The Sea Shark Emperor coldly observed the pair within the starlight barrier, a sneer playing on his lips. Shi Yan was merely at the first heaven of the Immortal realm, not even worthy of his notice, utterly insignificant in his eyes. If not for Mei Ji, he wouldn't bother speaking a word, he would directly slay Shi Yan and seize the Profound Rune Pagoda. Mei Ji was at the peak of the Immortal realm, harboring the hope of advancing to the Domain Ancestor, and was also a high-ranking member of the Phantom Race, possessing noble status. He did not wish to become a pawn for Neptune, thereby inviting the frenzied siege of the Phantom Race. If Mei Ji were to perish, and he eliminated Shi Yan, he would then offend Mei Ji again. Should Mei Ji break through to Domain Ancestor in the future and become a paramount figure in the Phantom Race, seeking vengeance for Shi Yan, it would cause him significant trouble. He was not a member of the Seven Clans, lacking powerful backing; he knew he could not contend with any single one of the Seven Clans, requiring thorough consideration in all his actions.

“Time’s up, have you decided?” The Sea Shark Emperor raised an eyebrow, stepping out from the crystal palace and striding forward.

“To surrender the Profound Rune Pagoda without a fight, we are deeply unwilling,” Mei Ji chuckled charmingly. “You are a senior; surely, if you take the Profound Rune Pagoda, you should make us utterly convinced? How about this: grant us a chance to fight. If there is absolutely no hope, we will obediently submit.”

The Sea Shark Emperor was astonished. “Mei Ji, you are the person in charge of the Sea of Ruin for the Phantom Race. You should know clearly that even having reached the peak of the Immortal realm, you are absolutely no match for me. Is this still necessary to test? Is there any need?”

“My nemesis wishes to try,” Mei Ji made no attempt to hide her intimate connection with Shi Yan, gripping Shi Yan’s arm tightly, her face etched with vexation and helplessness. “Please grant us this favor, senior.”

Only then did the Sea Shark Emperor truly scrutinize Shi Yan. With just one glance, he let out a cold laugh. “First heaven of the Immortal realm? Heh heh, I have at least dozens of my subordinates who have reached this stage!”

He turned his head to a youth behind him. “Datuk, go make him despair.” That youth stood nearly three meters tall, cultivating the power of Metal, resembling a sharp sword, possessing the cultivation of the second heaven of the Immortal realm. His body was covered in silver scales, identifying him as a member of the Undersea Flood Dragon Race, his divine body as hard as metal and iron, emanating bursts of piercing sharpness.

“Try your best… not to kill anyone. We must avoid completely enraging the Sea Shark Emperor, leaving us a way out,” Mei Ji whispered softly. “Give it a try. If your true strength allows you to withstand an assault from a peak Immortal, perhaps if we join forces and risk everything to break out, there might be a slim chance to escape the Sea Shark Emperor. Gauge it yourself.”

Shi Yan’s expression was like frozen rock, grim and chillingly cold; he nodded. His feet trod on starlight as he walked towards Datuk. He had his own calculations. If, by exerting his full strength, he could withstand the bombardment of a peak Immortal expert, he dared to fully unleash his spatial power, disregarding the disruption of the spatial order in the seabed to search for an opportunity to escape. The prerequisite was that he had to confirm his divine body could withstand the backlash of space!

The seabed was different from the surface. This location was deep within the Sea of Ruin, miles away from the surface. The water pressure was terrifyingly immense; once he recklessly mobilized spatial power, the water pressure and spatial power would compress and impact each other, potentially leading to spatial collapse. As the caster, he would be the first to suffer the backlash. Because of this concern, even when moving through the seabed, he cautiously refrained from truly deploying the subtleties of space. Even Ming Hao, a peak Immortal who also mastered spatial power, dared not attempt it lightly, understanding how terrible the backlash pressure created by the clash of the two forces would be. But now, he was cornered. To escape the grasp of the Sea Shark Emperor, he had to take a desperate gamble! He must win using unconventional methods! What catastrophic consequences the collision of water pressure and spatial power could unleash on the seabed, he could not predict. He had to ensure his divine body would not be torn apart by the spatial backlash before he dared to make this reckless attempt! The fight was merely a testing stone, meant to verify whether his divine body—this steel blade—could endure the ravages of sufficient damage.

“Lady Mei Ji is the dream of every man in the Sea of Ruin; why would she choose this useless pretty boy? This kid doesn't look like much,” one observer murmured.

“Mei Ji drove both Batum and Hussein into infatuation, and they actively tried to curry favor with the Phantom Race for her sake. To think she finally chose a kid who is only at the first heaven of the Immortal realm—it’s truly jaw-dropping.”

“Hard to fathom, isn't it?”

“Perhaps through this battle, we might glean some insight?” Beside the Sea Shark Emperor, several elderly Sea Race members, who had reached the third heaven of the Immortal realm, stroked their beards and quietly exchanged confused whispers.

“My name is Datuk, a member of the Undersea Flood Dragon Race, cultivating the Profound Meaning of Metal Power. I…” Datuk was polite. Seeing Shi Yan approach, he first stated his identity and explained the situation.

“Shi Yan!” With a sharp shout, starlight poured from Shi Yan’s surroundings like a waterfall, transforming into a beautiful, magnificent stream of light that instantly surged towards Datuk.

Datuk frowned and snorted coldly: “Truly has no sense of decorum!” Brilliant, sharp golden light erupted from above his head. Within the golden halos, countless metallic weapons materialized in his Origin World—sabers, swords, steel tridents, gold hammers, long spears, flying shuttles, steel needles. These weapons were fiercely sharp, unleashing a deluge of sword rain that directly submerged the meteor Shi Yan had transformed into.

“Crack! Crack! Clang! Clang! Dang!” The roar of colliding metal sounded incessantly from Shi Yan’s divine body. Sparks flew, and the Metal Power Profundity within the countless blades remained sharp. The meteor formed by Shi Yan paused and halted. Just ten meters in front of Datuk.

Everyone stared intently, seeing hundreds of types of blades raining down upon his divine body. His body was like the hardest stone; numerous holes and rents appeared on his robes. His flesh endured the impact of the blades, producing crisp 'clang' sounds, yet his physical form was not shredded into pulp. Grotesque spikes stubbornly protruded from his shoulders, knees, and elbows. A pair of bone wings sprouted from his back. A surging vitality, terrifying like the boundless ocean, erupted from within him, like a terrifying volcano dormant for eons unleashing all its light and heat in an instant, shaking the ancient and modern eras.

“Cross Slash!” Shi Yan’s eyes were scarlet like blood, violent fluctuations surging within him. He grinned savagely and roared. The spatial profound meaning abruptly changed! Two hundred-meter-long, scythe-like spatial great blades formed a massive ‘Ten’ shape, appearing like blazing blades joined together. They seemed to carve the seawater into blocks, suddenly shooting towards Datuk. The incoming sharp knives, blades, hammers, and golden spears were instantly crushed into dust! The Cross Spatial Great Blades pulverized everything destructively, tearing apart the seawater, space, and water vapor, reaching Datuk’s chest with the imposing might capable of splitting mountains and cleaving seas.

A flicker of surprise appeared in the Sea Shark Emperor’s eyes. He opened his mouth and spat out a rapidly condensing stream of water. The water stream appeared like a ravine, solidifying in front of the spatial great blades. Then, the water stream instantly dissipated, and the spatial strangulation force generated by the Cross Slash was skillfully neutralized into nothingness.

“Puff!” Shi Yan’s chest convulsed, and a trace of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. His eyes remained as red as drops of blood, but his spirit was violently shaken. The moment the Spatial Cross Slash formed, it instantly tore space, creating two intersecting fissures. Once these fissures appeared, the immense water pressure of the seabed surged into them, creating a backlash that felt like being suppressed by ten thousand mountains. It caused searing pain in the tendons and veins of his divine body, resulting in minor physical injuries. However, the stream of water from the Sea Shark Emperor not only resolved Datuk’s disadvantage but also healed the spatial fissures that had momentarily appeared. This left Shi Yan both surprised and terrified.

“One cannot carelessly use spatial power underwater,” the Sea Shark Emperor frowned, looking at Shi Yan with surprise. He waved his hand: “Datuk, retreat. You are not his opponent. Although this kid is only at the first heaven of the Immortal realm, he has already grasped the true meaning of Dark Energy, and the refinement of his divine body is so formidable that even I cannot see through it…”

“Elder!” Datuk called out resentfully.

“Retreat!” the Sea Shark Emperor coldly huffed. Datuk said no more, reluctantly withdrawing to the crystal palace.

“Hu Jiao!” the Sea Shark Emperor called out. Numerous Sea Race members, startled and suspicious at his shout, focused their attention on Shi Yan. A kid at the first heaven of the Immortal realm actually warranted such high regard from an Elder, worthy of being confronted by Lord Hu Jiao personally? An elderly Sea Race member covered in fine fuzz behind him, hands tucked into his sleeves, stepped forward upon hearing the call. This elder, narrowing his eyes, walked silently before Shi Yan and bowed slightly. “Hu Jiao, third heaven of the Immortal realm, cultivating the Profound Meaning of Wood Power.”

“No wonder Mei Ji chose you,” the Sea Shark Emperor nodded, his expression one of sudden realization. “To grasp Dark Energy at just the first heaven of the Immortal realm, and the tempering of his physical body is astonishing even to me. Kid, your future is limitless. A word of advice: do not use spatial power in the fight with Hu Jiao again; you should be aware of the conflict between the seabed water pressure and spatial power.” He then looked at Hu Jiao and, after a moment’s thought, instructed: “Don’t strike too hard. If this kid survives this ordeal, he will surely become a significant figure in the future.” Hu Jiao respectfully nodded. “This subordinate understands.” He raised a hand and pointed to the center of his brow. A tiny sapling materialized there, growing vigorously in an instant into a small tree. The tree’s branches spread outward, gradually enveloping Hu Jiao’s entire body like a marvelous tattoo spreading wildly. Seconds later, Hu Jiao vanished. In his place stood a large tree. The tree’s foliage was lush and dense, slightly trembling. As the trunk swayed, leaves fluttered down. These leaves were only palm-sized, bearing complex and profound tree patterns, containing the essence of the Wood Profundity Absolute Array. They floated in the seawater and soon reached Shi Yan. One leaf brushed against Shi Yan’s shoulder, and intense pain instantly flooded his mind! “Crack!” A bone spike on his shoulder snapped and shattered upon contact with that leaf. He couldn’t help but change expression, looking deeply at the still-growing great tree: “The third heaven of the Immortal realm is indeed formidable!”

“The fact you can still speak surprises me too. Being two realms below me, the fact you’re still standing is a miracle,” came Hu Jiao’s calm voice from within the tree. “A future Domain Ancestor, I wish to examine the subtleties of Dark Energy; please do not hold back!” ……(To be continued)RQ