“What?
Old Wizard, you want us to enter the Ancient Desolate Sea?”
Upon hearing the old Wizard’s words, the dozen or so Heavenly Gods instantly paled.
“You, over a dozen Heavenly Gods, couldn’t even intercept a mere junior — this is a serious disgrace to the face of our Guardian Faction!
Don’t you wish to accomplish something?
This is your chance to redeem yourselves.
Besides, don’t you trust my divination abilities?
With your strength, entering the peripheral regions of the Ancient Desolate Sea won’t pose too great a danger.”
The old Wizard’s expression darkened as he spoke.
“Old Wizard, the Ancient Desolate Sea is far too dangerous. With our strength, entering might not guarantee a safe return!”
The dozen or so Heavenly Gods hesitated, their voices filled with unease.
They knew this old Wizard held a status within the Guardian Faction second only to a few core elders. Even the Sixth Void Prison Master treated him with utmost respect. If they disobeyed his command and earned his displeasure, they might face future troubles.
Yet, the Ancient Desolate Sea was notorious for its dangers, and even they, as Heavenly Gods, were reluctant to venture in.
“In that case… if you go in and hunt down that kid, I will reward you with these.”
Observing their expressions, the old Wizard waved his hand. Over a dozen spatial rings flew out, each landing in front of one of the Heavenly Gods.
With some doubt, the Heavenly Gods used Soul Power to perceive the contents of the rings before them. Instantly, their faces lit up with pleasant surprise.
Clearly, the items within these spatial rings were of exceedingly high value.
“Moreover, once we return, I will report to the Prison Master, and you will be handsomely rewarded — of course, provided you enter the Ancient Desolate Sea and pursue that kid.”
The old Wizard continued.
“Alright then, Old Wizard. We will enter the Ancient Desolate Sea now to hunt down that boy.”
The Heavenly Gods exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and made their decision.
The items gifted by the old Wizard were immensely valuable and precisely what they needed most at present.
They were also well aware that defying this old Wizard’s orders would likely invite future trouble.
“Good. Rest assured, as long as you do not venture into the central area of the Ancient Desolate Sea, with your strength, you should be able to emerge safely.
Whether or not you manage to kill that kid inside, upon your return to headquarters, it will be counted as a major merit.”
The old Wizard nodded in satisfaction.
“Thank you, Old Wizard, for your support.”
The dozen or so Heavenly Gods voiced their gratitude in unison, then steeled themselves, turned, and charged forward, soon disappearing into the Ancient Desolate Sea ahead.
“Could that kid truly be the legacy of *that guy*?
*That guy* was a ruthless figure back in his day. If he really is the inheritor, might it provoke *that guy’s* retaliation?”
Staring in the direction Ye Yunfei had fled deep into the Ancient Desolate Sea, the old Wizard couldn't help but frown, recalling the compass that had hovered above Ye Yunfei’s head earlier.
“But even if he is that guy’s inheritor… so what?
In the Chaotic Void Sea nowadays, the Guardian Faction is the strongest, the true masters. Even if that guy returns, the Guardian Faction should be able to handle him.”
His expression, initially tinged with hesitation and wariness, quickly hardened with resolve.
“Actually, I should hope that guy from the past truly does return. That way, I can avenge the grudge of those years.”
A cold smirk suddenly appeared on the old Wizard’s face.
“Pass down the order. Dispatch several more experts to guard this place, in case that kid manages to escape from within.”
The old Wizard thought for a moment, then addressed a Heavenly God beside him — he had several others following him.
“It’s just one measly kid. We few can manage guarding this place; there’s no need to mobilize such a crowd.”
The Heavenly Gods around him hesitated, then one spoke up.
They felt that their group was sufficient for the task.
“Follow my orders.
That kid is no simple target. We absolutely cannot afford to be careless. If we don’t eliminate him this time, there will be endless future troubles.”
The old Wizard’s face darkened again.
“Understood. I will send the message immediately to convey your command, Old Wizard.”
The Heavenly God who had just spoken hastened to comply.
Not long after, an elder abruptly soared in from the distance and landed before the Ancient Desolate Sea.
“What?
Young Master Ye has truly entered the Ancient Desolate Sea!
I arrived too late.”
Gazing at the Ancient Desolate Sea ahead, where waves hundreds and thousands of *zhang* high churned and roared, the elder’s expression turned grim, filled with regret.
When this elder arrived, the old Wizard’s gaze instantly sharpened, cold and piercing, as he scrutinized the newcomer.
Simultaneously, he began activating his divination arts to perceive and deduce the elder’s nature.
However, a look of shock swiftly appeared on his face. He discovered that the elder’s body was shrouded in an extremely profound layer of law, completely isolating his divination attempts.
“This is a terrifyingly powerful expert!”
Startled, the old Wizard immediately retreated stealthily. The altar beneath him began radiating a powerful energy that formed a glowing protective barrier around it.
*BOOM BOOM BOOM…*
The next moment, the elder suddenly struck. He condensed a gigantic energy palm and slapped it towards the old Wizard.
“What level of expert is this?
Too terrifying!
I can’t even move!”
The Heavenly Gods beside the old Wizard immediately felt an immense, overwhelming pressure rolling towards them, locking them in place. Fear dawned on their faces.
The altar shook violently, releasing even greater power to shield the old Wizard and the Heavenly Gods upon it.
With a resounding *BOOM*, the altar was struck by the palm and sent flying far away.
The old Wizard and the Heavenly Gods on the altar were rattled, feeling dizzy and swaying unsteadily.
“You wretches actually forced Young Master Ye into the Ancient Desolate Sea! You deserve death!”
The elder roared angrily.
Then, his palm transformed into a fist as he punched towards the retreating altar.
*RUMBLE…*
All the energy and laws in the surrounding void converged incessantly towards his fist, materializing into a colossal fist seal that advanced slowly forward.
In that instant, an endless stream of runes, seals, and symbols related to Fist Path laws and Fist Path civilization emanated densely from the giant fist seal.
“Old Wizard, this guy is too strong. We are not his match.”
The Heavenly Gods had initially intended to protect the old Wizard, but they found themselves utterly lacking the power to do so.
“Let’s leave this place for now.”
The old Wizard snorted coldly and spoke.
He then retrieved a yellow talisman and hurled it forward.
With a *BOOM*, the yellow talisman instantly detonated, its stored energy pouring forth and condensing into a longsword. The sword slashed forward, clashing with the enormous fist seal.
The surrounding space immediately began to collapse with a deafening *BOOM*. Seizing the opportunity, the old Wizard steered the altar, turned, and fled, vanishing into the spatial fractures.
“A sword talisman from the Sword Realm?”
The elder glanced at the longsword condensed from the talisman with some surprise.
“Consider yourself fast on the run.”
He shot a cold glance in the direction the old Wizard’s altar had fled and spoke indifferently.
“I never expected to be just one step late, and Young Master Ye was already forced into the Ancient Desolate Sea. I can only hope he emerges safely.
If I enter the Ancient Desolate Sea now, I would not only fail to help Young Master Ye, but I might also draw out those bizarre and terrifying entities residing within, which would only harm him. Thus, it must depend on his own fortune and willpower to find his way out.”
Shaking his head and sighing as he gazed at the monstrous waves of the Ancient Desolate Sea ahead, the elder turned and departed, vanishing with a single step.
---
At the same time, within the Ancient Desolate Sea, Ye Yunfei was traversing the tumultuous waves.
From the moment he entered this place, terrifyingly massive waves surged toward him almost without cease, assaulting him relentlessly.
Ye Yunfei swung his fists, shattering wave after wave.
Fortunately, his physical strength was sufficient, and the quality of his fleshly body was excellent, allowing him to manage the relentless barrage.
“Are the dangers of the Ancient Desolate Sea just these waves?
If that’s the case, we might be able to cope.”
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm remarked.
“Impossible. If it were only these waves, how could the Ancient Desolate Sea rank among the most perilous forbidden lands in the Chaotic Void Sea?”
Ye Yunfei shook his head.
“The real danger likely hasn’t even begun yet.”
Hun Lao interjected.
“I feel my perception abilities are severely restricted within this Ancient Desolate Sea.”
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm suddenly said.
“Indeed, our perception is heavily suppressed here. The laws of time and space seem different from the outside world, forming a separate realm.”
Hun Lao added.
“My perception is also extremely restricted here.”
Ye Yunfei said helplessly, all the while swinging his fists to fend off the ceaseless assault of waves.
Initially, only one or two waves attacked him at a time, but as he delved deeper into the sea, Ye Yunfei found the number of waves assaulting him simultaneously increasing.
Soon, over a dozen colossal waves were striking him from all directions at once, each with an earth-shattering momentum, roaring like thunder.
Thankfully, Ye Yunfei’s immense physical strength and his current bodily resilience that resisted fatigue allowed him to handle it.
Every punch he threw caused a wave to explode into mist.
“This Ancient Desolate Sea truly is dangerous!
Never mind anything else — just these endless, massive waves alone would give even Heavenly Gods a headache.”
Hun Lao sighed, observing the waves that continuously reared up and crashed on the churning sea surface.
The waves ranged from a thousand meters to ten thousand meters, even tens of thousands of meters high, battering the space above the sea like a sieve and creating numerous dark, gaping spatial rifts.
“This seawater is also not ordinary.”
Ye Yunfei noticed the dark seawater beneath his feet seemed to contain a mysterious power that made one’s heart tremble.
“This water likely harbors a special energy or law we don’t yet understand, which is why it gives us this feeling.”
Hun Lao offered.
“Wait! There seems to be a flight-restriction formation here — you cannot take to the air or fly.”
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm suddenly exclaimed in astonishment.
He then appeared beside Ye Yunfei to try flying.
Earlier, due to the endless dangerous waves on the sea surface, everyone except Ye Yunfei had entered the Phantom Tower for shelter.
“Indeed, flight is impossible!”
As soon as Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm’s form lifted into the air, an immensely terrifying pressure crushed down from the sea surface, like a massive invisible hand, slapping his body back down onto the water.
Ye Yunfei flashed into motion, leaping skyward.
The next moment, a horrifying suppressive energy indeed rolled in from high above and all directions. Ye Yunfei felt the space around him instantly sealed completely by that terrifying force, and his body involuntarily plummeted back onto the sea surface.
“Even I cannot fly!”
Ye Yunfei couldn’t help but frown.
“Let’s test physical strength.”
Ye Yunfei pushed off hard on the sea surface, channeling his internal bodily power into his legs as his body shot upwards once more.
This time, his figure rose rapidly, reaching mid-air above the sea in an instant. Yet, Ye Yunfei immediately sensed an even greater suppression force rolling towards him, forcibly slamming his body back into the sea.
“Physical strength seems to be more useful on this sea surface!”
Although still forced back onto the water by the terrifying suppression, Ye Yunfei felt that if he relied on his physical strength to resist, he could remain airborne for a few moments.
“Forget it. Let’s find a relatively safe and calm place to rest. Unless absolutely necessary, there’s no need to continue deeper into this Ancient Desolate Sea.”
Ye Yunfei contemplated briefly before speaking.
“Yes, this place is strange through and through. Unless we have to, we shouldn’t go further in.”
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm immediately agreed.
Next, Ye Yunfei continued moving about on the sea surface, searching for a relatively quiet and safe spot, but no matter where he went, huge waves ceaselessly attacked.
“Here’s an idea — you should also enter the Phantom Tower. Those waves shouldn’t attack the tower, right?”
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm suddenly suggested to Ye Yunfei.
“It is indeed worth trying.”
Hun Lao agreed.
Right at that moment…
“Look! Ahead, there seems to be a large number of corpses soaking in the seawater.”
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
Sure enough, in the seawater ahead, numerous corpses were floating and drifting within the inky black water, making their features indistinguishable.
From time to time, corpses were lifted high into the sky along with the churning waves.
“These… people probably died a long time ago.”
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm observed the corpses being tossed about by the massive waves and remarked.
“Indeed, they perished long ago.”
Huang Shang spoke up.
Having cultivated corpse-path techniques, he naturally had the keenest understanding of corpses.
“However, these corpses are somewhat peculiar. Even I feel a sense of unease looking at them. Is it the water’s doing?
They seem to have undergone some kind of mutation from long-term immersion in this seawater.”
Huang Shang wondered aloud.
“I will now enter the Phantom Tower and see if it can hover on the sea surface.”
Ye Yunfei declared, preparing to enter.
At that very moment…
*WHOOSH!*
Something tore through space behind Ye Yunfei, hurtling towards his back.
Since his perception was restricted in this environment, he couldn’t initially make out what it was.
But soon, Ye Yunfei realized it was a long arrow speeding toward him.
“It’s those Heavenly Gods from the Guardian Faction! They actually pursued us in here!”
Hun Lao sensed over a dozen figures appear on the sea surface behind Ye Yunfei — precisely the same Heavenly Gods who had been pursuing them.
“These fellows went so far as to chase you into the Ancient Desolate Sea. Is all this really necessary?”
Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm mumbled incredulously.