Chapter 397: Crossing the Sea
Chapter 397: Crossing the Sea
"I've invited you all here, and I believe you are already aware of the general situation. However, to ensure that those who have traveled from afar are fully informed, I'll provide some additional details."
After the Dragonwood Island Lord allowed the crowd to finish their spirit tea, he spoke in a calm tone, his voice echoing throughout the gathering.
"Seekwood Heavenly Realm is a unique heavenly realm, located neither within the Great Xuan world nor the outer sea. It is, however, extremely close to this world, separated by merely a layer of void."
"Ordinarily, the repulsion between this heavenly realm and the outer sea is incredibly strong. Even if one were to break through the void, forced entry is impossible, and any attempt would result in being torn apart by the void force between Seekwood Heavenly Realm and the outer sea."
"Only during specific periods of turbulence can one penetrate the boundary of Seekwood Heavenly Realm and enter within."
The Dragonwood Island Lord began to elaborate on the situation.
Chen Mu had already gathered most of this information from the Joyful Union Sect and Yan Hong, such as why the exploration of Seekwood Heavenly Realm was limited to around three months. This was because the void of Seekwood Heavenly Realm experienced tidal and turbulent fluctuations, which only occurred during these three months and were divided into two phases: 'Tide Rising' and 'Tide Falling'.
During Tide Rising, Blood Exchange Realm practitioners could penetrate the void, creating a passage to Seekwood Heavenly Realm, and escort Marrow Washing Realm grandmasters into it. This process didn't last long, and it would be followed by a three-month stable period.
After about three months, the void of Seekwood Heavenly Realm would fluctuate again, marking the Tide Falling phase. At this time, Blood Exchange Realm practitioners could once more breach the void and guide everyone back from Seekwood Heavenly Realm.
Aside from these two unique moments, even Heaven Person Realm experts couldn't forcefully penetrate the boundary and enter Seekwood Heavenly Realm. After all, Seekwood Heavenly Realm was a truly vast heavenly realm, and its void interface force was beyond human resistance.
"Without further ado, you are all aware of the general situation. If anyone chooses not to go, they may remain here. For those who wish to explore Seekwood Heavenly Realm, you can now accompany me, the Island Lord, to the Abyss Sea."
After providing the necessary details, the Dragonwood Island Lord spoke again in a casual tone.
Chen Mu finally understood the Island Lord's intention. The information he shared was already known to most of the hundred-plus grandmasters present, making it somewhat redundant. In essence, it was a form of 'disclaimer'.
After all, the grandmasters gathered here came from various places within the Great Xuan world and the outer sea, including representatives from major sects and even members of the royal court like Yan Hong. With such diverse and influential backgrounds, it was impossible for Tide Listening Cliff to offend so many powers. Therefore, the Island Lord's message was clear: the choice to go or stay was entirely up to them; he would only be responsible for leading the way and guiding them back.
Of course.
The grandmasters present were not novice young heroes; they had all made their decisions upon arriving. Hearing the Island Lord's words, most maintained a calm demeanor, and the entire gathering fell silent.
Seeing this, the Dragonwood Island Lord finally smiled and said, "Since it is so, follow me."
As his words fell, the Dragonwood Island Lord strode away from the towering Dragonwood tree trunk and headed towards the distance.
The gathered grandmasters exchanged glances and then set off, following the Island Lord. Over a hundred grandmasters moved in unison, and despite their efforts to restrain their auras, the sheer number of grandmasters caused the heavenly forces to fluctuate, creating an oppressive atmosphere that filled the entire Dragonwood Island with silent awe.
As the crowd began to move, following the Island Lord towards the outskirts of the island, another group quietly joined the procession. These individuals wore the distinctive wide robes of Tide Listening Cliff, and they were indeed grandmasters from the same place. There were nearly thirty of them, making it the largest group by far!
"The influence of Tide Listening Cliff is indeed extraordinary," Chen Mu muttered to himself as his gaze swept over the numerous grandmasters from Tide Listening Cliff.
The Seven Mysteries Sect, despite exhausting its resources, could only muster around twenty grandmaster-level fighters, many of whom, like Murong Yan, were not grandmasters but possessed comparable strength.
In contrast, Tide Listening Cliff had sent thirty grandmasters for this Seekwood Heavenly Realm expedition, and among them, there were likely no weaklings. Most were comparable to Feng Hongsheng's level, and at least four or five were at the pinnacle of their art.
Such a force would be difficult to assemble even if three of the major sects from the Frost North joined hands.
"Tide Listening Cliff has survived for thousands of years, with a history older than the Great Xuan world, and it indeed has its profound foundation."
"Liu Qingyan walked alongside Chen Mu, seemingly aware of his thoughts. She spoke casually, "At least compared to the major sects of Dajuan, they are far more prosperous. The only force in Dajuan that rivals the three great sects of the outer sea is the imperial court."
"Hmm." Chen Mu nodded slightly.
The three great sects of the outer sea, including Tingchao Cliff, had deep roots, but the Dajuan imperial court was no less impressive. Even in times of internal strife and external threats, nearly on the brink of division, the court remained unfathomable, beyond the reach of any single sect.
Even now, Chen Mu couldn't look down upon the Dajuan imperial court with superiority.
With the addition of the Tingchao Cliff group, the number of Bone Marrow Washing Realm grandmasters present had nearly reached two hundred. It seemed like grandmasters were everywhere, but to ordinary people, they were still as elusive as a dragon.
Such a large number had gathered from the ninety-nine provinces of Dajuan and various places in the outer sea. These grandmasters, each with their own purposes and needs, had come together to form this massive group.
Following the Dragonwood Island Lord, the group made their way to the coast. The Lord's pace was neither fast nor slow, maintaining a normal speed for a grandmaster. It didn't take long for them to leave the central area of Dragonwood Island and reach the shore.
The waves crashed against the towering cliffs below, creating a continuous roar like thunder.
Unfazed by the scene, the Dragonwood Island Lord continued walking, stepping directly into the air and landing on the sea's surface without hesitation.
The grandmasters at the back, including Yan Hong and her companions, followed suit.
Although a significant portion of them couldn't fly, walking on water was a basic skill. Despite the raging waves, with hundreds of grandmasters present, it was as if they were walking on solid ground.
A grandmaster with a massive build and indifferent eyes forcefully strode through the water, his sheer strength causing the sea to swirl beneath his feet, carrying him forward.
Another grandmaster took a step, and ripples silently spread from beneath his feet. The water condensed into steps, naturally supporting his weight as he walked forward.
Some grandmasters harnessed the power of heaven and earth, flying above the sea. However, no one overtook the Dragonwood Island Lord, and no one flew too high, all maintaining a respectful distance behind the Lord.
Over a hundred grandmasters crossing the sea, each displaying their unique abilities!
Among Yan Hong's group, the grandmasters remained calm and composed. Yan Zhengyang took a step, and beneath his feet, a strand of masculine energy resembling ink rose, instantly dyeing the seawater beneath him. He walked forward, leaving only a faint ripple in his wake, moving steadily.
Yan Hong, with a strand of Primordial Energy beneath her feet, walked across the sea with a detached gaze, her peripheral vision sweeping over the crowd and briefly meeting Chen Mu's eyes.
Chen Mu strolled on the sea's surface, and with each step, a wisp of yin energy spread, freezing the water below into ice. His path became a continuous icy trail.
"Supreme Yin Power..." Yan Hong's eyes flickered slightly.
There were countless cold-natured cultivation techniques and concepts, even some like the Yin Evil Concept, that could produce similar effects. But as a member of the imperial family, Yan Hong had exceptional insight. Previously, when she encountered Chen Mu in the sea, she witnessed his skills, but his energy concealment was exceptional, leaving no trace of his cultivation method. She could only deduce that his ability to conceal his energy indicated that he was undoubtedly a top-tier grandmaster.
Now, seeing Chen Mu's technique, Yan Hong instantly recognized its origin as 'Supreme Yin Power,' meaning Chen Mu cultivated the Supreme Yin Path of Yin-Yang.
Indeed, cultivating the Supreme Yin Path was no ordinary feat, and using it to reach the grandmaster level was exceptional.
Aside from Yan Hong,
No one was overly surprised by this, after all, Yan Hong had initially judged Chen Mu's strength to be extraordinary, and it was within reason that he was a top Grandmaster of the Taiyin lineage in his cultivation.
Only Liu Qingyan's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt.
Taiyin...
The Heaven and Earth Concept encompassed all things and could indeed evolve into Taiyin, but Chen Mu's move was too calm and casual, almost devoid of any signs of struggle, making it so subtle that even she couldn't tell if it was a Heaven and Earth evolution or purely Taiyin power.
If his identity was indeed that person, it meant that he had not only comprehended the Heaven and Earth path to an extremely profound level but also delved deeply into the essence of the Taiyin path.
However.
Thinking about Shadow Petal and Moon Petal, a thoughtful look flashed across her eyes, along with a smile that seemed both amused and mocking.
Have those two junior sisters truly succeeded?
As sisters with united hearts cultivating the same path, gaining their favor would provide profound insights into the Yin-Yang path. This in itself was a significant advantage, but the benefits also depended on who received them.
Giving them to Chen Mu would be a different story.
The higher a martial artist's realm, the more they valued their mental state and willpower. Their martial heart should be without regret or shame. For those who were naturally evil and self-centered, even if they abandoned their principles for personal gain or repaid kindness with enmity, it wouldn't affect their martial path because that was their true nature. But Chen Mu was different. All his experiences and records indicated that he wasn't such a person; he cared about cause and effect.
This was also why she hadn't made any preparations beforehand. Despite knowing the dangers of the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, she still decided to give it a try. She also wanted to 'invest' in Chen Mu and help him obtain the Tide-Stabilizing Pearl.
Even if Chen Mu failed in the future, it wouldn't harm her. If he succeeded, the benefits were obvious. Once Chen Mu could dominate the world, even a single word or will from him would have a significant impact.
Of course.
Now that Chen Mu had arrived in person, this journey to the Seekwood Heavenly Realm would likely not require her involvement. But if Shadow Petal and Moon Petal had truly become Chen Mu's people, then they wouldn't have let down their many years of arduous cultivation.
Liu Qingyan was actually considering withdrawing, as the matter of the Seekwood Heavenly Realm probably no longer needed her help. But since she had already come, and Chen Mu hadn't revealed his intentions to her, she decided to remain silent to avoid any strange occurrences that might affect Chen Mu.
Chen Mu wasn't sure if Liu Qingyan had confirmed his identity, but since she remained silent, he didn't interfere. He followed the group with a calm expression, traveling across the boundless sea.
And so.
Over a hundred Grandmasters rode the wind and waves, crossing the vast ocean as if it were flat land. After an unknown distance, they finally reached a sea filled with ruins.
It looked like a submerged island, but beneath the surface was a shattered wasteland. Only a few broken pillars and scattered debris remained above the water, standing in various places.
The Abyss Sea.
It was said that a large island once existed here, but an unknown heavenly disaster later caused it to sink entirely into the sea. Chen Mu didn't know the specifics of this disaster.
As he gradually approached the Abyss Sea, he surveyed the area, narrowing his eyes slightly. The ruins seemed to indicate an extremely vast pit at the center of the few remaining ruins.
If.
If this had once been an island, it was as if something had crashed into its center, with nearly world-destroying power, leaving only a few remnants of the island's edge!
For a moment, Chen Mu's mind was filled with endless speculations.
Was it a falling star? Did it cause a void tremor, leading to the birth of the Seekwood Heavenly Realm? Or did the realm's birth predate the star's fall, causing the barrier between worlds to thin, allowing human force to penetrate? Or perhaps...the fallen star itself was the foundation of the Seekwood Heavenly Realm?
At Chen Mu's current realm, he could discern some clues, but his understanding of the void wasn't profound enough to immediately draw conclusions. At this moment, the Dragonwood Island Lord, who was walking at the front of the group, finally stopped.
"We've arrived."
The Dragonwood Island Lord stood on the sea's surface, gazing towards the distant ruins.
(End of Chapter)
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