108: Sea creatures change shape, their thoughts hidden.

Outside the Stone Cave, the sky was gloomy and the sea wind wailed, bringing an inescapable fishy saltiness and deathly silence.

Li Yinglong was the first to step out of the cave. His black robe moved without wind. Although he had tried his best to restrain his aura, after being tempered by the true-dragon finger bone, his life essence had leaped forward. That imposing majesty, steady as a mountain and heavy as the earth, was already etched into his bones and blood, making people feel awestruck at the sight of him.

Song Shuyao, Song Shuwen, and Li Changxing followed closely behind. The expressions of the three still carried the shock and a bit of daze from their experience in the cave just now.

However, as soon as they stepped out of the cave entrance, the scene before them caused their gazes to freeze.

The various hideous Sea Demons that had originally been densely packed across the rocky beach, roaring and eager to devour anyone, were now actually retreating like a tide!

They no longer pounced frantically, but instead showed a state of extreme terror and restless agitation.

Those bodies covered in scales or slimy skin trembled. Their twisted heads constantly turned toward the cave, and their compound eyes flickered with an incomprehensible light of fear. They emitted bursts of low, anxious wails and roars, as if they had encountered an existence that made them shudder from their life instincts.

"What... what's wrong with them?"

Song Shuwen gripped the punch blades in his hands, which had a faint flow of the True Fire of the Sun. His sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he was full of vigilance.

Li Changxing's crimson eyes swept over the demon crowd, and his nostrils flared slightly. That strange sensation originating from deep within his Bloodline toward this sinister energy had already disappeared. He said in a deep voice:

"They seem to be afraid... afraid of us?"

There was also a hint of uncertainty in his tone.

Song Shuyao's Taiyin Spiritual Sense was keen, capturing more details. She spoke coldly:

"It's not that they are afraid of us, it's more like... they've lost their target, or... a higher-order pressure has dispersed their chaotic instincts. The sinister energy within them is becoming quiet and dissipated."

Li Yinglong stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze like lightning, instantly understanding the key point.

That dark purple source of sinister energy was attracted and mutated by the faint residual Origin aura of the true-dragon finger bone. Now that the finger bone had been completely refined and integrated by him, the source's \"anchor\" had disappeared.

Moreover, Li Changxing had swallowed and absorbed the purest strand of energy, turning it into his own resources.

For these Sea Demons driven by energy and acting on instinct, this place had lost all meaning for them to gather and go wild.

"The nest is empty, the throne has changed hands, so the ants naturally scatter."

Li Yinglong's voice was calm, yet it carried an indifference that saw through the essence of things.

"The entanglement with this place is over. Let's go."

Before his voice had finished fading, as if to prove his words, a burst of even more chaotic shrieks erupted from the Sea Demon crowd. They no longer hesitated and turned around one after another, scrambling to plunge into the turbid, surging waves, fleeing toward the deep sea without looking back, as if being a step slower would result in total destruction.

In just over a dozen breaths, the demon tide that had originally made one's scalp tingle had retreated completely, leaving only the empty rocky beach covered in messy slime, and the monotonous echo of waves hitting the rock walls.

Everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief and was about to leave when Li Yinglong suddenly sensed a continuous slight vibration coming from beneath his feet.

At the same time, Song Shuyao also seemed to have perceived something:

"The seawater... is rising?"

Looking out, the large area of tidal flats and reefs revealed when the demon crowd retreated was being rapidly swallowed by the surging seawater at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Not only that, the entire island seemed to have lost some kind of support and was slowly sinking!

Some smaller reefs at the edges had already submerged underwater, stirring up whirlpools and foam.

"The island is going to sink!"

Li Changxing shouted in a low voice.

He had fought in the deep sea for many years and was extremely sensitive to changes in sea conditions.

Li Yinglong understood instantly.

This archipelago had originally been \"uplifted\" from the deep sea due to the interaction between the sinister energy and the true-dragon finger bone. Now that the core was gone and the energy had dissipated, it naturally had to return to its original position—the deep seabed.

"Prepare to leave this place."

Li Yinglong made an immediate decision.

However, at this moment, the cold System prompt suddenly rang in his Sea of Consciousness:

"[Warning: Detected that the geological unit where the host is located is undergoing structural subsidence and is about to submerge below sea level.]"},{

"[Emergency scanning of environmental substances... Scan complete.]"},{

"[Discovery: The surrounding reef rocks have been eroded and infiltrated by unknown high-concentration heterologous energy (now dissipated) for a long time. The internal structure has mutated, significantly improving Spiritual Qi conductivity. The upper limit for bearing Five Elements technique power exceeds ordinary Materials by 37.5%-58.3%, and the properties tend to be stable. They can serve as excellent [Basic Artifact Refining Materials] or [Low-grade Formation Base Materials].]"},{

"[Suggestion: Collect samples immediately. The reserves are abundant and have certain strategic reserve value.]"},{

Li Yinglong's gaze suddenly froze, sweeping over those black, slippery, and seemingly ordinary reefs.

He didn't expect to have such an unexpected gain!

The Family was newly established, and both Artifact Refining and Formations were weak points, lacking various basic resources.

These Materials, which had undergone natural \"tempering,\" were exactly what was needed!

Time was pressing and did not allow for detailed thought.

He immediately flicked his sleeve, pointing toward several reefs of moderate size, dark color, and faint residual energy fluctuations, and issued orders at a rapid pace:

"Shuwen, Changxing, work together to strike those reefs and take their core fragments! Shuyao, use cold Qi to slightly freeze and shape them, then collect them quickly!"

"Yes!"

Although the three did not understand the deep meaning, they did not hesitate at all in executing the Clan Chief's orders.

Song Shuwen gave a low shout, and the True Fire of the Sun condensed on his fist. A scorching fist wind struck out with a bang!

Li Changxing exerted force almost at the same time, his fists, which had drunk their fill of demon blood and possessed majestic power, smashed down fiercely!

"Boom! Crack!"

The reefs shattered, and debris flew!

Grand Yin Clear Radiance flowed from Song Shuyao's fingertips, and cold Qi gushed out, quickly passing over those shattered stone blocks that faintly revealed a dull luster inside, instantly freezing the water vapor on their surfaces to make them solid, preventing them from completely scattering due to internal stress.

Li Yinglong simultaneously waved his hand, and the mouths of several empty Storage Pouches already prepared at his waist opened. A suction force surged out, drawing all those dark reef fragments of various sizes, which had been temporarily solidified by the cold Qi, into the bags.

The entire process took only seven or eight breaths!

The vibrations beneath their feet became increasingly violent. The seawater had already reached their ankles, larger waves began to crash up, and the sound of the island's edges collapsing and falling was incessant.

"Go!"

At Li Yinglong's command, the four no longer lingered. Their figures turned into four streaks of light, soaring into the sky and racing toward the direction they had come from.

Behind them, the strange archipelago that had just experienced a thrilling exploration and harvest slowly sank into the ink-blue deep sea amidst a roar and towering waves. Finally, only a few huge whirlpools remained, rotating slowly and then calming down, as if everything had never existed... A few days later, the Overseas Immortal Island was visible in the distance.

At the pier, Li Qingzhu, who had received the signal, had already been waiting anxiously with her people.

Seeing the four return safely, although they were travel-worn and Li Yinglong's aura was even more unfathomable, everyone's hanging hearts finally settled.

"Uncle!"

Li Qingzhu stepped forward, her eyes full of concern and inquiry.

"It's fine."

Li Yinglong waved his hand, his tone steady:

"The root of the mutation has been removed, so there should be no major issues in the short term. However, the sea area is treacherous; we cannot let our guard down. We need to strengthen our vigilance and wait and see."

He turned his gaze to Song Shuyao and Song Shuwen and instructed:

"Shuyao, Shuwen, the two of you have unique Cultivation Techniques and keen spiritual senses. From today on, the matter of patrolling and guarding will rely heavily on you two. You can take turns keeping watch at the highest point on the island to sense any Spiritual Qi abnormalities in the sea. If there's any movement, warn us immediately."

Song Shuyao and Song Shuwen looked at each other and bowed together:

"We follow your orders, and we will certainly not fail the Clan Chief's trust!"

They knew the responsibility was heavy and had solemn expressions.

Li Yinglong nodded slightly and said to Li Qingzhu:

"Qingzhu, allocate resources for the two of them to ensure they have no worries while on patrol."

"I understand."

Li Qingzhu nodded solemnly.

With the arrangements made, Li Yinglong's gaze finally fell on the silent Li Changxing nearby.

He walked over slowly and led him to a quiet place nearby.

The sea wind blew, lifting Li Yinglong's jet-black hair and revealing those eyes as deep as a sea of stars beneath.

"Changxing,"

He lowered his voice, speaking with gravity:

"Your Physique is special, and this encounter's outcome is hard to predict. Although that energy seems to have been absorbed by you, its source is treacherous. You must constantly look within yourself and keep your Spirit Platform clear. If there is any slight discomfort or feeling of being unable to control it, no matter how small, you must inform me immediately without any concealment. Do you understand?"

Li Changxing felt the deep concern and solemnity in the Clan Chief's words. His heart warmed, and he nodded vigorously, his eyes pure and determined:

"Rest assured, Clan Chief! I know what's important! I will definitely stay alert at all times and won't try to be a hero!"

Li Yinglong gazed at his young and energetic face, sensing the majestic Bloodline power within him that the System could not completely analyze. After a moment of silence, he finally raised his hand and patted his shoulder heavily.

The System still could not investigate the reason for his Physique; he could only rely on himself.

Everything went without saying.

The sound of the sea waves seemed to foretell that the road ahead was still full of unknowns and challenges.