The sea wind howled and jade-green waves surged. Yun Ce carried Qin Yu and the three divine beasts through the sky above the Southern Sea Region, their figures streaking along like a beam of light. As they ventured farther in, the water below grew an even deeper shade of blue. Sunlight pierced the surface, leaving only scattered flecks of light in the shallows; the depths were pitch-black. Low, rumbling roars from demonic beasts drifted up from beneath the water, carrying a sinister, dangerous edge.
After flying for about two hours, Yun Ce gradually slowed down. His divine sense quietly spread out, covering thousands of miles of water below. The divine sense of someone in the mid-stage Void-Piercing Realm was like an invisible net, clearly enveloping everything underwater. Neither low-level demonic beasts hiding among the coral nor groups of Golden Core Stage beasts swimming in the distance could escape his perception.
"Master, have we reached the Undersea Beast World?" Qin Yu asked softly, keeping his eyes fixed on the dark water below. He could clearly feel the demonic beast aura in the air growing stronger and denser—several times more potent than it had been near the edge of the sea. He grew more wary.
Yun Ce nodded slowly, his tone gentle yet serious. "That's right. We've entered the Undersea Beast World in the Southern Sea Region. The forces of the demon cultivators here are complicated. Houtian Stage and Xiantian Stage beasts are everywhere, and many Golden Core Stage beasts are lurking as well. The slightest mistake could expose our whereabouts and bring trouble."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over a secluded patch of water below. The currents there were calm, and it was surrounded by dense coral and screened by reefs. It was difficult for outsiders to spot, making it an ideal place to rest.
"Let's take a break here first," Yun Ce said. He then used the power of space to bring Qin Yu and the three divine beasts down toward the secluded water. "The terrain here is hidden and hard to detect. I'll set up an illusion formation to mask our auras and keep passing demon cultivators from finding us."
As he spoke, Yun Ce raised a hand and circulated his Stellar True Essence. Faint spiritual light shimmered around his fingertips as one profound rune after another flew from them, drifting down like butterflies onto the surrounding water and reefs. The runes vanished as soon as they touched their targets. Only a faintly visible blue barrier remained, slowly enveloping the area and completely concealing its aura while distorting the light into a natural screen. This was the illusion formation Yun Ce had set up. It could hide their auras and mislead outside observers; even a Void-Piercing Realm demon cultivator passing nearby would struggle to notice anything amiss.
Only after the formation was in place did Yun Ce lead Qin Yu and the three divine beasts into the water. Stellar True Essence formed an invisible barrier around them, keeping the seawater at bay. They stood as if on solid ground, completely unaffected by the water.
Qin Yu curiously looked around. Coral grew everywhere in a riot of color, and all sorts of small fish darted among it. Farther away, unfamiliar seaweed swayed in the current, creating a scene full of life. Yet beneath that vitality lurked dangers unknown.
Yun Ce looked at Qin Yu and the three divine beasts and smiled faintly. In a gentle tone, he told the beasts, "The illusion formation hides our auras and blocks outside eyes. You don't need to restrain yourselves. You can return to your true forms and move around; it'll also help you get used to the deep-sea environment." As soon as he finished speaking, Black Feather, the Dragon Rock Lion, and Red Phoenix leaped down from Qin Yu's shoulders. Their bodies suddenly swelled, and in an instant they returned to their true forms. The little beasts, each originally no bigger than a palm, became three colossal creatures, filling most of the space inside the formation.
Black Feather was the first to spread his wings, which spanned more than three zhang. His body was covered in sleek, glossy black feathers, each shimmering with a faint, ink-colored lightning glow. A few silver-gray filaments edged his wings, and when they quivered, faint flashes of lightning appeared and vanished. He looked nothing like an ordinary, dull-feathered bird. His hooked beak was sharp as cold iron, a dark gold color that promised to tear through the air. His eyes were as keen as a hawk's, their black pupils glinting coldly, with the patterns of lightning and fire hidden deep within. Even with his aura restrained, he could not conceal the majesty of a divine beast. When he spread his wings, the water around him stirred in invisible currents and rippled. A low rumble of thunder seemed to come from between his feathers.
The Dragon Rock Lion beside him was no less impressive. His body swelled to more than two zhang tall, broad-shouldered and powerfully built. Black bristles like steel needles covered his body, their roots gleaming dark brown and their tips surrounded by a faint, earthy-yellow glow. They felt as hard as dark iron and remained fluffed and erect even underwater. His limbs were thick as pillars, his paws broad, and his claws sharp. They dug deep into the seabed, slightly denting the sand and gravel. He had a massive head and a broad muzzle. His round, amber eyes held both a guileless and domineering air, and the mane around his neck stood slightly on end. Now and then, a low growl made the surrounding water tremble, revealing the weight and might of a divine beast of the earth element.
Red Phoenix was the last to return to her true form. Though she was not as huge as Black Feather and the Dragon Rock Lion, she still stood more than a zhang tall. When she spread her wings, she looked like a blaze of fire. Her body was covered in scarlet feathers as bright as rosy clouds, each glowing softly as if wrapped in flames. She remained dazzling even in the dark depths. Her long, elegant tail feathers stretched more than a zhang, decorated with dozens of golden-red plumes whose tips glowed faintly gold. As they swayed, they resembled flaming tassels, beautiful beyond compare. Her beak was small and pointed, pale red in color, and her clear amber eyes held a gentle yet noble air. A faint aura of fire surrounded her, lending a touch of warmth even underwater. Her grace contrasted sharply with Black Feather's cold edge and the Dragon Rock Lion's domineering presence.
Although the three divine beasts were now enormous, they deliberately restrained their auras and cultivation, leaving Yun Ce's illusion formation undisturbed. They curiously studied the coral and the fish darting through it. Black Feather spread his wings and slowly circled within the formation. His wings skimmed the water, stirring up tiny splashes, and he sent a message through divine sense: "Big Brother, Master, it feels so good to be back in my true form! The water's cold, but this is much more comfortable than being shrunk down!" The Dragon Rock Lion and Red Phoenix nodded too.
Yun Ce looked at the man and three beasts and smiled faintly. "All right. While we rest, I'll teach you a secret art called the Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual."
"The Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual?" A hint of curiosity flashed in Qin Yu's eyes. He hurriedly said, "This disciple is ready to learn, Master!"
The three divine beasts also stopped playing around and turned their attention to Yun Ce.
Yun Ce nodded, his tone turning serious. "The Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual is a top-tier art of concealment. Its core function is to hide your cultivation and the aura of your true essence. It can be cultivated by immortal cultivators, demonic cultivators, and demon cultivators alike. Once you've mastered it, no one whose cultivation doesn't greatly surpass yours will be able to see your true realm or sense your real aura."
He paused, then continued, "Little Yu, you're an immortal cultivator, and you cultivate Nebula True Qi. But the Undersea Beast World belongs to the demon cultivators. Immortal cultivators are already out of place here, and if the demon cultivators discover our true identities and cultivation, we'll inevitably invite trouble—perhaps even be attacked by them as a group. So when you cultivate the Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual, you must deliberately alter your true essence's aura and disguise your Nebula True Qi as demonic power. That's the only way to hide your identity properly. The manual describes the energy signatures of all kinds of cultivators, so study it carefully."
Qin Yu's heart tightened at his words, and he quickly nodded. "This disciple understands! Thank you for the reminder, Master. I'll cultivate diligently and never expose my identity!" He finally understood why his master had chosen this moment to teach them the secret art: it was to help them establish a safe foothold in the Undersea Beast World.
Yun Ce turned to Black Feather, the Dragon Rock Lion, and Red Phoenix, his tone gentle. "The three of you are demon cultivators, but you're not native beasts of this sea. You may still encounter demon cultivators from other forces. Besides, you're all divine beasts, blessed with extraordinary gifts. If powerful demon cultivators discover your true potential, they may covet you—or even try to subdue you by force."
"So you must cultivate the Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual too. Hide your realms and divine beast auras, disguising your demonic power as that of ordinary sea beasts. That will help you avoid needless trouble and let you catch your enemies off guard if danger arises."
The three divine beasts nodded. Black Feather spread his enormous wings and gave them a gentle flap, stirring a faint current. Through divine sense, he said, "Rest assured, Master. We'll cultivate diligently and conceal our true forms and auras. We won't cause you any trouble!" The Dragon Rock Lion let out a low growl. "Yes, my lord!" Determination flashed in his amber eyes as he pressed his thick limbs into the sand and gravel beneath him. Red Phoenix gave a soft cry and swayed her tail feathers. "Understood, my lord!" Her golden-red plumes shimmered faintly in the water. The three replies were clear, and though they remained in their true forms, their auras were so thoroughly restrained that there was no sign of their extraordinary nature.
"Good." Yun Ce nodded in satisfaction. Then, with a thought, he sent four streams of pale golden light into the minds of Qin Yu and the three divine beasts. They contained the complete Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual.
Qin Yu closed his eyes and immersed himself in the manual, carefully comprehending how to cultivate the Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual. It was an exceedingly profound art. Its core was to guide one's true essence—or demonic power—inward while imitating other auras. The method seemed simple, yet it held the principles of the Great Dao. It required diligent practice before one could control it freely.
Black Feather, the Dragon Rock Lion, and Red Phoenix also closed their eyes. Their enormous true forms did not hinder their cultivation in the slightest.
The group cultivated for three days.
Black Feather slightly folded his wings and quietly drew his lightning-attribute demonic power inward, circulating it according to the Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual. The Dragon Rock Lion lay on the seabed with his legs folded beneath him, slowly sinking his earth-attribute demonic power into his dantian and suppressing his heavy aura. Red Phoenix perched on a reef, her fire-attribute demonic power flowing through her like a stream as the dazzling glow around her faded. Thanks to their divine beast gifts, they already had fine control over their demonic power, so cultivating the Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual came easily to them. Before long, they had mastered its basic method. Though their true forms remained enormous, they could conceal their auras perfectly, making them indistinguishable from ordinary sea beasts.
Yun Ce stood nearby, watching them calmly while using his divine sense to keep careful watch on the surroundings and prevent any demon cultivators from entering the formation. He knew the Undersea Beast World was fraught with danger. Even while resting inside the formation, they could not afford to let their guard down.
Before long, Qin Yu opened his eyes first, a flash of delight in them. He then used the Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual to guide his Nebula True Qi through a quiet transformation. In an instant, the aura of an immortal cultivator around him faded, replaced by the faint, ordinary demonic aura of a sea beast. He seemed to be a demon cultivator at the Golden Core Mid Stage, and there was no trace of his true identity as a Golden Core Stage immortal cultivator.
"Master, I've got the basics!" Qin Yu said excitedly. He could clearly feel that his aura had completely changed. Even if he stood before a demon cultivator, they might not see through his identity. The transformation felt entirely new to him.
Just then, Black Feather, the Dragon Rock Lion, and Red Phoenix opened their eyes as well. They remained in their enormous true forms. Black Feather slightly spread his wings, his lightning completely concealed and his feathers now as dull as those of an ordinary sea eagle. The Dragon Rock Lion's mane no longer stood on end, and his earth-element pressure quietly faded, making him look like an ordinary deep-sea stone lion. Red Phoenix's tail feathers had lost their dazzling glow, and her scarlet feathers now shone softly instead of brilliantly. She looked like an ordinary Vermilion Feather Sea Sparrow. All three had perfectly concealed their divine beast auras, becoming just like ordinary sea beasts. They stayed obediently beside Yun Ce and Qin Yu, without the slightest hint of incongruity.
Yun Ce looked at them and nodded in satisfaction, his tone gentle. "Not bad. You've all grasped it quickly. You must keep practicing the Mysterious Concealment Secret Manual until you can control it freely. Whatever happens, don't reveal your true identities or realms."
"Yes, Master!" "Yes, my lord!" Qin Yu and the three divine beasts replied in unison.
Yun Ce nodded and gazed toward the dark water beyond the illusion formation, his tone turning solemn. "All right. Make your preparations—we're going deeper into the sea."
Before you continue