Translator: CinderTL
"Is this the genius of the Blue Star Civilization?"
"So weak," Rosen said, wiping the blood from his long blade and shaking his head. "They couldn't even withstand a single strike from me."
"These few were likely all just Dharma Manifestation-level," Mina observed, looking at the corpses.
Their strength was more than enough to instantly kill Dharma Manifestation-level geniuses.
The gap in power was too vast.
"The Extreme Sea Primordial Liquid has matured," Mina announced. "Let's not delay. We should secure the treasure first."
"Agreed. Let's go," Rosen and the brown-haired youth nodded in unison.
Though they were top-tier Fallen Star-level Heavenly Pride, the precious Extreme Sea Primordial Liquid still tempted them greatly.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Mina, Rosen, and the brown-haired youth transformed into three streaks of flowing light, hurtling toward the Extreme Sea Crust ahead.
Meanwhile, figures surged from all directions of the Extreme Sea Crust.
The vast majority were strong individuals from the Fire Ember Civilization and the Returning Cloud Civilization.
Of course, Blue Star geniuses were also present, though their numbers were far fewer than those from the other two major civilizations.
On a mountaintop, a young woman stood atop a rock, her delicate features set in a solemn expression.
If Jiang Ye were here, he would recognize her instantly: it was Shi Ting, his senior sister, from whom he had parted earlier.
At this moment, Shi Ting's battle armor was heavily damaged, and exhaustion was evident in her expression. She had clearly endured several life-and-death battles and was in poor condition.
"So many foreign races," Shi Ting said, her gaze solemn as she looked ahead.
"The number of geniuses on Blue Star truly pales in comparison to those of the Fire Ember Civilization and the Returning Cloud Civilization," she thought, shaking her head inwardly.
It was undeniable that higher civilization levels correlated with a greater number of geniuses.
Extreme Sea Primordial Liquid... can I even compete for it? Shi Ting wondered. With my strength, I doubt I can contend with those powerful foreign races.
As this thought crossed her mind, she sighed softly.
"I don't know why, but ever since I parted ways with Jiang Ye, my strength has declined," she said, a hint of helplessness on her pretty face.
Before, she had thought her spearmanship had broken through to a new level. But after separating from Jiang Ye, she discovered that her spearmanship had returned to its original level of power.
Perhaps it was just an illusion before, Shi Ting thought, shaking her head in resignation.
Gazing at the Extreme Sea Crust before her, she had already abandoned any hope of claiming the greatest prize.
The Extreme Sea Crust doesn't just contain the Extreme Sea Primordial Liquid; it also holds numerous Low B-tier Opportunities, she mused. If I can secure even a few of those, this trip won't have been in vain.
In another direction, Su Haiyue and Lin Qing stood atop a mountain peak.
"Sister Haiyue, when do we make our move?" Lin Qing, the short-haired girl, asked the girl in the sea-blue battle armor beside her.
"Not yet," Su Haiyue replied softly. "There are too many strong individuals from foreign races. We must proceed with caution."
"Especially the strong ones from the Fire Ember Civilization—they seem to be targeting Blue Star martial artists."
"Secure the Extreme Sea Primordial Liquid if we can, but don't force it," Su Haiyue advised.
Lin Qing nodded, then suddenly asked, "Sister Haiyue, do you think that Jiang Ye from before will come here?"
"Jiang Ye?"
A hint of nostalgia flickered in Su Haiyue's almond-shaped eyes.
She had indeed made a deep impression of that handsome young man who had saved her life.
"Perhaps," Su Haiyue murmured. "He's incredibly strong. If he comes here, he'll definitely compete for the Extreme Sea Primordial Liquid."
"If we encounter him, we should try to help him as much as possible."
"Agreed."
Around the Extreme Sea Crust, the wind howled and clouds churned.
The entire landmass twisted into a bizarre and distorted shape, with massive rock plates crushing and interlocking like the bones of ancient behemoths, haphazardly piled together over countless ages.
Within the fissures of the crust, a faint blue light pulsed—the mysterious energy emanating from the depths of the earth.
"Senior Sister, we're almost there."
On a mountain peak, Jiang Ye and Chen Zilu stood side by side, gazing at the vast expanse of land below.
Ahead lay the Extreme Sea Crust.
It appeared close, but was actually still hundreds of kilometers away.
"There are many strong individuals from foreign races," Chen Zilu murmured, her eyes fixed on the distance.
Suddenly—
Buzz—Her expression shifted as she glanced at her wristband. "There are students from White Dragon University ahead."
Hearing this, Jiang Ye activated his wristband's projection to see the location.
"Shi Ting?"
"Ignore her," Jiang Ye said. "Senior Sister, turn off your wristband's tracking function."
"Huh?" Chen Zilu looked puzzled.
"Listen to me from now on," Jiang Ye said, meeting her gaze. "I know where the greatest opportunity lies."
"You do?" Chen Zilu was slightly taken aback.
Jiang Ye was clearly visiting for the first time, wasn't he?
Not to mention Jiang Ye, even she was visiting Ancient Star No. 7 for the first time.
After all, this place only opened once every ten years.
After a moment's thought, she nodded softly. "Alright," she said, deactivating her wristband's sensing function.
Jiang Ye was slightly surprised that she complied without hesitation.
He had actually prepared to explain his reasoning to her.
"You trust me so much?" Jiang Ye looked at her.
"I've never been here either," Chen Zilu said seriously. "Since you say you know the way, I'll follow your lead."
Seeing the girl's completely unguarded, clear eyes, Jiang Ye couldn't help but smile.
"I'll lead the way from now on," he said, meeting her gaze. "Stay close."
"Okay," Chen Zilu nodded softly.
Without another word, Jiang Ye shot forward.
Whoosh!
Chen Zilu swiftly followed.
In that instant, the two seemed to transform into shadows, gliding silently across the vast, desolate land.
Ten minutes later.
Core region of the Extreme Sea Crust.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Using rock formations for cover, Jiang Ye and Chen Zilu raced across the vast expanse.
No one hindered them.
They even passed near several foreign race strongmen, yet none of them seemed to notice.
"Are these foreign races blind?" Chen Zilu asked, trailing behind Jiang Ye. The entire journey felt surreal.
She and Jiang Ye moved through an environment teeming with foreign races, yet none of them seemed to notice their presence.
"Senior Sister, stay close to me," Jiang Ye's voice echoed in her mind.
"Okay," Chen Zilu replied, following closely behind him as they advanced step by step.
She had a vague feeling that all of this was somehow related to Jiang Ye.
In truth, it all stemmed from Jiang Ye's "Stealth Transit" ability.
This ability had originally only applied to him.
But this time, it was somehow affecting Chen Zilu as well.
"It must be the effect of the Martial Saint Bond," Jiang Ye thought. He recalled the description stating that Chen Zilu would also be affected by the bond to some extent.
This was fortunate.
Otherwise, it would have been difficult for Jiang Ye to bring Chen Zilu into the Extreme Sea Crust without being discovered by the foreign races.
As for forcing their way through? With Jiang Ye's strength, he could certainly do it.
But that would have been a waste of time.
Better to follow the example set at Thunder Sound Valley: secure the greatest benefit first, lest others snatch it away.
"We're almost there," Jiang Ye said, his eyes gleaming.
He had activated his [ Perceptive Insight ] and pinpointed the location of the greatest opportunity.
"It's just ahead," he said, gazing forward.
Before them stood a massive, imposing white rock, resembling a small mountain. Its surface was covered in mysterious, ancient patterns, some of which glowed with dazzling light.
At the center of the colossal rock, a narrow, vertical fissure split open, gaping like the vertical pupil of a monstrous beast.
Jiang Ye could sense it.
The greatest opportunity within the Extreme Sea Crust lay hidden within that fissure!
"Be careful."
"Don't touch the rock," Jiang Ye warned in a low voice. His [ Perceptive Insight ] allowed him to detect danger.
"Got it," Chen Zilu nodded.
Whoosh!
Jiang Ye entered the narrow fissure first.
Chen Zilu followed cautiously, stepping precisely into his footprints with each stride.
Beyond the fissure lay a long, dark passage, narrow and descending into the depths.
Chen Zilu trailed behind Jiang Ye, maintaining a comfortable distance.
As she watched his lone figure stealthily moving ahead, she suddenly realized how rarely she had ever followed someone like this.
Ever since her mother's death, Chen Zilu had learned to rely solely on herself, whether in her studies, daily life, or cultivation. She had grown accustomed to this self-reliance.
Her life and cultivation were like a meticulously planned, relentlessly tense schedule, with never a moment of relaxation.
But in that moment,
She felt an unprecedented sense of peace.
The surroundings were utterly silent, save for the sound of their footsteps and breathing.
Chen Zilu suddenly thought that following this man ahead, walking like this forever, might not be so bad.
But then,
Whoosh! A sudden burst of light erupted before them.
The scene abruptly opened up.
Before them stood an almost invisible energy barrier, covered in dense, ancient runes that crackled like lightning, emitting crackling sounds.
"What is this?" Chen Zilu's gaze sharpened.
When she used her Martial Will Perception to sense the barrier, instantly—
Boom!
A terrifying wave of energy swept through her mind.
Thud! Chen Zilu's body trembled, a sharp pain shooting through her, making her instinctively recoil a step.
"Senior Sister," Jiang Ye said, turning to look at her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she replied.
"Don't use your Martial Will Perception to sense the path ahead," Chen Zilu warned. "You'll suffer a severe backlash."
"I'll handle the perception," she said, focusing her gaze forward.
The pain she had just experienced was very similar to what she had felt during the God-Devouring Period.
Chen Zilu, long accustomed to such trials, felt no fear.
But just as she was about to continue her perception,
"Senior Sister, there's no need," Jiang Ye said. "Let me do it."
Buzz~
As he spoke, a wave of mental force surged forward.
Chen Zilu was momentarily stunned.
Then she couldn't help but say, "It will hurt."
"It's fine."
Jiang Ye stared at the energy barrier ahead. The instant his mental force touched it, a storm-like fluctuation swept through his mind.
(End of the Chapter)
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