Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

A trace of surprise flitted through Zhao Yu's eyes as he suddenly released a terrifying wave of mana at the level of the Golden Core Eighth Layer.

Gongsun Yun, visibly moved, said, "Golden Core Eighth Layer! Truly worthy of being a disciple of Master Yuanhai, impressively exceptional. In the future, when you, Daoist Zhao, manage to condense your Nascent Soul, please do take more care of me. I will go back immediately and offer up Seacat Island as well as the surrounding islands to you!"

In these seas far away from the headquarters of Haiyuan Palace, the law of the jungle prevailed. Gongsun Yun, merely a Fifth Level Golden Core Cultivator, was no match for one at the Eighth Layer; naturally, he was unwilling to engage in magical combat with Zhao Yu and seek his own demise.

Zhao Yu said, "You will coordinate with Jin Shan Zhang."

Jin Shan Zhang had managed Seacat Island for many years, turning it into a well-organized domain. With his great capability, many things would not require Zhao Yu's personal attention with his assistance.

Gongsun Yun said, "Daoist Zhao, there is one more thing I must inform you of. I had no intention of occupying Seacat Island. It was Whale Cloud the old fiend who ordered me to probe Seacat Island. It was also him who asked me to take over Wolf Fish Island, so please be cautious of this person!"

Jin Shan Zhang's face suddenly turned utterly unsightly as he cried out in alarm, "Whale Cloud the old fiend?"

Zhao Yu looked towards Jin Shan Zhang.

With a face full of fear, Jin Shan Zhang said, "Young Master, Whale Cloud was once an adversary defeated by the old master. Back then, he had the cultivation level of a Golden Core Ninth Layer, and now he has reached the realm of Golden Core Great Perfection, being one of the three strongest Golden Core Great Perfection cultivators in this sea region!"

He dared not show any fear, could it be he had some trump card against Whale Cloud the old fiend? It was fortunate that I didn't rashly become his enemy, or I would have surely died.

Gongsun Yun scrutinized Zhao Yu carefully.

Zhao Yu said, "Which Spirit Island does Whale Cloud currently occupy now?"

Jin Shan Zhang replied, "Whale Cloud has taken control of Green Bamboo Island, a large island with a Fourth Order, middle-grade Spirit Vein. Thirty years ago, Green Bamboo Island was the headquarters of the Sea Spider Sect! Whale Cloud won Green Bamboo Island after defeating the Sect Leader of the Sea Spider Sect in a duel."

Zhao Yu said, "Gongsun Yun, go tell Whale Cloud the old fiend that I want to engage in magical combat with him. The wager will be Seacat Island and Wolf Fish Island. If he loses, he will surrender Green Bamboo Island to me!"

A Fourth Order, middle-grade Spirit Vein is extremely precious, and within the Great Qian Empire, only Nascent Soul Cultivators are qualified to possess one.

If he could seize Green Bamboo Island, Zhao Yu would finally have a firm foothold in the Blue Sky Sea, with a lair to develop.

"Yes, Daoist Zhao!"

Gongsun Yun nodded slightly and turned to leave.

Inside the cave mansion of the Island Master of Green Bamboo Island.

Standing before a burly elder dressed in magical treasure scale armor made from Jiao Dragon hide, with a head of gray hair and a robust spirit, Gongsun Yun meticulously reported everything to him.

Whale Cloud the old fiend laughed coldly and said, "The disciple of Master Yuanhai wants to challenge me in magical combat for my Green Bamboo Island? If it were Master Yuanhai himself, I might still have some reservations, but a mere cultivator at Golden Core Eighth Layer dares to provoke me, truly overestimating his own abilities!!"

Gongsun Yun asked, "So you agree to the magical duel?" Enjoy more content from empire

Whale Cloud the old fiend rolled his eyes and said, "Who said I agreed? Go back and tell that kid, this is a serious matter, I need to consider it carefully! I will give him a reply in three months!"

"Yes!"

Gongsun Yun turned and left.

"Even though Zhao Yu knew I possessed the cultivation level of Golden Core Great Perfection, he still dared to challenge me. He must have something to rely on. Perhaps it's Real Haiyuan plotting behind his back. Real Haiyuan is unfathomable, and even though I've reached Golden Core Great Perfection, I might not be able to defeat him."

"However, if he thinks that using Real Haiyuan's reputation will scare me off, then he's underestimating me. I'll sneak over there quietly to see. If Real Haiyuan isn't there, then I'll kill Zhao Yu! That would avenge the arrow from years ago!"

Jingyun the Old Monster's eyes flickered as he sneered coldly, stood up, and turned into an Escape Light, flying towards Seacat Island.

Late at night, on the coast of Seacat Island.

A cultivator who seemed to completely merge with the darkness emerged from the sea like a ghost. It was Jingyun the Old Monster.

Using a Concealment Technique, Jingyun the Old Monster silently moved towards the City Lord's mansion of Seacat Island.

The area around the City Lord's mansion of Seacat Island was also protected by a Defensive Array, but it wasn't very strong in detecting intruders until fully activated.

Jingyun the Old Monster, being a Golden Core Great Perfection Cultivator proficient in various secret techniques of stealth, quietly infiltrated the City Lord's mansion.

"That man is Zhao Yu, the disciple of Real Haiyuan. He looks so ordinary! Real Haiyuan isn't here, so I will kill his disciple to avenge the past!"

Jingyun the Old Monster lurked near a study and spotted Zhao Yu inside. A surge of murderous intent arose within him as he directly brought out a Supreme Grade magical treasure, the Yin Beast Spike.

The pitch-black spike, no bigger than a toothpick, silently struck towards Zhao Yu.

The Yin Beast Spike possessed hidden, Soul-Breaking, Armor-Breaking, and Swift Speed powers. Although it was not powerful in a frontal assault, its prowess in assassination was formidable.

Even a cultivator at Golden Core Great Perfection could be caught off-guard and fall prey to the Yin Beast Spike. Jingyun the Old Monster had used it to assassinate many powerful foes.

The Yin Beast Spike appeared in front of Zhao Yu almost in an instant, only to be grabbed directly by a slightly golden large hand.

The figure that looked like an ordinary servant standing quietly beside Zhao Yu, the Nine Extremes Corpse Emperor, suddenly looked up at Jingyun the Old Monster, its right hand gripping the still trembling Yin Beast Spike.

"A Nascent Soul Level Body Cultivator! No, it doesn't have the aura of a cultivator! It's a Nascent Soul Level refined corpse!! Damn it, Real Haiyuan is just a mere Golden Core cultivator, how could his disciple have a Nascent Soul Level refined corpse?"

Jingyun the Old Monster's face changed drastically as he frantically activated his Escape Technique, fleeing towards the back.

The moment Jingyun the Old Monster moved, he felt a pain in his body as a claw pierced through his heart.

"A Fourth-Order Evil Ghost, damn it!! How is this possible!!"

As Jingyun the Old Monster swept the area with his Divine Sense, he suddenly noticed the White Ghost Emperor, which had appeared abruptly behind him. A hint of despair flashed in his eyes, and he lost his life essence, collapsing to the ground.

"An assassin? A Golden Core Great Perfection level assassin? Thankfully, the Nine Extremes Corpse Emperor and the White Ghost Emperor were by my side to protect me, otherwise I would've been in danger this time! No wonder cultivators of the same rank rarely offend each other.

You never know when one might master some bizarre Divine Skills or have a peculiar magical treasure that can kill you in a single shot."

Zhao Yu looked at the Yin Beast Spike in the hand of the Nine Extremes Corpse Emperor, with a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

The Yin Beast Spike flew extremely fast, silently and with very little fluctuation in power. Before the Nine Extremes Corpse Emperor made a move, Zhao Yu hadn't noticed the Yin Beast Spike at all.

If it weren't for the protection of the Nine Extremes Corpse Emperor and the White Ghost Emperor, the Yin Beast Spike could have killed Zhao Yu in one strike, preventing him from using any Divine Skills. If it had been a direct magical combat, once Zhao Yu brought out the Mountain Seal, the Yin Beast Spike wouldn't have been able to break through its defense.