Sea-Patrolling Yaksha

The commotion outside caught the attention of the cultivators inside the cabin. Assuming they had run into an enemy, they all rushed out. It was merely a minor demon that had just gained basic sentience. Such minor demons were hardly rare in the outer sea. After sailing for many days, everyone had long grown accustomed to them and paid it no mind. Seeing Zhou Jin's actions, however, they were somewhat puzzled. Zhou Jin materialized a palm out of true essence, clamped down on the fish demon's head, and squeezed hard. The fish demon let out a pained whimper as its body convulsed. Its skull cracked open, and a beige pearl flew out. The pearl gleamed with a faint yellowish glow, with a shadow squirming inside. Just as Zhou Jin reached out to snatch the pearl— *Crack!* The phantom shadow within suddenly collided against the interior, shattering the pearl to powder. The moment the pearl destroyed itself, a ripple that clearly did not belong to the fish demon flashed and vanished. *Hiss...* Sensing that ripple, everyone present underwent a change in expression. The lowest cultivation among those present was at least the Foundation Establishment stage. Experienced and well-traveled, they immediately realized what was happening, and the sharper ones instantly summoned their dharma instruments and magic treasures. Some flew into midair, scanning the surroundings. "Someone is controlling the fish demon?" The others looked toward Qin Sang. Their trio had discovered the fish demon first, and Qin Sang was clearly the leader among the three. Qin Sang narrowed his eyes slightly and said flatly, "This poor Daoist paid it no mind before either. But after entering this sea region, I noticed we encountered the same kind of fish demon multiple times, which raised my vigilance. From the looks of it, this fish demon was definitely under someone's control. As for whether the mastermind is human or demon, that cannot be confirmed yet. However, this method of control does not look like a human technique." "Do you mean to say this is a scout for a high-rank demon beast? Why would a high-rank demon beast plant hidden sentries here?" A commotion swept through the ship as someone cried out in surprise. To know how to deploy secret scouts with such covert methods... Could it be that they had unwittingly barged into the territory of some Transformation stage great demon? But which Transformation stage great demon would choose to set up their cave dwelling so close to the inner sea? Qin Sang's thoughts were also racing. A high-rank demon beast controlling fish demons to monitor this sea area—could there really be some secret here? And if his judgment had slipped and the controller of the fish demon was actually an immortal cultivator, that would be even more worthy of pondering. At that moment, the cultivators who had flown into the sky descended back onto the ship. Facing the questioning gazes of the crowd, they shook their heads helplessly; none had spotted any unusual signs. "Fellow Daoist Leng, there are still a few places left unvisited, but I don't see any need to go there anymore. This place is not safe to linger. We should return to the Chinan Island Chain as quickly as possible, observe from afar, and reconsider our plans. What do you all think?" A Buddhist monk suggested their withdrawal. The true objective for most people on board was not treasure hunting, and no one wanted to forfeit their lives just to investigate rumors. They quickly reached a consensus. The ship tilted and turned around, heading back toward the Chinan Island Chain. Everyone dispersed to maintain vigilance. Qin Sang was in no hurry to leave the group with Zhou Jin and Ruan Yu. The situation was murky, with the enemy's motives and location unknown. Exposing his identity now might invite unforeseen complications. None of them lacked spirit stones, so they pushed the ship to its maximum speed. At first, they sped along for the time it took an incense stick to burn. The sea remained calm and undisturbed; everything seemed normal. Just as everyone thought they had escaped danger, Qin Sang's expression shifted. A sharp gleam flickered in his eyes, and with a stir of divine sense, an ice saber glided into his palm, its saber-light silently flaring and receding. This saber was named the Snow-Treading Divine Saber, one of several magic treasures recorded in the *Record of Pure Subtlety*. The highest-ranking among them was Yin Changsheng's Suspended Sword Tower, but the difficulty of forging and refining it was simply too great. After weighing his options, Qin Sang had chosen one of the easiest to refine—the Snow-Treading Divine Saber. Qin Sang's positioning for his avatar remained as support and as a contingency plan for resurrection. At least until his true body prepared to break through to the Deity Transformation stage, he did not plan to invest too much energy into it. Using Hall Master Yin's relics along with part of the spoils from helping Tong Lingyu take control of Xuantian Palace, he had crafted a saber core for the avatar. The avatar had nurtured it until recently, when it was finally brought to fruition as a completed saber. In terms of quality alone, it was slightly inferior to the Jinchen Sword that Qin Sang had repeatedly refined, but it suited the avatar far better. In addition, the avatar had achieved minor accomplishment in the *Xuantian One Qi Great Capture Hand*. As for the *Ice Soul Divine Light*, progress had stalled for so long that it was virtually abandoned. Qin Sang now deeply appreciated how difficult this divine ability was, and understood why the Snow-Listening Tower had fallen into decline. Even though what he cultivated had been modified by Liuli and he had refined Ice Soul Astral Essence, the ability was still fundamentally mismatched with him, making mastery as difficult as ascending to the heavens. He had no choice but to switch to cultivating the *Xuantian One Qi Great Capture Hand*. The Fourfold Tengshe Seal, the Snow-Treading Divine Saber, and the *Xuantian One Qi Great Capture Hand*. Equipped with these means, he possessed the strength to contend even against a great cultivator. Treasures were best kept refined rather than numerous, so the avatar had returned the Jinchen Sword and the Sun God Tree to his true body. Soon, the others also detected the anomaly. *Crash!* The treasure ship ground to a sudden halt. The sight ahead caused everyone to gasp. On the horizon appeared a dark cloud that blotted out the sky and sun, surging forward with demonic qi that reached the heavens. Looking closely, one realized it was actually a demonic cloud formed by countless demon beasts. Unbeknownst to them, a beast pack had formed here, perfectly intercepting their route back and closing in to encircle them. No one believed this was a coincidence. "A beast tide!" someone cried in alarm. If it were merely a beast tide of low-rank demon beasts, it would not be difficult for the cultivators on board to join forces and break out. At this moment, however, they sensed auras from within the horde capable of threatening them—clearly high-rank demon beasts of the Demon Core stage! Only when the horde appeared did the demon beasts' roars finally erupt. Evidently, this group of beasts was well-trained and undoubtedly controlled by an intelligent great demon. The demon race of the Eastern Sea had been drawn here as well. Even if there were no ruins of an ancient immortal sect, there was definitely an unknown secret here. Right now, however, what concerned them was not that, but how to escape! "Senior Qin, what should we do?" Zhou Jin and Ruan Yu pressed close to Qin Sang. With Qin Sang present, they were not so nervous, but they still worried that a Transformation stage demon king lurked behind the horde, in which case Qin Sang might not be able to protect them. "Let us wait and see for now." Qin Sang gripped the Snow-Treading Divine Saber tightly, holding his strike in reserve, while flicking a cold gleam with his other hand to summon an inconspicuous chain of cold ice. At the same time, the treasure ship's protective talisman formation was pushed to full power. The talisman formation formed a barrier of light that enveloped the ship, but before the beast tide, it appeared exceedingly thin and fragile. "Everyone, today our only hope is to join hands and break through! If we fight individually and get surrounded by the beast horde, I need not say what our fate will be!" Leng Qi barked in a deep voice. Everyone naturally understood this truth and dared not conceal their abilities any longer. In an instant, treasure light gleamed from everyone present. All kinds of divine abilities and magic treasures emerged one after another—Buddhist, demonic, ghostly, orthodox Daoist—everything was represented. "Drum-Stirring Divine Wind! So Fellow Daoist is from the Yuanfeng Sect! It is said that whenever the Drum-Stirring Divine Wind appears, it dissolves flesh and corrodes bone. It truly lives up to its reputation!" One person had summoned a pouch-shaped magic treasure that spewed a swirl of azure divine wind, circling around him and blurring his silhouette. The moment the treasure appeared, someone beside him recognized it. The man remained impassive, glancing at the other's armor. "My Drum-Stirring Divine Wind would likely fail to breach the Hunyuan Armor of the Hunyuan Sect." The other's expression froze slightly before he chuckled it off. Similar exchanges occurred all around. Their actions were unaffected; knowing their companions' origins and divine abilities only boosted their confidence. With their duties clearly divided, some helped Leng Qi reinforce the ship's defenses, while others bided their strength, preparing to deliver a head-on blow to the horde. The ice chain coiled into rings, hovering above Qin Sang's head. Zhou Jin still commanded his jade ring, waiting in solemn readiness. A layer of fine gauze swirled around Ruan Yu, shielding her from harm. The beast horde drew nearer. Everyone was able to see its full scale. The number of demon beasts was not as vast as they had imagined, not quite reaching the scale of a true beast tide. This made more sense; otherwise, if a massive beast tide had gathered around the Chinan Island Chain, word of it would have leaked long ago. "Roar! Roar!" The roars rumbled like thunder, and the pressure of the horde's charge was suffocating. Bizarre and varied demon beasts filled the sky and the sea in a dark, pressing mass. Though they appeared to be a rabble, they were not entirely without order. Demon beasts of the Demon Core stage were mixed among them; it was they who commanded the horde! "Here they come!" someone breathed. Before the words had faded, with a deafening rumble, a massive wave surged into the air. The treasure ship shook violently, its bow tilting high toward the sky, nearly capsizing. With the help of several cultivators, Leng Qi did everything he could to keep the treasure ship stable. At the same time, the beasts in the horde launched their first wave of attacks: some spat demon light, some cast demonic arts, and others fired scales and feathers from their bodies, converging into a torrent. The Demon Core stage beasts in the horde were mostly a species of blue jiao. Half their bodies remained submerged below the water; it was they who had generated the massive wave just now. Now, they opened their gaping maws one after another, spitting out water spheres that hid among the attacks of the other demon beasts. Just as the treasure ship was about to be engulfed by the torrent— *Crash!* The ship's forward momentum came to an abrupt halt. Mysterious yellow light suddenly flared across the hull, and the vessel seemed to turn into a mountain, plummeting heavily as if losing all buoyancy, plunging headfirst into a trough in the sea. The giant wave smashed down with a loud slap, driving the ship beneath the surface, but this maneuver allowed them to evade the horde's most potent barrage. A chorus of cheers erupted from the crowd. The treasure ship's defensive capacity was limited; had they taken the brunt directly, it would likely be on the brink of disintegration right now. Under the skillful steering of Leng Qi and the others, decay had been turned into wonder, leaving everyone unscathed. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Leng Qi shifted the ship's talisman formations once more. The treasure ship swayed, shedding the impact, and breached back out of the sea, only to find the surroundings swarming with demon beasts on all sides—they had plunged straight into the heart of the horde. This was precisely their pre-agreed strategy. Barging into the middle of the beasts seemed like getting surrounded, but in reality, the horde could no longer coordinate such a concentrated assault, allowing the cultivators to leverage their individual strengths. The blue jiao let out roaring bellows as demon beasts threw themselves fearlessly forward wave upon wave, frantically battering the protective light shield. "Kill!" The cultivators roared in unison, their momentum soaring so high it drowned out the beasts' cries. Saber-light and sword-auras flared alongside assorted divine abilities, commencing an outright slaughter. The treasure ship became a millstone of flesh and blood at the center of the horde, devouring countless lives. In an instant, the sea turned red and a pungent stench of blood filled the air—all from the demon beasts. Countless severed limbs floated on the water's surface. The protective shield flickered between bright and dim until it finally gave way. The treasure ship broke apart on impact, torn to shreds by the horde. The cultivators had anticipated this; they leaped into the air in succession, maintaining their formation without panic. The current situation was favorable to them. Qin Sang held back the Snow-Treading Divine Saber and instead maneuvered the ice chain, weaving it back and forth through the horde, reaping a swath of demon beasts wherever it passed. He was a Nascent Soul cultivator after all; even while restraining his power, his precise control and keen perception allowed him to perform brilliantly, far more efficiently than the others. Qin Sang had a feeling that matters would not be so simple. His focus was not on the battlefield, but rather scanning far and wide. Sure enough, he spotted an anomaly! Behind the beast tide off to one side, in the distance, a blue jiao crouched quietly beneath the surface of the sea, exposing its dorsal fin and part of its back. Astride the blue jiao sat a burly man. The burly man was hideous, bare-chested, and wielded a steel trident like a sea-patrolling yaksha. His cheeks still bore the appearance of fish gills; he was distinctly a Transformation stage great demon. Just as Qin Sang discovered the sea-patrolling yaksha, the creature seemed to sense something as well, narrowing its giant, bell-like eyes. Catching the scent of blood, the blue jiao beneath it shifted excitedly, poking its head above the water as its eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty savagery. *Smack!* The sea-patrolling yaksha slapped the blue jiao with a palm, nearly breaking its spine. Stung with pain, the blue jiao ducked back down, daring not move rashly. Gazing at the battlefield for a moment, the sea-patrolling yaksha let out a cold snort. Raising the steel trident with one hand, it let loose a whistling cry and hurled the trident viciously toward the center of the horde. *Whoosh!* The steel trident turned into a streak of silver-white lightning. The sonic boom cracked like a thunderclap. Before the strike even arrived, the cultivators locked in combat felt a gripping dread in their hearts, seized with terror. At the same time, the beast horde suddenly parted to both sides. Only then did the crowd see the distant sea-patrolling yaksha and the steel trident plummeting from the sky, their faces draining of color in horror. "A Transformation stage great demon!" Just as the alarmed cries rang out, a plume of white qi suddenly shot into the air from among the crowd. Still in a panic, everyone turned back in astonishment. Qin Sang tilted his head up at the steel trident and swept one hand above his head. Mysterious qi materialized into a giant hand that tore through the air, grabbing toward the trident with speed that rivaled its own. Wherever the giant hand of mysterious qi passed, strange ripples stirred in the void. Meeting an invisible barrier directly opposite the palm, the steel trident's speed abruptly plummeted, its brilliance compressed until its physical form was laid bare. Relentless, the giant hand surged before the steel trident and closed its five fingers, intending to seize the trident right out of the air and snatch the treasure away. The sea-patrolling yaksha puffed its cheeks, and two jets of water shot from its gills, merging into the steel trident. Following a resonant hum, the trident split into three, jarring the giant hand aside. Right then, the sea-patrolling yaksha felt a chilling dread wash over it. Saber-light erupted from Qin Sang's hand, firmly drawing the yaksha's gaze. The surrounding cultivators could not help but shudder as well. *Whoosh!* Wherever the Snow-Treading Divine Saber swept, it left a trail of snow across the sea's surface. Unable to dodge in time, the demon beasts along its path were frozen into ice sculptures by the saber intent. The sea-patrolling yaksha's face twisted in shock. Clamping its legs down hard, the blue jiao plunged headfirst into the sea depths. "Protect them well, or this poor Daoist will hold you accountable!" Leaving behind a chilling reprimand, Qin Sang's figure flickered repeatedly as he gave chase, treading over the snow. With the demon king fleeing, the beast horde naturally fell apart. The demon beasts scattered in an instant, abandoning countless corpses behind. Only now did the crowd come back to their senses. They turned their gazes toward Zhou Jin and Ruan Yu with varied expressions. Recalling Qin Sang's parting command, they tacitly formed a ring to shield the couple in their midst. Leng Qi offered an ingratiating smile. "Fellow Daoist Zhou, did Senior Qin leave any other orders?" Zhou Jin said in a solemn voice, "We must return quickly to the Chinan Island Chain." "Yes, yes, yes... we mustn't hold Senior Qin back..." The crowd chimed in one after another in agreement.