Chapter 4: Soul Crystal

“Go!”
Ming Liyan, the leader of the Dark Fire Cave, suddenly shouted and immediately took off. Naturally, the other three members of the Dark Fire Cave quickly followed to capture the Sea Soul Electric Eel.
“Hmph, some clowns trying to compete for the Sea Soul Electric Eel as well.” Yang Tianqi’s eyes sharpened, flashing with a cold light.
The four from the Immortal Slaying Valley also rushed after them to capture the Sea Soul Electric Eel.
The Sea Soul Electric Eel, about a hundred meters long, had just emerged from the sea, ready to unleash lightning at a ship flying across the surface.
Suddenly, it realized that the space around it seemed to have frozen. Then, the temperature in that confined area soared, as if filled with the Pure Blue True Fire.
The Sea Soul Electric Eel sensed an aura of death.
As soon as the four from the Dark Fire Cave arrived, a strong warrior in the early Divination stage immediately took action, locking down the area where the Sea Soul Electric Eel was.
Warriors at the Divination stage could manifest their spiritual energy to influence surrounding energies. This early Divination stage warrior used his spiritual energy to affect the fire-based energies around him, sealing off the space and “enclosing” the Sea Soul Electric Eel.
At that moment, the four from the Immortal Slaying Valley also arrived swiftly.
“Dark Fire Cave, you dare to try to snatch the Sea Soul Electric Eel? How presumptuous. Leave now, and we’ll overlook everything. Otherwise, death awaits you.” Shi Jue shouted loudly upon arriving.
Ming Liyan was furious—Shi Jue’s words were utterly outrageous. Both factions were equally renowned on the Tianhua Continent, with neither able to overpower the other. Yet Shi Jue dared to issue such a demand in an authoritative tone—it was absolutely unacceptable.
The dignity of their sect could not be violated!
“Shi Jue, you bastard! If you’ve got the guts, fight me! Who’s afraid of whom?” Ming Liyan retorted angrily.
With those words, both sides were forced into battle.
The early Divination stage warrior from the Dark Fire Cave shook his palm slightly, stunning the Sea Soul Electric Eel, then rushed forward, firing flaming palms at Shi Jin, the deputy leader of the Immortal Slaying Valley.
Meanwhile, Shi Jue attacked another early Divination stage warrior from the Dark Fire Cave, while Yang Tianqi took the initiative to attack the late Exit stage expert from the Dark Fire Cave, and Leng Yu targeted Ming Liyan.
Three battles between Divination stage warriors and one between an Exit stage expert and another saw massive waves surge across the sea.
One side practiced fire-based cultivation techniques, while the other used earth-based methods. Flames filled the sky, and yellow dust filled the air—the whole world world was engulfed in flames and sand.

Si Jin and that Divination Stage powerhouse who only used Flame Palm were evenly matched, fighting fiercely, but neither could gain the upper hand. Si Jue held a yellow Rate Earth Staff; wherever the staff pointed, yellow sand would surge like a sea, completely suppressing the other Divination Stage powerhouse in the Netherfire Cave. Although Yang Tianqi was only in the early stage of Departure, he wielded a low-grade spiritual weapon, the Earth Dragon Sword, which could summon a giant earth dragon to fight, allowing him to hold his own against those in the later stage of Departure from the Netherfire Cave. On the other side, Leng Yu faced off against Ming Liyan. Though both were in the middle stage of Divination, Leng Yu, armed with a black long sword, completely dominated Ming Liyan. The overall situation was clearly unfavorable for the Netherfire Cave. Yet, the four members of the Netherfire Cave persisted tenaciously. … On the sea surface, the sea soul electric eel, knocked unconscious by the shock, had now sunk to the bottom of the sea. Meanwhile, as Yang Tianqi fought fiercely, the Dimension Ball hidden in the folds of his robes had fallen into the sea and landed on the seabed. At the bottom of the sea, the sea soul electric eel remained unconscious. Inside the Dimension Ball, Qu Yi was extremely excited. Standing by the lake, he shouted eagerly, “Instrument God, can you bring the sea soul electric eel into the Dimension Ball?” The Instrument God stood by the lake, with two small hands on his back. The cute infant-like head shook, and it said, “Those eight people above can send their spiritual awareness to the seabed and keep an eye on the sea soul electric eel at all times. If I force it in now, wouldn’t that be telling them there’s a storage magic artifact here?” Though rejected, Qu Yi’s expression remained joyful. He had already learned from the Instrument God that besides its lightning ability, the sea soul electric eel also possessed a soul illusion technique, thanks to a strange soul crystal growing on its head. Consuming and refining this soul crystal could greatly enhance one’s spiritual strength. For Qu Yi, who already had five mid-stage Departure Yuan Ying, the most desired thing now was to elevate his spiritual realm, so he was determined to obtain this soul crystal. “Then fine. I’ll use the Silent Technique to conceal my presence completely, dive beside the sea soul electric eel, and take out its soul crystal,” Qu Yi added immediately. The Instrument God nodded, gazing at the lake, pretending to be very experienced and mature.

On one side, Bai Man saw the Instrument God acting composed, still with that infantile body. Gritting her teeth, she wanted to fly over and pick up the Instrument God to spank him. But since she never managed to catch him, Bai Man could only bite her lip and stop trying to capture him.

Mu Han, having spent time with Bai Man, also knew about the Instrument God. Upon seeing him now, she was shocked and suddenly laughed, finding the Instrument God extremely amusing.

Qu Yi obtained the Instrument God’s consent and immediately activated the “Silent Art,” hiding his own energy completely before exiting the Dimensional Sphere.

Although the Sea Soul Electric Eel had fainted, its vital energy remained, further masking the spiritual sensing from the earlier battle against the eight people. Qu Yi went beneath the Sea Soul Electric Eel, took out the energy-free jade sword, cut open its throat, and then entered its body.

With the jade sword clearing the way, Qu Yi quickly reached where the Soul Crystal was located.

The Soul Crystal, about the size of a fist, was a pure black spherical object. Countless meridians surrounded it, highlighting its importance to the Sea Soul Electric Eel.

Qu Yi swung the jade sword, took the Soul Crystal in his hand, and placed it inside the Dimensional Sphere, while he himself continued to dive underwater and swim in another direction.

……

Above the sea, the four pairs were still engaged in fierce battles.

Si Jue used the power of his Rule Earth Staff to keep pressure on the early Divination stage warrior from the Nether Fire Cave. Now, taking advantage of the situation, he aimed to kill that warrior.

“Si Jue, don’t push people too far. If it comes to it, I’ll self-destruct with my Yuan Ying and drag you down with me!” the early Divination stage warrior shouted angrily.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Si Jue slowed down his attacks. He really couldn’t avoid the energy blast from the warrior’s self-destruction.

On the other side, Si Jin and the early Divination stage warrior who only used the Flame Palm continued their clash between fire and earth. Among the four pairs, they made the loudest noises, but neither could defeat the other. Yang Tianqi and the late Exit Stage expert from the Nether Fire Cave fought back, relying on their superior magical artifacts to hold their ground.

The duel between Leng Yu and Ming Li Yan was still at a standstill. Sometimes the true fire turned the yellow soil into crystals, and other times the yellow sand submerged the flames. Each move was deadly, but both fighters, with their rich combat experience, managed to avoid the fatal blows.

“Si Jue, how about we stop fighting now?” Ming Li Yan finally spoke up during the battle.

Ming Liyan was still very clear-headed. Although the two sides were now tied, out of the four people from Shi Xian Valley, two were at the mid-stage of Divination, while there was only one such person on their side. If the battle continued, the Ming Huo Cave side would truly be defeated.
“Hmph, Ming Liyan, you finally admit defeat. It’s too late. But if you’re willing to acknowledge that Ming Huo Cave is inferior to Shi Xian Valley, we’ll stop attacking,” Shi Jue shouted happily.
Obviously, Shi Jue also knew that pressing further and forcing the people of Ming Huo Cave to self-destruct their Yuan Ying would not end well for anyone. Thus, he wanted to save some face and end the battle.
Just then, Yang Tianqi smiled and said, “Uncle Leng, go ahead.”
Yang Tianqi gave a strange smile!
Upon receiving the signal, Leng Yu immediately flew back, already holding a spiritual talisman—none other than the ‘Planet-Transforming Nine Spirits Talisman’ with the power of the late-stage Divination.
“Bad! Everyone, retreat quickly!” Ming Liyan was shocked and immediately shouted.
Unfortunately, it was too late. As soon as Leng Yu took out the talisman, he activated it by channeling his true energy.
Suddenly, a huge yellow sphere, about ten li in size, appeared in the sky. Then the sphere exploded into nine pieces, each one a li long and shaped like a giant sword. Four of these swords flew toward the four people from Ming Huo Cave, while the other five headed toward the sea.
“True flames swirling!”
Ming Liyan knew he couldn’t fly away, so he forced his true energy to resist. He then unleashed his ultimate move, surrounding himself with true flames to confront the yellow giant swords.
The other three people from Ming Huo Cave also tried their best to draw on their true energy for defense. But after the previous fierce battle, most of their energy had been depleted, and even with all their remaining energy, they couldn’t withstand the blows of those giant swords.
With the four giant swords falling, only Ming Liyan remained from Ming Huo Cave, but he was in a desperate state.
Leng Yu had already known the power of the talisman. As the swords descended, he immediately flew over to Ming Liyan’s side. Just as Ming Liyan thought he had escaped disaster, he was horrified to find that Leng Yu had already plunged his sword into his throat.
“No!”
Ming Liyan could only utter a word before Leng Yu pierced his throat, and the true flames attached to the sword burned him to ashes.
All four of the strongest people from Ming Huo Cave were now dead.
“Haha, from now on, there will only be two major demonic cultivation sects on Tianhua Continent,” Shi Jue exclaimed excitedly.
But just as he laughed, he was shocked. When his spiritual sense reached the bottom of the sea, he found that the Sea Soul Electric Eel had already died.

“Damn it, who is this guy? Who can escape my psychic sense?” Shi Jue shouted angrily.
Immediately afterward, Shi Jue and Leng Yu arrived at the seabed and stood beside the dead Sea Soul Electric Eel.
At that moment, thousands of miles away in the sea, Qu Yi deliberately revealed a trace of his presence before quickly rising to the surface.
“Chase him!”
Shi Jue and Leng Yu both spotted Qu Yi and shouted at the same time, then swiftly flew to the surface to pursue him.