"What? That piece of empty cloud crystal was swallowed whole by that sea beast," Han Li found it hard to believe. "Indeed. Back then, that sea beast relied on the sea tides to generate wind and waves, enabling it to reach the teleportation array and even swallow half of it whole—the empty cloud crystal was among those swallowed. At the time, the beast had already departed from this sea region. However, over a hundred years ago, people discovered it again deep in the southern seas. Among the十余 upper-clan members who made the discovery, only two managed to escape; the rest all perished. For decades thereafter, our people have repeatedly gathered forces in attempts to defeat this beast. Yet it possesses extraordinary powers and is exceptionally cunning. When we were numerous, it would hide deep beneath the sea, never showing itself. When we were few, it would launch attacks on isolated individuals. In fact, I've lost many of my own people in these efforts." Qing Xiao sighed, speaking with a touch of resignation. "What specific powers does this beast possess that make it so difficult to deal with?" Han Li's eyes flashed with a look of surprise. By common sense, no matter how advanced the sea creature's cultivation level, if pursued by a group of cultivators, it would surely be overwhelmed and eliminated. "We have not yet identified the exact species of this creature—it appears to be a mutated sea beast. From a distance, it resembles a giant whale, yet it can freely adjust its size, growing larger or smaller at will. Moreover, its water-based teleportation technique has been mutated and strengthened, allowing it to traverse thousands of li in mere moments across the sea. Even if we push it to the brink of exhaustion, as soon as it activates this ability, it can easily break free from our encirclement and escape. Thus, we cannot truly contain it. Furthermore, this creature is exceptionally fierce. Aside from Master Yin Sha, the foremost cultivator in our region, no one else dares to face it alone." The woman furrowed her brows, clearly expressing her own frustration. Upon hearing this, Han Li's initial sense of optimism faded, and he found himself equally at a loss. Yet, after a moment's reflection, he hesitated and asked with doubt. "After all these years, has that hollow cloud crystal remained intact within the sea beast's body? Haven't you already absorbed or refined it by now?" "Please rest assured, Master Han. The hollow cloud crystal possesses spatial properties and can only be destroyed by an attack of equal spatial power. Though this sea beast has a diverse set of attributes, it does not naturally possess spatial abilities. This fact, which we have confirmed through our prolonged pursuit over the years, is certain." The woman spoke with great confidence. Staying this long in the deep sea would surely prove fatal for me unless my abilities increase tenfold. Yet, if I wish to return to the original continent, I must first journey to the nearest Thunderclap Continent—only there can I find a continental-scale teleportation array. Your repeated efforts to secure that sea beast are, in fact, aimed at restoring such an array, aren't they?" Han Li stroked his chin, speaking calmly. "Indeed, your words are most accurate! Though the spiritual meridians in this region remain viable, certain medicinal herbs and auxiliary materials used in cultivation have grown exceedingly scarce. Many practitioners are stuck at their developmental thresholds, unable to make further progress. Within a few thousand years, even the remaining pills and elixirs here will likely dwindle to mere handfuls. If you truly intend to pursue this sea beast, why not join us in our efforts together?" The woman paused, smiled, and then continued with a sincere tone: "I shall not conceal this from you. I have now left my abode because the foremost figure of this region, Master Silver Shark, wishes to assemble a new team to eliminate that sea beast. In fact, when I came to pay my respects to you, I originally also intended to extend an invitation. "Should you truly succeed in restoring the transmission array, I would naturally be willing to join forces with you." Master Han smiled, responding without much deliberation. "Rest assured, Master, we neither lack the necessary materials nor the array specialists. As long as we obtain the Empty Cloud Crystal, we can fully restore the array to its original condition." Qing Xiao was overjoyed upon hearing this. "That would be ideal!" Master Han nodded in agreement. "With your assistance this time, we are likely to succeed. Master Silver Shark has already arranged for a gathering at Blue Lake Island in the southern region, four months from now, where we will then proceed together to seek out the sea beast. If you are indeed interested, simply take this Silver Shark Seal and proceed." Qing Xiao flipped her hand, producing a bright silver seal, and presented it to him. Han Li raised a single hand, and the token instantly flashed, coming into his grasp. He bowed slightly and studied it closely. The token shone with a uniform silvery luster, as though forged entirely of pure silver, with a large, prominent character "Shark" engraved upon its surface. Han Li showed no unusual expression, and simply tucked the token away. Seeing that Han Li had agreed so readily, Qing Xiao felt particularly delighted. After chatting with him a little longer, she finally rose with respectful grace and bid him farewell. As the young woman transformed into a streak of white light and shot upward through the courtyard, the wooden cottage briefly re-illuminated with a spell's glow, and the wooden door slowly closed. Two months later, a clear, resonant roar rose from the foot of the small mountain, continuous and unbroken, echoing all the way to the heavens. Nearly every member of the Huyang Snake Clan on the island heard the sound, regardless of their rank or status, each of them turning in surprise toward the mountain. A woman who had been discussing matters with several high-ranking snake clan members in the hall paused, her expression shifting, and stepped out into the courtyard, where she too turned toward the small mountain. Her gaze flickered, her expression shifting uncertainly. After a moment, the long roar suddenly ceased. Then a streak of jade light surged forth from below the mountain, flashing into place at a great height, before spiraling outward toward the edge of the island. Not long afterward, the jade light appeared on the sea surface some thousand li from Fire Cloud Island, moving steadily southward without pause. Han Lin, in the midst of the flowing light, remained expressionless, steadily adjusting the speed of their journey while silently pondering his own plans. If he could successfully unite the people of this region and eliminate the sea beast, he would then proceed to Lei Ming Continent, and later seek another way back to Feng Yuan Continent. Should that prove unsuccessful, he would have to remain in this region temporarily, either waiting for future opportunities or continuing his pursuit of the sea beast. After all, with the small vial he carried and the abundant medicinal herbs at his side, he could sustain his cultivation for a considerable time. Still, that was all! It had been such a long time since he had stepped out of the Human race—really,韩立 didn't know what the current state of the Human race was like. Had there been a great battle against allied forces of other ethnic groups? Was Tianyuan City still safe and sound? Though he had only stayed in Tianyuan City for a relatively short time, as a member of the Human race, he absolutely did not want to see his people face a total catastrophe. However, one of the main reasons he longed to return to the Human race was his deep concern about Nangong Wan's possible ascension to the Spiritual Realm. Although it was expected that Nangong Wan would also utilize the power of the nodes to reach the Spiritual Realm, it was unlikely that this would happen in the near future. Yet, no one could be absolutely certain about such matters. What if, unexpectedly, his beloved wife had encountered some special fortune and advanced to the stage of Spiritual Transformation within a short time, already appearing among the Human race? With his current level of cultivation and abilities, he would be fully capable of standing independently within the Human race and directly protecting Nangong Wan. Simply thinking of his beloved wife's appearance and demeanor, even someone as composed and But shortly thereafter, he calmed his mind and focused fully on his journey. This time, the progress far exceeded韩立's expectations. Aside from slaying two unruly spirit birds along the way, he encountered not a single sea creature. After more than a month, following the sea map, he finally reached a previously unfamiliar sea region. Now, as he sped forward, he cast his spiritual awareness across the surface of the water. According to the map, he should have arrived near the so-called "Blue Lake Island." Yet, from a distance, the surrounding sea appeared utterly empty—no trace of any island was visible.韩立 found this slightly puzzling. However, after flying forward another hundred miles, his expression suddenly changed, and he adjusted his direction, accelerating his speed. Within just a meal's time,韩立 found himself immersed in a strange sea region. The weather abruptly shifted, and heavy snow began to fall over the sea—countless white snowflakes whistled through the cold wind, creating a sensation of piercing cold. Yet strangely, the sea surface below showed no sign of being frozen, instead subtly rising with a steady stream of warm vapor. As the cold and warm air currents intertwined and swirled, the white sea mist gradually thickened. After flying through the wind and snow for some distance, Han Li reached out into the void and grasped a stream of seawater, which was surprisingly hot—remarkably warm. His eyebrows arched slightly as he glanced toward the increasingly dense white mist in the distance, yet his flight did not cease; instead, he flashed forward, deeper into the mist. As Han Li progressed, the wind and snow above grew ever colder, while the sea below grew increasingly scalding, as if boiling. In some spots, the water even bubbled gently with a hissing sound. Yet Han Li paid no attention to this odd phenomenon, simply continuing straight ahead through the mist. After flying through the mist for several dozen li, his vision suddenly cleared, and the mist vanished entirely. A luminous, translucent island emerged on the sea ahead. The wind and snow in the sky had ceased, yet the air had grown three degrees colder than before. The sea began to freeze, forming a thin layer of ice on its surface, with no trace of warmth or steam left. Han Li didn't hesitate; he spurred his flight and instantly shot straight toward the island. From a distance, the island appeared substantial, even larger than the Huoyang Clan's Huayun Island by several times. This island must indeed be the one marked as "Bluelake Island" on the sea chart. With Han Li's swift flight, he reached the island's edge in mere eyeblinks. Yet, before he could enter the island, a deep, resonant roar suddenly erupted from within its depths. Upon hearing the roar, Han Li's face instantly paled, and his blood surged with a vibrant, boiling energy.