Chapter 232: Beast Attack! Sacrifice! Appearance!

The changes in the small cultivator city happened rapidly.

Within only a few months, the structure of the city—and even the entire island—had undergone tremendous changes.

The reason? The arrival of a single young woman.

Using the resources given to her by Chen Xuan, combined with her own extraordinary talent, Cai Yao’s cultivation advanced at an astonishing speed.

More importantly, her Beast Emperor Immortal Body had finally begun to reveal its extraordinary side.

From that day onward, Cai Yao was no longer alone.

A giant white rabbit accompanied her wherever she went. Although it still retained the same innocent appearance, its physical strength had already reached an astonishing level.

Even Core Formation experts would find it difficult to withstand its claws, giving Cai Yao a place in the island.

--

Standing on the top floor of a large pavilion, Cai Yao overlooked the city below.

Cultivators came and went through the streets. Occasionally, streaks of light would flash across the sky.

Compared to the small village where she had grown up, this place was almost like another world.

Watching everything quietly, Cai Yao couldn’t help but feel somewhat emotional.

In only a few years, so many things had changed.

She gently patted the small white rabbit in her hands.

The enormous creature had deliberately shrunk its body, allowing Cai Yao to hold it like an ordinary pet. The rabbit narrowed its eyes comfortably, seemingly enjoying the treatment.

Cai Yao smiled faintly.

She was just about to return to seclusion, intending to stabilize her current cultivation and prepare for the next breakthrough.

But just then...

Heavy footsteps sounded from the other side of the room.

Someone stopped outside the door and raised their hand.

Before they could knock, Cai Yao suddenly spoke.

"Enter."

The door immediately swung open. A young woman hurried inside.

Her expression was filled with panic, and her breathing was somewhat hurried.

"Sect Leader! It’s bad!"

She spoke before Cai Yao could ask anything.

"A beast! A powerful beast is attacking the island!"

The smile on Cai Yao’s face disappeared. Her expression immediately became solemn.

Without wasting any time, she released her divine sense and swept it across the entire island.

The moment she did so, her expression changed.

Something was wrong. A terrifying demonic energy surged into the heavens.

The surrounding sea trembled violently.

Huge waves rose one after another, crashing against the shores of the island.

The peaceful atmosphere that had existed only moments ago was instantly replaced by panic.

Then, an enormous figure emerged from the depths of the sea. Its massive body towered over the coastline, and its oppressive aura spread in every direction.

Its two crimson, bloodthirsty eyes scanned over the island.

"A Nascent Soul beast!" Cai Yao exclaimed.

Even though her strength was no longer what it once was, she still couldn’t help feeling astonished.

A Nascent Soul beast was far beyond what the island could contend with.

"Order everyone in the city to evacuate!"

"Summon the Elders and have them assist with the evacuation!"

"I’ll be going first!"

After rapidly issuing a series of instructions, Cai Yao hurriedly departed. A trace of undisguised worry could be seen on her face as she did so.

--

Half an hour later, the atmosphere of the entire island had completely changed.

The peaceful island from before had turned into a battlefield.

Its shore was littered with corpses.

Broken weapons were scattered across the ground, while seriously injured cultivators lay everywhere.

Some were consuming pills to recover. Others had already lost consciousness.

The remaining cultivators were still desperately fighting.

Cai Yao was among them.

Her clothes were stained with blood, and several wounds could be seen on her body.

Fortunately, with the assistance of the white rabbit, she had managed to survive despite repeatedly fighting on the frontline.

The white rabbit’s body was also covered in wounds.

Yet it still stood firmly in front of Cai Yao, its eyes filled with an unusual ferocity.

Unfortunately...

Her and every other cultivator’s struggles were meaningless.

The enormous turtle before them was simply too powerful. Its massive body resembled a small mountain, while its thick shell covered its entire back.

Every time an attack landed upon it, only a few sparks would appear.

They could barely leave a mark.

Their opponent had reached the Nascent Soul realm!

Meanwhile, the strongest cultivator on the entire island was merely at the Peak of the Core Formation realm.

Even if everyone joined forces, they could barely scratch the turtle’s shell.

Defeat was inevitable.

Cai Yao and the other cultivators gradually fell into despair.

The young girl—now a young woman—looked at the deaths of the many experts.

She gritted her teeth tightly.

Her gaze moved toward the enormous turtle.

Then, she looked down at Squeebly in her hands.

Finally, her gaze shifted toward the island behind her.

The faces of the elderly villagers, once scolding her for going to the forest, flashed through her mind.

Cai Yao’s expression gradually became resolute.

She had made a decision.

With a wave of her hand, an azure orb flew out of her spatial ring and landed in her palm.

The orb looked completely ordinary. There was nothing particularly frightening about it.

Yet Cai Yao knew very well that an astonishing power was hidden within it.

This was her greatest trump card.

It was something she had obtained from the inheritance that had allowed her to embark upon the path of cultivation.

Even now, she didn’t know exactly how powerful it was. All she knew was that it was enough to easily kill Core Formation cultivators.

Perhaps...

It could threaten a Nascent Soul existence.

However, there was a price. A price she had already known from the moment she obtained it.

To activate it, she would have to consume her own life.

Cai Yao closed her eyes for a brief moment.

When she opened them again, there was no hesitation remaining.

She knew she could not back down. Although there was a small chance she would be able to escape, everything and everyone she knew would be destroyed if the turtle was allowed to rampage through the island.

"Blurgh!"

She suddenly opened her mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The blood landed directly on the azure orb, dyeing it crimson.

At the same time, Cai Yao began pouring her entire life force and vitality into the treasure.

The orb trembled violently. An awe-inspiring aura slowly rose from it.

The surrounding cultivators noticed the change.

Even the enormous turtle turned its attention toward Cai Yao. Its massive eyes narrowed slightly.

Clearly, even it had sensed the threat contained within the seemingly ordinary orb and was about to stop her.

Yet Cai Yao had no time to care about these things.

Her entire life flashed before her eyes.

Her childhood. The death of her parents.

The ruins where she had obtained the inheritance.

The first steps she had taken on the path of cultivation and the weak technique she had tried to piece together.

And then...

The appearance of the mysterious Senior.

That man had given her techniques, treasures, and resources.

He had completely changed her fate. His gifts were one major reason why she had been able to reach this point.

Yet despite everything he had done for her, she had never managed to repay his kindness. A trace of regret appeared within Cai Yao’s eyes.

"Senior..."

She muttered the word in a low voice.

Then... she intensified the burning of her own lifespan.

The azure orb trembled even more violently.

Its aura continued rising.

At the same time, Cai Yao’s vitality rapidly flowed away.

Her face became pale.

Her body weakened as her vision gradually grew blurry.

Even breathing became difficult, as each inhale and exhale took a heavy toll on her body.

Yet Cai Yao continued.

She had already made her decision.

If her life could be exchanged for the survival of everyone on the island, then she had no regrets.

The treasure finally reached its limit.

Cai Yao raised her arm.

She was about to throw the azure orb toward the enormous turtle.

But just as she took one final breath...

Her body suddenly froze. A hand gently grabbed her shoulder.

A familiar sigh reached her ears.

"It seems that I’m still a little late."

The voice contained a trace of regret.

"Thankfully, there is still some time..."

Although there were only two sentences, they were more than enough for Cai Yao to recognize that voice.

Her heart trembled.

In her increasingly blurry vision, the vague outline of a man appeared.

That familiar figure, which she had only seen twice but had imagined countless times.

The mysterious Senior she had been waiting to meet again. She stretched her hand, trying to grab him.

Unfortunately, Cai Yao no longer had any strength left in her mind. The moment she realized his identity, her consciousness finally reached its limit.

Her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground.

Chen Xuan caught her collapsing body. He shook his head lightly.

Then, he raised his head to look at the beast turtle, his gaze growing indifferent.

His hand moved. A golden light whistled through the air.

"Roar!" A deafening cry soon echoed throughout the island, full of pain and horror.