weren’t abyssal demons but Sea of Clouds natives—People of the Heavens, Demon Realm denizens, and Dragonkin—all wearing Blue Truth Sect badges, coexisting peacefully.

"Your Excellency, the Saint," intoned a bald man in opulent blue robes within the bright captain’s quarters, "we’ll reach the Dusk Graveyard in ten days."

This was Bishop Marlan, who’d boasted arrogantly at the auction. His audience now was the shadowy figure even Midi feared.

The Saint sprawled on a wyvern-leather sofa, toying with the frost-cloaked Ice Soul Pearl—Midi’s auctioned treasure—as he listened.

The Ice Soul Pearl was both priceless artifact and deadly weapon. Its star-like core absorbed magic naturally, centuries of icy immersion granting extreme coldness, while the embedded cloud beast consciousness made it fiercely defiant.

Any unprotected practitioner, even an Awakened One, would freeze into shattered ice within minutes. Midi himself needed Golden-Red Sword Lights to seal it safely.

Yet the Saint held it barehanded, his magic quelling its fury. The once-raging cloud beast consciousness now curled submissively in his palm, docile as a kitten.

Such was the horror of mind-related abilities—the Blue Truth Sect’s ultimate trump card. Levels meant nothing. Magic posed no barrier. Wars became trivial. This was why Midi feared them.

Cloud beast consciousnesses dwarfed those of intelligent races, controlling kilometer-long bodies through pure instinct—no cunning, no savagery, just primal battle-drive. Suppressing them was near-impossible.

Yet the Saint manipulated this consciousness effortlessly.

Mind-related abilities’ terror was laid bare. His mastery over them was absolute.

"Ten days?" The Saint’s voice rasped like a blunt saw on wood, words crude and disjointed—more beast than civilized speech. "Shorten it. One week. I’ll see the Dusk Graveyard in one week."

Neither Bishop Marlan nor the cruiser captain dared protest.

"I know what you were thinking." A silvery glow flashed in the Saint’s eyes as he let out a contemptuous snort.

The sound instantly drenched Bishop Marlan and the cruiser captain in cold sweat.

This wasn’t mere intimidation or mind-reading – he literally knew their exact thoughts.

"You believe this magic griffin cruiser and my presence will let us dominate the Sea of Clouds? Fools." The Saint lifted the Ice Soul Pearl. "Marlan, you spent eight hundred thousand Crystal Coins for this. Do you know its origin?"

"I don’t," Marlan answered bluntly, head bowed.

Words felt redundant before the Saint. Only concise replies could avoid provoking mental intrusion.

"This contains the core of an Ice Cloud Circle cloud beast."

Genuine shock gripped both men. While ordinary people wouldn’t recognize cloud beasts, these two knew better. As Blue Truth Sect higher-ups, Marlan had studied ancient scrolls about these creatures. The captain had actually sailed through their territory, battling the terrifying magical beasts without ever defeating one – even with his cruiser.

Now a cloud beast core lay before them. How could their hearts not churn with storm of emotions?

"You think Sky City’s opening only brings Lower Realm ants?" The Saint studied the Ice Soul Pearl’s dormant cloud beast consciousness, curled like a kitten. "The Sea of Clouds already has experts slaying these beasts. More will come. Fail to recognize this danger, and you’ll die."

"Yes, Your Excellency," they chorused, bowing lower.

"My main purpose crossing the Stormy Region is to reclaim ancient battlefield Weapons. The Sea of Clouds’ ruins hold treasures making our sect powerful enough to dominate these skies – even reach Arad continent!"

The Saint’s saw-like voice ceased. A thunderous, fanatical voice boomed directly into their minds instead, carrying irresistible pressure. Marlan turned ghostly pale while the captain nearly collapsed. Neither dared show weakness, teeth clenched as they bowed deeper.

"Go! Claim everything for the Blue Truth Sect! Eliminate all resistance!"

The mental command echoed like thunder. Exiting the captain’s quarters, the two proud men saw mirrored horror in each other’s eyes, their backs soaked with cold sweat. Before this unfathomable Saint, they felt like insects.

"They say the Saint’s bloodline connects to legendary Apostles," Marlan whispered on the cold wind-swept deck.

"Bloodline. Talent. Power." The Dragonkin captain shook his head. Though awakened for Many Years and beyond level 60, he couldn’t fathom resisting. Their only thought now: complete the Saint’s mission, however unreasonable.

Within minutes, the magic griffin cruiser’s wing engines roared to life, exhaust vents blazing. The hundred-meter wingspan behemoth shuddered, accelerating like a starved vulture diving toward Dusk Graveyard.