Mei Ji’s expression shifted slightly, and a crystal of profound ice suddenly materialized on her skin, its chill seeping out, causing the temperature of the surrounding sea to plummet.
The Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor was at the peak of the Immortal Realm, just shy of breaking through to the Domain Ancestor level. As a direct descendant of the Primordial Being “Lizard,” the Dragon Lizard possessed many of the exquisite divine abilities of the Primordials. If they were forced into a fight to the death at the same Immortal Peak cultivation, Mei Ji had no certainty of victory.
Of course, she did not know if the Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor’s true form was present—it hadn't accompanied the clone—so she treated the situation with the utmost gravity.
“And us…”
Tu Shiqi sighed softly, arriving hand-in-hand with Ya Yun, and standing before Shi Yan, their expressions complicated.
“Why have you come?” Shi Yan asked, composed and calm. “For the Profound Truth Talisman Pagoda?”
As he spoke, he and Mei Ji reverted to their original appearances. Their identities as Mahisha of the Tianmu Clan and Adams might fool others, but they certainly couldn’t deceive the three—the Dragon Lizard, Tu Shiqi, and Ya Yun. They had met Adams and Mahisha before and dealt with them; they knew Adams and Mahisha would not be in the Sea of Destruction.
“It’s not just because of the Profound Truth Talisman Pagoda.” Ya Yun gave a wry smile. “Ling Mei is dead. We owe Ancestor Heaven Shaker an explanation. She was the Old Ancestor’s direct granddaughter. Even though the Old Ancestor is in seclusion, we are here in the Sea of Destruction. If we do nothing, we won’t be able to face the Old Ancestor later.”
“We’ve known each other for a while. I genuinely do not wish to be your enemy. I ask you one thing: how exactly did Ling Mei die?” Tu Shiqi said helplessly.
“I…” Mei Ji opened her mouth.
“I killed her!” Shi Yan cut in, his face darkening. “Ling Mei tried to kill me and seize the Profound Truth Talisman Pagoda. Should I have just waited for death? It’s not that I’m heartless; she provoked me first. So I killed her. What more is there to say?”
Mei Ji was stunned, a strange light flickering in her beautiful eyes. Ling Mei had been killed by her; she had intended to take responsibility, but she hadn't expected Shi Yan to claim the deed, leaving her somewhat bewildered.
“Stop joking,” the Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor chuckled strangely, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re only at the first level of the Immortal Realm. You could kill Ling Mei? Although I never met Ling Mei, a martial artist at the peak of the Immortal Realm isn’t so easily dispatched.”
He intended to create an opening for Shi Yan.
“It shouldn’t be just the two of you,” Tu Shiqi agreed with this assessment. “Gan Fu of the Devouring Clan is also confirmed dead. Experts who can perceive the Dark Energy are not something you two can contend with.”
Tu Shiqi’s eyes darted around as he observed the surroundings. He stated plainly, “Where are those people?”
His guess was correct; he knew others had intervened besides Shi Yan and Mei Ji. But they hadn't anticipated that Shi Yan and the Divine Master and his group had already separated.
“Those people are not here. Ling Mei was indeed killed by me, whether you believe it or not,” Shi Yan said coldly, his expression grim. “Ever since you descended to the seabed, we have not been friends. Let’s not discuss other matters. What guidance do you have for us?”
Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun venturing deep into the seabed was naturally not just to confirm Ling Mei's death but because they harbored ulterior motives. Shi Yan knew clearly that this situation couldn't be resolved amicably, and having already made his plans, there was no need to continue pretending they were as familiar as before.
“I promised Brother Dragon Lizard. As long as you give us a clear answer and surrender the Profound Truth Talisman Pagoda to our Xuantian Clan, I can personally explain the matter to Ancestor Heaven Shaker and guarantee your safety!” Tu Shiqi said solemnly, thumping his chest as he guaranteed, “Rest assured, you will still be an honored guest of our Xuantian Clan, enjoying all the generous benefits—it will be far more convenient than cultivating alone.”
“Yes, even if you hold the Profound Truth Talisman Pagoda, your individual strength isn’t enough to refine Primordial Source Talismans,” Ya Yun also persuaded. “What’s more, the Five Clans are all looking for you now; it will be hard for you to escape. If we could find you, others naturally can too. As long as you agree to join our Xuantian Clan, we will have the higher-ups negotiate with the Black Demon Clan, the Devouring Clan, the Soul Clan, and the Ancient Demon Clan regarding the trouble caused by those you killed…”
“Kid, the Void Sea is vast, but having offended the Five Clans, it will be hard for you to find a place to stay. Their terms are good; you should agree to them,” the Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor also urged.
Shi Yan frowned, his expression indifferent. “What if I say no?”
The Dragon Lizard shrugged helplessly. “Then don’t blame me. I’ve reached an agreement with the Xuantian Clan. I can only join forces with Tu Shiqi and the others to deal with you.”
“And what about you two?” Shi Yan narrowed his eyes.
“We only need to give Ancestor Heaven Shaker an explanation and try our best to deal with you to acquire the Profound Truth Talisman Pagoda. Of course, we won’t kill you; we will only capture you, and then the Five Clans will jointly discuss how to dispose of you,” Tu Shiqi declared.
“Then come then,” Shi Yan roared.
“What?” The Dragon Lizard was momentarily stunned.
“Come and capture me.” Shi Yan’s eyes suddenly narrowed to a blood-red hue. Sharp bone spurs burst forth from beneath his skin, and a pair of bone wings tore through his back, instantly revealing his ultimate combat form.
An overwhelming life fluctuation erupted from every inch of his bone and flesh. Intense baleful aura condensed within his acupoints, soaring into the sky as a visible pillar of blood-red light. The massive energy field isolated the seawater, creating a vacuum around him.
“What a powerful life magnetic field!” the Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor shrieked, his expression horrified.
The stronger the life magnetic field, the higher the level of life evolution. At this moment, Shi Yan transformed into his peak combat form. The potent life fluctuation surging from his physical body was nearly comparable to the strength of the Old Ancestor’s main body! The volume of that main body was comparable to a small life star. For Shi Yan’s small divine body to contain such a terrifying life magnetic field, the height of his life evolution shocked the Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor. “You brat are truly a freak! Your life magnetic field was weak back then; how could it reach such a height now? It’s astonishing!”
Not only him, but Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun, and Mei Ji were also shaken to the core.
Mei Ji knew that after their intimate encounter last time, Shi Yan had gained immense benefits. It was just that since they hadn't experienced a truly difficult battle afterward, Shi Yan hadn't activated his peak combat form, so she couldn't gauge his current life level.
But now… she knew. She knew Shi Yan’s life magnetic field could probably rival that of experts on the verge of formally stepping into the Domain Ancestor realm.
“Truly formidable,” Tu Shiqi said with a bitter expression. “Alas, what a pity that girl Ling Mei wouldn’t listen to us. If she could have befriended you, and no conflict had erupted between you, how wonderful would that have been? Now, even knowing you are so troublesome, we can only steel ourselves and attack. What choice do we have, being members of the Xuantian Clan?”
“I’m sorry, we also act under duress,” Ya Yun sighed.
“You don’t need to act,” Mei Ji smirked. “Although your life magnetic field is strong, you are still only at the first level of the Immortal Realm. Against those three… I alone will suffice.”
Crystals of ice manifested as blooming snow lotus flowers erupted from her chest. Those crystalline lotuses were dazzling, shimmering with a fair and captivating luster; every lotus carried an ice-cold chill to the bone.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
One after another, the snow lotuses flew out from Mei Ji’s towering peaks like myriad ice-frost worlds, spreading towards Tu Shiqi, Ya Yun, and the Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor.
Initially, the Dragon Lizard, Tu Shiqi, and Ya Yun wore expressions of disdain, because they knew Mei Ji was seriously injured. It was difficult for an expert at the Immortal Peak Realm to recover quickly from serious wounds. Thus, they weren't overly concerned.
However, when one crystalline snow lotus flew over and released its cold air before Ya Yun, they immediately knew they were wrong.
At this moment, Mei Ji was far more terrifying than she had been on Dragon Lizard Star!
Back then, Mei Ji alone could trap Tu Shiqi and his wife, forcing them into an inability to break free.
Today's Mei Ji’s injuries had healed, she had grasped the true meaning of Dark Energy, and her divine body had been tempered by Shi Yan’s life force—she was at the peak moment of her existence.
Within the bud of every crystalline snow lotus, a beautiful face of Mei Ji materialized, like countless different blossoms. The Mei Ji within was sometimes angry, sometimes ice-cold, sometimes smiling, sometimes calm—each face containing the profound mysteries of Mei Ji’s soul.
“Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!”
Streams of chilling, turbid energy were released into the seawater, stabbing toward the three like ice prisms; the cold current was terrifyingly immense.
Even the Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor stiffened all over, his eyes churning as if filled with lava. With a low roar, his clone manifested an illusion of his true form—a mountain-like monstrous beast materialized and roared at Mei Ji.
“On Dragon Lizard Star, if Shi Yan hadn’t interrupted me and allowed me to be injured by the World-Within-a-World of the Illusion Realm Stone, Tu Shiqi, you and your wife would likely be dead. You are only at the third level of the Immortal Realm, a level lower than Ling Mei. Since Ling Mei died by my hand, what can you possibly do?” Mei Ji purred, but her eyes were as cold as ice.
The beautiful, crystalline lotuses descended gracefully. Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun’s divine bodies grew cold, their faces becoming exceedingly grave.
“Merge!”
The Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor roared softly. The phantom of the colossal monstrous beast became scorching hot like flames, twisting beneath the sea. Its giant claws struck at the descending snow lotuses.
“It’s useless,” Mei Ji elegantly shifted her hand seals. The crystalline lotuses were like indestructible demonic flowers, emanating a chilling radiance, utterly unafraid of the monstrous beast’s impact. “If your main body had come, perhaps I couldn't resist it entirely, but this is just a clone. Then you truly cannot cause me too much trouble.”
“Ice Peak!”
Mei Ji shouted charmingly, and an iceberg materialized, crashing down onto the back of the giant beast.
The giant beast seemed suppressed, frostbitten, struggling even to move, as if it couldn't exert any strength at all.
“Shatter!”
Shi Yan raised his hand and pointed. Five streaks of meteors shot down like arrows, impacting and causing the illusion condensed by the Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor to collapse. The Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor trembled, unable to suppress a cry of pain.
“Let’s go,” Shi Yan did not strike again; he called out to Mei Ji.
Mei Ji was surprised but asked no further questions. She nodded, retracted the crystalline lotuses, and followed Shi Yan as he departed.
The Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor and Tu Shiqi’s couple looked grim. They remained stationary where they were and did not give chase.
“Why did we leave?” after putting some distance between them, Mei Ji asked, perplexed. “If we joined forces, we could have killed them?”
“The commotion would be too great, attracting the attention of peak experts. Furthermore… the Dragon Lizard Old Ancestor didn't use his full power. If he fought desperately, paying the price of destroying his clone, even if we won, the cost would be incredibly heavy. Here, if we sustained heavy injuries, we would have no hope of escape,” Shi Yan stated calmly.
Mei Ji considered this carefully and nodded. “You are right. Our goal is not to kill as many people as possible, but to ensure we can survive well.”
… (To be continued) RQ