Chapter 683

Chapter 683: Seafloor Beasts

When Ye Yun entered the light gate, violent transformations swept through the first layer of the Xumi Treasure. The nine great tribulations manifested. Nascent Soul stage beings who hadn’t reached the central area in time had all their true qi and spiritual power drained by the black tornado. Yellow sand, barren wastelands, dark winds, icy snow, hurricanes, hail, fire, and collapsing mountains—these natural calamities turned the entire first layer into a hellscape in an instant.

One-third of the terrain shattered into nothingness immediately. The four main regions—extreme east, north, south, and west—began crumbling slowly, though they wouldn’t hold for long.

"Damned! That guy’s ahead again!" Du Jianyin and Jun Ruolan halted their fierce duel as the environment shifted abruptly. Seeing Zhang Yanhua unconscious, Jun Ruolan sneered, "Utterly useless. Had it been me, Ye Yun would’ve fallen today."

"If you hadn’t interfered, Ye Yun wouldn’t have seized the treasure!" Du Jianyin roared, pointing his white jade sword at Jun Ruolan as if to pierce her heart.

"Senior Sister, what happened to Elder Brother?" Moon Goddess Palace disciples rushed in as restrictions lifted. Their faces paled upon seeing Zhang Yanhua collapsed on the ground, unable to believe their invincible elder brother had been defeated.

"Enough gawking. We’re leaving this layer immediately. Bring that failure with us." Jun Ruolan led the retreat, casting a cold glance at the unconscious Zhang Yanhua.

"Elder Brother…" A female disciple sighed, lifting him without ceremony. The group swiftly passed through the light gate.

A flood of Nascent Soul stage beings stampeded toward the second layer’s gate. Once Moon Goddess Palace vacated, Medicine King Valley, Sword Seeking Villa, and Moon Dynasty monopolized the exit. Only after their departure did the desperate wandering cultivators get their turn—though none dared protest, fearing sect retaliation.

"Brother, where’s Senior? Why hasn’t he come?" Within the chaotic crowd, two figures cloaked by a Deceptive Array whispered. The girl’s voice trembled with worry.

"Unclear. But with his skills, he’s surely safe. Let’s go." Jin An shook his head, gripping Golden Ling’er’s hand as she wiped tears.

"I guess… we’ll never meet him again." Golden Ling’er’s eyes reddened. Jin An sighed, dragging her toward the light gate.

*At least if we find him in the second layer, her heart might ease. But chances are slim…* Watching Golden Ling’er’s tear-streaked face, Jin An guided her through the portal.

"What’s that?!" Jin An gaped at the ocean sprawling before them. A colossal shadow loomed beneath the waves. Before he could react, a white light streaked—a crimson whip lashed down, igniting the sea in inextinguishable flames.

"Honestly, you two! I thought we’d parted for good, yet here you are again." Ye Yun appeared, wiping sweat as he glared at them.

"Se-Senior!" Golden Ling’er stared, disbelief written across her face.

"I sensed my mark on you and teleported here. Good timing—else you’d be whale food by now." Ye Yun chuckled at their stunned expressions.

"S-see? We never really separated! I’m so silly!" Golden Ling’er hastily scrubbed her tears, forcing a smile.

"Ha! Can’t argue that." Ye Yun’s smile softened. Though close in age, he saw her as a younger sister—a role she paradoxically filled despite being slightly older.

"Senior, since you followed Moon Goddess Palace, do you know who claimed the Xumi Treasure?" Jin An ventured.

"Do I look unprepared? Jun Ruolan and Du Jianyin stood no chance against me." Ye Yun smirked.

*Ancestor of the Sword Path’s voice echoed in Ye Yun’s mind: "Quit posturing! Tell them how you cheated, swapping places to pick on weakling Zhang Yanhua!"*

"Moon Goddess Palace’s elder brother, weak? You jest, Ancestor." Ye Yun grinned inwardly.

"Semantics. They all lost anyway," the Ancestor retorted.

"Victory’s what matters." Ye Yun turned to the duo. "Find anything worthwhile in the first layer?"

"Nothing." Jin An shook his head ruefully.

"Stick with me then." Ye Yun gazed at the azure expanse. "Finding an island here likely means treasure. Simpler than combing endless lands."

"Then we’re in luck." Jin An nodded.

Compared to the first layer’s vastness, the second layer offered clarity—islands meant treasures. While none had appeared yet, hope persisted. Here, unlike the alliance-forced chaos above, true seekers could thrive.

Jin An remembered the surging crowd from earlier, yet now no one was in sight. The ocean’s vastness truly surpassed his imagination. Under Jin An’s watch, the spatial laws within Ye Yun stirred once more. A white light flickered within him as he instantly teleported into the distance.

"Senior, did you find the path?" Golden Ling’er asked, clinging to Ye Yun’s arm as he teleported continuously.

"I sensed unusual movement. There might be an opportunity ahead. Best to investigate," Ye Yun answered with a smile, following the Ancestor of the Sword Path’s mental guidance.

"Then your path must be right. Ling’er always trusts you," Golden Ling’er declared firmly, nodding with a bright smile.

"If fighting breaks out, activate the Deceptive Array immediately to protect yourselves," Ye Yun cautioned. As he mastered spatial laws, he detected faint spiritual power in the air currents – two immense forces clashing, far exceeding ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators’ strength.

"Strange to find people fighting in such a vast sea," Jin An mused, puzzled by encountering no one during their journey yet sensing distant battles.

"Perhaps not people," Ye Yun remarked casually.

"Could it be that whale you met before? If such creatures lurk here, it makes sense," Golden Ling’er ventured.

Ye Yun chuckled. "Jin An, your sister’s clever. She grasped the key point immediately."

"Haha, that’s Ling’er for you," Jin An boomed with laughter at the praise.

"Are we here?" Ye Yun released his companions and peered underwater with spirit perception. At hundred zhang depth, two massive dark shadows tore at each other – a flame-spewing dragon turtle battling a giant octopus. The octopus’s pink tentacles slapped harmlessly against the turtle’s shell as searing flames provoked furious counterattacks.

"Why fight like this?" Ye Yun wondered aloud.

"Territory disputes. These ancient Sea Beasts developed intelligence. For thinking creatures, territory rivals cultivation in importance," the Ancestor of the Sword Path explained excitedly through the water’s surface.

"Like watching beast fights," Ye Yun observed dryly.

"What’s wrong with that?" The Ancestor’s voice quickened. "Life-and-death struggles between powerful beasts hold thrilling beauty!" He watched raptly as the dragon turtle bashed its opponent against seabed stones, flames undiminished by water through sheer spiritual power.

"Such savagery over land…" Ye Yun’s gaze shifted to an underwater volcano. "Could their battle awaken that dormant giant?"

His new supreme Immortal artifact attuned him to Fire Spirit Qi. Sensing the volcano’s pent-up energy, he frowned. "Two small demons fighting couldn’t possibly…"

Earth shook and mountains trembled. Bubbles boiled as water temperature spiked. The volcano erupted violently.

The warring beasts froze mid-battle. After exchanging glances, they fled in opposite directions.

"Running from their mess," Ye Yun snorted. Crimson light flared as his Fire Dragon Whip materialized. With a sweep, he forced the erupting mountain back down.

The Fire Spirit Qi surge swirled violently before being absorbed into the whip. A Dragon Chant echoed as volcanic glow faded beneath settling rocks. Ye Yun felt his weapon grow stronger – he hadn’t just suppressed the eruption, but harmonized and claimed its energy.