Meteor Sea Search for Seal Encounters Encirclement, Sea Monster's Surprise Attack Reveals Conspiracy

After leaving the Burial Ground of Martial Arts, Chen Fan and his group, guided by the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant, headed towards the next ancient Martial Immortal ruin—the Meteor Sea. Legend had it that the Meteor Sea was once the battlefield where the ancient Martial Immortal "Cang Ming" fought against demons from beyond the heavens. After the Cang Ming Martial Immortal sacrificed himself, he condensed his martial path insights into the "Cang Ming Seal," which was hidden on "Immortal Sinking Island" deep within the Meteor Sea.

The Meteor Sea was vast, its waters a deep black, constantly battered by "Gale Winds" strong enough to tear ships apart. The seabed was littered with sharp reefs and ancient residual restrictions, making it impossible for ordinary vessels to approach. The "Qi and Blood Ship" Chen Fan's group was traveling on was a special vessel crafted with Earth Immortal Blood Essence as a guide and infused with ancient runes. It could not only withstand the Gale Winds but also use its Bloodline Power to conceal their tracks, avoiding detection by the Spiritual Roots forces.

"According to the jade pendant's senses, Immortal Sinking Island is about a hundred miles ahead," Su Muxue said softly, holding the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant and looking at the blue light flickering on it. "But the Gale Winds in the Meteor Sea are getting stronger; I'm afraid we'll encounter danger soon."

As soon as she finished speaking, dozens of black warships suddenly appeared on the distant horizon. The flags of the "Immortal Sacred Land," "Xuantian Sect," and "Myriad Poison Valley" fluttered on the warships—it was a joint ambush by the three major forces of the Spiritual Roots system, who had set a trap in the Meteor Sea!

"Chen Fan, I didn't expect you to actually dare to come to the Meteor Sea!" a cold voice boomed from the leading warship. It was Lei Qianjue, the new enforcement elder of the Immortal Sacred Land, an immortal cultivator in the Late Soul Transformation stage, holding a high-grade spiritual treasure, the "Thunderclap Bow."

"A joint encirclement by the three major forces? You think highly of us," Chen Fan said, standing at the bow of the Qi and Blood Ship. The Earth Immortal Bloodline Power around him slowly circulated, forming a protective shield of earthy yellow Qi and Blood around the ship. "Do you think these warships can stop me?"

"Stop you?" Lei Qianjue sneered. "Not only will we stop you, but we will also bury all of you in the Meteor Sea! The Spiritual Roots system is the orthodox path of the cultivation world. You heretics of the Martial Path are not worthy of inheriting ancient legacies!"

With that, Lei Qianjue raised the Thunderclap Bow. After injecting spiritual energy, countless lightning patterns appeared on the bow, and an arrow imbued with terrifying lightning power condensed, shooting towards Chen Fan's Qi and Blood Ship. The cultivators on the other warships also unleashed their spells; fireballs, ice arrows, and poisonous mist rained down like a storm, instantly engulfing the Qi and Blood Ship.

"Everyone, defend with the Blood Qi Formation Diagram!" Chen Fan shouted, injecting Earth Immortal Bloodline Power into the ship's rune array. The protective shield around the ship instantly expanded, and the earthy yellow Qi and Blood collided with the magical attacks, emitting earth-shattering roars. Although the shield temporarily blocked the attacks, the spells from the three major forces were too dense, and cracks began to appear in the shield.

"This won't work. We must take the initiative!" Li Mo said, holding his long sword, his eyes filled with fighting spirit. "Mr. Chen, I volunteer to lead the disciples in a charge to tie down their attacks!"

Chen Fan shook his head. "No, there are too many warships from the three major forces. A rash charge will only lead to unnecessary casualties. Miss Su, can you use the Ice Heart Talisman to freeze their warships and buy us some time?"

Su Muxue nodded, took out dozens of Ice Heart Talismans from her storage bag, infused them with Bloodline Power, and threw the talismans into the air. The talismans exploded in the air, and countless streams of blue cold energy flew towards the black warships, instantly freezing their oars and sails. Many cultivators were injured by the cold energy, and the warships' offensive rhythm immediately slowed down.

"Now!" A sharp glint flashed in Chen Fan's eyes. The Earth Immortal Bloodline Power around him surged wildly, and the earthy yellow Qi and Blood condensed in his hand into a massive "Earth Vein Spear." "Xing Tian's Battle Codex—Cloud Piercing!"

The spear, carrying the power to pierce through everything, shot towards Lei Qianjue's warship. Lei Qianjue's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly channeled spiritual energy to form a shield while raising the Thunderclap Bow and shooting another lightning arrow. The spear and the arrow collided with a loud bang, the arrow was instantly shattered, and the spear, with its momentum undiminished, pierced the shield and struck the warship heavily.

"Crack!"

A huge crack instantly appeared on the warship's deck, and seawater poured into the cabin. The cultivators on the warship panicked and fled towards the other ships. Lei Qianjue was forced back by the shockwave of the spear, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with disbelief. "The Bloodline Power of the Earth Immortal realm is actually this powerful!"

Just as Chen Fan was preparing to press his advantage and destroy the other warships, a violent tremor suddenly came from the seabed, and a massive dark shadow rose from the depths—it was an ancient sea monster, the "Ink Scale Whale," dozens of feet long! The Ink Scale Whale's skin was as hard as iron, it could spew "ink" containing potent poison from its mouth, and it could control the Gale Winds of the Meteor Sea. Its strength was comparable to a cultivator in the Late Soul Transformation stage.

"It's an ancient sea monster! How did it suddenly appear?" Su Muxue's face changed drastically. She had seen records of the Ink Scale Whale in ancient texts. The Ink Scale Whale slept deep in the Meteor Sea year-round and would never awaken unless stimulated by strong energy fluctuations.

"It's them!" Chen Fan pointed at Lei Qianjue's warship, his eyes filled with killing intent. "They knew about the Ink Scale Whale's existence all along. They deliberately used spells to attack and trigger energy fluctuations, waking the sea monster, intending to use it to help them encircle and annihilate us!"

Lei Qianjue's face showed a smug smile. "Exactly! Even if you can withstand our attacks, you can't withstand the wrath of the Ink Scale Whale! Today, you are destined to be buried in the Meteor Sea!"

After awakening, the Ink Scale Whale let out a deafening roar and spewed a large amount of black ink from its mouth. The ink transformed into countless poisonous arrows in the air, shooting towards Chen Fan's Qi and Blood Ship. At the same time, it swung its massive tail, creating a huge wave that crashed towards the Qi and Blood Ship.

"Earth Vein Shield!" Chen Fan shouted, condensing Earth Immortal Bloodline Power into a thick, earthy yellow shield, blocking the poison arrows and the wave. However, the Ink Scale Whale's power was too immense; the shield was instantly covered in cracks, and the Qi and Blood Ship was violently tossed by the wave.

"If this continues, we'll be trapped and killed by the sea monster and the Spiritual Roots forces!" Lin Xiaohu gripped the ship's railing tightly, his eyes filled with anxiety. "Brother Fan, what should we do?"

Chen Fan took a deep breath. A passage from Xing Tian's Battle Codex suddenly flashed in his mind: "In the Earth Immortal realm, one can borrow the Earth Vein Power to communicate with all things. If one can resonate with the origin of heaven and earth, they can control the power of nature." He looked at the waters of the Meteor Sea, a bold idea forming in his mind—to use Earth Immortal Bloodline Power to communicate with the Earth Veins of the Meteor Sea and borrow the power of the sea veins to fight the Ink Scale Whale!

"Miss Su, help me hold off the Ink Scale Whale for a moment!" Chen Fan called out, simultaneously sitting cross-legged in the center of the ship, forming hand seals, and injecting Earth Immortal Bloodline Power into the seabed. The earthy yellow Qi and Blood spread through the seawater, resonating with the Earth Vein Power of the Meteor Sea. The Earth Vein runes on the seabed gradually lit up, and a majestic Earth Vein Power surged into Chen Fan's body along with the Qi and Blood.

Su Muxue nodded, merging the power of the Ice Heart Talisman and the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant. A massive blue ice wall descended from the sky, blocking the Ink Scale Whale's attack. At the same time, Li Mo and the other disciples unleashed their Qi and Blood attacks, tying down the Spiritual Roots forces' spells.

Chen Fan's body gradually emitted a faint blue glow as the Earth Vein Power was infused. He could feel the Earth Immortal Bloodline Power within him merging with the Earth Vein Power, and a power far exceeding his previous strength was condensing—this was the "Earth Vein Profound Connection" technique, which could only be mastered in the late Earth Immortal realm, allowing one to borrow the power of heaven and earth to enhance their combat strength!

"Ink Scale Whale, this Meteor Sea is not a place for you to run wild!" Chen Fan slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. The blue Earth Vein Power and the earthy yellow Earth Immortal Bloodline Power intertwined around him, forming a massive "Cang Ming Phantom." The phantom held a blue spear, the weapon of the ancient Cang Ming Martial Immortal—the "Cang Ming Spear."

"Cang Ming Battle Codex—Sea's Wrath!"

Chen Fan roared. The Cang Ming Phantom, holding the Cang Ming Spear, thrust towards the Ink Scale Whale. The moment the spear was thrust, the waters of the Meteor Sea churned violently, and countless water pillars shot up into the sky, forming a giant "Water Dragon" that charged towards the Ink Scale Whale along with the spear.

The Ink Scale Whale's eyes were filled with fear. It tried to turn and flee but was entangled by the Water Dragon. The Cang Ming Spear pierced the Ink Scale Whale's body, and the blue Earth Vein Power erupted within it, completely destroying its demon core. The Ink Scale Whale let out a shrill roar, its massive body slowly sinking to the seabed, never to move again.

After dealing with the Ink Scale Whale, Chen Fan turned his gaze to Lei Qianjue and the other cultivators from the Spiritual Roots forces. The warships of the three major forces had already been destroyed by the waves stirred up by the Earth Vein Power, and the cultivators had fallen into the sea, struggling to escape.

"Trying to leave? Too late!" Chen Fan snorted coldly. The Earth Immortal Bloodline Power and Earth Vein Power around him merged, forming countless "Blood Qi Chains" that bound the cultivators who had fallen into the sea one by one. "You colluded with the sea monster to encircle us. Today, you will pay the price for your actions!"

Lei Qianjue was bound by the Blood Qi Chains, his eyes filled with despair. "Impossible! How could you control the Earth Vein Power? Martial artists in the Earth Immortal realm could never possess such immense power!"

"Nothing is impossible," Chen Fan's voice was icy. "The power of the Martial Path originates from oneself and returns to heaven and earth, far more powerful than your reliance on the Spiritual Roots system. Your failure today is merely the beginning of the Spiritual Roots system's collapse."

With that, Chen Fan waved his hand. The Blood Qi Chains tightened violently, instantly crushing Lei Qianjue and the other cultivators from the Spiritual Roots forces, their corpses sinking into the Meteor Sea.

After resolving the encirclement, Chen Fan and his group boarded the Qi and Blood Ship and continued their journey towards Immortal Sinking Island. Su Muxue walked to Chen Fan's side, her eyes filled with worry. "Chen Fan, the Ink Scale Whale's awakening just now was too strange. I suspect it wasn't just a simple stimulation from energy fluctuations. I suspect an avatar of the Will of the Heavenly Dao was manipulating things from the shadows, wanting to use the Spiritual Roots forces and the sea monster to stop us from obtaining the Cang Ming Seal."

Chen Fan nodded, having the same guess. "The more the avatar of the Will of the Heavenly Dao tries to stop us, the more it proves that the ancient Martial Immortal's legacy is crucial for us to fight against it. No matter what its scheme is, we must obtain the Cang Ming Seal. Only by gathering the Nine Seals of Martial Arts will we have a chance to break its rule."

The Qi and Blood Ship passed through the final Gale Wind zone, and Immortal Sinking Island finally appeared before them. The island was entirely blue, covered with blue runes. In the center of the runes, a blue jade seal radiating majestic Earth Vein Power floated in the air—it was the Cang Ming Seal they had been searching for!

"We finally found the Cang Ming Seal!" Lin Xiaohu shouted excitedly, his eyes filled with exhilaration.

Chen Fan stepped onto Immortal Sinking Island and looked at the floating Cang Ming Seal, his eyes filled with determination. He knew that obtaining the Cang Ming Seal was only the second step in gathering the Nine Seals of Martial Arts, and more challenges awaited them in the future. But he would not back down, because behind him were companions fighting alongside him, the beings who supported the Martial Path, and the firm belief in breaking the Spiritual Root Destiny and returning all laws to their true nature.

Just as Chen Fan reached out to take the Cang Ming Seal, Immortal Sinking Island suddenly shook violently. The blue runes on the island instantly turned black, and a terrifying aura emanated from beneath the island—the avatar of the Will of the Heavenly Dao was finally about to reveal itself!