Time flew by, and ten days passed in a flash.
Following the guidance of the Jade Slip map, Li Mu piloted the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship to the coast of Wangxing Sea and approached a small seaside town marked on the Jade Slip map.
This city was called Bihai City, situated atop a coastal cliff.
As far as the eye could see, tens of thousands of Cultivators flew in and out of the small city; numerous small Spirit Ships gathered here. Most of them were hunter Cultivators and Loose Cultivators who hunted Yao Beasts in the sea. Their auras were filled with the ferocity of hunters. They formed teams of two or three, or groups of a dozen or even dozens, gathering in this small seaside town, making it exceptionally lively.
Suddenly, Li Mu frowned. As his Divine Thought observed the situation in the small seaside town, he saw the giant Spirit Ship that had almost collided with him earlier, docked in the best position at the cliffside port of the small city. Its size was several times that of other Spirit Boats and Flying Ships, exuding an overbearing presence.
Li Mu's expression darkened. He carefully scrutinized the giant Spirit Ship. A striking red Dragon flag was planted at its bow, fluttering in the wind, with a large golden character embroidered on it: 'Kun'.
Kun?
A certain Cultivation Family?
Such giant Spirit Ships of Five-Order or higher were the core armaments of major Sects, usually engraved with Sect marks or characters to display ownership.
This 'Kun' character clearly came from a Family force.
Li Mu's gaze rested on the giant Spirit Ship.
Soon, Talent Divine Power - Identify Myriad Spirits took effect, and information about the giant Spirit Ship appeared in the character's virtual frame.
【Heavenly Origin Battleship】
【Grade: Six-Order Large Battleship】
【Characteristics: Heavenly Origin Gathering Formation, Heavenly Origin Divine Light, Heavenly Origin Protective Shield, Traveling Through the Void Realm.】
【Status: Heavenly Origin Gathering Formation, absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth.】
【A Heavenly Origin Spirit Ship refined from Six-Order Heavenly Origin Ancient Wood, Six-Order Spirit Paulownia Branches, Six-Order Void Spirit Yao Beast Bones, and Six-Order World King Stones. It is equipped with: Heavenly Origin Gathering Spirit Formation, Void Concealment Protective Formation, World Space Grand Formation, Void Realm Travel Formation. Length: 86 zhang, Width: 7.7 zhang, Height: 1.6 zhang. It travels through the Void Realm, covering fifty thousand li per day.】
After seeing the attributes of the giant battleship, Li Mu fell silent. The power that owned this Spirit Ship was definitely no smaller than Wanbao Pavilion; it was truly too lavish!
What were such high-level battleships from major powers doing in a remote seaside town?
Li Mu lowered his head in thought, suddenly recalling what the Golden Core cultivator had mentioned: Wangxing Sea had not been peaceful recently, and something unknown had happened.
With so many high-level Cultivators gathered in this seaside town, something big must be happening.
Li Mu activated his Divine Thought Divine Ability - Star Concealment, sweeping his Divine Sense over Bihai City. He found that thirty to forty Nascent Soul cultivators and hundreds of Golden Core cultivators had gathered in the city. Their expressions were solemn and excited, as if they were anticipating something!
The unknown always aroused the most curiosity. Li Mu felt that something major must have happened deep within Wangxing Sea.
Li Mu quietly approached Bihai City, his Star Concealment Divine Sense resting on the Cultivators, eavesdropping on their whispers. Gradually, a more reliable piece of news formed: "Several fragments of a Seven-Order Dao Weapon were salvaged from a certain area of Wangxing Sea, suspected to be an ancient Cultivator's Water Mansion or an ancient Cultivator's ruin from the Body Integration Stage or higher."
In short, a secret treasure trove of a high-level Cultivator had been definitively discovered, attracting numerous well-informed Cultivators from nearby.
Li Mu had no interest in ancient Cultivator Water Mansions or anything similar. His purpose for this trip was only the Six-Order Flood Dragon, and he had no intention of getting involved.
Li Mu turned to leave Bihai City and head to the Wangxing Sea region alone.
"Fellow Daoist, wait!" Just then, a voice behind him called out.
Li Mu frowned and turned to look at the other party defensively. It was an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a green Daoist robe, exuding the Spiritual Pressure of a Peak Late Stage Nascent Soul. Beside him was a female Cultivator in a purple dress, also possessing a Late Stage Nascent Soul cultivation.
Li Mu stopped, and the two quickly flew before him.
"May I ask why you two have called out to me?" Li Mu looked at the newcomers, asking curiously.
Earlier, when Li Mu's Divine Thought swept over the Cultivators in Bihai City, he had noticed that these two Nascent Soul cultivators had been intentionally or unintentionally observing him.
"I am Elder Wanling, and this is my Dao Companion, Chen Yi. Fellow Daoist, you must also be here for that ancient Cultivator's Water Mansion, right? I see you are alone. Would you be willing to travel with us, so we can look out for each other?" Elder Wanling looked at Li Mu, inviting him with a smile.
"No, no! I came to Wangxing Sea to collect a certain high-level water-type spiritual item, not for any ancient Cultivator's Water Mansion!" Li Mu smiled and denied.
"So that's it. May I ask what kind of spiritual item Fellow Daoist wishes to collect? Perhaps I might happen to have it!" Elder Wanling stroked his white beard, nodded, and asked curiously.
"Hmm! Six-Order Profound Yin True Water, Six-Order Water Moon True Stone. Does Fellow Daoist Wan have these two spiritual items?" Li Mu was momentarily stunned, then asked with a smile.
Elder Wanling frowned, looking at Li Mu and saying uncertainly, "These two Six-Order spiritual items are probably impossible to find even if you search all of Wangxing Sea!"
"Just trying my luck. Isn't there a Twin-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon in the nearby sea area? It might be accompanied by Water Moon True Stone, you never know!" Li Mu smiled slightly and explained.
"So that's it. Then I won't bother Fellow Daoist anymore!" Elder Wanling nodded with a smile, then turned to leave with his Dao Companion.
"Fellow Daoist, wait, I'd like to ask a presumptuous question." Li Mu called out to Elder Wanling, inquiring.
"Hmm! What does Fellow Daoist wish to ask?" Elder Wanling stopped, looking at Li Mu curiously.
"That high-level Spirit Ship by the coast, does Fellow Daoist know which power it belongs to? It's so magnificent!" Li Mu asked inquiringly.
"Isn't the flag clearly written? It's the Kun Family, one of the Eight Great Cultivation Families of Central State. Does Fellow Daoist not know the Kun Family?" Elder Wanling was surprised, then introduced with a smile.
"I come from the remote Southern Spirit region and am unaware of the Eight Great Cultivation Families of Central State. I've never seen such a high-level Spirit Ship before. Is it just moored by the sea like that?" Li Mu explained with a smile, saying enviously.
"It's nothing but their immense wealth and lack of scruples! The Kun Family has excellent relations with the Saints and Elders of various Immortal Sects in Central State. They primarily deal in Artifact Refining minerals in the Central State Spirit Domain, with industries spanning all counties of Central State. Their power is extremely formidable!" Elder Wanling introduced with a hint of sourness in his tone.
Li Mu suddenly understood why the other party was so arrogant. The Kun Family indeed had the capital to be arrogant. The life of a mere rogue Nascent Soul cultivator probably truly wouldn't catch their eye.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for clearing my doubts. I have no other questions!" Li Mu cupped his hands in thanks and bid farewell.
Elder Wanling nodded, then left with his Dao Companion.
Li Mu followed, rising on his sword and flying deeper into the Wangxing Sea.
The boundless sea, with its surging waves,
Various forms of spiritual fish schools darted and sped through the seabed with great momentum. The seabed was even more spectacular, with all sorts of strange marine creatures, colorful and dazzling.
Some low-level Fish Yao Beasts gathered together. Upon discovering the Human Race Cultivators speeding overhead, they suddenly scattered, disappearing without a trace.
"That's strange. Why are there only low-level Fish Yao Beasts everywhere? Where are the high-level sea beasts?" Li Mu felt a little puzzled. From just now, the highest strength of the spiritual fish schools and Fish Yao Beast groups he encountered was only Third-Order. It was very peculiar, a world apart from the imagined perilous and turbulent sea region.
Just as Li Mu was puzzled, a strong True Essence fluctuation suddenly came from ahead, causing the surrounding seawater to churn.
Li Mu's eyes narrowed. He summoned his water-type top-grade Spiritual Artifact. The sword body rotated, and a sword light swept out, directly cutting through the churning waves.
As the waves dispersed, he saw an Octopus Demon King, seven or eight zhang tall, waving its eight arms with Killing Intent, chasing three Human Race Cultivators.
The three Cultivators consisted of two Late Stage Nascent Soul and one Peak Golden Core.
The two Late Stage Nascent Soul cultivators had solemn expressions. As they fled, they summoned their Magic Treasures to block the Octopus Demon King.
One person wielded a golden saber, unleashing sharp saber light that slashed towards the eight arms. However, their other hand was free to grab the Golden Core cultivator, who was covered in blood, protecting him behind them as they fought and retreated.
The other person formed hand seals with their ten fingers. An ancient compass rotated above their Celestial Spirit, and rays of light shot out.
The two Nascent Soul True Lords almost exerted their full strength, but their power was hindered in the sea, allowing them to only display less than seventy percent of their true strength.
What seemed like a thunderous strike was completely blocked by the Sea Yao Beast's waving eight arms.
Facing a Five-Order Peak Demon King, it was only a matter of time before these two were defeated.
The two sides fought fiercely, turning the sea within a ten-kilometer radius upside down, but they were gradually moving towards his direction.
Li Mu frowned slightly, realizing that the two Nascent Soul True Lords had clearly discovered him and were deliberately luring the Yao Beasts towards him.
They obviously wanted him to take the fall for them, so they could seize the opportunity to escape.
Regardless of the reason, Li Mu's expression darkened, and he immediately fled at an even faster speed, determined not to give them a chance to cling to him.
Li Mu's purpose in coming to Wangxing Sea this time was only one: to find that Six-Order Dragon and subdue it, not to stir up any more trouble.
Li Mu immediately used Water Escape, and his figure fled at an extremely fast speed, leaving them a receding back.
"Fellow Daoist in front, please wait, please wait!"
Seeing Li Mu flee like the wind, the two Nascent Soul cultivators immediately shouted in alarm, their profound Spiritual Qi carrying their voices far away.
Li Mu heard them, but acted as if he hadn't, continuously increasing his speed and moving further and further away.
The Golden Core cultivator who was being protected shouted, "Senior, please stop! I am the direct descendant and eldest grandson of the Kun Family of Central State. If Fellow Daoist can save my life, the Kun Family will definitely remember your contribution, and I am also willing to present high-grade spiritual items to Fellow Daoist. I will not go back on my word!"
Central State Kun Family?
How did people from Central State end up here?
Wait, Kun Family?
Isn't that the giant Spirit Ship docked at Bihai City's port?
Upon learning that they were from the Kun Family, Li Mu had even less reason to save them. He didn't look back and vanished into the sea in the blink of an eye.
"This!"
All three were stunned, never expecting that after revealing their identities, that person would completely ignore them and instead run even faster!
One must know that the Eight Great Families of Central State are known to everyone in the Central State Spiritual Domain, and countless Sects and small forces would eagerly curry favor with them.
Unexpectedly, in this remote place, they were looked down upon by a Nascent Soul cultivator. This made them very angry. However, at this moment, they could no longer concern themselves with anything else. Their attempt to shift blame had failed, so they could only seek another way out.
Li Mu continued to swim freely in the sea, while also keeping an eye on what was behind him. However, after swimming about a hundred kilometers, he didn't encounter any decent sea Yao Beasts, aside from the Octopus Demon King he had encountered earlier.
This made him stop. His Divine Sense frantically swept the area, but the result was that the highest cultivation in this sea area was only a Fourth-Order Sea Eel Yao Beast.
Strange!
Now that he was in the deep sea, there was no reason for the sea Yao Beasts he encountered to be so weak.
Could it be that the Cultivator army from the city had already swept this sea area?
No, if they had truly swept it beforehand, Venerable Mo Shan shouldn't have reminded him of the dangers in the sea. Clearly, they hadn't set off yet.
If that's the case, then what about the strange occurrences in this sea area?
Li Mu frowned tightly, always feeling that something was amiss. When things are abnormal, there must be a Yao, but he didn't know where it was!
If only he could refine that divination Spiritual Artifact!
This thought flashed through Li Mu's mind, and he unconsciously became more vigilant.
"First, figure out the situation, then go find that Six-Order Dragon."
Li Mu was not a reckless person; if he couldn't figure out the situation, he would feel uneasy.
Li Mu couldn't help but think of the Octopus Demon King from before. The hundred-kilometer sea area should be under its dominion, so it should know some information. Wouldn't it be good to capture it and interrogate it?
Li Mu immediately flew back, returning to the previous sea area, sensing the residual Spiritual Qi fluctuations from the battle between the two sides, and continued to pursue.
After half an hour, Li Mu finally caught up to the Octopus Demon King. Upon seeing the scene before him, his scalp tingled!
He saw that the Golden Core cultivator who had sought his help earlier had been torn apart and seized by the Octopus Demon King, eaten until only his upper body remained, a truly gruesome sight.
That Nascent Soul cultivator also had only one leg left, clinging to a tentacle.
As for the Nascent Soul True Lord who was controlling the compass, his whereabouts were unknown, clearly also having met a tragic end.
Li Mu saw the two storage Magic Treasures floating on the water and collected the two storage rings.
The movement caused by collecting the storage rings was noticed by the Octopus Demon King.
The Octopus Demon King turned around, its eight tentacles, dozens of meters long, sweeping towards Li Mu like long whips, covering the sky and earth.
Facing the powerful blow of the Fifth-Order Peak Demon King, Li Mu summoned five Five-Order Top-Grade Spiritual Swords. The five swords combined, transforming into a Five Elements Giant Sword, which slashed horizontally. The thick Five Elements Sword Qi roared forth.
Seeing the thick, sharp Five Elements Sword Qi, the Octopus Demon King showed a look of panic. Its eight giant feet instantly shifted from offense to defense, rapidly intertwining and condensing in the air into a giant shield, protecting its vital points.
"Puff!" With a loud bang, the huge sword light flashed and vanished, heavily striking the wall of flesh formed by the eight giant feet.
With a "boom," the huge severed foot smashed onto the sea surface, stirring up towering waves.
With the max-level Profound Heaven Sword Formation, once Li Mu started fighting, his entire being became filled with Sword Intent, revealing his sharp edge. Under his control, the Five Elements Giant Sword slashed down one after another, quickly and urgently, giving it no chance to counterattack.
In just a few breaths, Li Mu controlled the Five Elements Giant Sword, chopping the dozens-of-meters-long 'mountain of flesh' into countless pieces, and blood quickly dyed the sea red.
Finally, under the horrified gaze of the Octopus Demon King, its massive body was cut in half by Li Mu's sword.
With its demon body destroyed, the Octopus Demon King's spirit escaped and frantically fled towards the deep sea.
Li Mu smiled slightly; how could he let it succeed? The Five Elements Giant Sword pierced through the Void Realm, transforming into a Five Elements Sword Domain to imprison it.
Li Mu flew over and easily grasped the Octopus Demon King's spirit in his hand.
The Octopus Demon King's spirit was terrified and struggled violently. Li Mu extended his Divine Thought, attempting to communicate with it, but only received a chaotic message.
Li Mu waved his hand, directly collecting the Octopus Demon King's spirit into the Painting World Treasure Mansion.
Inside the Treasure Mansion.
Not all Fifth-Order Yao Beasts can speak human language, and this Octopus Demon King was one of them. He entrusted the interrogation task to the Azure-Eyed White Ape.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Azure-Eyed White Ape had interrogated all the questions.
Li Mu summoned the Azure-Eyed White Ape out of the sea area.
Having not left the Painting World Treasure Mansion for a long time, the Azure-Eyed White Ape looked left and right upon emerging. Never having seen such a vast sea, it excitedly clapped its hands and let out loud hoots.
"Hmm? Did you forget something important?"
Li Mu glanced at the Azure-Eyed White Ape and asked coldly.
"Master, I'm sorry, I've never seen such a big sea before, I got a little excited!" The Azure-Eyed White Ape quickly apologized, saying shyly.
Li Mu could also understand this fellow. It had been in the Painting World Treasure Mansion for hundreds of years. Although it was a place of immortals, it was like a cage to it.
The Azure-Eyed White Ape scratched its head and began to explain: "Master, it turns out that in this sea area of Wangxing Sea, there was a Six-Order Twin-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon. It was previously attacked by a combined force of the Human Race and suffered serious injuries. After that, it disappeared for decades, hiding somewhere, and only recently re-emerged, but it became extremely ferocious."
"As soon as it appeared, it specifically targeted high-strength sea Yao Beasts, killing and devouring them. Even the other two Six-Order Yao Beasts here met tragic ends and were devoured by it. With the two Six-Order Yao Beasts also eaten by it, this Twin-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon became the overlord of this domain and began to wantonly attack high-order Yao Beasts and some passing Human Race Cultivators."
"In less than a few months, all high-order Yao Beasts in this several-hundred-kilometer radius sea area have almost disappeared. That Octopus Demon King was relatively smart. It sensed danger and fled ashore. It only dared to return after the Twin-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon went to a more distant sea area, and then it became the king here."
Li Mu finally understood, and he couldn't help but frown.
The Twin-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon had actually run to a more distant sea area, which was indeed a bit troublesome. How could he find it in this vast sea?
Just as Li Mu didn't know how to find the Twin-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon, the Azure-Eyed White Ape remembered something else and quickly added, "Oh, right, Master, that Octopus Demon King also said that it occupied the Twin-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon's hiding place, and there's something strange about it."
Hiding place?
Li Mu's eyebrows rose, and he suddenly remembered something. If he could find its scales or remnants of its body parts in the Twin-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon's hiding place, he could use the tracking Formation he learned from Venerable Celestial Evolution's Legacy to investigate and search for its whereabouts.
Clearing his thoughts, Li Mu summoned the Octopus Demon King's spirit and had it lead the way.
Facing the powerful strength of one person and one beast, how could the Octopus Demon King dare to disobey? It floated ahead, leading the way.