"First, I will slay those Immortals who broke into the Nine-Bend Stone Cave. Jing Bo, Jing Po, you two take your clansmen and hurry to dispatch that **Xuan Turtle, harvesting the seeds of the Ziyou Lotus. Our tribe’s sacred object must absolutely not fall into the hands of Immortals, adding to their strength."

Jing Hun, gripping his giant silver spear, slowly rose and spoke coldly to the high-ranking strongmen of the Luohai tribe.

With that, he lightly tapped his foot, leaping several zhang into the air, landing steadily upon the back of a nearby ninth-rank, Golden Core-level Sea Monster Steed. Holding the giant silver spear in one hand and the Zhi Gu bone harness on the steed's back in the other, his gaze was icy as he faced the entrance of the cavern.

In truth, with the full strength of the Luohai tribe's strongest high-ranking strongmen, they could have taken down the ninth-rank **Xuan Turtle guarding the Ziyou Lotus by themselves.

However, Jing Hun had previously been ordered by the Great Elder of the Wu tribe to guard the Langya passage, blocking the Golden Core cultivators from entering the Langya Secret Realm. His divine power had been severely depleted, and the Sea Monster Steed's demonic power was also almost exhausted. Even after resting for several hours, he had only recovered about two or three tenths of his strength.

Before his strength could fully recover, the cultivators had already found the Nine-Bend Stone Cave. This left him no time to deal with the ninth-rank **Xuan Turtle himself, forcing him to command the Second Chieftain, Jing Bo, and the Third Chieftain, Jing Po, to lead the high-ranking Luohai strongmen into battle against the **Xuan Turtle.

Swish, swish, swish, swish!

The figures of Jiang Ling, Ye Qin, and two other Golden Core cultivators appeared simultaneously at the entrance of the cavern in the ninth bend of the stone cave, accompanied by several spirit beasts behind them.

But just as the four Golden Core cultivators were about to rush inside, they abruptly found a high-ranking strongman, clad in armor and wielding a giant silver spear, mounted on a Sea Monster Steed, already blocking their path.

“Sea Monster Steed Warrior!”

Ye Qin’s pupils contracted sharply, and he stopped his movement in an instant, finding himself merely forty to fifty zhang away from the Sea Monster Steed Warrior.

This very Sea Monster Steed Warrior had detained their group of over sixty Golden Core cultivators for a full several hours at the narrow passage leading into the Langya Secret Realm.

While the narrowness of the passage was certainly a factor, allowing the Sea Monster Steed Warrior to only engage two Golden Core cultivators at a time instead of facing the fierce assault of over sixty simultaneously, the fact that he could hold out for several hours under the relentless, alternating attacks of so many cultivators demonstrated the terrifying level of this warrior’s strength.

Among the noble tribes of the East Sea, the Sea Monster Steed Warrior was renowned as one of the most powerful high-ranking strongmen, capable of contending with a late-stage Golden Core cultivator in a one-on-one fight.

Ye Qin was not confident he could withstand a confrontation with a Sea Monster Steed Warrior.

“Encountering this Sea Monster Steed Warrior here in the Nine-Bend Stone Cave spells grave danger. None of the Golden Core cultivators who entered the Langya Secret Realm this time stand a chance against him alone. I wonder if the four of us Golden Core cultivators joining forces can overcome this Sea Monster Steed Warrior?”

Ye Qin thought, quickly glancing towards the other three Golden Core cultivators.

“How is this Sea Monster Steed Warrior inside the Nine-Bend Stone Cave?”

“Blast it, I almost forgot. The Sea Monster Steed Warrior belongs to the Luohai tribe, and the sacred object of the Luohai tribe is the Ziyou Lotus. Seizing the Ziyou Lotus from his hands will likely be no easy feat.”

Jiang Ling, Zheng Chenghui, and Shi Hanyang also had their faces instantly drain of color, and they halted their advance. They, too, had not anticipated running into this Sea Monster Steed Warrior within the Nine-Bend Stone Cave.

Jiang Ling, the leading cultivator at the fourth layer of Golden Core, was momentarily stunned into silence. The mysterious and powerful Sea Monster Steed Warrior, unseen in the East Sea for a long time, inspired reverence in him, preventing him from immediately attacking, leaving him frozen in place.

Jing Hun’s cold gaze swept over the four Golden Core cultivators standing shoulder-to-shoulder, and seeing the shock on their faces, he displayed a hint of disdain.

“Hmph, merely four early-stage Golden Core Immortals. You dare trespass into this Nine-Bend Stone Cave. This cave is where my Luohai tribe keeps its sacred object. Since you’ve mistakenly entered a forbidden area, if you leave now, I might spare your lives. Otherwise, this Nine-Bend Stone Cave will be your burial ground.”

With that, Jing Hun leveled the giant silver spear in his hand, pointing it at Jiang Ling, the leader among the four Golden Core cultivators.

The Sea Monster Steed Warrior, with his five-zhang-long, frigid giant silver spear, resembled a black-armored war god—imposing even without anger. A vast and profound aura radiated from his entire body, this mountain-like pressure condensing at the spear’s tip, where materialized killing intent even began to emerge.

One could imagine that if Jiang Ling made the slightest move, he would face the full might of the Sea Monster Steed Warrior’s attack. The imposing power of this spear thrust was certainly enough to shatter the protective shield of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator and pierce straight through his flesh.

Jiang Ling’s slightly murky yellow eyes stared fixedly at the Sea Monster Steed Warrior. Large beads of sweat formed on his wrinkled forehead, soaking his eyebrows. He dared not move to wipe them away, lest he provoke the Sea Monster Steed Warrior’s full-force strike. He had no absolute certainty of being able to defend against such an attack.

However, having ventured into the Sea of Blood several times, he had encountered enemies far stronger than the Sea Monster Steed Warrior and would not be easily overwhelmed by this mere pressure. Despite enduring immense stress, he maintained sufficient clarity.

Jiang Ling dared not move, but his gaze flickered, glancing toward the area not far behind the Sea Monster Steed Warrior.

Inside the vast cavern, beside a cold pool in the center, seven high-ranking Luohai strongmen were fiercely surrounding and attacking a ninth-rank **Xuan Turtle. Although the seven Luohai strongmen held the advantage, the **Xuan Turtle had retracted entirely within its shell; the shell was too hard, rendering it immune to the surrounding siege. The two sides were locked in a fierce, deadlocked battle.

And in the center of the cold pool floated several incredibly brilliant lotus blooms. The entire area spanning tens of li around the Nine-Bend Stone Cave was barren and desolate, yet here, in the intensely cold pool, several lotus blooms managed to grow—a truly unbelievable miracle.

“Ziyou Lotus!”

Jiang Ling exclaimed, mixed feelings of surprise and joy almost forcing the words from his lips.

Ye Qin, Zheng Chenghui, and Shi Hanyang remained highly vigilant. Without a command from their squad leader, Jiang Ling, they naturally dared not move rashly. Facing one Sea Monster Steed Warrior, the strength of their four Golden Core cultivators combined was not overwhelming. If one Golden Core cultivator fell, the remaining few would likely all perish in the Nine-Bend Stone Cave, let alone successfully snatching the Ziyou Lotus.

Suddenly confronted by a Sea Monster Steed Warrior whose strength verged on terrifying, whether to advance or retreat rested entirely on Jiang Ling's decision.

Jiang Ling quickly pieced together the implications of the Sea Monster Steed Warrior’s words.

“If the Sea Monster Steed Warrior were at the peak of his divine power, the four of us combined would surely be no match. But he expended a massive amount of divine power in the Langya Secret Realm passage earlier; his power probably hasn't fully recovered.”

“If the Sea Monster Steed Warrior were confident he could wipe us out, he wouldn't waste time speaking nonsense with us. The Sea Monster Steed Warrior is not certain he can handle the four of us, which is why he is deliberately stalling for time, allowing the other strongmen to kill the Xuan Turtle so they can then unite to deal with us four.”

These thoughts flashed through Jiang Ling’s mind. His fear of the Sea Monster Steed Warrior quickly receded somewhat, replaced by an overwhelming craving for the Ziyou Lotus.

The Sea Monster Steed Warrior had not attacked immediately but advised them to leave, certainly not wanting to expose the true limits of his strength.

Jiang Ling remained composed, forcing a strained smile. He spoke, "In the East Sea cultivation world, heavenly treasures have always been shared among those who find them; that is the rule. The four of us will help you kill that Xuan Turtle, and then we will split the spiritual objects in this Nine-Bend Stone Cave equally between our two sides. What do you say?”

“Hmph, the Wolf Fang Secret Realm holds countless heavenly treasures; you are welcome to seek other spiritual items, and I will not interfere. But the spiritual objects in this Nine-Bend Stone Cave are the sacred objects of my Luohai tribe. Forget you Immortals; even other East Sea tribes are absolutely forbidden. Begone!” Jing Hun stated coldly.

Jiang Ling’s heart stirred; he had finally decided: the Sea Monster Steed Warrior’s divine power had not recovered, and he did not wish to engage them in a deadly fight. Otherwise, given the Sea Monster Steed Warrior’s status and power, he would never tolerate four Golden Core cultivators snatching food from his jaws.

The longer the delay, the less advantageous it would be for the four Golden Core cultivators.

“Attack!”

Jiang Ling felt a surge of annoyance that he hadn't struck the moment they entered the cave. He shouted sharply, unleashing two Nascent Soul flying swords that transformed into soaring ribbons of sharp, blue-green light over ten zhang long, aiming directly at the Sea Monster Steed Warrior.

As Jiang Ling struck, Ye Qin, Zheng Chenghui, and Shi Hanyang, the three other Golden Core cultivators, simultaneously unleashed their full power.

“Dong...!”

Zheng Chenghui waved his hand; white light shone from white bones as he vigorously struck the Little Kui Ox Drum magical artifact hanging in mid-air, sending out a deafening, dull drumbeat booming towards the Sea Monster Steed Warrior, the seven high-ranking Luohai strongmen, and the **Xuan Turtle inside the cavern.

The seven Luohai strongmen instantly had bloodshot eyes and fell into a frenzy, unable to continue surrounding the **Xuan Turtle.

Jing Hun, who was at the forefront, felt his entire body surge with heat, blood rushing to his brain, his eyes bulging and turning crimson red. But as the strongest high-ranking strongman of the Luohai tribe, this dull drum sound only caused his blood and energy to boil; it did not completely shatter his consciousness.

“Blood Qi Barrier!”

Jing Hun roared suddenly. His muscles bulged, the veins on his body swelled, and a surge of feverish hot blood flowed rapidly within him. With a whoosh, countless wisps of blood-red mist jetted out from the pores all over his body. This thin veil of bloody mist rapidly formed a strange Blood Qi Barrier, enveloping Jing Hun entirely. This Blood Qi Barrier appeared like a burning flame, intensely scarlet.

“What Blood Qi Barrier!?”

Jiang Ling was terrified and aghast, his eyeballs nearly popping out from shock. The Earth Tribe strongmen did not use spells and thus possessed no protective magic, relying only on their powerful physique to fight. However, this “Blood Qi Barrier” was the only technique available to the Earth Tribe strongmen that relied on blood energy to form an immensely powerful protective shield. Furthermore, this Blood Qi Barrier was a technique that only a select few strongmen who had reached the very pinnacle of the high rank could master.

[Ti: Dear reader, the current chapter has reached the final page of this book]