Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

(One)

After Qingxuan Zhenren took the Qingling Healing Pill, Lin Yan used the pure water-based spiritual energy of the Canglan Sea Emperor Technique to nourish his meridians. In just a few breaths, the depleted spiritual energy in his body slowly returned, and the righteous Taoist energy rose like the morning sun, dispelling the accumulated demonic poison and turbidity around him. His disheveled beard and hair moved without wind, and his originally pale face gradually regained its rosy hue. When he opened his eyes, there was even a Taoist aura of Laoshan flowing through them, and the righteous Taoist energy emanating from his body soared straight into the sky.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the darkness at the bottom of the abyss was torn apart by a crimson flash. A foul wind, carrying a world-destroying demonic aura, swept upwards, and a colossal shadow several meters tall slowly rose from the pitch-black abyss. Its entire body was covered in a hard, crimson carapace, covered with spiraling, ferocious patterns. Its pincers, like two blood-red crescent moons, gleamed with a cold light capable of tearing through metal and stone. Its compound eyes were crimson like molten fire, and with each sweep, its ferocious aura almost materialized. Behind the Shrimp King were a dense, dark mass of fully armed shrimp soldiers and generals.

"The King of Red Crayfish," Master Qingxuan blurted out.

"Humans... dare to kill my commander..."

The Shrimp King's voice boomed like thunder, making everyone's ears ring: "You're all courting death!"

Yi Azhu's face turned pale as she tightly gripped the Sea Spirit Pearl. The pearl spontaneously emitted a soft, watery light, protecting her and the spirit turtle beside her from the demonic energy.

Master Qingxuan's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly whispered, "Be careful! This demon has gained sentience and cultivated for hundreds of years. Its physical body is incredibly strong; ordinary spells cannot harm it in the slightest!"

"My two young friends, step back. I will personally deal with this demon."

Just as Lin Yan and Yun Xi were about to step forward to meet the enemy, Master Qingxuan gave a soft shout, his voice as loud as a bell, and raised his hand to stop them.

He raised his hand and gestured in mid-air, causing the dim Taoist talisman at his waist to suddenly light up with golden light. An ancient Laoshan Demon-Suppressing Seal flew out of his storage bag and hovered in mid-air. The seal was engraved with ancient Taoist patterns and exuded a righteous aura that suppressed all demons.

Sensing the power of this righteous energy, the Red Shrimp King grew even more ferocious. Its several-zhang-tall body trembled violently, and its claws whipped up towering demonic waves as it roared incessantly: "You stinking Taoist priest, I let you linger on before, but today I will crush you into mincemeat!" The Shrimp King leaped into the air, its crimson shell glowing with blood, and its demonic power condensed into a gigantic phantom of a shrimp claw that blotted out the sky. With the power to tear through the void, it slammed down fiercely towards Qingxuan Zhenren.

Master Qingxuan, his robes fluttering, raised his hand and formed the Laoshan Demon-Suppressing Incantation, pointing it in the air: "Laoshan Taoist magic, suppress demons and subdue monsters!"

The Demon-Suppressing Seal, which was suspended in mid-air, suddenly grew several feet in size, radiating golden light. Dao patterns flowed across its body, transforming it into a giant golden seal the size of a mountain. With immense force, it crashed down on the giant shrimp claw phantom.

"boom--!"

The golden light and the crimson demonic power collided violently, the deafening roar reverberating throughout the Black Reef Abyss. A violent shockwave spread outwards, and the shrimp king's illusory claws shattered instantly. The terrifying recoil force pushed its massive body back more than ten feet, and fine cracks appeared on its hard, crimson shell. It spat out a mouthful of pitch-black demonic blood.

"You! You're clearly on your last legs!" The Shrimp King was both shocked and furious, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Master Qingxuan remained indifferent, giving him no chance to catch his breath. His hands moved swiftly, forming hand seals, and he chanted a Taoist mantra: "The righteous energy of heaven and earth binds demons and seals away evil!"

Several golden chains emerged from the void, coiling around the Shrimp King like dragons. The demon-suppressing runes engraved on the chains shone with dazzling light, covering the Shrimp King's claws and body.

"The righteous laws of Laoshan will vanquish evil!"

Master Qingxuan let out another low shout, and the Demon-Suppressing Seal surged once more, carrying the thousand-year-old Daoist charm and righteous energy of Laoshan Mountain, and smashed down on the Shrimp King's head.

A scream echoed through the abyss as the Red Shrimp King's body exploded, transforming into a dense stream of demonic energy that plummeted into the vortex below.

After a short rest, Master Qingxuan guided them deeper into the secret realm. The darkness of the Black Reef Abyss gradually faded, and the surrounding spiritual energy became increasingly rich and mellow. The water vapor carried the aura of ancient spiritual power, and the rocks on the ground gradually shimmered with a lustrous sheen. Finally, the narrow passage came to an end.

At Guixu Port, a vast expanse of golden sand stretches before you. The sea is calm and still, shimmering with iridescent light. The waves gently lap against the dark rocks, producing ethereal and distant sounds that seem to transcend a thousand years, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

Amidst the swirling clouds in the distance, a majestic stone palace stands on the sea. The palace is constructed from deep-sea jade and ancient sea reefs, with its eaves carved with ancient sea beast patterns. White pearls hang from the corners of the palace, swaying gently in the wind and emitting a soft glow. Above the palace gate hangs an ancient stone plaque with three gilded characters: "Palace of the Sea God".

At this moment, at the mouth of the Guixu Sea, spiritual tides surged and Daoist chants resounded, with cultivators from all sects and factions gathering in droves. On the golden sand beach in front of the Sea God's Palace, the various factions stood in imposing array, their tense atmosphere causing ripples of spiritual energy to spread across the vast expanse of water.

Standing on the far left were the members of the Laoshan Sect, all dressed in plain white robes with cloud patterns, holding whisks and bronze longswords at their waists, exuding a refined and profound Daoist aura. The middle-aged cultivator at the head of the group had a square face and a dignified bearing, displaying the air of a prestigious and orthodox sect.

Standing suspended in mid-air on the right are disciples of the Qingyun Sect, their blue-trimmed Daoist robes fluttering in the wind. Each of them floats on their swords, their sword intent as sharp as frost. The woman at the head of the group is dressed in snow-white robes, her temperament aloof and otherworldly, her eyes clear as icy springs, untouched by any worldly dust.

At the very front of the center stood a cultivator from the Burning Heaven Sect, dressed in a fiery crimson outfit, his body enveloped in intense fiery spiritual energy. The leading burly man had broad shoulders and a wildly arrogant face, wielding a flaming longsword whose flames flickered incessantly.

To the left rear, the female cultivators of Shuiyue Pavilion stood in a line, their light blue silk skirts fluttering, their figures as light as smoke. The leading female cultivator was gentle and serene, while her disciples formed a circle around her, their guards strict yet their demeanor impeccable.

On the far right stood the Blood Fiend Sect members, a group that inspired terror in all who heard of them. Clad in black robes, they exuded a sinister and malevolent aura, their bloodthirsty and violent presence overwhelming. The leader, a man with a sinister expression, his eyes flashing with greedy malice, toyed with a blood-red bone dart between his fingers. His gaze swept over the various sects, filled with provocation and chilling killing intent.

"What a grand display!"

Standing on Qingdao Bay, completely unaware of the outside world, Lin Yan stared wide-eyed in shock. It was the first time he had ever seen such a magnificent scene, and the first time he had witnessed cultivators from all sects and factions gathered together. He was so moved that he stood there stunned.

"Let's go over there too," Master Qingxuan said slowly, then led the group toward the Laoshan disciples.

More than a hundred disciples from the five major sects stood facing each other. On the reef and in mid-air, there were cultivators everywhere who were ready to fight. Some were secretly gathering their strength, while others were whispering to each other. All eyes were fixed on the tightly closed crimson gate of the Sea God Temple.

"Junior Brother Danxuan!" Upon hearing the voice, the middle-aged man from Laoshan looked up, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning. His lips trembled, unable to utter a single word, his eyes instantly turned red, and tears fell onto his clothes without warning. He subconsciously took a half step back, then rushed forward like a madman, grabbing Qingxuan Zhenren's arms with both hands.

"Junior Brother Danxuan! It's me!"

Seeing the gaunt and haggard Senior Brother Qingxuan before him, Master Danxuan's Adam's apple bobbed violently, his voice hoarse as if sandpaper were being rubbed, and he choked out, "I thought..."

Their eyes met, their lips trembled, and they couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time. One was overjoyed and wept, his whole body stiff and trembling, while the other was overwhelmed with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow and didn't know what to do.

"Master!"

"Master Uncle?"

Two exclamations rang out simultaneously from the group of Laoshan Sect disciples. A dozen or so disciples dressed in plain cloud-patterned Taoist robes froze on the spot as if struck by lightning. Their hands, which had been gripping the whisk and resting on the scabbard, suddenly loosened, and they all stared wide-eyed at Qingxuan Zhenren, whose arm was being tightly gripped by Danxuan Zhenren, their faces filled with shock and surprise.

The disciples quickly stepped forward and bowed to Master Qingxuan.

"This disciple greets Senior Uncle Qingxuan!"

"Master...we've finally been waiting for your return..."

The disciples surrounded Qingxuan and his brother, all of them excited, their lips trembling.

After everyone's emotions gradually calmed down, Master Qingxuan gently patted his senior brother's hand, the sadness and joy in his eyes slowly receding, replaced by a gentle smile, as he turned to lead the three people, Lin Yan and the others, who were standing there in a daze, to his front.

"Junior brother, I was able to return safely this time thanks to the help of these young friends. Let me introduce them to you."

He first looked at Lin Yan, who stood tall and straight beside him, and said with a hint of approval, "This is Lin Yan. He is kind-hearted and has remarkable talent. He helped me a lot during our trip to Guixu Haikou." Lin Yan quickly bowed respectfully to the middle-aged cultivator from Laoshan Sect, his expression respectful yet with a touch of youthful timidity, and called out loudly, "Junior Lin Yan greets Senior."

Master Qingxuan then pointed to Yunxi and Yi'azhu beside him and introduced them one by one, his words full of approval. The two of them also stepped forward and bowed to the Laoshan cultivator, showing perfect manners.

Master Danxuan's eyes were full of gratitude and kindness. He quickly raised his hand to help him up and sincerely thanked him, saying, "Thank you for taking care of my senior brother, young friends. The Laoshan Sect will remember this great kindness. There is no need for such formalities."

"The gates of the Temple of Poseidon have opened!" a surprised voice suddenly exclaimed.

(two)

Between the Golden Beach and the Temple of the Sea God lies a vast expanse of sea, tens of meters wide, where the blue waves surge and the air is shrouded in mist. The Temple of the Sea God, like a colossal palace that has slumbered for eternity, floats on the deep water, rising and falling gently with the spiritual tides, ethereal and hazy, seemingly near yet far.

The crimson palace doors slowly opened inward amidst the sounds of Taoist chants. From the depths of the door cracks, a cool yet heavy ancient spiritual energy first surged out, penetrating to the bone and then disappearing into a bottomless darkness.

"Go in!"

A loud shout rang out, instantly shattering the tense atmosphere on the golden beach.

The Blood Fiend Sect's black-robed figures, exuding murderous aura, charged towards the hall entrance like hungry wolves pouncing on their prey. Any rogue cultivators or disciples blocking their path were easily swept away, their screams echoing. A burly man from the Burning Heaven Sect brandished his longsword, flames clearing a path as crimson figures surged in like a tidal wave, the heat almost igniting the entire golden sand beach. While the Azure Cloud Sect disciples disdained this chaos, they were unwilling to lag behind. They soared through the air on their swords, darting in from above, white-clad figures flashing into the hall one after another. The female cultivators of the Water Moon Pavilion formed a spiritual array, protecting each other, walking on water as if on flat ground, their movements light and graceful yet incredibly swift as they filed in.

In an instant, a throng of people surged forward, shouts, curses, and the clash of weapons blending together as hundreds of figures jostled and pushed their way toward the gates of the Sea God Temple. The once-solemn formation was thrown into complete chaos, with only the swirling spiritual energy remaining.

Lin Yan and his two companions had not yet mastered the art of sword control and could only stare helplessly at the sea. Fortunately, they remained within the Laoshan Sect's ranks, protected in the center by True Person Danxuan and True Person Qingxuan.

"Follow me, there's no need to fight."

As Master Danxuan finished speaking, he waved his sleeves, and the pure and profound Daoist aura rippled across the water. Instantly, a wide jade-colored spiritual bridge rose from the sea, spanning dozens of feet across the water, leading directly to the entrance of the Sea God Temple. He led the crowd onto the spiritual bridge, and with a gentle ripple of Daoist aura around him, he slowly parted the crowded and chaotic flow of people in front of him. The Laoshan disciples followed closely behind, forming an unassuming yet extremely stable formation.

Lin Yan followed closely beside Master Qingxuan, taking three steps at a time to cross the spirit bridge, and then steadily stepped onto the jade steps in front of the palace gate along the edge of the crowd, entering the palace.

Stepping inside felt like being instantly transported to another world.

Before your eyes lies an extremely spacious front hall plaza, paved with a single piece of deep-sea black stone. The stone is covered with ancient runes that stretch like ocean waves, faintly glowing with a pale blue spiritual light, which, though dim, still flows ceaselessly. On both sides stand stone sculptures of sea creatures, each several dozen feet tall, with human faces and fish bodies, wielding bone and jade weapons. Their bodies are covered with water stains and moss, yet they still exude a dignified and imposing aura despite the passage of time, like guardians protecting the temple.

Looking up, the Temple of the Sea God is supported by massive pillars, its roof soaring like a dome, arched and inlaid with countless dim pearls and fragments of coral and jade, long since lost its former glory, leaving only mottled traces. The beams and pillars are carved with dragons from the four seas, amidst churning waves and rolling clouds, the patterns deep and the momentum imposing, yet many are cracked and damaged, and in many places there are even old sword marks and burn marks, clearly indicating that a fierce battle once took place.

Deep within the main hall, a colossal statue of the sea god stood majestically, wielding a trident. Carved entirely of white sea jade, it exuded an imposing aura, though several deep, visible cracks marred its chest and shoulders, and half its body leaned slightly, no longer intact. Below the statue lay a vast, round pool, its bottom dried up, leaving only faint golden runes, their spiritual energy as weak as a flickering candle.

The temple, though still magnificent, was in ruins, a blend of antiquity, desolation, and solemnity. The air was thick with an ancient, almost solidified spiritual energy, a stark contrast to the chaotic clamor outside.

Lin Yan stood there blankly, gazing at the magnificent building that had been silent for thousands of years. He was so moved that he forgot to speak.

Master Danxuan's gaze swept over the Laoshan disciples, and he said in a deep voice, "Senior Brother Qingxuan, it has been a long time since we last met. Let's go and catch up. Laoshan disciples, listen to my command: form groups of three and disperse to explore the ruins of the temple. Remember not to be greedy and to maintain communication with each other. If anything changes, return immediately."

"Yes, Master, Senior Uncle!"

The Laoshan disciples responded with a resounding roar. Their plain-colored Taoist robes with cloud patterns swayed slightly as they scattered in all directions, some disappearing into the side hall corridors, others searching for the statue bases, and soon vanishing from the vast hall.

The front hall square instantly emptied, leaving only Lin Yan and his two companions, the two elders from Laoshan, and the figures of other sect cultivators who had not yet dispersed in the distance.

Master Qingxuan gazed at the empty hall and sighed softly, "Junior brother, this place has stood for countless ages, and there may be hidden traps and mechanisms here. Let me take these young friends to the east side hall, which is said to have been the storehouse where the sea god kept his treasures."

"Alright, be careful." Master Danxuan nodded, his gaze falling on Lin Yan and the other two, and he instructed them: "Young friends, follow Master Qingxuan carefully. If there is any unusual activity, retreat quickly and do not be greedy."

"We will remember this!" Lin Yan and the other two bowed in unison.

Led by Master Qingxuan, the group avoided the majestic but damaged sea god statue in the center of the main hall and walked along the side passage next to a jade pillar with a coiled dragon on the left.

The passageway was covered in years of dust, which rustled underfoot. The murals on the walls were peeling and faded, but scenes of ancient sea tribe rituals could still be vaguely discerned. Passing through the passageway, one enters the east side hall.

Lin Yan's first impression was of the room's dilapidation and treasures. It was a huge side hall, the floor paved with faded blue glazed bricks, the cracks overgrown with moss and unknown marine fungi. The ceiling hung high, but had collapsed in many places due to the erosion of time, and sunlight slanted down through the holes, forming beams of light in the dust.

Scattered everywhere were rare treasures, each one a breathtaking sight: leaning against the corner was half a deep-sea coral staff, its veins undulating like waves. Though the broken edge was rough and the inlaid gems had faded, wisps of warm, water-attribute spiritual energy still slowly emanated from it, far surpassing any ordinary magical artifact; nearby lay a pile of shattered seashell armor, its plates white and smooth, with fine lines, revealing its once formidable water-based defensive power even in its broken state; and several pale blue beads rolled into a corner of the bluestone, round and translucent. Lin Yan subconsciously bent down and picked one up, and the moment his fingertips touched it, he felt a chilling cold spread through him. Within the bead was sealed a faint yet pure ancient spiritual energy, slowly circulating, far beyond what ordinary spirit stones could compare to.

These treasures were all rare items that Lin Yan had never even heard of before. He stared at them for a moment, his two dark eyes widening in astonishment and longing. His gaze swept over the treasures scattered on the ground, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily as he murmured to himself, his tone full of reluctance and greed: "So many treasures... if only I could take them all with me."

"This place was the treasure trove of the Sea God Temple back then," Master Qingxuan said in a low voice, looking at the mess around him. "The calamity that happened back then was swift and devastating. The cultivators in the temple must have been in a hurry to fight back and didn't have time to move all these treasures, which is why we ended up in this state."

He saw through Lin Yan's subtle thoughts at a glance, a faint smile playing on his lips. Without a word, he joined his right index and middle fingers together, making a gentle stroke. A wisp of pure spiritual energy condensed at his fingertips, and a plain-colored storage ring, gleaming with a soft white light, appeared in his palm. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, a gentle yet irresistible surge of spiritual energy swept out. The coral staff, shell armor, blue beads, and other treasures scattered on the ground instantly transformed into streams of light, all being absorbed into the ring. In the blink of an eye, all the treasures on the ground vanished completely.

Master Qingxuan flicked his finger, and the storage ring slowly flew towards Lin Yan, gently landing on his right index finger. The size was just right, fitting snugly.

"This, this is?" Lin Yan subconsciously raised his hand and looked at the ring that suddenly appeared on his fingertip, glowing with a faint spiritual light. He was both surprised and delighted, and couldn't help but exclaim. His eyes were full of disbelief and joy.

Yi Azhu, who had been quietly following Lin Yan, suddenly trembled slightly, her body shimmering with a faint light, as if she were moved by some kind of aura within the hall. The spirit tortoise, which had been lazily lying at Lin Yan's feet, suddenly pushed off with its four short claws, stretched its neck, and its round tortoise eyes suddenly lit up, as if it too had smelled some extremely alluring scent.

Before anyone could react, the spirit tortoise, dragging its heavy shell, scurried quickly toward the dark corner of the side hall, appearing unusually eager.

The spirit turtle rushed straight to a corner hidden by a pile of rubble and broken wood. With a gentle nudge of its head, it cleared away the layers of dust, and a faint, yet exceptionally warm and gentle, aquamarine light slowly seeped out from the crack.

The spiritual light was neither domineering nor ostentatious, yet it carried an inexhaustible vitality, completely different from the sharp spiritual energy of the other treasures in the hall.

Yi Azhu hurriedly followed, her eyes revealing undisguised joy. Beneath the pebbles lay a milky-white bead the size of a pigeon's egg, its surface shimmering with a thin layer of watery light. Seemingly simple, it exuded a gentle, nourishing spiritual energy that was as warm and soothing as water.

From the moment Yunxi stepped into the treasure hall, her brows were constantly furrowed, a faint wisp of azure sword intent swirling around her. She sensed something drawing her sword energy in from the shadows. Then, as the spirit tortoise found the spirit pearl, a sharp yet pure sword aura suddenly burst forth from the chaotic yet refined spiritual energy fluctuations within the hall, striking directly at her dantian. Yunxi's body jolted violently, her previously calm eyes suddenly brightening. The azure sword intent around her trembled uncontrollably, even the sword at her waist emitted a soft hum, its scabbard quivering as if in jubilation or worship.

"Such a powerful sword aura..." Yunxi murmured softly. Following the direction of the sword aura, she quickly walked towards the broken walls and ruins on the west side of the side hall. There, the stone pillars were broken, the tiles were piled up, and it was covered in dust. It seemed normal, but the closer she got, the stronger the sword aura became. The air around her seemed to be slightly painful from being cut by this sharp sword energy.

Seeing this, Lin Yan and Qingxuan Zhenren quickly followed. They saw Yunxi walk to a broken dragon-shaped stone pillar, bend down and reach out to gently brush away the thick dust and gravel at the base of the pillar.

In an instant, a dazzling cyan-gold sword light suddenly shot into the sky, breaking through the dust in the hall. The sharp sword intent swept through the entire side hall, yet it did not harm anyone else. It only hovered around, showing its sharpness without losing its spirituality.

As the dust settled, an ancient sword tassel, about a foot long, lay quietly in a crevice in the rock. The tassel was woven from millennia-old ice silkworm silk and adorned with seven tiny cyan-gold sword-shaped jade beads. Each jade bead emanated pure sword spiritual light and contained a vast ancient sword intent. Although it had been ten thousand years, the sword intent remained vibrant and resonated perfectly with Yunxi's Qingyun Sect sword intent.

Even more remarkably, next to the sword tassel lay a sword-shaped piece of black jade. The jade was entirely black, warm to the touch, and contained the miraculous effect of condensing sword energy and stabilizing the sword heart. It was a treasure that those who cultivated the way of the sword dreamed of.

Yunxi gently touched the sword tassel, and the cyan-gold sword light instantly softened, slowly coiling around her fingertips and merging into her sword intent. The slightly restless sword energy around her instantly became condensed and steady, and even her dantian felt more relaxed. Her eyes were filled with joy and emotion as she softly said, "This sword tassel contains ancient sword intent, and the black jade can solidify the sword heart. It is truly an excellent treasure for my sword cultivation!"

Looking at the two treasures, Master Qingxuan's eyes were full of admiration: "The Sea God Palace indeed has extraordinary treasures. This ancient sword tassel and the sword-shaped black jade are sword treasures that are rare to find in ten thousand years. They are perfectly suited to you. You have a great opportunity this time."

Each of the three made a discovery, exchanging glances with delight. Yi Azhu, the fisherwoman who had been quietly following Lin Yan, gently cradled the milky-white spirit pearl in her fingertips. A soft glow shone on her face, her eyes filled with joy. The warm aura emanating from the pearl enveloped her, making her feel warm all over, even her breathing became easier. The spirit turtle slowly crawled back to Lin Yan's feet, nuzzling its head against Yi Azhu's skirt. Its round eyes sparkled, displaying a docile, self-satisfied expression. It was it who had found the most suitable spirit pearl for Yi Azhu.

Yunxi gently stroked the ancient sword tassel on her sword. The cyan-gold sword intent blended perfectly with her own aura, and the sword intent around her became more and more refined and steady. The sword-shaped black jade was tucked into her bosom, continuously nourishing her sword heart, and her cultivation showed signs of improvement.

Master Qingxuan looked at the three people who had obtained opportunities that suited them, his eyes were full of satisfaction. Just as he was about to tell everyone to keep their treasures safe, the entire Sea God Palace suddenly trembled violently without any warning!

A deep, thunderous roar rolled from the depths of the temple. The deep-sea inkstone runes in the front hall plaza flickered, their pale blue light flashing and then fading. The sea creature stone sculptures standing on both sides had their eyes faintly glowing with an eerie crimson. The once tranquil temple was instantly filled with a chilling and oppressive atmosphere.

Even more worrying was the sudden sound of hurried, chaotic footsteps echoing in the corridor outside the side hall. These footsteps were mixed with the sinister laughter and curses of the Blood Fiend Sect disciples, the rough shouts of the Burning Heaven Sect cultivators, and the clamor of cultivators from various sects vying for the treasure. Intense malevolent energy, fiery energy, and spiritual energy intertwined and surged wildly into the hall through the cracks in the door. Clearly, people from other sects had followed the pure spiritual energy of the treasure hall and found their way here!

"Be careful!" Master Qingxuan's expression changed abruptly, his Qingxuan Daoist aura instantly tightening. He raised his hand to protect Lin Yan and the other two behind him, and shouted in a deep voice, "The ancient formation of the temple has malfunctioned, and cultivators from various sects have already caught up. With the treasures before them, they will definitely not let this go!"

The joy vanished instantly, and Lin Yan and the other two immediately suppressed their smiles, their faces filled with vigilance. Lin Yan subconsciously shielded Yi Azhu to his side, gripping the peach wood sword at his waist, the storage ring on his index finger slightly warm; Yun Xi held her sword horizontally in front of her, the ancient sword tassel gleaming faintly, her sharp sword intent poised to be unleashed; Yi Azhu also clutched the spirit pearl in her hand, leaning against Lin Yan's side, somewhat nervous but with a determined look in her eyes, while the spirit tortoise poked its head out, its shell emitting a faint spiritual light, warily watching the direction of the palace gate.

Inside the dilapidated side hall where the treasure was hidden, the warmth of the newly acquired opportunity had not yet dissipated when the overwhelming killing intent froze the air. The footsteps outside the hall grew closer, and the disputes and killing intent among the cultivators from various factions became increasingly clear. A fierce battle for the treasures of the Sea God Temple was already imminent, ready to erupt at any moment!

(three)

The wooden door of the side hall was kicked open with a loud crash, sending wood chips flying. The first to rush in were the Blood Fiend Sect disciples, dressed in black robes, exuding a sinister aura. The sinister man at the head of the group glanced at the empty hall and then at Lin Yan and the other two. When he caught sight of the ancient sword tassel that gleamed on Yun Xi's sword, a greedy and ferocious light instantly filled his eyes.

"Such pure sword-wielding spiritual energy, and the spirit pearl in that girl's hand—both are top-grade treasures!" The sinister man sneered, twirling a blood-red bone dart between his fingers, and shouted sharply, "Snatch them! Take all the treasures back; those who block the way will be killed without mercy!"

The burly man from the Burning Heaven Sect followed closely behind, smashing through the rubble. His flaming longsword slashed horizontally, a wave of heat sweeping through the side hall. Seeing that all the treasures had been taken, leaving only the opportunities on the three people, he roared angrily, "You stinking Taoist priests from the Laoshan Sect, you've got some tricks up your sleeve! You've snatched all the Sea God Temple's treasures for yourself! Don't even think about leaving this place today without leaving your treasures behind!"

Disciples from the Qingyun Sect and Shuiyue Pavilion arrived one after another, standing on either side. The white-robed female cultivator from the Qingyun Sect frowned, looking at the barbaric behavior of the Blood Fiend Sect and the Burning Heaven Sect, and said coldly, "The treasure belongs to the destined one. Your forceful seizure is unbecoming of your sect." The female cultivator from the Shuiyue Pavilion formed a spirit array, observing the situation quietly, unwilling to be easily drawn into the conflict, but also secretly on guard.

In an instant, the already dilapidated side hall of the treasure trove was packed with people. The cultivators from the five sects stood facing each other, their killing intent, fiery aura, sword intent, and spiritual energy intertwined. The air was so tense that it seemed as if it could explode at any moment. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Lin Yan, Yun Xi, and Yi Azhu, as well as the majestic Daoist aura surrounding Qingxuan Zhenren.

Master Qingxuan stepped forward, his plain Daoist robe fluttering without wind, and an aura of righteousness emanating from Laoshan Mountain emanated from him. He stood in front of the three, his expression stern: "Blood Fiend Sect and Burning Heaven Sect, do not be so presumptuous! This treasure is a result of your good fortune, young friends. How can you greedy people forcibly seize it?"

"Opportunity? In this Guixu Estuary, strength is opportunity!" The burly man from the Burning Heaven Sect laughed wildly, his flaming longsword pointing directly at True Person Qingxuan. "Old Taoist, I heard you perished in the Black Reef Abyss, but I didn't expect you to survive. Today, I'll take care of you too, seize your treasured artifact, and rob those juniors of their most precious treasures!"

Before the words were even finished, the burly man launched the first attack. His body surged with intense fiery spiritual energy, and his longsword unleashed a blazing blade of light several meters long, carrying the power to incinerate everything, hurtling straight towards Qingxuan Zhenren. The sinister man from the Blood Fiend Sect was not to be outdone. His body churned with murderous aura, and dozens of blood-red bone darts shot through the air, carrying deadly poison and malevolence. They bypassed Qingxuan Zhenren and struck directly at the defenseless Yi Azhu behind him, intending to capture the weak woman and use her to blackmail the others.

"Ah Zhu, be careful!" Lin Yan's expression changed drastically. He instinctively shielded Yi Ah Zhu behind him, and although he lacked profound cultivation, he resolutely gripped the peach wood sword at his waist, standing in front of her. Although Yi Ah Zhu was flustered, she tightly clutched the Sea Spirit Pearl in her hand. The pearl spontaneously emitted a soft watery light, creating a light blue spiritual shield around the two of them, blocking the oncoming murderous aura.

Yunxi held her sword horizontally in front of her, the ancient sword tassel blazing with azure light, her sword intent soaring to the heavens. With a light tap of her feet, she leaped into the air, her azure sword energy weaving into a net, blocking most of the blood-red bone darts: "Don't hurt her!" She flipped her wrist, unleashing the Flowing Cloud Sword Style, combined with the vast sword intent of the ancient sword tassel, her moves instantly becoming several times more ferocious. She entangled herself with the Blood Fiend Sect disciples, the sword winds forcing them to retreat repeatedly.

Master Qingxuan snorted coldly, raised his hand and formed a hand seal. The Laoshan Demon-Suppressing Seal reappeared in mid-air, radiating golden light. It forcefully blocked the blazing blade light from the Burning Heaven Sect. A deafening roar resounded, the blade light shattered, and the residual force of the golden light forced the burly man to retreat repeatedly. "Even a grain of rice can shine?" Master Qingxuan formed hand seals, and golden chains of Dao once again shot out, wrapping around the sinister man from the Blood Fiend Sect. The Demon-Suppressing Seal hovered above his head, ready to suppress his opponent at any moment.

Chaos erupted instantly within the side hall. The sounds of clashing weapons and booming spells filled the air, flames and malevolent energy intertwined, sword intent and spiritual energy clashed, and shattered tiles and flying dust scattered everywhere. Lin Yan, protecting Yi Azhu behind a stone pillar, watched as Yun Xi, fighting against multiple opponents, gradually fell into a disadvantageous position. He was extremely anxious, and the storage ring on his fingertip felt slightly warm. It was filled with treasures from the treasure hall, and he suddenly remembered the half of the deep-sea coral staff among them, which contained pure water-based spiritual energy.

"Ah Zhu, hold onto the Spirit Pearl tightly and stay here without moving!" Lin Yan instructed in a deep voice, gritting his teeth as he took out the Coral Staff from his storage ring. Relying on the water-based techniques of the Azure Sea Emperor's Art, he tried to mobilize the spiritual energy within the staff. Although his cultivation was still shallow, the Azure Sea Emperor's Art was an ancient water-based ultimate technique, which was connected to the Coral Staff in essence. In just a moment, the staff lit up with a warm blue light, and a gentle yet resilient wave of water surged out from the staff, rushing straight towards the Blood Fiend Sect disciples who were besieging Yun Xi, knocking several of them to the ground.

"I never expected a junior like you to possess such skills!" The sinister man from the Blood Fiend Sect, both shocked and enraged, abandoned Qingxuan Zhenren and turned to pounce on Lin Yan. His palm condensed a dense aura of bloodlust, aiming straight for Lin Yan's heart. "Since you're courting death, I'll use you as a sacrifice for my flag!"

"Lin Yan!" Yun Xi exclaimed, wanting to rush back to help, but was entangled by the burly men of the Burning Heaven Sect. Yi Azhu was also frightened and turned pale. The Sea Spirit Pearl shone brightly, desperately sending spiritual energy towards Lin Yan.

At the critical moment, a series of orderly footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall. Master Danxuan led the Laoshan disciples back hastily. Seeing the chaos inside the hall, his face turned furious, and he shouted angrily, "How dare you attack my distinguished guests from Laoshan in the Sea God Hall? Do you really think the Laoshan Sect has no one to rely on?"

Dozens of Laoshan disciples surged in, whisks in hand, their bodies radiating Daoist energy. In an instant, they formed a demon-suppressing formation, completely surrounding the Blood Fiend Sect and Burning Heaven Sect disciples. True Person Danxuan raised his hand and summoned the Laoshan Immortal Sword. Its sharp light pierced directly at the sinister man, defusing Lin Yan's crisis.

The situation reversed instantly. The disciples of the Blood Fiend Sect and the Burning Heaven Sect were surrounded by the disciples of Laoshan and gradually fell into a disadvantageous position. The sinister man and the strong man of the Burning Heaven Sect had ashen faces. Seeing that the Laoshan Sect had a large number of people, they knew that continuing the stalemate would only lead to defeat, so they could only grit their teeth in resentment.

"Consider yourselves lucky today. We'll get our hands on the Sea God Temple's treasure sooner or later!" The sinister man uttered a harsh remark, his murderous aura surging as he and his disciples burst through the window. The burly man from the Burning Heaven Sect was not to be outdone; he cleaved a path with his flaming longsword and led his men away in a sorry state.

Seeing this, the disciples of Qingyun Sect and Shuiyue Pavilion also bowed and took their leave, unwilling to stay any longer. In a short while, the chaotic side hall finally returned to calm, leaving only a mess and traces of fighting.

Lin Yan slumped against the stone pillar, his palms drenched in cold sweat. His coral staff slipped from his grasp; the near-death experience still lingered in his mind. Yi Azhu rushed forward, supporting Lin Yan, her eyes filled with worry: "Lin Yan, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, thanks to you and the spirit turtle." Lin Yan shook his head and looked at Yun Xi. Yun Xi was slightly out of breath, but her eyes were firm, and her sword intent was becoming more and more refined. Obviously, this battle had made her more proficient in using the ancient sword tassel.

Master Qingxuan and Master Danxuan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of solemnity in each other's eyes. Master Qingxuan bent down to pick up the coral staff and said in a deep voice, "The temple just now was disturbed by strange occurrences, coupled with the greedy competition among various factions. The secrets of this Sea God Temple are probably far more complex than just the treasure hall. We should not linger here. Let's quickly head to the main hall to explore the secrets of the Sea God statue. That must be the core of the Sea God Temple."

Master Danxuan nodded in agreement. The disciples of Laoshan led the way, with Lin Yan and the other two following closely behind, as the group headed towards the main hall. Unbeknownst to them, after they left, a small black shadow silently darted through the shadows in a corner of the side hall, sending a subtle aura towards the deeper underground of the temple. The ancient being slumbering deep within the temple seemed to have stirred slightly once more.

(four)

The group followed the ancient stone path inside the hall, passed through the messy corridor, and stepped into the main hall of the Sea God Temple again. The noise of the treasure-hunting battle had faded away, but the oppressive desolation in the hall was even stronger than before.

The once-dull sea god statue now faintly shimmered with a delicate, luminous glow. Pale golden runes swirled around it, and the light flickered at the edge of the dried-up circular pool at the bottom, echoing the crack on the statue's chest. It was as if a power dormant for millennia was slowly awakening with the arrival of the group. Master Danxuan and Master Qingxuan stood side-by-side before the statue, their brows furrowed, their gazes carefully scanning the cracks and engravings around it. Their fingertips gently stroked their chins, their expressions growing increasingly solemn.

"Senior brother, look at the patterns on this statue. They are faintly connected to the mountain-guarding Taoist magic of our Laoshan Sect, and they perfectly match the mark of the Sea God Temple on the ancient map of the Canglan Sea." Master Danxuan lowered his voice and pointed to the densely packed tiny runes on the base of the statue. His tone was full of surprise. "According to ancient records, the Sea God Temple was the cultivation ground of the ancient Canglan Sea Emperor. This statue is not just a simple divine image, but the core carrier that seals the Sea Emperor's lifelong inheritance. The strange movement of the temple just now is probably a sign that the inheritance is about to appear in the world."

Master Qingxuan nodded slowly, his gaze falling on the broken trident in the statue's hand. The trident, marked by the passage of time, though missing its tip, still exuded an aura of overwhelming power. "That's right," he said, "the earlier scramble for treasures by various factions caused the ancient temple's array to tremble, triggering the seal of inheritance. However, this seal, after ten thousand years, is extremely fragile. If it is further impacted by external forces, not only will the inheritance be destroyed, but the entire Guixu Sea Mouth may collapse. We must proceed with extreme caution and not recklessly touch it. By the way, you mentioned earlier that there were also local bullies causing trouble in the secret realm. Where are they now?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yan immediately bowed and replied, "Reporting to the Master, that bully's name is Jiang Hu. He and his henchmen previously trespassed into the secret realm to steal treasures. I crippled their evil external martial arts and imprisoned them in a hidden cave deep within the secret realm. I sealed the cave entrance with a huge rock to prevent them from causing further trouble for the villagers. They haven't moved an inch since leaving the secret realm. We will deal with them according to the law when we return to the fishing village."

Master Qingxuan nodded upon hearing this, his eyes full of praise: "Punishing evil and promoting good, leaving a glimmer of hope, and not letting evil run rampant, is an extremely appropriate handling of the situation. It is evident that you are kind-hearted yet not pedantic, which is truly rare."

Lin Yan and the other two stood behind the two Taoist priests, listening quietly to their words, all deeply moved. Lin Yan subconsciously gripped the storage ring on his index finger; the treasures of the Sea God Temple and the Sea Jade Token inside were slightly warm, as if resonating inexplicably with the Sea God statue before him. He looked up at the statue, feeling a surge of familiarity from the depths of his bloodline. The Azure Sea Emperor Technique within him activated spontaneously, the spiritual energy vortex in his dantian swirled rapidly, and pale blue water-attribute spiritual energy slowly overflowed from his body, gradually merging with the spiritual light emanating from the statue.

The spirit tortoise, which had been obediently lying at Yi Azhu's feet, suddenly raised its head, its black bean-like eyes fixed on the crack in the chest of the sea god statue. Its short claws pawed at the ground, emitting rapid and joyful low growls. The ancient patterns on its shell lit up, reflecting the runes on the statue's base. A layer of shimmering white spiritual light emanated from its body, and its form seemed to swell slightly. A powerful spiritual energy, far greater than before, slowly emanated from its body.

"This is a spirit turtle..." Yi Azhu exclaimed softly, instinctively reaching out to gently stroke the spirit turtle's shell. The milky-white spirit pearl in her palm emitted a soft, watery glow, intertwining with the spirit turtle's spiritual light. Sensing her touch, the spirit turtle gradually calmed down, yet still gazed at the statue with its head held high, its eyes full of spirituality, as if guiding everyone forward.

Yunxi stood to one side, her fingertips gently brushing the ancient tassel on her sword. The azure-gold sword intent resonated with the ancient spiritual energy within the hall, causing the sword at her waist to hum softly. Gazing at the statue of the sea god, a flash of understanding crossed her eyes. This statue contained not only the inheritance of sea cultivation but also a Daoist charm that encompassed all things, complementing her swordsmanship. The chaotic battle for the treasure just now had made her sword intent even more refined, and now, nourished by this Daoist charm, her cultivation was showing faint signs of a breakthrough.

Just then, the Sea Spirit Pearl on Lin Yan's chest suddenly burst forth with a dazzling pale blue light, merging with the spiritual light of the Sea Jade Token and the Sea God Statue. The runes throughout the main hall instantly lit up, and golden spiritual light shot straight into the sky. Clear spiritual liquid slowly welled up from the originally dried-up circular pool. The spiritual liquid contained nearly liquefied pure spiritual energy, which flowed along the patterns on the bottom of the pool and gradually gathered into a small spiritual spring.

"It's the Sea Spirit Pearl and the Sea Jade Token that triggered the inheritance seal!" Master Qingxuan's eyes flashed with brilliance, and he hurriedly spoke, "Young friend Lin Yan, you possess the Azure Sea Emperor Technique and hold a treasure of the Sea God Temple. You are the chosen one for the inheritance. Quickly place the Sea Jade Token into the groove in the statue's palm!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yan did not hesitate at all. He immediately took out the Sea Jade Token from his robes and walked to the front of the Sea God statue. He saw that there was a groove in the right palm of the statue that perfectly matched the shape of the Sea Jade Token. He took a deep breath and slowly placed the token into it.

The moment the token entered the slot, the entire Sea God Temple trembled violently, more violently than any previous disturbance. The pearls and coral fragments on the ceiling lit up, radiating multicolored light. The sea creature stone sculptures on both sides lost their crimson eyes and lowered their heads, displaying complete submission. The trident in the Sea God statue's hand slowly rose, and the crack in its chest healed at a visible speed. A vast and boundless aura, encompassing the four seas, swept through the entire main hall, soaring straight to the heavens.

A massive amount of inherited information flooded into Lin Yan's mind along with the Sea Jade Token. It was far more profound and comprehensive than the previous Canglan Sea Emperor Technique, containing not only the Sea Emperor's innate divine abilities and secret arts for controlling the four seas, but also clues to deciphering the incomplete ancient map of the sea region, and the mission to suppress deep-sea demonic calamities and protect the Canglan Sea region. Lin Yan closed his eyes and concentrated, fully absorbing these inherited memories. His spiritual energy circulated rapidly, and his cultivation, which had been stagnant at the peak of the fourth level of Qi Refining, instantly broke through the barrier, steadily stepping into the fifth level. His aura became increasingly profound and deep, and his every move already possessed the bearing of a great sea cultivator.

At this moment, the spirit turtle awakened, its body swelling to over half a zhang in size. The patterns on its shell transformed into a complete sea chart, and it let out a long, drawn-out cry that pierced through the temple and echoed throughout the mouth of the Guixu Sea. The once calm sea surface was stirred into layers of spiritual waves, and countless creatures in the sea rose to the surface, bowing in worship towards the direction of the Sea God Temple. After a dozen breaths, the spirit turtle returned to its original form, slowly crawling to Lin Yan's side. It gently nodded its head, showing complete submission, and became Lin Yan's natal spirit pet.

The spirit pearl in Yi Azhu's hand resonated with the sea spirit pearl, causing the water-based spiritual energy around her to become increasingly abundant. Her water spirit body had fully awakened, and although she hadn't deliberately cultivated, she had already drawn energy into her body, stepping into the first level of Qi Refining. A soft water-based aura surrounded her, perfectly matching Lin Yan's sea-based spiritual energy. Yun Xi also used this inherited Daoist charm to further refine her sword intent, completely stabilizing her cultivation. The power of the ancient sword tassel and the sword-shaped black jade were fully integrated into her swordsmanship, and she had already begun to grasp the basics of sword flight.

After a long while, Lin Yan slowly opened his eyes, a deep blue light flashing in them. He then suppressed his aura, and the Sea Jade Token was firmly embedded in the statue's palm. The inheritance seal was completely stabilized, and the tremors in the hall gradually subsided, leaving only a room full of rich spiritual energy.

"Thank you for your guidance, Daoist masters." Lin Yan turned around and bowed to the two True Immortals, Danxuan and Qingxuan, his tone calm and respectful. At this moment, having experienced the trials of the secret realm, the treasure-hunting battle, and the awakening of his inheritance, he had long since shed the immaturity of a young man and gained more composure and responsibility.

Master Danxuan and Master Qingxuan quickly helped him up, their eyes filled with praise and satisfaction. "Young friend Lin Yan is exceptionally talented and kind-hearted. To have received the Sea Emperor's inheritance is truly ordained by Heaven. He will surely achieve great things in the future and protect the people of this land." Master Qingxuan said with a smile, his tone full of expectation. "Now that the Sea God Palace's inheritance has just appeared and the spiritual energy at the Guixu Sea Mouth has been restored, the cultivators of various sects will certainly not let this go. The Blood Fiend Sect and the Burning Heaven Sect will make a comeback. Moreover, Jiang Hu and his gang are still imprisoned in the secret realm. It is not advisable to stay here for long. Let us set off immediately and return to the Laoshan Sect. Firstly, so that you two can participate in the Laoshan Academy's recruitment assessment. Secondly, so that we can discuss the subsequent strategies for dealing with the deep-sea demon calamity and the conflicts between various sects. When we pass through the secret realm again, we can hand over Jiang Hu and his gang to the local villagers and deal with them according to worldly customs."

Lin Yan and the other two exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. They knew that the Sea God Temple's legacy and the secrets of the ancient sea map had made them targets of everyone's hatred. Only by entering Laoshan to cultivate and improve their strength could they protect those around them and explore the ultimate opportunity in the Canglan Sea.

The group took one last look at the majestic and magnificent Sea God Temple before turning back. Two Taoist priests from Laoshan stood guard on either side as the group walked along the golden sand, facing the spiritual mist and rosy glow of the Guixu Sea estuary, heading towards Laoshan.

Unbeknownst to them, deep beneath the Sea God's Temple, a dark, demonic rift had quietly opened, from which a faint yet violent aura seeped out and dissipated into the spiritual mist. The Deep Sea Demon Lord, slumbering for millennia, had been awakened by the aura of the Sea Emperor's legacy. The tranquility of the Azure Sea would be shattered by a cataclysmic event that would sweep across the four seas, and a great war concerning inheritance, demonic calamity, and all living beings was quietly brewing.

At the same time, the previously unlit marks of Guixu Sea Mouth and Sea God Temple on the ancient map of the sea have now been fully lit, guiding Lin Yan and his group onto a broader path of cultivation. The road ahead is long, with both opportunities and dangers. Their legend has only just begun.