Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit
chapter-455

At the same time, with a disappointed expression on his face, Lu Ping left a hidden place not far away from the valley where the Ice Wyrm Residence was located. When the teleportal lit up again, he apprehended that his little trick had been exposed, forcing him to destroy the teleportal. This left him trapped in the Abyssal Monster Realm. Despite that, Lu Ping knew that even if he didn't destroy the teleportal, the Monster cultivators would destroy it and not give him a chance.

Lu Ping had initially planned to return to the Ice Wyrm Residence to plunder it again, but when he returned, the residence had been entirely surrounded by the Monster cultivators.

Looking at the orderly Monster cultivators outside the Ice Wyrm Residence, Lu Ping couldn't help but feel a little strange. According to the nature of the Monsters, even if the compound were built by their own cultivators, it would still be looted if it was left unattended. “When did the Monsters become so law-abiding?” he wondered.

For now, he could only hide in the Abyssal Monster Realm for the moment. Fortunately, Lu Ping was wearing stone armor and managed to repel the water around him with the Water Repelling Pearl. There was no need for him to be worried about it as long as he did not run into Monster Cultivators.

Lu Ping thought for a moment and summoned Da Gui, for Da Gui had been to the Abyssal Monster Realm before and was relatively familiar with the situation there.

The two of them swam toward the depths of a seabed mountain range in the Abyssal Monster Realm. Now, because of the teleportal, Lu Ping's identity was likely to be suspected as a human cultivator. If this were the case, it would cause a huge commotion in the Abyssal Monster Realm that Lu Ping could imagine. It had been more than four hundred years ever since the day Dao-Kong single-handedly charged into and left the Abyssal Monster Realm unscathed. Since then, not a single Human cultivator had ever walked out of the Abyssal Monster Realm alive. From that day onward, Dao-Kong had firmly established himself as the top cultivator in the North Ocean and had even overcome the , becoming the only great cultivator in the North Ocean in the late-Core Forging Realm.

Lu Ping obviously did not have the strength to break through the Abyssal Monster Realm like Dao Kong Lao Zu did. He could only try to escape by hiding here and there. Perhaps there was still some hope.

As for Lu Ping, he was obviously not as strong as Dao-Kong, who was powerful enough to do as he pleased in the Abyssal Monster Realm. All he could do now was to hide his traces and conceal himself in the realm, hoping that he could walk away unscathed.

Crowned as the final hope of the Ice Wyrm Clan, Ao Yu was something himself. If he were not worthy at all, he wouldn’t even be able to gain the favor of the Primordial Crocodilian Clan and receive the rare Splendiferous Jade Dew that could help a cultivator to achieve an Eighth Grade Golden Core from them.

Now, after succeeding in defeating and heavily injuring Dao-Shi with the cooperation of Lee Xuan-Yin, Ao Yu no longer held any respect or fear toward the Law Avatar Realm cultivators. Though he acknowledged that the Law Avatar Realm cultivators were still powerful and respected their supremacy, he reckoned that with the help of a couple of elite late-Core Forging Realm cultivators, they would be able to hold these Law Avatar Realm cultivators off.

Hence, when Tian-Xue showed up, Ao Yu was confident that with the assistance of Ao Li, who was only a little weaker than Lee Xuan-Yin, and the other Monster cultivator, they would still be able to walk away alive.

However, the reality was cruel, for Tian-Xue’s simple attack overwhelmed them effortlessly. Despite giving their best to defend themselves, the Monster cultivator surnamed Zhang lost his life on the spot, and Ao Li was left lying on the ground, gasping for his life. If it weren’t for the Ice Wyrm Pearl in his possession, Ao Yu, too, would suffer the same level of injury as Ao Li. Even so, Ao Yu still coughed out blood due to his injuries. Lying on the other side, the other Monster cultivator, who was injured by Ao Yu’s attack, had already lost his life.

After her attack, Tian-Xue clapped her hands, and the simple gesture startled both Ao Li and Ao Yu. Just as they thought Tian-Xue was about to unleash her wrath once more, Tian-Xue started chuckling. Their scalp went numb in that split second. How long had it been since they felt the lethal hands of death on their shoulders? They did not know.

However, Tian-Xue did not make a move in the end. Instead, she turned to the side and said with a smile, "Ao Chuang, how much longer are you going to wait there?"

With a surprised expression put on, Ao Li followed Tian-Xue's gaze, but there was no one in sight. Ao Yu, however, relaxed a little as if he already knew what was going to happen.

"Hehe, Master Tian-Xue, you’re really sharp. I just arrived seconds ago. It really is a shame that I missed the chance to witness your extraordinary strength.”

In a deserted place under the sea, a golden portal flickered, and a sturdy man strode out of it. It was none other than the lord of the Golden Jiao Island, Ao Chuang.

Ao Li exclaimed happily, "Brother!"

But as soon as he spoke, he coughed several times and spewed out a few mouthfuls of blood again.

Ao Chuang, however, did not even glance at Ao Li. Instead, he said, "Master Tian-Xue, by acting against low-level cultivators without regard for the agreement we made, you have broken the rules!"

Tian-Xue sneered, "So what if I did? What are you going to do about it?"

Ao Chuang's expression changed, and he said, "Master Tian-Xue, do you really not understand the consequences of your actions? Are you trying to force us onto the path of slaughtering the disciples of the Zhen Ling Sect?"

Tian-Xue laughed, "Ao Chuang, there's no need to play these little tricks with this old lady right here. I don’t see any wrong in killing Ao Yu to avenge Xuan-Yin.”

"In that case, Master Tian-Xue, since you failed to kill Ao Yu in one strike just now, why don’t you just let it go? This matter should end here," someone else spoke up. It wasn't Ao Chuang, and Tian-Xue 's expression turned grim. She said, “Kong Jing, king of the Devil Whale Tribe, greetings. I didn’t expect your presence here at all.”

A huge current surged out of nowhere and stopped in a strange way in front of everyone. A giant man, much more burly than Ao Chuang, walked out from the tide and said, "If you’re here, then there’s no way I would be absent. I reckon Dao-Yan from the Xuan Ling Sect is arriving anytime soon too.”

"Haha, it's kind of you to think of me. Sorry for being late!" A middle-aged scholar emerged not far away from Tian-Xue. This man, however, was exuding an unrestrained and unbridled demeanor.

It all happened quickly. The appearance of the four Law Avatar Realm cultivators had Ao Li’s heart skipping a beat, but there was nothing he could do but watch nervously from the side. As for Ao Yu, despite having anticipated the appearance of Tian-Xue and Ao Chuang, he had never ever expected the appearance of two additional Law Avatar Realm cultivators, especially when they were in the mid-Law Avatar Realm. Now, Ao Chuang had finally deeply felt the terror of a mid-Law Avatar Realm cultivator. While he appeared much calmer than Ao Li, he, too, had no idea what was about to happen.

It now appeared that the Human had the upper hand, but given the rivalry between the Zhen Ling and Xuan Ling Sect, no one could guarantee that the humans would work together and blindly believe in each other. While the Monsters appeared to be at a disadvantage, the Primordial Crocodilian Clan was the strongest clan among the Monsters in the North Ocean. Hence, be it the Ice Wyrm Clan or the Devil Whale Tribe, none of them was strong enough to challenge the authority of the Primordial Crocodilian Clan. The strict hierarchy of the Monsters had helped them to unify one another.

When Kong Jing saw Dao-Yan, he immediately went straight to him, ignoring Tian-Xue, and asked, “What do you think?”

Dao-Yan smiled and said, "It's understandable that Tian-Xue wishes to avenge Xuan-Yin, but since she didn't kill this Ao Yu in one strike, she won't take action again."

Ao Chuang sneered, "So that means the two late-Core Forging Realm cultivators of ours just died in vain?”

As soon as Ao Chuang spoke, the expression of Kong Jing, who was standing beside him, darkened.

Refusing to back down, Tian-Xue said, "Do you want to kill me to avenge those two fools? Okay, I'm right here. Go ahead and kill me if you can!”

As a woman, Tian-Xue was also a well-known fierce character back in the day. Otherwise, how could she have achieved such a high level? If she weren’t fierce enough, Tian-Fan wouldn’t even become a laughing stock, who was often mocked for fearing his wife before advancing into the Law Avatar Realm. It was only when the two of them rose to prominence in the North Ocean cultivation world that they both advanced into the Law Avatar Realm. That was the reason why no one dared to talk behind their backs, and ever since that day, Tian Fan's "timid" reputation was no longer mentioned.

"I think it's appropriate for Tian-Xueto to teach your people a lesson!" Dao-Yan said, his eyes sparkling as he pointed to the entrance of the teleportal on the ground. "Where does this teleportal lead to? Who built it? And the reason why you’re here? I think there’s no need for me to continue saying, am I right?”

The gazes of several Law Avatar Realm cultivators were all fixed on Ao Yu in a split second. Ao Yu quickly reacted and reached out his hand to sweep the ground beneath him, smothering the remains of the teleportal into a pile of crushed rocks.

Kong Jing grunted, “Hmph. Okay. That’s it for today’s matter. Anyway, I’m very interested in the cultivator trapped in the Abyssal Monster Realm. I wonder who he is. Is he from one of the sects in the North Ocean? He’s truly a bold one.”

That said, Kong Jing left without looking back, leaving behind turbulent seawater due to his departure. Ao Li and Ao Yu could hardly stand under the turbulence, but Tian-Xue and Dao-Yan were unfazed by Kong Jing’s parting words.

In the meantime, realizing that there was nothing he could exploit for his gain, Ao Chuang sneered and said, “I was told that Xuan-Yin, a disciple of your sect, has the blood of we Monsters flowing in him. I certainly do hope that our people can get along with each other.”

That said, he burst out laughing happily and left with Ao Li and Ao Yu following behind him closely. Tian-Xue's expression changed, while Dao-Yan seemed to have discovered something exciting and laughed. “Tian-Xue, your sect really is extraordinary. It seems like you have plenty of talents in your sect, and that is something the Xuan Ling Sect can never out shadow your sect.”

Tian-Xue's heart sank at his words, and she sneered, "Dao-Yan, do you believe in such words that serve no other purpose but sow discord?"

Dao-Yan shook his head and said, "I don't believe in sowing discord, but this Monster spawn must be dealt with. I believe your sect won't be the enemy of the entire North Ocean cultivation world because of one Monster spawn, right?"

“I don’t, but there’s no reason to keep this dangerous disciple alive. I suppose your sect wouldn’t go against the will of all the other sects in the North Ocean just because of this disciple.”

Tian-Xue coldly snorted and asked, "What are you going to do?"

Her question, however, was left unanswered, for Dao-Yan had already disappeared in a flash. Tian-Xue’s expression twisted and twisted again after Dao-Yan’s departure, and after a moment, she heaved a sigh and left the scene too.

At this time, in a deep-sea mountain range in the Abyssal Monster Domain, with the help of Da Bao, Lu Ping hollowed out the ground of a mountain range and even found a small spirit vein in the mountain. That had Lu Ping couldn’t help but feel amazed by the rich resources of this place.

However, when Lu Ping saw what Da Bao had brought out of the Ice Wyrm Residence, his expression darkened in an instant.