Chapter 603: Main Text 603. Fortune's Favor, Level 13 Star Pirate Group! (5)

Book 603. The Favor of Lady Fortune—Thirteen-Level Star Pirate Gang! (5)

Zi Yanxin sat in the cockpit, her gaze fixed upon the scene unfolding beyond the ship’s viewport. In the star-strewn void, over two hundred figures clashed fiercely—most were Level Eleven, while roughly one-third had ascended to Level Twelve.

Such a grand-scale battle, even amidst the boundless cosmos, was a rare spectacle—but to Zi Yanxin, it amounted to little more than an engaging diversion. She had witnessed far greater conflicts: titanic clashes where mere gestures unleashed devastation rivaling planetary annihilation cannons, capable of obliterating worlds with casual ease. Merely observing such battles was perilous; a single misstep could spell instant obliteration.

What unfolded before her now was but a minor skirmish.

“Indeed,” she murmured, “as we draw nearer to the Bow of the Hunt, even the quality of star pirates improves. They’ve gathered nearly thirty Level Twelve warriors.”

She wasn’t alone in watching.

The *Starlight Blossom* was less than fifteen days from its destination—the final three spatial jumps remained. With the end in sight, everyone aboard relaxed like weary soldiers awaiting the spoils of a long-fought war.

“No wonder they’re disciples of Hai Ji Dao and Lord Babulo—their strength is truly monstrous. One alone can sweep through all Level Twelves effortlessly. Their only true rivals are each other.”

Someone in the cockpit couldn’t help but exclaim.

And indeed, on the screen, two figures dominated the fray. One radiated emerald energy, while the other was wreathed in azure frost-flame. Their power was staggering—among Level Twelves, none could withstand even a single strike. Each blow they delivered crushed opponents as though they were fragile glass.

In truth, the pirate faction fielded nearly twice as many Level Twelves as the *Starlight Blossom*. Yet due to these two warriors, the tide had turned decisively—one-sided, even. The pirates, numerically and qualitatively superior, were being shattered into disarray. Already, over ten Level Twelves among them had perished.

“It looks like the battle’s nearly over.”

“Praise Onon—and beautiful, mighty Miss Zoe! They are, without question, the most extraordinary martial geniuses I’ve ever laid eyes upon!”

“What about Master Hai Ji Dao’s other disciple? I’ve never even seen him.”

“Perhaps he’s rather reclusive. Since boarding, he hasn’t left his quarters once.”

“Ah… fair enough.”

Inside the cockpit, many had already raised their glasses in celebration, voices light and carefree.

Then—suddenly—the battlefield shifted.

A colossal arc of prismatic light tore across the void like a divine sword descending from heaven, erupting violently from the emptiness itself—and lashed out toward the emerald-clad warrior who had been carving through enemies with ruthless abandon.

The target had no time to react. He vanished beneath the blinding torrent.

“Gods above!”

Instantly, the cockpit erupted. Gasps filled the air; men leapt from their seats in shock.

Zi Yanxin shot upright, pressing close to the screen, eyes unblinking, fixed upon the unfolding horror.

The radiant arc faded—revealing scattered limbs and severed torsos drifting silently through space. Nearly all belonged to the *Starlight Blossom*’s crew—Level Elevens and Twelves alike.

Then—a figure emerged.

A gaunt-faced middle-aged man, skin pallid as bone, eyes ringed in deep, gleaming blackness. He held a longsword, his gaze slithering like a serpent across the battlefield.

“Level Thirteen…”

Zi Yanxin’s voice tightened, each syllable carved with icy precision.

The faces around her paled instantly.

Just then, a flicker of green light pierced the gloom. Within it, a pale figure streaked desperately toward the *Starlight Blossom*, swift as a comet.

“It’s Onon! He survived?!”

“I knew he wouldn’t fall so easily! By the stars—he endured a full-strength strike from a Level Thirteen and lived? Truly monstrous!”

Voices surged with elation.

Zi Yanxin cut in sharply: “Quick—order everyone back aboard immediately!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Her command had barely left her lips when chaos struck anew.

The newly appeared Level Thirteen pirate watched Onon and the others begin their retreat—and a sneering smirk curled his lips.

“Only now do you think to flee?”

*Hmph.*

The serpentine man raised his sword with effortless disdain, aimed it at the fleeing group—and slashed horizontally with lethal intent.

At once, the prismatic arc flared again.

A crescent-shaped scarlet blade of energy surged forward, devouring the void behind it like a ravenous tide. Space itself split like water under its passage—its destructive force unspeakable.

The crimson wave overtook a Level Twelve warrior first. He didn’t even cry out—engulfed, crushed, erased in an instant.

As if a thundering steel wheel had rolled over a mere insect—no trace remained, not even a shred of martial spirit could escape its crushing force.

Those who witnessed this scene turned ashen-faced.

The might of Level Thirteen was widely known, yet hearsay and firsthand sight were two entirely different realms.

Only upon seeing how effortlessly Level Twelve crumbled beneath that single swordstroke did they truly grasp the sheer terror of Level Thirteen.

The power of Level Thirteen’s Law—utterly devastating.

One after another, the elite warriors aboard the *Stellar Orchid* starship were swallowed and shattered by the searing swordlight.

Inside the cockpit, faces twisted in alarm, pallor spreading like ink in water—except for Zi Yanxin, whose expression remained unshaken as she snapped: “Hurry! Summon Wu Tian and Hai Ji Dao!”

Before the order could even be relayed—

A ghastly white blade-slash erupted across the void, visible even through the screen, radiating an overwhelming aura of withering decay.

The blade-light clashed with the sword-might; for a breath, they locked in stalemate, then detonated across the cosmos, carving vast collapses and sinkholes into the fabric of space.

Then—a slender figure with waist-length white hair materialized before their eyes.

“It’s Hai Ji Dao!”

Someone in the cockpit whispered, voice trembling with relief.

“Die!”

The instant Hai Ji Dao appeared, a glacial-blue spear-thrust pierced the void, trailing absolute frost, sealing all life in its wake—aimed straight at the serpentine middle-aged man.

His expression never flickered. He raised a hand, slicing forth a swordbeam to intercept the spear.

Beside him, a towering silhouette surged into being.

In a heartbeat, figures converged, clashing in a whirlwind of Law-energies, churning cosmic currents like fireworks exploding in the dark.

Within moments, the spectacle became dizzying—impossible to follow, impossible to parse.

Only when the frenzied energies finally subsided did the battlefield settle into clarity.

Three figures stood arrayed at three cardinal points, forming a shield before the *Stellar Orchid*.

Opposite them loomed two silhouettes—one gaunt, one massive.

The battle had entered a brief, tense lull.

At this sight, the tension in the cockpit melted into elation, then quiet jubilation.

A faint cheer rose.

“Wu Tian! Hai Ji Dao! And Babulo!”

“All three Level Thirteen Masters have arrived!”

“The enemy only has two Level Thirteen cultivators—fortune forever favors the glorious *Stellar Orchid*!”

This time, even Zi Yanxin’s face softened, her shoulders relaxing, a faint thread of relief weaving across her features.

Thankfully, she had invited two Level Thirteen wanderers seeking passage aboard.

Had only the clan’s retainer, Wu Tian, been present—this trial might well have ended in ruin.

Who could have foreseen it? So near the *Hunting Bow*, they’d still encounter a pirate syndicate wielding *two* Level Thirteen warriors.

Yet—

Fortune’s favor, at last, rested upon her side.

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