The boundless sea stretched under a vast, clear sky, the mighty waves resembling an infinite azure ribbon, breathtakingly beautiful.

A gentle sea breeze swept against the face, bringing immediate refreshment, causing every pore on the body to relax and open.

The Endless Sea seemed truly endless, without a discernible horizon; as far as the eye could see, there was only the vast expanse of undulating blue water meeting the sheer, deep blue of the sky.

A line of Azure Blood Demonic Bats soared through the air beneath the cerulean dome, speeding rapidly toward the east.

It had been two months.

For these two months, seated atop the Azure Blood Demonic Bats, Shi Yan had finally witnessed the sheer scale of the Endless Sea. Aside from the occasional glimpse of scattered, large merchant ships moving slowly across the surface, he had barely spotted any islands at all.

As expected of the Asura King, Xiao Hanyi, a true cultivation fanatic, he had spent almost all his time in closed-eye cultivation, having only briefly warned Shi Yan about the dangers lurking in the Endless Sea at the very beginning of their journey.

The Endless Sea was steeped in infinite mystery. Along the way, Shi Yan had encountered countless violent storms and colossal waves; the calm surface could erupt suddenly into raging tempests, whipping up tsunamis that shook the heavens, all without any warning.

In certain regions, enormous oceanic vortexes often formed, spiraling down toward the very bottom of the Endless Sea.

Astonishing roars frequently echoed from within these whirlpools, hinting at the ferocious deep-sea creatures they must harbor.

According to Xiao Hanyi, even traveling by Azure Blood Demonic Bat, it would take at least half a year to reach the Galu Sea Region where the Yang Family resided. Only two months had passed, yet the bats had already covered tens of thousands of miles—a span of sea far larger than the combined territories of the Merchant Alliance, the Divine Protection Empire, and the Heavenfall Empire.

Xia Xinyan and the two giant men, towering like iron pagodas, rode on another Azure Blood Demonic Bat, speaking little throughout the journey, their gazes distant and cold.

Ever since Shi Yan had forced his way into the bridal chamber at the Ling Family that day and done as he pleased, Xia Xinyan had regarded him with open contempt, ignoring him completely since then.

Shi Yan neither bothered to explain nor sought the difficult path of confrontation. Following Xiao Hanyi’s example, he spent the entire journey immersed in exploring methods to utilize the vital essence of the Hundred Tribulations Realm.

Although the Hundred Tribulations Realm was only one level higher than the Third Heaven of the Human Rank, the gap between them felt like a chasm.

In the Hundred Tribulations Realm, one possessed mental force within the mind. This force was invisible and intangible, yet it could be clearly sensed.

The applications of mental force were endless. Not only could it be extended outward to perceive the life fluctuations of surrounding entities, but it could also be infused into offensive martial techniques and divine weapons, imbuing them with a semblance of spirit—wherever the mind pointed, the weapon would relentlessly pursue the target.

Furthermore, when meditating internally on the body, it was as if an extra eye appeared within, capable of discerning the most minute changes inside the physical form. Under the focused gaze of mental power, the bones, sinews, the five major organs, and even the subtle lines within the brain became startlingly clear, as if a divine eye had entered the body.

Such marvelous utility kept Shi Yan endlessly fascinated, driving him to master the secrets of applying his mental force.

Occasionally, Xiao Hanyi would awaken to offer guidance on mental force utilization, but he rarely elaborated, simply stating that only methods realized through personal comprehension would become the most profound and offer the greatest future benefit.

Shi Yan could sense that Wu Hanyi’s intentions were benevolent. Therefore, unless confronted with a riddle he absolutely could not decipher, he seldom interrupted to ask questions. By exploring alone, he indeed stumbled upon many ingenious and novel ideas, applying them all to his mental force.

That day, the bright blue sky suddenly became shrouded in thick, oppressive clouds. The dense cloud masses spread like ink splashed across the celestial canopy, a suffocating, pitch-black expanse.

The heavy clouds pressing overhead made everyone feel uneasy; even the Azure Blood Demonic Bats grew restless, emitting occasional sharp, agitated cries.

The Azure Blood Demonic Bat carrying Xia Xinyan slowly drifted closer. Veiled, her eyes were clear, possessing an innate air of graceful elegance and nobility. After drawing near, she remained silent, her bright gaze fixed solely on Xiao Hanyi, never sparing Shi Yan a second glance.

Soon after, Xiao Hanyi awoke from his deep meditation. He looked up at the rapidly changing heavens, his expression darkening. "This doesn't seem like a natural shift," he murmured gravely. "For some reason, I feel a deep dread, as if some catastrophe is about to descend."

"Uncle Xiao, with your cultivation at the Second Heaven of the Heaven Rank and powerful divine sense, even without reaching the divine state of Tong Shen, your intuition should not be wrong," Xia Xinyan replied. Her long hair danced in the sea wind as she rose gracefully from the bat, gazing upward at the canopy. "My Samsara Martial Soul has a certain... sensitivity to spatial power. I faintly detect that the space in this immediate area seems to show signs of instability and tearing."

Xiao Hanyi’s face tightened. "We had better be cautious. I don't know why, but I feel intensely uneasy." Xia Xinyan pondered for a moment, then continued.

"Space tearing?" Xiao Hanyi’s expression became exceedingly grim. "Xia girl, did you truly sense such an anomaly?"

She nodded, her demeanor serious. "Uncle Xiao, though my realm is lower than yours, my Samsara Martial Soul absolutely perceives this. If space is truly tearing, I fear... I fear immense danger is about to be unleashed!"

Shi Yan listened, momentarily stunned. After a pause, he couldn't help but ask, "Space tearing? What kind of power can tear space apart?"

"At least the Third Heaven of the Heaven Rank! Only those on the threshold of the Divine Realm can forcibly tear space using secret arts," Xiao Hanyi said, a strange light flickering in his eyes. "When the Family Head sent Young Master Hai out of the Fourth Demonic Domain back then, he also forcibly tore space. At that time, the Family Head was in the Third Heaven of the Heaven Rank, just a single step from the Tong Shen realm, and he required the aid of Undying Blood to achieve it."

"Undying Blood?" Shi Yan was astonished.

"Those who possess the Undying Martial Soul can refine Undying Blood, which possesses countless miraculous uses, though even I do not know the full extent of its wonders. However, once Young Master Yan returns to the Yang Family, the Family Head should be able to explain the mysteries of the Undying Blood to you in detail," Xiao Hanyi explained.

Shi Yan nodded silently.

Just then!

From the dense black clouds, a million beams of black light erupted, piercing the firmament. A giant hand, crystal-white with gleaming bone, slowly emerged from the blinding light as if it were a divine mountain.

This colossal hand possessed no flesh, appearing as pure, clear white crystal, ripping the sky apart, its five fingers resembling peaks that soared into the clouds.

Yet, from the crystalline white bones seeped a terrifying demonic energy, black as ink. This energy churned within the clouds, spreading in an overwhelming tide, pressing down with a destructive force that stole the breath away.

"The Skeletal Manifestation of the Demonic Emperor, Poxun!"

Xiao Hanyi’s face twisted in horror. He roared instantly, "He has come for me! Xia girl, quickly take Young Master Yan and escape!"

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Before the giant skeletal hand could even draw near, the terrifying demonic aura permeated the air. One by one, the Azure Blood Demonic Bats violently exploded, turning into shredded meat that rained down from the sky.

Any warrior below the Nirvana Peak Realm mounted on an Azure Blood Demonic Bat also exploded simultaneously, flesh and blood flying.

The earth-shattering demonic energy was ubiquitous, blotting out the heavens, and instantly invaded Shi Yan’s body.

The mountain-collapsing demonic energy violently clashed inside Shi Yan, intent on making him explode as well.

At the same moment, starlight shot from Shi Yan’s heart; the negative energy contained within all his acupuncture points surged out like a broken dam. Even the Yin Orb began to spin rapidly, instantly forming a vortex that shot out torrents of Yin Qi, enveloping Shi Yan’s body.

Multicolored light burst forth from within Shi Yan, violently colliding with the demonic energy in an all-out confrontation.

With almost no hesitation, Xia Xinyan immediately activated her Samsara Martial Soul, drawing upon the power of past reincarnations from the River of Time, instantly ascending to the Heaven Rank.

The giant hand slowly pressed down. More Azure Blood Demonic Bats and Asura Blood Guards perished in bursts of gore. Asura King Xiao Hanyi’s face was fierce, his murderous aura churning wildly as three vast rivers of blood suddenly manifested, blasting directly toward the giant hand.

Within the rolling black clouds, the ten thousand rays of black light intensified. Deep within the skeletal hand, at the center of the demonic glow, a terrifying black hole slowly appeared, and a terrifying suction force, capable of devouring all things, erupted suddenly.

"Xia girl, take Young Master Yan and flee quickly!" Xiao Hanyi roared again, his eyes bloodshot with fury.

Xia Xinyan’s beautiful eyes filled with alarm. Not daring to delay, she flew over, snatched Shi Yan by the nape of his collar, and fled desperately toward the distance.

The ten thousand rays of demonic light intensified as the skeletal hand seemed to tear space itself, revealing its full form. The hand’s five fingers looked forged from steel, radiating an astonishing aura of power as it slowly descended.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The three rivers of blood slammed into the giant skeletal hand, yet they could not halt its advance in the slightest. The hand curled its fingers, then abruptly flicked, sending the three rivers of blood soaring out of sight into the nine heavens.

CRASH!

The giant hand finally descended completely. In its palm, a suction force promising utter destruction arose, engulfing everyone who remained near Xiao Hanyi.

Even Xiao Hanyi himself could not escape the grasp of the massive hand; he was tightly enveloped by its grip.

The skeletal hand seemed unwilling to waste time, or perhaps unwilling to linger in that region. After seizing Xiao Hanyi and the others, it slowly retracted, gradually shrinking back into the black hole at the center of the churning demonic energy.

As the skeletal hand entered the black hole, innumerable beams of demonic light burst forth from within it, shooting out in all directions like divine blades.

Some beams struck the Endless Sea, stirring up monstrous waves. The demonic light was terrifyingly potent, piercing straight to the seabed, turning that entire stretch of ocean into chaos.

Shi Yan watched in stunned horror as the skeletal hand slowly disappeared back into the black hole, watching the dark aperture shrink until it vanished completely.

After the demonic light dissipated, the dense expanse of black cloud gradually dispersed.

Before long, the sky overhead returned to bright sunshine once more.

However, the sea below had been transformed into a series of horrifying typhoons. These waterspouts surged toward the sky, roaming wildly across the surface, savaging that region of the sea unchecked.

Xia Xinyan, still clutching Shi Yan, did not spare a glance for the catastrophic upheaval behind them, flying forward with desperate resolve.

Shi Yan stared blankly, his eyes wide with terror at the ravaged sea behind him, immediately overwhelmed by a crushing sense of his own insignificance and powerlessness.