The Blackwater Ape was on the verge of losing his mind. He wanted nothing more than to rush in and smash that infuriating woman into paste with a single blow.
The problem was...
He couldn't rush in!
Grinding his teeth, he glared at the barrier. What the hell was this formation?
Even the previous barrier had shown cracks after taking blows from a hundred-thousand-strong army, but this one hadn't reacted at all. How in the world had she completed such a massive array in such a short time?
He couldn't figure it out, and honestly, he didn't have the luxury to. He'd led this army with a mission. If he couldn't kill that woman, the Ink Sea Dragon Clan would skin him alive. So, he kept attacking—tirelessly, relentlessly.
Three whole days and nights passed like that.
During this time, Yun Jin actually took a nap. After waking up, she meditated for a bit. Then she even went for a stroll. And, of course, she didn't forget to harvest some Emotional Value along the way. At first, the numbers were flowing in nicely, but eventually, she hit the limit.
For the past three hours, not a single new Emotional Value had come in.
She sighed, a little disappointed. It seemed sea beasts didn't have as much potential as human cultivators of the same level. She'd already sheared all the wool she could off them. If she wanted to keep milking them, she'd have to wait a while before they "regrew."
"Cowering inside like a turtle, what kind of hero are you? If you've got guts, come out here!" the Blackwater Ape roared, still unwilling to give up.
This barrier was beyond bizarre. He couldn't even see the slightest hope of breaking it.
Three days and nights of constant assault, and the Ink Sea Dragon Palace had already sent several urgent messages demanding results. If he still failed to complete his mission, he could kiss his position goodbye.
He was anxious, sure. But what could he do?
Even he knew that if he were in that woman's shoes, he'd never step out and court death either.
Still, clinging to a shred of hope, he kept taunting, "Come on out! I'll even respect you if you do!"
Just as his voice fell, Yun Jin smiled, flashing her neat white teeth. "Sure."
The Blackwater Ape froze.
What? Had he misheard?
The next second, his eyes went wide as he stumbled back two steps.
Yun Jin had suddenly appeared right in front of him!
He stared at her in disbelief, wondering if he was hallucinating.
She'd actually stepped out of the barrier?
Was she out of her mind?
Yun Jin smiled at him. "I came out. So, what now?"
A surge of ecstasy rushed through the Blackwater Ape. He didn't know why she'd left the barrier, but since she'd come out, she wouldn't be going back alive.
Without hesitation, he roared and swung his staff. In an instant, thousands of shadows of his weapon filled the air, crashing down toward Yun Jin like a storm.
She looked up lazily, a trace of disappointment flickering in her eyes.
This guy's strength…
Was a bit underwhelming.
Could he really help her grasp the rhythm of surging waves?
Yun Jin gave him a look full of disdain.
"I said you hadn't eaten, and turns out you really haven't eaten!" she snapped.
The Blackwater Ape froze again. What the hell did that even mean?
Before he could react, Yun Jin lightly raised two fingers. The countless staff shadows vanished instantly.
The black iron staff in his hand was no longer his—it had appeared in hers. His face changed drastically. He struggled to pull it back, but Yun Jin's fingers moved slightly.
A soft crack echoed through the air. The black iron staff, forged from Xuan Ice Iron, shattered like fragile glass.
The Blackwater Ape's pupils shrank in horror. That... that was his lifebound weapon!
It was made from one of the hardest materials in the world, and he'd nourished it for thousands of years. Its toughness and power were unmatched. Yet this woman had just… crushed it between two fingers?!
Pain shot through his chest. He couldn't hold back the mouthful of blood that burst out. The destruction of his lifebound weapon had wounded his soul. Staggering backward, he looked at Yun Jin in pure terror. Just how strong was she?
If she'd struck him directly just now, would he even still be alive?
The surrounding sea beasts immediately formed a protective circle around him.
Yun Jin blew lightly, and the fragments of the shattered staff scattered into dust.
She spoke casually, "Not every monkey's qualified to wield that staff."
The Blackwater Ape froze. He didn't quite get it, but it sure didn't sound friendly.
Yun Jin stepped forward.
The sea beasts instinctively backed away.
She took another step.
They retreated even farther.
She stopped and sighed helplessly. "You told me to come out, didn't you? Well, here I am. Why're you running now?"
The Blackwater Ape's face was dark as storm clouds. Yeah, he'd said that—but who the hell expected her to be such a monster?
"You can't all act like cowards," Yun Jin said patiently. "The Ink Sea Dragon Palace sent you here on a mission. If you refuse to fight, do you really think they'll spare you?"
The beasts looked grim. She wasn't wrong. They were the main army, not some lazy, half-wild bunch the Palace turned a blind eye to. If they ran from battle, their punishment would be brutal.
"You've seen it yourselves. The Blackwater Ape alone can't handle me. So, whatever secret combination techniques or group formations you've got, now's the time to use them! Gather your army, maybe you'll even manage to kill me."
Her tone was so encouraging it almost sounded like she was giving a lecture.
The sea beasts exchanged glances, nodding in realization, then turned to the Blackwater Ape for orders.
Still pale, he forced himself to breathe steadily.
"Listen to my command! Form up! Collective assault!" he shouted.
The army roared in response, quickly moving to assemble a massive formation involving all hundred thousand of them.
They kept darting nervous glances at Yun Jin as they moved.
She smiled kindly. "No need to rush. Take your time. I promise I won't attack first until your formation's ready."
And true to her word, she stood perfectly still.
Gradually, the beasts began to relax.
After watching for a bit, Yun Jin couldn't resist grabbing one of the sea beasts by the arm.
He flinched in panic. "You said you wouldn't attack!"
Yun Jin sighed in exasperation. "I'm not attacking! It's just... your formation's all wrong. Buddy, you're standing in the wrong spot. You should be there, not here."
She pointed to a position nearby.
The sea beast blinked, realized she was right, scratched his head awkwardly, and shuffled to the correct spot.
Yun Jin smiled in satisfaction.
Seeing how clumsy they were with the array, she couldn't help giving them a few more pointers as they continued.
Under her patient guidance, the formation was finally completed.