Chapter 442: Sea Assault

The East Sea was vast. Close by, the surface shimmered, reflecting the flames, while in the distance, endless smoke billowed over the waves.

The boundless ancient sea stretched as far as the eye could see.

Ships burned, accompanied by thick smoke.

"Splash!"

Amidst ripples of spiritual energy, ships broke apart, and cultivators continuously fell into the water, their bodies floating on the surface.

"Run! It's Qin Feng, the newly promoted Longevity Realm grandmaster of the Thundercloud Sect."

"Thunder Law Profound Ice... Withered Cloud Beast..."

On the sea surface, high-level martial cultivators walked on water, spiritual energy mist beneath their feet, fighting their pursuers.

Screams, the sound of burning, and the clang of weapons turned the entire sea into a cacophony.

Standing on a white sand ridge only tens of yards from the shore, Li Weiyi watched the slaughter as a bystander, his robes flapping in the strong wind.

"Those are the Rice Sect's ships," Yang Qingxi said, observing carefully. "They intend to retreat to the Three Islands and defend them alongside the Dragon Gate, Baiyi, Huaiyi, and Jiaoyi tribes." She recognized several elderly Seed Realm figures darting across the sea.

Li Weiyi also observed.

He found that most of those attacking the Rice Sect's ships were disciples of the Thundercloud Sect, with a smaller number being masters from the Imperial Court's East Sea Garrison.

It must be said that in this battle for the Lingxiao Living Realm, the Thundercloud Sect gained an immense advantage.

The Vermillion Gate in the Western Region clashed with the demon army, suffered heavy losses, and was almost wiped out. In the battle of Lingxiao City, more than half of the Imperial Court's masters were killed or wounded.

The Snow Sword Tang Court fought fiercely with the Wraith army, while the Zuoqiu Family attacked the underground immortal manor. All were tough battles.

Now that the tough battles were over, the Thundercloud Sect, having preserved most of its strength, began to reap benefits and expand its territory. Although the Rice Sect's main altar had been breached, the fact that so many people had escaped indicated that the true resources and treasures were likely with these fugitives.

It could be foreseen that the entire Seven Eastern States would soon fall under the Thundercloud Sect's control. The Wraith territory in the Southeast Nether Realm would also become part of their sphere of influence.

Next, the major human factions would inevitably, in great numbers, plunder the resources and treasures of the thirty-one states in the Southeast Nether Realm. The Thundercloud Sect had a geographical advantage and could seize the initiative.

The opportunity was at hand. If the Thundercloud Sect had ambition, subjugated the Dragon Gate and the Three Islands barbarians in the East Sea, and secured its rear, it was not impossible for them to once again become masters of the Lingxiao Living Realm.

"Strange," Li Weiyi said, feeling confused. "There are over a dozen large ships here, with many cultivators and abundant supplies. Why isn't there a Longevity Realm grandmaster from the Rice Sect overseeing this? That doesn't seem right!"

Yang Qingxi said, "Your Highness, the Divine Son, didn't the Southern Venerable tell you about the legend of Daozhou?"

"Daozhou?" Li Weiyi asked.

Yang Qingxi said, "Legend says the Divine Cult possesses an imperial art that can reverse a Nether Realm into a Living Realm. They've pioneered a small Living Realm within the Wraith Nether Realm, specifically for cultivating benevolent rice. What Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun called 'training in the Wraith Nether Realm' was likely part of this pioneering effort."

"The Hall Master of the Hall of Heavenly Principles is mysterious, and the Hall of Heavenly Principles has consistently produced Soul Seeds refined from powerful Wraiths. It's highly probable that the Hall Master is stationed there, and the Wraiths were subdued during the pioneering process."

"If I'm not mistaken," she continued, "the Rice Sect cultivators heading to the East Sea are sacrificial pawns, meant to distract."

"The Rice Sect's true elite and powerful figures are all retreating to Daozhou, which is very likely in a certain area of the Nether Realm behind us."

Li Weiyi was not surprised that the Rice Sect, possessing nine pages of the Book of Bright Stars, was capable of reversing a Nether Realm.

However, defending a Living Realm within a Nether Realm was no easy feat.

Li Weiyi looked at Yang Qingchan.

"Don't look at me," she said. "I don't know the exact location of Daozhou. After I was captured, I was refined into a Soul Seed."

"Look!" Yang Qingxi exclaimed. "There's actually a master hidden on that ship."

"Whoosh!"

On the sea, a spiritual artifact boat several meters long shot out from inside a burning giant ship, speeding away like a streak of light.

On the spiritual artifact boat stood a tall, upright figure. His spiritual energy quality was exceptionally high, and the boat beneath his feet moved at a terrifying speed.

The figure on the boat, having undergone a simple disguise, wore a yellow monk's robe and a bamboo hat.

It was none other than Fu Wenyan, the prodigious Young Emperor-tier talent from the Doomed Temple.

The Doomed Temple accepted all, regardless of background. Martial cultivators from various Living Realms in Southern Yingzhou, as long as their talent was sufficient, could go and participate in the apprenticeship assessment.

Like the Demon Child and Xie Chucai from the Demon Kingdom faction, both were exceptionally gifted and had powerful backing.

The reason they both joined the Doomed Temple was partly because the Demon Kingdom intended to subtly demonize and control the Doomed Temple, and partly because they sought to contend for the position of True Heir, using the prestige of a Martial Emperor to protect them as they traveled the world.

The True Heirs of the Doomed Temple and several other super ancient sects in Southern Yingzhou were not merely True Disciples, but inheritors of a Martial Emperor.

Becoming a True Heir of such an ancient sect, inheriting the mantle of a Martial Emperor, could overnight make one's name known throughout the prosperous lands of Southern Yingzhou and become a sought-after figure in all major Living Realms.

It was equivalent to having an indestructible protective aura; any elder powerful enough to wish them harm would have to carefully consider if they had lived long enough.

Fu Wenyan hailed from the 'Fu Family' of the Sage Academy. He apprenticed at the Doomed Temple, also aiming to contend for the position of "Doomed True Heir."

Although the Fu Family's Ancestor, Lady Ye, was already a top-tier transcendental powerhouse, compared to the Abbot of the Doomed Temple, her status was vastly inferior.

The Martial Emperor realm had halted countless prodigies and heroes. Qilin Zang, the Demon Kingdom Crown Prince, Yu Yaozi, Master Lan... so many peerless figures had stopped at the level just below an Emperor, unable to break through for thousands of years.

Now that Lady Ye had died in Lingxiao City and the strongest member of the Fu Family had fallen, the position of "Doomed True Heir" became even more crucial for Fu Wenyan.

The talent of a Young Emperor was merely the threshold for competing for the True Heir position of an ancient sect.

Just like a group of princes vying for the position of Crown Prince.

However, for Fu Wenyan, the top priority was how to escape the Lingxiao Living Realm and return to the Doomed Temple or the Sage Academy. Not only were the Imperial Court's masters searching for him everywhere, intending to eradicate him,

there were also powerful figures of unknown identity who wanted to kill him and seize the opportunities he possessed.

Individuals who could become Young Emperors all possessed heaven-defying opportunities.

Prodigies at the Heir level, if they seized his opportunities, might be able to advance to a Young Emperor. At the very least, they could elevate to the level of top-tier Heirs.

With such a temptation, what ambitious martial cultivator wouldn't want to take the risk?

Just like Huang Xu and Kong Xu's pursuit of Li Weiyi.

Fu Wenyan had previously traveled to Qiuzhou, hoping to find Immortal Master Zhuang Shiyan of the Doomed Temple to seek protection.

But the Zuoqiu Family and the Rice Sect were fighting fiercely in Fuzhou and Qiuzhou, creating mountains of corpses and rivers of blood. He was targeted by an unknown powerhouse and fled all the way, concealing his identity and hiding among the routed Rice Sect forces, eventually being carried along to the East Sea.

He no longer placed his hopes on others, intending to risk crossing the East Sea to escape the Lingxiao Living Realm from there.

Suddenly.

On the sea surface, a giant whirlpool appeared.

Fu Wenyan looked around, his vision filled with swirling ripples.

He and the spiritual artifact boat had already sunk beneath the sea surface.

A terrifying aura emanated from the center of the whirlpool.

"It's him again."

Fu Wenyan's heart was filled with both tension and anger. He had been targeted by that person back in Fuzhou, narrowly escaping death multiple times. Relying on the life-saving methods carried from his clan, he had managed to escape and survive until now.

From within his ancestral field, a bronze paintbrush flew out, transforming into seven feet long, and swept across the sea surface.

"Whoosh!"

Over eight thousand runes appeared, as the paintbrush tore open the whirlpool, separating the sea water.

After breaking through the opponent's Daoist art, Fu Wenyan abandoned his boat and soared into the air, swiftly fleeing atop a bridge of ink mist. He knew very well that it was a Longevity Realm grandmaster, and he was no match for them.

"Boom!"

A black shadow shot out like an arrow from beneath the water, pursuing Fu Wenyan.

The black shadow was entirely cloaked in a black robe, daring not to release its Dao Heart Outer Manifestation to imprison Fu Wenyan, for fear of its identity being discovered by the masters of the Thundercloud Sect and the East Sea Garrison.

A Longevity Realm grandmaster killing a Seed Realm Young Emperor of the Doomed Temple to seize opportunities and Dao fruits. If exposed, would the Doomed Temple and the Fu Family ever let it go?

It was precisely because of the need to act cautiously, being constantly restrained, that Fu Wenyan had repeatedly managed to escape.

Yang Qingchan's brows furrowed. "That black-robed figure feels so familiar," she murmured.

"It's Yao Qian!" Yang Qingxi exclaimed. "He's using the Flowing Robe Art of the Suizong Sect underwater."

"Damn these lingering memories," the Wraith inside Yang Qingchan muttered irritably.

Li Weiyi didn't know who Yao Qian was pursuing, but he had a guess.

To possess Seed Realm cultivation, wield an eighth-grade thousand-character artifact, and belong to the Confucian Dao lineage, only the Young Emperor of the Doomed Temple fit the description best.

"Let's go quickly."

Li Weiyi detected a powerful presence coming from the sea and settling on him.

He wasn't sure who it was.

If it was Yao Qian's presence, he would likely immediately change direction and come to kill him.

Li Weiyi wrapped Yang Qingxi and Yang Qingchan in spiritual energy, affixed a Divine Movement Talisman, and swiftly fled through the white desert, quickly escaping the opponent's sensory range.

He looked at Yang Qingchan. "Did we take the wrong direction earlier?" he asked.

Li Weiyi remembered that on the map of the Wraith Nether Realm, Shazhou and Haizhou were near the East Sea, while Yuzhou, where the Phoenix Blood Tree was located, was further east of Haizhou, inland, thousands of miles from the coast.

Yang Qingchan said, "I deliberately led us this way to avoid the Water Beaver Immortal. The direction the Water Beaver Immortal went is the way to Yuzhou; if we had followed its escape path earlier, we might have run right into it."

"That's a beaver that lives in the Huang River," Li Weiyi said, curious. "Why would it cross the desert and go through such trouble to get to Yuzhou?"

"It said it was going to report news to a sea demon named Princess Dengfeng," Yang Qingxi said, "a sea demon from the Jellyfish clan."

"Yuzhou is inland," Li Weiyi said. "How did a jellyfish get ashore?"

"The Phoenix Blood Tree and many resources controlled by the Wraiths are attractive to cultivators of any race," Yang Qingxi explained. "The East Sea demons and the Wraith Nether Realm are constantly restraining and competing with each other. Otherwise, how could the Lingxiao Living Realm have been stable for a thousand years?"

Yang Qingxi added, "Master Lan's demise and the defeat of the Wraith army, retreating with the Rice Sect to the border city of Huangjiang, is now confirmed news. The Water Beaver Immortal naturally had to report the news immediately, so the sea demons stationed in Yuzhou would then have no further concerns."

Li Weiyi realized.

It made sense; the region ruled by Master Lan was even vaster than the Lingxiao Living Realm.

With his demise, the war to carve up the Lingxiao Living Realm consequently turned into surrounding regions plundering the Southeast Nether Realm. What an immense amount of resources and wealth was that?

Li Weiyi narrowed his eyes. "Doesn't that mean that if we arrive late, we won't even be able to pick up a single leaf from the Phoenix Blood Tree?" he asked. "How do we get there now?"

Having a map didn't mean one could do as they pleased; many areas were restricted zones.

He still had to consult Yang Qingchan, the "local expert."

Yang Qingchan said, "If we go around the coast, it will add eight thousand li. As he said, if we're too late, it's better not to go at all."