Chapter 112: The All-Out Assault

At the bottom of the silent abyss beneath the sea, within a dark, ring-shaped chamber, Xingtian was conversing with a group of men seated on either side of him, all dressed similarly but clearly radiating far greater energy than he did. The atmosphere was tense and heavy. The surroundings were resplendent, no less magnificent than the imperial palaces once ruled by human emperors, lavishly adorned with exquisite details. The long conference table, crafted from rare oak, was flanked by rows of white-haired elders.

“Xingtian, perhaps this time you’ve brought unnecessary trouble upon our Sea Clan. Why provoke them? Those cultivators from the continent, though we have means to suppress any Yuan Emperor-level practitioners below level 65, have Yuan Saint-level masters backing them. I hope you can handle this matter properly and avoid enmity between the Sea Clan and them. If they want samples of the magnetite stones, just give them some. After this, we will reconstruct this abyss so outsiders can no longer easily discover us. Usually, the human crew members we’ve modified are sufficient for our daily needs,” said an elder clad in ocean-blue robes, stroking his long beard.

The Sea Clan’s Elder Council was deeply displeased with Xingtian’s operation, which was meant to be a warning and expulsion but escalated into this predicament. The current stalemate placed the council’s chairman, Emile Rupert, in a difficult position. Though he personally might not fear them in terms of strength, war was never the best path for a people’s continued survival.

Over the years, the Sea Clan had struggled to carve out a refuge in the ocean for the remnants of various civilizations. They concealed their identities and secluded themselves to preserve this fragile peace—never wanting it to be shattered again, like the sudden calamity that struck twelve thousand years ago.

“But Elder, they trespassed upon the Sea Clan’s ancestral lands, utterly disregarding our existence! That was tantamount to declaring war in the past!” Xingtian voiced his confusion. Given their current strength, why fear them? As a promising young commander of the Sea Clan, Xingtian’s belligerent nature was deeply hidden within.

The human explorers they had encountered before were mere commoners, unworthy of a fight. Now, with a rare chance to prove himself, Xingtian did not want to miss the opportunity.

“Enough. Stop talking so much. Find a way to release them. We Sea Clan must not repeat the mistakes of over ten thousand years ago. That war triggered the magnetite energy matrix, powerful enough to sink the continent of Atlantis. Do you think we can ignore such lessons just because we haven’t experienced them ourselves?” Emile Rupert slammed his fist heavily on the table, the thunderous sound silencing the other elders, who typically avoided meddling.

This legendary figure, whose unparalleled strength had driven the Sea Clan’s history forward almost single-handedly, unleashed a fury none dared to withstand.

“Yes, Elder. Xingtian understands. I will release those people immediately,” Xingtian replied, aware of his lowly status. Among the technology-valuing Sea Clan, brute strength alone held little weight. With the Elder Council chairman angered, he wisely fell silent and quietly withdrew from the chamber. Yet, as he turned away, a flash of unwilling ferocity gleamed in his eyes.

At the outskirts of the Sea Clan’s abyssal territory, Zhang Sanfeng led Dan Qiusheng and the current Wudang Sect leader, Yichenzi, as the three stealthily approached before gradually descending deeper.

Lin Chong and other members of the Flying Dragon Battalion, originally prepared to assist, remained at the coastal base under Zhang Sanfeng’s orders. When it came to rescue, sheer numbers mattered less than individual prowess. They knew that if even one Yuan Saint and two high-level Yuan Emperors couldn’t handle the situation, their presence would only be a burden.

Back when Zhang Sanfeng was tracking the Qiongqi, he had traveled extensively through the Three Mountains and Five Seas, including the North Atlantic. Though he didn’t pay much attention to passing places, he sensed that intelligent life might dwell nearby.

Fortunately, the opponents were roughly equal in strength. Although they had concealed the Sea Clan’s territory with some unknown formation, Zhang Sanfeng’s recent near-death revelations had enhanced his insight. Despite the near-imperceptible stealth, he detected faint traces. Following the subtle energy fluctuations roughly aligned with the disappearance direction of Huafeng’s team, they successfully located the Sea Clan’s domain concealed within the abyss—a dark, irregular elliptical space blending with the seabed.

Without their exceptional sensitivity to energy, they would have found no anomaly even upon arriving here. Yichenzi and Dan Qiusheng’s admiration for Zhang Sanfeng deepened.

“This is the place. Are you afraid of fighting?” Zhang Sanfeng suddenly transmitted these words to them without explanation.

Yichenzi was puzzled. “Does the Ancestor mean… to attack directly?”

“Yeah. Wouldn’t that be a bit conspicuous?” Dan Qiusheng hesitated, worried about Huafeng’s team’s fate. What if the captors executed them? Though he had lived over a century, he had never faced such a dilemma.

“What’s there to fear? They abducted our people without reason and won’t allow us to crash their party? I’ll take care of whatever happens. You just focus on rescuing them,” Zhang Sanfeng asserted with unexpected dominance, stunning his companions.

Since he said so, they would follow his lead. No matter the method, rescuing the captives was paramount. With that thought, Dan Qiusheng and Yichenzi dismissed their previous doubts.

Deep within the abyss, Huafeng and the others sat cross-legged, meditating. Though unable to exert their own vital energy, they knew that if they patiently endured, a turning point was imminent.

Suddenly, the sound of water rushing erupted as someone broke through the surface beside them. The newcomer wore casual attire resembling early 20th-century European fashion instead of combat diving gear. His resolute face resembled a war god beneath the waves, and his water-blue hair flowed with the currents.

“You may come out now. Once you leave this sea area, the energy suppressing you will dissipate automatically,” Xingtian’s voice filtered through the watery veil into the golden cage enclosing each of them.

“What’s going on? You mean you’re releasing us now?” Huafeng asked incredulously.

The others wore equally baffled expressions. This unpredictable tactic left them utterly perplexed.

“Hurry up. Before the Elders change their minds, if you delay, you’ll be condemned to lifelong servitude here!” Xingtian’s tone was fraught with inner conflict, but under the Elders’ orders, he dared not disobey.

The golden cage opened, and seawater within receded significantly as the captives stepped out.

“Rumble rumble…”

A thunderous roar shook every person inside the domed chamber.

“An earthquake?” Huafeng frowned, bewildered by the sudden chaos. What on earth was happening?