Chapter 047

Chapter 47: The Depths of the Sea

Wang Jie gazed into the distance. The mutated octopus had no intention of approaching the base; it was attacking from the sea’s surface, hurling rocks with great force.

A ten-seal level of combat power could cause significant destruction to the environment. The creature had just reached this level and wasn’t yet familiar with its power. In two days’ time, its methods of attack would surely evolve.

“I’ll take care of it,” Wang Jie said, eager to move. Ever since the cataclysm materials stopped increasing his power, he’d been looking for ways to deal with Shu Mu Night and break through his own limits. It had been several days since he last fought.

Leaping off the city wall, a flying insect carried him far into the sky.

Soon, they arrived above a vast stretch of ocean life, with huge bursts of ink raining down like bombs, and water jets shooting up like arrows. Wang Jie tapped his fingers lightly on the insect’s back, sending spiral qi force through the air to shatter the attacks, then pressed down to crush a whole group of creatures beneath him.

But there were more ocean creatures further out.

Blue Star was mostly ocean, and the number of marine creatures far exceeded the land creatures. It was even more overwhelming than the insect tide.

Wang Jie continued to strike, maximizing his attack power with the least amount of seal force. This was something Shu Mu Night could do, and Wang Jie had studied star methods to understand just how outrageous Shu Mu Night’s power was when using them.

It was like a normal cultivator using a little seal force to create a bit of destruction, while star methods required the use of a tiny amount of seal force to generate a hundred times the destruction. This was far beyond what an ordinary cultivator could manage. Even those in the star-breaking realm above ten seals could not do it.

That was the difference with Shu Mu Night.

In essence, while both were at the eighth-seal level, Shu Mu Night could unleash destruction and starforce a hundred times more than any ordinary eighth-seal cultivator. The difference was staggering.

What Wang Jie could do now was to try and close that gap.

As Wang Jie moved further away, Qi Xue Yin’s combat power detector continually fed back numbers.

“He’s improving,” Qi Xue Yin observed.

“Has his realm increased?” Qi Five asked in confusion.

“No,” Qi Xue Yin shook her head. “He’s clever. Shu Mu Night is at the eighth-seal level, and so must he be. If he rises in rank, the gap will only widen. As long as he doesn’t break through, Shu Mu Night won’t either.”

Qi Five marveled, “I never thought someone would challenge Shu Mu Night, and Shu Mu Night actually accepted.”

“He has that qualification,” Qi Xue Yin replied. “But it’s a pity he cultivates lock force.”

Lock force had already sealed Wang Jie’s upper limit. No matter how powerful he appeared, he had no future.

Wang Jie was now deep in the ocean among endless creatures, perhaps the most fearful of all was the flying insect, which could be devoured at any moment.

He moved closer to the shoreline, and soon the mutated octopus noticed him. A huge wave surged toward him. Wang Jie extended a finger, his spiral qi force cutting through the wave, riding the insect to leap into the air, twisting his body mid-flight, and throwing a punch.

The punch sent shockwaves through the air, creating a depression in the sea as it struck the mutated octopus, driving it to the seabed.

Wang Jie landed on the surface of the water, surrounded by numerous sea creatures intent on attacking. The flying insect had already fled.

Wang Jie casually grabbed a crab claw, swinging it with seal force. The visible strength tore apart everything around him. Time and again, creatures under nine seals were instantly killed, and even those at the nine-seal level couldn’t survive more than two blows.

At the South Base, the scene was broadcast back.

Countless people stared in shock.

This sight had exceeded their understanding. After the apocalypse, humans were just struggling to survive, using sheer numbers to fight against mutated creatures. Even with the existence of the three gods and five extremes, the strongest beings were never humans; they were the mighty creatures outside the bases. There were very few mutated creatures at the same level that humans could deal with, and some even required hunting in groups.

But now, Wang Jie, alone, had stormed into the beast tide and treated the endless creatures like nothing. It was like cutting through vegetables, and he was only at the eighth-seal level—how had he done it?

Qi Xue Yin and the others, however, were calm.

Anyone who could fight against Shu Mu Night with such power was perfectly capable of it.

Wang Jie was holding back; otherwise, the destructive force from a single blow could have wiped out all the mutated creatures on the coastline.

This man had the power to destroy entire regions.

Wang Jie’s battle had opened the eyes of the Blue Star people to the cosmos. They now understood that humans could be this strong.

If the three gods and five extremes were the spiritual symbols humans had set for themselves after the apocalypse, then Wang Jie was truly like a god.

Underwater, the tentacles of the mutated octopus curled toward Wang Jie.

But the mutated octopus didn’t surface.

Wang Jie’s body suddenly sank deeper into the sea.

At South Base, Lian Qin’s face changed drastically. “This is bad. The deeper you go underwater, the greater the pressure, and after the apocalypse, the appearance of seal force only increases this pressure. He’s being reckless.”

Qing Zheng grew anxious. “How deep can he go?”

Lian Qin’s face turned grim. “In peaceful times, professional divers could only reach a depth of about a hundred meters. Under current conditions, no more than fifty meters. And even our eight-seal cultivator tested the ocean depth a few days ago—his limit was four hundred meters.”

“If Wang Jie is chasing that mutated octopus, he’s definitely going deeper than four hundred meters.”

Qing Zheng and the others looked toward the ocean with worry. Their boss, it seemed, had never ventured into the sea before.

Wang Jie, indeed, had never gone into the sea. He grew up near Golden Hill as an orphan, could swim, but never had the money to go to the beach. After the apocalypse, there was no possibility of that.

Now, as he descended into the ocean, his vision remained clear as a cultivator, but soon, he began to realize the pressure problem.

The deeper he went, the greater the pressure.

The mutated octopus had no idea how deep it had gone. Just as Wang Jie was about to ascend, his foot was suddenly caught by mutated seaweed. Stretching endlessly from the coastline, these mutated seaweeds hadn’t been noticed on the surface. These were ten-seal level creatures.

Another ten-seal creature.

Wang Jie slashed at the mutated seaweed with the crab claw, but more and more seaweed appeared, their immense power dragging him deeper into the sea. He had been careless. It was difficult to unleash full strength at the ocean’s depths. The pressure grew stronger as he descended, and he was unable to breathe.

He slammed into the ocean floor, one hand pressing down to use his strength. With the other, he grabbed the mutated seaweed and wrenched it out, tearing apart a large area.

From all directions, more mutated seaweed appeared, along with strange marine creatures.

And the tentacles of the mutated octopus were closing in.

Wang Jie snapped his fingers.

Heaven and Earth Luo Xuan Finger.

Above the ocean, a giant finger fell, visible to countless people at South Base.

Underwater, the massive finger rose.

One came down, one went up.

They crushed the surrounding marine creatures. The land cracked, sinking, and a giant tsunami surged forth.

Wang Jie stepped onto the land and dashed up, quickly breaking through the surface of the water. He soared into the air, twisting his body, and landed on the shore.

At South Base, everyone watching through the drone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Jie gasped for air and looked at the ocean.

His gaze carried a sense of lingering fear.

He had been focused on Shu Mu Night for some time, thinking the trial takers were no match for him, which had made him a bit arrogant. He had underestimated the natural environment.

The ocean was not a place to be trifled with.

But…

Wang Jie stared at the ocean ahead, the pressure he had just felt was something seldom experienced elsewhere. There was also that sense of danger.

He firmly believed in one principle: the more hardships you endure, the greater the rewards in the future.

Since the land couldn’t give him the pressure and danger he needed, the ocean would be a good place to turn.

In the distance, a swarm of black dots appeared—it was the flying insects.

Wang Jie mounted one and began to return.

Although he hadn’t been able to kill the mutated octopus, it didn’t dare to show itself on the surface anymore. The crisis for South Base had temporarily been resolved.

Lian Qin and the others at South Base were grateful to Wang Jie and wanted to host a welcome dinner for him, but Wang Jie refused.

He had specifically asked about the ocean.

“Little younger brother, do you have something on your mind?” Lian Qin dismissed the others and spoke with Wang Jie on the balcony.

A gentle breeze passed, bringing with it a fragrance.

Wang Jie clearly felt the smoothness when Lian Qin’s arm brushed against his. In the light of the wine, her skin looked exceptionally fair, and her qipao clung to her body, her figure stunning.

He couldn’t help but feel a stir in his heart.

Looking at Lian Qin’s tempting face, he couldn’t resist taking a sip of the wine.

Lian Qin smiled softly, leaning in closer. The fragrance grew stronger, but it was still pleasant. “Little younger brother, what’s the matter? Are you hot?” She raised her hand, as if to wipe the sweat from Wang Jie’s brow.

Wang Jie took a step back. “I just wanted to know more about the ocean.”

Lian Qin smiled faintly. “What’s there to know about the ocean? There are many sea creatures, but most of them can’t come ashore. As long as we stay out of the water, we’re fine. Of course, no seafood for us anymore, haha.”

Wang Jie was genuinely hot, and didn’t understand why Lian Qin kept talking while leaning on the balcony.

At that moment, Wen Zhao arrived, glancing at Lian Qin before addressing Wang Jie. “Qi Xue Yin is looking for you.”

Wang Jie quickly left.

Lian Qin smiled, watching Wang Jie leave with a twinkle in her eye. Dealing with such a boy was far too easy.

Qi Xue Yin hadn’t actually been looking for Wang Jie.

Wang Jie knew that Wen Zhao had deliberately led him away.

“Thank you.”

Wen Zhao nodded. “No matter what you think of her, let’s focus on Shu Mu Night for now. Don’t give up on yourself.”

Wang Jie replied, “It’s nothing. I was just asking about the ocean. I want to go down and train.”

Wen Zhao raised an eyebrow. “Train in the ocean?”

Wang Jie nodded.

Wen Zhao thought for a moment, glancing at the ocean. “It’s an idea. Just be careful.”

In the east, a beam of sunlight fell onto the ocean’s surface, creating a breathtaking scene.

Wang Jie stepped into the water, his breathing apparatus secured, and his body slowly sank. Cultivation was a process of fighting against nature, struggling with the heavens.

There was no absolutely safe method of cultivation.

Danger and opportunity coexisted.

Wang Jie continued to dive, once again encountering mutated seaweed. This time, the seaweed didn’t attack him. But he wasn’t about to let it off so easily.

Prepared, Wang Jie pulled out a knife and began to slash.

The surrounding waters churned, as mutated seaweed rolled toward him. Wang Jie’s strikes cleaved through the seaweed, scattering it everywhere. Countless marine creatures attacked, but all were slain by his blade. The sea turned crimson.

He didn’t know how long he fought, but eventually, the area quieted.

Once certain there were no dangers left, Wang Jie resumed his descent.

He still didn’t know where the mutated octopus had gone.

Soon, he reached a depth of four hundred meters. The pressure was immense, and both seal force and the underwater pressure kept assaulting him. But for Wang Jie, it was far from enough. This was merely the limit for ordinary eight-seal cultivators.

He dove deeper.

Five hundred meters.

Eight hundred meters.

One thousand meters.