An iron vessel cleaved through the waves, heading straight for the Yuanluo Sea.
The Yuanluo Sea lay before the Jialuo Sea; one had to pass through Yuanluo to reach Jialuo.
The Yuanluo Sea was dotted with countless islands, the territories of the Three God Cult, the Dongfang family, and the Gu family. These three powers controlled nearly half of the islands in the Yuanluo Sea.
The iron ship sped on under the scorching sun.
On the deck, Shi Yan stood with a calm expression, gazing into the distance against the whipping sea breeze.
Dressed in a cyan gown, her hair flying, Xia Xinyan—her beauty restored to a captivating, world-stopping allure—stood quietly beside him.
In just three months, Xia Xinyan’s Martial Soul had not only fully recovered but, having endured numerous tribulations, she had finally advanced, stepping into the Status Realm.
Xia Xinyan, now a master of the Status Realm, possessed an ethereal grace and an elegant, dignified demeanor; every movement exuded an inviolable noble aura.
“Xinyan, your progress in these three months has been substantial. It seems I’ll need to work even harder to catch up to you,” Shi Yan smiled faintly, turning to glance at the beauty beside him. “You once said that if I ever surpassed you, you would…”
Xia Xinyan smiled radiantly, like a blooming green lotus, impossibly pure and lovely. “You always have such things on your mind?”
For three months, the two had spent every moment together, sharing everything, maintaining a harmonious relationship.
Shi Yan, habitually unrestrained, often teased her about matters between a man and a woman. However, ever since they shared hardship in the burial grounds, Xia Xinyan had become rather indulgent of him, paying little mind to his flirtatious remarks. Only when Shi Yan made any overtly forward moves would she subtly reveal the power of a Status Realm martial artist, signaling him to rein himself in.
“Are you perhaps planning to go back on your word?” Shi Yan feigned indignation, pretending to be upset. “You are the very source of my motivation to strive; without you, my cultivation would become tedious and flavorless.”
Xia Xinyan’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she smiled calmly. “Someone like you doesn’t need any woman to urge you on; you torment yourself relentlessly anyway. Just as you say, you’re a masochist. Heh, a masochist. I rather like that name for you.”
For these three months, Shi Yan had toiled day and night in the Violent Burst Second Heaven, attempting to infuse the negative aura into his very blood.
These three months had been three months of self-torture for Shi Yan!
Integrating negative aura into the blood was inherently brutal. Before grasping the correct method, every session of Shi Yan’s cultivation was accompanied by agonizing shrieks; every practice left him in excruciating pain, feeling as if he were dying a thousand deaths.
Whether day or night, Xia Xinyan was often startled awake by his roars.
During these three months, Xia Xinyan finally understood the method by which Shi Yan had acquired his current profound essence and resilient temperament.
A frenzied torment of himself!
In dealing with himself, Shi Yan was mercilessly severe; every cultivation session felt like an ordeal in the deepest pits of hell.
Shi Yan’s grueling practice deeply shook her, making Xia Xinyan realize there was a profound reason behind Shi Yan’s current achievements—the effort he expended surpassed anyone’s imagination! Only one capable of such cruelty toward oneself could attain terrifying power in such a short span.
“Believe it or not, I’ll teach you a lesson?” Shi Yan sneered, baring his teeth with a sinister grin.
A knowing smile touched the corner of Xia Xinyan’s lips. She tilted her swan-like, slender neck, her eyes, clear as lake water, fixed on Shi Yan. “You truly are a masochist! After I beat you so many times recently, you still haven’t given up on your desires?”
“Here I come!”
Shi Yan exclaimed softly. His body shot forward like a sharp sword, an immense, surging power erupting suddenly as he lunged toward Xia Xinyan. Mid-flight, Shi Yan’s body instantly withered, wisps of negative power swirling around him, his presence suddenly soaring like a rainbow, like a flood dragon emerging from the abyss.
“Asking for a beating,”
Xia Xinyan giggled lightly, her delicate body swaying slightly, drifting away with ghost-like agility.
Like a single leaf carried by the wind, Xia Xinyan moved with the breeze, her long hair billowing. Her slender, jade-like hands formed a pattern the size of a grinding stone—a Green Lotus. The lotus emanated an intense, bone-chilling cold, and its core was lined with razor-sharp petals that gleamed with startling icy light.
The Green Lotus materialized instantly and smashed into the charging Shi Yan.
“Boom!”
Shi Yan slammed directly into the Green Lotus. The razor-sharp petals at the core suddenly contracted, violently enveloping Shi Yan’s body.
“Crack, crack, crack!”
From within the Green Lotus came the grinding sound of friction; Shi Yan’s body was gripped tightly by the lotus, unable to move.
A smile played on Xia Xinyan’s lips. She slowly formed an incantation with her jade-like hands, brilliant green light cascading down like a rainbow, pouring into the Green Lotus.
The Green Lotus began to contract slowly, the restraining force as immense as a mountain, growing stronger until Shi Yan’s body was completely immobilized. A frigid, icy aura emanated from within the lotus, causing the very air to shimmer with cold, the chill permeating every inch of Shi Yan’s body.
Violent Burst First Heaven.
Shi Yan channeled all the negative power gathered in his arms. In the thick white mist, the negative power surged like a tide, crashing toward the heart of the Green Lotus.
The Green Lotus flickered with an abnormal light, emitting coils of greenish rays as thick as a man’s arm, undulating erratically, wrapping around Shi Yan like chains, increasing the binding force by another third!
The penetrating cold slowed the circulation of Shi Yan’s essence, yet he gritted his teeth, struggling relentlessly.
“Enough, stop showing off,” Xia Xinyan scolded him with a reproachful glare. She lifted her jade hand, reaching out toward the Green Lotus in the void.
The Green Lotus instantly split open. Petals drifted out, flowing back into Xia Xinyan’s palm until they vanished completely.
“Phew.”
Shi Yan let out a wry chuckle, exhaling slightly, shaking his head. “When I was at the Human Position Triple Heaven Realm, using negative power, I could slay a martial artist in the Hundred Calamity Realm. Now that I’m in the Hundred Calamity Realm, why can’t I even shake you?”
“Hundred Calamity martial artists, aside from having richer essence, focus more on their state of mind,” Xia Xinyan replied with a light laugh. “The essence within you is far richer and purer than that of an ordinary Hundred Calamity First Heaven martial artist, and your martial skills are profoundly mysterious. Using negative power, you can kill a Hundred Calamity Second Heaven martial artist and even fight a Hundred Calamity Third Heaven martial artist head-on. However, defeating a Status Realm expert is difficult. I have only just crossed the threshold, and I can already suppress you. Had it been someone else, your defeat would have been far more humiliating.” Shi Yan frowned, falling silent.
“I know you haven’t used your full strength yet,” Xia Xinyan smiled again, continuing, “But even if you unleash everything, you would only be able to fight a Hundred Calamity Third Heaven martial artist, and victory would still be uncertain. Where you come from, martial artists have limited resources, their martial skills are scarce, and their understanding of Martial Souls is insufficient. But the Endless Sea is different. Any core Hundred Calamity Third Heaven martial artist from the fifteen major powers has rigorously mastered various secret arts, understands Martial Souls intimately, and never lacks combat experience. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Shi Yan slowly nodded.
“Oh, you,” Xia Xinyan shook her head. “In the Hundred Calamity First Heaven Realm, to be able to withstand a Hundred Calamity Third Heaven Realm expert—that is already incredible. What more do you want? Do you expect to kill those in the Status Realm or the Nirvana Nest Realm directly while still in the Hundred Calamity Realm?”
“Heh, I do have that thought.” Xia Xinyan was annoyed, glaring at him and sharply commanding, “Remember! Don’t be reckless. Don’t truly believe you can contend with Status Realm experts. Starting from the Hundred Calamity Realm, battles rely on more than just the sheer amount of essence; they depend on comprehension of the realm, the quality of martial skills, and the mastery of techniques. You are so young—do you really think you can defeat martial artists who have been immersed in this realm for decades?”
Shi Yan fell silent once more.
“Alright, I’ll give you some incentive,” Xia Xinyan’s beautiful eyes shifted, a flush of faint red rising on her snow-white neck. “If you truly manage to defeat me one day, you will be my first choice if I ever decide to marry.”
“Is that true?” Shi Yan’s expression sharpened, his gaze blazing.
Xia Xinyan seemed hesitant to meet his eyes, turning her head away, her back to him, and stating faintly, “True.”
Shi Yan grinned widely, letting out a long, delighted laugh.
Half a month later.
The iron vessel officially entered the Yuanluo Sea.
The Yuanluo Sea contained countless islands, and once one entered this region, they would pass myriad isles.
The banner depicting the Spring Palace from the Yin-Yang Grotto-Heaven, which had been hanging on the iron ship, had long since been taken down.
Now, there was no trace of the Yin-Yang Grotto-Heaven on the iron ship.
A massive harbor appeared ahead of the vessel, where dozens of ships were docked—some significantly larger than the one Shi Yan and Xia Xinyan occupied.
Martial artists of varying cultivation levels stood on these iron ships. Many, stripped to the waist, were hauling cargo from the vessels onto the docks.
Outside the harbor was a circular plaza. Various carriages were parked there, and men and women dressed in colorful martial robes were shouting and haggling. Fights, some ending in death, were breaking out right in the square.
“This island, Menluo, does not belong to the Three God Cult, the Dongfang family, or the Gu family; it is jointly held by several factions on the island. We will go ashore to procure some food and inquire about the recent situation in the Endless Sea. We won’t be staying long,” Xia Xinyan said softly, gazing into the distance from the iron ship, her face veiled.
Shi Yan nodded. “This Menluo Island isn’t small; it might be half the size of Tianyun City.”
“In the Yuanluo Sea, Menluo Island is considered small, and rather remote too. There are no rich mines or blessed lands here, which is why the Three God Cult, the Dongfang family, and the Gu family let it be,” Xia Xinyan chuckled lightly. “In the Endless Sea, the larger islands are vastly bigger than the entire Merchant Alliance. Calling them islands is almost an understatement; they are comparable to small continents. Don’t be so provincial.”
“Huh? Are you mocking me?”
“Heh, I suppose I am.” Xia Xinyan smiled and nodded.
“Eh!” Suddenly, Xia Xinyan gasped softly, her expression strange, muttering under her breath, “Why are the treasure-hunting vessels from the Spirit Treasure Grotto-Heaven here? Ah, and the Divine Pill of the Heavenly Pool Holy Land! The Dongfang family’s Cloud-Piercer! What is going on?”
“Rumble!”
The iron ship beneath Shi Yan shuddered violently as it was struck hard. Shi Yan stumbled forward, suddenly pressed against Xia Xinyan.
Shi Yan immediately caught her, frowning. “Who hit us?”
“Let go first,” Xia Xinyan snorted, glaring fiercely at him. “You rogue, taking advantage of every opportunity! Let go quickly!” With the beauty in his arms, Shi Yan’s heart fluttered. After savoring the exquisite feeling of her body for a moment, he finally released her.
“The Gu family’s Dark Star Electric Pill!” Xia Xinyan’s delicate brows knitted together, and she said coldly, “It’s Gu Jiange’s ship. It seems there’s trouble on Menluo Island, or so many factions wouldn't gather here.”
“Gu Jiange, who is this person?” Shi Yan asked with a grim face.
“The Gu family’s sword genius. The Dragon-Slaying Sword, which had been embedded on the Gu family’s Ten Thousand Sword Peak for hundreds of years, flew out the moment he was born and hovered three feet above his head, recognizing him as its master. Gu Jiange possesses the Sword Spirit Martial Soul—he can communicate with divine swords. A monstrous talent.”
“He’s not the monster, though. His sister, Gu Linglong, is even more so. The moment she was born, all the swords on the Gu family’s Ten Thousand Sword Peak rang out in unison, and seven divine swords flew out, merging into her body. This demonic girl possesses the Divine Sword Heart Martial Soul, allowing her to command sentient divine swords naturally. When her heart moves, the swords move; taking an enemy’s head from ten thousand miles away is like reaching into her pocket.”
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