Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 442 - Intercept Midway

The Sea Demon Clan had powerful memories, allowing them to store the last seven seconds before death in their spirit.

The final seven seconds before death were preserved even after they died. This ability was exclusive to sea demons, allowing their kin to identify their killer through those memories.

“Roger that!” The sea demon held the spirit in both hands and began to mutter the incantations of the Sea Demon Clan, which were necessary to awaken the stored memories.

A bizarre scene unfolded as the spirit gave off a faint light that functioned like a projector to play the last seven seconds of life. This included the conversation with Liu Wuxie and how they were killed with one strike.

The yaksha saw everything clearly and imprinted Liu Wuxie’s appearance in his mind.

“Send the order! Search for this person within three seas, and report to me once he’s found!” The deceased Yaksha was his nephew, who had been patrolling this area and was killed by Liu Wuxie.

After retrieving the spirits, the corpses were left behind as the sea demons returned to the sea. Unlike humans, the sea demons didn’t bury their dead.

The body was merely a vessel to the sea demons; the spirit represented their soul.

Liu Wuxie was unaware that among the sea demons he had killed was one who was the nephew of a Yaksha King from the nearby sea. A Yaksha King was incredibly formidable, with strength comparable to that of the Astral River Realm.

He soon found Jiang Gongming, who had stayed in the inn for two days. The latter was surprised to see that Liu Wuxie was fine and noticed that Liu Wuxie’s aura had changed.

Although Liu Wuxie had concealed his cultivation in the fifth level of the Heavenly Dipper Realm, only experts could sense his aura had become more refined.

On this day, the city saw an influx of sea demons who searched through the crowd carrying their forks. It wasn’t until nightfall that the sea demons finally left.

At dawn, Liu Wuxie and Jiang Gongming left the inn and went to the warship. They were not alone; many other cultivators were also heading to Blood Sea Abyssal Island. Most traveled in groups of three to five, though some ventured alone or with just one companion. Among the travelers, Liu Wuxie noticed several powerful individuals, including a few in the Astral River Realm.

There were over four thousand people on the warship, making it noisy. Only the most desperate and vicious people would venture to the Blood Sea Abyssal Island because no normal person would go there.

Many people pursued by enemies would flee to Blood Sea Abyssal Island, a place where their pursuers dared not follow.

The cabin was small, only about four square meters, and contained two meditation mats. Liu Wuxie could only afford this for a hundred thousand spirit stones, and it was unimaginable how ten people could squeeze into such a cabin.

But this wasn’t Liu Wuxie’s concern as he isolated himself and meditated after coming in.

There were many sea demons around the warship, scrutinizing every person boarding. When they saw Liu Wuxie, several sea demons submerged into the sea and disappeared.

The warship raised the bridge and slowly left the harbor, heading for the Blood Sea Abyssal Island. Many people were on the deck because most preferred fresh air to cramped cabins.

The first day was relatively calm, and the warship sailed smoothly. Occasionally, waves struck the ship, causing it to rock gently.

“I’ll go take a walk!” Jiang Gongming stood up and left the cabin to get some fresh air. After all, the cramped environment could drive anyone insane if they stayed inside too long.

Liu Wuxie opened his eyes and watched Jiang Gongming leave before continuing his meditation, trying to do everything he could to increase his strength.

The warship sailed across the vast sea with no land in sight. This meant that humans flying could easily lose their way and become trapped in the sea.

Liu Wuxie tilted and nearly crashed into the cabin’s door. He opened his eyes and looked outside with Ghost Eye. The warship had stopped, and it had never happened before.

The cabin doors began to open, and cultivators came out to inspect the scene. It didn’t take long before thousands of people stood on the deck, looking at the rumbling sea.

That was the same for Liu Wuxie, who came out and followed the crowd to the bow.

“So many swordfish! They’re the ones blocking our warship!” The sea was swarming with densely packed swordfish.

The swordfish weren’t intelligent but had long bills comparable to spiritual treasures. Tens of thousands of swordfish gathered to form a barrier to stop the warship.

Swordfish were dangerous due to their sharp, spear-like bills and their ability to glide briefly through the air.

Old sailors of the sea would often warn their juniors that it was better to encounter an aquatic beast than to run into a school of swordfish. This was because humans had a better chance of survival. After all, aquatic beasts were slower than swordfish.

“This is weird. It has been years since swordfish surrounded a warship like this.” Many old sailors on the deck had navigated the seas for years. But the last time they had encountered such a similar scene was when they were young.

“Could something on this warship have attracted them?” Various speculations began to emerge.

“They’re only surrounding us and not attacking,” an old sailor remarked, observing the swordfish circling the ship. “Their intention doesn’t seem to be stopping us, but rather stalling for time.”

“Who could control so many swordfish?” Many cultivators gathered though they remained calm since there was no immediate danger.

“It must be the work of the sea demons,” a seasoned sailor explained. “We’ve had a truce with the Sea Demon Clan for years, and large-scale battles have been rare.” The cultivators living in the port city knew more about the Sea Demon Clan than cultivators like Liu Wuxie, who came from inland.

As the conversation continued, the swordfish suddenly parted, forming a passage through the sea. The water boiled and surged, and a large group of sea demons emerged from the depths.

It was as the old sailors had expected; this was the work of sea demons.

Liu Wuxie stood still with Jiang Gongming, who was not far from him, separated by about ten steps.

The waves lifted a formidable yaksha, bringing him to the same level as the warship.

“Jade Blood Yaksha, how dare you intercept our ship!” As soon as the yaksha appeared, the old sailors on the deck immediately recognized him and shouted angrily. The sailors were all known for their formidable strength.

“I have no intention to start a war with humans today, so be rest assured. We only want to catch a murderer who killed our members. We will let you all go after we find him.” The Jade Blood Yaksha’s voice was hoarse and ghastly as if it echoed from his gills.

If a battle broke out between them, it would result in massive casualties. In terms of overall strength, the cultivators on the warship were stronger, but they were in the sea, with sea demons holding the advantage in terrain. In addition to the thousands of swordfish, this naturally ensured their victory.

The Jade Blood Yaksha acted after they were in the middle of the sea to force the humans to comply.

“Hmph, so what if there are a few dead sea demons? Countless humans die each year at the hands of sea demons.” The humans were united because they were enemies with the sea demons despite the truce.

“None of you will leave until you hand over the murderer!” The Jade Blood Yaksha’s voice brooked no argument, his intent clear: bloodshed would follow if they did not comply.

The atmosphere became tense because most people didn’t want a battle. They were heading to the Blood Sea Abyssal Island to seek fortune, not to die in the sea in vain.

“Jade Blood Yaksha, are you sure you want to fight us to the end?” The sailors formed into a battle formation. Everyone on the ship had paid spirit stones to board, and they naturally had the obligation to protect the safety of each passenger.

“So what if I am?” The Jade Blood Yaksha let out a sinister laughter. There might be no large-scale battles between the sea demons and humans, but small-scale battles never stopped.

The tension began to escalate, and neither was willing to back down.

“Yaksha, are you certain the person you’re looking for is on this ship?” The ordinary cultivators, eager to avoid unnecessary delays, were willing to hand over the individual if it meant resolving the situation quickly.

“This person!” The Jade Blood Yaksha took out a portrait that hovered in the air, visible to everyone.

Liu Wuxie was taken aback upon seeing the portrait, realizing that his actions had drawn significant attention from the sea demons.

Jiang Gongming turned to look at Liu Wuxie with a hint of displeasure.

Everyone began to look around and soon found Liu Wuxie.

“Over here!” Thousands of people immediately focused on Liu Wuxie.

“Kid, don’t waste our time since you’re the one who killed the sea demons. Hurry up and go!” Many cultivators in the Heavenly Phase Realm began to urge Liu Wuxie to leave when they noticed he was only in the Heavenly Dipper Realm.

The sea roared as the yaksha's massive form grew even larger, his gaze fixed intently on Liu Wuxie from above. The warship’s top deck, fortified like a fortress, served as the command center where all orders were issued.

“Miss, should we intervene? Since he has boarded our warship, we should ensure his safety,” said an old man, looking at a red-clothed woman who stood at the highest point.

“Not yet,” the woman replied with a dismissive wave, signaling him to wait.

“The sea demons have grown increasingly bold in recent years, even daring to intercept our Dugu Clan’s warship.” The old man was enraged by the Jade Blood Yaksha’s actions.

The Dugu Clan had built this warship, and their primary income came from the sea.

Everyone around Liu Wuxie immediately backed away, not wanting to get involved.