As the distance to the large fleet ahead grew shorter, the passengers aboard Mo Baiyu's grand ship grew increasingly agitated and excited.
Some, fearing they might stand too far back to catch a glimpse of Upper Immortal Qingqing's peerless beauty, directly left the ship, soaring through the Great Desolate. Others even flew straight toward the large fleet ahead.
This naturally freed up quite a few spots on the deck.
Gu Qingfeng seized this opportunity, found a spot, sat down, and began enjoying fine wine while watching the lively scene.
Lei Lie had originally intended to rush over like the others to catch a glimpse of Upper Immortal Qingqing's peerless beauty. However, Huode's earlier harsh words had struck a blow to his pride, more or less wounding his self-esteem. Thus, Lei Lie was no longer in the mood to go see his goddess.
He simply sat down with Gu Qingfeng to drink away his gloom.
"I say, you little brat, why aren't you going over with the others?"
As soon as Lei Lie sat down, Huode teased him. "What's the matter? Finally come to your senses?"
"Come to my senses? How could I not?" Lei Lie said with a huff. "Just as you said, even if we took turns forcing our way, it probably wouldn't be my turn. So why should I go join the crowd?"
"Oh ho! Kid! You've got some awareness after all! Not bad, not bad! A teachable lad! Come, drink with this old man. Make me happy, and I'll introduce you to a great immortal beauty tomorrow!"
Lei Lie couldn't be bothered to pay Huode any mind. He raised his wine cup toward Gu Qingfeng and said, "Great Lord, come, let this brother offer you a toast."
Many on the grand ship couldn't restrain themselves and rushed over to join the excitement.
But Mo Baiyu was different.
He stood quietly at the very front of the deck, one hand placed before him, the other behind his back.
His face was as flawless as polished jade. He wore a purple-gold robe and a purple-gold crown inlaid with gems to bind his hair.
His tall, slender figure was imposing and majestic, handsome and transcendent. A faint starlight shimmered around him. Standing there, he was like a dominating sun hanging in the sky, making the entire Xuantian Great Vessel appear vibrant, radiant, and brilliantly illuminated.
"Heh heh, I'd long heard news that Brother Mo would be coming. I originally thought it would take some more time, but I didn't expect Brother Mo to arrive so quickly."
From ahead, a group of over ten people flew over from one of the ships in the fleet.
The leader was a man.
This man's aura and spiritual presence seemed exceptionally powerful, not the least bit inferior to Mo Baiyu's.
"Haha!"
Seeing the man flying over, Mo Baiyu leaped up, hovering in mid-air, and clasped his fists in greeting. "Brother Yunzhou! It's been over ten years since we last parted. I trust Brother Yunzhou has been well?"
"Brother Yunzhou is certainly well. If he weren't, how could he have chased all the way here from the Wanlong Heavenly Domain?"
The one who said this wasn't the man greeting Mo Baiyu, but another man.
That man also flew over from a ship in the fleet, followed similarly by over ten people.
"Hahaha! So Brother Mufeng is here too!"
The man laughed. "It's not just me, Mufeng, who's here."
"Oh? Is that so?"
As soon as Mo Baiyu's words fell, another person flew over from a ship in the fleet.
No!
Not just one person.
As Mo Baiyu's grand ship approached the fleet, no fewer than ten people flew over one after another to greet Mo Baiyu.
This couldn't help but make people sigh in admiration.
They marveled that Mo Baiyu truly lived up to being an Upper Immortal bearing the Immortal Dao's Edict Fate—his face was indeed grand enough.
What was even more astonishing was that the over ten people who came to greet Mo Baiyu were, without exception, heaven-defying prodigies from various heavenly domains.
Moreover, their identities and backgrounds were each more formidable than the last. They either hailed from ancient, time-honored immortal realms or from immortal families with legacies stretching back to antiquity. Among them, seven individuals—Yunzhou, Yuanwu, Mufeng, Qingyue, and others—were, like Mo Baiyu, Upper Immortals bearing the Immortal Dao's Edict Fate.
That's right!
A full seven Upper Immortals, just like Mo Baiyu.
Good heavens!
This was truly an eye-opening spectacle.
Truth be told, although there were many Upper Immortals bearing the Immortal Dao's Edict Fate in the current era, for most mortal immortals, these Upper Immortals were not only of noble status but also particularly mysterious. Because those mortal immortals had little interaction with these lofty Upper Immortals, they naturally rarely met them.
After all, mortal immortals were mortal immortals, and Upper Immortals were Upper Immortals. They moved in their own circles.
The circles of mortal immortals were beneath the notice of Upper Immortals, who disdained them.
As for the circles of Upper Immortals, those mortal immortals couldn't reach them even if they tried.
On ordinary occasions, one might occasionally see an Upper Immortal. But seeing a full seven or eight Upper Immortals bearing the Immortal Dao's Edict Fate all at once like today was absolutely a rare event for most mortal immortals.
And the scene wasn't just about seven or eight Upper Immortals. Because the people accompanying these Upper Immortals were uniformly immortals enfeoffed by the Nine Heavens. Looking around, good heavens, there were a full hundred, nearly two hundred immortals.
This scene was utterly insane.
So insane it left people dumbstruck, so insane it was a breathtaking spectacle.
Although they all knew Upper Immortal Qingqing had many suitors, including Upper Immortals from various heavenly domains, they had thought the rumors were somewhat exaggerated.
Only upon seeing it today did they realize the rumors were not exaggerated in the least. Not only were they not exaggerated, but they might even feel the rumors hadn't been as exaggerated as the real situation.
Because the number of grand ships accompanying Upper Immortal Qingqing on her voyage wasn't just seven or eight, but several dozen.
Ordinary passenger ships wouldn't dare, nor would they have the courage, to accompany Upper Immortal Qingqing on her voyage unless there was an Upper Immortal like Mo Baiyu aboard—someone with acceptable status, background, cultivation strength, and fame and influence.
In other words.
Among the several dozen grand ships sailing with Upper Immortal Qingqing, it was highly likely that each ship had a major figure aboard. Even if they weren't Upper Immortals bearing the Immortal Dao's Edict Fate, they certainly wouldn't be much weaker than Upper Immortals. It wasn't impossible that some were even stronger than Upper Immortals.
Watching the seven or eight Upper Immortals—Mo Baiyu, Yunzhou, Yuanwu, Mufeng, Qingyue, and others—greeting each other in mid-air, the crowd buzzed with discussion.
As for Shangguan Dong, his face alternated between green and white. Even the muscles at the corner of his mouth twitched. His eyes held a mix of envy and jealousy, especially when he heard the crowd discussing how grand Mo Baiyu's face was and how remarkable those seven or eight Upper Immortals were.
Shangguan Dong clenched his fists tightly, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said through gritted teeth, "They're nothing special. They just got lucky, bearing the Immortal Dao's Edict Fate. If my luck were as good as theirs, if I could bear the Immortal Dao's Edict Fate, I'm confident I could surpass every single one of them!"
Shangguan Dong was deeply unwilling and unconvinced!
His unwillingness stemmed from the fact that he and these Upper Immortals bearing the Immortal Dao's Edict Fate were all suitors of Upper Immortal Qingqing. Yet, before any contest had even begun, he had already lost. He lost in status, in family background, in connections, and even on the starting line.
How could the proud and arrogant Shangguan Dong accept this!
He swore.
If given the chance, he would definitely showcase himself properly before Upper Immortal Qingqing. He would surely make Upper Immortal Qingqing look at him with new eyes. He didn't entertain extravagant hopes to win her affection in one go. As long as he could leave a deep impression on Upper Immortal Qingqing this time, make her remember him, that would be enough!
Shangguan Dong believed he could still achieve that.
In mid-air.
Mo Baiyu chatted and laughed merrily with the other seven or eight Upper Immortals.
Truth be told.
He didn't have deep friendships with these Upper Immortals. At best, they were mere acquaintances. After all, they were all admirers of Upper Immortal Qingqing, all hoping to win her affection. They might not be outright hostile toward each other, but they were definitely competitors.
Although they smiled and chatted on the surface, it was only superficial. Secretly, each hoped to trample the others underfoot. That way, they would have one less competitor. And with one less competitor, their own chances of winning would increase.