Chapter 188: The Sea God

"The underground parking lot has been cleared."

"To be fair, these few mutated creatures don’t even warrant our involvement, do they?"

"Wouldn’t it be better to send me and Li Shuyang out into the wild to hunt mutated beasts?"

Zhou Ming said, bored.

His current strength was solidly third-tier, and his undead resilience rivaled that of a fifth-tier.

Under the second Qi tide, beast surges were inevitable; yet instead of sending him and that guy who inherited Jingguo Yuan Yi’s legacy to deal with the beast surge, they were assigned to hunt mutated creatures within the city.

He just couldn’t understand it.

"Sorry, it’s the Director’s decision."

"Moreover, a specialized unit handles the wilderness zones, primarily using conventional weapons. Until you and Li Shuyang reach the fourth tier, the Director won’t permit you to face a beast surge alone unless the mutated creatures breach the defenses and enter the city."

The commander’s voice came through his earpiece; Zhou Ming smirked, then his ears twitched—he spun around, his right arm instantly swelling into a massive flesh shield.

"Boom!"

A mutated pangolin, emerging from nowhere, slammed into the shield, its scales sparking violently.

"You dug your way all the way here?"

"You’ve got good taste in spots."

"Remember this: next life, don’t show up just anywhere."

Zhou Ming chuckled; the flesh shield suddenly exploded into countless blood spikes, impaling the pangolin like a sieve. He’d just wiped the blood from his hands when the commander’s voice crackled through his earpiece, urgent.

"Li Shuyang has encountered two third-tier mutated entities at the Times Building intersection. He needs—"

"Got it. I’m on my way."

Zhou Ming cut in. Two third-tier creatures? What was there to worry about?

Li Shuyang activated his pattern—his burst alone could kill them. Worst case, he’d just be exhausted afterward.

"No, no need!"

The commander’s voice was surprised, yet excited.

"An unknown third-tier ability user has appeared and is assisting in combat."

"Huh? What did he say his name was? Fang Yuan?"

"Fang Yuan?!!!"

Zhou Ming froze mid-motion, his crimson pupils contracting sharply. The name shot through his spine like electricity; an involuntary smile curled his lips.

Was it the Fang Yuan he was thinking of? It had to be the Fang Yuan he was thinking of!

Theoretically, at this time, beings from that world couldn’t manifest in reality—only an underdeveloped Fang Yuan or a template holder could appear.

Even so, it was more than enough to be interesting.

After all, it was Fang Yuan!

In an instant, Zhou Ming became a streak of crimson shadow racing toward Times Building—anyone watching would think Fang Yuan was his teammate and Li Shuyang the stranger.

"Wait for me, Fang Yuan—I’m coming!"

Don’t you dare run off!

Five minutes earlier, near Times Building.

Intense flames erupted from Li Shuyang’s blade; one slash severed the head of a second-tier mutated domestic pig that had somehow appeared.

He sheathed his blade, raised his hand to his earpiece to report, then suddenly frowned, his gaze flashing toward the end of the street.

There, two colossal figures were slowly advancing.

One was a mutated crocodile, nearly ten meters long, its thick scales gleaming with metallic luster; its powerful tail swept the ground, cracking the concrete pavement into fragments.

The other was a mutated fox, three meters tall, its body covered in fiery crimson fur, six bushy tails swirling behind it.

Two third-tier mutated entities!

Li Shuyang frowned slightly; the pattern on his forehead subtly spread as he slowly drew his long blade.

The city had crocodile breeding facilities, so a mutated crocodile wasn’t surprising—but how had it reached third tier and made it here? And this mutated fox—how had it bypassed the defenses to enter the city?

Li Shuyang’s breathing shifted abruptly; white-hot mist surged from his nose and mouth. His right hand gripped the blade tightly, knuckles straining as its color shifted from crimson to a blinding crimson-red, the heat warping the surrounding air.

"Sun Breathing: First Form—Circus Dance—Modified!"

A perfect ring of blade-light carved through the air; the moment it touched the crocodile’s thick scales, they hissed like molten metal. The mutated beast roared in pain and recoiled, its massive tail sweeping aside a roadside stone pillar, hurling it like a cannonball at Li Shuyang.

Li Shuyang spun aside, his blade lightly tapping the stone pillar.

"Boom!"

The high heat detonated the pillar; amidst the flying debris, six crimson fox tails shot out. Li Shuyang felt his mind brushed by something unseen—he staggered slightly, dazed.

"A mental ability?"

"The old prejudice against foxes really wasn’t without reason."

Li Shuyang snorted, bit his tongue to stay alert, and slashed horizontally with his blade.

"Sun Breathing: Fourth Form—Phantom Sun Rainbow!"

Seven afterimages pierced the smoke; three struck the roots of the fox tails. The smell of burnt fur hadn’t even faded when a whistling sound came from behind—the crocodile’s bony tail slammed down like a warhammer!

"Clang!"

The blade met the bone spike, sparks flaring violently. Li Shuyang used the force to flip backward; as he landed, he plunged his blade into the ground.

"Sun Breathing: Fifth Form—Fire Train!"

With the blade tip as the center, he slashed forward; a wave of fire surged outward. As the mutated crocodile was forced to retreat, Li Shuyang leapt into the air.

"Sun Breathing: Ninth Form—Slanting Sun Turn!"

Flames like the sun coiled around his blade. This strike should have severed the crocodile’s head—but the fox’s mental interference surged violently, throwing off his aim.

"Boom—!"

The blade crashed down; blazing fire erupted from the ground like a volcanic eruption, hurling rocks and flame skyward. Rolling smoke instantly obscured the entire street. The mutated crocodile was thrown backward, its massive body rolling several times, blackened blood seeping from its scale gaps.

But the strike had missed.

Li Shuyang’s eyes hardened; he retreated swiftly, but the fox’s mental interference persisted—a piercing screech echoed in his ears, like countless needles piercing his brain.

He shattered the ground beneath him and shot forward like an arrow, his crimson blade reigniting with blazing heat.

"Sun Breathing: Third Form—Radiant Red Mirror!"

He slashed horizontally; a ring of fire expanded like a blazing sun, bearing down on the mutated fox. But just as the flames were about to consume it—

"Roar—!"

The mutated crocodile surged forward, its massive body smashing through the fire ring, its tail sweeping sideways. Li Shuyang’s pupils contracted—he barely raised his blade in time to block.

"Boom!"

The terrifying impact sent him flying backward, slamming into a ruined storefront. The wall collapsed in a thunderous crash, dust billowing everywhere.

"Cough."

Li Shuyang rose from the rubble, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. He lifted his head, eyes piercing through the dust, locked firmly on the two mutated beasts.

The mutated crocodile crouched low, a deep growl rumbling in its throat; the mutated fox stood beside it, its tails swaying slowly, its crimson eyes gleaming with cunning.

These two beasts actually coordinated?

Li Shuyang exhaled a hot breath slowly; the pattern on his face suddenly blazed with brilliant firelight. His black hair stirred without wind, each strand standing rigid, as if pulled by invisible force, dancing wildly in the scorching air current.

"If that’s how it is—"

He gripped his blade tightly, the crimson blade igniting again; the air around him warped violently from heat. His expression turned icy.

"Then I’ll slay them both!"

"Sun Breathing: Eleventh Form—Solar Halo Dragon—"

Just as Li Shuyang was about to unleash his strike—

"Swoosh!"

A golden streak of light pierced the air; a trident, sharp and fierce, instantly speared through the mutated fox’s chest, pinning it to the ground.

Li Shuyang’s pupils contracted; the flames on his blade flickered. He spun around, searching for the attacker.

A voice sang out:

"Dark hair still young, snow comes too soon; trident cleaves waves, slays demons and ghouls!"

"A hundred battles at the pass, bones pave the path; when the tide returns, I rise supreme!"

"I fight across three thousand miles; divine might like hell’s prison, crushing the nine abysses!"

"All celestial glories turn to ash; only my Dao heart remains unshaken!"

The voice rolled like waves, drawing nearer. A white figure stepped through the air, his moon-white robe snapping in the wind.

He landed gracefully before Li Shuyang and smiled faintly at him.

"I saw you fighting two beasts alone—came to lend a hand."

"Daoist?"

Li Shuyang blinked, instinctively sizing up the man.

Was he a Daoist priest? Didn’t look like it.

But someone who recites poetry upon arrival? First time I’ve seen that.

Though puzzled, having help was good. He immediately echoed the man’s tone.

"Thank you, Daoist. May I ask your name?"

"I am Fang Yuan."

"Fang Yuan?!"

Li Shuyang instantly thought of the Great Love Immortal Sovereign; his body turned instinctively toward Fang Yuan, the flames on his blade rising unconsciously.

“It’s the ‘yuan’ of qi, not the ‘yuan’ of Fang Yuan.”

Fang Yuan smiled helplessly, then warned:

“By the way, your sword, friend.”

He had anticipated this reaction—after all, after Zhou Ming gained the Wucan ability, he did nothing that night, and Li Shuyang, guided purely by instinct, showed up and immediately tried to kill him without a word.

It’s only natural that he reacted upon hearing his name.

In fact, it was exactly within his expectations; otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to reveal himself.

What he hadn’t expected was that his body had already prepared to strike before his mind had fully awakened.

“Oh, sorry—instinctive reaction.”

Only then did Li Shuyang realize his blade was pointed at Fang Yuan, and quickly sheathed it.

It’s no wonder he acted this way—the Great Love Immortal was far too famous, and Fang Yuan had even recited poetry upon appearing.

Although the Great Love Immortal never recited poetry upon appearing, Fang Yuan’s white robes fluttering as he descended from the sky, reciting verses, naturally triggered such associations.

“I understand.”

“But our main opponents right now are still these two mutated creatures.”

Fang Yuan smiled gently, turning his gaze to the battlefield.

His eyes landed on the mutated fox pinned to the ground by the Trident of the Sea God.

Logically, his current strength was insufficient to wield such a divine artifact; his compatibility with the Tang San template was still far from adequate.

But the positions of the Sea God and the Blood God remained etched into his body under the template, allowing him to access part of the Trident’s power and ignore its weight.

As for why he chose to reveal his identity at this moment—

Fang Yuan had long planned it; he could not hide himself forever.

In the original story, Tang San dared to bring Xiao Wu, a soul beast, to the Soul Master Tournament despite knowing her true nature; must he, merely because he inherited Tang San’s template, spend his entire life in fear and hesitation?

Tang San had his reasons—so did he.

(End of Chapter)