Chapter 704: Chapter 397 Crossing the Sea_2

With the many Grandmasters joining after the trip to Tingchao Cliff, the number of Marrow Cleansing Realm Grandmasters present was nearly two hundred, making it seem as if Grandmasters were as common as the grass… But in fact, for the common man, Grandmasters were still an elusive presence, like a dragon glimpsed only in fleeting moments.

Such a vast number, coming from all over the Da Xuan Ninety-Nine States and various factions of the Outer Sea, only when Grandmasters with objectives and needs gathered together, could such a large group be assembled.

Everyone followed the Dragonwood Island Master, who walked at a pace that was neither fast nor slow, maintaining the speed of a normal Grandmaster’s movement technique. Therefore, it didn’t take long before they had left the center of Dragon Wood Island and arrived at the coast.

Whoosh! Whoosh!!

At this moment, on the coast of Dragon Wood Island, below the towering cliffs, the endless waves churned tirelessly, and countless waves, tens of feet high, crashed against the steep cliffs, producing a thunderous roar.

However, whether it was the Dragonwood Island Master or the numerous Grandmasters, they all remained composed in the face of such a spectacle, and the Island Master didn’t pause for a second, striding directly into the air and descending upon the sea’s surface.

Swoosh, swoosh.

The many Grandmasters behind him, including Yan Hong and others, kept pace accordingly.

Although a large number of them did not possess the Sky Flying Technique, walking on water was considered a basic skill. Even amidst the ceaseless tumultuous waves, for the hundreds of Grandmasters, it was as if they were walking on flat ground.

Boom!

One person, with a robust and colossal build and an indifferent gaze, relied on brute strength to forcefully tread on the water, creating a vortex under his feet with each step that carried his body forward.

Buzz!

Another person, with each step, quietly stirred ripples below his feet, as droplets of water gathered into steps, naturally lifting the soles of his shoes, carrying him forward as if on a small boat.

Some Grandmasters were simply harnessing the Power of Heaven and Earth to fly through the void, but no one dared to overtake the leading Dragonwood Island Master, nor did anyone deliberately fly too high, all attempting to keep a lower profile than the Island Master.

For a moment.

Over a hundred Grandmasters crossed the sea, each displaying their Divine Skills!

In the team led by Yan Hong, the Grandmasters were also quite composed. Yan Zhengyang stepped down, and a masculine Qi rose naturally under his feet like ink, staining the seawater and turning it into an ink-like color. He stepped on it without sinking, creating only a slight ripple, and proceeded steadily forward.

Yan Hong herself condensed a wisp of pale golden Yuan Gang under her feet, her gaze indifferent as she walked on the sea. She also swept her eyes lightly over everyone else, even casting a glance towards Chen Mu.

Crack, crack.

Chen Mu, too, was strolling on the ocean’s surface, with each step spreading a breath of Yin energy, momentarily freezing the water beneath him into ice, forming a continuous icy path wherever he went.

“Power of Taiyin…”

Yan Hong’s eyes flickered for a moment.

There was no shortage of Yin-based Cultivation Techniques and Artistic Conceptions, some of them, like Yin Sha Artistic Conception, capable of producing similar effects. However, as a member of the Royal Family, her vision was extraordinary. Having encountered Chen Mu at sea before, although she had seen him make a move, his ability to conceal his Inner Breath was so strong that not a single trace escaped, making it hard for her to discern Chen Mu’s skills. She only knew that anyone capable of such deep concealment was undoubtedly a Top Grandmaster.

Now, seeing Chen Mu’s method, she concluded that, despite his great concealment, the source must be the “Power of Taiyin,” indicating Chen Mu was cultivating the Path of Yin and Yang, specifically the Taiyin Path.

To master the Taiyin Path indeed set one apart from the ordinary, and to reach Grandmaster status through Taiyin certainly placed one among the top tier.

Aside from Yan Hong.

Other Grandmasters also cast glances at Chen Mu, each with contemplative looks as they observed his method of crossing the sea. The assembled were no ordinary Grandmasters, and based on slight clues, they could roughly infer Chen Mu’s Martial Arts.

No one was overly surprised by this, as Yan Hong had from the start judged Chen Mu’s strength to be extraordinary. That he was a Top Grandmaster of the Taiyin lineage was well within reason.

Only Liu Qingyan’s eyes flashed with a hint of doubt.

Taiyin…

The Qiankun Artistic Conception encompasses all things, indeed capable of evolving into Taiyin, but Chen Mu’s approach was a bit too carefree and effortless, almost devoid of any mortal aura, to the extent that even she couldn’t tell whether this was the evolution of Qiankun or truly the pure Power of Taiyin.

If his identity was indeed that person, it would not only mean that he had comprehended the Qiankun Path to an incredible realm, but also that he must have understood the Path of Taiyin to an extremely deep level.

However.

Thinking of Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue, her mind suddenly pondered, and a smile that wasn’t quite a smile flickered in her eyes.

Had these two junior sisters finally succeeded?

As sisters united at heart and cultivating the same vein, acquiring them meant gaining deep insight into the Path of Yin and Yang from them, which in itself was a tremendous advantage, but the benefit also depended on who reaped it.

For it to go to Chen Mu, that was different.

The higher the realm of a Martial Artist, the more emphasis was placed on the state of mind and will, and the heart of Martial Arts must be clear of shame and regret. For those inherently evil and self-righteous, even if they were opportunistic and ingratitude personified, it wouldn’t affect their Martial Arts, because their true nature was just so. But Chen Mu was different, all the intelligence and experiences about him indicated that he was not such a character, he would care about cause and effect.

That was also why she had no preparation whatsoever, fully aware that Xunmu Cave Heaven was highly dangerous, yet she ultimately decided to try exploring it. She too wanted to ‘invest’ in Chen Mu, to get that Sea Calming Pearl for him.

If Chen Mu were to fail in the future, it wouldn’t bring any harm to her, and should he succeed, the benefits need not be said. Once he ascended to dominate the world, even just a word or a will from him could have a massive impact.

Of course.

Now that Chen Mu had personally come, this trip to Xunmu Cave Heaven probably had little to do with her, but if Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue truly became Chen Mu’s people, then they too would have justified their years of hard cultivation.

Liu Qingyan was actually considering whether or not to withdraw, given that the Xunmu Cave Heaven affair most likely no longer required her assistance, but since she was already here and Chen Mu had not expressed any intentions toward her, suddenly withdrawing would seem strange. To avoid causing any situation that might affect Chen Mu, she chose to remain silent, keeping everything as it was.

Chen Mu was not sure whether Liu Qingyan had already confirmed his identity, but since she kept to herself, he didn’t concern himself with it either, his expression calm as he followed the group, advancing across the boundless ocean.

Just like that.

Over a hundred Grandmasters sailed through the waves with ease, crossing the ocean as if it were flat land, not knowing how far they had traveled before ruins finally appeared on the sea ahead.

It looked like a submerged island, but in reality, below the surface lay a fragmented ruin, with only a very few broken stone columns and other scattered remnants still standing at various points on the surface.

Ruins Sea.

It was said that there used to be a large island here, but an unknown disaster occurred, causing the entire island to sink completely under the sea. As for the details of that disaster, Chen Mu was not privy.

But now as they gradually approached the Ruins Sea, he surveyed the state of the sea area and slightly narrowed his eyes, because from the look of the ruins, at the heart of those very few broken walls, there seemed to be an enormous pit.

If.

This was once an island, then it was as if something had smashed into the center of the island, with a force nearly cataclysmic, destroying the entire island in one strike, leaving behind only a huge pit and some fragmented walls at the very edges!

For a moment, Chen Mu’s mind was filled with endless speculation.

Was it a starfall from the sky?

Did it cause a disturbance in the Void, leading to the creation of Xunmu Cave Heaven in this small world, or was Xunmu Cave Heaven created even before that, and the fall of the star made the barrier of Void between it and the Da Xuan Ninety-Nine States thin enough for humans to break through, or… was the falling star itself the bearer of Xunmu Cave Heaven?

With the realm Chen Mu had reached, he could make out some clues, but he still didn’t have a deep enough understanding of the Void to come to a conclusion instantly. Right at this moment, the Dragonwood Island Master, who was leading the group, finally came to a halt.

“We’re here.”

The Dragonwood Island Master stood above the surface of the sea, his gaze fixed on the distant waters.