Bride

The hull around the boarding hall hatch had long since been battered full of cracks by the Bear-like creature, and it was on the verge of collapse.

This time, the Bear-like creature needed only one charge to smash open the hatch and the surrounding hull completely, leaving a gaping hole over two meters high. Fortunately, it was tightly blocked by cabinets, tables, and chairs, buying them a little more time.

Seizing the chance, Li Weiyi hurled every explosive Cai Yutong had made over at it in one go.

How could he still care about the consequences now?

"Boom!"

"Rumble!"

The explosives erupted with tremendous force, temporarily driving back the Bear-like creature.

The cabinets and tables blocking the hatch caught fire in the blast.

The boarding hall windows burst one after another. Cold Wind and snowflakes surged in like mad, further feeding the flames.

The shockwave from the explosions sent the Security Team Members, Cai Yutong, and the Short Student, who had retreated into the restaurant behind the boarding hall, flying. Some were knocked unconscious on the spot.

Li Weiyi, who was retreating as well, was blasted away. His body slammed into the wall, the pain piercing to the bone, as though his entire body had come apart.

Waves of fire washed over him, scorching and searing.

Before Li Weiyi could even get to his feet, he saw the Bear-like creature's enormous body smash through every obstruction and burst from the sea of flames. It tore off one arm of the Security Team Member who had thrown the concentrated acid, blood spraying everywhere.

The Security Team Member screamed in agony and used the Stun Gun in his hand to attack the Bear-like creature's abdomen.

It was utterly useless.

Instead, it enraged the Bear-like creature even further. Opening its blood-filled maw, it bit off the Security Team Member's head in one bite. As if eating a human-shaped snack, it took a second bite, tearing off his entire chest cavity, chewing it to pieces, and swallowing it.

Then it let out an earth-shaking howl.

The howl made blood flow from Li Weiyi's ears, leaving his head heavy and dizzy.

At the same time, he saw that the Bear-like creature had tossed the half-bodied Security Team Member aside. Its eyes had turned blood-red, the long fur on its body burning, and like some demon, it fixed him with an enraged stare.

A mountain-like body, blood-red eyes, sharp teeth full of bloody scraps of flesh... anyone trapped in such despair would have their legs go weak and their courage freeze, collapsing to the ground in terror, unable to rise.

Human strength was far too insignificant before such a ferocious beast.

They met eyes for only an instant.

A shudder ran through his entire body. Gritting his teeth, Li Weiyi sprang up with agile force and rushed toward the stairs.

Ordinary people fleeing for their lives would retreat into the restaurant and use the Security Team, Cai Yutong, and the Short Student as shields. They did not need to outrun the Bear-like creature; they only needed to outrun them.

Li Weiyi naturally disdained such selfish, despicable behavior.

Besides, he had another plan.

He believed the Bear-like creature was not without weaknesses, nor was he without the power to strike back.

Its enormous size was precisely its weakness.

The passageways aboard the Research Vessel were narrow, leaving the Bear-like creature unable to move freely. The stairs and lower cabins were even narrower, with even less room. Perhaps there, he could find an opportunity to counterattack.

Hearing the sounds gradually fading away, the people in the restaurant finally felt the despair in their hearts ease somewhat.

The Short Student hid in a corner, trembling as he said in relief and worry, "Brother Li lured that Bear-like creature away!"

Cai Yutong crawled out from the wreckage, her ears still ringing and her long hair in disarray. Looking at the Security Team Members, she said, "You're all armed. What are you hiding here for? Why aren't you going to lend him a hand?"

The Security Team Members looked at one another, unsure what to say.

They were all elites, but they had never faced life and death before. When the shadow of death descended, how could any human being not be afraid?

That Bear-like creature could even smash apart an alloy hull. What use would it be for them to go up against it?

One charge was all it would take to turn them all into a bloody pulp of mangled flesh.

Xie Jin naturally refused to admit weakness. He said in a low voice, "We were planning to ambush it in the restaurant, but Li Weiyi unexpectedly lured it elsewhere and disrupted our plan."

"Bang! Bang! Bang..."

The Bear-like creature's strength exceeded Li Weiyi's expectations. Though the Research Vessel had many obstacles and narrow passageways, before it, they were no sturdier than paper.

It crashed straight through them, shattering even doors and walls into pieces.

With a sword in one hand and the stair railing in the other, Li Weiyi leaped down to the next level of cabins, as nimble as an ape.

The next instant.

"Boom!"

The Bear-like creature tore apart the entire stairwell and dropped into the lower cabin, its landing crushing the floor inward.

It growled low as it searched in all directions.

Hidden above a pile of machinery, Li Weiyi held his sword close and stilled his breath. He sharply noticed that blood was flowing from the Bear-like creature's body. Clearly, the repeated rifle shots earlier had left it seriously wounded.

That was undoubtedly good news!

Though the Yellow Dragon Sword was sharp, it was still a cold weapon and might not be able to pierce the Bear-like creature's hide and bones. But its enormous eyes could certainly be pierced.

The disparity in strength and speed was enormous. He had only one chance.

Just as Li Weiyi was about to strike, the Bear-like creature below abruptly raised its head. It had already discovered him and swung a claw at him first.

It was the scent.

A bear's sense of smell was two thousand times stronger than a human's.

This Bear-like creature's sense of smell was likely even sharper.

It had long since locked onto Li Weiyi's position through scent.

The Bear-like creature's paw was as large as a palm-leaf fan and carried the weight of a thousand jun. Forget being struck head-on—if it merely grazed him, Li Weiyi would lose a huge chunk of flesh.

Besides its massive body being unable to move freely and its eyes, Li Weiyi had identified the Bear-like creature's third major weakness: its intelligence had definitely not evolved to the level of a human's.

Otherwise, it would not have attacked only that one hatch in the boarding hall earlier. It would have sought another entrance.

Thus, in response to that third weakness, the place where Li Weiyi was crouching was precisely where the Research Vessel's pumping equipment was located.

Only by borrowing the power of machinery, by borrowing humanity's wisdom that surpassed all living creatures, could he possibly contend with the Bear-like creature.

The instant the Bear-like creature swung its claw, Li Weiyi drove off with both legs and leaped sideways.

"Bang!"

The massive bear paw smashed apart a pump pipe.

At once, high-pressure seawater burst out in a column and struck the Bear-like creature's head.

Li Weiyi landed on the ground and moved on all fours, skimming close to the floor. As the Bear-like creature staggered back, avoiding the water column, its vision and sense of smell not yet restored, he thrust his sword with flawless precision.

The sword was like a Yellow Dragon, swift as lightning.

"Squelch!"

The Bear-like creature's right eye was pierced, blood spurting out like an arrow.

A roar full of pain, rage, and frenzy echoed through the entire Research Vessel, making the bulkheads tremble.

Having landed his strike, Li Weiyi immediately fled.

But he was still far slower than the Bear-like creature.

In its rage, the Bear-like creature wildly flailed its claws. One of them swept past Li Weiyi's left arm.

With a tearing sound, the sleeve on Li Weiyi's left arm split open instantly. A deep wound, bone visible beneath, appeared on his upper arm, and blood gushed out wildly.

Li Weiyi's speeding body lost balance. That force sent him sprawling to the ground, sliding back toward the stairs. The left half of his body hurt so badly it was nearly numb.

Compared to the Bear-like creature's terrifying strength, humans were no more than wheat stalks, ready to snap with the slightest bend.

Li Weiyi crouched against the wall, gritting his teeth through the pain. He used strips of torn cloth from his left shoulder to crudely bind the wound on his left arm, preventing excessive blood loss.

He picked up the Yellow Dragon Sword from the ground again.

After clutching its eye and shrieking in misery for a while, the Bear-like creature charged at Li Weiyi in boundless fury, intending to tear him to pieces.

Li Weiyi knew he could not escape. There was no way he could outrun it. So he held the sword one-handed and forced himself upright, his eyes proud and sidelong, resolute and cold.

Be it a ferocious beast or a demon, it could not frighten away his courage to fight unto death.

He roared and swung with all his strength.

"Whoosh—"

The blood that had spilled from the wound on his left arm onto the floor began to steam, turning the dim cabin passage around them into a world of pale-red blood mist.

The floor, the bulkheads, the pipes... inch by inch, they decayed and grew moldy.

Behind him, within the vast, hazy blood mist, a slender figure in an ancient-style crimson bridal gown appeared out of thin air. She was tall and graceful, with a long jade-like neck and a jade belt at her waist.

The bridal gown was solemn and luxurious, woven with golden and silver threads into patterns of dragons and phoenixes in auspicious union. Lotus patterns adorned the cuffs and hem, while the skirt spread out like Phoenix Feather wings.

Yet a red silk veil covered her head, Copper Coins hanging from its four corners, making it impossible to see the bride's celestial beauty.

Her entire figure was blurred, half-real and half-illusory, carrying a bone-chilling strangeness beneath her beauty.

How had she appeared?

Why had their surroundings turned so gloomy, like a realm of ghosts?

This Bride Ghost Shadow seemed both condensed from Li Weiyi's blood and like a newlywed wife who had eternally followed behind him, unseen by anyone. As Li Weiyi swung his sword, her slender jade hand also gracefully rose and swept down.

"Squelch!"

Li Weiyi had already prepared himself to die beneath the Bear-like creature's claws, yet this sword strike sent it flying backward several meters.

Blood sprayed like a fountain through the air.

A terrifying Sword Mark over a meter long appeared across the Bear-like creature's neck and abdomen.

Li Weiyi seemed to have exhausted every bit of strength he had. He staggered back and barely managed to stay upright by leaning against the wall. In shock, he stared at the Bear-like creature crashing to the ground...

This was too unreal!

"How could the strength of my mortal body send it flying with a single sword strike? What just happened?" Li Weiyi panted heavily. Blood began pouring from his left arm again, and darkness blurred his vision.

The blood mist, the decay, the ghostly realm, and the newlywed bride in the red veil had long since vanished, as though they had never existed.

"Roar... Awooo..."

The Bear-like creature struggled to its feet. Its roar was no longer as high-pitched as before, but had become hoarse and trembling.

As it approached Li Weiyi again, its steps were much slower, filled with vigilance.

"Junior Brother!"

Li Weiyi was nearly unconscious from blood loss and bone-piercing pain when his Senior Brother's furious voice rang by his ear.

Immediately afterward came the thunderous boom of bullets leaving the barrel.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Zhao Meng was truly enraged. His eyes were bloodshot as he gripped the Shotgun in both hands and repeatedly pulled the trigger, blasting the Bear-like creature into repeated howls and forcing it back into the darkness.

"Go. Let's get back upstairs first."

As Zhao Meng reloaded and retreated, he grabbed Li Weiyi.

One in front and one behind, the two fled toward the fourth-level cabins where the upper Deck was located.

The Shotgun was immensely powerful, but the Bear-like creature was clearly no ordinary species. Its defense and vitality exceeded scientific understanding, and it still growled low behind them.

The two fled all the way to the boarding hall, where the Bear-like creature had earlier smashed a huge hole through the hatch.

The raging Cold Wind poured in, cutting across their faces like blades.

It was too cold!

Compared with when there had been sunlight before, it was like another world.

The blood on Li Weiyi's left shoulder wound and his soaked clothes were almost freezing into ice crystals in an instant.

Zhao Meng carried a bulging army-green shoulder bag across his chest, as though it contained something important. His bright Tiger Eyes were filled with the intent of farewell as he looked at Li Weiyi. "Senior Brother probably won't be able to look after you anymore. Take good care of yourself."

Without looking back, Zhao Meng rushed out of the boarding hall.

He ran across the Deck, climbed over the ship's rail, and jumped down from the Research Vessel.

Except when he bid Li Weiyi farewell, he had not hesitated in the slightest from beginning to end.

"Senior Brother..."

Li Weiyi chased onto the Deck.

Outside, the wind howled like fierce ghosts, nearly strong enough to blow a person away.

He did not know why Zhao Meng was doing this, but he knew that if he did not follow, this would likely be the last time he saw his Senior Brother.

Watching the figure receding across the ice field, Li Weiyi's heart sank. He too leaped from the ship's rail several meters high, dropping onto the hard ice.

Hearing the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground behind him, Zhao Meng, dozens of meters away, abruptly stopped, turned around, and ran back.

Zhao Meng snapped, "What are you following me for?"

"After Master died, I had no family besides you, Senior Brother! If we die, we die together. If we live, we live together," Li Weiyi said.

Tears welled in Zhao Meng's eyes. He could only throw back his head and let out a helpless, sorrowful sigh toward the sky.

"Roar!"

The Bear-like creature's roar came from the Deck of the Research Vessel above.

It leaped down from the Research Vessel and landed with a bang not far from Li Weiyi and Zhao Meng, advancing toward them step by step.

In the gloom, the Bear-like creature's teeth were snow-white and sharp. One eye was crimson, while blood flowed ceaselessly from the other. Blood gushing from the meter-long sword wound connecting its neck and abdomen stained the ice red.

It was not immortal. It was already severely injured, yet its single eye remained fixed on the shoulder bag on Zhao Meng's chest.

"Good! If we die, we martial brothers die together today. If we live, we live together."

Zhao Meng raised the Shotgun, his expression even fiercer than the Bear-like creature's.

Li Weiyi gripped the Yellow Dragon Sword tightly. His gaze was as sharp as its edge, like a drawn bow, poised to strike.

Suddenly.

The cry of an infant sounded from beneath the sea. Low though it was, it spread throughout the entire Arctic, making the glaciers and snowy ridges tremble faintly.

It sounded both like weeping and laughter.

More precisely, there was more than one infant's voice. They came from different directions, eerie enough to make one's scalp tingle.

The Bear-like creature opposite them immediately showed terror. Trembling, it stared behind Li Weiyi and Zhao Meng, then crouched down, no longer possessing its earlier Fierce Might.

Li Weiyi and Zhao Meng slowly turned their heads.

They saw.

An infant's head the size of a house hovering in midair, Black Hair spilling loose around it. When it laughed, the corners of its mouth split open all the way to its ears.

The dark red tongue in its mouth stretched several meters long.

The neck connected to the infant head extended like a pillar into the icy seawater.

Bang!

The next instant, a second infant head appeared. It smashed through the Research Vessel's deck and rose all the way above the highest, tenth-level cabin, as though it wanted to compete with the vault of heaven.

Splash!

A third infant head burst through the ice cover more than ten meters away, appearing behind Li Weiyi and Zhao Meng as it let out a low, mournful wail.

A fourth, a fifth...

All nine house-sized colossal heads of Nine-Infant emerged from the sea, hanging in the air in terrifying menace, their might horrifying. Their long necks, like scaled tentacles, coiled around the Research Vessel and squeezed it until it gradually warped and shattered.

Its massive body hidden beneath the seawater then flipped the increasingly broken Research Vessel onto its side.

Screams, shrieks of misery, wails, and the sounds of heavy objects rolling and crashing kept ringing out aboard the ship.

Before this, Li Weiyi had not known of Nine-Infant's existence. Seeing this scene, he felt as though he had fallen into the Ghost Wasteland World, where countless demons danced in chaos. The shock in his heart was unlike anything he had ever endured.

As Nine-Infant's nine pairs of bone-green pupils all fixed upon him, fear flooded Zhao Meng's heart. He gave a bitter laugh and muttered, "Wanting to carry Buddha's Sarira away and draw the calamity off... so it had been nothing but wishful thinking from beginning to end. I never should have clung to luck."

All of Nine-Infant's heads let out eerie, vicious laughter. Like nine pythons, they shot swiftly toward Zhao Meng.

Whoosh!

Whether it was Li Weiyi's blood that had stained the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish, or some other reason, this token of the Chan Sect's leader, worn around his neck, suddenly erupted with dazzling Azure Glow.

The Azure Glow resembled the magnificent, resplendent aurora of the Arctic, soaring straight into the nine heavens and instantly filling heaven and earth.

Nine-Infant, which had been attacking Zhao Meng, let out piercing, monstrous shrieks from all nine mouths at once. It was actually frightened back by the Azure Glow unleashed by the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish.

At the same time.

The bag Zhao Meng carried in front of his chest shook violently and caught fire.

Inside the bag, the Gold Coffin and Silver Coffin containing Buddha's Sarira exploded. A streak of red light shot out and slammed into the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish on Li Weiyi's neck.

Brothers, you're incredible! Old Yu took a look—the book ranked first on the sales chart and first on the trending searches on its very first day, with around eighty thousand bookmarks.