Chapter 218: Xuanbing Jiao Inner Core

With Bing Xin Jiao's appearance, the Empress was ready for battle. Although Xu Yang alone was incredibly powerful, facing two deep-sea overlords simultaneously would leave him in a weakened state, even if he won. Out at sea, losing the ability to defend oneself meant constant peril, so maintaining peak condition was crucial.

Bing Xin Jiao stared coldly at Xu Yang. "I never expected the East Sea to attract such a formidable expert like you!" it said. "However, on our territory, you have no right to act so presumptuously!" It suddenly flicked its tail, unleashing a powerful wave of icy energy towards Xu Yang.

"Oh?"

From just this initial encounter, Xu Yang sensed Bing Xin Jiao's extraordinary nature. Its bloodline heritage was even more formidable than that of the Bi Shui Jin Jing Beast.

The Eternal Artifact glowed brightly, cleaving down from the sky. Its terrifying power simultaneously shattered the opponent's icy energy, and the collision of the two forces in the sea created massive hundred-zhang high waves.

The Bi Shui Jin Jing Beast was now utterly enraged, particularly after being severely wounded by Xu Yang, which left its body and mind under unprecedented suppression and threat. Using a unique mental wave, it transmitted its thoughts: "This person is too powerful; we must finish them quickly and crush them!" Immediately after, the colossal beast unleashed its ultimate skill, sending a powerful surge of water surging in all directions!

"Ice and Snow Seal the Heavens!"

In an instant, Bing Xin Jiao roared in fury, and an unparalleled beam of icy light rapidly spread. Vast stretches of churning waves quickly froze, and the entire visible expanse of the sea solidified into a thick layer of ice in an extremely short time.

"No good!"

The Empress's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she realized the danger of the opponents' combined attack. As a master of the Cold Moon Skill, she could precisely estimate the power of such combined icy attacks in these specific circumstances.

"Moonlit Solitary City!"

Without the slightest hesitation, the Empress soared into the sky and appeared beside Xu Yang. Her peerless eyes emitted a terrifying ice-blue light, and the powerful spiritual energy she unleashed secretly surprised even Xu Yang.

A bright moon descended over the entire sea, and a powerful illusory space simultaneously enveloped Xu Yang, the Empress, and the two deep-sea overlords.

The sea instantly became much quieter. On the ice, Bing Xin Jiao and the Jin Jing Beast appeared somewhat bewildered, while the Empress displayed unparalleled majesty within the illusion. Once inside this illusory dream, the effects and power of the Cold Moon Skill were significantly enhanced.

Xu Yang remained as calm as ever; for him, this illusion was merely a backdrop. With the blessings of Dao power, he was completely unaffected, continuing to observe his opponents with an unperturbed gaze.

"Damn it! I can't believe there's such a terrifying psychic expert among you! It seems we are destined to fall here today!"

A hint of sadness entered Bing Xin Jiao's tone, and its gaze suddenly softened as it looked at the heavily wounded Bi Shui Jin Jing Beast beside it.

"Release it, and I will offer my inner core."

Bing Xin Jiao's sudden offer surprised the Empress, the master of the illusion. In her mind, demonic beasts were always cruel and tyrannical; how could they possess such emotions?

"Are you truly willing to give up everything for it? Is it worth it?" the Empress couldn't help but ask. Xu Yang, however, could see that the Empress's heart was not as unyielding as it appeared. Even as a ruler above thousands, she was still just a woman. Compared to Bing Xin Jiao, the Empress had never truly given her emotions to any man; at this moment, she felt a hint of envy.

"There's no 'worth it' or 'not worth it'," Bing Xin Jiao replied. "I have lived with it in this sea for a hundred thousand years. If it dies, I have no desire to live alone. Humans have their emotions, and beast clans naturally have their own bonds of friendship! Victors rule, losers perish; this world speaks through strength. We would unhesitatingly devour weaker human cultivators, just as we would be devoured by powerful beings like you. This is the cycle of the Heavenly Dao; there's nothing to question."

At this moment, Bing Xin Jiao's frankness deeply shocked the Empress, and even Xu Yang, standing by, was touched.

There are countless cultivators in the world, all dreaming of defying the heavens and severing the Dao. Yet, they don't realize that sometimes, by flowing with the Heavenly Dao, one can see things more clearly. While obsession can undoubtedly lead one to power, the desires that arise with it are equally endless.

"Have you gone soft?"

Xu Yang looked at the Empress with interest, in no hurry to respond. In fact, the two deep-sea beasts before them had already lost their chance to choose.

"If you truly wish to plead for them, I can..."

"Kill."

The Empress suddenly interrupted Xu Yang, the warmth in her eyes vanishing once more. But Xu Yang also understood that Bing Xin Jiao's words could never be erased from the Empress's heart.

"Very well. Today, I will take both your inner cores, scatter your cultivation, and reclaim the power that originally belongs to us human cultivators. I will spare your lives, giving you a chance to cultivate anew. This way, my trip will not have been in vain."

Xu Yang offered a resolution that both appeased the Empress and was not overly merciful. He suddenly clasped his hands together, and a massive Tai Chi diagram slowly materialized above the Cold Moon Illusion, enveloping the heads of Bing Xin Jiao and the Jin Jing Beast.

Two incredibly crystal-clear inner cores slowly floated into Xu Yang's palm. Simultaneously, the surrounding solid ice within the illusion began to melt rapidly. Bing Xin Jiao seemed to cast a grateful glance at Xu Yang and the Empress before quickly disappearing into the deep sea with the wounded Jin Jing Beast.

The illusory domain disappeared, and Xu Yang and the Empress landed back on the deck. The raging storm in the sea gradually calmed down.

All members of the Tuoba team had already retreated to their rooms to recover. It seemed they feared what Xu Yang and the Empress might do to them, so maintaining their best condition was crucial.

Without the obstruction of the Bi Shui Jin Jing Beast, the lights corresponding to the Seven-Section Sea Demon Pillars began to converge. Seven golden carp continually rose from the sea surface, hovering and surrounding the seven Heavenly Pillars as they slowly ascended, outlining a very unique golden navigation route.

"We succeeded! Please look, Esteemed Sir! This golden route, extending to the golden light of the seventh pillar, is the passage to the true East Sea. We did it!"

Xu Yang smiled calmly. "Although I haven't seen the true appearance of the East Sea depths, I can imagine it must be extraordinary," he said. "This battle was arduous, Brother Tuoba. You should also go back and recuperate. If more powerful enemies appear later, it will certainly be even more dangerous."

"Many thanks to both of you for your assistance this time!"

Tuoba Hong was now genuinely impressed by Xu Yang. He respectfully cupped his fists towards them both, then walked into the cabin.

Only the two of them remained on the deck, the little snake having returned to Xu Yang's sleeve. Xu Yang flicked his palm, presenting the two incredibly pure inner cores to the Empress.

"You, this is..."