Chapter 122: Abducting the Bride

The Whale-Slaying Palace was vast, its sheer number of halls beyond all imagination. Though he remained skeptical of Xi Huaiyu’s words, Lin Feng crept toward the central palace, suspecting it to be the residence of the Shark-King’s consorts.

Along the way, Lin Feng saw only handmaidens standing silently in the halls. Outside each grand chamber, servants hurried by with heads bowed, intent only on their errands. Even the site of the recent skirmish remained uninvestigated, which was truly bizarre. Was the Shark-King so arrogant? Beyond the palace gates, there was not a single guard to be found. The deeper he ventured, the more he became convinced that this man’s arrogance knew no bounds.

Among the hundreds of halls, many were used merely as storehouses for classics, weapons, and jewels, yet they were decorated with extreme opulence. With names like the Hall of Soothing Spirits, the Hall of Heart-Nurturing, the Hall of Mountain Delicacies, and the Hall of Imperial Supremacy, the chaotic variety was impossible to remember.

As he reached a cluster of halls, a faint scent of powder and perfume drifted to him. His heart stirred—this was it. After passing through a floral pavilion and two grand archways, the寝宫 (sleeping palace) appeared behind a screen wall. A golden, carved plaque hung from the eaves, inscribed with the three characters: "Yongle Palace."

Rare silks and ribbons, seldom seen in the Whale-Slaying Palace, were draped here like curtains. The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood and cosmetics. Handmaidens hurried about, hanging lanterns, arranging flowers, pearls, carpets, and colorful silks. Two rows of extravagantly ornate crystal lanterns lined the courtyard, as if preparing for a grand celebration. These handmaidens, devoid of any cultivation, were stunningly beautiful, though their demonic origins were unclear.

"Of course! The Shark-King is to take a consort; this must be the main palace. How could I have forgotten such a crucial detail? I am truly muddled! One must not be hasty in such matters."

With a swift thought, he slipped into the palace. The fragrance grew more intense. Within the corridors, goose-egg-sized luminous pearls hung on the walls, and glazed incense burners were arranged in orderly rows. A deep red coral carpet stretched all the way to the pink beaded curtains of the inner chamber.

"A boudoir? Should I enter or not? No matter, saving her is the priority!"

He stepped into the inner chamber. As light flickered, he sensed something amiss. A sudden jolt of cold sweat broke out—the room had been warded with a restrictive seal!

"Who's there?"

Before he could even inspect the room's furnishings, a clear, trembling voice rang out. By a crystal vanity, a figure in pink turned around, her eyes filled with hostility, fear, and complex emotions. Her "Startled Phoenix" sword was already half-drawn.

"Senior Sister! It’s me!" Lin Feng dispelled his Cloak of Formlessness, revealing his face, and let out a sigh of relief.

"Lin Feng! How did you find this place? No, get out! Leave quickly!" Seeing Lin Feng’s face, Chen Yuxi was startled, but she drew her sword fully, casting a chilling light across the room.

"Senior Sister, it's me. Come with me!" Lin Feng stepped forward urgently, confused by her reaction. Her fair face looked haggard, its usual radiant charm faded.

"Don't worry about me, just leave! The Shark-King has placed a seal here; I cannot escape!" This usually proud and elegant senior sister looked at him with despair and sorrow, with a glint of something else in her eyes.

"You can't get out? What has he done to you?" The words escaped Lin Feng’s lips before he could stop himself, and he hurriedly backtracked, "Are you alright, Senior Sister? We can break this seal together. If that fails, there is still..."

"Still what! You! You shall die today! Daring to touch this King’s woman! Killing my beloved son! Only death! Death!" The entire Whale-Slaying Palace was drowned in the Shark-King’s roar. The waves of resentment and violence crashed into the palace, causing many handmaidens to scream and collapse, dead.

***

The King’s wrath! Having lost four sons and now finding an intruder in his consort's chambers, the Shark-King’s fury reached an extreme, violent peak. He teleported back, intent on dealing with Lin Feng, the primary culprit!

"Follow me!" Lin Feng pulled out the Water Mirror Disc, grabbed Chen Yuxi’s soft hand, and fled toward the Immortal Mansion.

"Trying to run! Even if gods descended today, you would never escape the Whale-Slaying Palace! Supreme Kunyuan, Boundless for a Hundred Miles!"

The entire palace was instantly covered by an egg-shaped light barrier. Stars shimmered as if a black veil had been cast over it—mysterious and magnificent. The barrier expanded rapidly. Black mist coiled thick on the Shark-King Xi Bing’s face. His divine sense swept the space like a net, once, twice! His rage soared. A bead of sweat fell from his brow. "Impossible! No one can escape my Kunyuan Array! Impossible!"

A giant red palm descended from the heavens, accompanied by the Shark-King’s endless, surging fury, smashing violently into the jade towers of Yongle Palace. *Boom!* The buildings collapsed.

"Covering Sea Hall! Xuanji Pavilion! Yu Baili! Le Zhengqing! You shall all die! And you! All of you!" The fury of the Master of the Li Sea tore through the abyss, reaching the surface. Storms and giant waves covered the sky; how many fishermen in the Li Sea would be buried in the bellies of fish today...

***

Yinque Palace.

"Senior Sister, we are safe for now." Lin Feng let go of Chen Yuxi’s hand.

"Yinque Palace? What is this? How are we here?" Chen Yuxi looked around in astonishment, seeing the golden-furred fatty sitting cross-legged, and in the distance, Shang Rong and the others, all in meditation.

"Senior Sister, have you forgotten? I obtained this unique Immortal artifact, the Water Mirror Disc, which allows me to enter and exit the Immortal Mansion freely. How did you fall into the Shark-King’s hands? Was the other person Daoist Yuan Qianzi?"

As the truth emerged, Lin Feng felt a weight lift.

"So that is how it is. You are right. When we emerged from the Immortal Mansion, Yuan Qianzi and I inexplicably appeared in the Whale-Slaying Palace. Naturally, we were no match for the Shark-King and have been held captive until today, subjected to his threats and promises to make me his dao companion. There were two layers of seals in the Yongle Palace; if I took a single step, he would know. It is thanks to you, Junior Brother, that I could escape." Chen Yuxi sighed, a lingering fear of death flashing in her eyes.

"It is as I thought. Yuan Qianzi leaked the secret of the Immortal Mansion, which is how the Li Sea demons learned my name. If the Shark-King takes his anger out on him, he brought it upon himself. But where are Leng Linglan and Che Ba? Why are you not together?" Lin Feng asked, a hint of worry in his tone.

"Let me tell you!" Shang Rong flickered into view beside them, standing proudly. "To prevent others from coveting your Immortal artifact, the four of them were positioned millions of miles away from you when they left the Immortal Mansion. This is the Master’s ingenuity; there is nothing strange about it."

"Millions of miles! If they landed in the Sea of Absolute Slaughter, wouldn't that be... wouldn't that be another dead end?" Counting from Little Tu Island, the Whale-Slaying Palace was three million miles to the northwest, and a few million miles east was the Dead Abyss of Absolute Slaughter! Lin Feng shuddered, shocked beyond belief.

"Indeed!" Shang Rong said coldly. "One must be prepared to sacrifice their life upon entering. Do you think this Immortal Mansion is open to just anyone?"

The two senior and junior siblings exchanged a look of horror.

"Looking at you, it seems you have encountered a powerful enemy? I can go out and settle it for you, but I can only help once. You must choose carefully." Shang Rong stared at Lin Feng.

"I will consider it," Lin Feng said, then asked, "I want to know, how deep is your cultivation? Is there anyone in the four seas of the Divine Province who is your match?"

"Heh, I can answer that." Shang Rong gave him an appreciative look and laughed. "Logically, in your world, no one is a match for a single blow from me. However, the world is vast, beyond your imagination or mine; it is not impossible for a few strange individuals or beasts to exist."

***

"Understood! There is no need for you to act for now." Lin Feng didn't need much time to decide. While the Shark-King was powerful, there were even more terrifying entities, such as the Peacock King. Among the twelve Demon Kings, at least three far surpassed the Shark-King. The Xuanji Pavilion, the Hundred Flower Sect, the Futuo Temple, the Myriad Demon Heaven—these places held countless masters and hidden practitioners. In the four seas, there were certainly more than a few Loose Immortals like Mei Yunqi. The world was vast, with one mountain higher than another. He had to use Shang Rong as a trump card with extreme caution.

Shang Rong smiled faintly and faded away.

"Junior Brother, do you mean we are still in the Yongle Palace even after leaving the Yinque Palace?" Chen Yuxi sensed the nuance and looked at Lin Feng with bright, intelligent eyes.

"Yes. Do not worry, Senior Sister. The Shark-King is currently in a rage. After a few days, when he relaxes, we can take the opportunity to escape the Li Sea. With the Cloak of Formlessness, it should not be too difficult."

"Mm, thank you." Chen Yuxi whispered.

Lin Feng smiled and added, "The spiritual energy here is abundant, making cultivation twice as effective. Look, Yi Nian, that golden-furred turtle, has been cultivating here the whole time; he won't leave even if I chase him away."

"Heh. Then I shall not leave either. You must not chase me away." Chen Yuxi smiled, her face revealing a moving, charming allure.

"Please, Senior Sister." Lin Feng, unsettled by her gaze, hurriedly steadied his mind.

Chen Yuxi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiled, and sat down cross-legged. Lin Feng swept his gaze over the others in the courtyard, calmed his heart, and began to refine his true fire, rapidly restoring his spiritual energy. After half an incense stick of time, he opened his eyes, feeling physically and mentally refreshed.

"The Shark-King is ruthless; Lu Danyang and the others are likely no match for him. I wonder if Brother Le Zheng is safe. Strange, who exactly wants the Shark-King dead? Judging by the Peacock King’s words, it seems the Li Sea masters have offended someone. The Shark-King, Bei Sajin, and the Kui Ancestor are all doomed. Demon King-level masters, killed just like that—what is the hidden truth here? The Xuanji Pavilion! Yes, only there can I learn the truth. I will set this aside for now; first, I must escape the Whale-Slaying Palace. I will wait a few more days to test his patience. These two golden cores are enough for me to master the Red Lotus Karmic Fire!"

His heart surging, Lin Feng turned his hand and produced the two corpses.

"Great Chief! Second Chief!" The others were jolted awake by the noise, their eyes fixed on the scene. The golden-furred turtle, Yi Nian, let out an involuntary cry.

"Yi Nian, I cannot give you their golden cores; I have great use for them right now. However, I have two high-grade spirit artifacts; you may choose one." Lin Feng produced the Tiangang Tiger-Subduing Spear and the Flute-Sword, placing them before him.

Yi Nian was slightly disappointed, but after choosing the Flute-Sword, he became full of joy.

The storage pouches of the two Li Sea princes were made of precious conch shells, extremely rare and harvested from a ten-thousand-foot-deep trench. They were smooth, coated with enamel, and patterned differently—one white, one spotted. Once Shang Rong shattered the remaining restrictive spells, they clattered as they opened, spilling out treasures, gold, and silver until they formed two small hills.