Watching Daoist Blue Smoke walk away, Ye Feiyang finally let out a breath.
That man was strong, at least, that was the impression he gave. Ye Feiyang couldn’t sense his cultivation level at all.
By now, dawn had started to break. A pale light spread across the eastern horizon, casting the first rays of sunlight onto the world.
Blue Water Fort activated its formations, and the floating sea homes slowly began drifting again, starting a new journey back toward the Eastern Continent.
It was time for Xu Zimo and the others to leave.
As he watched the silhouette of the sea dwellings gradually fade, Xu Zimo knew these people would continue traveling the Endless Sky Sea for the rest of their lives.
Eventually, perhaps only one in ten would survive, and only after completing the full circle around the Primordial Heartlands would their journey be done.
“Can you take us to the Blood Race now?” Xu Zimo asked Shi Yan.
“Stick close to me. Although the Blood Race resides within the Nether Blood Sea, even we don’t dare go too deep,” Shi Yan warned.
The group boarded a ship and, under Shi Yan’s guidance, sailed north.
After about half an hour of travel, the ship stopped in a quiet section of the sea.
Xu Zimo looked around but didn’t notice anything unusual.
Then, Shi Yan began forming hand seals, some ancient and complex gesture.
As his hands moved, ripples spread across the surface of the sea.
The ocean began to churn violently.
“Water Drawing Technique,” Xu Zimo muttered. “The Blood Race really does know how to hide.”
As the churning intensified, the innermost layer of water revealed itself, blood red in color.
It looked like actual blood, emitting a strong stench of rot.
The blood felt sinister, evil, and violent, as if it carried all the world’s filth within it.
Thick and sticky, it flowed ominously.
“This is the entrance to the Nether Blood Sea?” the Divine Emperor asked.
“There are many entrances. This is just one of them,” Shi Yan explained.
As the blood sea was revealed, the surface roiled, and strange howling echoed from within.
“The blood sea is corrosive. Stay close,” Shi Yan reminded.
He waved his hand again, and the seal he had just formed enlarged dozens of times in the air and extended into the blood sea.
It turned into a stream of light that briefly parted the sea.
The three followed Shi Yan and jumped into the sea. The glowing seal wrapped around them, shielding them from the blood.
To Xu Zimo’s surprise, the thick blood surrounding them was completely blocked off.
Clearly, the Blood Race had studied this sea for generations.
Their vision was heavily impaired by the deep red waters.
Still, Xu Zimo could faintly make out the surroundings. There were many strange creatures living in this blood sea.
Octo-snakes, blood turtles, and swarms of killing fish.
All filthy beasts that fed on corpses and rot.
These creatures didn’t attack them, likely used to their presence. They swam by without fear.
Following Shi Yan’s lead, they headed north, and soon buildings began to appear in the distance.
Massive structures, sharp mountain peaks that pierced the deep sea like giant swords.
There were giants chained to the seabed, pushing mountains as they trudged forward.
There were fountains of blood erupting into the sea, where countless Blood Race members sat, meditating.
The Nether Blood Sea stretched endlessly, and the Blood Race’s territory was just as vast.
“I’ll take you to the Divine Blood Lineage first, then we’ll plan the rest,” Shi Yan said.
“Looks like your Blood Race has grown quite a bit,” Xu Zimo said with interest.
“When we first arrived here, we clung to a small corner. But once we adapted to the environment, we kept expanding,” Shi Yan explained.
As they chatted, they followed Shi Yan to the base of a mountain.
Thanks to Shi Yan, none of the Blood Race members along the way noticed anything unusual.
Just as humans struggle to identify Blood Race in disguise, the Blood Race likewise can't easily recognize humans, unless someone enters battle mode, revealing their true form.
……
The mountain they approached looked ancient. Its cliffs were steep, and the rocky slopes were jagged.
Signs of a great battle scarred the area, and the mountain seemed ready to collapse at any moment.
“Since the fall of our Divine Blood Lineage, most of our territory was taken by the other two lineages,” Shi Yan said quietly.
“All that’s left is this abandoned mountain, where the few of us remaining survive.”
The four climbed the mountain, and with their cultivation, it only took a few minutes to reach mid-slope.
The area felt desolate, no one in sight.
“Chun’er, where are you?” Shi Yan called out.
Moments later, a group of children came running out from the rock walls on both sides.
There were dozens of them. Their faces were pale and thin, clearly suffering from long-term malnutrition.
They called out “Brother Shi Yan” with joy, but their eyes quickly turned wary as they spotted Xu Zimo and the others.
“And these are?” Ye Feiyang asked grimly.
“They’re the children who survived the battle. They didn’t fight back then, they’re the descendants left behind,” Shi Yan explained.
“The elders really disappointed me,” Ye Feiyang said. “No matter what, they’re still part of the same race.”
“So what if they are? Humans fight among themselves far more cruelly than we do. These kids are lucky to be alive,” Shi Yan replied with a sigh.
He seemed to have come to terms with it. Complaining wouldn't help.
After settling the children, the group gathered in a hidden cave along the mountainside.
“What exactly are you here for?” Shi Yan asked.
“The Myriad Dao Red Lotus,” the Divine Emperor said directly.
“You’ve got quite the appetite. That’s our race’s sacred treasure,” Shi Yan said, surprised.
“It’s just a fragment of the Myriad Dao Lotus. That counts as a sacred treasure?” Xu Zimo frowned.
He remembered the Azure Lotus of the True Martial Sacred Ground, it was placed in the Sword-Washing Pool, nothing too important.
“Do you know where we are?” Shi Yan smiled.
“The Nether Blood Sea,” the God Emperor replied with a frown.
“Wait… the Nether Blood Sea… the Myriad Dao Red Lotus…”
Seeing the look on the God Emperor’s face, Shi Yan chuckled, “You get it now, don’t you?”
“No wonder you all came to the Nether Blood Sea. Everyone thought you were afraid of Sword God Sacred Ground,” Xu Zimo said with sudden realization.
“Turns out you had a bigger plan all along.”