Chapter 229 I long for the storm to come, so I can keep you here.
Deep within the altar of the Cangming Sea.
The immense water pressure, like a solid coffin lid, covered the gloomy sea.
The altar, built over three hundred years and using the lives of dozens of slaves, resembles the skeleton of a giant beast.
At the bottom of the altar, heavy chains made of black iron were tightly wrapped around Yan Xi's body, and the red-hot iron seemed to be burning his soul.
The young man's head drooped limply, and everyone thought he was trembling with fear, but the corners of his lips, hidden by his silver-blue hair, gave off the opposite impression, a knowing yet twisted smile.
Just as he thought.
This mere chain of black iron was no match for even a tenth of the pain inflicted by the black ring on his hand.
This thing came about in a strange way; it appeared as soon as Guanlan taught him how to guide qi into his body.
As his control over spiritual power matured, the limitations became more severe. In comparison, the chains on the altar were nothing.
Yan Xi turned his neck with difficulty, his gaze falling downwards—
Beneath the churning, viscous, blood-red magma, countless hideous and enormous shadows could be vaguely seen slowly writhing and slumbering.
These ancient monsters, each resembling a demonic dragon, were forcibly suppressed by the Cangming Sea using the will of Heaven. The price was that the first child of each Sea King had to be sacrificed.
However, the merfolk are hypocritical and cunning. This first child could be Li Yuan, or it could be someone who was sacrificed from childhood but was euphemistically called an adopted son.
Fortunately, everything is going according to plan.
Yan Xi's index fingers were slightly raised upwards at the point where his hands were suspended by iron chains.
With each lift, the eerie light on the chains tightened, and the excruciating pain of the soul being torn apart on the wrist ring continued to assault the wrist.
Yan Xi, like a lurking wild beast, peered through the intricate patterns of the altar, looking at all the figures suspended around him.
Great, they're all there.
*
"But I'm not here!"
Huali struggled to climb out of the giant clam. "The little bird looked like it was going to destroy everything. You said before that the Cangming Sea was wiped out by a mysterious person. Now I reasonably guess that it was the little bird."
Ao Bai nodded in agreement, “But the ritual is about to begin. Anyway, we know he’s going to win this round. Why don’t we just wait for the Dream to shatter?”
Karin shook her head. "That won't do. Although it's a dream for us, it's real for the little birds right now."
"It's easy to say 'get through it,' but it's incredibly difficult to do. This is unethical, and we Rockets members can't do it."
Hua Li flung out the gold card in her hand, and her figure instantly appeared a hundred miles away. As she used it, she cursed, "This damn Shrinking Earth Talisman is a pain in the ass, let alone ten thousand miles. The Myriad Talisman Sect just makes up inferior talismans to fool people."
Ao Bai glanced at her and said, "That's because you've been focusing all your energy on flirting with guys, not on your studies."
"Bullshit!" Huali retorted immediately. "I've been working hard on my career. Last time I went to the male model store, I didn't even get to touch one of the guys' hands!"
I spent money but the service wasn't up to par, it's heartbreaking!
Ao Bai: "...So you're just determined to die again, right?"
"I have experience with this, don't worry. It's just a blink of an eye and this life is over."
"Besides, we can't ignore the difficulties the little bird faced on its own just because we know the ending is good."
"Anyone who dares to bully our Rockets team must be taught a lesson!"
*
Outside the altar.
The Sea King and Sea Queen stood at the forefront, clad in heavy armor made of dark black and deep blue whale-like creatures. Behind them, all the highly skilled cultivators of the entire Cangming Sea mobilized.
Everyone held their breath, their eyes devoutly following the every move of the Sea King and Sea Queen, chanting ancient incantations.
The ceremony was supposed to bring the "little prince" up at the end of the eulogy, but because of that unspeakable farce, he was locked under the altar yesterday.
As the conch shell horn pierced through the thick seawater, the ceremony entered its most crucial moment.
Neptune raised his trident high, channeling powerful spiritual energy precisely into the altar.
The ancient black iron chains hummed under the impact of spiritual power and sound waves, and the runes were gradually illuminated.
Both Aquaman and Mera showed a look of solemnity and arrogance on their faces, as if they were in complete control.
However—just as the power was about to reach its peak, a sudden change occurred!
At the bottom of the altar, Yan Xi, having completed the final stroke of spiritual energy, slashed downwards with a resolute gesture, as if severing his destiny.
The light pierced through layers of barriers and shot precisely into the churning crimson magma below.
That's not all!
At the same time, all the Sea Soul Nails buried throughout the palace broke through the ground and, before anyone could stop them, transformed into dozens of silver beams that shot into the altar.
Rumble—the magma suddenly erupted violently!
In an instant, countless thick, scorching, ancient stench rose from the abyss. Accompanying the gushing lava was a terrifying roar of endless resentment, long sealed away.
The ancient sea beast opened its crimson giant eyes amidst the boiling lava, instantly locking onto the Sea King on the altar, who exuded a powerful life force.
The moment the seal was broken, the demonic beasts that had been imprisoned for thousands of years burst forth!
"Aaaaaah!!! It's an ancient sea monster, run!!!"
"Your Majesty! Protect the King and Queen!"
The authority that the sea creatures were so proud of was shattered at this moment!
Below the altar.
Yan Xi kept vomiting large amounts of blood, and the black boundary ring on his wrist was causing him excruciating pain as he forcibly activated his power, resulting in the complete crushing of his soul.
He coldly watched the Sea King being torn apart by sea monsters and the Sea Queen, whose face had turned pale, and felt that it was not enough!
How could we let them die so easily! Not enough! Still not enough!
He suppressed the convulsions in his body and quickly formed hand seals, trying to fully activate the Soul Burning Technique!
Releasing the sea monsters is only the first step.
The sea beasts' purpose was merely to trap other cultivators with higher levels of cultivation, thus giving him time to forcibly elevate his cultivation to the Nascent Soul stage at the cost of burning his soul.
He wanted to break free of this cage and take that person's life himself!
The dark red blood was like a flower of death blooming in despair, but Yan Xi ignored it.
The once timid, quiet, and kind little mermaid underwent a complete transformation in an instant. A malicious smile slowly curled at the corner of his lips, and the handprint formed instantly, fueled by the remnant soul, suddenly unleashed a power beyond the limits!
However!
The moment Yan Xi's thoughts touched the core of the soul fire, an unprecedented sense of emptiness opened up within his body like a bottomless abyss.
It feels like someone is running at full speed, only to suddenly discover that their legs have been severed at the root!
Yan Xi's smile froze: "!!!"
He tried his best to ignite and detonate it, but all he got in return was an unfathomable void!
Burning the Soul did not improve his cultivation level in a short time; instead, it caused him to crash into an indestructible barrier.
Yan Xi suddenly opened his eyes wide, not in pain, but in a deeper kind of horror!
He suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed on the black ring on his wrist.
A remnant soul! His soul was actually a remnant soul!
Only half! Why does Jie Yuan possess his aura?!
Several sudden concepts, like ignited explosives, detonated in Yan Xi's collapsing consciousness, numbing all his nerves.
What's the meaning?
What he thought was his "last trump card," what he thought was "mutual destruction"... turned out to be a complete delusion from the very beginning!
He gave his all and endured humiliation for three hundred years, but in the end he didn't even have the right to ignite his soul.
"Pfft—!" Another mouthful of blood spurted out!
It was no longer the backlash of burning souls, but a mental shock brought about by the collapse of cognition.
"Ha...hahahaha..."
An absurd and desolate feeling welled up in Yan Xi's heart. He threw his head back and burst into loud laughter. His eyes were bloodshot, and his whole body trembled violently. The Way of Heaven!!
The Way of Heaven!!!
Half a lifetime of struggle, half a lifetime of scheming... and in the end, it was all the will of Heaven?!
Outside the altar, the roars and screams of sea beasts echoed incessantly, but Yan Xi had lost even the strength to struggle.
The intense despair caused fragments of even more distant memories to flash through his mind.
He didn't even have the strength to close his eyes and wait for death. He could only maintain that dying, slightly backward posture, his eyes unconsciously looking at the chaotic seawater above the altar.
"Crimson Lotus Blaze, explode!!"
Suddenly, a familiar burst of fire exploded on the altar without warning!
*
A crimson light tore through the darkness!
Finally arriving, Karin blasted a path through the chaotic crowd and was about to jump off the altar!
"Karin, no!"
But Li Yuan, who arrived shortly after, suddenly grabbed him, his obsidian-like eyes filled with disbelief. "You'll die if you go in! Can't you see what's down there?! Is he that important to you?"
Ao Bai was furious, "Why does Li Yuan always drag us down at crucial moments!"
Under the other person's disappointed gaze, Huali quickly shook her head: "Liyuan, don't worry about me. Take the rest of the people and leave."
"Hurry up, while we have the chance."
Those few words were like a poisoned dagger, piercing Li Yuan's heart!
Three hundred years of love vanished in an instant, replaced by hysterical resentment. His eyes were bloodshot. "Clearly! I was the one who met you first! He was just a sacrifice! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have even noticed him..."
"He was not a sacrifice!! He has a name!"
Karin, unable to bear it any longer, interrupted him, her eyes as firm as falling stars, and said, "He has a name, he is not a sacrifice, he is my little bird."
Before she finished speaking, the girl had already transformed into a streak of light and jumped towards the altar without hesitation!
"Huali!!!" Li Yuan's eyes were bloodshot, but he only managed to grasp at empty air.
He stood frozen at the edge of the altar, as if his soul had been instantly ripped away.
Three breaths later, Li Yuan stared blankly down at his fingertips, where the touch of holding Hua Li still lingered, but now only coldness and emptiness remained.
Amidst the surging darkness, the fleeing sea creatures, his father's furious roars, and the destructive howls of monsters—a chilling, bone-deep hatred suddenly coursed through his entire body.
The shy, frail little mermaid of the past has vanished, replaced by immense pain and resentment, which have been transformed into a cold mask, firmly welded to Li Yuan's handsome face.
He was the one who met her first... He did so much for her...
But she would rather choose a sacrificial offering...
Li Yuan's chest heaved violently, each word seeming to have been pulled from an ice cellar, carrying a twisted chill and unwavering determination, "I will definitely..."
He took a deep breath, inhaling the coldness and despair of the deep sea into his lungs, turning it into the poison that kept him alive: "I will definitely find someone to replace you!"
"Those who are willing to stay with me!!"
"must!!!"
*
Yan Xi knelt in the pool of blood, when suddenly he saw the chaotic and dark sky being torn apart by a blazing flame!
Within the core of the flames, a familiar figure resembled a burning star, cleaving through the eternal night with light, and falling towards him without hesitation!
Yan Xi's heart, which had almost stopped beating, was suddenly gripped tightly by an invisible hand! His blood, which should have been cold, seemed to have been thrown into a scalding furnace, and began to surge and collide wildly!
boom--
The sudden, pounding emotion felt like it was tearing his soul to shreds; at that moment, he almost instinctively raised his head.
At the end of the long, dark night, the mermaid, who had always been alone and helpless, finally glimpsed the first rays of dawn and, as if on a pilgrimage, uttered a longing and question that came from the depths of her soul.
"...Why, why did you come back?"
now--
The vast ocean and sky are turned upside down.
In the enormous altar, the youth knelt in the abyss of blood, looking up at the sky with despair for his fate, his life's flame about to be extinguished.
But the girl, like a burning flame, cleaved through the darkness and descended from the sky, like a god of salvation, completing her reckless journey.
Amidst flames and blood, falling and near death, the girl's lighthearted voice rang out.
"Of course it's because we're Team Rocket!"
Huali quickly landed beside Yanxi, and the wood-type card instantly enveloped him.
Meeting the young man's tear-streaked eyes, the girl sighed helplessly, "Little bird, you're such a crybaby."
The girl spoke casually, without pity or anger, nor with the ecstasy of a reunion, as if the two had simply met again on a street corner.
Karin reached out and gently wiped away the tears that hadn't yet formed into pearls. "Besides, didn't we say goodbye properly?"
Yan Xi was stunned.
The next moment, his god curled his lips into a bright smile and said, "Saying goodbye is for the sake of meeting again."
The young man's pupils suddenly contracted!
Tears fell in an instant, like pearls from a broken string.
Saying goodbye... is for the sake of meeting again.
It turns out... only those who look forward to meeting again... say "goodbye" before leaving...
Just as Huali was about to reach out to wipe away her tears again, Yanxi suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood.
"What's going on? The wood-type card isn't working?"
Ao Bai's voice rang in his mind, "Host, the black circle on the little bird's hand is strange. It's absorbing healing power. We need to find a way to cut it off!"
"Don't be afraid, little bird, I'll get you out of here right now!"
Hua Li's spiritual energy quickly condensed into a sharp dagger, which she then slammed towards Yan Xi's wrist.
"boom--"
Almost instantly, the dormant Reincarnation Sundial within Karin's body erupted with an astonishing power!
With a profound and boundless aura of endless reincarnation, it broke through the altar with Huali at its center and instantly covered the entire sky above the Cangming Sea!
As the light shone down, everyone was stunned.
Immediately afterwards, Yan Xi's scattered consciousness, which had failed to ignite his soul, was as if it had been thrown into ice. The barrier deep within his soul shattered under the dual impact of the divine artifact and the Heavenly Dao!
Distant memories come rushing in like snowflakes.
Failed to transcend tribulation, soul torn apart, forced entry into the cycle of reincarnation to escape the Heavenly Dao...
"Snap—"
Suddenly, a crack appeared in the boundary ring, and Yan Xi slowly opened her eyes.
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