Ye Wen had encountered Star Sand while he was at Mount Shu. This sand looked identical to ordinary sand during the day, with the only difference being the faint glimmer it emitted, resembling starlight. If the quantity was small, it would still be hard to notice, but if one scooped up a handful, it became quite difficult to overlook.

Yuwentuo had quite a bit clinging to the cuffs of his trousers, which is how Ye Wen spotted it. He turned his head in surprise, meeting the equally astonished gaze of Artemis, before leaping off the lounge chair with a whoosh. The two of them ignored Yuwentuo and walked towards the water's edge, lowering their heads to watch the fine sand ebb and flow with the incoming tide.

It was then Ye Wen realized that mixed within this sand, constantly being washed by the waves, were countless specks of Star Sand, which had gone unnoticed because they were masked by the common grains. Walking a few steps further, until the seawater lapped over his calves, Ye Wen bent down and grabbed a handful. He found that the concentration of Star Sand in this batch was even higher than before.

He waded a bit deeper, and what he scooped up was now mostly pure Star Sand. “So this Star Sand is in the sea! No wonder we flew for so long in the sky and couldn't find any!” Turning back, Artemis stood by the shore, observing Ye Wen from a distance.

She hadn't entered the water, but seeing him bend down repeatedly to gather handfuls of sand shimmering with faint light, the Moon Goddess finally let out a sigh of relief and a smile bloomed on her face. Finding the Star Sand meant they could finally leave. Their only hope was that the quantity available would meet their needs.

However, based on the current situation, it seemed their requirements would be satisfied! At that moment, Ye Wen continued to sift sand from the seabed with one hand while using his Glazed Pupils to survey the surrounding waters. He was astonished to discover that the sand beneath the water surrounding this entire island was the very Star Sand he had been desperately seeking—the sheer volume was staggering.

Standing in the seawater, Ye Wen surveyed his surroundings again, simultaneously extending his vision using the power of his Glazed Pupils. He found that beyond a hundred meters from the island, although sand still existed underwater, there was absolutely no Star Sand to be seen. Moreover, within the area beneath his feet extending to that hundred-meter mark, almost every grain was the Star Sand he needed; there was no need for painstaking sifting at all.

“Could this island be the so-called Star Island?” Ye Wen had entertained this possibility earlier, but he had a nagging feeling that the matter was not so straightforward. He glanced back toward the beach, and what he saw shocked him even more. The fine grains of the white sand beach, which he had long overlooked, were also composed of Star Sand.

The only difference was that the stellar energy contained within them was not as obvious as that found under the water, which was why he hadn't noticed before. “After searching for so long, it was right before my eyes!” Ye Wen grimaced awkwardly, then waved his hand, using the Ring of Bérénice to store a massive amount of Star Sand. The quantity below the water was terrifyingly immense; even as Ye Wen raked and collected handful after handful, countless grains remained quietly in their original places.

Wading back to the shore through the cool water, Ye Wen nodded to Artemis. “It should be enough. I’ve collected enough to pave all of Mount Olympus with sand!” Admittedly, that was a slight exaggeration.

Mount Olympus was vast and towering; even if he collected every piece of Star Sand around this island, he likely couldn't cover its peak in sand. Yet, he had indeed gathered an incredible amount. Not only did he secure enough material to forge Saint Cloths and Artemis’s weapons, but he would also have a substantial surplus to take directly back to Mount Shu.

Artemis smiled without speaking, but a melodious, deeply resonant male voice cut through the air nearby. “If you truly wish to pave all of Mount Olympus with beautiful sands, this amount will not suffice. You will need to seek far more Star Sand…” Ye Wen’s eyelid twitched.

He hadn't realized someone else had appeared. He spun around instantly to see a muscular middle-aged man, bare-chested, standing effortlessly upon the surface of the sea, looking at him and Artemis. The trident in his hand and the crown-like headpiece adorned on his brow immediately announced his identity to all present.

The aura radiating from him made Yuwentuo’s entire body turn cold, stirring an instinct to bow in reverence. Jade Qilin, however, remained composed. It even managed to crouch low, baring its teeth in a display of displeasure, and swiped its tail, flinging Yuwentuo—who was beginning to buckle under the pressure—behind its body.

Although Yuwentuo possessed outstanding talent and a uniquely sturdy physique imbued with the power of the Thunder God, he was only just beginning his path to strength and was utterly incapable of facing Poseidon head-on. To withstand the pressure this long was already an impressive feat. Hiding behind Jade Qilin, Yuwentuo could finally see the situation clearly.

He noticed that while the Moon Goddess remained stationary, she now held a bow glowing with pale moonlight in her hand. Though she hadn't drawn an arrow or displayed any killing intent, the palpable sense of vigilance was unmistakable. In contrast, his master appeared remarkably relaxed, standing naturally with his posture just a half-step forward of Artemis’s.

He regarded the Sea God standing on the water with great calm and opened his mouth: “Good evening!” His utterly natural and poised tone made Yuwentuo wonder if the next thing his master would say was, “Have you eaten?” It sounded precisely like a casual greeting to a neighbor, not an address to the legendary Sea Emperor of the Immortal Realms. Poseidon’s expression barely changed, though his gaze lingered on Ye Wen for a few extra moments. While others might not see it, the Sea Emperor certainly could.

Though Ye Wen stood barely half a step ahead of Artemis, that small distance was enough to neutralize the majority of the powerful aura Poseidon was exuding, leaving the pressure upon the Moon Goddess negligible. If Poseidon were to unleash his full might, he could easily cause the Moon Goddess to collapse and become his plaything. As for the events of the preceding few days, while he wasn't fully aware of everything, he had a general understanding.

At that time, he had already determined that his useless son would fail in his endeavor, though he was somewhat surprised by his son’s petty cleverness in enlisting the help of the Siren. The only surprise was that the Siren had also failed, even losing her life in the process. As the Sea Emperor, everything that transpired within his domain was known to him, and given the unique nature of the sea, his eyes and ears were scattered across nearly the entire Aegean.

Thus, the moment the Siren died, he received swift notification, realizing that if he didn't intervene, this beautiful prize would slip through his grasp. But… “Easterner, you are stronger than I anticipated!” Ye Wen’s strength truly exceeded his expectations. Originally, Poseidon had not paid much attention to this Easterner.

The primary reason was that he generally kept tabs on all the powerful figures from the East, having encountered most of them over the years, yet he had never heard the name Ye Wen. Therefore, in the Sea Emperor’s eyes, Ye Wen was an unknown, perhaps just a recently emergent figure whose power, even if present, was limited. To think that this person, whom he had dismissed, could now face him with such composure and had effortlessly dispatched the troublesome Siren.

Furthermore, this man possessed considerable nerve, daring to step forward in the face of the Sea Emperor. “It seems you intend to rely on your own strength to protect your wife…” He was aware that Zeus had arranged the marriage between the Moon Goddess and Ye Wen. In his view, what was unfolding before him was nothing more than a man defending his woman.

Ye Wen stood there, finding a sense of absurdity in the lengthy monologue from Poseidon opposite him. He turned and asked quietly, “Is this old fellow always this verbose?” He didn't deliberately shout, but neither did he suppress his voice. At such a close range, it was impossible to conceal his words from Poseidon’s hearing anyway, so being direct seemed better.

At these words, Artemis was momentarily stunned, then surprisingly suppressed a laugh, her lips curling upward into a brilliant smile. Poseidon, opposite them, wore an icy expression, glaring at Ye Wen as if he wished to pierce him through with his trident and leave him to bake on the ocean surface for a century or two—Eastern cultivators, after all, were known for their tenacious vitality. Ye Wen’s bluntness stemmed from his clear assessment of the situation.

Since Sea Emperor Poseidon had openly revealed himself, he was clearly confident and absolutely determined to claim the Goddess. In such a scenario, there was little hope for the fiancé of the Moon Goddess. This meant there was no room for compromise; their positions were set, and they were undeniably enemies.

After a period of tense confrontation, Poseidon suddenly brandished his trident. The seawater beneath Ye Wen’s feet suddenly coiled like a living thing around his legs, while several jets of water transformed into spears, attacking Ye Wen from all directions. This assault was completely unannounced and incredibly swift, coming from every angle, leaving almost no possibility of evasion.

In this situation, the only options were to meet the attack head-on or perish utterly without leaving a complete corpse. Ye Wen’s reaction was lightning-fast. The instant he sensed something amiss with the water beneath his feet, he reacted instantly.

The Meixia Dang true energy erupted outward. Just as the water spears lunged toward Ye Wen, the Meixia Dang energy burst forth like flame. The crimson-hued force surged around Ye Wen, and the terrifying heat it generated instantly evaporated all the surrounding seawater.

Ye Wen then leaped backward to avoid the second wave of attacks. However, this move by Poseidon was truly difficult to endure. Although Ye Wen remained unharmed, his long robe was pierced with countless holes by the dense barrage of spears, transforming it into what looked like lace.

Wearing it made Ye Wen appear somewhat disheveled. Leaping back onto the beach, Ye Wen looked at the robe, one side already hanging down to his elbow, the other barely clinging on by remnants of fabric, and sighed with resignation. “My last good robe, ruined again!” For the first time, he felt his clothing lacked sufficient durability.

If he had a magical garment, it could not only boost his defense but also ensure he didn't have to worry about his attire during intense combat. With a casual tear, Ye Wen ripped off the robe that was barely hanging on and tossed it aside. He was left wearing only his trousers, with the cuffs rolled up (as the bottom hem of his robe had been tied around his waist earlier).

He also tore off his inner shirt in the same motion, revealing an upper body that was not overtly muscular but decidedly well-proportioned. “This look doesn’t quite suit me,” Ye Wen muttered, sizing himself up. Without summoning the Zixiao Sword, he took a step forward.

As he stepped, he drew his right fist in tightly toward his abdomen, then used the momentum of his forward rush, twisting his waist and swinging his arm to launch a straight punch directly at Poseidon. When he initiated this motion, he was still on the beach, but by the time he completed the step, everyone only saw a blur. Ye Wen’s silhouette vanished from the sand, and on the sea nearby, Poseidon immediately felt an overwhelming pressure rushing toward him.

Without a second thought, he bent sideways to dodge. Almost simultaneously, a small but terrifyingly powerful fist materialized before Poseidon’s face, aimed directly at his features. Had he not dodged swiftly sideways, this single punch would have taught the Sea Emperor what it meant to have his face bloom like a peach blossom.

Ye Wen utilized no special technique for this punch. It was something he had comprehended from a strike delivered by Erlang Zhenjun during their sparring match on Mount Shu. There were no complex variations or bizarre strange energies—only the concentration of all his cultivated power, delivered with maximum speed in a single punch.

Back then, Yang Jian’s punch had been so fast Ye Wen couldn't even dodge; he could only rely on his exquisite cultivation techniques to forcibly absorb the blow, barely managing to block Yang Jian’s strike. This time, with Ye Wen delivering the blow against the renowned Sea Emperor, the result was naturally different. Ye Wen’s punch possessed formidable speed and power, yet the Sea Emperor was still able to evade it, showcasing the sheer might of Poseidon’s strength.

Moreover, Poseidon not only dodged but also executed the optimal counter. He rotated his trident, causing the surrounding seawater to condense into countless water arrows attacking Ye Wen, while the trident itself, through this rotation, adjusted its trajectory to stab toward Ye Wen’s lower abdomen. This thrust instantly turned Ye Wen’s complexion green.

He cursed inwardly, “Vicious!” Then, ignoring the multitude of water arrows aimed at his back, he decisively retreated backward to evade Poseidon’s strike. Why? Because the trident possessed three prongs; while the central, longer blade aimed for Ye Wen’s abdomen, the two shorter blades bracketed it—one above and one below.

The upper one was negligible, but if the lower one struck… As for the volley of water arrows behind him, Ye Wen activated the Star River Vortex. A river of stars, shimmering with purple light, materialized behind him, and as it spun, it dragged all the water arrows into the vortex, instantly neutralizing the threat they posed to Ye Wen. Seeing that Ye Wen had parried his successive attacks, the Sea Emperor felt a touch of shame.

After all, for him, the great Sea Emperor, to be unable to overcome this relatively obscure figure would surely make him a laughingstock throughout the realms if word got out. Anger flared in his heart, and he increased the force in his trident. He pointed it from a distance, and without any discernible other motion, a powerful surge of energy erupted directly from the trident and shot toward Ye Wen.

This strike offered Ye Wen almost no time to react. From the moment Poseidon raised his trident to the moment the energy reached him, less than a second elapsed—its speed slightly surpassed even the punch Yang Jian had thrown at him earlier. It could be said that only now did Ye Wen truly grasp the Sea Emperor’s genuine power.

This attack was on an entirely different level than before. Ye Wen’s eyes narrowed, his pupils constricted, and he struck forward with both palms simultaneously. As his arms moved, a clear, distinct dragon roar suddenly echoed through the preceding silence, momentarily stunning Yuwentuo, who was watching from the side.

This move, Ye Wen’s Lü Shuang Bing Zhi, differed from his previous uses. When he employed the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms before, the true energy would manifest a form, appearing as if a giant dragon was attached to his palm, roaring fiercely as it flew out with the strike. This time, there was only the sound of the roar; no massive dragon materialized, and his open palms seemed ordinary, showing almost no unusual phenomenon.

However, this did not mean the palm strike was weak. As soon as Ye Wen clapped his hands forward, they collided with the energy released by Poseidon. A terrifying boom erupted, nearly robbing Yuwentuo of his hearing, feeling as if a cannon shell had detonated beside him.

The resulting explosive aura forced the surrounding seawater aside, and the sand beneath the surface was driven down into a deep crater by the sheer force. This strange spectacle lasted for a full half a minute, a testament to the immense power both sides poured into that single exchange. When the energy finally dissipated, the sea surface remained turbulent, churning violently as if a storm had descended.

Water thrown high into the air rained down, further enhancing the illusion of a raging tempest. Poseidon stared at Ye Wen, who stood unmoving before him, his face grim and silent. He had held nothing back in that last move; it was a true exertion of force.

Yet, Ye Wen had managed to meet it with nothing more than his bare palms. This Easterner reminded Poseidon of a certain Heavenly Court general—a figure possessing an incredibly resilient, almost unbreakable physical body, a source of constant vexation even for the Olympians accustomed to close-quarters combat. This unpleasant memory, coupled with the realization, made Poseidon understand that defeating Ye Wen would not be easy.

Even if he succeeded, he would lack the strength to seize Artemis afterward—she was, after all, a primary Olympian deity. In other words, the Sea Emperor Poseidon realized with deep frustration that his objective for this visit was unattainable!