A Blood Sea Spans the Sky!
Seven Stars Surrounding the Moon Sea, the Jade Jade Palace.
On their wedding day, the sky was cloudless, and the sea and sky were as clear as crystal.
The seven main islands are decorated with lanterns and colorful ornaments, including deep-sea pearls, luminous corals, and various gems, reflecting the sunlight and creating a dreamlike and enchanting halo.
In the center of the sea, above the Dragon Palace, nine water columns, each a hundred feet high, rose.
The top of the water column holds a huge dragon pattern with the word "happy".
The water shimmers, the dragon's roar is faint, and the scenery is ever-changing.
Guests flocked to the Four Seas Alliance, founded by the Dragon Clan and jointly established by twenty-eight other sea clans.
In the square in front of the main hall of the Dragon Palace, the ground was paved with millennia-old warm jade, and thousands of tables were set up.
The delicacies are all rare treasures from the sea, and the fine wines exude a rich Spiritual Qi.
The melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air as mermaid maidens danced and sang gracefully on a water platform, their figures lithe and their voices ethereal.
However, beneath this extreme luxury and hustle and bustle, a chilling undercurrent is surging that cannot be ignored.
Three days ago, Jade Jade Palace, citing the need to maintain the purity of the wedding venue, joined forces with the [Four Seas Alliance] sea patrol team to completely blockade the Seven Stars Surrounding the Moon Sea.
All non-members of the [Four Seas Alliance], whether human Rogue Cultivator, demon tribes, or passing caravans, were unceremoniously "invited" out.
On the sea, one can see squads of heavily armed and stern-faced Azure Scale Dragon Palace guards patrolling back and forth with the mixed [Four Seas Alliance] patrol boats of various races, forming a formidable barrier.
Those who hesitate or express dissatisfaction will be met with harsh reprimands or even physical expulsion.
The indigenous Demon Race on some small islands and the cave abode of Rogue Cultivator were forcibly cleared out.
Any resistance was met with suppression and capture, and the prisoners were thrown into a constructed water prison.
At the edge of the sea, countless cultivators and Demon Race who had been driven out gathered, gazing at the sealed-off, Flowing Light sea in the distance, their faces filled with resentment, helplessness, and forbearance.
"Pah! What a load of bull! They certainly put on quite a show!"
We only get married once a year; even my pigs don't mate that often!
"This Seven Stars Surrounding the Moon Sea is a sea without a master. When did it become the backyard of the Jade Jade Palace family?" A human cultivator's face Rogue Cultivator ashen as he cursed in a low voice.
He had been in seclusion on a deserted island in this sea area, but was directly "invited" out by the Dragon Palace guards who broke through his formation, and his years of preparations were destroyed in an instant.
"Hush! Fellow Daoist, be careful what you say!"
A more mature Demon Race nearby quickly sent a telepathic message to stop them, glancing warily at the patrolling guards in the distance.
"[The Four Seas Alliance] is powerful, and the Dragon Clan is its leader, always so domineering."
Over the years, haven't they designated enough "no-fly zones" and "exclusive hunting grounds"?
Those who are not part of our alliance are finding it difficult to navigate these distant seas; today they are merely repeating their old tricks.
"How infuriating! One of our tribe's caravans, passing through the area, was also ordered to detour a thousand miles, suffering unnecessary losses—"
Another minor leader of the seahorse tribe was also gritting his teeth.
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, their resentment seeping into their hearts, yet no one dared to raise their voices or step forward to argue.
Faced with the overwhelming military power and unreasonable behavior displayed by the Dragon Clan and the Four Seas Alliance, they could only curse inwardly and swallow their anger, obediently retreating to the blockade line, becoming an awkward "backdrop" to this grand wedding.
Dragon Palace Square, the auspicious time has arrived.
The official in charge of ceremonies chanted loudly, his voice carrying across the sea.
The Seventh Princess wore a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, made of silk from the Eastern Sea and adorned with tiny, star-like pearls, making her absolutely gorgeous.
With exquisite makeup and a smiling face, she gracefully entered the square, surrounded by four dragon maidens, drawing a chorus of praise and flattery.
Beside her stood the groom, Xuanming, also dressed in a bright red wedding robe and wearing a golden crown. His face had been carefully groomed, making him appear even more handsome.
He wore an impeccable, gentle smile, his steps steady, walking side by side with the princess, receiving the attention and blessings of guests from all directions.
But that smile was like a meticulously crafted mask, perfect yet lifeless, like an exquisite doll being pulled along by invisible threads.
Offering sacrifices to Heaven, informing ancestors, and making oaths—a series of elaborate and solemn ceremonies were conducted under the supervision of the Dragon Palace Elders.
Xuanming acted in accordance with etiquette, responding fluently and without the slightest error.
The Seventh Princess occasionally glanced at him, her eyes filled with scrutiny and a hint of satisfied control.
At the guests' table, toasts were exchanged, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively.
Amidst all the noise and luxury, everything slid toward the trajectory predetermined by the Dragon Clan.
However, just as the grand banquet reached its climax, and the Dragon King raised his cup to accept the congratulations of all the guests, a sudden change occurred in the silence!
The first to notice something was wrong were the onlookers, who had been driven to the edge of the sea and were filled with resentment.
"Hmm? What's going on? The seawater temperature seems to have dropped?"
A cultivator practicing fire-elemental Cultivation Method was the first to frown, sensing an abnormal chill seeping into the abundant water-elemental Spiritual Qi around him.
Then, more people sensed something was wrong.
The once clear, azure seawater, shimmering in the sunlight, began to darken, as if a large amount of ink had been added.
On the sea surface, a thin but sticky, pale red mist had appeared out of nowhere, carrying a faint, unpleasantly sweet and fishy smell.
It smelled like stale blood, or perhaps the stench of something rotting.
The sea breeze was no longer refreshing; instead, it became damp, cold, and biting. When it blew against their skin, some cultivators with lower cultivation levels shivered, and their Divine Soul felt a strange tremor and oppression.
"Something's wrong! Retreat quickly!"
The experienced cultivator's expression immediately changed drastically, and without hesitation, he activated his escape light and flew away to a greater distance.
Others realized what was happening and followed suit.
For a moment, flashes of light appeared along the edge of the sea.
They retreated far enough away, then turned back to look with surprise and uncertainty.
Upon that glance, everyone's pupils instantly contracted to their maximum size!
The sky Seven Stars Surrounding the Moon Sea, which had been bathed in festive light, had inexplicably transformed into an endless expanse of...
A gigantic, shadowy figure that blots out the sun!
It was a vast Blood Sea, so deep it was almost pitch black, yet constantly churning and revealing a viscous, dark red hue!
Blood Sea- red phantom stretched across the sky, boundless and endless, as if it had replaced the entire sky with a filthy, blood-red hue.
The blood-red waves surged to the heavens, each wave reaching thousands or even tens of thousands of feet high, churning and surging with a deep, rumbling sound like the roar of an ancient demon god.
Amidst the waves of blood, countless twisted and tormented faces could be vaguely seen rising and falling, howling in agony. Broken wreckage of weapons drifted with the current, while an indescribable, enormous shadow writhed deep within the Blood Sea, radiating an extreme ferocity, filth, deathly stillness, and insane madness!
At this moment, this Blood Sea phantom is slowly but unstoppably descending from the high heavens towards the Flowing Light, festive, and bustling Seven Stars Surrounding the Moon Sea below!
"What... what is that?!" A cultivator's voice trembled, almost incoherent.
"Blood— Blood Sea?! How could there be such a terrifying phantom of the Blood Sea?!"
Those with broad knowledge were horrified; they had never seen such a massive, solidified, and extinct Blood Sea!
"It—it's heading straight for the Jade Jade Palace!" More people realized what was happening and were horrified.
The sunlight was obscured by the illusory image of the Blood Sea, Seven Stars Surrounding the Moon Sea instantly plunged from daylight into an eerie, dim red.
The festive splendor of the Dragon Palace Square appeared so fragile and laughable against the backdrop of this overwhelming bloodshed.
The drumming stopped abruptly.
The boisterous atmosphere of clinking glasses froze on their faces.
All the guests, including the Jade Jade Dragon King sat in the main seat, the peerless Seventh Princess, and the groom Xuanming whose smile was frozen on his face, all suddenly looked up at the boundless and terrifying Blood Sea that was pressing down!
The joy was instantly replaced by boundless terror and deathly silence.
The grand wedding banquet turned into the Blood Sea!
Inside the Jade Jade Palace, everyone stared in astonishment at the terrifying Blood Sea that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
The Jade Jade Dragon King, who was sitting high on the throne and about to rise and reprimand the others, and the Seventh Princess beside him, who was wearing a phoenix coronet and wedding gown, almost simultaneously sensed something!
Their gazes shot like lightning to the side of the altar, where the groom, Xuanming, who should have been standing alone, waiting for the final ceremony, stood.
Suddenly, another figure appeared.
He was a young Daoist priest wearing a long, blood-red robe.
The robe was a deep, dark red, like dried, congealed blood, or like a boiling Blood Sea.
The Daoist was exceptionally handsome, with slanted eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and a faint, cold, and sinister smile on his thin lips.
His skin was an almost eerie pale white, a stark contrast to his blood-red robe.
Those eerie eyes seemed to swirl with a blood-red vortex, and wherever their gaze fell, it sent chills down Divine Soul and made one feel lost.
He just stood there naturally.
A hand casually rested on Xuanming's shoulder, as if they were old friends who had known Xuanming for many years.
The guests, who had been horrified by the Blood Sea- red phantom, finally shifted their attention to the strangely appearing blood-robed Daoist.
In an instant, gasps, gasps of surprise, and whispers rose from the deathly silent square.
The blood-robed Daoist Youquan remained oblivious to the countless gazes around him, filled with shock, anger, and fear.
He tilted his head slightly, leaning close to Xuanming's ear, his voice not loud, yet carrying a strange penetrating power, clearly echoing in the suddenly deathly silent square. "I am Youquan."
He paused, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over Xuanming's distraught face, and chuckled softly. His laughter carried a hint of Evil Qi, a touch of amusement, and an undeniable domineering air. "It feels like we've known each other forever, young friend."
Seeing your somber expression and troubled brow, you must be being coerced, unwillingly and reluctantly trapped here, deprived of your freedom.
Youquan's fingers, resting on Xuanming's shoulder, tapped lightly, a glint of light flashing in her blood-red eyes. "It's alright."
He raised his head, his gaze casually sweeping across the entire room.
From the Jade Jade Dragon King, whose face was ashen and whose eyes were filled with shock and anger, to the guests of the Four Seas Alliance below, some silent and trembling with fear, others restless and eager, a wicked smile widened at the corner of his mouth, "Point it out."
Three words, a simple and understated description.
But it seemed to make the temperature in the entire square drop several degrees!
"Who forced you today? Who pressured you? Who made you feel powerless and so downcast?"
Youquan's voice suddenly turned cold, like ancient ice rubbing together, carrying a chilling killing intent that swept outwards without any concealment. "Whoever you point to, I will kill."