Chapter Forty-One: The Leviathan of the Northern Sea

In the early morning, the sea was tumultuous, waves towering as far as the eye could see. The great ship, cutting through the wind and waves, struggled like a clumsy beast trapped in an insurmountable mire. Mountainous waves crashed wildly against the vessel, sending sprays of white water cascading onto the deck, resembling waterfalls under the sky’s backdrop. The ship, battered by the raging winds and waves, groaned in agony—a dying beast at sea.

Leng Tian sat calmly on the deck, undisturbed by the wind and waves. He sipped fine wine from his flask, droplets clinging to his short, black hair. As dusk fell, the three of them finally arrived at the shores of the Northern Sea. There, a grand city stood by the sea—Northern Sea City. Most of its residents made their livelihoods from the ocean.

This place supplied half of the continent’s demand for seafood, so fishing boats and ocean-going vessels were plentiful. Upon arriving, Leng Tian and his companions indulged in a sumptuous ocean banquet within the city. Afterwards, at the pleading of the two young women, their eyes filled with hope, Leng Tian—usually aloof—surprised them with his graciousness. He purchased a large ship and hired several sailors to pilot it for their voyage across the sea.

The reason Leng Tian bought the ship was not solely due to the women’s wishes; he too yearned to relive the thrill and freedom of past adventures. With the wealth gained from their time in the underground palace, spending lavishly was of little consequence—a ship was a trivial expense. Yet, his generosity astonished even the two women, both from noble backgrounds and unfamiliar with the true value of money.

Once the ship was ready, the two women eagerly suggested setting sail immediately, longing to drift upon the sea at night and enjoy its unique nocturnal scenery. Leng Tian did not object, and so they set out. At first, the sea was calm and peaceful, but before long, it changed its face without warning.

Their excitement quickly faded, and the women retreated to their cabins to sleep, leaving Leng Tian alone, kneeling on the deck, drinking and savoring the sea’s gentle yet overwhelming roar of power.

The fiery sun gradually rose above the horizon, and after a night of wild turmoil, the sea finally returned to calm. The raging winds and towering waves subsided, and warm sunlight spilled across the water. In the blue sky, seabirds called as they soared overhead, and fish leaped from the sea, while the ship sailed on, wind in its sails, amidst a breathtaking vista of ocean and sky.

The dozen or so sailors busied themselves securing the sails. “Wow! The sea is so beautiful, sister, look—there are fish!” Guo Guo bounced out of the cabin, grasping the railing as she gazed at the horizon, delighting in the sight of fish jumping from the water.

Luan Yudie stepped gracefully to Leng Tian’s side, stretching her waist languidly. “Brother Leng, did you spend the whole night out here?”

As he caught the scent wafting from the beauty beside him, Leng Tian didn’t answer but mused aloud, “I wonder if there are spirit beasts in this ocean as well.”

Luan Yudie’s expression froze for a moment, then she looked out over the vast sea. “You are right, Brother Leng. In this boundless ocean, there do exist demon beasts—far more numerous than the spirit beasts of the continent. However, they all dwell in the ocean’s deepest reaches, so we need not worry about any trouble.”

Leng Tian, surprised, asked, “Demon beasts? Aren’t they spirit beasts?”

“Brother Leng Tian, let me tell you!” Guo Guo, nibbling on snacks bought ashore, walked over playfully, settled beside Leng Tian, and swallowed her food before explaining the origin of demon beasts.

“According to my master, in ages even more ancient than antiquity, there was no such thing as spirit beasts—all beasts were known as demon beasts. Even the wild beasts of the ancient wastelands, those that surge forth in beast tides every ten years, are descendants of demon beasts. The difference lies in the fact that demon beasts are born with a demon core.”

She paused, stuffed the last bit of food into her mouth, swallowed, wiped her lips, and continued, “Spirit beasts, on the other hand, only form a spirit core when they advance to the ninth rank as sacred beasts. Compared to wild beasts, they are at a disadvantage from birth.”

After hearing Guo Guo’s account, Leng Tian questioned, “Then why did Chief Yudie say there are demon beasts in the sea? Are they much stronger than spirit beasts?”

A hint of fear flickered in Luan Yudie’s eyes, as if recalling something terrifying. “The menace of demon beasts cannot be compared to spirit beasts. There are rumors that spirit beasts were merely pets raised by ancient gods. When those gods mysteriously vanished, their favored beasts remained, breeding and evolving over countless years into today’s spirit beasts.”

“What about demon beasts?” Leng Tian pressed.

“I’m not sure—my master never mentioned it. Sister, do you know?” Guo Guo looked to Luan Yudie for answers.

“I’m not very certain either. The records in our sect are vague. It seems that something changed in the world, and both demon beasts and the gods vanished mysteriously. No one knows where they went. As for the demon beasts of the sea, they are the descendants of those who never left—vast in number and frighteningly powerful!” Luan Yudie frowned, clearly puzzled herself.

Leng Tian was astonished, recalling the ancient secrets Zhuang Zhuang had once mentioned. He wondered, “Could the vanished demon beasts, like the gods themselves, have entered an eternal slumber?”

Suddenly, a name flashed through his mind. He asked the two women, “Does the Divine Dragon exist?”

Their expressions turned to surprise. Both looked at Leng Tian with strange eyes and spoke in unison, “You must not call the Guardian Totem by its name directly!”

Leng Tian was taken aback, confused by their agitation. “Guardian Totem”—could it be that the Divine Dragon in this continent, like in his own Tianyuan continent, was a revered totem?

Seeing Leng Tian’s bewildered expression, the two women thought to themselves, “A Dragon Warrior who rides a golden dragon, yet doesn’t know about the Guardian Totem? How absurd!”

“So how should I address it?” Leng Tian asked tentatively.

Guo Guo replied solemnly, “You must address it as Lord Dragon God! If I hear you call its name again, I’ll refuse to acknowledge you.” She shook her pale little hand for emphasis.

“Guo Guo, do not be rude to Brother Leng,” Luan Yudie scolded the girl, then turned to Leng Tian. “Please don’t mind her. It’s just that you must never call the Divine Dragon’s name in front of others—it could bring much unnecessary trouble.”

Leng Tian smiled awkwardly. Since it was a taboo, he would be careful in the future. It seemed the Divine Dragon was just as revered in this world, a Guardian Totem whose very name implied the protector of all living things.

The three fell silent. Leng Tian ceased his questions about the Divine Dragon and instead quietly admired the grandeur of the sea, his spirit immersed in the sublime resonance between heaven and man.

Luan Yudie pulled Guo Guo to the railing, whispering quietly and deliberately steering the conversation away from the Divine Dragon. She sent a message to Guo Guo, “Leng Tian’s origins are shrouded in mystery—even my sect couldn’t trace his background. As a Golden Dragon Warrior, his appearance was sudden and unexpected.”

“How come, sister? Even your sect couldn’t find anything about him?”

“That’s right. The earliest record we have of him was his appearance at the Demon Tomb in the Lianyun Mountains. That time, even the divine weapon appeared, its blade shining and dominating the world with its power!”

Luan Yudie gazed calmly at the distant horizon, transmitting her doubts about Leng Tian to Guo Guo.

Guo Guo, holding onto Luan Yudie’s arm, her large eyes glimmering with curiosity as she studied Leng Tian, replied, “You think he’s connected to that figure?”

“It’s only my speculation. That figure also appeared out of nowhere, unknown before. Leng Tian’s sudden emergence reminds me of him.” Luan Yudie brushed aside her hair, smiled self-deprecatingly, and continued, “But that divine weapon vanished mysteriously in the Lianyun Mountains—no one knows its origin.”

“Enough, sister. The affairs of that figure aren’t for us to guess. Let’s focus on the Ancient Realm.” Guo Guo interrupted Luan Yudie’s musings, bringing up the most pressing matter at hand.

A thunderous sound echoed.

The ship, in mid-voyage, suddenly shook violently. In the distance, monstrous waves surged dozens of yards high, crashing down and sending thunderous roars across the sea. The churning waters caused the ship to sway and rock, frightening the sailors.

Leng Tian sprang to his feet, looking ahead. He saw, several miles away, the sea churning with waves as if a gigantic beast were stirring up chaos.

Luan Yudie and Guo Guo’s expressions changed as they watched the towering waves ahead.

Soon, a massive black form surfaced—a mountain-like body, as if an island had emerged from the sea, shocking everyone aboard.

“It’s a giant demon!” Luan Yudie cried out in alarm as she saw the mountainous creature rise from the water.