Eternal Tale

Chapter 260: Beyond the Sea – Is It an Enemy?

Chapter 260: Beyond the Sea – Is It an Enemy?

On the desolate island, the cold sea wind blew, and darkness and solitude remained the eternal melody here.

Black Ox and Xiao Chi were in the center of the island, working on a medium-sized teleportation array. They communicated fluently in beast language, mooing and growling as they worked.

Chen Xun sat cross-legged by the coast. While there were no living creatures on the island or in the sky, the Forbidden Sea still harbored various sea beasts and fish, with the creatures at the far end being the most peculiar.

*Boom!*

The sea exploded, and the black waters surged toward Chen Xun. A faint light shimmered around him, and a five-colored protective shield appeared, sizzling as the black sea collided with it.

He held a large fish at the Foundation Establishment stage, its species unidentifiable, but its jaws bore fangs, and its blood-red eyes glared menacingly at him.

The fish opened its bloodthirsty maw, showing no fear, even in the presence of a Nascent Soul cultivator. It had lost its intelligence, driven only by its violent instincts.

Chen Xun pointed a finger, and the fish's eyes lost their light as its body began to wither. A streak of foul blood was drawn out, suspended in front of Chen Xun.

"This..." Chen Xun frowned. "This blood is even stranger than that of demonic cultivators. It doesn’t feel like the blood of a living being."

He carefully examined it. The blood lacked even a trace of vital energy as if it was something rejected by the heavens. Vital energy, born of nature, exists inherently in all living beings.

This fish was at the Foundation Establishment stage, and its vital energy was supposed to be hidden deep within its veins, impossible to fully expel.

Now that Chen Xun had begun to grasp the ways of the world's vital energy, he could see things other cultivators could not. Otherwise, as in the past, he would have merely killed the sea beasts of the Forbidden Sea without noticing anything unusual.

Such blood would not react even if placed in a Rootless Essence Flower; it was useless blood.

"Incredible. Could it be that beyond the sea... lies an enemy?"

Chen Xun’s eyes deepened as he looked toward the distant ancient formation. "Corrupted life... an existence that contaminates lifespan, not beasts but something else—maybe not even living creatures."

Lifespan is like a blade. No matter how invincible or powerful you are, it subtly influences your state of mind, pushing you forward, especially for high-level cultivators.

Their determination, talent, and resolve to explore the unknown are far beyond ordinary cultivators. But if such a thing truly exists, it would go against all of nature’s beings.

"These are just speculations. If it really is corrupted lifespan, then it’s meaningless. I’ll need to investigate further."

Chen Xun shook his head lightly, doubting that cultivators would be so foolish. "I’ll have to return to Da Li when the time comes and cross the sea with those cultivators to 'witness' the Heavenly Gate."

Even Chen Xun couldn’t control this medium-sized teleportation array. The formation’s operational path was known only to the Formation Flag, as the Five Elements energy alone couldn’t activate it.

"Let’s go. Time to leave the Forbidden Sea." Chen Xun glanced at the giant ship. "Brother Crane, get ready. Conceal your vital energy."

*Rustle...*

The Crane Spirit Five Elements Tree swayed, and its black and white leaves gradually dimmed, until no aura remained, as if it had hidden everything.

"Brother Crane is amazing. It can even transform its vital energy and merge into the ship." Xiao Chi was envious, stretching his neck. "If I could do that, I’d be a master of playing dead. No one would ever find me."

*Smack!*

Chen Xun slapped Xiao Chi, sending him spinning through the air with a miserable cry, twirling 720 degrees before landing.

"Moo!" Black Ox roared, leaping into the air for a Black Ox Charge!

"Ahhhh!!!" Xiao Chi’s cries grew louder as he spun even faster in the air.

"Transform your vital energy? Your Brother Crane is alive; it’s never played dead. Xiao Chi, watch your words."

Chen Xun scolded, pointing at Xiao Chi. "Brother Crane is one of us. Don’t say anything that might harm our unity."

"Moo moo!" Black Ox also huffed angrily, blowing a breath at Xiao Chi.

They only concealed Brother Crane’s aura for the sake of the teleportation array. Now that it had gained sentience, they weren’t treating it like a mere spirit beast to be stored away.

In the end, Xiao Chi lay down on Black Ox’s back, whimpering and no longer daring to speak out of turn, but feeling touched.

Brother Xun had never treated them as mere spirit beasts or tools; they were like a family of different bloodlines.

For Brother Ox to be so powerful yet still follow Brother Xun wholeheartedly—it was clear that Brother Xun’s charisma was unmatched.

"I was wrong, Brother Xun, Brother Ox, Brother Crane." Xiao Chi grinned sheepishly, bowing his head low. "I’ll think before I speak from now on."

"See that you do. Brothers, let’s go." Chen Xun took a step forward as Five Elements energy surrounded the ship. It rumbled as the black sea began to churn with massive waves.

They all leaped into the air, heading toward the teleportation array at the center of the island.