Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Uncle Zhang, may I ask who the human cultivators blocking your way were?"

Little White, holding half a bun in hand, was obviously still quite concerned about the identity of that group of cultivators.

The immense sea beast was taken aback by this question.

He had initially wanted to inquire why Yu Yaoer and the others were in this place and whether the young Taoist beside her was assistance sought from the Xuanxu Temple on the Great Elder's instructions.

However, the question from the young girl inside the golden light shield interrupted the words he had prepared.

But being of a naturally magnanimous disposition, although surprised, he still answered her question sincerely.

"I don't know."

"..."

A look of clear disappointment appeared on Little White's face.

Seeing her expression, the whale-like sea beast felt somewhat too uneasy to let it go and thus added a few more words.

"Due to personal issues, I've been patrolling the seas for many years, so I truly don't know much about the land-based cultivators. However, the other party is extremely proficient in water system magic, and it seemed that the Great Elder had some old acquaintanceship, or perhaps a grudge, with the leader of the opposing party. When I used my Innate Divine Ability to leave, I seemed to hear her cursing the other as a 'Mad Woman.'"

The answer was very earnest.

Nevertheless, it clearly could not satisfy Little White's curiosity.

And Jin Xu, seeing that he could not obtain any useful information from this source, felt the urge to swiftly make his way to the Deep Sea Abyss.

However, Uncle Zhang obviously felt concerned for Yu Yaoer.

"Little Yao, your grandmother entrusted me to look after you if anyone should happen to stumble upon you..."

The sea beast's words were only half spoken when Jin Xu interrupted him.

"Cough... Uncle Zhang, I am actually the temple master of Xuanxu Temple. Mr. Zhuang, whom you sent away earlier, was fortuitously rescued by us."

The sea beast looked taken aback. It hadn't been long since he transported the lobster cultivator away. Could it be that Little Yao's efficiency had improved so greatly? Also, it was rumored that the temple master of Xuanxu Temple was always accompanied by the temple itself. How then was this person a golden spiritual power light shield?

And most importantly...

Years ago, the Great Elder had taken him to a secluded island to meet someone for an exchange of some sort. Rumors had subsequently circulated that that person was the temple master of Xuanxu Temple.

Even though he had been ordered to stay at a distance and not approach, he still saw a silhouette when that person used his Flying Escape Skill to leave.

He remembered that the figure looked different from the young Taoist before him now!

That person clearly had white hair.

"Are you truly the temple master of Xuanxu Temple, young Taoist? I had the honor to catch a glimpse of that senior many years ago, and I remember that person seemed..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw the young Taoist pull out an object from his chest and tossed it to the side.

Then smoke rose up, and an ancient-looking Taoist temple appeared atop the sea.

"...uh, Xuanxu Temple?"

The sea beast stared at the signboard of the old Taoist temple, reading it out loud, word by word.

"Uncle Zhang, you might have seen my teacher, but he is missing now. However, that's not important at the moment. Time is pressing. Once I rescue the Shui Clan Elder, I'll ask you about my teacher's whereabouts. By the way, please be careful and it's best to swim closer to shore."

Jin Xu said, as he steered the golden spiritual power light shield slowly into the air.

The sea beast, still visibly worried for the group, took the opportunity to stress the terror of the corrupt entities emanating from the rift.

He also emphasized that the cultivators in the Deep Sea Abyss, each one proficient in underwater combat, could even turn filth to their advantage.

It was as if he was a concerned mother watching her child set off on a distant journey.

"Rest assured, Uncle Zhang, with the young master here, there will surely be no problem," reassured Little White.

"Yes, with the temple master making a move, dealing with those cultivators will surely be as easy as cutting melons and chopping vegetables, cackling wildly as they slaughter."

In mid-air, Yu Yaoer loudly comforted the huge sea beast, with Little White also chiming in from the side.

The giant whale sea beast wanted to say something more, but before it could speak, the golden sphere in the sky shot toward the direction of the Deep Sea Abyss with a whoosh.

It left behind a large area of seawater churned up by the airflow.

Watching the golden sphere disappear in the blink of an eye, Uncle Zhang finally understood why, just after he had teleported Mr. Zhuang away, they had encountered them here.

Is this young Taoist's escape technique so fast!?

——————

Deep Sea Abyss, bottom.

This place was originally a forbidden zone of life in the sea, always silent.

The depth of tens of thousands of meters made it impossible for all cultivators below the Void Refinement Realm to safely reach this place.

Even cultivators at the Void Refinement Realm had to be extremely cautious and bring sufficient supplies, lest they accidentally exhaust their spiritual power and perish in this deep and dark seabed.

However, the usually quiet bottom of the Abyss was now bustling with unusual activity.

Not to mention the foul substance that flowed wantonly in the sea, just the number of human cultivators here reached more than twenty, and even the least of them appeared to be at the Seventh or Eighth Layer of Void Refinement.

Beyond that, there was a group of oddly shaped Shui Clan cultivators densely clinging to a white, silk-like net, frantically nibbling at something.

If someone were to look from afar at this moment, they would discover that the white silk net was perfectly blocking a massive rift.

In front of the rift stood a uniformed group of female cultivators dressed in water-blue garments.

They silently stared at the Shui Clan cultivators gnawing at the white net, their bodies like seawater itself, letting the foul substances pass through unimpeded.

"Hum～"

A Phoenix Head Cane thumped heavily on the ground, the seabed's silt vibrated, and disturbed ripples spread out in expanding circles.

"How much longer until the rift can be reopened?"

An aged yet youthful female voice sounded from beside the group of female cultivators.

"Replying to the Ancestor, with the inner corruption of foul forces and the external gnawing of these monsters, it won't take the time of burning a stick of incense for it to break open," came the transmission.

Hearing this, the leading female cultivator in front of the rift flowed through the crowd like water and arrived in front of an extravagant and beautiful matron, respectfully bowing.

The opulent matron nodded in satisfaction upon hearing the timeframe, then leaned down and plucked a small grass glowing with a faint white light from the ground.

Three breaths after being removed from the earth, the grass withered abruptly.

Seeing the withered grass, she pursed her lips and smiled silently, as if beholding the downfall of someone who opposed her.

But the next second, the skin on the beautiful woman's face withered rapidly like the grass in her hand.

In the blink of an eye, she underwent the transformation from a youthful matron to an old crone.

The matron, now aware of the anomaly on her face, reached out to touch it, finding that the previously smooth and supple touch had turned into a wrinkled and rough texture.

The smile on her face involuntarily transformed into horror, and then anger.

The matron... or rather, the old crone brandished her Phoenix Head Cane, and a surge of water swept forward, enveloping one of the Shui Clan cultivators who was wantonly gnawing at the white net.

A cloud of blood mist exploded soundlessly.

The water flow returned from the mist, carrying something within it, which the old woman drew into her mouth.

Moments later, the old woman turned back into the beautiful matron she was just before.