Meanwhile, about a hundred miles southwest of Zhenyou City.
Within a mountain peak hidden in dense black fog, several extremely powerful escape lights flew out. After circling, they split into three groups and headed in different directions.
Three of the escape lights flew into the center of a sprawling encampment and vanished as they landed within.
Not long after, in a secret chamber below, three figures appeared one after another.
They were a middle-aged scholar in white robes, a burly man in brocade, and a hawk-nosed man in his forties with a sinister expression.
These three were precisely Tianli's three Holy Shamans: Su Rihe, Mei Danlun, and Aruoye.
The three were silent at first, then Aruoye spoke in a hoarse voice, "What do you think? Does the Sea Race really have a way to break the Grand Extermination Immortal Array?
We've experienced the power of this array for many years. I fear that even if Moon Lord and the others hadn't gone to the Cloud Wasteland Great Marsh, and even with a few more Great Cultivators, this array wouldn't be something we could easily overcome."
Mei Danlun's eyes flickered, and he slowly said, "The Sea Race is, after all, one of the peak races in this world. Their foundations and strength cannot be underestimated.
Since they dare to say so, they must have some confidence.
Anyway, time is almost up, and we'll know when the time comes.
What I find more puzzling is why the Sea Race places such importance on Ning Fa?
They've even made considerable concessions to both of us to obtain him.
I even have a feeling that the reason the Sea Race is willing to offer methods to break that fifth-tier grand array is to quickly defeat Cangyuan, thereby capturing that kid.
After all, that kid hasn't shown himself for years. According to our intelligence, it seems he's been preparing to break through his cultivation realm all these years, and the Sea Race seems unwilling to give him more time to break through."
As soon as he said this, Aruoye and Su Rihe's gazes sharpened.
A cold glint flashed in Aruoye's eyes: "Indeed, I have the same feeling.
It seems the Sea Race's emphasis on Ning Fa is not much less than their focus on the Abyssal Heavenly Pool.
And Ning Fa disappeared for decades before, and it's highly possible he went to the Nine Dragons Sea through some means.
According to my guess, he must have obtained some great opportunity, which is why he could achieve Nascent Soul Formation so quickly and possess such strength.
And this opportunity might even be related to the Sea Race, which is why they are so anxious now.
In that case, should we abandon Ning Fa, or should we reconsider?"
Upon hearing this, Mei Danlun was clearly tempted, while Su Rihe, who had been silent, immediately shook his head.
"Let's not create unnecessary trouble.
Don't forget, for us Tianli, the most important thing is to occupy Cangyuan's territory and recuperate.
Now that the Sea Race has made significant concessions in this regard, there's no need to risk falling out with them over this.
After all, Tianli's strength is still no match for the Sea Race.
It would be irrational to fall out with the Sea Race for a mere speculated opportunity."
After listening, Aruoye and Mei Danlun's originally moved expressions immediately subsided, clearly finding Su Rihe's words reasonable.
Su Rihe continued, "Actually, compared to the Sea Race, I'm more worried about the Myriad Bone Gate.
They've been reinforcing their troops many times over the years.
This time, they even secretly invited troops from the Underworld Sea Sect, another major sect in the Rakshasa Immortal Realm, without informing us. It seems their ambition is not small.
I fear that after defeating Cangyuan, it will be difficult to send them away, and we need to be prepared for such a situation."
The other two's expressions turned serious, and they both nodded.
Mei Danlun couldn't help but sigh, "Who knew that the Abyssal Heavenly Pool would show signs of opening at this time.
The three of us had to each dispatch a portion of our top-tier forces to oversee and prepare.
Otherwise, with our combined strength, even with the protection of that fifth-tier grand array, Zhenyou City should have already been breached."
Aruoye sneered, "It just gives those people in Cangyuan a little more time to linger on. This time, as long as the Sea Race's method succeeds, it will be their doomsday!"
Meanwhile, tens of miles north of the Tianli encampment, a vast ocean spanning hundreds of miles floated in the air.
Rolling waves surged, with numerous special houses built from shells.
And in the very center of the vast ocean stood a grand hall constructed from deep purple coral, appearing extremely magnificent and exuding an exotic charm.
Currently, five powerful figures with profound auras were inside the hall, the five Great Cultivators leading the Sea Race's army this time.
Especially the young man in the center, whose aura was exceptionally powerful, far surpassing the other four Great Cultivators.
He sat high on a coral throne, tall in stature, but unlike ordinary sea creatures, he had no obvious racial characteristics. Instead, he looked no different from ordinary humans.
His skin was fair, his eyebrows were sharp and his eyes bright, and his demeanor was exceptionally elegant.
At this moment, he was holding a scroll and reading it with great interest.
The figures on the scroll were all naked, in extremely suggestive poses, clearly depicting erotic paintings.
The other four Sea Race Great Cultivators to his left and right appeared unfazed.
This was because they were well aware of their Sea Race commander's eccentric personality.
He was quite famous among the Sea Race, and there was no telling how many more outrageous things he had done.
Compared to that, looking at erotic paintings in public was practically normal for him.
Otherwise, with his strength and status, he wouldn't have been demoted by the Tidal Council to the Shena Sea for a hundred years.
It wasn't until recently, when the Sea Race launched consecutive wars in the Nine Dragons Sea and Cangyuan, that he was recalled.
At this moment, the other four Great Cultivators of the Sea Race exchanged glances.
Then, a burly Great Cultivator of the Sea Race cleared his throat and said, "Lord Lor, is it really appropriate for us to agree to use that method to break the Tier 5 Grand Extermination Immortal Array of Zhenyou City this time?
After all, our race has already opened a war in the Nine Dragons Sea, and the human forces there are not to be trifled with.
Therefore, every Ancestral Sea Heart is extremely crucial right now. Is it too wasteful to use it in such a remote place as Cangyuan?
Is it simply because Ning Fa, as the rumors say, is here?
Setting aside whether it's worth it to deal with this person, just looking at the fact that he hasn't reappeared for so many years, perhaps he has already returned to the Nine Dragons Sea through secret means."
The Sea Race commander named Lor seemed to be engrossed in an exciting part of the painting. He paid no attention to the man's words and instead brought the erotic painting closer, his eyes wide as he stared.
After a long while, he finished looking at that page, then looked up with a lingering gaze, lazily scanning the crowd.
"You ask me, who am I supposed to ask?
It was the decision of those old guys. I can't interfere.
If you have any opinions, you can go find them."
The crowd immediately froze, showing embarrassed expressions.
Lor snorted and turned the scroll to the next page.
Just then, his gaze suddenly sharpened as he looked to the right.
With a faint rustling sound, a stream of blue water flowed out of thin air, and then this stream slowly formed a tall and graceful figure.
It was a woman, clad in blue light armor. Her exposed skin was as lustrous as jade, her face exquisitely beautiful, and she wore a pearl crown. On her forehead was a flowing water pattern adorned with blue crystals, making her look incredibly noble. Her brows held a sharp, fierce aura.
The aura she exuded was no less than Lor's.
Seeing this woman arrive, the other four Great Cultivators of the Sea Race were startled and quickly rose to salute, "Greetings, my lady."
Lor, who had been looking lazy, suddenly became sharp. He closed the erotic painting in his hand, stood up, and stared intently at the Sea Race woman.
"Hathaway! I didn't expect those old guys to send you."
The other four Great Cultivators of the Sea Race were also inwardly shaken. They hadn't expected this person to come either.
This woman was the youngest senior councilor of the Tidal Council, capable of directly participating in the Deep Blue Conference.
There were even rumors that she had the potential to contend for the position of speaker in the future, so her status was exceptionally high.
That's why they were surprised.
The woman scanned the crowd, then looked at Lor and chuckled, "Lor, it's been a hundred and fifty years since we last met.
It seems that even though you were demoted to the Shena Sea, your cultivation hasn't fallen too far. Not bad."
Lor, however, snorted, "Don't think you can talk down to me just because you're a senior councilor. Someone once begged me to share my insights from the Ancestral Sea, even..."
Before he could finish speaking, Hathaway frowned, flicked her wrist, and a drop of deep blue water exploded, transforming into a floating deep blue light screen that enveloped them both.
The other four Great Cultivators of the Sea Race exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions strange.
They had vaguely heard about some grudges between these two, but judging from Lor's fragmented words, the inside story was likely deeper than they imagined.
Soon, the deep blue water screen dissipated.
Lor shrugged, a mischievous smile on his face.
Hathaway looked at the crowd calmly, "I will answer your questions.
Indeed, at least eighty percent of the reason the council decided to use the Ancestral Sea Heart this time is because of Ning Fa.
We received a warning a few days ago that Ning Fa is very likely to break through in his strength soon.
At that time, his power will become unimaginably great, and the cost of killing him will become extremely high.
Therefore, we must act quickly.
And you don't need to doubt the threat he poses to our Sea Race; he is definitely a major concern for us.
So, let alone one, even if we had to use two Ancestral Sea Hearts, it would be completely worth it if we could eliminate him."
Upon hearing this, the four Great Cultivators of the Sea Race stirred, their expressions solemn.
Only then did they realize how much the council valued Ning Fa.
Even Lor couldn't help but frown. Although his strength had reached the level of a senior councilor, he hadn't been granted the status of a senior councilor due to too many mistakes. Therefore, he was unaware of some classified information.
Hathaway then added, "In addition, we need to obtain the remains of that ancestor from the Ice Phoenix tribe as soon as possible.
Now that the Ice Phoenix tribe is wavering, if we can get their ancestor's remains, they will have no choice but to compromise.
Of course, besides these, there is an even more important reason: the legendary Abyssal Heavenly Pool.
This is also extremely important to our Sea Race. The Ancestral Sea has already issued a decree that this heavenly pool contains something of great importance to the Ancestral Sea.
This is also why I personally came here, to ensure that everything goes without a hitch."