Chapter 2037: The Fisherman's Gain

According to the original plan, as soon as the Xuanbei Turtle entered the ambush site, they would activate the formation. Then, with the power of the mayflies and the help of Sect Master Kuixiao and the others, killing it, or even capturing it alive, would not be too difficult!

Now, the appearance of Sect Master Bai Xuansheng introduced a variable, but it didn't have much impact!

Instead, they could stay put and wait to reap the benefits.

As he spoke, the Xuanbei Turtle, having swallowed the silver diamond crystal, continued absorbing the ore's power without pause. The mayflies on the sea surface could no longer hold back and surged over in droves. The entire water surface shook incessantly, as if about to explode.

Not only was it attacked by the mayflies, but Sect Master Bai Xuansheng above was also surrounded by them. He released true qi to form a protective shield, glanced around, and looked down.

"Friends hiding below, come out together. This Xuanbei Turtle is enormous. If we join forces to kill it, we can split the spoils equally!"

His voice rippled through the water, reaching Zhang Xuan and the others clearly in the formation space.

"Did he find us?"

Elder Fengqian was startled.

"Not necessarily. However, the Xuanbei Turtle could tell something was off about the silver diamond crystal. As a Pseudo-God realm expert, he must have sensed it too, knowing someone else is lying in ambush like him. So he's shouting to trick us into revealing ourselves... Ignore him for now!"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

The silver diamond crystal was extremely precious. If it were here, it would have been mined long ago. How could it have waited for this big fellow to arrive?

Thus, Bai Xuansheng, with a little thought, could guess that someone else, like him, was preparing to kill this immortal beast.

He just didn't know who it was or which faction.

Boom!

Hearing the shout and seeing the formation not activated, unable to borrow its power, the Xuanbei Turtle knew that if the latter truly joined forces with him, it would surely die here today. Without hesitation, it roared and charged straight upward at Bai Xuansheng.

This time, it moved even faster, like teleportation. In the blink of an eye, it appeared before him. Its massive body, combined with its shell, gave the feeling of a planet falling.

If struck, even a peak Immortal Lord would be crushed into a meat patty, dead beyond dead.

"Well met!"

Bai Xuansheng seemed to have anticipated this move. He smiled calmly, and a huge shield materialized before him.

The shield grew with the water, reaching hundreds of meters in diameter. When it collided with the turtle, it emitted a sound like a great bell. The surrounding mayflies were instantly shattered into powder, countless dying.

Sect Master Kuixiao clenched his fist: "Is that shield... a Pseudo-God realm weapon?"

He and Bai Xuansheng had known each other for years and were very familiar. Their cultivation levels were similar, and in a fight, they were evenly matched, neither superior.

When did he acquire a Pseudo-God realm weapon?

With something of that level, if they fought again, he would surely be unable to contend!

No wonder he dared to come alone to capture the Xuanbei Turtle. With this item and his own cultivation, he was terrifyingly powerful!

"Lock!"

Blocking the turtle's charge, Bai Xuansheng smiled again and spun the shield in his hand.

Whoosh!

It transformed into a net-like object, chains of iron instantly enveloping the Xuanbei Turtle and locking it firmly inside.

This Pseudo-God realm weapon was not fixed in form but could change!

"Damn..."

Elder Fengqian was anxious.

They had prepared for nearly a month, hoping to kill this big fellow in one blow, but never dreamed someone else would snatch it away.

"Don't worry. If the Xuanbei Turtle were so easily caught, it would have died long ago..."

Seeing his expression, Zhang Xuan smiled reassuringly.

If the Xuanbei Turtle were so easily captured, it wouldn't have made it here.

Before he finished speaking, the Xuanbei Turtle opened its mouth, and the silver diamond crystal it had just swallowed reappeared before it.

It became even more dazzling.

Rumble!

The ground shook more violently, and waves hundreds of meters high boiled on the sea surface.

This creature could not only swallow crystals but also make them more radiant, absorbing more ore power.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As the ground shook violently, the silver-leaf mayflies on the sea became even more frenzied, rushing over in unison. In an instant, they enveloped the Xuanbei Turtle and the crystal completely.

"Damn..."

Seeing the mayflies surging like a tide, Bai Xuansheng's face changed: "Get lost!"

He struck forward with one hand while grabbing with the other to retrieve the chains binding the Xuanbei Turtle, but found them isolated by the mayflies, as if cut off from his perception.

Clatter!

The Pseudo-God realm weapon lost its effect, fell from the Xuanbei Turtle, and sank toward the seabed.

"Elder Liu, what's going on..."

This time, not only Elder Fengqian was puzzled, but Sect Master Kuixiao was also stunned.

A Pseudo-God realm weapon, already possessing its own consciousness and immensely powerful, how could it lose its effect just by being stuck by these mayflies, unable to trap anyone?

And even lose the ability to fly?

"No matter how powerful a weapon is, it is forged from metal—and the iron chain in his hand is no different! The Silver Leaf Mayfly, though it appears to be a living creature, actually has an extremely high metal content internally; otherwise, it wouldn't emit that silvery glow, like a mirror!"

With a smile, Zhang Xuan explained: "These creatures are very tiny, yet they can emit a special magnetic field used for communication, thus forming an orderly formation. Whenever a weapon approaches, its spirit is immediately severed from connection by this magnetic field, and no matter how great its power, it becomes imprisoned! The Black-backed Turtle must have known this all along, which is why it deliberately lured this fellow here, aiming to kill two birds with one stone!"

The two of them shuddered simultaneously.

They had thought these were just ordinary mayflies, never imagining that even pseudo-divine weapons would lose their effect when surrounded by them.

If they charged in, would their acupoints also be blocked, rendering them powerless?

"No wonder they say that those unfamiliar with marine life should never provoke it—so that's how it is..."

His face pale, Sect Leader Kuixiao couldn't help shaking his head.

The Star-Chasing Sea was as dangerous as the Skyfall City, leaving behind countless legends. He had thought that with his pseudo-divine cultivation, there was nothing left to fear. But now it seemed that no matter how strong one's cultivation, caution was still necessary.

One misstep could lead to death!

The Black-backed Turtle, as a native marine immortal beast, naturally knew all this long ago. That was why it deliberately lured Sect Leader Bai Xuanzheng here, forcing him to use his weapon before defeating him in one fell swoop!

"By the way, Elder Fengqian, could you trouble yourself to break this hidden spatial formation..."

Zhang Xuan's voice continued.

Elder Fengqian was startled and was about to nod in agreement when he saw the young man across from him shake his head: "No time—I'll do it myself..."

With that, he stepped forward and stamped his foot on the ground.

Buzz!

Above the hidden spatial formation, a massive vortex immediately appeared, just like the one when they had entered.

His eyebrows jumping, Elder Fengqian's mouth fell open, unable to close.

He had spent immeasurable effort setting up this formation. Even if he held the token himself, he couldn't stop it instantly. Yet this man, with nothing at all, had halted its operation with just a stomp...

Could it be... that it had also been deciphered?

Before his shock could subside, the young man reached upward and grabbed.

Whoosh!

The pseudo-divine weapon, the iron chain that had been falling, vanished in the next instant.

"Activate!"

Having taken the chain, Elder Liu stamped his foot again, and the spatial formation resumed its operation. The three of them disappeared once more from the seabed.

"He... snatched away a pseudo-divine weapon?"

Exchanging glances, Elder Fengqian and Sect Leader Kuixiao blinked.

Taking a pseudo-divine weapon like that would utterly offend the Profound Mirror Sect!

And more importantly, could a storage ring really hold a weapon of that level?

Even if it could be stored, as long as the weapon was unwilling, it could break out of the ring, couldn't it?

Not only were they incredulous, but Sect Leader Bai Xuanzheng above had gone completely mad.

It was already infuriating that his weapon had slipped out of his control, but he never imagined that someone below would simply take it away without a moment's hesitation!

This weapon was something his Profound Mirror Sect had obtained at immense cost, even breaking former vows to acquire it. Having it snatched away... he nearly went insane on the spot.

"Who are you?! Give it back!"

With a roar, he was about to charge into the sea.

The spatial formation below had opened and closed in an instant. Even with his cultivation, he had only glimpsed a massive hand, not clearly seeing who was hidden inside.

But no matter who it was, anyone who dared steal his weapon must die!

Just as he was about to charge down, the Black-backed Turtle would not let him have his way. Having finally succeeded in destroying the pseudo-divine weapon, it hesitated no longer and charged at him fiercely.

This time, before it even reached him, its head had already retracted into its shell.

Crunch!

The thick tortoise shell collided with Sect Leader Bai Xuanzheng. With just that one blow, the latter's face turned pale, several ribs cracked, and with a "Wa!" he spat out blood.

Though both were at the pseudo-divine realm, and his cultivation was even slightly higher, he still couldn't withstand such a head-on collision!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Having landed a hit, the Black-backed Turtle charged repeatedly. Sect Leader Bai Xuanzheng kept retreating, his chest surging with immortal energy as he desperately blocked.

After barely fending off the series of attacks, just as he felt a moment of relief, a flash appeared before his eyes. A gleaming crystal suddenly materialized in front of him, dazzling his vision.

"Damn..."

His soul nearly fled in terror. Sect Leader Bai Xuanzheng tried to retreat, but it was too late—the mayflies had already surrounded him.

Instantly, he felt his protective immortal energy being devoured clean, and his entire body's acupoints were clogged with countless silver insects.

"My power..."

With his acupoints blocked, he was like an engine starved of oxygen—no amount of horsepower could help. His body swayed, and he began to fall from the air.

Bang!

At that moment, the Black-backed Turtle charged again.

Bai Xuanzheng raised both hands to meet it.

Crunch! Crunch!

Both arms were shattered. His face deathly pale, the mighty pseudo-divine realm expert crashed headfirst into the seabed, gouging out a massive crater and splattering mud everywhere.