Translator: CinderTL
Boom!
Deep within the ocean, in Riftsea Canyon, a muffled roar reverberated through the seabed, sending concentric ripples of water spreading outward.
Everyone near the mermen palace was jolted awake. Even a Fifth-Tier mermen elder coughed up blood, having suffered a severe blow that nearly killed him.
"Elder Moore!"
"How could this happen?!"
Delia and the others, alerted by the commotion, rushed to the scene. They found a chaotic scene of mermen corpses strewn haphazardly across the seabed.
These were the mermen guards patrolling the Sea Eye Seal for the Storm Church. How had they been ambushed so suddenly?
"D-don't mind me..."
"Go... go quickly..."
The wounded mermen elder, supported by others, coughed up blood as he shakily raised a hand, pointing into the distance.
Delia and the others followed his gaze. Their eyes landed on the direction of the Sea Eye Seal.
Could it be...?
Boom!!
The multicolored light screen protecting the Sea Eye Seal trembled violently, dense ripples spreading across its surface.
A figure in black robes had appeared unnoticed, his face hidden by a hood and a black mask.
The black token in his hand emitted a dark, ominous light, corrupting and invading the light screen.
"This—!"
Delia and the others' pupils constricted as a violent storm erupted from the seabed.
"How dare you break the seal! Who are you?!"
The furious roar echoed through the depths, emanating from a Saint of the Storm Church stationed to guard the seal.
As the Saint unleashed his full spiritual power, the underwater storm transformed into towering, spiraling tornadoes that surged toward the Sea Eye Seal, seeking to halt the intruder.
Buzz!
However, just as the underwater tornadoes closed in, about to engulf the black-robed figure, a burst of dark light erupted, turning the surrounding seawater into an inky blackness.
The spiraling storms rapidly dissipated, crumbling like objects corrupted by a corrosive force.
The black token seemed to possess supernatural power far surpassing that of a Saint, while the black-robed figure at its center glared with crimson eyes, their gaze flashing with cruel intent.
"Die!"
The cold command rang out as the black token unleashed a crimson beam of light.
The overwhelming pressure caused the seawater to tremble, churning into violent whirlpools. The Church Saint, who had been rushing forward, paled drastically and hastily summoned a protective storm barrier.
Boom!!
The wind evasion shattered, seawater surged inward.
Struck with tremendous force, the Church Saint was hurled backward, crashing through the reef wall behind him.
A few drops of blood stained the seawater crimson. In the distance, Delia and the others' pupils contracted, their faces filled with shock and suspicion as they sensed an overwhelmingly familiar, malevolent aura.
"It's the Crimson Sequence!" Delia declared grimly, witnessing firsthand the seaweed around the black-robed figure rapidly wither and the seabed reefs crumble as if corroded from within.
The continuous cracking echoed through the depths, turning Lei Long and the other mermen elders pale with dread as they grasped the gravity of the situation.
Hesitating, the group gritted their teeth in silent resolve.
As if sensing their hesitation, the black-robed figure smirked coldly, a sinister glint flashing in his Scarlet Eyes.
"Divine Favor!"
Boom!!
The black token glowed with an even darker, ink-like radiance, corrupting the multicolored light screen and steadily corroding it.
The Sea Eye Seal momentarily weakened, allowing wisps of black mist to escape.
Seeing this, Delia and the others' expressions shifted dramatically. Without a moment to lose, they unleashed their spiritual power and charged forward, steeling their nerves.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of stone spears hurtled through the water, creating a white-capped wave. Meanwhile, Merfolk manipulated the currents, shaking the reefs and unleashing a massive tsunami.
"A swarm of ants dares to stand in my way?" the black-robed figure sneered.
The black, ravenous light spread once more, rapidly corroding the spears and arrows that filled the sky, turning them to ash.
As for the towering tsunami that surged like a tidal wave, the crimson beams erupting from the black-robed figure's eyes pierced through it, shattering its momentum and disrupting all its gathered power.
"Ugh!"
Elder Delia recoiled from the backlash, her fish tail stiffening mid-swirl. Her face paled as she coughed up blood.
Several mermen elders, who had charged forward with her, gritted their teeth and transformed into underwater projectiles, aiming to close the distance.
But an invisible corrosive power silently spread, infiltrating their bodies like a virulent disease.
"Cough... cough..."
All the mermen, elders and commoners alike, froze mid-motion, their faces turning deathly pale as they erupted into violent coughing fits.
Within mere moments, both Merfolk and Mermen, along with other sea beasts, began bleeding from every orifice, their scales sloughing off as disease and plague took hold.
Fear and death loomed over them all, while the black token in the black-robed figure's hand glowed with an even darker light.
Just as all hope seemed lost, a cracking sound echoed from the distant reef wall.
"Hrrgh..."
The middle-aged Saint of the Storm Church struggled free from the rock face.
His disheveled hair and blood-stained lips painted a picture of utter disarray. The ring he wore was cracked, clearly having expended a vast amount of Spirituality to barely withstand the crimson light emanating from the token.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his face contorted in anger as he unleashed another surge of spiritual power, summoning swirling storms.
He had already sent word of the situation to the Church. If he could just hold out until reinforcements arrived, they could still prevent disaster.
"Trying to stall for time?" the black-robed figure sneered, his scarlet eyes piercing through the Saint's facade. "Do you really think you can protect the seal?"
"And why would the Storm Church even care about this place anymore?"
The Church Saint's face paled at these words.
Seizing the opportunity, the black-robed figure unleashed corrosive power, disintegrating everything around them—turning Mermen corpses and rocky reefs into dust.
The Church Saint suffered a grievous wound, his body corroded by the pitch-black seawater, his storm dissipating.
Pfft!
He spat out blood and collapsed on the spot, his life force fading rapidly.
Delia and the others, weakened by the disease, could only watch helplessly as the black-robed figure, now unopposed, activated the token with a triumphant laugh.
"Hahahaha! Divine favor! Descend!"
The laughter echoed as the black-robed figure channeled every ounce of spiritual power into the token, sacrificing it all.
The multicolored light screen grew increasingly dark as the Sea Eye Seal was relentlessly corroded.
The miasma seeping from the abyss black hole became increasingly malevolent and profound, rapidly dimming the divine power within the seal, including the forces of storm and flame.
Witnessing this, the crimson glow in the black-robed figure's eyes intensified, burning with fanatical fervor.
In the final moments, he even used the black token's power to sacrifice Delia and the others, aiming to complete the final step of the ritual.
"Give it to me."
Boom!!!
A meteor shower descended from the heavens, vaporizing seawater and piercing through everyone's vision.
The earth buckled, and the sea trembled.
Though deep beneath the ocean, it felt as if a blazing sun had suddenly appeared, radiating scorching heat and blinding light.
The echoing laughter abruptly ceased, and the sacrificial ritual was violently interrupted.
"This—?!"
The black-robed figure's face twisted in horror, the crimson light in his eyes flickering as if fleeing in terror.
Buzz!!
Sensing the anomaly, the black token immediately erupted with power, draining the figure's flesh and blood to unleash even greater spiritual force.
Darkness coalesced into a curtain, rising to block the celestial onslaught.
Crimson energy solidified into a Blood Moon, poised to eclipse the Blazing Sun.
But then—
"A mere fragment of Angelic Power dares to defy me?"
Boom!!
A domineering, deep voice reverberated through the seabed as the falling Blazing Sun suddenly expanded, transforming into a colossal volcanic mountain tens of thousands of feet tall.
A shadowy figure stood atop the peak, cold eyes surveying the scene below.
The Deep Sea's waters rapidly evaporated, forming a suffocating White Mist as an oppressive force solidified everything, crushing the world under its weight.
Crack!
The black curtain shattered instantly, and the Blood Moon exploded into fragments.
A token engraved with intricate runes, serpentine tails, and bat wings detonated with a deafening roar!
"No!!"
Boom!!
The black-robed figure's flesh and blood erupted in a bloody spray, his mask and robes disintegrating into dust.
Scarlet Gold flames bloomed across the seabed, transforming into molten lava.
A violent conflagration erupted, its searing heat sweeping away the lingering black mist.
Witnessing this, Delia and the others trembled, feeling the pain in their flesh and the taint of disease rapidly receding.
In the distance, the Storm Church Saint, coughing blood, struggled to his feet. His dazed gaze drifted toward the volcanic mountain, which had crashed down directly onto the Sea Eye Seal.
Mist seeped from the loosened gap, as if an invisible figure were trying to materialize.
But then—
"Get lost!"
Chen Feng roared coldly, his Cosmic Burning Force surging again, transforming into a river of molten lava that engulfed the seal.
Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle!
The scorching heat of the Cosmic Flame seared the seawater, transforming Riftsea Canyon into an underwater volcano. Every living creature felt the scalding, searing heat, as if they were about to be reduced to ashes.
The hissing of evaporating water persisted relentlessly, and the black light sealing the barrier rapidly dissipated.
Even more astonishingly, the Divine Power within the seal resonated with the Cosmic Flame, autonomously activating and amplifying its power. The seal erupted once more in a dazzling display of multicolored light.
Buzz!
In an instant, the ocean seal solidified again, and the overflowing black mist vanished completely.
A furious roar seemed to echo from beneath the Sea Eye, but Chen Feng stood motionless above the glowing barrier, his gaze cold and unwavering.
"It's... it's Master Feng Chen!"
Seeing this, Delia and the others finally snapped out of their daze.
The scalding seawater was almost unbearable, yet their faces grew even more reverent.
Finally, the multicolored light of the Sea Eye Seal faded, and the volcanic Martial Dao Momentum gradually dissipated.
Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle!
The underwater world rapidly cooled, and Delia and the others felt a renewed sense of relief, breathing in fresh air for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.
Splash!
The seawater churned as Lei Long, enduring his injuries, rushed forward to greet them.
"Master Feng Chen!"
He bowed respectfully, acutely aware of the dire situation they had just faced.
Even the Church Saint had been unable to withstand the assault, and the seal left by the True God had begun to crumble.
Yet all this peril had vanished the moment Feng Chen arrived.
"Mm."
Chen Feng nodded calmly and descended slowly to the seabed.
A few grains of sand drifted in the current as the mermen elders hurried forward, followed by Delia and the other Mermaids.
"Master Feng Chen!"
"Thank you, Master Feng Chen, for saving us again!"
Voices filled with gratitude rang out as hundreds of Mermen knelt in unison.
Delia and the other mermen elders also knelt respectfully, their expressions reverent.
"Rise," Chen Feng said calmly, his Martial Dao Momentum merging with his mental power to lift them all to their feet.
"We have disappointed you," one of the mermen elders said gravely, his pale face tinged with shame.
The Mermen Clan revered martial prowess, yet they had needed their master's protection to survive. This alone filled them with shame.
"Then become stronger," Chen Feng said casually, offering no words of comfort.
The Mermen Clan revered strength; any overly gentle approach would only make them uncomfortable.
"Yes!"
"We will strive to follow in your footsteps!"
The mermen elder with an octopus-like head nodded solemnly, his respectful tone causing Delia to glance at him sharply, wondering if she had misheard.
These fiercely independent Mermen have actually learned to flatter others?
As the thought crossed her mind, she noticed a change in the sound of the seawater.
Turning her head, she saw the Church Saint, his robes tattered, drifting toward them on the current. His bloodstained right hand pressed against his left chest as he knelt before Chen Feng in a half-bow.
"Your Majesty Feng Cheng, thank you for your intervention."
"I, Kahn, will forever remember your kindness."
He had seen further and felt the weight of the situation more deeply than Delia and the others.
If the Sea Eye Seal had been breached, unleashing disaster, even death would not have cleansed him of this profound sin.
Even in the afterlife, he would face divine punishment, barred from entering the divine kingdom.
For a member of the Church who worshipped the True God, this fate was more terrifying than any mortal peril.
"Hmm."
Chen Feng nodded slightly, unaware of the Saint's inner turmoil. He simply accepted the gesture with composure.
Maintaining the Sea Eye Seal was the True God Church's responsibility, and Chen Feng's intervention had spared them a considerable burden.
However, his gaze flickered as he studied the iridescent, Spiritually luminous barrier of the True God's seal. He sensed something amiss.
"I've already reported this incident to the Church," Kahn, the Church Saint, volunteered, mistaking Chen Feng's concern for anxiety. "Angels will likely arrive soon to reinforce the seal."
Chen Feng shook his head. Unlike Kahn, his Perception Talent had long since merged with his mental power, granting him far greater sensitivity. This was how he had detected the seal's anomaly.
"Weakened by a third?"
He could clearly sense that the seal's power had diminished significantly since his last visit. This explained how the black-robed figure had been able to leverage Angelic Power to forcibly shake the seal's foundation.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Chen Feng considered several possibilities.
The Crimson Sequence had always been viewed with hostility in this world, associated with Evil Gods. The power displayed by the black-robed figure earlier was no different from that wielded by Believers of the Evil God Cults on Earth.
After questioning Delia and the others, Chen Feng quickly received an answer.
The black-robed figure arrived with sudden force, immediately attacking the patrolling Mermen guards and heading straight for the Sea Eye Seal.
"It seems the black-robed figure only dared to act because he was certain I was absent," Chen Feng mused, his thoughts drifting. He even suspected Gata's absence might be connected.
After all, everyone mistakenly believed Gata was his Familiar, capable of direct communication with him. This made others wary, afraid to act rashly and alert Gata, which would inevitably draw Chen Feng to this place.
"But how did he obtain this intelligence?"
Chen Feng recalled the black-robed figure's face, hidden behind a mask.
A typical human from the Bountiful Continent, bearing a striking resemblance to the Platinum Federation citizens of Earth, albeit with some corrupted distortions.
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, he scanned the surrounding Mermen.
Their Soul Flames showed no anomalies, and he doubted this race would dare defy him. As for the Merfolk Clan, amplifying his Perception revealed no malice.
Perplexed, Chen Feng turned his gaze to the Sea Eye Seal.
Considering the inexplicably weakened Divine Power of the True God and the Angelic Power the black-robed figure had obtained, a startling hypothesis suddenly struck him.
(End of the Chapter)
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