Seeking the Seal in Meteor Sea, an Encirclement Awaits; Sea Demon Ambush Reveals a Conspiracy

After leaving the Burial Ground of Martial Arts, Chen Fan and his group followed the guidance of the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant toward the next ancient Martial Immortal ruin—Meteor Sea. Legend had it that Meteor Sea was once the battlefield where the ancient Martial Immortal "Cang Ming" fought extraterrestrial fiends. After Martial Immortal Cang Ming sacrificed himself for the Dao, he condensed his insights into martial arts into the "Cang Ming Seal" and hid it within Immortal Sinking Island in the depths of Meteor Sea.

Meteor Sea was vast, its waters pitch-black. Gale Wind capable of tearing ships apart blew there year-round, while the seabed was littered with sharp reefs and ancient residual restrictions. Ordinary ships could not approach at all. The Qi and Blood Ship Chen Fan's group rode was a special vessel forged with Earth Immortal blood qi as its catalyst and fused with ancient runes. Not only could it withstand the Gale Wind, it could also conceal its traces with the power of blood qi and avoid discovery by Spiritual Root factions.

"According to the jade pendant's response, Immortal Sinking Island is a hundred li ahead." Holding the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant and watching the blue light flicker across its surface, Su Muxue spoke softly. "But the Gale Wind in Meteor Sea is growing stronger and stronger. We'll likely encounter danger very soon."

No sooner had she spoken than dozens of black warships suddenly appeared on the distant horizon. The banners of the Immortal Sacred Land, Xuantian Sect, and Myriad Poison Valley fluttered from them—the three major forces of the Spiritual Root system had actually joined hands and laid an encirclement trap in Meteor Sea!

"Chen Fan, I never thought you would really dare come to Meteor Sea!" A cold voice rang out from the lead warship. It belonged to Lei Qianjue, the Immortal Sacred Land's newly appointed Enforcement Elder—a Late Soul Transformation cultivator wielding a high-grade spirit treasure, the Thunderclap Bow.

"The three major factions joining forces to encircle us? You think highly of us indeed." Chen Fan stood at the prow of the Qi and Blood Ship as Earth Immortal blood qi slowly circulated around him. Ochre blood qi formed a protective barrier around the vessel. "You think these warships can stop me?"

"Stop you?" Lei Qianjue sneered. "We will not only stop you—we will bury every last one of you in Meteor Sea! The Spiritual Root system is the orthodox path of the cultivation world. Martial arts heretics like you are utterly unworthy of ancient inheritances!"

With that, Lei Qianjue raised the Thunderclap Bow. Once he infused it with spiritual energy, countless lightning patterns appeared across its body. An arrow containing terrifying lightning power condensed and shot toward Chen Fan's Qi and Blood Ship. The cultivators aboard the other warships also unleashed their spells. Fireballs, ice arrows, and poisonous mist descended like a torrential rain, instantly engulfing the ship.

"Everyone, defend with the Blood Qi Formation Diagram!" Chen Fan shouted, pouring his Earth Immortal blood qi into the ship's rune formation. The barrier around the vessel immediately swelled, and ochre blood qi collided with the incoming spells in an earth-shattering boom. Though the barrier temporarily blocked the attacks, the three factions' spells were too dense, and cracks began to spread across it.

"This can't go on. We have to take the initiative!" Li Mo gripped his sword, battle intent blazing in his eyes. "Mr. Chen, I am willing to lead the disciples in a charge and draw their attacks!"

Chen Fan shook his head. "No. There are too many warships from the three factions. Charging in recklessly will only cause needless casualties. Miss Su, can you use the Ice Heart Talismans to freeze their warships and buy us some time?"

Su Muxue nodded. She took dozens of Ice Heart Talismans from her storage pouch, infused them with blood qi, and threw them into the air. The talismans exploded midair, and countless streams of blue frost flew toward the black warships, instantly freezing their oars and sails. Many cultivators were frostbitten, and the warships' offensive rhythm immediately slowed.

"Now!" A sharp gleam flashed through Chen Fan's eyes. The Earth Immortal blood qi around him began circulating madly, condensing in his hand into a massive Earth Vein Spear. "Xing Tian's Battle Codex—Pierce the Clouds!"

The spear flew toward Lei Qianjue's warship with the power to pierce all things. Lei Qianjue's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly mobilized spiritual energy into a shield while raising the Thunderclap Bow and firing another lightning arrow. The spear and arrow collided with a thunderous blast. The arrow shattered instantly, while the spear continued unabated, piercing the shield and smashing heavily into the warship.

Crack!

A massive fissure instantly split open across the warship's deck. Seawater poured continuously into the hold, and the cultivators aboard fled in panic toward the other ships. The spear's residual force drove Lei Qianjue back again and again. He spat out a mouthful of blood, disbelief filling his eyes. "Earth Immortal blood qi... how can it be this powerful?!"

Just as Chen Fan was about to press his advantage and completely destroy the remaining warships, a violent tremor suddenly rose from the seabed. A colossal black shadow rose from beneath the water—it was an ancient sea demon, an Ink Scale Whale dozens of zhang long! Its hide was as hard as iron, it could spray poisonous "ink" from its mouth, and it could manipulate Meteor Sea's Gale Wind. Its strength rivaled that of a Late Soul Transformation cultivator.

"An ancient sea demon! Why did it suddenly appear?" Su Muxue's face changed dramatically. She had read records of the Ink Scale Whale in ancient books. It slept year-round in the depths of Meteor Sea and would never awaken unless stimulated by intense energy fluctuations.

"It was them!" Chen Fan pointed at Lei Qianjue's warship, murderous intent filling his eyes. "They knew of the Ink Scale Whale's existence long ago. They deliberately used spell attacks to trigger energy fluctuations and awaken the sea demon, hoping it would help them encircle us!"

A smug smile appeared on Lei Qianjue's face. "That's right! Even if you can block our attacks, you cannot block the Ink Scale Whale's wrath! Today, you are destined to be buried in Meteor Sea!"

Upon awakening, the Ink Scale Whale let out a deafening roar and sprayed out a vast amount of black ink. The ink transformed into countless poisonous arrows in the air and shot toward Chen Fan's Qi and Blood Ship. At the same time, it swept its enormous tail, raising a towering wave that crashed toward the vessel.

"Earth Vein Shield!" Chen Fan shouted, condensing his Earth Immortal blood qi into a thick ochre shield that blocked the poisonous arrows and the wave. But the Ink Scale Whale's power was too great. Cracks instantly covered the shield, while the Qi and Blood Ship was tossed violently by the waves.

"If this continues, the sea demon and the Spiritual Root factions will crush us between them sooner or later!" Lin Xiaohu clung tightly to the railing, his eyes full of anxiety. "Brother Fan, what do we do?"

Chen Fan drew a deep breath. A record from Xing Tian's Battle Codex suddenly flashed through his mind: "At the Earth Immortal realm, one may borrow Earth Vein Power to connect with all things. If one can resonate with the origin of heaven and earth, one may control the power of nature." Looking at the waters of Meteor Sea, a bold idea rose in his heart—he would use Earth Immortal blood qi to connect with Meteor Sea's earth veins and borrow Sea Vein Power to fight the Ink Scale Whale!

"Miss Su, hold off the Ink Scale Whale for a moment!" Chen Fan shouted. At the same time, he sat cross-legged in the center of the ship, formed seals with both hands, and poured his Earth Immortal blood qi into the seabed. Ochre blood qi spread through the seawater and resonated with Meteor Sea's Sea Vein Power. The earth vein runes on the seabed gradually lit up, and a vast surge of Sea Vein Power slowly flowed into Chen Fan's body along his blood qi.

Su Muxue nodded and fused the power of the Ice Heart Talismans with the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant. A massive blue wall of ice descended from the heavens, blocking the Ink Scale Whale's attacks. At the same time, Li Mo and the other disciples unleashed blood qi attacks of their own, holding back the Spiritual Root factions' spells.

As Sea Vein Power flowed into him, a faint blue radiance gradually emerged around Chen Fan's body. He could feel his Earth Immortal blood qi merging with Sea Vein Power, gathering a force far beyond anything he had possessed before—this was the Earth Vein Profound Connection technique, something only those at the late Earth Immortal realm could master. It could borrow the power of heaven and earth to strengthen one's combat strength!

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

"Cang Ming Battle Codex—Sea's Wrath!"

Chen Fan shouted, and the Cang Ming Phantom thrust the Cang Ming Spear toward the Ink Scale Whale. The instant the spear struck out, Meteor Sea churned violently. Countless columns of water soared into the sky, forming a huge Water Dragon that charged toward the Ink Scale Whale alongside the spear.

Terror filled the Ink Scale Whale's eyes. It tried to turn and flee, but the Water Dragon wrapped around it. The Cang Ming Spear pierced its body, and blue Sea Vein Power erupted within it, utterly destroying its demon core. The Ink Scale Whale released a shrill howl as its colossal body slowly sank into the seabed, never stirring again.

Having dealt with the Ink Scale Whale, Chen Fan turned his gaze toward Lei Qianjue and the cultivators of the Spiritual Root factions. The warships of the three factions had long since been destroyed by the waves raised by Sea Vein Power. The cultivators had fallen into the sea and struggled desperately to escape.

"You want to leave? Too late!" Chen Fan snorted coldly. Earth Immortal blood qi merged with Sea Vein Power around him, forming countless Blood Qi Chains that wrapped around the cultivators in the sea one by one. "You joined forces with a sea demon to encircle us. Today, you will pay for what you have done!"

Lei Qianjue was bound by Blood Qi Chains, despair filling his eyes. "Impossible! How can you control Sea Vein Power? An Earth Immortal martial artist cannot possibly possess such strength!"

"Nothing is impossible." Chen Fan's voice was icy. "The power of martial arts originates from oneself and returns to heaven and earth. It is far stronger than the Spiritual Root system you rely on. Your defeat today is merely the beginning of the Spiritual Root system's collapse."

With that, Chen Fan waved a hand. The Blood Qi Chains suddenly tightened, instantly strangling Lei Qianjue and the other Spiritual Root faction cultivators. Their corpses sank into Meteor Sea.

After dealing with the enemies who had encircled them, Chen Fan's group continued toward Immortal Sinking Island aboard the Qi and Blood Ship. Su Muxue walked to Chen Fan's side, concern filling her eyes. "Chen Fan, the Ink Scale Whale's awakening was far too strange. I fear it was not simply caused by energy fluctuations. I suspect an incarnation of the Will of the Heavenly Dao is manipulating things in secret. It wants to use the Spiritual Root factions and the sea demon to prevent us from obtaining the Cang Ming Seal."

Chen Fan nodded, sharing the same suspicion. "The more the incarnation of the Will of the Heavenly Dao tries to stop us, the more it proves that the ancient Martial Immortals' inheritances are crucial to fighting it. Whatever conspiracy it has, we must obtain the Cang Ming Seal and gather all Nine Seals of Martial Arts. Only then 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 entire island was blue, covered in blue runes. At the center of the runes floated a blue jade seal radiating vast Sea Vein Power—it was the Cang Ming Seal they had come to find!

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

Chen Fan stepped onto Immortal Sinking Island and looked at the hovering Cang Ming Seal, his eyes filled with resolve. He knew that obtaining the Cang Ming Seal was only the second step toward gathering the Nine Seals of Martial Arts. More challenges awaited them in the future. But he would not retreat, for behind him stood companions who fought at his side, all living beings who supported martial arts, and his unwavering conviction to shatter Spiritual Root Destiny and let all laws return to truth.

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 rose from beneath it—the incarnation of the Will of the Heavenly Dao was finally about to reveal itself!