Translator: CinderTL
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A dazzling platinum beam plummeted from the sky like a celestial comet.
The vast sea surface sank and compressed to its breaking point, then erupted in colossal geysers that shot skyward with thunderous roars.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The multi-masted galleons, already riddled with cracks, could no longer withstand the strain. The entire pirate fleet shattered violently within the crimson Blood Sea, disintegrating into a storm of splintered wood.
Sails tore, flags fluttered away like scraps of paper.
Sailors, crewmen, and low-level Sequencers alike stared in terror, their eyes wide with horror. Blood streamed from their orifices as their bones cracked and shattered.
Even the few who miraculously survived could only watch helplessly as the colossal entity drew nearer.
Until...
Boom!
The platinum light finally struck the sea.
Boom!
The pirate fleet vanished completely. The immensely powerful Admiral Darkblade exploded into a shower of blood and gore.
The sea gradually turned crimson, its surface stained with blood-soaked wood splinters.
In the distance, the Blood Sea Vice Admiral shuddered violently. His octopus-like face twisted in sheer terror, his body frozen as if bound by invisible chains, his eyes wide with horror.
Within his horrified gaze, the seawater sank to its breaking point, nearly creating a vacuum.
The vast pirate fleet had vanished, leaving only the gray-black seabed visible below, with its swirling, shattered algae and seaweed, and a crimson rain of blood splattering across the surface.
A colossal figure with platinum wings hovered above the sea, crowned with a diadem of rhomboid crystals and gold, gazing down with regal authority.
A black-haired youth in a dark trench coat stood upon its shoulder, his expression indifferent.
The blood rain evaporated instantly, transforming into a dense, crimson mist.
Had a powerful Saint truly been slain in an instant?
A chill ran down Chen Feng's spine.
Terror gripped the Blood Sea Vice Admiral, his face pale and his body trembling violently. He abandoned all pretense, desperate to flee regardless of violating his agreement with the Sharkfolk Clan.
Boom!
Flesh exploded outward as the Pseudo-Saint Blood Sea Vice Admiral self-detonated.
Scattered fragments of flesh rained into the sea, appearing lifeless.
But...
"A trick from the Crimson Sequence?" Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, clearly sensing a lingering trace of vitality.
The blood clots that had fallen into the sea burrowed into the seabed like living organisms, hiding in the mud or corrupting and controlling tiny marine creatures to escape rapidly.
Boom!!
The rock-carved right fist slammed down, striking the ocean from afar.
Everyone felt the ground tremble beneath their feet, even on distant islands where sand and pebbles shook.
In the next instant:
Whoosh!!
The seawater surged upward again, churning violently and surging outward in all directions.
A vacuum zone hundreds of meters wide reappeared, revealing the gray-black silt and green seaweed below.
Fish and shrimp writhed, and clots of blood pulsed sluggishly.
But soon:
A golden light flashed as the fist's imprint finally landed.
Boom!!
A massive crater erupted in the seabed silt. Raw, primal force erupted outward, nearly carving a rift into the ocean floor.
All hidden life in the area was annihilated. The distant onlookers turned pale, frozen in shock.
Chen Feng indifferently sensed the devastation and made no further move.
The vacuum zone beneath the surface, now relieved of the mountain-like pressure that had suppressed it, slowly began to refill with seawater.
The crater was buried, the blood scattered.
Bang!
The cubic water cage in mid-air shattered, and Gata, regaining his mobility, plunged back into the ocean.
Splash.
The seawater rippled, sending waves across the surface.
A colossal octopus, nearly twenty meters in length, froze in place, its eerie blue eyes swiveling to stare at the towering Stone Statue. A distinctly humanlike expression of shock flashed across its face.
How did that hulking thing become so powerful?
"M-Master," Lei Long stammered, finally regaining his composure. His flushed face mirrored the shock and awe that filled his voice.
Nearby, Delia nearly doubted her sanity, while the other mermaids stood motionless, their expressions frozen in disbelief.
For a moment, despite the lapping waves, the sea fell into an unnatural quiet, so profound that one could hear the beating of hearts and the rush of breath.
Splash.
Ten minutes later, the sea began to churn violently.
All traces of blood and debris sank to the seabed, mingling with the dark, muddy sediment. Every pirate who had dared to invade Merman Bay now lay entombed beneath the waves, the once idyllic haven transformed into a vast watery grave that had swallowed countless lives.
Scattered wooden fragments from the destroyed pirate fleet drifted downward, marking the end of what the Merfolk Clan had perceived as a life-or-death crisis.
A mix of shock, reverence, and admiration washed over them as Chen Feng leaped from the shoulder of the Holy Shield Colossus onto the white-gray beach. Having left Hurricane Island, he had rushed straight here, arriving just in time—not a moment too late.
He stopped walking, planting his feet firmly on the sand.
A notification flashed across Chen Feng's vision, the negligible nutrient reward hardly worth mentioning.
Instead, he was somewhat surprised when Delia regained her composure and shared the information she had gleaned from her interrogation, confirming his suspicions.
"Thank you, Master, for saving our clan," she said.
"According to the pirates we questioned, Admiral Darkblade and Vice Admiral Blood Sea have struck a deal with the Sharkfolk Clan."
"Their mission here was to enslave the Merfolk Clan and make us vassals of the Merman Tribe."
Delia's expression shifted, her tone complex. It carried lingering shock, genuine gratitude for Chen Feng's swift rise in power and his repeated acts of assistance, and deep concern and uncertainty about the future of the Merfolk Clan.
The pressure from the Merman Tribe was mounting faster than she had anticipated. Had Lord Feng Chen not arrived in time, their fate would have been dire.
Overwhelmed by these thoughts, she fell into silence, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions.
Sensing her inner turmoil, Chen Feng's gaze flickered, but he said nothing.
Noticing a disturbance, he turned his head to see Gata swimming toward them across the sea. The colossal creature, now twenty meters long, had grown noticeably larger. Its aura had reached the Pseudo Sixth-Tier, progressing faster than Chen Feng had expected.
"Sha!"
Gata cautiously extended a dark blue tentacle toward Chen Feng. He gently stroked it, locking eyes with the creature's enormous, luminous blue eyes.
The Soul Flame connection allowed Chen Feng to clearly access Gata's memories from this period, revealing no major surprises.
Gata had been methodically hunting sea beasts, devouring them to fuel its growth.
As it approached maturity, it had awakened certain Bloodline Talents.
Its ability to manipulate water currents had significantly strengthened, granting it numerous enhancements within the ocean due to its exceptional affinity for the water element.
Additionally, its devouring ability had gained an enhanced effect.
"Can devouring the Life Essence of sea beasts accelerate its growth?" Chen Feng mused.
"And if it consumes enough marine life, could it accumulate Essence Marks, potentially breaking free from the shackles of its bloodline?"
Slightly surprised, Chen Feng once again marveled at the extraordinary nature of Gata's bloodline, a lineage worthy of the panel's description:
[Deep Sea Dweller: One of the rulers of the Deep Sea, a unique Star Realm Creature.]
He wondered if, given this trajectory, even the Saint realm might not be Gata's ultimate limit.
"Sha!!"
Gata waved its tentacles vigorously, as if to prove its continued usefulness.
Then, it swam to the side of the Holy Shield Colossus, regarding it like an elder brother, and extended a tentacle to humbly offer the colossal construct a gold coin in a gesture of flattery.
Chen Feng chuckled softly at the scene before turning his attention to Lei Long and the others.
"Master!"
Lei Long spoke respectfully, his brown jacket torn and scorched, his face pale and clearly bearing injuries.
Tulin and the others had also arrived, their voices trembling with excitement and reverence as they presented the two boxes of rewards from the Merfolk Clan, along with a wealth of treasures salvaged from the vicinity of the pirate fleet.
Gold, silver, and jewels lay piled before Chen Feng, but most of it held little interest for him.
However, two Extraordinary Artifacts among the loot caught his eye: one resembling a crimson palm, the other a silver crescent-shaped scimitar.
Detailed information about the artifacts appeared on his status panel. Chen Feng nodded briefly.
"You've done well," he said.
He accepted only the Blue Heart Stone and the two Extraordinary Artifacts, instructing the others to divide the remaining treasures among themselves.
"Thank you, Master!" Lei Long and the others cried out, deeply moved. They felt that serving Chen Feng was the greatest opportunity and honor of their lives.
Watching them tend to the wounded, Chen Feng lowered his gaze to his newly acquired treasures.
He temporarily stowed the Extraordinary Artifacts away, his focus now solely on the Blue Heart Stone.
Instantly, Steel Bones activated.
[Metal Essence +1!]
[Metal Essence +1!]
[Metal Essence +1!]
A soft crackling sound filled the air as the thirty Blue Heart Stones were drained of their essence, leaving behind only gray fragments.
[Steel Bones LV5: 97/100]
"Still a little short," Chen Feng muttered, glancing at his progress bar. He wasn't surprised; it simply meant he needed more Blue Heart Stones.
"Our clan actually has nearly a hundred more Blue Heart Stones stored in our treasury," Delia suddenly offered, having long sensed his urgent need. Though they could only gather a handful at a time from the seabed cliffs, their accumulated stores were substantial.
Chen Feng studied her deeply, realizing the earlier display of power had profoundly shaken her. It was a force surpassing that of a Saint, an unfathomable realm for the Merfolk Clan. Moreover, they were currently in dire straits.
"Speak plainly," Chen Feng said, his tone respectful after their prolonged interaction. "What are your conditions?"
"We dare not impose any conditions," Delia replied with a bitter smile, her voice sincere and grateful. "If not for Master Feng Chen's intervention, the Merfolk Clan would likely have been enslaved long ago."
Chen Feng was slightly surprised when Delia spoke again.
"If Master doesn't mind, please visit our clan's territory for a brief stay," she said respectfully, gesturing towards the churning sea surface.
Several adult-sized seahorses emerged, pulling a coral chariot, while many mermaids cast grateful glances and prepared to guide the way.
After a moment's contemplation, Chen Feng accepted the invitation.
"Darkblade... that bastard is actually dead?"
In the dim depths of the ocean, towering dark reefs rose like mountains. A somber voice echoed, laced with disbelief.
Upon closer inspection, a massive rift slashed across the seabed, tearing apart the reef mountains and the underlying tectonic plates, leaving behind a gaping wound unique to the ocean.
The wound remained unhealed, occasionally spewing wisps of black gas.
"He was a true Saint! How could the Merfolk Clan possess such power?"
The cavernous space within the submarine rift expanded into a vast, canyon-like space.
A questioning voice rang out, but the answer quickly materialized: a shattered black crystal, its Soul Flame extinguished.
"We underestimated them!"
"Could the Merfolk Clan possess hidden strengths and reserves we were unaware of?"
The water in Rift Canyon rippled incessantly, betraying the speaker's inner turmoil.
Unless the power disparity was overwhelming, no one could easily slay a Saint.
"What about Blood Sea?"
"He was traveling with Darkblade. Their escape methods are notoriously elusive. It's impossible he could have..."
"He's dead too."
The earlier somber voice echoed again, revealing another black crystal with its Soul Flame extinguished.
An eerie silence descended upon Rift Canyon, lasting several breaths before a voice finally broke the tension.
"I knew we couldn't trust those humans. They're all useless trash."
"What a waste of our efforts."
A voice grumbled in dissatisfaction, only to be swiftly interrupted.
"The Merfolk Clan, after all, boasts an ancient heritage. They've endured countless calamities without being extinguished. Their ancestors produced many Saints, some even followed angels alongside us. It's only natural they possess hidden depths beyond our understanding."
The voice, both reassuring and confident, declared, "However, such a hidden reserve of power couldn't be easily deployed. The cost would undoubtedly be significant."
"Otherwise, they wouldn't be so passive, barely daring to leave their ancestral grounds."
"That makes sense," someone agreed. Then another voice asked what the next step should be.
"Recently, to meet the Envoy's demands, we've been raiding merchant fleets on the open sea, drawing the Church's attention."
"Timing is critical. We're approaching the critical period for the seal node, when the tides will surge. Church operatives will inevitably appear at our clan grounds."
"Let's wait until this crisis has completely passed before decisively eradicating the Merfolk Clan once and for all."
As the words faded, silence descended once more upon Rift Canyon. A few voices dissented, but they were quickly silenced.
Eventually, the canyon returned to its gloomy stillness. Amidst the gurgling of water, only wisps of black gas continued to rise and drift, forming a thin, ethereal fog.
(End of the Chapter)
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