The white horse, carrying a man and a pig, strode forward mightily. In an instant, it was upon the surface of the sea.

Suddenly, its hooves cracked open, spreading wide, the bowls-sized hooves seeming to swell even larger. Then, with that, it stepped out, planting itself directly upon the vast, azure waves.

No matter how the sea swelled and churned, the horse stood as steady as if treading solid ground; seated upon its broad back, the rider felt not the slightest tremor of instability.

He Yi Ming glanced over and could not help but click his tongue in wonder, though he was long accustomed to Lightning’s various extraordinary abilities—they were simply old news to him.

This creature, capable of contending with Venerables and Sacred Beasts even in its Innate Form, would naturally see an unimaginable surge in power upon ascending to the rank of a Sacred Beast, reaching heights beyond the grasp of ordinary men.

Currently, He Yi Ming only knew that in its Innate Form, its lightning ability could only be unleashed once a day. But once promoted to Venerable, not only was the might of its lightning incomparable, but the frequency of its activation also seemed to have no limits.

This single change alone brought about an incomprehensible enhancement to Lightning’s strength.

If not for this, it would have been impossible for it to strike down the Sacred Beast, the Black Vulture King, and then end its life with just two impacts.

Although the Black Vulture King’s strength was greatly diminished due to being pregnant, if Lightning had remained in its Innate Form, it still could not have taken the creature's life.

He Yi Ming gently patted Lightning’s neck, and on a sudden whim, he let out a long cry, shouting: “Lightning, run! Let’s see where your limit lies, let’s see if we can reach the horizon!”

The white horse, Lightning, let out an excited neigh. Since arriving at this island and keeping Chu Hao Zhou company, decades had passed without a single day as joyful as this moment. Now, a thought flashed through its intelligent mind: the treasure pig was right, having such a companion might truly not be a bad thing.

It spread its four hooves and instantly left a long white streak across the sea, vanishing in the next moment.

One Hundred and Eight, who was barbecuing on the beach, finally paused. He gazed into the distance, looked up at the sky, and finally put down the grilling tools in his hand.

For him, the mission sequence of protecting He Yi Ming ranked far above roasting fish. Since He Yi Ming had moved beyond his sight, he had to pursue.

He picked up a round egg from the pile of fish, cradling it, and then, a surge of two streams of scorching air erupted from beneath his feet. His body began to ascend steadily.

After a short while, he was airborne. Spotting his direction, he shot off with a whoosh, moving even faster than the white horse, Lightning, toward the distance.

He Yi Ming certainly could not know what was happening behind him. If he had known that One Hundred and Eight had evolved to the point of flight through continuous consumption of energy stones, he would certainly have been thunderstruck and immediately set his sights on One Hundred and Eight’s aerial capabilities.

However, riding the white horse across the ocean brought him a feeling that was in no way inferior to flight.

Lightning’s speed was indeed swift as thunder; even over the open sea, it did not slow in the least. The roaring gale rushed past his face, making it impossible for He Yi Ming to open his eyes.

Taking deep breaths, He Yi Ming could finally bear it no longer. He gently opened his mouth and exhaled a tangible flower. It spun around him once, and the ceaseless, violent winds seemed to be mollified, suddenly calming within this specific area.

This was the power of the Flower of Wind; all winds before this flower became the most obedient of children, capable of being altered to some degree according to He Yi Ming’s will.

It was not just He Yi Ming who was protected by the Flower of Wind. Under his control, the flower’s range continually expanded, first enveloping the treasure pig, and then continuing to spread.

However, just as he was about to include Lightning within its sphere, he received information transmitted through the connection of their Zhenqi.

The horse did not need the Flower of Wind’s protection, because as it galloped, it inherently needed contact with the power of the wind to achieve its fastest velocity.

He Yi Ming hesitated, then retracted the power of the Flower of Wind, sitting quietly on the horse's back, observing the true appearance of the boundless ocean during their rapid transit.

Thus went the time: one day, two days, three days…

The white horse, Lightning, sped continuously across the ocean at a speed akin to flying for three days and three nights. During this time, its pace never slackened even slightly; having fixed a direction, it advanced relentlessly.

Along the way, they covered an unknowable distance: islands flashed by in an instant; distant ships passed in a blur; schools of sharks nearby swept past in a moment.

They ran straight towards the direction where the sun rose, yet even now, the meeting point of the sea and sky remained impossibly far away.

He Yi Ming looked up, his heart filled with a torrent of emotion. Despite the distance Lightning had covered in these three days—countless li—the road to the horizon seemed not to have shortened at all.

Suddenly, Lightning, which had been racing at full tilt, stopped dead.

He Yi Ming was momentarily taken aback. In his estimation, after ascending to the Venerable rank, Lightning would surely want to vent its power; defeating the flock of Black Vultures had only been an appetizer. Unleashing its hooves and challenging its own limits should be the best way for Lightning to relax.

After all, while Lightning was a powerful spirit beast, it was first and foremost a horse, and thus must possess equine traits.

Upon uttering the command to run freely, He Yi Ming had prepared for a protracted journey, expecting to remain in the saddle for at least ten days or half a month.

Yet, after only three days, Lightning stopped on its own accord, which struck him as distinctly strange.

His spirit sank slightly, and through the Zhenqi connecting him to Lightning, He Yi Ming abruptly sensed an intense, hair-raising sense of crisis emanating from the horse.

This feeling came from Lightning, and anything capable of inducing such a sense of peril in it was certainly not something ordinary people could handle.

Suddenly, the treasure pig in He Yi Ming’s arms also stood upright on its hind legs.

Its expression was solemn to an unprecedented degree. A scene abruptly flashed through He Yi Ming’s mind: on Ghost Cry Ridge, when that Dragon-Snake was endlessly absorbing the power of heaven and earth, the treasure pig had made that exact same expression when it let out an angry roar.

He Yi Ming’s heart plummeted. Could it be that in this place, there existed an even more powerful spirit beast, one comparable to the Dragon-Snake?

He gently patted Lightning’s neck, transmitting his own thoughts.

“Turn around, run, fast…”

As if hearing He Yi Ming’s voice resonating from his very core, Lightning shed the arrogance it had displayed when first setting out. It obediently turned and transformed into a white streak, preparing to flee the area.

However, at that very instant, the surface of the sea suddenly split open, and a massive tentacle surged out, emitting a roar like cracking thunder, whipping towards the white horse with lightning speed.

Fortunately, Lightning’s speed was truly incredible. Its body merely twitched slightly, and it shot away, leaving the terrifying tentacle to ensnare nothing but a wisp of afterimage.

Turning to look, the tentacle was immense, covered with suckers the size of human heads, raised high, looking indescribably ferocious and terrifying.

He Yi Ming gasped sharply. He finally understood why the treasure pig’s expression was so grave.

The owner of that tentacle was almost certainly a creature comparable to the Dragon-Snake; otherwise, it could not possess such formidable deterrent power that even the ascended Sacred Beast, White Horse Lightning, was forced to flee at the mere scent of danger.

A strange bellow suddenly echoed from the center of the ocean.

The moment that sound erupted, He Yi Ming’s heart tightened sharply, as if an invisible hand were clutching his heart, making him feel so distressed he almost fainted on the spot.

Not only him, but Lightning also faltered, its steps unsteady. Though it didn't fall into the depths of the sea, its speed instantly decelerated.

He Yi Ming knew this was bad. He clenched his jaw until his tongue tip tasted intense pain, which momentarily cleared his mind.

Without hesitation, he tore open the front of his robes. He Yi Ming grasped the silver ring, and the peculiar space instantly manifested before him.

He Yi Ming reached inside and pulled out an ancient-looking, rustic furnace.

The moment his hand touched the furnace, his Zhenqi surged into it without reservation. At this moment, He Yi Ming’s entire being was devoted to it; he even channeled the fear of the sound he had just heard into the furnace.

In just an instant, He Yi Ming’s spirit swayed wildly. He seemed to be thrust back into that world of boundless fire. Before his eyes, the immense, endless Fire Dragon regarded him with a scrutinizing gaze.

If the Fire Dragon had dismissed him entirely during their first encounter, now, in the dragon's eyes, He Yi Ming seemed to possess a sliver of status. Though still as minuscule as an ant, he was now qualified to be acknowledged by the Fire Dragon.

In his daze, He Yi Ming transmitted the intense sense of crisis he felt outward.

Vaguely, he sensed a faint trace of disdain in the Fire Dragon's eyes. Then, it opened its mouth, and a force enveloped He Yi Ming.

Scorching power permeated his entire body, causing him to cry out involuntarily.

Then, He Yi Ming’s spirit left that world. He shook his head, and his vision immediately cleared.

At this point, the lingering echoes of that terrifying sound were still in his ears. He Yi Ming finally understood that what had felt like a long eternity was, in reality, just an instant.

However, his gaze immediately shifted to the furnace in his hand. Mysteriously, he felt that the familiar power residing within it had suddenly become utterly unfamiliar.

The seawater on the surface scattered, and a massive creature vaguely revealed a trace of its outline beneath the waves.

Judging by size alone, it was no less imposing than the Dragon-Snake coiled in Ghost Cry Ridge.

He Yi Ming gritted his teeth, placing his hand flat against the mouth of the Nine Dragon Furnace.