The three empties showed surprise. He looked down with amusement at the sultry beauty in leather below, Yuan! "Something wrong?"

The beauty paused, then smiled sweetly, "Of course there is. Can we talk down there? You looking down on me like that is quite unsettling, and frankly, impolite."

"Politeness my foot," Ben Yuan Zhi Du muttered under his breath with disdain.

"Oh!" The beauty looked at Ben Yuan Zhi Du with feigned astonishment, letting out a soft cry, "Is that your pet? What an adorable little thing!"

"Your whole family are pets!" Ben Yuan Zhi Du glared fiercely at her and cursed without restraint.

The beauty burst into laughter, her smile widening, her eyes fixed on Ji Changkong and Ben Yuan Zhi Du, clearly showing great interest.

Ji Changkong, who had intended to leave quickly, paused after a moment of consideration. He felt he could perhaps inquire about the Death Spirit Stones from her. Thinking this, he nodded gently and smoothly landed on the deck.

The other five people surrounding the beauty, Liu Ye, had all focused their attention on Ji Changkong the moment they spotted him. After he landed, though they remained cross-legged, quietly regulating their breath to recover their vital energy, their gazes frequently swept toward him, their expressions wary and fearful.

"I am Liu Ye, from the East Sea," the beauty introduced herself, then pointed to the five people on the deck, introducing them to Ji Changkong in turn: "Hong Ge, Xue Hai, Jin Hao, Kong Yuan, Teng Yang, they are all from the East Sea..."

When Liu Ye pointed to Hong Ge and Xue Hai, the two nodded slightly towards Ji Changkong. Jin Hao and the other two squinted, showing no expression or reaction.

After finishing her introductions, Liu Ye gently pursed her full, red lips and smiled at Ji Changkong, "Thank you so much just now. I was wondering why those Fangtooth Fish suddenly retreated. Seeing you above, I realized we were saved by someone."

Hong Ge and Xue Hai, being subtle, showed no change in expression as if they had already known the truth. Jin Hao and the other two, however, were startled and finally opened their eyes to look at Ji Changkong directly.

Ji Changkong smiled faintly, "It was just a small matter, why be so formal, Miss Liu?"

"It's not formality; you saved us, so a word of thanks is certainly due," Liu Ye said earnestly.

"Without him, we could have driven out the Fangtooth Fish ourselves, it would have just taken a little longer," muttered Jin Hao, a young man whose expression held a hint of arrogance.

"Jin Hao, stop interrupting me!" Liu Ye shot him a sharp glance, then turned back to Ji Changkong with an apologetic look, "Don't mind him; he's just stubborn and has a foul temper!"

Ji Changkong chuckled, saying nothing further. He let his gaze sweep over the five men one by one, nodding silently in approval.

None of them seemed very old. Hong Ge appeared to be in his thirties, at the Six Harmonies Heaven realm, with a resolute face and a steady temperament.

The other four were in their early twenties. Xue Hai always wore a smile, looking like a cynical rake, at the Five Elements Heaven realm, yet the look in his eyes when regarding others shone with wisdom, clearly indicating he was extraordinary.

Jin Hao, Kong Yuan, and Teng Yang, like Xue Hai, possessed cultivation at the Five Elements Heaven realm. Among them, Jin Hao was haughty, Kong Yuan somewhat simple-minded and seemingly focused entirely on cultivation. Teng Yang, on the other hand, was expressionless, appearing uninterested in everything, projecting an air of detachment.

Young as they were, their cultivation was profound. Daring to venture into the Sea Demon Forbidden Zone on an iron ship, they were certainly no ordinary people.

Judging by their conversation and demeanor, it was evident that despite their varied personalities, their relationship was quite amicable. Their auras were distinct, suggesting they did not hail from the same family or sect. Their attire was superior; any one of them would be considered a genius in the Central Lands.

What were their identities in the East Sea? And were they seeking the Death Spirit Stones in the Forbidden Zone to curry favor with the recently ascended Blood Emperor?

A series of questions flashed through his mind, and Ji Changkong found himself growing interested in this group.

He didn't realize that while he was subtly observing the six of them, Liu Ye and her companions were even more curious about him!

So young, yet possessing the cultivation of the Seven Stars Heaven realm, and daring to venture alone into the Sea Demon Forbidden Zone, carrying himself with an unhurried, detached grace—such a person made even Liu Ye and her group, accustomed to dealing with powerful figures, inwardly astonished. They were intensely curious about Ji Changkong's background and identity.

"When I was above earlier, I unintentionally overheard you discussing your search for the Death Spirit Stones," Ji Changkong said, his gaze sweeping over the six, flashing a toothy smile as he casually inquired.

The pupils of the six—Liu Ye and the rest—suddenly constricted. Their True Force immediately focused entirely on him.

Jin Hao abruptly stood up, watching Ji Changkong with suspicion, his eyes glinting coldly, "You know about the Death Spirit Stones?"

Liu Ye frowned slightly, subtly signaling Jin Hao with her eyes, urging him not to be tense. She quietly moved to Jin Hao's side, seemingly ready to prevent any unfriendly actions, while her bright eyes remained fixed deeply on Ji Changkong, wondering how he would answer.

Seeing the reaction of the six, Ji Changkong was momentarily taken aback, then said calmly, "Although I am not from the East Sea, I have heard that the Forbidden Zone holds the rare treasure, the Death Spirit Stone. What is it? Is there some issue?"

"You're not from the East Sea?" Xue Hai chuckled, winking at Jin Hao.

Jin Hao’s tense expression suddenly relaxed. He sat back down quietly, muttering under his breath, "So he’s not from the East Sea. That put me at ease for a moment..."

"Yes, I came from the Central Lands," Ji Changkong replied with a smile.

Xue Hai let out a loud laugh, glancing at Liu Ye. They exchanged a knowing look.

"I came to the East Sea to find someone," Ji Changkong frowned slightly, sensing that these six were acting strangely, seemingly concealing much. He spoke to test the waters.

"We know. You must be here in the Sea Demon Forbidden Zone to kill that Li Hentian, right?" Jin Hao said dismissively, sneering, "That rumor is all over the place. Most outsiders coming to the Forbidden Zone lately are here for Li Hentian."

After a pause, Jin Hao snorted, "The Sea Demon Forbidden Zone is fraught with danger. Rushing in without knowing the situation here, even a Seven Stars Heaven expert is doomed. Considering you needlessly interfered earlier, I advise you to go back quickly. Don't go in there to die."

"If you aren't afraid, why should I be?" Ji Changkong chuckled lightly.

"You!" Jin Hao snorted, "Suit yourself. If you go looking for death, don't blame anyone. If something happens, don't say I didn't warn you!"

"Jin Hao, shut up!" Liu Ye urged, then apologized to Ji Changkong, "He’s always like this, but he means well. The Forbidden Zone is indeed extremely perilous, and outsiders don't understand the conditions. Rushing in blindly, the chances of surviving are slim."

Having said this, Liu Ye hesitated, carefully choosing her words as she looked at Ji Changkong, "However, the six of us are relatively familiar with the Sea Demon Forbidden Zone. We have been here several times and know its dangers better than many East Sea natives. That... we aren't interested in revenge, but since you saved us, if you truly intend to enter the Forbidden Zone, we can guide you. It would be repayment for your kindness."

"No need," Ji Changkong smiled and shook his head. "Though I don't know the conditions of the Forbidden Zone, I believe I have the ability to protect myself."

"He thinks we'll just be a burden, Sister Liu, stop being so kind," Jin Hao clamored with sharp sarcasm.

"Kongkong, if you don't mind, I'll gladly slaughter this verbose brat for you, how about it?" Ben Yuan Zhi Du, who had been lazily perched on Ji Changkong's shoulder, watching the exchange with interest, finally couldn't resist.

Liu Ye's group of six were all momentarily stunned by Ben Yuan Zhi Du's arrogant, murderous words, their expressions turning utterly strange.

Jin Hao, in particular, looked extremely displeased, as if he had stepped in filth. He thought his own words were sharp enough, but he hadn't expected this little thing to be even more vicious, threatening to kill him right away.

Xue Hai, after a moment's pause, looked at Jin Hao with a half-smile and snickered, "Jin Hao, look here. Just because you put on a cold face doesn't mean others will fear you, ha. Even a little thing isn't afraid of you. You’re a total failure!"

Jin Hao was livid, but unlike most people, he didn't fly into a rage and do something rash.

He just glared fiercely at Ben Yuan Zhi Du, turned his head away in annoyance, and mumbled, "I won't stoop to arguing with a pet."

"You brat, who are you calling a pet? I'll tell you, I can extinguish you with a single fart!" Ben Yuan Zhi Du sneered venomously, his eye askance.

"Hahaha! So entertaining!" Xue Hai roared with laughter, and Liu Ye couldn't help but let out a soft giggle. Hong Ge and Kong Yuan also looked oddly amused, only Teng Yang remained unmoved.

Everyone else assumed Ben Yuan Zhi Du was just boasting, but Ji Changkong knew that his words were not empty boasts.

"You!" Jin Hao was furious with shame, but he still didn't move. He only stared at Ji Changkong, conveying: Control your pet!

Ji Changkong was surprised and suddenly felt that Jin Hao wasn't bad after all. Most people, insulted like that, would have exploded with rage and attacked irrationally. His ability to restrain himself was truly rare.

"Little Du, if you keep talking nonsense, go inside and rest quietly," Ji Changkong warned with a low sound.

"Fine, I'm tired. I won't talk anymore." Ben Yuan Zhi Du waved his hand, clearly indicating he couldn't be bothered with Jin Hao anymore.

"So cute!" Liu Ye's eyes brightened as she looked directly at Ben Yuan Zhi Du, asking, "What is this little creature of yours? Why is he so lively and clever?"

Ben Yuan Zhi Du turned his head away, not even sparing her a glance, appearing very arrogant.

"Farewell, everyone." Ji Changkong clasped his hands into a fist. Without waiting for the six to say more, he suddenly lifted off the deck again.

"Hey!" Liu Ye looked up and shouted, "You don't know the Sea Demon Forbidden Zone well. Rushing in blindly will definitely cause trouble! Come with us; we can give you a ride!"

"Thank you, but no need," Ji Changkong replied, his voice fading away.

"He deserves it. I doubt we'll ever see him again," Jin Hao snorted.

"You are really something, Jin Hao. You clearly have good intentions, but everything you say comes out twisted!" Liu Ye glared at him and scolded.

"He might not have any trouble," Teng Yang, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly opened his eyes. His placid gaze swept in the direction Ji Changkong had vanished, then he lowered his head, "That person is stronger than all of us combined."

After a pause, Teng Yang added, "I mean... if we use our family's secret methods."

At these words, the expressions of Liu Ye, Xue Hai, and Jin Hao, along with the other two, drastically changed. Even the steady Hong Ge looked utterly shocked, staring at Teng Yang, "If the six of us truly use our secret methods, we can eliminate an Eight Trigrams Heaven expert. Does he, does he mean...?"

Teng Yang nodded, "Yes. Even so, we would not win against him!"

The five of Liu Ye looked horrified.

"Kongkong, the kid who never spoke? He is actually the most powerful among them! He has a very strange power on him. From the moment we landed on the deck, that power has been watching us relentlessly," Ben Yuan Zhi Du, who had reappeared lazily on Ji Changkong's shoulder after they moved away from the group, stretched casually and remarked.

"I know," Ji Changkong smiled. "That power of his is hard for ordinary people to detect. It’s like the soul has been stretched hundreds of times, making it vague and hard to distinguish. This person is much more interesting than Jin Hao..."

"That foul-mouthed brat actually meant well. I could feel it; he was sincerely trying to persuade us to turn back," Ben Yuan Zhi Du chuckled wickedly.

"Then why did you treat him like that?" Ji Changkong asked with a faint smile.

"Who told him to have a foul mouth?" Ben Yuan Zhi Du argued. "Even good intentions require the right method. His way of speaking was just asking for a beating!"

The two chatted happily, completely disregarding the warnings from Liu Ye's group, and quickly flew deeper into the Sea Demon Forbidden Zone.

"Huh!"

Ji Changkong suddenly gasped, looking up at the sky, his face filled with surprise. He murmured, "How can this be?"

At that precise moment, he suddenly discovered he could no longer sense the power of the Big Dipper Seven Stars from the Endless Star Domain. Normally, once a cultivator reached the Seven Stars Heaven realm and had tempered their body using the power of the Big Dipper, they could sense the presence and power of the Seven Stars, even under the midday sun.

However, just now, he suddenly found the connection between his soul and the Big Dipper Seven Stars seemed to have been violently severed!

This was something that should be impossible!

A soul that roamed the Big Dipper star field and had been refined and purified by the starlight and essence of the Seven Stars should be able to perceive the existence of the Big Dipper overhead at all times, day or night, because the Big Dipper was eternal, always fixed in its position.

Being unable to sense the power of the Big Dipper Seven Stars meant that he, at the Seven Stars Heaven realm, would recover his vital energy very slowly once it was depleted! In this Sea Demon Forbidden Zone, since he was traveling without the aid of a boat dock, he consumed his vital energy every moment.

If he couldn't replenish his vital energy quickly, once it was exhausted, wouldn't he face certain death within the Sea Demon Forbidden Zone?

Suddenly, Ji Changkong realized that Liu Ye and the others were not exaggerating; this Sea Demon Forbidden Zone was indeed profoundly mysterious.

Looking up at the sky, the thick, inerasable black clouds seemed as if they would never dissipate, just like the clouds above the gray mountain ranges, faintly obscuring the light of the sun, moon, and stars.

Releasing his divine sense, he could perceive that the thick, heavy clouds were structurally different from ordinary cloud layers. They were denser and thicker above his head, seemingly containing some peculiar substance he could not comprehend.

With such dense clouds blocking the light of the sun, moon, and stars from penetrating the depths of the Sea Demon Forbidden Zone, he couldn't fathom what was happening.

Could the reason I can't sense the Big Dipper Seven Stars be because of the clouds overhead? Ji Changkong was filled with doubt.

"Be careful, I also feel this place is strange," Ben Yuan Zhi Du said, showing rare seriousness, his small eyes rolling as he quietly surveyed their surroundings.

Since the light of the sun, moon, and stars was blocked, this area was naturally very dim. Only those with cultivated powers could vaguely make out the scene around them.

Due to the lack of light, the seawater in this region appeared almost inky black. Huge, strange stones, like small mountains, jutted out of the water. At a glance, they resembled demonic creatures half-submerged in the sea.

These strange stones were also pitch black. It was unclear if they were naturally formed or artificially carved. Each one had a bizarre shape, and without light shining on them, they truly instilled fear, making one worry they might suddenly lunge forward.

Kaka-kaka! Kaka-kaka!

As this thought arose, an astonishing event occurred!

The pitch-black strange stones slowly began to move their bodies, like stone monsters awakened from millennia of slumber, sensing delicious prey.

The sound of kaka came continuously from the stone monsters as they moved their limbs, slowly stretching their arms and legs, heading straight towards Ji Changkong.

The stone monsters' initial speed was not fast; one could even call it slow. However, once they started moving, their massive bodies converged, instantly sealing off the surrounding space.

As long as a person remained in that area, they would gradually lose room to maneuver because the colossal bodies emerging from the seabed occupied all the available space.

Each stone monster towered about ten zhang high, like ancient trees or small peaks.

Let's fly through them! Although Ji Changkong was surprised, he wasn't panicked. While using his divine sense to quietly probe the stone monsters, he quickly flew through the gaps between them, hoping to pass through this area as quickly as possible.

Kaka! Kaka-kaka!

Unfortunately, his wishful thinking was mistaken! The sounds from the stone monsters grew denser, and the frequency of their limb movements increased rapidly. Their initially slow pace gradually quickened.

Within the confined space, these stones moved according to a specific pattern, quickly maneuvering. Giant hands reached out and struck, operating in the extremely narrow gaps, almost completely blocking off every avenue of escape for Ji Changkong.

This is an ancient formation!

Ji Changkong's mind stirred, and he immediately noticed something unusual. Regardless of how these stone monsters were formed, they followed a specific trajectory, always finding gaps perfectly. The giant hands between them never collided; everything was orderly, without chaos.

If it weren't for the support of a mysterious ancient formation in operation, these stone monsters wouldn't be so orderly, nor could they be so clever as to position their giant hands precisely into any available opening.

After flying swiftly for a while, Ji Changkong slowly understood.

The existence of this ancient formation wasn't specifically targeting him; the giant hands of the stone monsters were simply intended to seal off all the space within!

Consider this: if anyone enters the formation, and all the space is sealed off, could the person inside possibly escape unharmed?

The formation's actions weren't aimed at a person, but its objective was even more meticulous and inescapable—the ultimate goal was to harm anyone caught within!

Frowning deeply, Ji Changkong didn't dwell on why such an ancient formation existed here. The stone monsters continuously sealed the space. In the area behind him, the monsters' bodies interlocked in a marvelous way, their finger joints linking, effectively locking down all the space behind him.

Ahead, the stone monsters continued to close in and merge. They paid no mind to whether someone was inside the formation; they merely followed their specific paths, attempting to block every existing spatial gap.

The space available for his escape was shrinking rapidly...

Ji Changkong’s heart sank. He suddenly drew his Dragon Radiance Saber, gathered the vital energy within his body, and slashed down fiercely at the continuously healing gap ahead, hoping to tear open a larger opportunity for escape.

Clang!

The Dragon Radiance Saber struck the stone monster ahead, suddenly causing a violent tremor. Dozens of giant stone monsters seemed to resonate simultaneously!

He could sense that a force was released from those dozens of colossal stone monsters and channeled entirely into the one he had struck!

A vast and boundless rebound force suddenly surged from that stone monster. This force neutralized the fierce momentum of the Dragon Radiance Saber and, following the connection between the saber and Ji Changkong, silently surged toward him.

Ji Changkong hadn't anticipated this force would be so bizarre, nor so swift and fierce!

The force flooded into Ji Changkong's body, heavy as a mountain, striking him hard.

"Ugh!"

The corner of Ji Changkong's mouth turned sweet; he almost couldn't hold back a mouthful of blood.

So powerful! Ji Changkong cried out inwardly, his face filled with shock.

Just the rebound force from the stone monster could wound his near-invulnerable physique. Such terrifying power was comparable to a strike from an expert at the peak of the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm!

"Kongkong! The gap ahead is getting smaller! You can't hesitate!" Ben Yuan Zhi Du shouted.

With a sudden narrowing of his pupils, Ji Changkong's focus became intensely sharp. He didn't spare a moment to assess the extent of his injuries, instead channeling the power from the Tianyuan Pearl, pouring it into his body at any cost, pushing with all his might toward the rapidly closing fissure ahead.

In a flash of lightning and thunder, crisp popping sounds erupted from Ji Changkong’s body. His tall frame elongated and then contracted amidst the sharp noises, becoming shockingly slender.

The narrow gap, which he previously couldn't fit through, was miraculously traversed by him due to the bizarre transformation of his body.

Whoosh!

Having squeezed through that tight fissure, Ji Changkong immediately found himself in a vast, open space. He could no longer sense the surrounding area contracting with the stone monsters closing in.

Though he still couldn't feel the presence of the Big Dipper stars, Ji Changkong secretly rejoiced after escaping disaster.

Years of rigorous, almost obsessive tempering of his physique allowed his meridians and bones to adapt to any change. With a mere thought, his bones could contract arbitrarily, and his meridians could become as fine as threads of silk! It was precisely this monstrous physical resilience that allowed him to compress his body at the critical moment, narrowly escaping death.

“Holy cow!” the Primordial Poison suddenly bellowed, jumping from Ji Changkong's shoulder into the air. His small eyes stared blankly behind him: “Grandpa has truly seen the world. So big… so big!”

Ji Changkong, still shaken by the recent terror, turned to look and was frozen like a wooden dummy himself.

What a colossal giant! Hunching over, the behemoth lay prone, built purely from those strange stones! The massive creature was clearly formed by the aggregation of those giant stone monsters from before. Dozens of towering, ten-zhang stone figures stacked together to form one immense mass—what did that imply?

In Ji Changkong’s sight, the behemoth seemed to be crawling on the seabed, searching for something. Its body emitted grinding "kaka-ka" sounds as it slowly attempted to turn its back toward Ji Changkong.

The giant far exceeded Ji Changkong’s imagination. Compared to its mountain-like size, the Ghost Demon King, after transforming on the East Heaven Peak, was merely an insignificant mound.

No wonder a slight provocation toward one stone monster had elicited such a violent counterattack—it turned out those stone monsters were merely fragments of this colossal being. It seemed the powers making up this behemoth could unite into a single entity.

Thinking this through, Ji Changkong felt his injuries were not unearned.

“Mother of heaven, what is this monster?” the Primordial Poison shrieked excitedly. “The Sea Monster Forbidden Zone truly holds wonders! Are these stone monsters petrified sea monsters? Otherwise, how could they be this large? Wow, wow, this stone creature is even taller than Azure Rock Mountain—it’s magical!”

“Not sea monsters. Sea monsters dwell deep beneath the ocean floor; their bodies aren't composed of stone,” Ji Changkong murmured, staring blankly at the behemoth. “It has no soul. It’s just a marvelous ancient formation. Stone creatures without souls certainly cannot be sea monsters.”

“Then what is it? What is it?” the Primordial Poison yelled.

“I don’t know what it is, but I know we can’t afford to provoke it,” Ji Changkong said with a bitter smile. “Before it finishes turning around… let’s get out of here.”

Facing this behemoth filled Ji Changkong with a frustrating sense of powerlessness. Its body was iron and stone, soulless; any attack would only provoke a massive rebound force. This terrifying fellow was virtually unassailable.

There was another reason: he understood this behemoth was likely an ancient array. Since he had already broken out of the ancient formation, there was no need to engage it further.

Hua-la-la!

The mountain-like behemoth writhed its body, stirring up towering waves. The water churned violently, completely disrupting the area. Spray leaped toward the sky, instilling deep terror in anyone who witnessed it.

The Primordial Poison, however, was quite entertained but couldn't overrule Ji Changkong. It drooped its head and reluctantly settled back onto his shoulder, muttering resignedly, “Fine, fine, let’s go, what’s the point.”

Once Ji Changkong made a decision, he certainly wouldn't hesitate here. However, worried about encountering other dangers, he didn't rush his departure; instead, he moved away from the area with extreme caution.

By this point, he finally realized that Liu Ye had not been wrong: in the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone, one careless step could plunge one into eternal ruin. Every foothold might lead to another abyss.

He had to tread carefully.

He released his divine sense, subtly surveying the surroundings to avoid accidentally stepping into another restricted area.

As his mind calmed, he sensed the blood slowly flowing within him, nourishing his body like a warm current. The bones and meridians that had just been damaged felt a subtle, wondrous sensation under the influence of his circulating blood.

The blood of the Azure Dragon, a Sacred Beast, carried the vigorous force of life. This energy was enough to sprout new buds on an old, dying tree. Naturally, the life force of the Azure Dragon could also rapidly heal his injuries.

As the warm current flowed through him, Ji Changkong felt comfortable, realizing that his fractured high-meridians and bones were recovering quickly.

Although he couldn't sense the power of the Big Dipper stars, as the blood circulated within him, the Yuan Li (Primal Energy) he had just expended was miraculously being replenished.

A thin mist enveloped Ji Changkong at some unknown time. Through the hazy vapor, the wondrous power of the ocean seeped into his body through every capillary, causing his internal Yuan Li to rapidly increase.

The Five Elements power was a form of Yuan Li, and the power of Water could certainly transform into Yuan Li. The ocean was endless, and both the seawater and the air here were infused with Yuan Li. Though sparse, this energy could still be absorbed.

A Seven-Star Heavenly Master, unable to connect with the Big Dipper stars and with their state of mind obstructed, would normally find absorbing the surrounding vital energy difficult. Yet, when Ji Changkong attempted this, he found himself an exception. He encountered no obstruction whatsoever when absorbing the sparse Yuan Li swirling in the sea.

With a thought, Ji Changkong released his divine sense, slowly tracing the flow of the blood within his body.

Calming his mind, merging himself gradually with the boundless ocean, Ji Changkong felt a specific power within his blood suddenly being triggered.

Yes! This was the power left in his blood by the Black Tortoise, a Sacred Beast!

The Black Tortoise, known as the God of Water! With the blood of the Water God in his veins, how could he fail to absorb the Water Power belonging to the vast sea?

Ji Changkong, who had previously worried about his divine sense being cut off from the Big Dipper stars, suddenly felt reassured. He knew that in the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone, this hurdle that restricted ordinary Heavenly Masters held little constraint over him.

Ka-ka-ka! Ka-ka-ka-ka!

After flying a considerable distance, Ji Changkong was suddenly jolted by earth-shattering roars coming from behind him. Surprised, he paused and turned back to observe the commotion.

The colossal stone monster, vast as a towering mountain, was slowly fragmenting again amidst deafening tremors.

One, then two stone monsters split from its main body. In that area, as the debris rolled and settled, the individual stone monsters slowly sank back into the sea...

Half an hour later, that stretch of sea returned to its original appearance. The huge stone creature vanished, and the ten-zhang stone figures were nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by strangely shaped protruding rocks.

“Impressive! They can combine and separate—what an arrangement!” the Primordial Poison chirped.

Ji Changkong was also dumbfounded. He hadn't expected that the area would revert to its original state so quickly after he left. He suddenly found the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone incredibly mysterious and began to anticipate future experiences, wondering what bizarre things he might encounter next.

“Kong Kong, those six people! Those six people are coming in!” Suddenly, the Primordial Poison shrieked, his small eyes narrowing as if piercing through the endless darkness directly to the strange stone forest where they had come from.

Ji Changkong immediately controlled his state of mind, forcing himself to calm down. As he felt his Yuan Li slowly recovering, the auras of Liu Ye and her companions manifested within his divine sense.

He frowned slightly, hesitating whether to approach and warn Liu Ye’s group to be cautious of the stones that might erupt at any moment.

Just then, Ji Changkong sensed Liu Ye’s group entering the stone forest. Unexpectedly, the thing he worried about most did not happen!

The stone monsters that had been so aggressive toward him moments before never appeared!

The sea ahead was perfectly calm, without a ripple. Everything that had just occurred felt like a hallucination. Watching Liu Ye’s group slowly materialize, Ji Changkong was surprised.

“Kong Kong, it seems these people weren't making empty threats before; they… seem to have experience operating here,” the Primordial Poison also realized, studying Liu Ye’s group strangely as he muttered softly.

“Huh! It’s you! You’re actually here!” Liu Ye, whose eyes were always sharp, spotted the Primordial Poison staring dazedly at them right away and shouted loudly, “Go over there, let’s go over!”

Hong Ge steered the boat immediately, changing direction as commanded. The iron vessel shot toward Ji Changkong like an arrow.

In just a moment, Liu Ye’s group’s iron ship pulled up alongside Ji Changkong. Liu Ye waved to him, sounding slightly excited: “Are you two alright?”

Xue Hai wore a strange expression and pointed to the chaotic rock field they had just passed through, asking, “Did you just come through here?”

Ji Changkong gave a wry nod.

Liu Ye’s expression changed; her beautiful face filled with horror as she shrieked, “You didn’t notice anything?”

“A behemoth rose from the ground, massive stones stacked together, forming a terrifying, mountain-like monster…” Ji Changkong’s smile became even more bitter.

At these words, not only Liu Ye but all five others on deck stared at Ji Changkong with looks of utter shock.

Their gaze mirrored the expression Ji Changkong had worn when looking at the behemoth earlier.

“Uh… you disturbed it, and you could still… still be alive?” Liu Ye felt her lips dry.

“What exactly is that thing?” Ji Changkong immediately knew Liu Ye must be familiar with the behemoth, otherwise, she wouldn't have said what she did.

“The Black Stone Giant Beast!” Liu Ye stuck out her tongue to moisten her dry lips, explaining with a bitter smile: “You are truly lucky; you managed to awaken the Black Stone Giant Beast, and you are still alive…”

“You just passed through there too; why were you unharmed?” Ji Changkong was very curious about this.

“When you arrived and saw those towering stones, did you imagine them as monsters, feeling like they were about to pounce on you?” Liu Ye asked.

Ji Changkong thought back carefully and slowly nodded.

“That’s it,” Liu Ye explained. “As long as someone inside generates such thoughts and notions, it might awaken them. Of course, the person holding such ideas must also possess sufficiently powerful mental energy; otherwise, those thoughts won't form a ripple strong enough to rouse them from their ancient slumber…”

Saying this, Liu Ye glanced at Teng Yang with a wry smile, thinking to herself: You weren't wrong after all; this person truly is strong!

“So that’s how it is,” Ji Changkong nodded, then asked, “What about the Black Stone Giant Beast? It seems you know something about it?”

At this moment, as Liu Ye’s group looked at Ji Changkong, their gazes held a different kind of meaning. Even Jin Hao, who had previously been curt with him, suddenly fell silent, watching Ji Changkong and the Primordial Poison without a word.

“Legend says the Black Stone Giant Beast was originally just a massive stone island in the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone. The Sea Monsters, using supreme power, reshaped this immense island into the terrifying Black Stone Giant Beast. It has always stood quietly here, rarely waking up over the years…”

Liu Ye looked back at the scattered colossal stones, her face full of reverence: “Sea Monsters are the deities of the sea; their power is beyond anyone's estimation. Many people have come to the Forbidden Zone; though we have never seen it, we know it definitely exists.”

“I believe you,” Ji Changkong nodded.

If a monster like the Black Stone Giant Beast could manifest, it was entirely possible that the Sea Monsters were hidden deep within the Forbidden Zone. Having witnessed the power of the Four Sacred Beasts, he already knew that before humans appeared on this continent, there were ancient life forms here. Those beings were immense, possessing world-shattering power and nearly infinite lifespans, yet they rarely revealed themselves to mortals.

Listening to Liu Ye’s description and recalling the existence of the Four Sacred Beasts, Ji Changkong immediately categorized the Sea Monsters as ancient beings similar to them.

“You believe Sea Monsters exist?” Not only Liu Ye but even Jin Hao was surprised and couldn't help but ask.

When Jin Hao saw Ji Changkong nod, he quietly murmured, as if swatting a fly, “Not all people from the Central Lands are idiots.”

Ji Changkong couldn't help but laugh wryly.

“People from the Central Lands never believed in these ancient creatures in the sea; they always considered the Sea Monsters to be something we East Sea people fabricated and exaggerated, claiming we were putting on airs,” Liu Ye explained with a smile, then suddenly said, “We actually understand this place much better than you do. If you don’t mind…”

“Good, I’ll travel with you,” Ji Changkong said cheerfully.