Chapter 373: Purple Star Lighting Bolt Magic Formation

The rocket assault boat cut through the waves, its hemispherical bow perpetually raised as it forged ahead.

The stern blazed with searing flames, generating immense thrust.

Waves crashed head-on, but the bow plowed through like a battering ram, smashing through the water with thunderous booms that sent towering spray flying.

With unyielding resolve, the rocket assault boat slammed into the Divine Wind.

A masked figure emerged onto the Divine Wind's deck.

Tall and gaunt, he wore a wide white feather cloak and a bronze beast-faced mask. In his left hand, he held a scythe with a shaft nearly two meters long.

Leaning on the scythe with his right hand, he slowly extended his left arm, pointing it toward the rocket assault boat.

In the next instant, a howling gale surged forth, pushing back the rocket assault boat.

Inside the cabin, Bing Xiao immediately coordinated, actively maneuvering to jettison the final section of the rocket that hadn't fully ignited.

Deprived of propulsion and buffeted by the headwind, the rocket assault boat's speed plummeted sharply.

By the time it reached the vicinity of the Divine Wind, all forward momentum had been lost.

The beast totems on the assault boat were now sparse and scattered, starkly contrasting with their earlier dense, layered clusters.

The totems shifted for a moment, their beast mouths gaping wide to reveal the inner cabin.

Bing Xiao and Spring Boxer emerged one after the other.

Two ropes were thrown from the Divine Wind's gunwale.

Spring Boxer was pale and dizzy, struggling to grasp the swaying rope.

He was in terrible shape.

Fortunately, Bing Xiao was nearby. Seeing this, he immediately offered assistance, pulling the rope down and wrapping it several times around Spring Boxer's limbs and waist.

Bing Xiao climbed the rope, pulling Spring Boxer up with him.

Both men stepped onto the deck.

The pirates on deck met them with cold, scrutinizing stares.

Bing Xiao hurriedly saluted, "Captain Feng Lian, we owe you our lives for this rescue. I never imagined you would personally intervene this time!"

Feng Lian, wielding his long-handled scythe, was none other than the captain of the Divine Wind and leader of the Divine Wind Pirates.

His hoarse voice came from beneath the bronze beast mask: “I don't trust the others enough to let them come over.”

“After all, this is one of the eight harbors of the Ice Sculpture Kingdom.”

Feng Lian lifted his head slightly: “See that?”

Bing Xiao turned slightly, gazing toward the direction of the magician tower.

Above the magician tower, the pentagram magic formation that had materialized continued to rotate slowly, strikingly conspicuously.

Bing Xiao sighed softly, "I see it. It's the Purple Star Lighting Bolt Magic Formation.”

“Ah, I never imagined the magician tower of Snow Bird Harbor would one day actually deploy a Thunder Bolt Magic Formation.”

Spring Boxer furrowed his brow in puzzlement, "Doesn't the city Lord fear the Sea Bird Church will oppose him?”

The Lightning Bolt Magic Formation was a classic, long-range precision strike spell.

Though its setup was overly cumbersome, once activated, it was extremely difficult to disrupt. It also boasted advantages like a vast attack range and pinpoint accuracy.

Most harbors possessed such defensive measures.

Snow Bird Harbor, however, was unique.

For here lay the Sea Bird Church's largest—and nearly sole—parish.

Before ascending to godhood, the Sea Bird God had endured a fierce battle where he nearly perished. His assailant was a battle qi cultivator wielding the divinity of thunder.

After the Sea Bird ascended to godhood, this battle qi cultivator also achieved divinity, becoming a minor god wielding authority over lightning.

The relationship between these two deities has always been like water and fire. Throughout their respective growth phases, they experienced countless frictions, accumulating irreconcilable hatred and conflicts.

The snow elf city Lord, who preceded the current Snow Bird Harbor City Lord, had made numerous attempts to install the Purple Star Lighting Bolt Magic Formation in Snow Bird Harbor.

But each effort was met with opposition and obstruction from the Sea Bird Church, never succeeding.

Unexpectedly, the current Snow Bird Harbor City Lord had secretly constructed it.

This was clearly a taboo act.

“Hahahaha, the city Lord's desperate!” Spring Boxer roared with laughter, "Now that he's activated the Lighting Bolt Magic Formation, the Sea Bird Church will surely come after him!”

Though not a native of Snow Bird Harbor, Spring Boxer had lived here for many years and knew the Sea Bird Church's ways intimately.

Yet Feng Lian, captain of the Divine Wind Pirates, shook his head slowly, "I doubt it.”

Spring Boxer shot him a puzzled look.

Bing Xiao sighed deeply, "This current Snow Bird Harbor City Lord is no ordinary man.”

“He's held his temper this long, waiting until the end of his term to strike against our Bayonet Gang.”

“He's prepared so thoroughly that we've no chance to fight back.”

“You tell me, would someone like that make such a rookie mistake?”

At this point, Bing Xiao shook his head, his tone unwavering, "The fact that the magician tower could openly deploy the Lightning Bolt Formation proves the Sea Bird Church is no longer a concern."

"Looking back, the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord and the Sea Bird Church have collaborated repeatedly, advancing and retreating together. Their collusion ran deep and tight. They must have forged numerous secret pacts behind the scenes."

“We were far too negligent.”

“This time, the gang's annihilation hinged on the relationship between the Sea Bird Church and the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord's city government palace.”

“Had we detected their clandestine alliance earlier, we would have remained vigilant and avoided such a sudden, catastrophic downfall.”

Bing Xiao reflected, his face etched with bitterness.

Feng Lian spoke up: “As long as you're alive, there's hope.”

“Preserve your useful body and make amends for your mistakes.”

Bing Xiao nodded, sinking into silence.

Spring Boxer couldn't help but feel puzzled.

From this exchange, he sensed that the relationship between Bing Xiao and Feng Lian wasn't merely a simple business transaction.

“Could it be... the old leader has another identity?”

Hidden behind his bronze beast mask, Spring Boxer couldn't see Feng Lian's expression. His gaze fell on Bing Xiao instead.

Bing Xiao caught the look, nodding and smiling at Spring Boxer, "There are many things the gang leader hasn't told you. The timing is too soon for you. Once we get through this current crisis, I'll explain everything to you."

Spring Boxer's curiosity only deepened.

From Bing Xiao's words, it seemed Teng Dong Lang also harbored similar secrets—far more than the simple identity Spring Boxer knew.

Boom!

Purple light flashed as another bolt of lightning struck the rocket assault boat.

This was already the second rocket assault boat to be hit.

The sheer scale of the attack drew the attention of Feng Lian, Bing Xiao, and the others.

"No! It's the boat carrying Xiong Ju and the others!" Spring Boxer's face paled as he cried out in alarm.

Bing Xiao swiftly retrieved the crystal orb and remotely activated it.

On the rocket assault boat, the totem opened its beastly maw, allowing Xiong Ju and the human ringleader to crawl out.

The human ringleader staggered, while Xiong Ju fared worse.

His upper body barely emerged before he collapsed onto the hull, vomiting violently.

“Damn it, I remember now—Xiong Ju can't handle boats. He gets seasick no matter what vessel he's on,” Spring Boxer said hoarsely, "There was even gossip in the gang about it. They say when he was a kid, if you rocked his cradle just a little, he'd foam at the mouth."

“We have to save them!”

Feng Lian watched Spring Boxer, silently sizing him up, but said nothing.

Bing Xiao's attention wasn't on Xiong Ju and the others. Instead, he was fixated on another rocket assault boat speeding across the sea.

But in the next instant, Purple Star Lighting Bolt fired again, striking its target with pinpoint accuracy.

Bing Xiao's expression paled slightly.

The rocket assault boat he'd been secretly monitoring went down as well.

The long, cylindrical rocket hull was blown clean in two. The rear section, engulfed in flames, careened wildly like a headless fly. The front section, deprived of power, slowed steadily until it finally drifted lifelessly on the sea surface.

Bing Xiao sighed bitterly, "I must return to assist!”

“Stay here,” he instructed Spring Boxer.

But Spring Boxer rejected Bing Xiao's offer without hesitation, "No, I'm going with you to save them.”

“Not just Xiong Ju and the others—there are many more gang members too.”

Chaos reigned at Snow Bird Harbor's dock.

Swamp oil elementals were still wreaking havoc everywhere.

Hordes of gang members boarded fishing boats, cruise ships, even small wooden boats, racing toward the open sea to escape the harbor.

Others were locked in combat on the dock.

They lacked the capability for large-scale military formations, but acts of destruction—looting, burning, and smashing—were second nature to them.

Even with a squad of city guards rushing to the scene, they struggled to contain the situation.

“Lord Feng Lian, could you let our other gang members board your ship too?” asked Spring Boxer.

Feng Lian fixed his gaze on Spring Boxer, then suddenly chuckled softly, "So you're the coffin bearer chosen by Teng Dong Lang.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Spring Boxer was bewildered.

Feng Lian offered no explanation, instead turning to Bing Xiao, "You know I can't bring the ship any closer.”

"This distance is the limit. Even if the Purple Star Lightning Bolt strikes, we can evade it."

"But I suspect the magician tower has other tricks up its sleeve. I smell a trap."

“So, if you want to help, you'll have to get them yourselves.”

“My ship stays here, maintaining distance, and I'll only give you 15 minutes.”

“Understood!” Bing Xiao nodded, "Give us one landing craft. If we're not back in 15 minutes, you can leave. Don't come to rescue us."

“Give them a ship!” Feng Lian ordered immediately.

The Divine Wind Pirates' landing craft mirrored the flagship's style—long and slender, with sleek lines.

Spring Boxer leaped from the rope ladder onto the craft, only to stare in disbelief.

He found no rudder, let alone oars.

Bing Xiao already stood at the bow.

The next moment, Feng Lian spoke: “Let me give you a ride.”

He extended his left hand, palm facing the landing craft.

The landing craft instantly activated, radiating a silver level aura.

This vessel, designed for twenty passengers, was in fact a silver level magic ship!

The alchemy runes on its hull ignited, unleashing a powerful gust of wind. The wind lifted the hull and propelled it forward.

Spring Boxer let out a startled cry and plopped down onto his backside.

The landing craft shot forward like an arrow released from its bowstring.

Bam!

The dragonman youngster's fist smashed through, crushing the skull of a bayonet gang member blocking his path.

His dragon scales were drenched in blood, all belonging to others.

Beside him lay the wreckage of the first rocket assault boat he had destroyed.

The dragonman youngster charged first, obliterating the entire vessel only to find it empty.

But now, his keen dragon eyes reflected the image of a landing craft.

Upon it stood Bing Xiao and Spring Boxer.

Gritting his teeth, the dragonman youngster murmured to himself.

"Fantastic."