358: Chapter 358 Fierce Battle at Sea

Killing all the way and sneaking along, the seven people gradually went deeper into the Star Sea.

After traveling hundreds of miles, huge dark shadows began to appear in the seawater ahead.

Some of those dark shadows were like small mountains, some like pavilions, and some stretched for miles like a field of ruins. As they drew closer, everyone finally saw the true face of those shadows—they were the wreckage of sunken ships.

Those sunken ships were incredibly massive; the smallest were dozens of zhang long, while the largest reached hundreds of zhang. Their hulls were already rotten beyond repair; some had only a skeleton left, with the keel exposed and covered in rust, while others were relatively well-preserved, still showing the gorgeous carvings of the past, with various star patterns carved on the gunwales and the bases of some masts remaining on the decks.

Those sunken ships were covered in various seaweeds and corals, becoming habitats for schools of fish. Schools of fish of all colors darted through the cabins, sea turtles lay on the decks sunbathing, and some small sea beasts even built nests among the wreckage.

"These are..." Chu Lan said in surprise.

Su Ning looked at the sunken ships, a complex expression flashing in her eyes: "They should be Star Clan ships from back then. The Star Sea is the ancestral land of the Star Clan; they lived here for countless years, so there would definitely be many buildings and ships. These sunken ships must have sunk during that great war."

The group continued forward, seeing more and more sunken ships along the way. Besides the sunken ships, there were also various architectural ruins—collapsed stone pillars, broken statues, and remaining walls. The Star Clan's unique star patterns were vaguely visible on those buildings; although eroded by time, they still emitted a faint light.

Some stone pillars were carved with exquisite patterns, depicting scenes of Star Clan ancestors communicating with the stars; although some statues were incomplete, one could still see the figure of a person looking up at the starry sky; some walls still had characters remaining, and although Su Ning couldn't recognize them all, she could feel the vicissitudes of time contained within them.

"We're almost there." Su Ning looked at the Spatial Crystal in her hand; its light grew brighter and more intense, almost illuminating her palm.

Finally, a massive island appeared ahead.

That island was suspended in the sea; rather than an island, it was more like a giant star fragment. It was composed entirely of silver crystals and emitted a brilliant light, illuminating the surrounding dozens of miles of sea area. The bottom of the island was rooted deep into the seabed, its depth unknown; the top was exposed above the sea surface, shining brightly under the starlight.

The island was covered with ruins of various buildings—grand temples, towering pagodas, wide squares, and winding streets. Although those buildings were dilapidated, one could still see the glory of the past. Although most of the temple's columns had collapsed, the remaining few were still tall, with the star patterns on the columns clearly visible. Although only half of the pagoda remained, that half still stood tall, as if telling of the Star Clan's former glory. Although the square was overgrown with seaweed, its former flatness and breadth were still evident.

"The Star Clan's ancestral land..." Su Ning murmured, her eyes filled with shock.

She could almost see the bustling scenes that once existed on this island countless years ago. Star Clan Cultivators exchanged Spells on the square, sacrificed to their ancestors in the temple, and observed the stars from the pagoda. Those sounds of laughter, those devout prayers, and that awe and longing for the stars had all vanished with that great war.

But soon, her shock was replaced by vigilance.

Because the island was densely packed with Sea Clan soldiers!

There were at least a thousand of those soldiers! Some were patrolling the waters around the island, cruising back and forth in groups of three or five; some were standing guard among the architectural ruins, looking down from above to monitor all directions; some were drilling on the seabed, in perfect unison, with their battle cries shaking the heavens. They surrounded the entire island so tightly that anyone trying to approach would be discovered immediately.

Every soldier had the strength of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage; with over a thousand people gathered together, that Aura was enough to strike fear into any Cultivator's heart. Those blue figures, under the starlight, were like a blue ocean tightly surrounding the entire island.

And at the highest point of the island, in front of a ruined temple, an exceptionally tall figure stood quietly.

That was a Sea Clan Commander, standing three zhang tall, twice the height of an ordinary Sea Clan soldier. He was surrounded by a rich water-blue light that was almost tangible, forming a protective shield around his body. He held a massive trident inlaid with three fist-sized blue crystals, each emitting a terrifying Aura, as if containing power that could destroy the world.

His face was majestic and cold, his deep blue eyes looking down at the entire island as if inspecting his own territory. Wherever his gaze passed, the patrolling soldiers would subconsciously straighten their backs, and the guards would become more vigilant. He just stood there like a mountain, inspiring awe and fear.

Golden Core Third Layer Middle Stage!

Everyone's heart sank. A commander at the Golden Core Third Layer Middle Stage, plus over a thousand elite soldiers—such strength was far beyond what the seven of them could confront head-on.

"What should we do?" Lin Yue asked in a low voice, his Rock Demon Phantom trembling slightly behind him, clearly feeling that powerful pressure as well.

Gao Feng frowned and was about to speak when the Sea Clan Commander suddenly turned his head!

Those deep blue eyes, like two sharp arrows, shot straight toward where everyone was hiding! His gaze contained terrifying power; wherever it passed, the seawater vibrated slightly!

"Humans!" he barked, his voice like a thunderclap traveling through the water, making everyone's eardrums ache!

As soon as he finished speaking, the Sea Clan soldiers around the island moved instantly!

They surged toward the group like a tide, their speed astonishingly fast! The soldiers who were originally patrolling turned instantly, those who were standing guard leaped down, and those who were drilling stopped immediately, all pouncing toward the direction of the group!

Over a thousand soldiers acting simultaneously—that Aura was like a landslide or a tsunami! The seawater surged violently, countless bubbles churned, and the entire sea area was thrown into chaos!

In the blink of an eye, the seven people were completely surrounded!

The soldiers were packed in layers, surrounding the seven people so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through. They held their tridents, their water-blue light flaring brightly as they glared at the intruders like tigers watching their prey. With just one command from the commander, they would swarm forward and tear these humans to pieces!

The Sea Clan Commander, holding his trident, flew down from the island and slowly landed outside the circle. He looked down at everyone, cold killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"Humans, you have quite the nerve to intrude upon my Sea Clan territory," he spoke slowly, his voice low and majestic. "Tell me, what is your purpose for coming here?"

No one answered him.

The commander snorted coldly and said, "Not speaking? Then die here!"

He raised his trident and swung it fiercely!

In an instant, the surrounding seawater surged violently! Countless currents converged from all directions, forming a massive vortex above everyone's heads! The vortex spun crazily, growing larger and stronger, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a towering giant wave!

That giant wave was a hundred zhang high, blotting out the sun and even blocking the light of the stars! Carrying world-destroying power, it slammed down fiercely toward everyone! Wherever the giant wave passed, the seawater boiled, countless bubbles churned, and the entire sea area trembled!

"Tsunami Technique!"

Once struck by that giant wave, even if they didn't die, they would be sucked into the deep-sea vortex and never be able to escape!

Everyone's expressions changed drastically, and they all used their means to prepare for resistance. But that power was too terrifying, causing a hint of despair to rise in their hearts.

The Tsunami Technique performed by the Sea Clan Commander turned into a towering giant wave, a hundred zhang high, blotting out the sun and slamming down toward everyone with world-destroying power!

Before the giant wave even arrived, that terrifying pressure already made everyone almost unable to breathe. The surrounding seawater surged violently, countless bubbles churned, and the entire sea area trembled.

"Not good!" Lin Yue's face changed drastically; his Rock Demon Phantom was as tiny as an ant before that giant wave.

Chu Lan desperately channeled her Sea Spirit Plants, wanting to use the power of the spiritual plants to block the giant wave, but those spiritual plants were torn to pieces as soon as they touched the edge of the wave. Her face instantly turned pale.

Luo Li's zither music was almost inaudible amidst the roar of the giant wave. Although her rhythm was powerful, she was completely helpless against such terrifying natural force.

The Talismans thrown by Tian Xin exploded in front of the giant wave, but they could only create a few small splashes, unable to shake the giant wave in the slightest. Yao Guang tightly grabbed the arm of the person next to her, her eyes full of terror.

At this critical moment, Su Ning suddenly rushed forward!

Her hands crazily formed seals, and the spatial power around her surged to the limit! A silver light shot out from her body, rapidly expanding around everyone and transforming into a massive Spatial Barrier!

That barrier was different from any Spatial Magic she had performed before. It didn't simply isolate the seawater but completely stripped the small patch of space where everyone was located from the surrounding environment! In this independent space, they seemed to be in another world, completely isolated from that towering giant wave!

The giant wave slammed into the Spatial Barrier!

Boom!

A world-shaking explosion! The entire sea area trembled violently! But the Spatial Barrier remained motionless, completely blocking out that power capable of destroying everything!

Su Ning's face instantly turned pale, but she gritted her teeth and desperately maintained that independent space. She knew that once this space shattered, all of them would die here.

The Sea Clan Commander stood in the distance, and seeing his Tsunami Technique actually blocked by a human woman at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. But then, that surprise turned into annoyance.

"You have some skill!" he said coldly. "But do you think you can survive like this? Too naive!"

He raised his trident and swung it fiercely: "All troops, attack! Kill them for me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding thousand Sea Clan soldiers swarmed forward! Holding their tridents, their water-blue light flared brightly as various water-system Spells bombarded toward everyone from all directions!