Chapter 252

After finishing his punches, the "Cat-faced Man" stood with his hands behind his back at the bow, gazing toward the distant sea.

Translation: After finishing his punches, the "Cat-faced Man" stood with his hands behind his back at the bow, gazing toward the distant sea.

After finishing his punches, the "Cat-faced Man" stood with his hands behind his back at the bow, gazing toward the distant sea.

Meanwhile, on the small boat below, a heated discussion broke out.

Translation: Meanwhile, on the small boat below, a heated discussion ensued:

"Look at the aura he just showed—it's only at the ninth level of the Sea of Qi Realm, but this punch carries the might of the initial Elixir Realm!"

Translation: "The aura he just showed was only at the Qi Hai Realm Ninth Level, but this punch of his carries the might of the Yuan Dan Initial Realm!"

"He's just a bit stronger; that doesn't mean he truly has Elixir Realm combat power. The gap between the Sea of Qi Realm and the Elixir Realm is an unbridgeable chasm!"

Translation: "He's just a bit stronger; that doesn't mean he truly has the combat power of a Primordial Dan Realm cultivator—the gap between Qi Hai Realm and Primordial Dan Realm is an uncrossable chasm!"

Below the Elixir Realm, cultivating the body and breath, relying on strength and tools for battle, one remains a mere mortal flesh.

Translation: Below the Primordial Dan Realm, cultivating the body and refining qi, fighting with the aid of strength and tools, one is still a mundane mortal flesh.

Upon reaching the Elixir Realm, one condenses the spiritual sea of the dantian into a golden core, using the core as a strategy, essence, qi, and blood as guides, refining with spirit; with a wave of the hand they can manipulate natural laws, forge their natal magic treasure, and even move heaven and earth, slaying foes from a thousand miles away!

Translation: After reaching the Primordial Dan Realm, one gathers the spiritual sea of the dantian to form a Golden Core, using the core as a plan, using essence, qi, and blood as a guide, refining it with spirit; with a wave of the hand they can maneuver natural spells, cultivate their innate magic treasure, and even move heaven and earth, slaying foes from a thousand li away!

"But he really just unleashed the aura of the Elixir Realm!"

Translation: "But he really just emitted the aura of the Primordial Dan Realm!"

"Oh..."

Translation: "Oh..."

"We seem to have gone off topic; the point is, was that punch just now part of the ruins' trial?" Yu Qiuyi reminded.

Translation: "We seem to have gone off topic; the point is, is that punch of his part of the relic trial?" Yu Qiuyi reminded.

Ye Hongxue thought and said: "We don't need to mobilize everything; I really can't figure out what a single punch could signify—maybe he just got an itchy fist!"

Translation: Ye Hongxue thought: "We don't need to treat every grass and tree as an enemy; I really can't figure out what a single punch could signify—maybe he was just itching to throw a punch!"

The nun Yuanmiao said: "I don't think he's the type to throw punches just because he's itchy!"

Translation: The nun Yuanmiao said: "I don't think he's the type to casually throw a punch just because he's itching!"

Niu Wanli pondered for a moment and said: "The Cat-faced Man's inexplicable punch is indeed hard to understand, but from the dense forest to now, each of his steps seems to carry deep meaning—we must not be careless!"

Translation: Niu Wanli pondered for a moment, then said: "The Cat-faced Man's inexplicable punch is indeed hard to understand, but from the dense forest to now, each of his steps seems to carry deep meaning; we must not be careless!"

"So we should learn it too?" Liu Yu asked.

Translation: "So we should also learn it?" Liu Yu asked.

Yu Qiuyi and Niu Wanli nodded at the same time.

Translation: Yu Qiuyi and Niu Wanli nodded at the same time.

Shen Qiong considered and said: "He threw the punch with his right hand, and it seemed he even shouted as he did it!"

Translation: Shen Qiong considered: "He threw the punch with his right hand, and it seemed he shouted as he did so!"

"Let's do it like that!" Everyone agreed.

Translation: "Let's do it like that!" Everyone agreed.

Ye Hongxue was the first to throw a punch: "Ha!"

Translation: Ye Hongxue was the first to throw a punch: "Ha!"

"Bang——"

Translation: "Boom—"

A huge roar erupted on the sea, with waves surging up dozens of feet high—even greater than the momentum of Heng Xian's punch.

Translation: A huge sound erupted on the sea, waves surging up several dozen feet high, even greater than the momentum of Heng Xian's punch.

On the "Giant" ship, Heng Xian glanced over in surprise.

Translation: Heng Xian on the "Ju Wu Ba" large ship glanced over in surprise.

The sect disciples, focused and solemn, had Shen Qiong throw the second punch.

Translation: The sect disciples, focused and solemn, had Shen Qiong throw the second punch.

"Bang——"

Translation: "Boom—"

Once again, spray flew everywhere.

Translation: Once again, spray flew everywhere.

Then the third person, the fourth… the eighteenth… the forty‑first…

Translation: Then the third person, the fourth person… the eighteenth person… the forty‑first person…

Punches struck the sea, and the spray kept churning.

Translation: Punches struck the sea, and the spray kept churning.

Heng Xian stared, bewildered: what on earth are these "geniuses" doing?

Translation: Heng Xian stared, wondering what this bunch of "geniuses" was up to.

"See? The Cat‑faced Man looks stunned; he must be feeling devastated inside, because we've been copying him, so he can't stay ahead—his hope of monopolizing the great opportunity might just go up in smoke!"

Translation: "See? The Cat‑faced Man is dumbstruck; he must be feeling devastated inside, because we've been learning from him, so he can't stay ahead of us—his plan to hoard the Great Opportunity for himself might just go up in smoke!"

Ye Hongxue laughed harder the more she spoke, unable to hold back a "pfft" sound.

Translation: Ye Hongxue laughed more as she spoke, unable to hold back a "pfft" chuckle.

Yu Qiuyi, Liu Yu, Du Qiyue and the others also couldn't help laughing.

Translation: Yu Qiuyi, Liu Yu, Du Qiyue, and the others also couldn't help laughing.

As time passed, the sect disciples' punching drew to a close.

Translation: As time passed, the sect disciples' punching was drawing to a close.

Meanwhile, the "Cat-faced Man" on the Giant ship suddenly showed a forlorn, slightly angry expression and shouted: "You're really going too far—everyone seizes opportunity by their own ability; what does copying me even mean?"

Translation: Meanwhile, the Cat‑faced Man on the Ju Wu Ba suddenly showed a forlorn expression, somewhat angrily shouting: "You guys are really going too far—everyone seizes opportunities by their own ability; what's the point of copying me?"

"That's wrong!" Yu Qiuyi adjusted her robes and said: "Opportunity, opportunity—those with affinity obtain it. You got those secrets ahead of us but kept them to yourself, which isn't right, so we can't blame others for learning from you."

Translation: "That's wrong!" Yu Qiuyi adjusted the sleeves of her robe and said: "Opportunity, opportunity—those with affinity obtain it. You got a step ahead of us and learned some secrets, yet you kept them private and didn't share; that was already not right, so we can't blame others for learning them!"

"Exactly!" Ye Hongxue crossed her arms: "The sea isn't your private property—what right do you have to control it?"

Translation: "Exactly!" Ye Hongxue crossed her arms: "The sea isn't yours—do you even get to control it?"

The "Cat-faced Man" was somewhat flustered but had nothing to say; he looked at the sun, then solemnly walked to the bow and made a salute: "The shore is green, the shore is translucent spring green!"

Translation: The Cat‑faced Man, somewhat flustered but with nothing to say, looked at the sun, then solemnly walked to the bow and made a salute: "The shore is green, the shore is translucent spring green!"

He then walked to the left side of the ship, performed the same salute, and said the same words.

Translation: He then walked to the left side of the boat, performed the salute, and said the same words.

Then he walked to the right side, performed the salute, and repeated the same phrase.

Translation: Then he walked to the right side of the boat, performed the salute, and said the same words.

Finally, he placed both hands on the ground, crawled forward, and with one hand slapped his mouth: "Ah‑ba, ah‑ba……"

Translation: Finally, placing both hands on the ground, he crawled forward, separating one hand to slap his mouth: "Aba, aba…"

After finishing, he sat cross‑legged on the deck, gazing ahead with a solemn expression.

Translation: After finishing all that, he sat cross‑legged on the deck, looking ahead with a solemn expression.

Below, a group of sect disciples stared at each other, bewildered.

Translation: Below, a group of sect disciples stared at each other, bewildered.

Because these actions were extremely strange, extremely… unconventional!

Translation: Because these actions were very strange, very… unconventional!

The lower‑rank disciples fixed their gazes on Yu Qiuyi, Ye Hongxue and their companions.

Translation: The lower‑rank disciples fixed their gazes on Yu Qiuyi, Ye Hongxue, and the others.

Yu Qiuyi thought for a moment, then said solemnly: "He punched the sea in front, then performed the bowing and chanting afterward—this should be a complete set of sacrificial rites."

Translation: Yu Qiuyi thought for a moment, then said solemnly: "His punching toward the sea ahead and the later salute, bow, and incantation should together form a complete ritual of worship!"

"A sacrifice?" the group exclaimed, puzzled.

Translation: "A ritual?" the group said, puzzled.

Yu Qiuyi said: "Our Taiyan Sect lies on the edge of the boundless sea; I've heard my master mention that ancient sea rituals involve movements just like these."

Translation: Yu Qiuyi said: "My Great Expansion Sect is located at the edge of the Boundless Sea; I heard my master mention that the ancient sea rites include similar movements!"

"So he's performing a sea rite—no doubt this is part of the trial!" Ye Hongxue frowned, adding: "Otherwise, there'd be no reason for a sea ceremony here."

Translation: "So he's performing a sea rite—then… it must be part of the trial, no doubt!" Ye Hongxue furrowed her brows: "Otherwise, there'd really be no need for a sea rite here."

"Then let's begin too!" Niu Wanli declared decisively.

Translation: "Then let's begin too!" Niu Wanli declared decisively.

Immediately, over a hundred sect disciples stepped forward one by one, first performing a great bow to the left, center, and right, chanting devoutly: "The shore is green, the shore is translucent spring green!"

Translation: Immediately, over a hundred sect disciples stepped forward one by one, first performing the great rites of bowing to the left, center, and right directions, solemnly shouting: "The shore is green, the shore is translucent spring green!"

Then they went upside‑down, reached out to slap their mouths, and said: "Ah‑ba, ah‑ba……"

Translation: Then, upside‑down, they reached out to slap their mouths: "Aba, aba…"

On the Giant, Heng Xian's masked face lost its solemnity; he breezily dragged a stool to the rail, pulled out a packet of broad bean flowers from somewhere, munched on them, widened his eyes, and watched the scene below with keen interest.

Translation: On the Ju Wu Ba, Heng Xian's masked face lost its solemnity and seriousness; light‑hearted and carefree, he dragged a stool to the deck's edge, pulled out a packet of broad‑bean flowers from somewhere, munched on them, widened his eyes, and watched the scene below with keen interest.

Seeing the exciting parts, he couldn't help clapping and cheering.

Translation: Seeing the exciting parts, he couldn't help clapping and cheering.

This left the sect disciples confused and bewildered.

Translation: This left the sect disciples bewildered.

Finally, when it was Yu Qiuyi, Niu Wanli and a few others' turn to perform the climactic offering, they all kept chanting "Ah‑ba, ah‑ba" without pause.

Translation: Finally, when Yu Qiuyi, Niu Wanli, and the others came together as the final offering, they chanted "Aba, aba…" nonstop.

Heng Xian finally burst out laughing.

Translation: Heng Xian finally couldn't help laughing out loud.

"Uh……"

Translation: "Uh…"

The group exchanged glances; even a fool could sense that something was off.

Translation: The group exchanged glances; even a fool could sense that something was off.

They simply jumped up and looked toward Heng Xian.

Translation: They simply jumped up and looked toward Heng Xian.

Yu Qiuyi angrily snapped: "Are you messing with us?"

Translation: Yu Qiuyi angrily rebuked: "Are you messing with us?"

"Pfft!" Heng Xian spat out a broad bean shell: "No, I'm just watching the monkeys!"

Translation: "Pfft!" Heng Xian spat out a broad‑bean shell: "No, I'm just watching the monkeys!"

"Bold!"

Translation: "Bold!"

Those sneaky rats actually dare to humiliate us like this!

"He doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, doesn't understand propriety and rank, a little cleverness makes him look down on everyone..."

Everyone, embarrassed and angry, shouted accusations and rebukes.

Heng Xian automatically ignored those unnutritious curses, turned around, picked up his fishing rod, baited it, and continued today's fishing.

The disciples of various sects on the boats below kept scolding for a while before stopping, and then suddenly felt a bit lost.

Because this "Cat-face Man" actually likes to toy with people, completely lacking decorum, so whatever he does next, it's hard to tell whether it's true or false...

Liu Yu sighed: "Being at someone else's mercy really isn't a good feeling!"

Yu Qiuyi looked toward the sea: "The key is we have absolutely no clue; getting this far is already no easy feat!"

Ye Hongxue said: "Never mind all that; bottom line, fishing can't go wrong!"

"That's right!"

Thus thirty simple fishing rods were thrown out again.

The "flotilla" continued onward.

Everyone fished in silence.

The disciples of various sects were especially lucky today; almost everyone caught a fish within the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, and the fish were half-blue, half-white in color, more than twice the size of the little white fish from the previous days.

This made a group of people excited beyond measure.

In contrast, Heng Xian's luck was particularly bad; even by noon, the fish bobber hadn't moved once.

He glanced at the half-blue, half-white fish caught by the disciples below, which were the same as the ones he had caught these past days, and couldn't help but frown.

Just then, the fish bobber sank, as if something huge had pulled it down.

He hurriedly began to reel in the line.

The disciples below had been watching him all along; at this sight, they all turned to look.

The fishing rod felt heavy, but there was none of the frantic thrashing and swaying of a fish.

Heng Xian exerted a little force, and saw a dark, muddy lump rise to the surface.

It turned out to be a piece of old armor from some unknown age, covered in sludge.

(End of chapter)