Chapter 402: In chaotic times, only the fittest survive |
Yu Jianqiu understood very well.
When his sword couldn't pierce the demon infant despite his best efforts, bringing it back meant something significant.
But he also knew what it would mean not to bring it back.
He concealed this matter, just like the Water Kylin, keeping it hidden from the six lineages, both having the same thought.
Yu Jianqiu lay flat on the sea surface, hands behind his head, gripping a wine jug with his feet, taking a sip of the wine, which suddenly tasted a bit bitter.
"Fishman Drunk is still the best."
He took out a communication talisman and lazily said, "Tomorrow at noon, the usual place, all members of the third team gather!"
…………
The next day at noon.
They hovered over the familiar sea surface, feeling the sea breeze, looking at the empty sky, and suddenly felt a twinge of regret.
"Damn! If I had known, I wouldn't have come!" Porcupine Fish cursed inwardly.
The captain, who had been missing for a year, suddenly sent a message.
With surprise and anxiety, everyone gathered here, only to find the same result as last time.
One day, two days, three days...
The captain still hadn't appeared, but after witnessing the fox's strength last time, no one dared to leave casually.
With the year-end conference approaching, more demonic beasts appeared in the Penglai Sea. Over these three days, demonic beasts occasionally passed by, looking at the gathered third team as if watching a group of clowns.
This deepened everyone's resentment.
"Xu Hei is still the smart one, not showing up now. I'll learn from him next time," Xu Bai thought to herself.
After another two days, Xu Hei also arrived.
After ten days of seclusion, Xu Hei successfully broke through to the late stage of the demon core, his entire body brimming with surging spiritual power, like a bellows furnace, automatically repelling the surrounding seawater, forming an empty circle, exuding a majestic aura.
"Xu Hei, you broke through?" Porcupine Fish exclaimed in surprise.
"Just broke through, got lucky," Xu Hei replied with a smile.
He had just broken through and couldn't yet conceal his aura.
"Please keep it a secret for me, I want to hide my cultivation and make a stunning entrance," Xu Hei said.
"Haha, no problem, we know nothing," Porcupine Fish quickly replied.
Xu Hei hovered over the sea surface, taking an hour to suppress the surging aura and successfully hid his cultivation at the mid-stage of the demon core using the Turtle Breathing Formula.
Perhaps coincidentally, an hour after Xu Hei arrived, Yu Jianqiu finally showed up.
As usual, a layer of ice appeared on the sea surface, and he lay on it, eyes covered, sword case on his back, wine jug in his mouth.
"Sorry, everyone, I got lost on the path of the fox," Yu Jianqiu said with a smile.
Everyone was furious.
With only three days left until the year-end conference, he was still playing games, as if their time was worthless.
Yu Jianqiu didn't care about their looks, he turned to Xu Hei and shook his empty wine jug.
Xu Hei understood what he meant and reluctantly took out a jug of Fishman Drunk, tossing it over.
This Fishman Drunk, there was plenty in the Immortal Pavilion's warehouse, all aged wine stored for years, and Xu Hei had a large vat of it. He also had other kinds of fine wines, all stored on the island.
Yu Jianqiu caught the wine, laughed heartily, and said, "Alright, back to business. Since I'm your captain, I should fulfill my responsibility. For these last three days, I'll give you a special training."
"……"
All the third team members silently looked at him, visibly annoyed.
The last three days? Why didn't he do this earlier?
Xu Hei, however, curiously asked, "What kind of special training?"
"Very simple!"
Yu Jianqiu smiled slightly, took out twelve pieces of black cloth, and tossed them over.
"Swish, swish, swish..."
The black cloths quickly expanded and stretched, covering the eyes of all twelve demonic beasts present.
In an instant, the world plunged into darkness.
To their shock, not only their sight but also their smell, touch, taste, and hearing—all five senses were lost!
"My special training for you is to remove your five senses and divine sense, and reach the year-end conference location within three days!"
"If you fail, consider it a forfeit."
After Yu Jianqiu's last words, transmitted through divine sense into their minds, all the demonic beasts lost any sensation, as if their bodies had sunk into the netherworld, imperceptible, untraceable, with everything in the world becoming void, nothing left.
With the loss of five senses and divine sense erased, what remained of their perception of the outside world?
Nothing at all!
"The year-end conference location is at the junction of the Penglai Sea and Penglai Island, called Martial Arts Island! Reach there within three days!"
"What do we do? I can't feel anything!"
"Damn it! Quickly remove this thing!"
All the third team members went crazy, immediately grabbing at the black cloth on their faces, but couldn't tear it off, as if it was firmly nailed to their faces.
Without any perception of the outside world, unable to extend their divine sense, they completely lost their sense of direction.
Some members gave up struggling and chose to fumble forward, but their route was tens of thousands of miles off the final destination, completely off course.
At this rate, forget three days, even a year wouldn't be enough.
Xu Hei didn't act rashly; he too had lost his perception of the outside world, but one sense remained.
That was the intuition for danger!
There is a rumor among humans that when a person loses their sight, their other senses will quickly heighten!
In terms of adapting to the environment, organisms always self-evolve. Just like humans living in polar regions, they evolve thick layers of fat to withstand the icy cold.
Xu Hei was undergoing such a transformation, albeit slowly.
At this moment, many demonic beasts passed by, watching the commotion from the side.
"Hehe, the last three days, what kind of special training is this? This captain is quite the weirdo."
"With all senses blocked, how will they reach Martial Arts Island? This third team might all forfeit."
"Forfeiting is good, fewer competitors!"
The onlookers all wore expressions of schadenfreude.
Unlike the other team members who were running around like headless chickens, Xu Hei remained in place, experiencing the rapidly enhancing sense of danger.
"So, Yu Jianqiu always acts with such a blindfold?"
"Without five senses and divine sense, how does he navigate? How does he fight?"
"What has he evolved?"
Xu Hei never understood, but now, he gradually gained some insight.
His sense of danger began to transform. Gradually, Xu Hei could not only sense others' killing intent but also their joy, mockery, ridicule, and more.
The nearby onlookers were like beacons in the darkness, guiding Xu Hei's direction.
From their emotional changes, Xu Hei gradually deduced the final destination.
"First step, head this way."
Xu Hei adjusted his direction, taking the first step, advancing three meters toward Martial Arts Island.
"Oh?"
Yu Jianqiu, who had been listless, suddenly lifted his head, looking over at Xu Hei.
"Hehe, interesting kid, such strong adaptability."
"A kid like this, in any perilous environment, should have a sliver of hope."
Yu Jianqiu watched for a while, seemingly sighing, seemingly talking to himself.
"If you can't change the environment, you can only adapt. In three days, let's see how much you can adapt."