"Ha ha ha—"
A hearty, resonant voice boomed from the war vessel, ringing like a great bell through the heavens and earth, shaking the sea surface into rippling layers.
"Brother Jiuyou is too kind! I have come here today specifically to thank you for saving my beloved disciple a few months ago. If not for your timely intervention, Yunqing would have likely met a vicious end by now."
Upon hearing this, Canfeng's face registered a flicker of surprise. The other disciples and elders on Soul Wraith Island exchanged stunned glances.
Even the rogue cultivators in the distance who overheard these words were visibly shocked.
They had assumed that the Demon Sea Sect, with such a grand and aggressive display, was here to stir up trouble for Soul Wraith Island.
After all, among demonic sects, sharing drinks one day and drawing swords the next was commonplace. Who would have guessed they had come specifically to express gratitude?
A well-informed rogue cultivator immediately sucked in a sharp breath.
The speaker, judging by the voice, was clearly Blood Sea True Person, the Great Elder of Demon Sea Sect! A Mid-Nascent Soul grand cultivator, one of the top-tier cultivators with a voice in the entire Tianyuan Sea, a dominant overlord who commanded one region.
A figure like this had personally visited Soul Wraith Island? And from his tone, it seemed he had even forged a connection with that old demon Jiuyou?
For a moment, the rogue cultivators watching from the shadows harbored mixed feelings. Some were envious, some wary, but most silently took note: never offend any disciple of Soul Wraith Island from now on.
Just as the crowd's suspicions swirled.
The massive blood-colored war vessel steadily halted a few hundred zhang away from Soul Wraith Island, advancing no further.
At the very front of the vessel, the blood-red figure stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His stature was tall and imposing, with faint surges of blood qi swirling around him. With a single flicker of movement, he vanished from the ship.
The next moment.
A flash of blood light.
That figure had already appeared mid-air, striding toward Soul Wraith Island.
With each step he took, a "bang" of blood-colored mist exploded beneath his feet, spreading outward. With a flash of blood light, his entire body traversed several hundred zhang forward. In just three steps, he had arrived above Soul Wraith Island, facing Jiuyou from a distance.
Beside him, Canfeng felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him like a tidal wave, his breath catching in his throat.
He swallowed hard, staring fixedly at that blood-red silhouette.
Blood Sea True Person was clad in a dark red robe, his face as fair as jade, with three long strands of beard hanging down to his chest. Between his opening and closing eyes, faint traces of blood light flickered.
Blood qi coiled around him, vaguely forming the phantom outline of a massive whale-kun beast behind him, appearing and disappearing as if ready to leap out of the void at any moment, devouring heaven and earth.
Even though Blood Sea True Person deliberately restrained his aura, the lingering pressure of a Mid-Nascent Soul powerhouse still made countless Soul Wraith Island disciples tremble with fear, their legs going weak.
And standing beside Blood Sea True Person was a figure in a dark robe—none other than Xie Yunqing, whom Jiuyou had saved on the nameless island that day. He stood with his hands at his sides, his demeanor respectful, but a trace of barely concealed pride lurked deep in his eyes.
Canfeng's eyes widened, his lips trembling slightly.
"Ancestor... this, this can't be that legendary Blood Sea True Person, can it? They say his cultivation of the 'Blood Kun Great Technique' is the most powerful blood-sha technique among demonic cultivation methods, hailed as the number one demonic blood technique! One of the top demonic techniques in the Tianyuan Sea!"
His tone was filled with shock and envy, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
Hearing this, Jiuyou's face showed a flicker of barely perceptible displeasure. After all, it was hardly proper to praise another's technique in front of one's own ancestor.
He turned his head to glance at Canfeng, then looked at Blood Sea True Person striding through the air in the distance, and let out a cold snort.
"Hmph, Canfeng, I think you've been slacking off too much lately!"
His voice was not loud, but it stabbed into Canfeng's ears like shards of ice.
"Look at that Xie Yunqing! And then look at yourself! Both of you have rare spirit roots, and he's already about to touch the threshold of Peak Golden Core, while you're still stuck at Mid-Golden Core! Even refining a Late Golden Core Soul Wraith Puppet required my personal assistance!"
Jiuyou turned sideways, raising a finger to jab sharply at Canfeng's forehead, his tone filled with the frustration of a mentor seeing a student waste potential.
Being scolded in front of everyone, Canfeng's face instantly flushed red. He looked like a child who had done something wrong, his eyes full of grievance, his hands at a loss where to put them, his head deeply bowed, afraid to meet Jiuyou's gaze.
His eyes occasionally darted toward Xie Yunqing, a trace of jealousy flashing in them. Resentment churned in his heart, but he dared not show even a hint of it. He could only bury that unwillingness deep in his chest.
Jiuyou let out another cold snort and turned away.
He coughed lightly, and the anger on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a warm yet restrained smile. He slowly moved forward to meet Blood Sea True Person.
"Ha ha ha, Brother Blood Sea, it's rare to see you today. Why not come to my great hall for a chat? Let me do my duty as host and offer you proper hospitality."
Blood Sea True Person stood with his hands behind his back, looking Jiuyou up and down, then glanced at Canfeng behind him, a hint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes.
He retracted the blood qi around him, the massive whale-kun phantom gradually dissipating, and then spoke cheerfully, a trace of barely concealed pride woven into his voice.
"Fine, fine, fine. Since Brother Jiuyou invites me, I shall not refuse."
"Brother Blood Sea, please."
Jiuyou made a gesture of invitation, stepping aside.
The four of them flew one after another toward the Soul Wraith Great Hall.
Inside the hall, everything had already been prepared.
Jiuyou was meticulous. The moment Blood Sea True Person's war vessel had appeared, he had secretly sent a sound transmission to his disciples, instructing them to make arrangements.
Now, exquisite tables and chairs were set up on both sides of the hall, laden with spirit fruits and spirit wine, their fragrant aroma wafting through the air.
The surroundings were lined with stern-faced Soul Wraith Island disciples, each one fierce and imposing, yet their attitudes were extremely respectful. This was Jiuyou's deliberate arrangement—neither to lose face nor to breach propriety.
Originally, he hadn't planned to go to such lengths. But seeing the other party's grandiose entrance, he couldn't afford to let his own side fall short.
Blood Sea True Person swept his gaze across the hall's decorations, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, but he said nothing, striding directly to the seat of the honored guest.
The two of them took their seats, with Canfeng and Xie Yunqing sitting on either side.
For a while, wine cups clinked and pleasantries were exchanged.
Jiuyou raised his cup in a toast, and Blood Sea True Person responded with a smile. The two chatted cheerfully, speaking only meaningless formalities like "I've heard so much about you" and "Not at all, not at all," which bored Canfeng to near sleep. Yet he dared not show the slightest impatience.
After a moment, Blood Sea True Person set down his wine cup and lightly tapped the storage pouch at his waist.
With a flash of spiritual light, a small emerald-green box appeared in his palm.
The box was entirely verdant, engraved with intricate runes, with faint spiritual light flowing through it—clearly no ordinary item.
"Brother Jiuyou." Blood Sea True Person pushed the small box toward Jiuyou, a warm smile on his face.
"This is a beast pill from an Eighth-Rank Great Demon, as a token of thanks for saving my beloved disciple. A modest gift, unworthy of your acceptance, but I hope Brother Jiuyou will do me the honor."
A gleam of light flashed in Jiuyou's eyes.
An Eighth-Rank beast pill!
Whether used for refining elixirs or crafting magic treasures, it was a rare and precious item. Even for him, an Nascent Soul Ancestor, it was extremely valuable.
Greed churned within him, but he kept his expression unchanged. Instead, he made a show of declining.
"Oh my, Brother Blood Sea, you're too generous. It was merely a small favor. Why go to such expense?"
"Brother Jiuyou, what are you saying?" Blood Sea True Person waved his hand dismissively, a nonchalant expression on his face. "It's just a mere beast pill from an Eighth-Rank demon beast—nothing of great value. If I wanted one, I could simply go out to sea and hunt another. Please, Brother Jiuyou, you must accept it."
His tone was casual, as if he weren't talking about an Eighth-Rank beast pill, but a stone picked up by the roadside.
The corner of Jiuyou's mouth twitched.
Such arrogance! An Eighth-Rank demon beast was a foe capable of contending with Nascent Soul cultivators. Even he, personally taking action, would need to expend considerable effort. But in Blood Sea True Person's mouth, it sounded as easy as slaughtering a chicken or sheep.
Was this the confidence of a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator?
Jiuyou harbored a deep wariness within, yet his face betrayed nothing. He discreetly swept his Divine Sense over the emerald-green box. After confirming there was no issue, he reached out and accepted it, stowing it in his Storage Pouch.
"Since you insist, I shall accept it without further ceremony."
He paused, slowly retracting the smile on his face, his expression turning serious.
"Brother Blood Sea, since you're so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush either."
He looked Blood Sea True Person directly in the eyes, speaking each word deliberately.
"I believe Little Friend Yunqing has already informed you of what I seek. What say you, Brother Blood Sea?"
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly tightened.
Canfeng and Xie Yunqing both involuntarily held their breath.
A flicker of understanding passed through Blood Sea True Person's eyes. Unhurriedly, he raised his hand, using his mana to pour himself a cup of wine, gently swirling the cup as the liquid rippled in rings.
"Heh."
He let out a soft laugh, speaking slowly.
"A great opportunity like Heavenly Abyss Mountain—I naturally have no intention of missing it. As it happens, I had already planned to enter that secret realm alongside another Supreme Elder of our sect to contend for the Life-Extending Fruits."
He paused, his gaze shifting to Jiuyou, his eyes deep and penetrating.
"I've also heard of Brother Jiuyou's strength. Among Early Nascent Soul cultivators, you're considered one of the best. If I could have Brother Jiuyou's assistance, our chances of seizing the Life-Extending Fruits would undoubtedly increase significantly."
He raised his cup in a toast toward Jiuyou, the corner of his mouth curling upward.
"I am, naturally, willing to cooperate."