Chapter 86 The Terrifying Power of Magic!

Shen Yan’s only remaining weakness now was the lack of a defensive magical artifact. To guard against any cunning methods the Kui Shui Sect or the Lingbo Sect might wield against him, he fused forty-nine drops of Profound Primordial Heavy Water into a single entity with innate purple energy, transforming it into a fluid stream capable of changing form at will. Blessed with the Water Controlling Art granted by the Divine Seal of Heaven and Earth, Shen Yan shaped this stream into a water shield to protect himself.

Though he sacrificed the ability to use Condensing Ice Technique to forge ice needles from the Profound Primordial Heavy Water, the shield combined with his formidable physical strength greatly enhanced his survivability. Moreover, Shen Yan carried with him all twenty remaining top-grade Vajra Talismans of the first rank, thoroughly turning himself into a moving fortress—one even Foundation Establishment cultivators would struggle to breach quickly.

Having completed these preparations, Shen Yan glanced at the spirit spring before him and strode out. For this battle, he needed only to gain a month’s respite. Then, he could consume the Foundation Establishment Pill and ascend to the Foundation Establishment realm. At that point, he would return to Jade Immortal Sect’s Jingyun Island to slay Yang Yun and fulfill his vengeance, severing all ties and focusing wholeheartedly on restoring the Divine Seal of the Heavenly Emperor and pursuing the path to immortality.

Leaving Jingyun Island, Shen Yan ignored the watchers outside and slipped into the sea, swiftly fleeing into its depths. He then unleashed his spiritual sense to search for the Blackscale Fish King. The cultivators of Kui Shui Sect and Lingbo Sect could probe no deeper than thirty fathoms below the seabed. While Blackscale Fish might be found there, the Fish King would not frequent such shallow waters.

Thus, Shen Yan dove more than a hundred fathoms down, beginning a thorough search of the waters near Green Lotus Island. Two days later, deep within a submarine trench, he finally discovered the Blackscale Fish King's trail. Manipulating the seawater, he bound the Fish King, sensing the abundant innate purple energy within its body. Shen Yan smiled faintly, grasping it in his hand.

He swiftly ascended, and when the water’s surface erupted, Shen Yan hurled the Fish King with all his might. A brilliant golden arc streaked across the sky and landed upon Green Lotus Island.

"The Fish King! Zhou Shun found the Fish King—he’s taken it!"

"Stop him! Someone, block his way!"

"Get to the island—snatch the Fish King!"

"Where are the three core disciples? Why haven't they moved?"

"Take action!"

Seeing Shen Yan seize the Fish King, the gathered cultivators could no longer restrain themselves, surging toward Green Lotus Island. Those daring enough to linger near the island were all audacious, for it lay at the border between Kui Shui Sect and Jade Immortal Sect. If surrounded by Jade Immortal Sect disciples, their fate would be annihilation.

Of course, the reason these cultivators were so recklessly bold, storming toward Green Lotus Island with murderous intent, was the influence of the baleful Yin energy wafting from the Water Moon Sect’s secret realm. This was the cause of their frenzied behavior.

"Take action!"

Not far from Green Lotus Island, Zhao Ruoxu and Chen Hongyu of Lingbo Sect exchanged glances, reading the meaning in each other's eyes. Zhao Ruoxu soared, transforming into a streak of cold light toward the island, while Chen Hongyu, unwilling to lag behind, followed closely astride a crimson ribbon.

Xu Jingyang, the core disciple of Kui Shui Sect, saw their urgency and curled his lips slightly. Turning to Xu Shengnan at his side, he said, "Stay here and don't move. Wait until I and the two Lingbo Sect core disciples have dealt with Zhou Shun, then come over."

With that, he flew toward Shen Yan on Green Lotus Island.

On the island, as cultivators from all sides charged in, Shen Yan’s expression was cold and indifferent. With each flicker of sword light, blood sprayed, and scalding blood tinged the seawater red.

More than ten cultivators fell, unable to withstand even Shen Yan’s casual strikes, dying on the spot. Yet this did nothing to quell their greed.

"Leave the Fish King behind!"

"Hand over the Fish King and we’ll spare your life!"

Confronted with their frenzied assault, Shen Yan only curled his lips disdainfully, then drew innate purple energy from the Divine Seal of the Heavenly Emperor and cast a spell:

"Turn water to ice!"

In an instant, a torrent of innate purple energy was consumed, and the Condensing Ice Technique froze the waters around Green Lotus Island, transforming the sea into a glistening world of white crystal.

"This..."

Zhao Ruoxu and Chen Hongyu, just reaching the island’s edge, stared in disbelief. Xu Jingyang, too, halted mid-flight, gazing in awe at the miraculous scene before him.

"Impossible... Such powerful magic—forget a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator—even a Foundation Establishment cultivator... No, not even Foundation Establishment could wield such terror. Only Core Formation experts could manage this."

Chen Hongyu murmured, utterly stunned.

How could Zhou Shun, this previously obscure Jade Immortal Sect disciple, unleash a spell of such fearsome power?

While the others were dumbfounded, Shen Yan was not. With a gentle wave of his Flowing Cloud Sword, a streak of sword light slashed toward the two core disciples of Lingbo Sect.

A hiss!

With a sharp cry, Zhao Ruoxu was struck; blood sprayed from his shoulder, and to everyone’s shock, his entire left arm was severed by Shen Yan’s Flowing Cloud Sword.

"Brother Zhao..."

Seeing Zhao Ruoxu lose an arm in a single exchange, Chen Hongyu was horrified. She grabbed him, attempting to retreat.

"Everyone fall back! Don’t be fooled by his illusions. His Condensing Ice Technique only covers a vast area—the power isn’t strong!"

As she retreated, Chen Hongyu shouted this warning. The other cultivators, alerted, realized that Shen Yan’s ice spell merely froze the sea; none of them had suffered harm.

"This man's swordsmanship is peerless. Don’t engage him in close combat—attack from afar with spells. He’s bound to lose."

Xu Jingyang quickly echoed her, keeping his distance.

The rest, coming to their senses, retreated as well. Yet Shen Yan only smiled coldly. With the spirit stones he possessed, he could refine enough innate purple energy for a hundred uses. If they hoped to wear him down, it was nothing but a fool’s dream.

Still, some things must not be overdone. If a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator defeated dozens, including three at peak Qi Refining, everyone would suspect something amiss.

The reason Shen Yan dared to spend innate purple energy to create such a massive ice field was, naturally, to trap everyone.

"Trying to escape now? Too late!"

With a cold snort, Shen Yan poured innate purple energy from the Divine Seal, and instantly the ice within a hundred fathoms around Green Lotus Island shattered. In that moment, the fragments seemed to come alive, hurling themselves wildly at the fleeing cultivators.