In the midst of cultivation, Chen Wentian's eyes opened and he looked around at his bleak, underground surroundings. He was still somewhere within the Northern Wasteland. His cultivation partner, the cruel water demoness named Qin Shui'er, was still going strong and so was he.
He had been silently observing Li Yuechan's and secretly aiding her during the battle. Her abundant spiritual energy came from him through the soul within the Ageless Ice Sword. Otherwise, she couldn't have sustained such a glorious performance against multiple enemies.
However, he was greatly surprised by her breakthrough. She had just reached the 10th Level of the Spirit Initiate Realm before the sword competition. She had expended a lot of painstaking effort and her spiritual sea should not have been stable enough. He wondered if it had anything to do with his rapidly expanding soul realm and the fact that he was very close to the Spirit King Realm. Only a special occasion such as this one could result in such a wonder.
Aside from the good, there was also the bad. He had no idea what was going on with this Peng Xiling character. First, they messed around with Wu Qianyu during the challenge tournament. Then, they ran into Lin Qingcheng and Su Yue and stole their sword truth. Now, they even managed to swindle Li Yuechan.
It was intolerable. What were they trying to do, seduce his disciples? He couldn't stand it. He had half a mind to slap that Peng Xiling to death at the earliest opportunity.
He openly laughed at the thought of the Tower of Swords and Ten Thousand Flower Valley becoming friends. It was impossible, especially not with that surly old fart named Peng Yuefeng as the sect master. As such, this Peng Xiling's behavior was beyond suspicious.
Chen Wentian could only wait until the current situation with Qin Shui'er and the human prisoners was over. He decided that he would tell his disciples to keep their distance from Peng Xiling in the future to avoid any complications. It was best not to associate with such a weirdo.
---
Across the subcontinent, on the shores of the glittering western ocean, sat a manmade construct that jutted out into the deep blue. Its shape was a perfect circle with great waves crashing against smooth stone walls that rose up fifty meters at its lowest height towards the shore and over one hundred meters towards the open ocean.
This pearl of the sea was at least ten kilometers across and connected to the mainland by a narrow bridge that was over thirty or forty kilometers in length. It was so long that it often disappeared into the fog. That same fog also obscured the island from view so that all common people could see was a bridge that disappeared into the unknown.
This was the Seven Seas Sacred Palace, the most powerful cultivation sect of the western region. It ruled both land and sea and was responsible for countless millions of mortal souls.
Its history was shrouded in mystery. Nobody quite knew when the sect came into being. Some said that the whole island directly rose up from under the ocean. Others claimed that they came from faraway lands on the other side of the ocean. There were even a few that believed them to not be human at all but water-dwelling creatures in human form.
These trivial matters were inconsequential for the various immortals which had arrived today. As guests, they merely glanced around and headed towards the meeting spot at the highest point on the wall which overlooked the vastness of the Gulf of Giant Tortoises.
Immortal Phoenix Legend Shi Shi walked along a portion of the stone wall and peered over at the crashing waves below.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" A voice interrupted her musings.
She turned to see a pair of Spirit Lords approach her. They wore matching robes of a deep blue color which seemed to be the style of choice for this sect.
She greeted them respectfully, "I am Immortal Phoenix Legend Shi Shi of the Legendary Fighter League, I have arrived to answer the general call for assistance."
The pair also greeted her, "Well met, well met. The Legendary Fighter League is an old-school name across these western provinces. I'm glad that you could make it. I am Immortal Melancholy Sea Hai Dafu."
This person was an average-looking male with a heavy build. His neck was quite thick and he looked like he could skip a few meals. However, his face was healthy and bright with a disarming expression.
The other one also spoke, "Well met, welcome to the Seven Seas Sacred Palace. I am Immortal Violet Sea Hai Ming."
This one was a beauty, an ageless and effortless kind of beauty that made others instantly jealous. It had to be a powerful glamour skill. Otherwise, it was inconceivable.
Shi Shi couldn't help but take a few more glances. The fact that this Hai Ming was holding onto Hai Dafu's arm in an intimate fashion was even more surprising.
Hai Ming seemed to have noticed the inquisitive gazes and patted the arm she holding in a tender fashion, "Lady Shi, the others are already waiting, if you will follow me."
Shi Shi did so, walking silently behind the strange pair. She felt like there was something she had missed between the two Spirit Lords of the Seven Seas Sacred Palace. Although physical, those two couldn't be any more different, their facial features were rather similar.
She frowned as she thought of a certain possibility but a wave of spiritual auras ahead made her forget about this inconsequential matter.
Ahead stood a crowd of immortals, a splendid array of human might and determination. Three Spirit Kings were in the lead. Immortal Scarlet Sea Hai Dan acted as the host while Immortal Solemn Duke Huang Wuji was the overall leader. Immortal Gentle Lotus Gong Liyun was the support but that was always her preference and her Dao.
Aside from the Spirit Kings, there were a total of over twenty Spirit Lords from various backgrounds. Each of the Spirit Kings brought four of their own while the others consisted of sect masters across the provinces. Most were well suited for underwater combat while a few like Shi Shi were here to act as backup.
Once everyone had arrived, Huang Wuji briefed everyone on the search for the two demons and the human prisoners. They were now almost certain that the demons had hidden somewhere within the Gulf of Giant Tortoises. The Seven Seas Sacred Palace had narrowed the possible location down to an area to the south that was roughly equal to ten or twelve provinces. Searching such a large patch of the ocean was certainly going to be difficult but not impossible given so many immortals.
Once each immortal was given their assignment, the entire force set off at once and flew southward. It had already been over a week since the incident. Every day that passed decreased the chance of finding the demons and rescuing any survivors.
Everyone's hearts were anxious. Some wanted revenge and to slay the demons. Others wanted to rescue their people, especially Huang Wuji who could bear to lose his most trusted deputy and daughter-in-law. In a rare moment of unity, this was probably the greatest force of human immortals the Eastern Sanmu Subcontinent could gather on such short notice.
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