Supreme of the Heavenly Realm
Chapter 364 - 361

Chapter 364: 361

The location of the Undersea Ancient Cave Mansion was within a desolate sea area twenty thousand li south of Mountain and Sea City. This sea area, because of its thin Spiritual Energy and scarce resources, was naturally rarely visited by mankind, with hardly any human presence, thus becoming barren over time.

However, ever since the Ancient Cave Mansion was discovered here last month, this sea area had promptly become much livelier. Powerhouses from various forces had gathered here, each one hoping to enter the Ancient Cave Mansion to explore and seek fortunes and treasures.

Ye Xuan and his party, riding the flying mount Black Wind Eagle provided by the Black Market, only needed three to four days to reach the target desolate sea area.

On the way, Ye Xuan saw many strong entities from other forces. Some were from Third Grade forces, and many were unaffiliated individual Demon Beasts attracted to the Undersea Ancient Cave Mansion.

Among them, there were not a few with obscure and mighty auras, though they would actively make way upon encountering Ye Xuan’s group. After all, no one dared to blatantly provoke the people of the Black Market.

Seemly enjoying the attention from those around him, Ao Wuchang’s eyelids were raised high, and he would glance at Ye Xuan from time to time, as if to show off his power.

How far his Black Market’s face went in the Demon Beast Territory, how many feared it.

Ye Xuan, however, paid no heed to such behavior. Such people were not worth the attention and could be treated as if they didn’t exist.

But the more Ye Xuan ignored Ao Wuchang, the latter grew even more resentful of Ye Xuan’s attitude, gritting his teeth in secret. Daring to ignore him, once he found the opportunity, he would definitely teach Ye Xuan a lesson.

About a thousand li into the desolate sea area, a group of people appeared in their field of view. They were all dressed in blue robes. The leader was a young man with a white face and triangular eyes, not very old in appearance, with a patch covering his right eye securely. Behind him stood uniformly powerful Seventh Grade Demon King experts, making for a formidable lineup.

The Demon Beast that this group mounted, a Four-winged Demon Python full of Demon Energy, was no less impressive than the party from the Black Market.

"It’s the people from Evil Netherworld."

Zi Yuqing saw this group of people and her fair face changed slightly, she exclaimed in surprise.

Ye Xuan’s eyes also flickered. The Evil Netherworld was one of the three strongest Fourth Grade forces in the Demon Beast Territory, not much different from the Black Market in terms of power, very formidable.

"Hey, isn’t that the Black Market’s great beauty, Miss Zi Yuqing?"

At that moment, the white-faced young man also looked over to Ye Xuan’s party, his eyes immediately brightened, revealing a hint of fervor, and he subsequently slowed down, smiling genially.

"Netherworld Snake Prince, I didn’t expect you to be interested in the Undersea Ancient Cave Mansion,"

Zi Yuqing clasped her hands together, then whispered to Ye Xuan, "The Netherworld Snake Prince is among the strongest of the young generation in the Evil Netherworld, possessing the formidable Netherworld Snake Eye."

Upon hearing this, Ye Xuan looked over. Indeed, the Netherworld Snake Prince’s right eye was covered, and that covered eye was most likely the Netherworld Snake Eye.

"Of course, this Undersea Ancient Cave Mansion may belong to some Middle Ancient Demon Venerable. How could I afford to miss it? Miss Zi, since our goals align, why not join forces and travel together? It would be good to have each other’s support." The Netherworld Snake Prince revealed a smile, which appeared harmless and seemingly friendly.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Netherworld Snake Prince. Yuqing appreciates it. However, we already have plans for this trip and I’m afraid we cannot accompany you."

Zi Yuqing also returned a smile, but she was well aware of the Netherworld Snake Prince’s nature, which could be summed up as ’honeyed words, stinging heart’. Those unfamiliar with him could easily be fooled by his pretense, and they wouldn’t even know how they met their demise.

"Oh, to meet is fate; why must Miss Zi reject someone from afar?"

The Netherworld Snake Prince maintained his friendly smile, unwilling to give up.

At this point, Ao Wuchang became impatient. He scoffed coldly, looking towards the Netherworld Snake Prince, "Netherworld Snake Prince, we all know what you are like, disappear from our sight now, or you’ll regret showing up here."

"Netherworld Snake Prince, if you feel there’s fate between us, why insist on this moment? There will be opportunities to meet at the Ancient Cave Mansion."

The smile on Zi Yuqing’s face seemed a bit forced.

"Alright then."

The Netherworld Snake Prince’s face showed a touch of regret as if sorry for not being able to travel with Zi Yuqing. Yet just as he was about to turn around, seemingly to continue on his way, he suddenly spun back and with a sudden flick of his fingers in the air, a gray conical Finger Light blasted violently at Ao Wuchang.

Boom!

Caught off guard, Ao Wuchang was struck in the chest by the Finger Light, his figure hurling backward as a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"What do you think you are, to dare pass judgment on me?"

Netherworld Snake Prince’s lips curled into a cold, cruel smile, his previously friendly demeanor completely gone without a trace, revealing his true nature.

"You..."

Ao Wuchang’s face turned an ashen hue, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his heart ready to burst with fury. He hadn’t expected that the Netherworld Snake Lord would strike without warning, treacherous to the extreme, making a fool of him in front of everyone.

"Netherworld Snake Lord, what are you doing?"

Zi Yuqing’s pretty face instantly grew cold. After all, Ao Wuchang was a genius of the Black Market, and to be humiliated by the Netherworld Snake Lord like this, she couldn’t just stand by idly.

"It’s nothing, just teaching this impudent boy a lesson. A mere servant daring to speak out of turn truly deserves a beating."

The Netherworld Snake Lord responded noncommittally and then leisurely saluted Zi Yuqing, "Since Lady Zi is unwilling to accompany me, I shan’t insist. I’ll see you in the Ancient Cave Mansion, I’ll take my leave first."

With that, the Netherworld Snake Lord spurred his Four-winged Demon Python onward, speeding up exponentially.

"Damn it, don’t think you can get away!"

Ao Wuchang shouted as he prepared to rush forward, but was stopped by Zi Yuqing. She shook her head and said, "Our goal is the Undersea Ancient Cave Mansion; it’s not wise to create additional complications. Let’s drop it for now."

While restraining Ao Wuchang, Zi Yuqing also frowned inwardly. She began to question whether bringing him along was a mistake. Had he not been careless, how could the Netherworld Snake Lord have seized the opportunity to launch a successful attack?

Knowing the type of person the Netherworld Snake Lord was, and yet failing to guard against him, was nothing short of stupidity. And now, having suffered a setback, to still consider recklessly charging forward was even more foolish.

One blunder after another drastically lowered Zi Yuqing’s opinion of Ao Wuchang.

"Damn it."

Ao Wuchang gritted his teeth in hatred. He had wanted to chastise the Netherworld Snake Lord, to show off in front of Zi Yuqing. But not only did he fail to make an impression, he lost face severely, being humiliated by the Netherworld Snake Lord. It was like losing the lady and the troops.

In contrast, Ye Xuan had done nothing, yet he managed to converse and laugh with Zi Yuqing. Ao Wuchang suspected that this outcome was precisely what Ye Xuan had instigated.

"That bastard is even more sinister than the Netherworld Snake Lord. Just wait, I’ll definitely make you pay."

Ao Wuchang’s expression turned dark. He was determined to inflict upon Ye Xuan all the humiliation he had suffered.

To this, Ye Xuan could only profess his innocence. When someone has a grudge against you, everything you do is seen as intentional, even doing nothing can get you inadvertently targeted; such is the effect of bias.

He hoped Ao Wuchang wouldn’t be foolish, otherwise, Ye Xuan wouldn’t show him any mercy. In the end, the one at a disadvantage would certainly not be him.

Throughout the journey, Ye Xuan occasionally chatted with Zi Yuqing, but most of the time, he was meditating, mastering the Soul-breaking Light, and solidifying his cultivation of Spiritual Energy.

Their mount, the Black Wind Eagle, was swift. By noon of the fourth day, Ye Xuan and his companions finally arrived at the location of the Undersea Ancient Cave Mansion.

The maritime domain was extremely vast, an expanse of endless cobalt blue, with the world ahead shrouded in boundlessness, seemingly without end.

At that moment, within the waters below, a tremendous vortex had appeared. Within the vortex, strange runes flickered intermittently. The vortex expanded and contracted sporadically, occasionally unleashing wild and violent fluctuations.

Above this sea zone, numerous figures lingered, at least a hundred people were present, including some with powerful presences, although they concealed their cultivations only occasionally releasing bursts of fierce energy—truly a gathering of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

Among these figures was the Netherworld Snake Lord who had left earlier, along with an elderly man bent with age. This elderly figure was dressed in a dark golden robe, with rather lecherous features, but the respectful look in the Netherworld Snake Lord’s eyes indicated that Ye Xuan was in the presence of someone significant.

"This old man is called the Golden Rat Elder, who specializes in soundwave attacks and has close ties to the Evil Netherworld, a thorny individual to be wary of," Zi Yuqing whispered to Ye Xuan cautiously.

Ye Xuan nodded; soundwave attacks were indeed a tricky form of assault, and when combined with the Netherworld Snake Lord’s Netherworld Snake eye, their combined power was greatly magnified.

After pausing his gaze on the Golden Rat Elder, Ye Xuan’s eyes then drifted to another individual. This person had a stern face, exuding an eerie aura and carrying a ragged black crescent moon scimitar on his back, having an extraordinary bearing.

"The Heavenly Evil King from Evil Moon Cave, another formidable character."

Evil Moon Cave was a strong force among the twelve Fourth Grade powers of the Demon Beast World, on par with the Evil Netherworld and the Black Market.

Zi Yuqing introduced each notable person from the Demon Beast World to Ye Xuan, yet they were oblivious to the pair of eyes watching Ye Xuan intently, like a venomous snake.

"Hehe, this kid actually showed up here; he sure made the old man search quite a bit... But this time, I’ll see who comes to save you!"

Among the crowd, a figure suddenly lifted his hat, revealing a face with a mocking smile. It belonged to none other than Sima Xin, who had been tracing Ye Xuan all the way from Sky Demon Mountain.