Leo scanned the group. Besides the bald man, there were four others: one was tall and burly; another wore bright red clothes with snake-shaped earrings; the third was small and fierce-looking; and the last had a medium build with a dark complexion.
All five possessed mid-stage Spirit Saint powers.
“Take another punch!” The bald man clenched his right fist, sending a golden light through the air towards the fleeing trio.
“I won’t let you harm Miss Moore and Mr. Moore!” The injured elder gritted his teeth and stood in front of the young man and woman.
The domineering golden light pierced through the elder’s defense, striking him in the chest.
The elder spat a mouthful of blood, staggering back over a hundred steps, his face growing pale.
“Fletcher!” The young woman’s face changed as she shouted from mid-air.
“The Nine Thieves, aren’t you afraid of the Moore Family’s retaliation?” The young man glared at the five men opposite him, speaking harshly.
The bald man sneered, “Retaliation? If the lord of Commonplace City said that, we might be a bit wary.”
“Your Moore Family has some influence in Commonplace City, but we, The Nine Thieves, come and go as we please. Even if you know we killed your people, who would retaliate against whom?” The man with snake earrings grinned, his eyes filled with disdain.
Their words left the young man and woman pale-faced.
The Nine Thieves were notorious in Commonplace City and surrounding towns; their prey rarely escaped.
Despite being only nine members, each was elusive and difficult to deal with.
“Max, Aarav, Mathias, Gordon, no need for words. We may not fear The Moore Family, but we dislike loose ends. Kill them, take their Storage Sack, and make a big haul before the auction!” The burly man among them spoke coldly.
“Heh, Eric, it’s a pity to kill that girl. Why not take her back as a dual cultivation furnace…” The bald man chuckled.
Hearing this, the young woman looked terrified.
On the flying boat, Leo frowned.
The man with snake earrings glanced at Leo’s flying boat with greed. “Eric, there’s another Spirit Treasure flying boat here with only three people. They must be nobles coming for the auction, likely carrying wealth.”
“Eric, seems we’re in luck today. Besides The Moore Family girl, there’s a beauty on that boat. Though I can’t see her face clearly, I’m sure she’s far prettier than The Moore Family’s girl.” The bald man laughed wickedly, his eyes scanning Seraphina.
The burly man’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Leo and his companions on the Shadow Black Skiff. “Spirit Treasure flying boats are rare. Kill the men and take the women back to prevent them from reaching Commonplace City and alerting The Moore Family.”
“Yes, Eric!” The four responded in unison.
“I’m sorry, you three should escape quickly. Once you reach Commonplace City, you’ll be safe…” The young woman apologized to Leo’s group urgently.
They had come seeking help but found only three young people on such a large flying boat.
Leo remained calm.
In this Cultivator’s World, meddling often led to quicker death.
Thus, when The Moore Family trio fled towards them, Leo felt little sympathy.
Yet in this crisis, the young woman’s words showed kindness.
What truly compelled Leo to act was their intent towards Seraphina.
“Heh, none of you will escape. Little beauty on the boat, here I come!” The bald man laughed lewdly as he shot towards Seraphina in a streak of light.
The other four transformed into streaks of light towards The Moore Family trio.
Four mid-stage Spirit Saints attacked simultaneously, locking onto The Moore Family trio and causing their faces to change drastically.
“The Nine Thieves, I’ll fight you to the death! The Moore Family will never rest until you’re gone!” The injured elder shouted angrily.
He had resolved to fight desperately.
“Sis, run!” Mason Moore shouted urgently as he charged forward.
“None will escape!” The burly man shouted coldly, swinging a black blade at the injured elder.
“Hottie, come into my arms.” As the bald man neared the flying boat, his aura pressed down on Leo and Sea Serpent King while he lunged at Seraphina.
“This has nothing to do with them; you should escape…” Haley Moore’s eyes were dim as she rushed towards the bald man.
She seemed intent on temporarily shielding Leo’s group.
However, she didn’t notice that Leo and his companions remained calm despite the bald man’s fierce approach and showed no sign of dodging.
The bald man ignored Haley’s obstruction and was about to reach the deck.
Suddenly, the white-clad youth on deck calmly extended his right hand towards him.
In an instant, the fierce bald man was caught by the neck and halted mid-air. His face turned red as he struggled to breathe.
“You…” Fear finally appeared in the bald man’s eyes.
Leo’s expression was icy as he silently clenched his right hand.
The bald man’s neck snapped instantly; his body and head separated as blood sprayed into the air.
His head flew upward while his body fell downward. In those final moments of consciousness, he saw his body drifting further from his head.
“Max!”
“Max!”
Seeing the bald man killed instantly by the youth on the flying boat, the remaining four froze in shock and cried out simultaneously.
Haley’s expression turned blank as she watched from the deck.
“He killed Max from The Nine Thieves with just a gesture…” Fletcher and Mason were equally stunned.
“You brat dared kill one of The Nine Thieves!” After recovering from shock, the snake-ringed man shouted furiously.
He waved his sleeve, releasing a crimson serpent. It grew rapidly in size and opened its jaws wide towards Leo’s group on deck.
“Be careful! That’s a Flame Devourer Copper Serpent!” Haley warned urgently.
The Flame Devourer Copper Serpent had steel-like bones; ordinary spiritual weapons couldn’t penetrate its defense.
As Haley spoke, a sea-blue flame appeared in mid-air.
The Flame Devourer Copper Serpent burned instantly like alcohol-soaked cotton and was quickly reduced to ashes.