At the foot of Mount Shengguang. The vast expanse of azure seawater, iridescent under the evening glow, presented a breathtaking scene of scarlet clouds, deep blue waves, and auspicious wisps of vapor—a tableau that should have been utterly tranquil and comforting.
Yet, this serenity was shattered by the clash between two arrogant youths.
The elliptical natural bathing pool was now a maelstrom of flying stones, pocked with newly formed cavities. The earth trembled under deafening roars, rent by chasms too deep to fathom.
Into one such abyss-like hole, blue water surged, meeting the impact of a berserk force, turning the sea into chaotic turmoil.
Debris from the ruined tavern—lumber and stone—lay jumbled across the bathing area. Pots, pans, and discarded remnants of food floated on the surface or briefly surfaced amidst the churning water.
The natural spa had been transformed into a wasteland, all vestiges of elegance utterly erased.
All of this devastation was the direct consequence of the two figures locked in conflict within that gaping chasm.
“Boom!”
A muffled, thunderous explosion erupted from the deep hole, causing the entire natural pool to shudder violently.
Within the ruptured ground, a series of massive handprints, trailing water, began to condense and coalesce amid dazzling, astonishing light.
Seven immense handprints fused into one, like the colossal palm of a celestial deity, unleashing an aura of world-shattering might as it shot forward, cleaving the air.
This mountain-sized handprint slammed into Man Gu, forcibly blasting him out of the abyss.
Amidst the spray of water that covered the sky, Man Gu’s face was ashen, his formidable, honed muscles twitching uncontrollably.
The ferocious, untamed power was still present, but his physical body seemed unable to fully unleash the strength residing within him.
Struck by the giant handprint, Man Gu was propelled a hundred zhang into the sky, battered by the relentless torrents of violent water.
Man Gu's ox-like physique, usually so formidable, bobbed in the rushing current like a solitary leaf on a fierce river, appearing perilously unstable. Beneath the omnipresent spray of water, his power seemed to fail him.
The chosen prodigy of the Arrogant Barbarian Sect, the youth ranked second on the Battle Scroll for combat strength, at this moment, appeared… defeated.
Many in the Trading Ground could scarcely believe their eyes.
Amidst the low, anxious murmuring, from a neglected corner of the pool, a clear, sharp cry suddenly pierced the air: “Enough!”
Immediately following, Cao Zhilan, who had vanished for a long time, emerged, shrouded in a faint, brilliant radiance, stepping gracefully upon the vast blue waves.
No one had realized she was still submerged until that moment. When the fight began, she had disappeared, leading everyone to assume she had long since departed. Who could have predicted she would reappear just as the battle neared its climax?
She seemed to have watched the frenzied exchange impassively, perhaps savoring some hidden satisfaction in the darkness. Maybe it was Shi Yan’s direct refusal that had angered her; she had refrained from intervening, allowing Man Gu to continue his relentless assault.
Many knew that Man Gu of the Arrogant Barbarian Sect seemingly obeyed only her commands.
But she had not acted. For reasons unknown, she had remained hidden, perhaps hoping to see Shi Yan humiliated, or perhaps wanting Man Gu to understand the true extent of Shi Yan’s power.
No one knew her true intentions.
Yet, at the critical juncture, she finally revealed herself.
The moment she appeared, she ascended lightly, like a celestial phoenix, her body enveloped in swirling currents of light.
Her form became a streak of rainbow light as Cao Zhilan instantly closed the distance to Man Gu. With a wave of her jade hand, streams of brilliant light wove together into a silver net, instantly ensnaring him.
Holding one end of the silver net, she drew momentum from the furious airborne water currents, carrying Man Gu down toward the shore.
“Let me go! I will kill him!”
Man Gu struggled violently within the silver mesh, roaring his indignation, a wave of savage aggression washing over them.
Even now, Man Gu’s strength seemed undiminished; he still desired one final, all-out confrontation with Shi Yan, intending to strike him down right in front of Cao Zhilan.
“Behave yourself.” Cao Zhilan frowned, casually tossing a jade vial toward him. “Quickly swallow the pills inside. Your physical body is severely damaged, and unlike him, you don't possess the Undying Martial Soul. If you continue fighting, you will surely die.”
“I don't care,” Man Gu yelled, his face turning crimson. “I can definitely kill him! Let me go, I need to kill him!”
Man Gu’s bellowing still shook the heavens, yet to the assembled crowd, it sounded strangely hollow.
“Foolish Ox!”
Cao Zhilan cursed under her breath and brought her jade hand down sharply, striking the back of Man Gu’s head.
A bizarre, dark-green octopus materialized from the nape of Man Gu’s neck. Its tentacles covered the back of his skull, and threads of inky black energy flowed from them, seeping into Man Gu’s brain.
The defiant light in Man Gu’s eyes gradually faded. His eyelids grew impossibly heavy, forcing them shut against his will.
The moment his eyes fully closed, he finally relaxed, and the tension in his tightly wound muscles suddenly eased.
Thin rivulets of crimson blood began to seep out from the crevices between his defined muscle fibers. In an instant, Man Gu was coated in his own blood.
It turned out Man Gu’s flesh had already been torn open long ago; his physical strength was so immense that when his muscles were taut, the wounds were constricted, preventing any blood from escaping. Now that his spirit relaxed, so did the tension in his body, revealing the torn fissures.
A flicker of regret crossed Cao Zhilan’s eyes, followed by a quiet sigh. She quickly crouched down, retrieving numerous small jars and bottles, applying the powdered medicine to Man Gu’s body.
Under the public gaze, Shi Yan had openly rejected her, stirring a spark of resentment in the proud, favored daughter of heaven.
She, who always prided herself on her composure, had lost her balance. Seeing Man Gu challenge Shi Yan to battle, she hadn't stopped him, secretly hoping Man Gu could teach Shi Yan a lesson.
She was well aware of Shi Yan’s formidable strength.
But as someone from the Tuta Sea Region, she also knew that the brute, innate divine power of Man Gu was not something ordinary people could measure. In the Tuta Sea Region, Man Gu had already displayed a level of savage power few could imagine!
She understood Man Gu’s capabilities, knowing the sheer force he could unleash when driven mad—enough to destroy a Nirvana realm martial artist.
This understanding was why she believed Man Gu might defeat Shi Yan and restore some of her lost face before the martial artists of the Boundless Sea.
Alas, she had still underestimated Shi Yan…
“Scoundrel!”
Cao Zhilan gritted her teeth and muttered an oath. While treating Man Gu, she kept a sharp watch on the area of the pool.
“Whoosh!”
Arrows of water shot skyward. Amidst the dense spray, Shi Yan, pale-faced, stood exposed—his body lacerated and bleeding, looking even more battered than Man Gu.
However, the cold, sharp light in his eyes remained as brilliant as ever.
The undiminished divine radiance in his gaze signaled that he still held reserves; though his appearance was grim, his foundation remained untouched, meaning he was perfectly capable of continuing the fight.
With just one look, everyone understood clearly: Man Gu had truly lost…
Man Gu, ranked second on the Battle Scroll, had been defeated by this relatively unknown youth. Even now, the majority of onlookers still did not know Shi Yan’s true identity.
“Who exactly is he?”
“So strong! Man Gu, second on the Scroll, lost. Could it be that he is even stronger than Zhong Li Dun of the Martial God Palace?”
“That’s unlikely, right? Zhong Li Dun has already broken through to the Nirvana Realm, reportedly nearing the second heaven of Nirvana now. In this world, only ancient, mysterious places like the Martial Soul Palace can forge such monstrous talents.”
“That’s true. The difference in realms is too vast; he naturally couldn't defeat Zhong Li Dun.”
“What if he also breaks through to the Nirvana Realm?”
“Ah, then that’s hard to say.”
“It really is hard to say.”
“…”
The crowd at the Trading Ground buzzed with discussion, secretly comparing Shi Yan to Zhong Li Dun, the first on the Battle Scroll. To them, Shi Yan, who had felled Man Gu, had instantly become the most dazzling new star on the rankings.
Even though they still did not know his actual name.
“Bang!”
Shi Yan moved like a great bird, constantly stepping on the pool’s surface to propel himself upward, quickly reaching the shore and taking his stance beside Cao Zhilan.
The blood pouring from his lacerated wounds instantly stanched, and under the gaze of the crowd, the injuries began to heal at a visible rate.
“Undying Martial Soul!”
“The monster from the Yang Family!”
“Heavens! It’s the monster from the Yang Family! No wonder.”
“I knew it; only a Yang Family monster could possess combat power this abnormal.”
The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement palpable, though some faces turned pale with fear, beginning to worry about those they represented.
Hadn’t the Yang Family been driven out of the Boundless Sea?
Many harbored doubts, wondering from where Shi Yan had emerged.
Regardless, the battle Shi Yan had just fought had undeniably produced a terrifying impact.
News of the Yang Family’s return to the Boundless Sea immediately swept through the entire gathering.
“What are you doing here?” Cao Zhilan’s beautiful face paled slightly. Knowing Shi Yan’s ruthlessness, she instinctively shielded the unconscious Man Gu behind her, lowering her voice to plead, “Shi Yan, there is no existing enmity between you two. Don’t take things too far.”
Shi Yan’s gaze was cold, his expression like glacial ice, as he stared at Cao Zhilan. “I am not here because of Man Gu, but because of you.”
“Because of me?” Cao Zhilan looked surprised, a flash of astonishment crossing her beautiful eyes.
“You knew Xin Yan was nearby, yet you still orchestrated this farce in the pool. If my resolve were even slightly weaker, I might have fallen for your scheme,” Shi Yan said, frowning and sneering. “I despise people who play manipulative games with me. I’m here simply to warn you: if there is a next time, don't blame me for being impolite.”
“You deliberately fought Man Gu, and by defeating him, you successfully drew everyone’s focus onto yourself. Haven’t you achieved your goal just as well?” Cao Zhilan showed no fear, smiling softly and murmuring, “We are the same sort of people. You are no nobler than I; using any means to achieve an end is an excellent quality for those meant for greatness. Shi Yan, that woman is too kind-hearted; she is not suited for you.”
“And you are suited for me?” Shi Yan wore a mocking smile.
“Of course. I can help you achieve your grand ambitions.”
“Grand ambitions?” Shi Yan shook his head. “You know nothing!”
With that, he turned sharply, ignoring Cao Zhilan entirely, and walked directly toward Xia Xinyan, the icy coldness on his face gradually melting away.
…