Chapter 225: Sword Shakes the Angry Sea

Three members of the Seven inexplicably died, and the team's atmosphere immediately worsened. Although Tuoba Hong mediated, the accumulated resentment didn't immediately erupt. Still, everyone could feel that the remaining four harbored deep resentment towards Xu Yang.

No one knew that as they left the island, the three bodies buried underground silently pushed open their graves, and a chilling, blood-red hand emerged...

The ship set sail once more, and Xu Yang and his companions continued deeper into the East Sea. As they ventured further along their course, a very strong scent of blood began to permeate the air.

More importantly, Xu Yang discovered a very strong resonance from the fundamental essence of Tao within him.

Purely instinctively, Xu Yang immediately went to the deck and sat cross-legged, circulating the powerful fundamental Tao energy throughout his body, enduring the howling cold wind from the sea.

Soon, a massive Tai Chi totem slowly ascended from above his head, completely enveloping the entire ship while simultaneously emitting waves of Tao energy into the surrounding sea.

The Empress constantly guarded Xu Yang, but she also noticed that the bloody scent seemed to intensify, as if the sea before them was more like a colossal underwater tomb!

Rumble!!

In an instant, without warning, a furiously raging roar of a giant beast suddenly erupted from the sea. A powerful being with a human torso, a fish tail, and a body glowing with silver light slowly appeared. It positioned itself a thousand meters in front of the ship's bow. Strangely, this being could use its aura to part the surrounding waves, like a sea deity looking down upon the creatures in the tumultuous waters.

"Welcome to the end of the East Sea. Your ability to reach this point proves your strength. But from now on, you will face a judgment and a choice between life and death!"

The Empress's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She clearly sensed the powerful aura fluctuations from the opponent. At least in this vast ocean, the opponent's strength should already be above the Nascent Soul realm, reaching the level of a Spirit Infant.

"Judge us? By what right? Even the gluttonous beast Taotie wouldn't dare be so arrogant in front of us!"

The silver-clad being coldly chuckled. "I am the Sea Spirit General, ruler of the East Sea's deep waters. I am also the guardian of the portal you must pass through to meet Lord Taotie. If you cannot even overcome me, you are not worthy of meeting Lord Taotie."

Xu Yang was already growing impatient. With Taoist light swirling around him, he suddenly stepped into the air. His Eternal Divine Sword flew out. In the dark night, he stood upon the wildly rolling clouds, assuming a posture as if to judge this master of the sea.

"Are you certain you wish to reject my rules? If so, you will have no chance of survival, and I will capsize your ship and destroy all of you."

Xu Yang smiled. "You can try."

Boom!

The Sea Spirit General was not polite. Faced with provocation from an outsider, the only way for him to prove himself was by displaying his power. Only then could he defend his dignity.

He raised his trident high, and endless surging waves roared behind him. A single wave of this magnitude, dozens of meters high, could easily overturn the ship.

Guided by Xu Yang, the Empress immediately ascended into the air, entering the area enveloped by Xu Yang's Taoist light.

Strangely enough, within this luminous area, the outside commotion seemed to quiet down significantly. The feeling was as if they had entered a space exclusively dominated by Xu Yang. Their restless emotions and the powerful sea pressure from the opponent were greatly diminished.

Xu Yang handled it perfectly. He never abandoned the ship beneath him from start to finish, providing ample protection for Tuoba Hong and the others.

It's worth noting that faced with such a formidable enemy, the people on the ship had no reaction whatsoever, completely leaving the danger for Xu Yang and the Empress to handle. Tuoba Hong and the others didn't make a sound or move.

"I will only attack you three times, and I will not kill you. But I hope that once you are subdued, you can guide us forward. This is our agreement with Taotie."

The Sea Spirit General gave no response to Xu Yang, only a cold snort. The spiritual light on his trident burst forth, locking onto Xu Yang's aura in the air.

Boom!

An incredibly powerful spiritual aurora burst forth instantly. This time, even a formidable figure like Xu Yang felt a hint of danger.

It must be said that a powerhouse of the Spirit Infant realm possessed overall strength a full level higher than the Nascent Soul realm.

Taoist light swirled. The inherent defensive power of the Tai Chi totem instantly maxed out, stubbornly withstanding this wave of spiritual light blasts.

Xu Yang held his Eternal Divine Sword horizontally before him. Its icy blue light expanded to its limit, radiating brilliant azure ripples.

Meanwhile, the Empress's Cold Moon Art also took effect. The Cold Moon aura and the Eternal Divine Sword's inherent aura seemed to complement each other, expanding the icy domain even further and effectively nullifying most of the Sea Spirit General's sea domain.

"It seems you do have some ability. But unfortunately, you have no chance in the vast ocean."

"Roar of the Sea!"

Rumble!

In an instant, boundless ocean waves surged skyward. Countless waters frantically condensed above the Sea Spirit General's head, forming an incredibly brilliant azure barrier.

At the same time, these endless waves formed a solid water dragon, which surged towards Xu Yang in mid-air.

"Heh, using dragon power in front of me? Are you joking?"

Xu Yang launched a sword strike, also unleashing a watery blue ice dragon soul, which collided with the surging water dragon below.

Rumble!!

The powerful recoil almost instantly blew away the surrounding water vapor. The Sea Spirit General's initial air of dominance was greatly diminished because he clearly felt that his true form had suffered a significant impact in this confrontation. Even though he was in the sea and had great confidence in his endurance, he couldn't withstand the opponent's overwhelmingly powerful collision.

"Two more strikes. Be careful."

Xu Yang's voice remained calm and serene, as if he were playing a game, feeling no pressure from the confrontation at all.

Indeed, no matter how strong this guy was, there was still a world of difference compared to Taotie. Xu Yang wasn't even afraid of Taotie, so why would he fear a mere gatekeeper?

"Eternal Barrier!"

The second strike was launched in quick succession. The Eternal Divine Sword's body released an incredibly chilling killing intent. After locking onto the Sea Spirit General's aura, it exerted immense suppression on his mental domain.

"Such terrifying suppression... How can this guy use the power of demons?"

The Sea Spirit General quickly made his move, forcibly devouring a pure essence of the sea using his special physical abilities to empower himself with a purifying effect. Unexpectedly, before he could complete this action, Xu Yang's final strike suddenly erupted!

"Thunderous Might!!"

CRACKLE!!

From above the nine heavens, a flash of purple lightning streaked across once more. Terrifying lightning, guided by the Eternal Divine Sword, struck down from the sky!

Rumble...