Cultivation: Start From Simplifying Martial Arts Techniques

Chapter 585: Ants

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

At a depth of over a hundred meters underwater, Chen Fei halted his movement, lifting his gaze upwards. The aura of Shi Yuanmin had vanished without a trace.

Facing the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, having already condensed the seventh petal, which signifies the seventh transformation of the Combined Aperture, Chen Fei’s current strength appeared somewhat inadequate.

Physically, in the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, Chen Fei naturally held the upper hand against those in the middle stages. However, Shi Yuanmin also possessed a physique at the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.

Physically, Chen Fei didn’t hold any significant advantage over Shi Yuanmin. The only slight edge he had was probably the speed of his flesh and blood recovery, which was far superior to that of an ordinary practitioner at the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, thanks to the special power bestowed upon him by the Suppressing Dragon Elephant.

Ignoring the realm of elemental force, where Chen Fei was at the fourth transformation and his opponent at the seventh, there was a difference of three transformations in strength, indicating a considerable gap in the purity and intensity of elemental force.

Mentally, due to the existence of the Strange Heart Realm, Chen Fei’s mental state was now positioned at the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm. However, compared to Shi Yuanmin, he lacked an advantage and was even slightly inferior.

In terms of forbidden techniques, relying on the recovery speed granted by the Suppressing Dragon Elephant, Chen Fei could undoubtedly cast more forbidden techniques than Shi Yuanmin.

However, the efficacy of forbidden techniques depends directly on the strength of one’s elemental force. Similarly cast, the power unleashed by a practitioner in the early stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm would undoubtedly differ from that of one in the middle stages.

Only in the inheritance of techniques, Chen Fei should have the greatest advantage.

The Profound Heavenly Sword he cultivated must be stronger than the techniques practiced by Shi Yuanmin, but even if there is a gap in techniques, it wouldn’t be too significant since Shi Yuanmin has reached the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.

Moreover, the function of techniques is similar to that of forbidden techniques; the key lies in the elemental force realm as the foundation, with techniques ascending on this basis.

Then there are spiritual treasures. Shi Yuanmin wields a superior-grade spiritual treasure, while the Qianyuan Sword is currently only a top-tier middle-grade spiritual treasure, a full level below.

Regardless of the comparison, Chen Fei has too few advantages when facing Shi Yuanmin. In a direct confrontation, the possibility of Chen Fei defeating Shi Yuanmin is very slim.

If there’s no other choice, Chen Fei would choose to flee. With his current strength, in a situation where he was solely focused on escape, Shi Yuanmin wouldn’t be able to kill him.

Furthermore, with Sea Dominion City not far away, Shi Yuanmin’s opportunities are even slimmer.

Even without Sea Dominion City, Chen Fei is confident in escaping unscathed.

However, if pushed to a desperate situation where fighting is unavoidable, Chen Fei would choose to unleash all four forbidden techniques. In such a burst, the gap in elemental force between both sides would be narrowed in a short period.

If he adds the sword essence within the spatial grid and utilizes the spiritual spiritual treasure, seizing the opportunity to directly strike Shi Yuanmin, he would likely inflict severe injuries on him.

However, this was almost reaching the limit. Moreover, if Shi Yuanmin decided to flee, Chen Fei wouldn’t be able to catch up.

The disparity in elemental force cultivation was too great, making it extremely difficult to perform a cross-tier reversal strike.

Cultivation was always the most fundamental aspect. All techniques and skills could only unleash stronger power based on this foundation.

Chen Fei understood this principle well, so he had never neglected the growth of his cultivation. However, his actual cultivation time, especially in the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, was still relatively short.

In these realms, especially in the later stages, it often took over two hundred years of cultivation. Yet, Chen Fei had only been practicing martial arts for less than twenty years.

The almost tenfold difference between them was not something that could be easily bridged.

Stepping backward with his right foot, the seawater beneath Chen Fei’s feet instantly exploded, and he appeared on the surface of the sea.

Although Chen Fei sustained some injuries from Shi Yuanmin’s sword strike, in just a moment, these injuries had already healed completely under the power of the Profound Suppressing Dragon Elephant.

The crab monster from earlier, frightened by Shi Yuanmin’s attack, had already fled frantically and was now several miles away from the scene.

Not only the crab monster but also several third-tier sea monsters that were attempting to encircle the area earlier are now hurriedly retreating, afraid of being struck by a sword like earlier.

The observers from the Primordial Sword Sect had been watching from afar. When they saw Chen Fei being ambushed and thrown into the sea, they were all startled.

However, seeing Chen Fei’s relaxed demeanor upon resurfacing, they breathed a sigh of relief only when his main body emerged unharmed.

With no sea monsters disturbing the surroundings, Chen Fei didn’t head to other defense zones but instead looked towards the direction of Sea Dominion City. If Min Yanlu had returned, it meant that Shi Yuanmin had been frightened off by Min Yanlu’s aura, not daring to stay any longer.

The Heavenly Eye between Chen Fei’s eyebrows faintly flickered, capturing the situation inside Sea Dominion City.

Chen Fei didn’t directly observe Min Yanlu, as it would trigger Min Yanlu’s instinctive power backlash. Chen Fei didn’t want to experience the backlash from the power of a Mountain Sea Realm expert; he had no desire to find out what that felt like.

Involving the soul, Chen Fei couldn’t currently cultivate. If his soul were accidentally injured, Chen Fei wouldn’t know how to restore it.

Inside Sea Dominion City, those who were either pillaging or hiding from pursuit by a later-stage Combined Aperture expert involuntarily paused their actions and looked up into the sky.

Min Yanlu’s appearance was extremely abrupt, as if he had never left, but had been watching everything from above Sea Dominion City until the main formation eye of Sea Dominion City was destroyed.

In the northeast corner of Sea Dominion City, a figure desperately tried to escape, but no matter how they maneuvered, they remained trapped in one spot.

In the blink of an eye, it felt as if the world had turned upside down.

The power of the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm seemed to have lost all its supernatural abilities at this moment. What was once a distance easily crossed by ordinary people now became an insurmountable chasm beneath their feet.

“Master, spare me! My mind is clouded; I shouldn’t have done this!” Lu Guangbi shouted loudly.

The main formation eye of Sea Dominion City had been destroyed by Lu Guangbi, who truly believed that Min Yanlu had left Sea Dominion City.

According to the information received, Min Yanlu should have been thousands of miles away from Sea Dominion City. Even with the immense power of the Mountain Sea Realm, crossing such a vast distance would take time.

Gu Danying, relying on the Sword intent of the Mountain Sea Realm, had subdued the sea monsters outside the southern wall. Lu Guangbi, thinking of the imminent benefits he would gain, directly destroyed the main formation eye of Sea Dominion City, breaking the fragile balance between Sea Dominion City and the sea monsters.

However, in this situation, Lu Guangbi sensed Min Yanlu’s aura, causing him to panic almost like a lost soul. His first instinct was to flee.

But under the watchful eyes of the Mountain Sea Realm, how could Lu Guangbi escape?

Not only Lu Guangbi but also all those who had participated in the destruction of Sea Dominion City and assisted in these acts were now completely immobilized.

Min Yanlu’s right hand swept across, and the bodies of these people suddenly stiffened, then silently collapsed to the ground, their breath dissipating in a short time.

Though their bodies showed no signs of injury, they had already perished.

With a gentle tap of his right foot backward, Min Yanlu’s figure flickered, and he appeared outside the southern wall.

The peak third-tier sea monsters, upon Min Yanlu’s appearance, had already fled frantically. Gu Danying and the others attempted to intercept them, but these peak third-tier sea monsters would rather endure injury than pause for even a moment.

Facing human Mountain Sea Realm experts, whether in the early or peak third rank, there wasn’t much difference; being slain was just a matter of a single move.

“Master!”

“Leader!”

Upon seeing Min Yanlu, Gu Danying and the other peak Combined Aperture practitioners all bowed in respect.

Min Yanlu nodded, his gaze passing over the fleeing sea monsters to a spot in the void, where he swung his right hand downward.

In the perception of Gu Danying and the others, the whole world seemed to pause for a moment, and everything around them seemed to turn into a painting, with only Min Yanlu’s hand moving.

The void rippled, and a majestic sword essence surged forward.

“Boom!”

At the next moment, a tentacle suddenly extended from the void, blocking the sword essence. With a burst, a figure materialized from the void.

Only a fourth-tier sea monster could withstand an attack from a Mountain Sea Realm expert. Below the fourth rank, the outcome was always inevitable.

This fourth-tier sea monster was noticeably different from the others. Its body wasn’t as massive as those of the third-tier sea monsters, but whenever its six tentacles casually brushed through the void, it could create subtle ripples.

Only powerful strength could stir the ripples in the void.

Gu Danying and the others felt a chill in their hearts as they looked at the sudden appearance of the fourth-tier sea monster. This creature probably had been here all along. As long as it harbored the slightest intent to kill, all the peak Combined Aperture practitioners, including Gu Danying, would perish.

Even with the protective measures Min Yanlu had given him, Gu Danying wouldn’t fare much better against the strength of a fourth-tier sea monster.

Min Yanlu gazed at the sea monster before him, and a small tower appeared in his hand—the spiritual spiritual treasure, Enlightenment Tower.

Taking a step forward, Min Yanlu’s figure appeared in front of the fourth-tier sea monster as if teleporting. The Enlightenment Tower floated out of his hand, smashing towards the sea monster.

The sea monster looked at Min Yanlu with a mocking expression. With a sudden movement, it broke through the restraint set by the Enlightenment Tower and disappeared from the spot.

When the fourth-tier sea monster reappeared, it was already several tens of miles away, dragging along the peak third-tier sea monsters. With a few flickers, they disappeared completely.

Min Yanlu watched the sea monster flee without pursuit, and his brow furrowed slightly.

Lowering his head to look at the densely packed sea monsters below, Min Yanlu’s Enlightenment Tower trembled slightly, and a massive wave of energy swept out.

From the peak third-tier sea monsters who couldn’t escape in time to the ordinary first-tier sea monsters, their bodies were turned into mush and fell onto the sea surface.

Before a Mountain Sea Realm expert, sea monsters of different tiers were all insignificant.

Twenty miles away, Chen Fei watched this scene unfold, numerous thoughts flashing through his mind.

Min Yanlu might have never left Sea Dominion City. Everything that happened seemed more like Min Yanlu deliberately exposing the hidden dangers within the city and then clearing them away in one fell swoop.

As for those who died in the process, in Min Yanlu’s eyes, they probably became necessary sacrifices.

With insufficient strength, in the face of such overwhelming power, even one’s life was difficult to preserve.

Chen Fei’s current strength was still far from enough!