Chapter 47: The Seafloor

Wang Jie gazed into the distance, watching as the colossal octopus lingered on the ocean’s surface, launching debris and shattered rocks toward the base instead of approaching.

A being of Ten-Seal strength possessed the ability to lay waste to entire landscapes. This one had only just stepped into such a realm and had yet to master its newfound might. Given two more days, its attacks would surely evolve.

“I’ll handle it,” Wang Jie declared, his hands itching for battle. Ever since Cataclysm Materials had ceased to augment his strength, he had been tirelessly seeking ways to surpass Shu Mu Night, pushing the limits of his own power. It had been days since his last fight.

Leaping from the city walls, he was swiftly lifted into the air by a flying insect, soaring toward the distant sea.

Soon, he arrived above a vast swarm of marine creatures. The octopus spewed massive clouds of ink like cannon fire, while sharp currents of water lashed out like arrows. With a single tap on the insect’s back, Wang Jie unleashed a spiraling Qi Force from afar, shattering the attacks before pressing downward, crushing countless sea beasts beneath its weight.

But the ocean was vast, far larger than the land. The sea was the true dominion of life on Blue Star, its creatures outnumbering those on land tenfold. Gazing out, it seemed even more overwhelming than the Insect Tide.

Wang Jie struck continuously, refining his use of Seal Power, aiming to maximize damage with minimal expenditure. That was something Shu Mu Night had mastered. Only after studying Star Methods had Wang Jie begun to grasp just how absurdly powerful Shu Mu Night was—wielding an Eight-Seal strength, yet capable of unleashing devastation a hundredfold beyond normal cultivators.

Ordinary warriors used a unit of Seal Power to deliver an equivalent force of destruction. Star Methods, however, demanded that each unit of power manifest a hundredfold devastation—an insurmountable feat for most. Even those who had surpassed the Ten-Seal realm, reaching Star-Breaking, struggled to achieve such efficiency.

That was the terror of Shu Mu Night.

In essence, an ordinary Eight-Seal cultivator could only unleash their level of strength, whereas Shu Mu Night could command forces a hundred times greater. An unimaginable gulf lay between them.

Wang Jie sought to narrow that gap.

From the base, Qi Xue Yin observed the battle through her Battle Power Detector, its readings constantly updating.

“He’s improving.”

Qi Five frowned. “Did he break through?”

She shook her head. “No. He’s clever. Shu Mu Night is at the Eight-Seal level, so Wang Jie insists on challenging him as an Eight-Seal fighter. If he advances a step further, the gap between them will only widen. As long as Wang Jie remains at this level, Shu Mu Night won’t have a reason to break through either.”

Qi Five sighed. “Hard to believe someone would willingly challenge Shu Mu Night. Even harder to believe that Shu Mu Night actually accepted.”

“He qualifies.” Qi Xue Yin’s voice was tinged with regret. “It’s just a shame he cultivates Lock Force.”

No matter how brilliant Wang Jie seemed, Lock Force had already capped his future. He was a man with no destiny ahead.

Wang Jie plunged straight into the sea of beasts. At that moment, none were more terrified than the insect carrying him—it could be swallowed whole at any moment.

As he neared the coastline, the massive octopus finally took notice of him. Towering waves surged toward him like walls of death. Wang Jie extended a finger, sending forth a spiraling Qi Force that pierced through the waves. Riding his insect, he propelled forward, leaping into the air, his body twisting mid-flight before he struck with a devastating punch.

The force rippled through the sky, driving the ocean into a concave depression as it hammered the octopus, sending it crashing into the seafloor.

Landing atop the ocean’s surface, Wang Jie found himself surrounded by endless marine monstrosities. His flying insect had already fled.

Grabbing hold of a massive crab’s claw, he swung it like a battle axe. With Seal Power surging through his limbs, visible shockwaves tore through the surrounding creatures. Any below the Nine-Seal level perished instantly, while even those at the Nine-Seal realm could barely endure two blows.

Back at the Southern Nation Base, live footage of the battle played before a stunned audience.

Their understanding of power was shattered.

Since the Apocalypse, humanity had been reduced to struggling survivors, relying on sheer numbers to fend off mutated creatures. The so-called Three Gods and Five Extremes were revered as their guiding lights, yet in truth, none could stand atop the food chain. The strongest beings were always those lurking outside the bases.

Most battles against equally-ranked mutated creatures required coordination, strategies, and often overwhelming numbers to secure victory.

But now, Wang Jie fought alone, diving headfirst into a Beast Tide, treating the ocean’s horrors like mere pests. And he was only an Eight-Seal cultivator! How was this possible?

Yet, Qi Xue Yin and her companions remained unfazed.

For someone who had stood against Shu Mu Night, this level of strength was to be expected.

If anything, he was still holding back. Had he unleashed his full power, a single strike would have erased every mutated creature along the coastline.

This man wielded the strength to obliterate landscapes.

Through his battle, the people of Blue Star glimpsed a new horizon. The universe was vast, and humanity—if strong enough—could stand among the stars.

The Three Gods and Five Extremes were legends forged by humanity to inspire themselves.

But Wang Jie… he was truly godlike.

Beneath the waves, countless tentacles surged toward him.

The octopus refused to surface.

Without hesitation, Wang Jie plunged into the depths of the sea.

At the Southern Nation Base, Lian Qin’s expression shifted. “This is bad! The seafloor is nothing like land. The deeper he goes, the greater the pressure. And after the Apocalypse, the emergence of Seal Power has only intensified that force. He’s being reckless!”

Qing Zheng’s voice was urgent. “How strong is the pressure?”

Lian Qin’s face darkened. “Before the Apocalypse, even professional divers could only manage depths of a hundred meters without equipment. Now? The limit for an Eight-Seal cultivator was measured a few days ago—four hundred meters.”

“If Wang Jie keeps chasing that octopus, he’s going beyond four hundred meters.”

Everyone turned their gaze toward the ocean, concern etched upon their faces.

Had their leader ever ventured beneath the sea before?

Wang Jie had never ventured into the sea before. Born an orphan near Golden Hill, he had learned to swim, but visiting the ocean had always been a luxury beyond his means. After the Apocalypse, such thoughts became even more distant.

Now, sinking into the depths of the ocean, his enhanced vision as a cultivator allowed him to see clearly, but he quickly realized a different challenge—the overwhelming pressure. The deeper he sank, the more it pressed against him.

The mutated octopus had dived to an unknown depth. Just as he considered resurfacing, he felt something tighten around his ankle. Looking down, he found himself entangled in a vast expanse of marine algae stretching endlessly along the coastline—Ten-Seal Seaweed.

Another Ten-Seal creature.

Drawing upon his crab-claw technique, Wang Jie severed the seaweed, but more tendrils surged toward him, dragging him deeper. He had been careless. Here, in the ocean’s depths, his strength was difficult to exert. The crushing pressure only intensified as he descended, and worst of all—he could not breathe.

His body crashed against the seabed, a solid impact that momentarily halted his descent. One palm pressed against the ground, anchoring himself, while the other gripped the seaweed. With a surge of raw power, he tore the entangling mass from the seabed, shredding it apart.

Yet from all directions, more seaweed tendrils emerged, accompanied by various eerie mutated sea creatures.

And then, the octopus’s tentacles approached.

With a snap of his fingers, Wang Jie activated his Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger.

Above the ocean, a colossal celestial finger descended, witnessed even from the Southern Nation Base. Below the sea, an equally massive phantom finger ascended.

The two forces crushed everything in their path. Mutated sea creatures were obliterated, the seabed cracked and trembled, and the aftermath sent a massive tsunami rolling toward the shore.

Using the seabed as a foothold, Wang Jie propelled himself upward. Within moments, he burst through the water’s surface, twisting midair before landing gracefully on the shoreline.

At the Southern Nation Base, countless individuals monitoring the battle through drones finally released a breath of relief.

Panting, Wang Jie turned to gaze at the ocean, his expression lingering with unease.

Lately, he had focused too much on Shu Mu Night and had grown overconfident, dismissing the Trial Participants as no match for him. Yet, he had overlooked something far more formidable—nature itself.

The ocean was no easy battleground.

Yet…

Staring into the endless waters, he couldn’t ignore the pressure he had just experienced. Such overwhelming force was rare on land. The sense of crisis was exhilarating.

He held a firm belief—greater hardships bring greater rewards.

If the land could no longer push him to his limits, perhaps the ocean could.

In the distance, a swarm of flying insects appeared. Wang Jie boarded his mount, departing swiftly.

Though he had failed to slay the octopus, the creature no longer dared to surface. For now, the Southern Nation Base was safe.

The people of the Southern Nation Base, including Lian Qin, expressed their immense gratitude and wished to hold a banquet in Wang Jie’s honor. He politely declined, instead inquiring about the ocean.

“Do you have something in mind, little brother?” Lian Qin dismissed the others, inviting Wang Jie to speak privately on a balcony.

A gentle breeze carried the scent of flowers. Whether intentional or not, Lian Qin’s arm brushed against his. Her skin was soft and smooth, accentuated by the deep crimson of her wine glass. Her qipao clung to her figure, leaving little to the imagination.

Wang Jie felt his pulse quicken.

His gaze involuntarily lingered on her enchanting features, prompting him to take a sip of wine to steady himself.

Lian Qin smiled knowingly and leaned in, her scent intensifying yet remaining pleasant. “What’s wrong, little brother? Feeling hot?” She reached out as if to wipe his sweat.

Wang Jie instinctively took a step back. “I just want to learn more about the ocean.”

Lian Qin chuckled lightly. “What’s there to know? The mutated sea creatures are abundant, but most can’t come ashore. As long as we stay out of the water, we’re safe. Of course, that means no more seafood in the future, hehe.”

Wang Jie truly felt warm now. Why was Lian Qin draping herself over the balcony while talking?

At that moment, Wen Zhao arrived, casting a brief glance at Lian Qin before turning to Wang Jie. “Qi Xue Yin is looking for you.”

Without hesitation, Wang Jie escaped.

Lian Qin, watching him leave, chuckled to herself, her gaze contemplative. Handling someone like him was far too easy.

Qi Xue Yin had not actually summoned Wang Jie.

He knew it was merely Wen Zhao’s way of pulling him away.

“Thanks,” he said.

Wen Zhao replied indifferently, “Whatever you plan to do with her, save it for after this month. For now, focus on Shu Mu Night. Don’t lose yourself.”

“I won’t,” Wang Jie assured her. “I only asked about the ocean because I intend to train beneath the sea.”

Wen Zhao’s expression shifted. “You want to train underwater?”

Wang Jie nodded.

Wen Zhao pondered for a moment, gazing toward the vast ocean. “It’s not a bad idea. Be careful.”

As dawn’s golden light touched the ocean’s surface, illuminating the waves in radiant hues, Wang Jie stepped into the water.

With a breathing apparatus secured to his back, he gradually descended into the abyss. Cultivation was a battle against heaven and earth, a defiance of natural limits.

There was no such thing as absolute safety in cultivation.

Risk and opportunity always walked hand in hand.

Deeper and deeper he sank, once again encountering the Ten-Seal Seaweed. Unlike before, the seaweed did not attack him.

But Wang Jie was not about to spare it.

This time, he had come prepared—with a blade.

Without hesitation, he slashed.

The surrounding waters churned violently as the severed seaweed lashed out, writhing like a living entity. More marine creatures surged forward in response.

Yet Wang Jie cut them all down.

Before long, the ocean turned scarlet with blood.

He had lost track of how many he had slain before the surroundings finally fell silent.

Confirming that the area was momentarily safe, Wang Jie resumed his descent.

That mutated octopus—where had it hidden?

He soon reached a depth of four hundred meters. The pressure was immense. His Seal Power battled against the crushing force of the ocean, but it was still not enough.

This was merely the limit for ordinary Eight-Seal cultivators.

He descended further.

Five hundred meters.

Eight hundred meters.

One thousand meters…

This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation

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