Chapter 2061: Fisherman Gains

According to the previous plan, as soon as the Darkback Turtle entered the ambush site, they would immediately activate the formation. With the power of the ephemera and the help of Sect Leader Kui Xiao and others, killing or even capturing it wouldn't be too difficult!

Now, the sudden appearance of Sect Leader Bai Xuansheng introduced a variable, but it wouldn't significantly alter their plans. On the contrary, it allowed them to remain in place and wait for the opportune moment to strike.

As they spoke, the Darkback Turtle, having swallowed the silver diamond crystal, continued to absorb the mineral's power. The ephemera on the surface of the sea could no longer hold back and swarmed towards it. The entire water surface trembled violently, as if on the verge of exploding.

Not only was the turtle under attack by the ephemera, but Sect Leader Bai Xuansheng, who was above it, was also surrounded. He released his True Qi to form a protective shield, then looked around and down.

"My hidden friends below, come out! This Darkback Turtle is enormous. If we work together to kill it, we can split the rewards equally!"

His voice echoed through the water, clearly reaching Zhang Xuan and the others in the formation space.

"Did he discover us?" Elder Feng Qian asked, startled.

"Not necessarily," Zhang Xuan shook his head. "The Darkback Turtle could sense something was wrong with the silver diamond crystal's appearance, and as a Pseudo-God realm expert, he must have also noticed it. He knows someone else, just like him, is planning an ambush, so he's calling out to trick us into acting... Let's ignore him for now!"

The silver diamond crystal was incredibly precious. If it had truly been here, it would have been mined long ago, not left for this massive creature to find. So, with a bit of thought, Bai Xuansheng could deduce that someone else, just like him, was preparing to kill this immortal beast. He just didn't know who or which force it was.

Hearing the shout and seeing that the formation hadn't activated, meaning it couldn't rely on its power, the Darkback Turtle knew that if Bai Xuansheng truly teamed up with others, it would surely die here today. Without hesitation, it roared and charged directly towards Bai Xuansheng above.

This time, its speed was even greater, like a teleportation, appearing before Bai Xuansheng in the blink of an eye. Its massive body combined with its shell gave the impression of a falling planet. If struck, even a peak Immortal Monarch would be instantly flattened into a meat patty, utterly dead.

"Excellent!" Bai Xuansheng seemed to have anticipated this move. He smiled faintly, and a massive shield instantly appeared before him. The shield grew upon contact with water, reaching several hundred meters in diameter. When it collided with the turtle, it emitted a sound like a giant bell, and the surrounding ephemera were instantly pulverized, countless numbers perishing.

Sect Leader Kui Xiao clenched his fist. "Is that shield... a Pseudo-God realm weapon?"

He and Bai Xuansheng had known each other for many years and were very familiar with each other. Their cultivation levels were similar, and in a fight, they were evenly matched. When did he acquire a Pseudo-God realm weapon? With something of that caliber, Kui Xiao knew he wouldn't be able to contend with him in another fight! No wonder he dared to come alone to capture the Darkback Turtle; with this item, combined with his own cultivation, he was terrifyingly powerful!

"Bind!"

After blocking the turtle's powerful charge, Bai Xuansheng smiled again, and the shield in his hand spun rapidly. Whoosh! It transformed into a fishing net-like object, and chains instantly enveloped the Darkback Turtle, locking it firmly within. This Pseudo-God realm weapon actually wasn't fixed in form; it could change!

"This is bad..."

Elder Feng Qian was filled with anxiety. They had spent nearly a month preparing, intending to kill this massive creature in one strike, but they never dreamed it would be snatched away by someone else.

"Don't worry," Zhang Xuan said with a smile, comforting him. "If the Darkback Turtle could be captured so easily, it would have died long ago..."

Before his words had fully faded, the Darkback Turtle opened its mouth, and the silver diamond crystal it had just swallowed reappeared before them. It glowed even more brilliantly. Rumble! The ground tremors intensified, and giant waves, hundreds of meters high, surged on the sea surface. This creature could not only swallow crystals but also had a way to make them even more dazzling, absorbing greater mineral power.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! As the ground shook violently, the silver-leaf ephemera on the sea surface became even more frenzied. They swarmed over, completely enveloping the Darkback Turtle and the crystal in the blink of an eye.

"This is bad..."

Seeing the tide of ephemera surge forward, Bai Xuansheng's expression changed. "Get lost!" He slapped his large hand forward, while simultaneously grasping with his other palm, attempting to retract the chains binding the Darkback Turtle. However, he found the turtle was isolated by the ephemera, seemingly beyond his perception. Clatter! The Pseudo-God realm weapon lost its effect, falling from the Darkback Turtle and sinking towards the seabed.

"Elder Liu, what's going on...?" This time, not only was Elder Feng Qian confused, but Sect Leader Kui Xiao was also stunned. A Pseudo-God realm weapon already possessed its own consciousness, making it immensely powerful. How could it lose its effectiveness and be unable to trap anyone just by being stuck by these ephemera? It couldn't even fly anymore?

"No matter how powerful a weapon is, it's refined from metal, and the chains in his hand are no different! Silver-leaf ephemera appear to be living creatures, but their bodies contain a very high metal attribute; otherwise, they wouldn't emit a silvery light, like mirrors!" Zhang Xuan explained with a smile. "These creatures are tiny, yet they can emit a special magnetic field for communication, which is why they can form an organized formation. Any weapon, once approached, will have its spirit-form instantly severed from its connection by this magnetic field, no matter how powerful, thus becoming inert! The Darkback Turtle must have known this all along, which is why it deliberately lured this fellow here, intending to kill two birds with one stone!"

Both men trembled simultaneously. They had thought these were just ordinary ephemera, never imagining that even a Pseudo-God realm weapon would lose its effectiveness when surrounded. If they charged in, would their vital points also be blocked, rendering them powerless?

"No wonder it's said that those unfamiliar with marine life should never provoke them; so that's why..." With a pale face, Sect Leader Kui Xiao couldn't help but shake his head. The Sea of Chasing Stars was no less dangerous than the City of Emptying Traps, with countless legends surrounding it. He had thought that reaching the Pseudo-God realm meant he had nothing to fear, but it now seemed that no matter how strong one's cultivation, caution was still necessary. A slight misstep could lead to one's demise!

As an immortal beast native to the ocean, the Darkback Turtle naturally knew these things, which was why it deliberately lured Sect Leader Bai Xuansheng here, baiting him into using his weapon, then defeating him in one fell swoop!

"By the way, Elder Feng Qian, please break open this hidden spatial formation..." Zhang Xuan's voice continued. Elder Feng Qian was startled and was about to nod in agreement when he saw the young man across from him shake his head. "There's no time; I'll do it myself..."

With that, he stepped forward and stomped his foot on the ground. Above the hidden spatial formation, a massive vortex immediately appeared, just like when they had entered earlier. Elder Feng Qian's eyebrows shot up, and his mouth hung open, unable to close. He had poured countless efforts into setting up this formation; even with the token in hand, he couldn't stop it instantly. Yet, the young man, with nothing, merely stomped his foot, and it ceased operation... Could it be... that it was also deciphered?

Before his shock could subside, the young man before him reached upwards. The Pseudo-God realm weapon, the descending chain, vanished the next moment. "Activate!" After taking the chains, he stomped his foot again, and the spatial formation resumed operation. The three of them vanished from the seabed once more.

"He... he stole the Pseudo-God realm weapon?" Elder Feng Qian and Sect Leader Kui Xiao exchanged glances, blinking. Taking a Pseudo-God realm weapon just like that would completely offend the Profound Mirror Sect to death! Moreover, the crucial point was: could a storage ring truly hold a weapon of this caliber? Even if it could be put in, if the weapon didn't want to be there, it could surely break free from the ring and escape instantly!

It wasn't just them who couldn't believe it; Sect Leader Bai Xuansheng above was absolutely furious. His weapon going out of control was already maddening, but he never dared to imagine that the people below would simply take it without any hesitation! This weapon was acquired by his Profound Mirror Sect at immense cost, even going so far as to violate previous vows. To have it taken away just like that... he nearly went insane on the spot.

"Who are you, exactly? Give it back to me!" He roared, about to charge towards the seabed. The opponent's spatial formation opened and closed in an instant; even with his cultivation, he only saw a giant hand and couldn't clearly discern who was hidden inside. However, no matter who it was, anyone who dared to steal his weapon had to die!

As he tried to rush over, the Darkback Turtle wouldn't let him have his way. After going to such lengths to plot the destruction of the Pseudo-God realm weapon, it charged fiercely without further hesitation. This time, before even reaching him, its head retracted into its shell. Crack! The thick turtle shell collided with Sect Leader Bai Xuansheng. With just one hit, his face turned pale, several ribs shattered, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Although both were in the Pseudo-God realm and Bai Xuansheng's cultivation was even slightly higher, he still couldn't withstand such a direct impact!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Having succeeded with one strike, the Darkback Turtle continued to ram him. Sect Leader Bai Xuansheng retreated continuously, his immortal power surging in his chest as he desperately tried to block the attacks. Just as he finally managed to block a series of attacks and felt a moment of relief, his vision suddenly blurred. A gleaming crystal instantly appeared before him, dazzling his eyes.

"This is bad..." His soul nearly fled in fright. Sect Leader Bai Xuansheng had just begun to retreat, but it was already too late; the surrounding ephemera had already swarmed him. He instantly felt his protective immortal power being completely devoured, and countless silver insects filled the acupoints all over his body. "My power..." With his acupoints blocked, like an engine unable to take in oxygen, no matter how powerful, it was useless. His body swayed involuntarily and began to fall from mid-air.

At this moment, the Darkback Turtle rammed him again. Bai Xuansheng quickly raised his hands to meet it. Crack! Crack! His arms shattered, and his face turned ashen. The dignified Pseudo-God realm expert plunged headfirst into the seabed, creating a massive crater and splashing countless amounts of mud.