Chapter 653: Chapter 288: Nine-Headed Bird, Refining a Forbidden Technique

Deep within the cold mysterious sea.

Xu Guang stands alongside Yan Ruge in an abandoned palace.

Looking at the somewhat chaotic forbidden technique before them, it seems shattered, yet contains hints of new life.

Xu Guang frowned slightly and said softly, "This mysterious sea... something’s off! It feels like it’s nurturing something."

Yan Ruge’s expression was equally solemn.

"Have you noticed something? We’ve been here for quite a while and have vaguely understood the forces within the mysterious sea, yet... there seems to be no Saints."

"From what I know for sure, at least four Saints have fallen here in the past thousand years. Why do you think there’s no legend of them in the mysterious sea?"

Thinking about it in detail, Xu Guang felt a slight sense of dread in his heart.

"Do you mean...those Saints are already dead?"

Yan Ruge’s eyes were inexplicable, as if he had thought of something, and said in a low voice.

"If the news you obtained that day during soul refining is true, coupled with the situation of the sea creatures over the years, I have an extremely bold speculation..."

"The sea tribe has destroyed many holy lands over the years, and everyone always thought they were simply targeting humans. But I suddenly thought of a common point. Before those holy lands were annihilated, their core disciples were all reputed to have the... bearing of a Saint!"

"Are you saying the sea tribe... is using the mysterious sea to nurture Saints?"

Xu Guang’s tone was somewhat astringent; he didn’t expect Yan Ruge’s speculation to be so bold.

The mysterious sea that makes the entire vast ocean look away seems to be... a giant breeding ground for the sea tribe to cultivate Saint Realm cauldrons?

This is too terrifying.

If this matter spreads, it would shake the entire world.

Yan Ruge shook his head slightly, "I’m not sure, but there are too many coincidences."

"No, this matter needs confirmation."

...

Yan Ruge truly had many methods. Upon knowing Xu Guang’s Soul Blood Pursuing Soul Order was locked, he thought of a Daoist technique capable of somewhat alleviating Xu Guang’s current predicament.

Named "Thousand Phantom Water Breath Technique," the core is to use one’s Source Qi to simulate the surrounding Water Element and chaotic will, achieving a "seemingly water but not water, seemingly demon but not demon" concealing effect.

Within ten miles, unless deliberately scanned by a Second Nirvana Divine Soul investigator, it would be difficult to see through.

Beyond a hundred miles, a First Nirvana Realm Divine Thought is akin to seeing flowers in the fog.

After a hundred days, Xu Guang directly spent Experience Points to raise this Daoist technique to Level 10.

The consumption is roughly similar to a First Grade Cultivation Technique, which is no big deal for him currently.

After making some preparations, Xu Guang operated the technique, his whole body’s bones emitted a subtle crackling sound, and his features became hazy.

Then, it was fixed on a sinister face, with fine scales on the cheeks, a demon’s aura reduced to an ordinary First Grade level, blending invisibly among the demon crowd.

Yan Ruge also transformed into a weakly breathing, colorful fish demon, completely concealing vitality with the Starlight Secret Technique.

They stealthily headed towards a large demon gathering place where they had heard there might be clues to the "Sea Eye Altar"—"Dark Abyss City."

Dark Abyss City is not a city in the traditional sense but was built relying on a natural cave of a huge underwater mountain range, with various demons mixed together, where the law of the jungle is vividly demonstrated.

There are many remnants of ancient, abandoned palaces in the city, which seem to be part of that lost civilization.

With the Thousand Phantom Water Breath Technique, Xu Guang blended into the city, carefully seeking information about Saints.

From there, Xu Guang and Yan Ruge learned a lot about the mysterious sea.

The mysterious sea is not very large; its four corners are shrouded in fog. Crossing the fog does not allow one to leave the mysterious sea but will result in appearing on the opposite side.

Over the years, no one thinks about leaving anymore.

The entire Dark Abyss City is controlled by demons and humans together, with three hundred thousand demons and over sixty thousand human cultivators.

There are thirty-six Second Nirvana demons and Fifth Realm cultivators, using Dark Abyss City as their center, firmly controlling the entire mysterious sea.

From some unofficial stories, Xu Guang learned that it’s not that no one has left the mysterious sea, but some Great Demon Kings were helped by the sea tribe to leave in the past.

It’s impossible to verify the truth of this, but everyone says that there are means in the Demon King’s cave that can communicate with the outside world.

"Yet living in the mysterious sea isn’t so bad; there are no Void Beasts, no need to worry about danger, as long as you comply with the arrangements of the Demon King and those Great Cultivators, you can survive."

Said an old snake demon sitting in a corner of Dark Abyss City.

This demon is lustful, and Xu Guang used Tao Gu to seduce, easily extracting information from its mouth.

"Having lived this long, what do you think is in those Demon King’s caves? Something that can communicate with the outside world."

Tao Gu quickly asked softly, her tone coquettish.

The old snake demon looked at her lecherously, licking his lips.

Tao Gu handed him a ribbon again, "This is my treasure worn for thirty years."

The snake demon snatched it, placing it against his nose, tasting it with a serpentine tongue, relishing the scent deeply.

"That’s the smell! If I weren’t old, little girl, I would definitely take you as a concubine."

Tao Gu endured her disgust, speaking coyly, "Please tell me, I love hearing these stories from experienced people like you."

"I don’t mind telling you, the mysterious sea has many abandoned palaces, each with forbidden techniques. Yet as long as the forbidden techniques within those Great Demon King’s caves can be used, they can connect to the legendary ’Sea Eye,’ where lies the secret to Sainthood!"

The old snake demon said mysteriously.

...

There are many Second Nirvana experts in Dark Abyss City; it’s not a place to linger for long.

Outside the city, Xu Guang looked at Yan Ruge, "Everything seems to be heading in the direction you speculated."