Chapter 101: The Desolate Sea Primordial Spirit Island

“Has anyone ever heard of the Yinque Palace?” Chen Yuxi scanned the crowd, her brow furrowed deeply.

Judging by their expressions, it seemed no one had any knowledge of it, which struck Lin Feng as rather strange.

“A few days ago, rumors spread beyond the mountains that an immortal treasure would emerge from the wilderness. Could it be here?” he asked.

Yuan Qianzi cleared his throat lightly and said, “What you say is correct. We have been waiting here for two months. Occasionally, treasure light shines through the mountain, but we don’t know if the cave can be opened. So, everyone kept the news sealed and waited here. Two people gave up midway, so the rumors must have come from them.”

“I see…” Several cultivators from other sects nodded in agreement.

“Everyone, this immortal’s blessed land must be filled with traps and dangers, a place where death is almost certain. I propose we make three rules: no fighting over treasures, no killing each other, and an equal division of any treasures found. What do you think?” The speaker was a young man in silk robes from Yuan Qianzi’s group, mature and steady, idly playing with a crimson pearl.

Yuan Qianzi smiled and said, “I agree with Brother Zhuge’s proposal. What do you all think?”

“Seconded.” The last middle-aged man from the scattered cultivators’ group nodded with a smile. He wore simple clothes, a cloth bag slung over one shoulder stuffed with sharp throwing knives, and his long hair flowed freely like a wandering swordsman.

“We have no objections,” Chen Yuxi responded on behalf of the four from the Hundred Flowers Sect.

“Hehe, we agree as well,” the Water Jade Enchantress giggled. Among the four groups entering the cave, five were from the Ten Thousand Demon Heaven, including familiar faces Leng Linglan, Water Jade, and Duan Chen, with two others who seemed to hold lower ranks.

“Hmph! Che will settle accounts with you later!” The black-robed giant continued to glare at the old Taoist Yuan Qianzi. In truth, most had such thoughts but kept silent.

Yuan Qianzi sneered, “Who goes first?”

Silent until now, Leng Linglan mounted a flying sword and stepped into the shimmering light barrier, disappearing from view.

Everyone was stunned, then rushed forward, competing to enter the formation’s light screen.

Suddenly, the scene before them cleared—no mountain of blades or seas of fire, no guardian beasts—only a vast ocean stretching endlessly.

Plop! Plop! Some were caught off guard and fell into the water, flailing in panic, forgetting to ride their treasures to fly.

“To enter my Yinque Palace, one must be prepared a thousandfold. Youngsters, a warning: this is only the beginning of your trial. Beware under this vast sky.” A solemn voice echoed in their ears, filled with undeniable authority.

They froze, looking around for the source, but no figure could be seen.

“This person’s cultivation surpasses even Father. Perhaps only a few elders could contend with him,” the black-robed giant shouted.

“Brother, may I ask if you know the Great Ape King, Che Shitu?” Lin Feng’s eyes brightened. He had suspected a strong connection between the two.

“Huh? How do you know? I’m Che Ba. The Great Ape King is my father,” the black-robed man looked at Lin Feng in surprise.

Everyone inhaled sharply. Even the old Taoist Yuan Qianzi wiped cold sweat from his temple with his sleeve.

“Haha, Brother Che truly has the same temper as Elder Chonglou,” Lin Feng laughed heartily. “I have had dealings with the elder before. I wonder how he is now?”

Che Ba chuckled, “My second uncle hasn’t shown himself in a while. I don’t know either.”

“Oh? In that case…” Lin Feng was about to reveal the matter of the Weihu Pass to Che Ba when—

Yuan Qianzi suddenly shouted, using his silver bracelet to ascend swiftly into the sky.

Boom! A tremendous roar, the sea seemed to overturn as a colossal sea beast opened its foul-smelling maw. Rising from the ocean, it revealed a terrifying face and swallowed two people whole! The beast resembled a giant crocodile, its scales blue-white, blending with the sea, but it had no limbs, only massive fins.

Waves surged, and more dreadful heads emerged beneath the surface. Their eerie green eyes glared fiercely at prey in the sky. Water trickled from their foreheads, and rows of pale sharp teeth slowly parted. A deafening roar stirred fierce winds and towering waves, sweeping skyward!

“Run!” Everyone spurred their treasures to flee. Yuan Qianzi was the fastest, others blindly following without direction. The sea monsters not only summoned wind and waves but leapt hundreds of feet into the air, their huge, grotesque bodies twisting terrifyingly.

No one wished to engage these vile creatures in battle. They fled into the depths of the clouds. After flying thousands of miles, a dark dot appeared below on the ocean—a small island!

They all felt as if granted reprieve and hurriedly landed on the island’s sandy shore.

“This is not Yinque Palace! It’s clearly the Juecha Sea!” Yuan Qianzi cursed. The two swallowed by the sea beast were the “Brother Zhuge” and a disciple of Ten Thousand Demon Heaven.

“Juecha Sea?” Lin Feng exclaimed.

“Eight million li of Juecha Sea, no birds fly, no humans tread, even immortals and Buddhas frown passing through,” Leng Linglan recited calmly.

Che Ba’s eyes bulged, cursing, “It was the Overturn Sea Hall and the Whale-Slaying Palace that caused this! Neither controls the Juecha Sea now. It’s become a demon beast paradise—no one can govern it!”

“What kind of monster was that just now?” a disciple of Hundred Flowers Sect whispered.

“Bi Jiao Croc! A ferocious beast born of the Kuai Sea Serpent and Bay-Toothed Crocodile. That was not even the fiercest…” Che Ba spat.

At that moment, the voice rang again: “Congratulations on arriving safely. You are fortunate. In this 180,000-li water domain, only this Yuanling Island exists. Seek the key to open Yinque Palace there. I shall await you.”

Only one island in 180,000 li of ocean! Even the most powerful such as Yuan Qianzi and Leng Linglan could not continuously fly on their swords that far. If they flew in the wrong direction, death by sea monsters in Juecha Sea was certain—just the thought chilled their hearts.

The group fell silent. Chen Yuxi repeated softly, “Yuanling Island…”

“Look over there!” a demon cultivator shouted.

The group, now jumpy and on edge, followed the pointing finger. Almost everyone’s face displayed greed and shock. At the island’s center, beneath thick mist, countless white Yuanling Stones piled into mountains, scattered peacefully across the island.

“Wahaha!” Che Ba shouted and lunged forward, others stunned, then quickly followed on their treasures.

So many Yuanling Stones—enough for dozens to cultivate to ascension without end! Last time, Lin Feng had only obtained one Yuanling Stone of unknown quality and broke through a mid-foundation bottleneck. Here, each stone was about the size of a bucket.

However, just as many wished to kill Duan Chen for rushing ahead, an abrupt change occurred! The flawless white Yuanling Stones vanished instantly, replaced by a massive axe swinging down on Duan Chen’s head!

Boom! Thanks to his rich combat experience, Duan Chen, a top disciple of Ten Thousand Demon Heaven, managed to counterattack with his sword. Unfortunately, the gap was too large; his White Scale Sword snapped under the blow. Luckily, it was the sword that broke, not his head.

At the island’s center, an armored warrior slowly rose, expressionless as he stared at the stunned youths. In one hand, he gripped a dark-green long-handled giant axe. Two golden-yellow ribbons fluttered like celestial banners from his crimson chest plate, resembling a god from an ancient painting.

What Yuanling Stones? All illusions! Fake! Blood stained a large patch on the chest of Duan Chen, sprawled on the ground with fierce light flashing in his eyes—regret and fury intertwining.

“Kill him!” Che Ba roared, swinging his heavy black staff toward the red-armored warrior, unleashing a violent aura.

“Kill!” Two other demon cultivators charged together, and the remaining three from Ten Thousand Demon Heaven joined without hesitation, all attacking the warrior with their treasure weapons.

A figure capable of cleaving a mid-golden core Duan Chen into severe injury with one axe must be at least mid-golden core level. No one dared underestimate him. They surrounded him with treasures, combining their strength.

Boom! Che Ba’s black staff struck the warrior’s shoulder solidly. Just as he was about to laugh loudly, the armored stranger opened his mouth and spewed a ball of white flame at Che Ba’s face!

“Brother Che, watch out!” Lin Feng shouted, pushing Che Ba aside and blocking the white flame himself.

Most present were battle-hardened veterans. Seizing the moment, they launched a coordinated attack with flying swords and talismans, some even raising two talisman papers, all aiming to kill the warrior at once.

The Surprising Phoenix Sword, White Snow Sword, Heart-Pursuing Bracelet, Thousand-Mile Clouds—four mid-grade spiritual weapons—struck the armored warrior’s head, chest, back, and throat. Purple Thunder Talismans and Ice Prison Talismans exploded in succession. Throwing knives and swords pierced the red armor with sharp whistles.

Boom! A massive explosion shattered the red-armored warrior into pieces, armor fragments flying. Several were injured, but with the warrior’s death, not a shred of flesh remained. The blast’s power was immense. Though they weren’t gravely hurt, several low-grade spiritual weapons were destroyed, a heavy loss.

“Junior Brother Lin, are you alright?” Chen Yuxi couldn’t believe it. Despite the Tianxin White Flame, Lin Feng had only minor scrapes. Leng Linglan’s watery eyes also watched him with slight surprise.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Lin Feng smiled and shook his head. Thankfully, he dodged just in time. Otherwise, he might have died by the flame or been severely injured in the blast.

Che Ba patted Lin Feng’s shoulder apologetically. “I owe you one, Brother Lin.”

“No trouble at all, Brother Che,” Lin Feng smiled. Suddenly, his smile froze. Everyone looked toward the explosion’s center in horror.

“What’s going on? How can he not be killed?” Yuan Qianzi’s old face darkened with anger.

“It’s over. This must be a regenerating puppet warrior created by secret arts!” The middle-aged cultivator skilled with throwing knives spoke urgently.

“Huang Yan, what did you say?” Yuan Qianzi’s face twitched.

“Regenerating puppets can’t be killed. We’ll only be worn out or killed by it!” Huang Yan’s voice trembled.

“Nonsense!” Water Jade lost her usual allure, her clothes torn and hair disheveled. She cracked her whip at the red-armored warrior.

With no other choice, the group launched another fierce assault. After the last explosion, only eight could fight at full strength. Yet the mysterious warrior seemed even more alert. With continuous axe swings, a bloodcurdling scream echoed as a Hundred Flowers Sect disciple was cleaved in two, his innards spilling on the ground, though he hadn’t yet died completely—a gruesome, terrifying scene.

“Disable his arm! Don’t kill him!” Leng Linglan shouted.

The others’ expressions shifted. They focused attacks on the warrior’s shoulders and lower body. Leng Linglan and Water Jade parried his axe strikes. Spotting a gap, the Surprising Phoenix Sword glowed brightly, severing his left arm at the elbow. Simultaneously, Lin Feng stabbed his right hand, and Huang Yan’s throwing knives sealed the right arm’s acupoints. Boom! Che Ba flew back, his black staff sweeping the ground, shattering the warrior’s leg bones.

Boom! The warrior lay on his back, wounds bleeding no blood.

“Finally done with him…” Yuan Qianzi sighed deeply.

“Find the key! Everyone split up and search!” Chen Yuxi ordered decisively.

“Wait!” Duan Chen approached, a cold glint on his face.

“What? Got opinions?” another Hundred Flowers disciple snapped.

Duan Chen sneered, “If someone finds the key and leaves alone, won’t we be trapped here? Everyone must swear a deadly oath—no secrets, we leave together!”

“That’s reasonable. I agree,” Che Ba grinned.

“Good! Everyone swear together—no selfishness!” Yuan Qianzi concurred.

At once, everyone pointed to their ancestral deities and swore solemn oaths, then began searching the island, less than a thousand zhang across, for the key spoken of by the immortal mansion’s master.