The Sinking Star Archipelago, in the Yuán Luó Sea. A small boat drifted slowly, laden with a haphazard collection of cargo. Amidst the jumble, Shi Yan lay sprawled, leaning against a large crate, his patched clothes doing little to hide his profound weakness.

Kamon and his group occupied various corners of the cramped vessel, standing or sitting, their gazes fixed upon Shi Yan with palpable ill will. Linda had been sneezing relentlessly since boarding and had retreated below deck to change her clothes, missing any chance to exchange more than a few words with Shi Yan. As soon as Linda departed, Kamon was the first to act, shoving the depleted Shi Yan further into the pile of goods, hovering nearby to harass him coldly.

The others nearby ground their teeth, cursing him silently in their hearts, desperately wanting to step forward, unleash a torrent of punches and kicks, and teach Shi Yan a severe lesson. On this boat, Linda was the object of these young men’s ardent admiration; their nightly conversations invariably revolved around her. In their estimation, Linda was the very soul of this vessel.

The fact that Shi Yan, completely naked, had been pulled from the seabed, hand-in-hand with Linda, was, in their eyes, an undeniable defilement of her purity. Even if Linda’s purity were to be sullied, it should have been by one of them, not some utter outsider. Their silent curses deepened, and their looks toward Shi Yan grew increasingly hostile.

Kamon, in particular, was boiling with suppressed rage. Gritting his teeth, he sneered, “Kid, you certainly know how to play, don't you? Stripped bare, taking a bath in the glacier—wasn’t that quite invigorating?

Are you out of your mind? Why didn’t the seawater here just drown you?” Shi Yan frowned slightly, his expression indifferent, offering no reply. “Why were you in the sea?

If you don’t answer, I’ll toss you right back!” Kamon exploded in anger, suddenly rising and stalking toward Shi Yan, his demeanor menacing. At this moment, all the power within Shi Yan’s body was being absorbed by the Blood Pattern Ring, leaving him truly as vulnerable as a mortal. A confrontation with Kamon would surely be suicide.

“I’m from one of the nearby islands. I was out fishing when my vessel shattered, and the sea current washed me here…” Shi Yan spewed a stream of falsehoods, punctuating them with bitter smiles, “I thought I was done for, but then that beautiful young lady suddenly appeared and saved me.” “Kid, why were you completely naked?” This was what irked Kamon the most. “We fishermen wear rather loose clothing; the sea just washes it right off,” Shi Yan replied with a weary frown.

“I don’t know how it happened; I was unconscious for a while, and when I woke up, I was like this.” “Nonsense!” Kamon spat, kicking viciously at Shi Yan. “Fishermen wear loose clothes, but do they wear loose shorts too?” Kamon delivered another kick, grinding his teeth. “I think you were intentionally stripping bare just to take advantage of my Linda!

You shameless wretch, unless I teach you a hard lesson, you’ll never tell the truth.” “Who is your Linda?” Linda’s voice cut in from the stairwell. Moments later, having changed into dry clothes, Linda emerged, one hand drying her damp hair, fixing Kamon with a sharp, disapproving glare. “Who told you to hit him?” Kamon looked momentarily guilty, chuckling weakly.

“I was just helping you discipline him, Linda! This guy, completely naked—he’s definitely a pervert. Linda, I’m just saying, someone like this shouldn't have been saved; he should have drowned.

If he likes being naked so much, maybe the sea beasts down below should finish the job.” Linda frowned, her expression laced with contempt. “Kamon, you are truly repulsive.” Kamon put on a look of utter grievance, forcing a wry smile. “I’m only looking out for you!

You stand back; I have questions for him.” Linda snorted, stepping forward with an impatient air, glaring at Kamon. “Go stand over there.” Under her sharp gaze, Kamon relented, dropping his head and joining the other martial artists clustered at the far end of the small boat, watching from a distance. “Kamon, you got shut down, didn’t you?” “Heh heh, Sister Linda is fiercely protective.

You keep boasting you can tame her; I think you’ve got no chance in this lifetime.” “Kamon, Sister Linda isn't one to be soft-hearted. Why save this punk this time? Could it be that Sister Linda has been alone too long and is suddenly craving a man?” “Shut your trap!” Kamon roared, glaring menacingly at the speaker.

“Even if Linda wanted a man, she’d only choose someone like me! That wretch has not even a wisp of vital essence in his body—a total softie! Does he even qualify to be Linda’s man?

Damn it! You people, have your brains migrated to your lower halves? Idiots!” The martial artists Kamon was berating were all only at the first or second levels of the Human Rank, while Kamon himself stood near the peak of the third level.

Being scolded by him, they could only offer sheepish smiles, daring not to argue back. On this boat, Linda was undeniably the strongest, followed closely by Kamon. Kamon finished his tirade, his annoyance only growing.

He watched Shi Yan coldly, noticing how Linda had crouched down, positioning herself very close to him. The sight grated on him, fueling the fire in his belly. Linda crouched low, her back to Kamon’s group.

She extended a slender hand, placing it on Shi Yan’s wrist to check his pulse, before speaking. “You are a martial artist, but you’ve completely exhausted the power within your body, haven’t you?” Shi Yan nodded, offering a slight smile. “Thank you for saving me.

Otherwise, I fear I would have sunk to the seabed.” “Who exactly are you? Where are you from? Why are you here?” Linda withdrew her hand, shaking her chestnut-colored long hair, exhaling a breath that was sweet like orchid fragrance.

Linda kept close to Shi Yan to ensure no one else overheard their conversation. As she spoke, the perfume from her red lips drifted out, washing over Shi Yan’s face. Linda’s beauty, while not matching Xia Xinyan’s, was certainly on the level of Di Yalan—a rare sight nonetheless.

A beauty exhaling such sweetness, Shi Yan naturally didn't mind, but he remained tight-lipped. “I already told Kamon,” he said calmly. “I’m a nobody from a nearby island.

My boat was destroyed by a hurricane while fishing, and I was washed here unconscious.” “Is that truly so?” Linda gazed deeply at him, clearly unconvinced. Shi Yan nodded firmly. “That’s exactly how it happened.” Linda frowned and fell silent.

She had seen the scene no one else had: Shi Yan being encased in ice within the largest glacier. Anyone capable of being frozen within a ten-thousand-foot glacier was surely no ordinary person; Linda knew this much in her heart. Seeing Shi Yan stubbornly insist he was a mere fisherman, Linda understood he was lying.

Yet, knowing he lied gave her no means to force the truth, leaving her hesitant about how to uncover his secrets. “Fine, let’s say you are a fisherman,” Linda said after a pause, deciding it was better to proceed slowly. “Regardless of where you came from, we will not change our route for you.

We are heading to the Gu Family’s island; all the supplies on these ships are destined for them and will not be delayed because of you.” “The Gu Family?” Shi Yan feigned ignorance, then gasped dramatically. “The Gu Family with the Myriad Engraving Peak? You...

you…” He seemed to realize something sudden, staring at the Sun and Moon Star Brocade banners on the boat. He shouted, “You are people of the Three Gods Cult?” Feigning, put on a good show! Linda frowned inwardly, a cold smile playing in her mind, though her face remained composed.

She nodded. “That’s right, we are from the Three Gods Cult, but we are only outer disciples, handling minor affairs for the sect. The goods on these ships are purchases made by the Gu Family from the Three Gods Cult.

Over the past two years, the Gu Family has been relentlessly harassed by the Yang Family, and many of their island defenses have been utterly destroyed, forcing them to buy defensive crystals from us.” “The Gu Family has been relentlessly harassed by the Yang Family?” Shi Yan looked genuinely astonished this time. “Yes,” Linda quietly observed Shi Yan. Seeing his look of sudden interest, she continued explaining, “I don't know how the Gu Family, the Dongfang Family, the Spiritual Treasure Grotto-Heaven, and the Heavenly Pool Sacred Land offended the overbearing and unreasonable Yang Family.

For two years now, masters from the Yang Family have swept across the seas, uprooting many islands belonging to the Four Great Powers and killing numerous of their people. The Yang Family is notorious throughout the Endless Sea for their brutality, and this time, they even seem to have the moral high ground, leaving the Four Great Powers in utter disarray…” Linda observed Shi Yan closely as she described the conflict between the Yang Family and the Four Great Powers. Shi Yan’s face darkened, a flicker of unexpected joy crossing his eyes.

Only the Four Great Powers and Xia Xinyan had been present during the final events on Men Luo Island. The Four Great Powers had no idea of his identity and certainly wouldn't speak carelessly. The intelligence the Yang Family received must have come from Xia Xinyan!

Although he had suspected that Xia Xinyan would survive using the Samsara Martial Soul when he fell into the chasm, he had worried about her for the past three years. Now, receiving confirmation from Linda’s words, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a great weight lift from his chest, bringing an immense sense of relaxation. The Yang Family, indeed, was powerful.

Shi Yan took a deep breath, but his expression became grave. He deliberately showed shared outrage. “The Yang Family is truly tyrannical!” “It’s because the Yang Family is strong.” Linda’s expression was detached.

“Although the Four Great Powers are also among the fifteen major powers of the Endless Sea, they are still slightly inferior to the deeply established Yang Family. This time, they seem to be in the wrong, having given the Yang Family leverage. It’s no wonder they are suffering.

Surely, our Three Gods Cult isn’t afraid of the Yang Family, right?” Shi Yan suddenly interjected. He was pretending to be a local of the Yuán Luó Sea, and since the Three Gods Cult’s foundation lay there, their status in Yuán Luó Sea was comparable to the Yang Family’s in the Jiā Luó Sea. Aligning himself with the Three Gods Cult was completely logical.

As expected, Linda didn’t find it strange and nodded. “To be honest, our Three Gods Cult was slightly weaker than the Yang Family before. But that might change; our Three Gods Cult has regained a Divine Being.

In a few decades, the Three Gods Cult will surely surpass the Yang Family! Hmph! When that time comes, if the Yang Family dares to stir up trouble in our Yuán Luó Sea again, we will certainly make them pay!” As she spoke, Linda’s jaw clenched; she clearly harbored a genuine dislike for the Yang Family.

Divine Being? Shi Yan frowned, and a flash of illumination crossed his mind, revealing who the Divine Being Linda mentioned must be. Divine Stone Plaza, the extraterrestrial meteorite, Ouyang Luoshuang.