The Transmigrator's Cultivation

Chapter 36.1 - Arc 3: Disaster at Sea | Chapter 36: Sea Fight

Translator: Lynn

Despite their best efforts, the disciples of the Nine Star Sea Clan found themselves overwhelmed and outnumbered. The chaos on the spirit ship and the dissatisfaction among the passengers had affected their concentration. It was too late. The venom continued to spew forth relentlessly, overpowering the shields until they burst with a loud pop.

Realizing the dire situation, Xu Ziqing disregarded everything else and grabbed Zhang Jiu’s arm. With another wind spell, he swiftly retreated backward, soaring several feet higher into the air. However, their retreat was cut short as a massive wave crashed down, sweeping several low-flying cultivators into its depths. Within the wave lurked ferocious demon sharks, seizing the opportunity to bite the monks’ bodies and drag them alive into the sea.

The first and second-order pythons, unwilling to surrender, lashed their long tails high into the air, ensnaring the unsuspecting cultivators around their waists and devouring them whole. The viciousness of the beasts was evident as they unleashed chaos and bloodshed.

Exerting his spiritual energy to elevate the ship, Xu Ziqing couldn’t afford to take any chances. Otherwise, he would meet an untimely demise without a proper burial.

With the spirit ship capsized, the sea turned crimson with blood. The sea beasts emerged in unison, tearing apart those who had fallen into the water, swallowing them whole, or dismembering their bodies. The sea became a gruesome spectacle of tearing and devouring.

The disciples of the Nine Star Sea Sect who managed to board a spirit boat and fly in mid-air were not entirely safe. Some were unable to keep up and fell victim to the ravenous sea beasts.

A disciple cursed, “Where do these sea beasts come from? How dare you defy the Nine Star Sea Sect! Are you not afraid of the wrath of the Golden-eyed Sea King?”

Another shouted, “If the Lord Sea King discovers your transgressions, he will extract your demon cores and execute you with a thousand cuts!”

However, the sea beasts paid no heed to their threats, their sharp teeth flashing as they continued their gruesome feat.

Suddenly, a hoarse voice echoed, “How arrogant of you to court death!”

At the sound of these words, the surviving monks turned their gazes and beheld a three-headed augur emerging from the water. It measured ten feet long with a head as large as a car, its three faces grinning menacingly. Their human-like expressions sent shivers down everyone’s spines.

The words had come from the beast’s mouth, leaving the crowd of cultivators astonished.

A disciple of the Nine Star Sea Sect turned pale with fear and stammered, “A Third Rank…”

“It’s a third-ranked demonic beast!”

“It’s a Black-backed Three-Headed Jiao, a Third Rank Demonic Beast!”

It was common knowledge that beasts, whether demonic or spiritual, possessed a horizontal bone in their throats that prevented them from speaking unless it was melted away. This required a considerable amount of demonic energy and at least a third-rank cultivation level. The three-headed scaly dragon before them spoke with some difficulty, indicating that it had recently undergone this refinement. Its formidable cultivation level couldn’t be denied.

Even the lord of the sea was only of the fourth rank, making a third-order sea beast an incredibly powerful adversary. The cultivators present were already struggling to handle the numerous first and second-rank sea beasts, let alone contend with a third-rank one.

The crowd was filled with despair, but Xu Ziqing observed with uncertainty, his mind in turmoil. Though he managed to save his own life by staying out of the sea beast’s line of attack, he knew that if the other monks were to perish, his fate would be sealed as well.

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With this realization, Xu Ziqing secretly activated his Dantian spiritual power and focused his consciousness on the bloodthirsty demon vine seed. In an instant, the seed sprouted and grew into a vine, extending from his meridians to his palm. Whenever Xu Ziqing willed it, the vine would emerge, craving blood and flesh.

However, Xu Ziqing was well aware of his predicament. He was in the middle of the sea, and his spiritual energy was not limitless. While he could temporarily safeguard himself by levitating in the air, the consequences would be dire if he ran out of spiritual energy. He contemplated escaping to the Upper Yu Continent, but he knew that even if he evaded the sea beasts currently preoccupied with devouring other cultivators, there were still numerous fierce demonic beasts further away. Flying in that direction would undoubtedly draw their attention.

After careful consideration, he concluded that it wasn’t a viable option. At that moment, he felt trapped with no choice but to accept his fate.

Observing Xu Ziqing’s silence, Zhang Jiu spoke up, “Brother Xu, release your grip on me. You have already done everything you can. If you escape quickly, there’s a chance you might survive. Otherwise, both of us will be buried here.”

Xu Ziqing shook his head and replied, “You’ve treated me to countless good wines. Just for that, I can’t abandon you.”

Though his words seemed casual, both of them understood the weight behind them. They may not have known each other well, but Xu Ziqing and Zhang Jiu considered each other as friends. Now, in their shared suffering, Xu Ziqing couldn’t bear to desert his companion and flee. Such an act would make him no better than a beast.

After Zhang Jiu made his plea, he ceased trying to convince Xu Ziqing and said, “It’s alright, Brother Xu. Hang in there. If it truly becomes impossible, we’ll face our demise together and take them down with us.”

Hearing Zhang Jiu’s resolute words, Xu Ziqing didn’t underestimate his determination and smiled, replying, “That’s exactly what we should do.”

The two of them reached an agreement, and as they resumed watching the battle, a surge of determination coursed through their veins.

The disciples of the Nine Star Sea Sect released a series of fireworks into the air, displaying a massive nine-star pearl diagram as both a warning and a distress signal.

Though this method might not have a significant effect, it managed to startle the sea beasts.

As the saying goes, one firework sets off another. After the fireworks dissipated, massive waves surged in from a hundred miles away, resembling towering mountains. Hundreds of feet high, the waves reached the heavens, obscuring the sky and shrouding the clouds.

Amidst the waves, a scolding voice emerged, “The Golden-eyed Sea King has commanded us to capture all the troublemakers in this sea. Resist, and you shall be mercilessly slain!”

Following the voice were countless loud cries, echoing in the distance and assaulting their eardrums.

The sea beasts gathered densely, their tails breaking the waves, exuding a majestic and untamed aura.

Unlike the scattered troops before, these sea beasts formed a disciplined formation. Their sound resembled the clash of golden drums and the aura of a martial army. Sharks, scorpions, pythons, whales, crabs, and other sea creatures surged forward, their voices powerful enough to shake the sky and the sea, unstoppable.

The sea beasts swarmed and entangled the rebellious beasts from earlier. Even the awakened demonic beasts were no match for them. They preferred physical combat, utilizing sharp claws, fangs, enormous mouths, sturdy tails, and tentacle-like appendages. The sea transformed into a battlefield of ferocity, where blood mixed with seawater, creating a dense mist of blood and intensifying the pungent smell.

Though the rebellious beasts fought valiantly, their numbers dwindled in the end.

In the sea, the monks who had been floating found themselves caught in the mouths of the demonic beasts under the command of the Golden-eyed Sea King, only to be thrown out afterward. The Nine Star Sea Sect’s precarious ship, on the verge of destruction, was miraculously saved.

The sea beast rebellion had been detected by the sea king, who dispatched his beasts to quell the uprising and rescue the beleaguered cultivators.

Though the relationship between the Nine Star Sea Sect and the sea beasts was delicate, cultivators and beasts had always been cautious of each other, and engaged in deadly confrontations throughout history. Now, with the cultivators saving the lives of the beasts, their survival was ensured. However, it was unlikely that they would feel any better about it.

Xu Ziqing, on the other hand, felt a sense of relief. He held no prejudice against the demonic beasts, and as long as they refrained from harming humans, he had no desire to kill them. Being saved by the beasts, he saw no harm in continuing to live.

Upon witnessing the blood-filled scene, Zhang Jiu suggested, “Brother Xu, let’s seize this opportunity to escape.”

Overwhelmed by the sea of blood beneath him, Xu Ziqing reluctantly agreed, nodding in response. “I will go, Brother Zhang. Hold on to me.”

Zhang Jiu acknowledged his words, and Xu Ziqing’s feet emitted a green light from the hovering grass blades. With that, they departed without further delay.

Suddenly, an eagle’s cry pierced the air, a majestic Chinese Eagle with ink-black feathers and golden plumage. It seemed to have endured much during their journey.

After a moment of reflection, Xu Ziqing recalled what had transpired.

It turned out that he had used the grass blades beneath his feet to carry Zhang Jiu across the remaining distance of the sea. However, he had underestimated the consumption of his spiritual energy, which ran out after flying less than a thousand miles. To conserve energy, Xu Ziqing had to lower their altitude, but their ill-fated journey led them to encounter the extraordinary “Dragon Sucking Water” phenomenon, sweeping them away in its fierce winds.

Now, lying on his back in the shallow water, Xu Ziqing found himself safe. However, before he could fully relax, he remembered his companion and sat up, scanning his surroundings.

A dark figure floated silently in the nearby shallow water, catching Xu Ziqing’s attention. He hurriedly made his way toward the figure.

As he approached, Xu Ziqing began to feel a sense of disappointment, but he continued to act swiftly, turning the man over. Frowning upon seeing the man’s face, he noticed several disheartening details.

The man, only about five feet tall, wore tattered clothes with whip marks on his back and cuts on his chest and shoulders. His skin was pale, and it was evident that he had suffered severe injuries. What troubled Xu Ziqing, even more, was the fact that the man was a child, no older than ten years old. He couldn’t fathom who could have inflicted such terrible harm upon the young boy.

The boy’s complexion was ashen, barely breathing, and if not for the faint warmth in his chest, he might have appeared lifeless.

Unable to stand idly by, Xu Ziqing immediately grasped the boy’s wrist and channeled a stream of pure Ethereal Wood Qi into his body. The warm and harmonious properties of wood possessed the power of abundant life force, fortifying vitality. The Wood Qi spread throughout the boy’s body, guided by Xu Ziqing’s manipulation, running its course for a full 18 times before gradually subsiding.

Following this action, Xu Ziqing’s anger resurfaced.

The boy’s organs were decaying, his meridians were injured, and several toxins had accumulated within his body. After being immersed in the sea for an extended period, the cold air infiltrated his body, leaving him with just one breath remaining. If Xu Ziqing hadn’t crossed paths with the boy, he would likely have perished within moments.

Although Xu Ziqing had used his Ethereal Wood Qi to grant the boy a chance at life, his wounds couldn’t be healed overnight. The boy’s injuries were too extensive, and leaving him unattended would only lead to his demise. Xu Ziqing couldn’t bear to abandon a child in such a state, especially after enduring so much suffering.

He proceeded to remove the boy’s soaked clothing and retrieved a long shirt from his storage ring, carefully wrapping it around the child. With great care, Xu Ziqing cradled the boy in his arms, surveying the surroundings, but there was no sign of Zhang Jiu. He remained unaware of Zhang Jiu’s whereabouts after being swept away, hoping fervently that his companion was safe. However, if they hadn’t encountered the sea beast, a cultivator like Zhang Jiu wouldn’t have lost his life so easily.

Sighing deeply, Xu Ziqing cast aside his worries and wasted no more time. He pressed forward, determined to find a tranquil location to treat the boy’s injuries.

Despite being carried away by the colossal wave, Xu Ziqing’s spiritual energy gradually recovered on its own, allowing him to traverse through the air. Regrettably, the child couldn’t endure such transportation, forcing Xu Ziqing to abandon the aerial route.

As the town was near the beach, it attracted a large gathering of people, including both ordinary individuals and numerous cultivators.

In the town, there were multiple inns, primarily catering to ordinary mortals. However, only two establishments offered “elegant residences” exclusively for monks.

These two inns were situated at the far ends of the town, with one accommodating the most formidable immortal cultivators, while the other welcomed cultivators of lower ranks. This arrangement aimed to prevent interference and minimize conflicts among them.

Upon entering the town, Xu Ziqing descended gracefully with the wind. The townsfolk, having encountered various individuals, immediately recognized him as a monk and showed great respect.

After seeking directions from a local, Xu Ziqing headed directly to the “Immortal Residence.” True to its name, this inn specifically catered to immortal cultivators.

The inn boasted an elegant ambience akin to a tranquil garden adorned with meticulously pruned flowers and trees brimming with spiritual energy, creating a refreshing atmosphere.

Upon entering, Xu Ziqing spotted a charming young woman, seemingly curled up. She possessed a cultivation level of Qi Refinement but dressed as a maidservant, with a sweet and adorable smile on her face.

“Senior, please come in swiftly,” the beautiful maid’s eyes shimmered, exuding an irresistible charm. “May I inquire if you would like to have a meal first or explore the elegant residence?”

Xu Ziqing smiled warmly and replied, “There’s no need to trouble yourself. I have urgent matters to attend to, so kindly guide me to the elegant residence.”

The maid’s gaze flickered momentarily, noticing the person in Xu Ziqing’s arms. Immediately, she composed herself, maintaining a soft but non-flirtatious tone. “Please follow me,” she said, turning around and leading the way.

Feeling anxious, Xu Ziqing hurriedly followed, soon catching sight of a secluded corner within the lush greenery. There stood an exceedingly elegant single room, enclosed by a bamboo fence that imparted a serene ambience.

The beautiful maid ushered him inside without much conversation.

With a wave of his sleeve, Xu Ziqing signaled her departure. He swiftly entered the room and gently placed the boy in his arms on the bed.

Xu Ziqing took the boy’s pulse and examined his internal energy.

Fortunately, the boy possessed great tenacity. With just a trace of Yi Wood Qi, Xu Ziqing had stimulated a significant amount of vitality, evident from the signs of recovery in his veins and organs.

Feeling relieved, Xu Ziqing infused two additional doses of spiritual energy, hoping that the boy’s strong willpower would enable him to make the most of it and mend his body.

Having done his part, Xu Ziqing sat on a futon and took a moment to rest while contemplating the situation.

As someone who had experienced a rebirth twice, Xu Ziqing possessed extensive knowledge in such matters. The boy lacked any spiritual energy in his body, rendering him a mere mortal. His body bore numerous scars, both old and new, indicating a state of severe distress.

Now that the boy had survived, the question arose: how could Xu Ziqing reintegrate him into the world?

Lost in his thoughts, Xu Ziqing was suddenly greeted by the appearance of a white figure.

Looking up, Xu Ziqing’s face brightened. “Brother Yun.”

Yun Lie lowered his gaze and nodded slightly. Then, his attention shifted toward the person on the bed. “Dragon Qi,” he uttered.

Startled, Xu Ziqing exclaimed, “Dragon Qi…?”

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