Chapter 178 The Fiendish Cudgel Splits the Sea, the Demonic Shadow Follows
The sea spirit pearl floated in the center of the Water-Condensing Orchid Mine Vein, its pale blue spiritual light spreading like the tide. The turbid seawater became clear at a speed visible to the naked eye, the coral thickets eroded by demonic evil sprouted tender green buds, the ashen complexions on the clansmen's faces gradually faded, and the wounds of the heavily injured slowly scabbed over under the nourishment of Spiritual Qi.
The clansmen of the Liang Clan gathered around the mine vein, cheering and jumping for joy. The despair that had been suppressed for many days was dispelled by vitality, and even the corners of Liang Wanshan's mouth revealed a long-awaited smile.
“With the sea spirit pearl here, the clan can finally be at peace.” Liang Chenyu leaned against Lin Yue's side, a faint blue light swirling at her fingertips. The warmth of the Sea Spirit Symbiosis circulated through her Meridians, making her entire body feel comfortable.
Lin Yue held her hand, feeling the resonance of their spiritual power. Just as he was about to speak, his pupils suddenly constricted—a violent aura swept in from the depths of the deep sea, carrying a thick scent of blood and demonic evil. It was several times more powerful than the previous Evil Scale Tribe members, even causing the light of the sea spirit pearl to tremble slightly.
“Not good!” Liang Wanshan's expression changed drastically, and the long saber at his waist instantly cleared its scabbard. “It's the main force of the Evil Scale Tribe! How could they have arrived so quickly?”
Before his voice had even faded, the seawater churned violently, and three figures burst through the water, landing on the coral reef at the periphery of the mine vein. The leader wore mysterious black scale armor, his physique as burly as a small mountain, with a curved black horn growing from his forehead. This was the Great Chief of the Evil Scale Tribe, Ao Lie. His Late Golden Core Stage cultivation was completely undisguised, and the Evil Qi around him condensed into substance, making it difficult for the surrounding clansmen to breathe.
Standing behind him were two subordinates. One held a giant axe, his aura fierce and masculine—he was Sha Tu, a fierce general of the Evil Scale Tribe at the Early Golden Core Stage. The other had a slender and graceful figure, wearing a revealing dark red gauze dress. Her skin was as white as snow, but her eyes carried a soul-hooking and spirit-snatching charm, with faint purple demonic flames swirling around her. She was Mei Ji, the demoness enshrined by the Evil Scale Tribe. With a Middle Golden Core Stage cultivation, her demonic flames actually contained a strange power of Divine Soul erosion.
“The sea spirit pearl is indeed here!” Ao Lie's gaze locked onto the spiritual light in the center of the mine vein, his greed palpable. “Liang Wanshan, you old thing, you colluded with outsiders to take this supreme treasure. Today, I'll make your entire clan be buried with it!”
Sha Tu swung his giant axe, the wind from the axe kicking up waves ten feet high. “Great Chief, there's no need for nonsense. Kill these ants, and the sea spirit pearl will be ours!”
Mei Ji covered her lips and chuckled, her voice charming yet carrying a bone-chilling coldness. “So that kid is Lin Yue? I heard you killed many of my Evil Scale Tribe's clansmen; you do have some skill. However, in front of this demoness, your little bit of strength isn't enough to look at.”
Lin Yue shielded Liang Chenyu behind him, the zhensha divine staff quietly appearing in his hand. The crimson staff body glowed with a fierce evil red light as the Ten Thousand Jun Fiendbody operated at full power. His Middle Golden Core Stage spiritual power merged with the water-elemental power of the Sea Spirit Symbiosis, and the aura around him surged. “If you want the sea spirit pearl, you'll have to get through me first!”
[System Notification: Bindable partner detected: Mei Ji (Middle Golden Core Stage, Demonic Flame Divine Soul Body), Rank SSSSS+! Mei Ji's comprehensive score is 119. Subduing her can unlock ‘Demonic Flame Spiritual Rhythm,’ and the host's cultivation can Breakthrough to the Late Golden Core Stage!]
As soon as the System notification ended, a sharp light flashed in Lin Yue's eyes. Rank SSSSS+! A 119 score, even higher than Liang Chenyu's. And he could Breakthrough after subduing her. He was determined to have this Mei Ji!
“Arrogant!” Sha Tu was the first to pounce, his giant axe carrying the momentum to split mountains and cleave seas as it smashed toward the top of Lin Yue's head. The wind from the axe was wrapped in demonic evil, and even the air was torn with a piercing, sharp sound.
Lin Yue did not retreat but advanced instead, the zhensha divine staff sweeping out. The crimson staff shadow, carrying the power of the Fierce Evil Strike, collided violently with the giant axe. With a loud ‘clang,’ the giant axe instantly bent and deformed. Sha Tu only felt an overbearing and peerless force travel up the axe handle; his tiger's mouth burst open, and he was sent flying backward by the shock, crashing heavily into the coral reef. The coral reef shattered, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood. He struggled to get up, only to find his right arm had been broken by the vibration, hanging limply.
“Useless!” Ao Lie roared angrily. His figure was like lightning as his claws, carrying pale black demonic evil, went straight for Lin Yue's heart. The pressure of the Late Golden Core Stage caused the surrounding seawater to stagnate slightly.
Lin Yue's gaze turned cold. The red light of the zhensha divine staff surged as the Spatial Sha-Slash condensed. A crimson slash tore through the air, smashing heavily onto Ao Lie's claws. With a crisp ‘crack,’ Ao Lie's scale armor shattered upon contact, and the demonic evil on his claws was instantly dispersed. He staggered back three steps, looking at his bleeding palm with eyes full of disbelief. “You're just a Middle Golden Core, how can you have such strong power?”
“It's enough to kill you!” Lin Yue leaped up, the zhensha divine staff descending like a falling star. With the dual enhancement of the Heaven-Burning Evil Fire and water-elemental spiritual power, it smashed heavily toward Ao Lie's skull.
Ao Lie hurriedly condensed a demonic evil defense, but before the fierce evil power of the zhensha divine staff, the demonic evil defense was like paper, shattering instantly. The divine staff smashed solidly into his temple; his black horn snapped, and brain matter mixed with blood splashed out. Ao Lie's body crashed heavily into the sea surface, kicking up a huge spray of water. After a few twitches, he completely lost all signs of life.
The surrounding Liang Clan members watched dumbstruck. Even Liang Wanshan gripped his long saber tightly, his eyes full of shock—Ao Lie, a Late Golden Core Stage expert, was actually killed in one hit by Lin Yue!
“Chief!” Mei Ji's expression changed drastically. The charm in her eyes faded, replaced by intense killing intent. “You dare to kill Chief Ao Lie? This demoness will surely grind your bones to dust and scatter your ashes!”
She flicked her fingertips, and the pale purple demonic flames transformed into several fire snakes. Carrying the aura of Divine Soul burning, they lunged straight for Lin Yue's vital points. These demonic flames were no ordinary fire; they ignited upon contact and could even invade the Sea of Consciousness, causing a Cultivator to fall into illusions.
The blue light around Lin Yue surged as the water-elemental power of the Sea Spirit Symbiosis formed a sturdy water shield. The fire snakes crashed into the water shield, making a ‘sizzling’ sound as they were instantly extinguished. He took a step, and the seawater turned into two water arrows that shot toward Mei Ji's eyes. Simultaneously, his figure moved like lightning, the zhensha divine staff carrying a piercing whistle as it thrust straight for her Dantian.
Mei Ji hadn't expected Lin Yue to not only have tyrannical strength but also such overbearing water-elemental defense. She hurriedly dodged the water arrows and produced a short dagger coated in demonic poison to block the divine staff.
With a ‘clang,’ the short dagger instantly snapped. Mei Ji was shaken until her blood and Qi surged, and the demonic flame spiritual power in her Dantian vibrated violently. She spat out a mouthful of blood and used the counter-shock force to flee backward. Her movement technique was as eerie as a ghost, instantly pulling open a distance of several dozen yards.
“Trying to run?” A cold glint flashed in Lin Yue's eyes. The ability of the Sea Spirit Symbiosis allowed his speed in the water to increase several-fold. His figure turned into a blue stream of light, pursuing relentlessly. “Stay here!”
Mei Ji looked back and saw Lin Yue chasing fiercely. A hint of panic flashed in her eyes as she threw out several black Poison Mist Bombs. The poison mist instantly spread, carrying an aura that could corrode spiritual power.
She knew she was no match for him in a direct confrontation and could only rely on the poison mist and her movement technique to delay him, looking for an opportunity to counterattack.