Chapter 163 The Sea God's Inheritance, A Choice of Dao Heart

"It seems our trouble has arrived." Ye Qingcheng controlled the Silver-Armored Puppet, its sword wings unfurling as she prepared for battle. "These demonic cultivators excel at Soul-devouring and sneak attacks; we must deal with them carefully."

With the moon crystal wheel in hand, Zhang Luoyan's gaze was ice-cold. "The Kunlun Sect and demonic cultivators are irreconcilable. Today, I shall bury you foul creatures in the deep sea!"

Paragon of Ultimate Bliss sneered and waved his hand for the demonic cultivators to strike. "Go! Kill them, and the Sea God Legacy and the three keys will all be ours!"

Several demonic cultivators attacked simultaneously. Black Qi condensed into several Soul-Devouring Claw shadows, carrying a momentum that could tear apart the Divine Soul as they lunged at the trio. One demonic cultivator at the Golden Core Middle Stage even sacrificed a black banner engraved with Soul-devouring runes. Countless tiny Soul phantoms flew out from the banner, eroding the surrounding Spiritual Qi.

"sea-suppressing bead, suppress!" Lin Yue tossed the sea-suppressing bead into the air. The pearl's translucent blue light surged, forming a massive shield that blocked the Soul-Devouring Claw shadows and Soul phantoms. The sea soul bead lit up in his hand, its Soul aura intertwining with the power of the sea-suppressing bead to form a purification barrier, dispelling the Soul-devouring power of the black banner.

Ye Qingcheng's Silver-Armored Puppet transformed into a streak of silver light. Its sword wings swept across, wounding two demonic cultivators at the Early Golden Core Stage. Several poison needles shot out from the Puppet's joints, carrying bone-corroding poison that slowed the demonic cultivators' movements.

Zhang Luoyan leaped into the air, the moonlight Sword Qi of the moon crystal wheel surging violently. In an instant, it shattered the black banner. The purification power of her Lunar Spirit Body erupted completely, dispelling all the surrounding black Qi. Her figure moved like a ghost among the demonic cultivators; with every swing of the moon crystal wheel, another demonic cultivator fell.

Seeing this, Lin Yue no longer held back. His Golden Core power and Azure Profound Sword Intent erupted fully. The sea-suppressing bead transformed into a translucent blue Sword Gang, charging straight for Paragon of Ultimate Bliss. Paragon of Ultimate Bliss hadn't expected Lin Yue's strength to be so formidable; he hurriedly channeled black Qi for defense, but it was instantly torn apart by the Sword Gang, leaving a deep, bone-deep wound on his chest.

"Impossible! You are only at the Early Golden Core Stage, how can you have such strength?" Paragon of Ultimate Bliss was both shocked and enraged, turning to flee.

"Thinking of leaving? Too late!" Lin Yue gave chase, his Azure Profound Sword Intent condensing into a chain that bound Paragon of Ultimate Bliss's ankle. Zhang Luoyan's moon crystal wheel struck at the same time, its moonlight Sword Qi precisely hitting Paragon of Ultimate Bliss's Dantian and shattering his Golden Core.

Paragon of Ultimate Bliss spat out a large mouthful of black blood, his body slumping as his life force was completely extinguished. Seeing their leader killed, the remaining demonic cultivators suffered a Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, attempting to flee into the space-time cracks, but they were cut down one by one by Ye Qingcheng's Silver-Armored Puppet.

Having dealt with the demonic cultivators, the trio continued flying toward the Deep Sea Eye. Before long, a massive whirlpool appeared before them. In the center of the whirlpool stood a pitch-black stone pillar emitting a heavy aura—the sea-fixing needle.

The sea-fixing needle was dozens of zhang tall, its surface covered in ancient runes. As the runes flowed, they emitted a Divine Might that suppressed the sea. The seawater around the whirlpool was drawn by the power of the sea-fixing needle, forming a massive barrier that made approach no easy task.

"The sea-fixing needle is protected by the power of the Heaven-Connecting Array. To take it, we must break the surrounding rune barrier." Ye Qingcheng carefully observed the runes around the whirlpool. "These runes are arranged according to the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams. We need to activate the nodes in eight directions simultaneously to open the barrier."

Zhang Luoyan said, "I will activate the eastern and southern nodes. My Lunar Spirit Body can temporarily draw upon the power of the runes."

Ye Qingcheng nodded. "I will activate the western and northern nodes. My Mechanism Art can precisely trigger the runes."

"I will activate the remaining four nodes," Lin Yue said. He summoned both the sea-suppressing bead and the sea soul bead. The two lights intertwined, forming a stream of energy that flew toward the northeastern node.

The three of them acted simultaneously, their energy streams precisely hitting their respective nodes. The eight nodes were activated at once, and the rune barrier opened instantly, while the whirlpool's power became gentle.

Lin Yue leaped into the whirlpool and reached out to grasp the sea-fixing needle. The sea-fixing needle was heavy in his hand, containing a majestic suppressing power that resonated with the sea-suppressing bead and sea soul bead. The three keys lit up at the same time, emitting a brilliant light as they flew toward the Sea God Ruins.

The entrance to the ruins slowly opened, and a golden passage appeared before them. At the end of the passage was the core palace of the Sea God Yu Qiang, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.

"The keys are gathered; we can enter the ruins." Lin Yue looked at the golden passage, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. He knew that inside lay not only the Sea God Legacy but also the Opportunity to help him Breakthrough to the Golden Core Middle Stage.

The three exchanged a glance and leaped into the golden passage, heading deep into the ruins.

Inside the golden passage, the light was brilliant, and the air was filled with dense ancient Spiritual Qi, making the circulation of their spiritual power become smooth.

On the walls of both sides of the passage, ancient murals were carved, recording scenes of the Sea God Yu Qiang allying with the Mirage Dragon clan to jointly resist the external chaos.

The end of the mural showed Yu Qiang exhausting his Divine Power to form the Heaven-Connecting Array, his essence Soul sinking into the deep sea—a sight that couldn't help but inspire awe.

"I didn't expect the ancient times to be so perilous. The power of the external chaos is even more terrifying than we imagined." Ye Qingcheng looked at the murals, her eyes full of emotion. "Yu Qiang sacrificed himself to protect all living beings; it is truly admirable."

Zhang Luoyan nodded. "There are also records of the external chaos in the ancient texts of the Kunlun Sect. It is an evil power that transcends the Three Realms. Once it breaks through the Guixu, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Lin Yue noticed a line of ancient text in the corner of a mural. After interpreting it with his Divine Sense, he was startled. "These words say that the power of the Heaven-Connecting Array is weakening, and there are signs of the external chaos reviving. The Sea God Legacy is not just an Opportunity, but a responsibility. The successor needs to reinforce the Heaven-Connecting Array and protect the Three Realms."

While speaking, they had reached the end of the passage, and a magnificent palace appeared before them. The palace doors were carved from a single piece of white jade, with three large ancient characters engraved on them: 'Sea God Hall,' emitting a majestic pressure.

"This is the core area of the Sea God Hall." Lin Yue stepped forward and placed the three keys into the grooves on the door. The sea soul bead, the mirage dragon scale, and the sea-fixing needle lit up simultaneously, resonating with the runes on the door as the white jade doors slowly opened.

Inside the palace, the light was dim. On a high platform in the center stood a massive statue of the Sea God, in the likeness of Yu Qiang. The statue held a trident, its gaze majestic as if looking down upon the intruders. Below the statue floated a golden pearl, emitting a dense Legacy power—the core of the Sea God Legacy, the sea god bead.

"The sea god bead!" A flash of joy crossed Ye Qingcheng's eyes. "Legend says the sea god bead contains Yu Qiang's lifelong Divine Power and insights. Obtaining it not only raises one's cultivation but also allows one to control a portion of the sea's power."

Zhang Luoyan's breathing also quickened. Her Lunar Spirit Body resonated with the power of the sea god bead, causing her spiritual power to become restless. If she obtained the sea god bead, her strength would surely increase significantly, and she might even Breakthrough to the Golden Core Middle Stage.

Just as the three were about to step forward to take the sea god bead, a cold laugh suddenly rang out: "Lin Yue, Zhang Luoyan, Ye Qingcheng, thank you for gathering the keys and opening the door for me. This sea god bead belongs to me!"