Seated in the ship's cabin, listening to the faint sound of raindrops on the bamboo canopy, reminiscent of Grandma scattering beans on a bamboo sieve when I was little, crisp and pleasing… yet tinged with an inexplicable sadness.
Since arriving in this world, Ye Ju has lived with a constant tension, much like someone in modern times burdened by debt, forced to work tirelessly every day, terrified of defaulting, of creditors showing up, or of being blacklisted by banks and restricted in every possible way, leaving them breathless.
In this world, it's the same: every day, I worry about falling into unknown dangers, knowing that I have only myself to rely on. Though naturally inclined to go with the flow, I've been forced to fight against heaven and man for survival, even though I haven't encountered a single living soul yet.
Taking a sip of spirit fruit tea and lying on the bed, Ye Ju's thoughts were a jumble. She didn't know where her destination was, or even where this ship was sailing.
Xiao Mo could travel thousands of miles a day, its speed comparable to high-speed rail; this was no exaggeration. Soon, Ye Ju no longer heard the patter of rain, replaced by bright sunshine and a setting sun. Ye Ju also got up and went outside, having passed through the rainy sea area.
"Sister~~" Suddenly, Xiao Bai leaned in.
"There's a treasure my sister likes down here!" Xiao Bai suddenly said mysteriously. Ye Ju was surprised: a treasure? Xiao Bai looked as if she was afraid someone might overhear.
Ye Ju, mimicking Xiao Bai, whispered, "What treasure, and where is it?"
Xiao Bai had already asked Xiao Mo to stop. It turned out Xiao Mo had also sensed strong spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from the deep sea below.
Ye Ju hesitated a little. Treasures were always guarded by sea beasts. She didn't know the sea beasts' strength, and wondered if she and these two could defeat it. In the end, the allure of treasure overcame Ye Ju's rationality. If we can't win, we'll run! Ye Ju, Xiao Bai, and Xiao Mo agreed that running was the best option if they couldn't win, for as long as the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn. Damn it!
Ye Ju instructed Yu Shou to set up a barrier on the ship. Ye Ju leaped into the sea, with Xiao Mo and Xiao Bai leading the way. Xiao Bai was like a radar detector for treasures, truly a descendant of the dragon. Ye Ju's control over water had reached the point of effortless mastery; she was water, and water was her, so Ye Ju's speed was no longer comparable to her previous doggy-paddle swimming technique. However, there were still those who needed a ride, so Xiao Bai transformed into a little loli and rode on Xiao Mo's enlarged body with Ye Ju. Like dragons playing in water, Xiao Mo continued to dive deeper.
As they dived hundreds of meters down, the visibility blurred, growing darker, until it was pitch black. At first, they could see schools of fish, but the deeper they went, the fewer living creatures were visible. Xiao Bai spat out a night-blooming pearl, and Ye Ju took one each.
Diving thousands of meters deep, they suddenly saw a faint light ahead. At first, Ye Ju thought it was a deep-sea fish, as many deep-sea fish could glow, some even using it to lure prey, like the commonly known anglerfish. But Xiao Mo suddenly became wary, and Xiao Bai also emitted an imposing aura. Ye Ju sensed something was wrong and quickly unleashed her divine sense, discovering a giant octopus sea monster in a trench hundreds of meters away. Had they stumbled into an octopus's lair? This sea monster was much larger than the previous two they had encountered. Were they a family?
Upon closer inspection, the sea monster's massive tentacles were coiling around a glowing sphere. The faint light they had seen earlier was emitted by this spiritual energy sphere, which appeared to be a condensed ball of spiritual power, containing an ancient person in a long robe with a coiled topknot, struggling to maintain their position. Ye Ju thought, finally, she had seen a living person in this world, even though this person was about to be dragged into the sea monster's enormous, tooth-filled maw.
"Sister, that person is about to collapse, and below this sea monster's cave is a spiritual stone mine. The spiritual energy fluctuations are from this spiritual stone mine overflowing," Xiao Bai explained to Ye Ju telepathically.
Ye Ju understood. This person must have also discovered this mine and ventured into the sea for treasure, only to encounter this sea monster.
"Xiao Bai, what is this sea monster's strength, and can we defeat it?" Although saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda! One must also act within their capabilities! But now, with the temptation of an entire spiritual stone mine, Ye Ju decided to go for it!
"Sister, this sea monster's strength is greater than that tenth-level sea monster before. We must be careful, and without defeating it, we cannot obtain the treasure," Xiao Bai said with a serious expression. Sister likes treasure, so we must snatch it!
As the saying goes, strike when the enemy is weak. This sea monster was locked in a struggle with the cultivator, so it was only natural to ambush it.
"Ice Fireball! Ice Blade!" Ye Ju simultaneously launched skills towards the sea monster's head.
"Ice Blade!" Xiao Bai also uttered softly, spitting out ice blades and transforming into a three-meter-tall giant fox, extending sharp claws to swipe at the sea monster's tentacles.
As Xiao Bai transformed, Xiao Mo also enlarged its body, unleashing lightning-like currents directly at the sea monster.
After Ye Ju's tribulation, Xiao Bai and Xiao Mo's strength had greatly increased, and their destructive power was even more terrifying!
The one person and two beasts acted with perfect coordination. The sea monster was caught off guard by Ye Ju's attack, half of its head blown off and three tentacles severed. Enraged, the sea monster let out a silent roar of intense pain, unleashing an invisible energy attack that shattered the seabed rocks. Ye Ju was also blown dozens of meters away by the shockwave before stabilizing herself with water control. Xiao Bai was directly slammed into the cliff face, creating a large crater, and Xiao Mo's orca-like body was also flipped over, rolling like a small insect in the sea.
This was the first time Ye Ju had been so utterly defeated. The sea monster's tentacle angrily flung the cultivator, smashing him into the seabed and creating a large pit. It then charged furiously towards Ye Ju, wanting to crush this insect-like human. No one had ever made it suffer so badly!
Ye Ju watched as the octopus sea monster charged, her eyes clearly seeing the sea monster's injured half-head growing and healing… its tentacles regenerating in an instant.
Regeneration ability! Ye Ju was astonished and realized she absolutely could not let this sea monster fully recover.
"Yu Shou!" Ye Ju shouted, and Yu Shou flew out of her Sea of Consciousness. The golden-red staff suddenly lengthened by over ten meters. Ye Ju concentrated ice and fire spiritual power into the staff, which, now over ten meters long and weighing thousands of pounds, emanated icy blue flames. Ye Ju, with her monstrous strength, swung the staff at the sea monster's massive head, her only thought being to smash its head until it burst.
Xiao Bai and Xiao Mo also rushed forward in time, unleashing their strongest innate skills.
For a moment, blue and red light blazed, almost blinding Ye Ju, interspersed with a powerful, sharp sword light that instantly severed more of the sea monster's tentacles.
Despite its formidable strength, the sea monster couldn't withstand so many attacks. It's true that a flurry of blows can defeat a tiger, but its regenerative ability was also formidable, growing new tentacles within two breaths.
Seizing the opportunity, Ye Ju swept her staff again, slamming the sea monster into the seabed cliff, followed by a massive ice-fireball aimed at the sea monster's eyes. Xiao Mo's electricity instantly surged towards the giant tentacle the sea monster had angrily coiled around Ye Ju to attack her. Seizing this opening, Ye Ju flashed her body, dodging the tentacle's attack.
Ye Ju and the others knew the power of the sea monster's tentacles; once ensnared, it was difficult to escape, so they all adopted long-range attacks.
The sea monster's eyes were blinded by the staff, leaking greenish-black liquid. Indeed, its weak points were still its head and eyes.
Ye Ju had never learned staff techniques, but she smashed, swung, and swept with pure instinct. She managed to smash half of the sea monster's head off, its regeneration rate unable to keep up with Ye Ju's damage output. Xiao Bai and Xiao Mo dealt with the sea monster's eight tentacles.
The man, stunned by Ye Ju's ferocious fighting style, inwardly exclaimed, "What kind of savage fellow cultivator is this!" He was also very grateful to her for saving his life at such a crucial moment; had she arrived a moment later, he would have been devoured by the sea monster.