Chapter 1698: Small Island Sea Monster

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"Why bother with all this trouble? With the three of us working together, we can easily defend ourselves unless we encounter a true beast of this realm. Although we won't be teleported back for another year, we still don't know where we are. Finding the forbidden land where the ruins are located, plus cultivating to break through our own bottlenecks, might not leave us enough time as it is. Why add an unnecessary step?" Shi Kun, a burly, rugged man with skin like grayish rock, shook his head.

"Fellow Daoist Shi," Liu Shuir, from beneath her cloak, seemed clearly displeased, her voice turning cold. "This Combined Attack Method of Primordial Magnetic Divine Light was created by my master specifically for today's mission, after years of painstaking effort. Its power far exceeds ordinary imagination. I insist we practice this technique first. Otherwise, if we encounter a powerful enemy, it will be too late for regrets."

"Is that so? I still believe that compared to this, the most important thing is to reach the forbidden land as soon as possible and then seize the time to break through our own bottlenecks. I, Shi, have never practiced any combined attack techniques before, yet I still achieved what I have today." Shi Kun let out a strange laugh, also unwilling to give ground.

"Fellow Daoist Han, what is your opinion?" Liu Shuir's gaze grew colder beneath her cloak, and she turned her head to ask Han Li.

"My opinion is this: Since both of you have different views, but this journey cannot proceed without either of you, why don't you both take a step back? We will spend only half a month practicing this combined attack secret technique. Regardless of the level of coordination we achieve, we will immediately set off to find the forbidden land. This way, we can familiarize ourselves with the secret technique, and surely Brother Shi can spare a mere half-month." Han Li pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Well...""Alright, let's follow Fellow Daoist Han's suggestion."Upon hearing Han Li's proposal, the cloaked woman hesitated, while Shi Kun only thought for a moment before decisively agreeing.

"Since both of you agree, I can't disagree either. Let's do as he says." Liu Shuir could only reluctantly nod.

"In that case, let's first find a place to settle down, then we can discuss practicing." Han Li said with a smile.

Shi Kun and the cloaked woman naturally had no objections. The three immediately doubled their escape speed, simultaneously releasing their divine senses, and flashed through the nearby void like shooting stars.

They had initially expected to find a small island quickly, but to their surprise, it took them a full day and night of flying before they finally spotted a small island about ten li wide in the distance over the sea.

It was sunset, and the sky above the island was filled with red clouds. The nearby sea, however, was a dark expanse, faintly glowing, like a large piece of black oilcloth stained with something.

Upon seeing the island, Han Li and the other two slowed their escape speed and revealed themselves several li away, scanning ahead.

"This is a bit strange. Our divine sense cannot penetrate deep into the island, and the sea below has a strong, foul demonic aura. It seems there's a demonic beast occupying this island," Shi Kun said, his expression hardening, as he spoke first.

"Indeed. There's a sea beast below, but its cultivation isn't high, roughly similar to ours." Han Li's pupils flickered with blue light as he slowly spoke.

"Fellow Daoist, you can probe beneath the island?" Liu Shuir was somewhat surprised.

Like Shi Kun, her divine sense had become blurry and indistinct the moment it touched the sea near the island. It seemed the nearby sea had a strong suppressive effect on divine sense.

"I was fortunate enough to have cultivated some special secret techniques, granting me minor divine abilities that sharpen sight and hearing. I didn't perceive it with divine sense," Han Li replied candidly.

"That's excellent! If Brother Han possesses such divine abilities, we can avoid many dangers," Shi Kun said, greatly pleased, and began addressing Han Li as 'Brother Han'.

Han Li merely chuckled.

"Indeed, with Fellow Daoist Han possessing this divine ability, our chances for this journey have increased by a significant margin. Now that this island is occupied by a sea beast, perhaps we should look for another location. It's not worth wasting our magic power just for a temporary resting place," Liu Shuir said, her eyes brightening.

This time, Shi Kun had no objection to the cloaked woman's words and immediately nodded in agreement.

However, after a moment of thought, Han Li shook his head:

"I'm afraid that even if we find other places, they won't be much better."

"Oh, Brother Han, what do you mean by that?" Shi Kun asked, somewhat surprised.

Liu Shuir's eyes also flickered, and she looked over with a puzzled expression.

"How do you two feel about our escape speed just now?" Han Li didn't answer directly, but instead asked a question.

"It was alright. Although we weren't at full speed, it should have been about sixty to seventy percent of our maximum," Shi Kun replied without hesitation.

"Exactly. With the three of us flying at that speed for a full day and night, the distance we've covered must have already exceeded several million li. Furthermore, we've been continuously scanning our surroundings with our divine sense. Under these circumstances, don't you find it somewhat surprising that we've only now found such an island?" Han Li sighed.

"Fellow Daoist Han, just say what you want to say directly. My mind isn't too quick, and I've always hated beating around the bush," Shi Kun grunted, seemingly impatient.

Han Li's lips twitched slightly, but inwardly, he was one hundred and twenty percent sure that the other party wasn't as slow-witted as he claimed.

"Fellow Daoist Han, are you perhaps suggesting that the seas of the Guanghan Realm are a bit strange, making other islands equally hard to find, or that even if we do find them, they are likely to be occupied by other sea beasts?" Liu Shuir interjected.

"That's exactly what I mean. Although this island already has a sea beast, it's not an ancient fierce beast or anything of that sort. We can easily deal with it with a little effort. It's better than wasting more time searching for other islands," Han Li slowly explained.

"That makes some sense. Alright, let's go with Brother Han's suggestion. Anyway, with the three of us working together, dealing with a sea beast of similar cultivation will certainly not be a problem," Shi Kun said, twisting his neck and agreeing with a fierce look on his face.

"Hmm, I also think Fellow Daoist Han's suggestion is more reliable," Liu Shuir considered for a moment and then agreed.

"Since none of you have any objections, let's proceed. To ensure nothing goes wrong, and to avoid alerting other sea beasts nearby, I will first set up a temporary magic array to conceal the commotion when we eliminate this beast," Han Li stated calmly.

Shi Kun and the cloaked woman naturally had no objections upon hearing this.

Han Li then flipped his hand, and a stack of array flags suddenly appeared in his palm. He abruptly tossed them high into the air, then formed hand seals and began chanting incantations.

Instantly, over a dozen streaks of colorful light emerged, shooting towards the sea surface. With a flash, they vanished.

But the next moment, from the sea around the entire island, over a dozen thick beams of light shot up into the sky. They then dispersed, forming an almost imperceptible layer of white light, enveloping the entire island.

"To be cautious, I'll also lend a hand, Fellow Daoist," the cloaked woman said, raising an eyebrow at the sight.

She then raised a single hand, and a pale yellow disc-shaped magic tool flew out, instantly soaring to a position several hundred zhang higher than the white light barrier in the void.

Next, Liu Shuir extended a slender finger and pointed it with concentration towards the sky.

The yellow disc spun rapidly, also releasing a layer of yellow light curtain. It shimmered and spread in all directions, remarkably enveloping the white light barrier created by Han Li's array flags as well.

"With this layer of restriction, even if we create a massive disturbance inside, it should not attract the attention of others," the cloaked woman said indifferently.

"Haha, in that case, I, Shi, can fight without restraint!" Shi Kun let out a hearty laugh. Then, a yellow light flashed all over his body, and a dark yellow battle armor immediately appeared on his skin, enveloping most of his physique.

With another flash of yellow light, Shi Kun, without a word, plunged into the two layers of restrictions and lunged straight towards the island below.

From a distance, he looked like a yellow meteor rapidly falling from the sky.

With a "boom," the yellow light suddenly descended into a small grove at the very center of the island. Rings of visible yellow waves radiated outwards from that point. Regardless of rocks or trees, everything touched by the yellow light silently shattered into countless pieces, turning into dust.

In an instant, the vast island was swept clean of all taller objects, becoming a bare, flat expanse of land.

In the very center of this flat land, Shi Kun stood proudly in a crater several feet deep that had appeared out of nowhere, withdrawing a fist shrouded in yellow light from the ground.

This astonishing feat was achieved by him striking the island's ground with a single punch.

Seeing such an astonishing scene, the cloaked woman's figure trembled slightly, and Han Li's eyes narrowed.

It seemed Shi Kun's reluctance to cultivate combined attack secret techniques, and his considerable self-confidence, were not unfounded.

"I've long known that the Stone Cocoon Race is renowned for its powerful physiques, but to possess such terrifying power at the upper-rank tribal realm... it seems this Fellow Daoist Shi's cultivation technique is extraordinary," the cloaked woman suddenly murmured in a very low voice, as if telling Han Li, yet also as if speaking to herself.

Han Li, upon hearing this, maintained a normal expression, as if he hadn't heard anything at all.

Below, Shi Kun seemed very pleased with his recent strike. He raised his head, about to say something to Han Li and Liu Shuir in the air.

But just then, the small island began to shake violently, and the black seawater nearby started to churn and boil.

After several "whoosh" sounds, seven or eight thick, black objects suddenly shot out from the sea around the island, rising two to three hundred zhang high, like towering black pillars reaching into the clouds.

However, these pillars were lumpy and their surfaces writhed, causing one to feel a chill down their spine.

Han Li quickly focused his gaze and realized these weren't pillars at all, but incredibly thick, colossal tentacles.

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