143: The Trapped and the Otherworldly Incarnation of the Red Algae Sea

"Plop!"

The calm sea surface was like a giant boulder had been thrown into it, exploding with splashes dozens of feet high.

Three figures and a heavy metal lump fell from the Void Realm in a state of extreme distress, crashing into this sea area that displayed an eerie dark red color.

"Gurgle..."

As soon as Zhou Wannian (Old Man Han) entered the water, he felt a salty and viscous liquid pour into his nose. The sea water here was rich in a large amount of red algae, like the blood of some creature; not only was his vision obstructed, but even his Divine Sense was compressed to the limit.

"Surface! Surface quickly!"

Zhou Wannian sent a Divine Sense transmission, grabbed the already unconscious Ling Yunxiao, and kicked his feet hard, rushing out of the water like a swimming fish.

"Splash."

The three people and one Puppet finally surfaced.

Looking around, there was an endless red mist in all directions, and a thick layer of red algae floated on the sea surface, appearing like a layer of rotten meat. Occasionally, a few shrill beast roars came from the distance, echoing in the mist and making one's hair stand on end.

[Red Algae Sea Region].

One of the famous dangerous places in the Chaotic Star Sea, fifty thousand miles away from Qiyuan Island. Because the environment was harsh, the Yao Beasts were fierce, and there were no high-value minerals, even the poorest Robber Cultivators were unwilling to come here.

"What a... fine place to recover from injuries."

Zhou Wannian wiped a handful of red algae from his face and gave a bitter smile.

Just then.

Splash!

The layer of red algae beneath them suddenly surged violently.

Two giant, black-red pincers covered in barbs silently emerged from underwater; one clamped toward Zhou Wannian's waist, and the other toward the unconscious Ling Yunxiao.

A Rank Five Yao Beast—[Red-Armored Ghost Crab].

This kind of Yao Beast was good at camouflage and possessed immense strength, enough to snap a top-tier Magical Artifact.

"Courting death."

Zhou Wannian didn't even lift his eyelids.

Boom!

Tie Zhu, beside him, instantly activated.

After being repaired by the Time Reversal of the Reverse Star Plate, although Tie Zhu had not yet been equipped with new weapons, the defensive power and basic strength of that "Star Purple Membrane" were already a qualitative leap.

It stretched out its large metal hand covered in purple light and grabbed one of the Ghost Crab's giant pincers.

"Crack!"

Like snapping a withered tree branch.

That crab pincer, which was strong enough to crush rocks, was snapped off by Tie Zhu with brute force.

Immediately after, Tie Zhu's other hand clenched into a fist, and the gravity field was activated.

Thump!

A punch slammed onto the water surface.

Terrifying gravity ripples passed through the seawater, directly shattering the Ghost Crab's shell and internal organs.

A large mass of turbid crab roe floated up.

"An extra dish for tonight."

Zhou Wannian skillfully collected the crab pincers and the Demon Core, dragging the two people as he flew toward a desolate, solitary island looming in the distance... Half a day later.

Desolate island, underground karst cave.

This was originally the nest of a group of sea bats, but after being "amiably" cleared out by Zhou Wannian, it became a temporary base.

"Cough, cough..."

Ling Yunxiao slowly woke up, feeling as if his whole body was falling apart. "Old Man Han... where are we? Those three old monsters didn't chase us, did they?"

"Fifty thousand miles away."

Zhou Wannian was setting up a Formation. He laid the Star Stone floor tiles brought out from the Reverse Star Pagoda on the ground and, in coordination with the "Cloud Seal Heavenly Scripture," set up a "Lesser Heavenly Star Concealment Formation."

This Formation could not only block Divine Sense but also use starlight to slowly heal everyone's injuries.

"Don't worry, unless they turn the Chaotic Star Sea upside down, they can forget about finding this place."

Zhou Wannian clapped his hands and sat down, his expression turning serious.

"Next, we will stay here for a long time."

"First is to recover from injuries."

"Second is to digest what we gained this time."

He waved his hand.

The purple-gold coffin he had brought out from the Star Dome Hall crashed to the ground.

The coffin lid slid open.

Revealing the lifelike mummified corpse inside—the last alliance leader of the Reverse Star Alliance.

"Old Man Han, why did you bring this dead person out?" Li Feiyu shrank back somewhat apprehensively. "Although he is a Senior, having this in the room is too eerie."

"What do you know?"

Zhou Wannian looked at the mummified corpse, a fanatical light flashing in his eyes.

"This is no ordinary corpse."

"This is the remains of a Soul Transformation Stage Great Cultivator! Moreover, he cultivated the 'Reverse Star Strategy,' and his Physical Body had long since transformed into the legendary 'Star Spirit Body'."

Zhou Wannian reached out and gently pressed his hand against the mummified corpse's forehead.

His Divine Sense probed inside.

Although there were no longer any Soul fluctuations, the Meridians and Dantian inside this Physical Body were still as deep as the vast starry sky, containing terrifying star power.

"Tianshu said I am the acting alliance leader because my cultivation is insufficient."

"But this body... is the configuration of a genuine alliance leader."

Zhou Wannian took out the alliance leader token from his robe and then produced a blank top-grade Soul-Nurturing Wood Slip.

"I have a bold idea."

"An External Incarnation?" Although Ling Yunxiao had little experience, he had heard of such legendary Divine Abilities. "But Old Man Han, that's something only those at the Nascent Soul Stage can Cultivate! Even though your Divine Sense is strong now, you haven't reached Core Formation yet; splitting your Divine Soul will turn you into an idiot!"

"Ordinary methods certainly won't work."

The corners of Zhou Wannian's mouth curled up slightly. "But in the Scripture Pavilion of the Reverse Star Pagoda, I found a secret technique called the 'Star Soul Parasitism Technique'."

"It doesn't require splitting the Divine Soul, but rather... borrowing a corpse to return a Soul."

"I can use the alliance leader token as a relay to lodge a portion of my Divine Thought into this body. Although I won't be able to exert the power of the Soul Transformation Stage, the foundation of this Physical Body is right there."

"Even if I can only exert ten percent of its power..."

Zhou Wannian looked at Tie Zhu.

"It would still be ten times stronger than Tie Zhu."

"Furthermore, this Incarnation can serve as my strongest Protector when I attempt Core Formation."

No sooner said than done.

Zhou Wannian immediately sat cross-legged and began to carefully refine this "super Puppet" according to the secret technique... A month later.

Above the desolate island, starlight cascaded down.

In the originally dead-silent underground karst cave, an astonishing aura suddenly erupted.

The mummified corpse that had been lying in the coffin suddenly opened its eyes.

They were a pair of eyes without pupils, only two swirling nebulae.

"Crack, crack, crack."

The mummified corpse slowly sat up, moving its neck that had been stiff for tens of thousands of years. Following its movements, the surrounding air emitted bursts of explosive sounds.

"Is this... the power of a Soul Transformation Physical Body?"

The mummified corpse opened its mouth and emitted a very raspy voice that nevertheless carried Zhou Wannian's accent.

At this time, Zhou Wannian (the original body) was sitting opposite it with a pale face, clearly having exhausted himself significantly.

But the joy in his eyes could not be hidden.

"It's done."

"The first Incarnation—[Star Lord]."

Although this Incarnation could currently only perform simple physical attacks and could not use Divine Abilities due to insufficient Divine Thought, the strength of this Physical Body was enough to withstand the Magic Treasure strikes of a Nascent Soul Early Stage Cultivator without damage!

"With this trump card, even if the Grand Elder chases us here, I can knock out two of his teeth."

Zhou Wannian contentedly put away the Incarnation.

"Next..."

From his Storage Pouch, he took out the three empty bottles that had contained "dust descending pills" (actually, there was still half a pill he had saved inside) and the slice of "Pill Spirit Tai Sui" he had dug up from under the ruins of the Pill Cauldron Hall.

There was also the dragon blood fruit he had obtained in the Black Wind Abyss (though most of it was used, a fruit pit remained).

Plus the countless high-grade Spirit Medicines from the Reverse Star Pagoda.

Zhou Wannian took a deep breath, his gaze becoming incredibly firm.

"It's time for Core Formation."

"From Foundation Establishment to Core Formation is the true watershed between the immortal and the mortal."

"I, Zhou Wannian, have laid low for so many years and plotted against so many people, all for this day."

He looked at Ling Yunxiao and Li Feiyu.

"From today on, I will enter secluded death meditation."

"Unless the sky falls or those three old monsters fight their way to the entrance, do not call me."

"Tie Zhu will guard the cave entrance."

"The two of you, use the resources here to also improve your strength as quickly as possible."

"The day I emerge from seclusion..."

A hint of pride flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes.

"...will be the time we kill our way back to Qiyuan Island to settle the debt with the Six-Link Palace."

...Meanwhile.

Fifty thousand miles away, on Qiyuan Island.

The originally prosperous West Street Market was now in a state of depression. The shops of the Green Robe Tower had been seized and were covered with seals.

Six-Link Palace Headquarters.

The Grand Elder sat in the main seat with a gloomy expression. Although his injuries had stabilized, the escaped Nascent Soul (Old Third) had to switch to the Ghost Path because his Physical Body was destroyed, and his strength was greatly diminished.

"Have you found anything?"

"Reporting to the Grand Elder..."

The deacon below knelt on the ground trembling. "We have searched the surrounding thirty thousand miles of sea area and found no trace. That Old Man Han... it's as if he vanished into thin air."

"Useless!"

The Grand Elder smashed the armrest with a palm strike.

"Vanished into thin air? He took three living people and a large Puppet with him; how could he possibly vanish into thin air?!"

"Continue searching! Expand the range!"

"In addition..."

A hint of malice flashed in the Grand Elder's eyes.

"Distribute the portrait of that 'Ling Yunxiao' throughout the entire Chaotic Star Sea."

"He is a remnant of the Ling Family. Although the Ling Family was wiped out back then, there are still a few old fogies from the old guard hiding in the Inner Sea."

"Spread the word that the Ling Family Young Lord is in our hands."

"I don't believe we won't be able to bait out a few big fish."

"And that Old Man Han..."

The Grand Elder touched his faintly aching chest.

"You took the Legacy of the Reverse Star Pagoda, so you must be in a hurry to undergo Core Formation, right?"

"The phenomena of Core Formation create a massive commotion."

"As long as you dare to attempt Core Formation, this old man will be able to find you."

"When that time comes..."

The Grand Elder looked at the gloomy sky outside the window, a cruel smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

"Though this Chaotic Star Sea is vast, there is no place for you to hide."