Chapter 369 - 367: Sea Demon Palace’s Fury

「An incense stick’s time later.」

Tu Kai, who had escaped into the river, pulled farther and farther away from Luo Tian and the woman in white.

As a member of the Sea Hunter Race, his advantage in the water was immense, most noticeably in his speed.

Furthermore, Tu Kai’s own Cultivation was higher than that of Luo Tian and the woman in white.

With Luo Tian’s current Cultivation and strength, killing a Sea Hunter Race genius at the Earth Element Realm Second Layer was still quite difficult.

"He still got away. But it’s just him. He can’t stir up much trouble on his own."

Luo Tian came to a stop.

"I advise you to act carefully from now on. The power behind the Sea Hunter Race might intervene again..."

The mysterious woman in white said nonchalantly from beside him.

"You seem to know quite a lot, don’t you?"

Luo Tian asked back, curious about the woman’s identity.

The woman in white didn’t answer. Without another word, she turned and left.

This puzzled Luo Tian. ’Didn’t she seem very concerned about me before? Why is she so cold now?’

Luo Tian returned to the Ancient Ruins and once again saw the blue pillar of light that shot straight into the sky. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was all being drawn toward it.

’What’s going on with that blue pillar of light?’

Luo Tian moved closer.

There were no treasures in the Ancient Ruins, only the eye-catching, dazzling blue pillar of light soaring into the sky.

The blue pillar of light shot out from within the ancient castle where Shangguan Su and the others had hidden before.

At this moment, all those people were gathered there.

They were no longer surprised by the blue pillar of light and had almost started to ignore it, using the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi it attracted for their Cultivation.

Luo Tian walked to the edge of a pit from which the blue pillar of light was shooting out.

With a sweep of his Spiritual Sense, he perceived many Array Patterns underground, forming an incomparably vast Array.

’It’s similar to a Spirit-Gathering Array, but it’s definitely not that simple!’

In terms of scale, the great Array underground was ten times the size of a typical Spirit-Gathering Array.

"Celestial Book, besides absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, what other function does this great Array have?"

After consuming a bit of power, the Celestial Book gave an answer: It was a Four-direction Spirit-Attracting Array. After absorbing enough Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, it would become the key to unlocking something.

’A key to unlock something?’

’So something fishy really is going on here.’

As for what it was the key to, Luo Tian had no idea.

He only knew that the group of Spirit List geniuses outside were all competing with the Four-direction Spirit-Attracting Array for Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. He feared it would take a long time for the Array to become a key.

Just then, a clamor erupted nearby.

’What’s happening?’

Luo Tian left the spot and followed everyone’s gaze toward the distance.

On another small island, a second magnificent blue pillar of light suddenly shot out, absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

"What’s going on with that island? It has a blue pillar of light too?"

"Say, what is this thing anyway? A Spirit-Gathering Array?"

The crowd discussed it curiously.

This was a sea region with several islands. The one Luo Tian and the others were on was the largest.

’So, there’s more than one Four-direction Spirit-Attracting Array!’

Luo Tian was lost in thought.

’Two or more Spirit-Attracting Arrays... so many keys. What on earth will they unlock?’

BUZZ!

The Mysterious Blue Treasure Pearl Luo Tian wore on his person thrummed slightly, emitting a violet-blue glow.

’It’s reacting again!’

This time, Luo Tian wasn’t too surprised.

This Mysterious Blue Treasure Pearl was temperamental, working one moment and not the next.

But suddenly...

RUMBLE!

A deafening roar echoed from the distant horizon. Even from so far away, everyone heard it.

A magnificent blue afterglow illuminated the world, coating everything in a hazy blue light and making it seem as ethereal as a dream.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Everyone flew into the sky in unison. After ascending a hundred meters, they saw a behemoth in the distant sea, glowing with a brilliant blue light, slowly rising!

The surrounding seawater churned, crashing against the shore.

"What is that?"

"Is there treasure in the sea?"

Everyone was captivated by the phenomenon, their hearts pounding and their breath quickening.

In the eyes of most, this was still the "Frosty Winter Secret Realm" opened by the higher-ups. There had to be treasures, or perhaps a legacy left behind by a Great Power!

Luo Tian observed for a moment.

The behemoth appeared to be rising from the sea with extreme slowness.

In reality, the behemoth was blurry and indistinct. It wasn’t a physical object and wasn’t even in this space.

Only after the Four-direction Spirit-Attracting Arrays absorbed enough Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi would the behemoth descend into this space. That would still take some time.

「Meanwhile.」

Beside a river, Tu Kai was sitting cross-legged and healing his wounds.

RUMBLE!

The deafening sound of crashing waves jolted him awake.

"What happened?"

Tu Kai immediately flew into the sky, thinking the humans had come after him.

He scanned his surroundings and saw no one. Then, he looked in the direction of the sound, and his gaze shook.

"Is that...? A legacy?"

Judging by its scale, it was very likely the legacy of some Great Power.

Moreover, the fact that this legacy was located in the sea indicated that the Great Power either cultivated the Water Dao or was from a marine race.

"Damn it! I’m the only one left. Even if there’s a legacy, I can’t compete with those humans for it."

Tu Kai’s face was filled with resentment and fury!

Just then, a figure in white flew past in the distance. His robes were embroidered with a pattern of three peaks and a cluster of clouds.

’A human at the Earth Element Realm?’

Tu Kai’s expression changed in alarm.

He was now severely injured, with only sixty to seventy percent of his peak strength.

More importantly, he was weak and alone, while the humans could call for reinforcements.

"Hm? What’s this monster?"

Ye Feng looked at Tu Kai, his curiosity piqued, and slowly approached.

He had also chosen the Frosty Winter Secret Realm and had been teleported to a small island. It wasn’t long ago that he arrived at this largest island.

Over the past few days, he had harvested many rare and precious materials, but this was the first time he had seen a member of the Sea Hunter Race.

SPLASH!

Without a word, Tu Kai leaped into the river and quickly fled.

’I absolutely cannot let these humans obtain the Great Power’s legacy!’

As Tu Kai fled through the river, his face was contorted with hatred.

After hesitating for two breaths, he took out a Token. His expression was grim, but he finally made up his mind and crushed it.

Three breaths later, a mysterious spatial power suddenly descended, and the space around him trembled slightly.

In front of Tu Kai, a black hole appeared and rapidly expanded, forming a dark blue Space Passage.

He immediately dove inside, and his figure vanished.

...

「Meanwhile, in a certain part of the vast, starry sky.」

On the peak of a sky-piercing giant mountain, several imposing figures floated, exuding an indescribably terrifying aura, like the mighty power of the heavens, intimidating all creation.

The leader was clad in green robes, as if shrouded in a deep green, sacred radiance. His figure and face were difficult to discern.

"Palace Master, the Secret Realm has been pulled back. We can teleport more people in, but not too many."

A hunched-over old man said.

"Don’t be hasty! We’ll wait for Tu Kai and the others to come out first."

The Sea Demon Palace Master’s expression was cold.

The Secret Realm had been stolen, and they knew nothing about the mysterious force behind it. How could they act rashly?

If Tu Kai and the others didn’t return, then the mysterious force that stole the Secret Realm was certainly extraordinary. Sending people in recklessly would only lead to more losses.

Just then, a distorted Light Cave appeared in the floating blue vortex in the sky, and Tu Kai stumbled out of it in a panic.

"He’s back?"

"Where are the others?"

The upper echelons of the Sea Demon Palace all fixed their gazes on Tu Kai.

Tu Kai immediately felt an indescribable pressure and knelt before the high-ranking members.

"Tu Kai, hurry up and explain the situation inside! Why are you the only one who came out?"

One of the higher-ups urged.

"Reporting to the Elders, everyone else is dead!"

Tu Kai lowered his head and reported truthfully.

As soon as he said this, the upper echelons of the Sea Demon Palace were all shocked.

’Everyone dead except for Tu Kai! Could it be that the mysterious force that stole the Secret Realm is incredibly powerful and terrifying?’

"It was a human faction that stole the Secret Realm. It’s filled with human geniuses..."

Tu Kai continued.

"Humans?"

The higher-ups immediately showed their surprise.

The Human Race in this era had already declined and was no longer as glorious as it once was.

The Sea Hunter Race and the Human Race were rival powers, and they were not afraid of the Human Race in the slightest.

"The five of you were slaughtered by human geniuses until only one of you remained?"

A higher-up asked in a cold voice.

The Human Race’s advantages were their fast learning ability and astonishing reproduction rate. But in terms of individual strength, innate talent, and physique, they were far inferior to the Sea Hunter Race!

Tu Kai also felt humiliated, but it was the truth.

He then reported everything that had happened in the Secret Realm truthfully.

"A bunch of trash!"

"To think you were slaughtered by humans!"

The higher-ups all berated him angrily.

From Tu Kai’s account, it seemed the strongest human in the Secret Realm only had a Cultivation at the Earth Element Realm First Layer.

They couldn’t even handle such a bunch of weaklings, and only one person managed to escape!

Immediately after, the higher-ups’ attention was drawn to the mysterious legacy Tu Kai mentioned!

"Alright, the situation is confirmed. Pass on my order: gather a new batch of disciples to enter!"

The Sea Demon Palace Master’s cold, empty voice echoed through the heavens!

This Secret Realm was originally intended as a trial for the Sea Demon Palace’s new generation of disciples.

And the limit the Secret Realm Passage could withstand was the Low Tier Earth Element Realm.

「Before long.」

The current batch of new disciples from the Sea Demon Palace gathered at this location.

Fifteen people in total!

The five leading them had all been taken as disciples by the higher-ups due to their excellent talent, becoming Core Disciples. All of them were stronger than Tu Kai!

Of the remaining ten, only four were at the Earth Element Realm First Layer; the other six were all at the Peak of Earth Element Realm First Layer!

"Palace Master, please let me enter the Secret Realm again!"

Tu Kai knelt on the ground and pleaded.

He wanted to avenge his defeat and tear Luo Tian to shreds!

"Trash, what are you going back in for?"

A bewitching woman with green hair looked down on Tu Kai with disdain.

Her Cultivation was at the Peak of the Earth Element Realm Second Layer. Within this team, she was a top-tier existence.

Tu Kai didn’t dare to retort and only begged the Palace Master.

"Granted!"

The Sea Demon Palace Master uttered a single word after a moment of contemplation.

Tu Kai was overjoyed.

"Tu Kai, you’ve at least been muddling through in there for a few days. Once we’re inside, you’ll be in charge of leading the way!"

Among the elite team of fifteen, a lazy-looking man glanced nonchalantly at Tu Kai.

"Yes, Senior Brother Wu!"

Tu Kai nodded repeatedly, his gaze toward the lazy man filled with awe and admiration!

The lazy man’s name was "Wu Ye." He was the strongest of the Sea Demon Palace’s current new disciples, and his strength was unfathomable!

Tu Kai believed that under Wu Ye’s leadership, they would surely sweep through all the humans in the Secret Realm and seize the legacy!

...

「Within the Secret Realm.」

The many Spirit List geniuses, drawn by the phenomenon in the sea, were all rushing over.

But Luo Tian knew it would still be some time before the behemoth fully appeared in this space.

He was, however, reminded of something else.

’When Tu Kai and Yu Sanshui came as reinforcements, they didn’t seem to have the captives with them...’

After performing an Inference, Luo Tian determined that Tu Kai had hidden the captives in some secret location.

It was even possible that Tu Kai had returned there after escaping.

And so, Luo Tian activated the Inference Skill from his Creation Technique and used his Celestial Eye Prototype, finally deducing the approximate location of the Extreme Ice Fairy.

’If Tu Kai is still there, his injuries won’t have fully healed. I have nothing to fear!’ Luo Tian thought.

Even if he encountered danger, he still had life-saving trump cards.

An hour later, Luo Tian looked down at the mountain forest ahead and murmured, "The Extreme Ice Fairy... she’s somewhere around here..."