Chapter 284 The Arrow That Made the Sea Fall Silent

Hao Nhien stood at the bow of the Cosmic Ark, his gaze fixed on the vast depression forming across the sea ahead.

The enormous sea beast had not yet fully emerged.

Even the portion of its back already visible was larger than several warships combined. Layers of dark scales overlapped one another like ancient slabs of stone that had rested at the bottom of the sea for tens of thousands of years.

The pressure radiating from it did not resemble the spiritual pressure of a cultivator.

There was none of the sharpness of sword energy, nor the clear sense of threat produced by the Golden Core experts Hao Nhien had encountered before.

This pressure was heavy.

Vast.

Almost inseparable from the sea itself.

Standing before it felt less like confronting a living creature and more like standing before a portion of heaven and earth.

As the colossal body continued rising, the turbulent waves around it were suddenly pressed downward.

Within several hundred zhang, the sea became unnaturally flat.

The calm stood in stark contrast to the pillars of water and broken fragments of ships still falling from the battle that had raged only moments before.

The two fleets in the distance had stopped attacking.

Cultivators who had been trying to kill one another only breaths earlier retreated without agreement, their attention fixed on the creature emerging from beneath the sea.

No one had ordered a ceasefire.

There was simply an understanding among everyone present that what had just appeared belonged to an entirely different level from the conflict between them.

The sea beast did not immediately pay attention to the Cosmic Ark.

Its enormous eyes remained focused on the warships gathered around the disturbed waters.

There was no obvious anger in its gaze.

Yet when it slowly opened its mouth, a deep vibration spread across the sea.

BOOM.

The sound was not as loud as the roars of ordinary demonic beasts.

It was lower.

Heavier.

Drawn out like two enormous mountains grinding against one another beneath the earth.

Then the sea before it suddenly rose.

Not a wave.

An entire layer of ocean lifted from its original position.

Hundreds of zhang of seawater rose into an enormous wall and slowly collapsed toward the two fleets.

At first glance, the water wall did not appear especially fast.

But when cultivators on the warships tried to flee with their artifacts, they immediately discovered that the currents around them had changed.

Overlapping layers of Water force dragged hulls away from their intended direction, making escape far more difficult than the speed of the wave itself suggested.

“Defend!”

A shout came from the fleet with the more disciplined formation.

More than ten spiritual lights erupted simultaneously.

Formation patterns along three large warships in the center lit up one after another.

Spiritual energy from multiple points rapidly connected, forming a blue barrier before the fleet.

Across from them, the ships flying mismatched banners immediately scattered to both sides.

Two Golden Core cultivators rose into the air.

One wielded a long saber.

The other carried a spear.

Saber light and spear shadows erupted at the same time, merging into two powerful attacks that tore directly into the approaching wall of water.

BOOM!

The explosion shook the sea.

A large opening was carved through the water wall.

But the remaining Water force did not disperse.

It continued crashing against the defensive formation.

The blue barrier bent inward.

Spiritual patterns along the three warships flashed repeatedly.

A smaller vessel too close to the front line was immediately crushed through the middle.

Several figures were thrown into the water.

They vanished almost instantly beneath the churning waves.

The opposing fleet fared no better.

The saber light that had cut through the first layer of water was shattered by the force behind it.

The saber-wielding man was thrown more than ten zhang backward.

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Only with the help of a companion did he stabilize himself.

Still, neither fleet was destroyed.

Their defensive formations absorbed much of the force.

The Golden Core cultivators continued dispersing the Water force.

At last, the enormous wall broke apart in midair.

Seawater fell like torrential rain.

White pillars of water erupted around the ships.

The entire region shook violently.

By the time the final waves began to settle, no one on the battlefield had resumed attacking.

Hao Nhien stood in the distance.

His expression had become increasingly grave.

He had seen at least four or five Golden Core cultivators participate in that defense.

Several carried auras considerably stronger than Lang Tuyet’s.

Yet even against what appeared to be a casual attack from the sea beast, they had still needed to combine their strength with warship formations merely to block most of it.

And the creature had not even charged.

“How strong is that thing?”

Lang Tuyet stood beside Hao Nhien, her eyes never leaving the sea ahead.

“I don’t know,” she answered slowly.

“But it is definitely not something we can deal with through ordinary methods.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

He stopped focusing only on the sea beast and began studying the two fleets.

One side had an irregular formation.

Their banners and clothing did not match.

Yet their encirclement tactics were practiced and coordinated.

Hao Nhien quickly suspected they were an organized group of pirates.

The other side possessed several large ships protected at the center.

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On their hulls was a symbol shaped like a circle divided in two.

He remembered Lang Tuyet mentioning it before.

Earth Spirit Merchant Association?

Hao Nhien looked toward her.

Lang Tuyet had recognized it as well.

She gave a slight nod.

He continued observing.

Soon, he noticed several enormous chains extending from one of the merchant-association vessels.

They did not resemble anchor chains.

Each link was larger than a man’s body.

Faint spiritual patterns covered their surfaces.

Despite the damage caused by the battle, several cultivators still stood beside the chain mechanism, continuously circulating spiritual energy to maintain tension.

Hao Nhien narrowed his eyes.

Pirates attacking a merchant association.

The merchant association apparently holding something beneath the sea.

And an enormous sea beast appearing at precisely this moment.

He did not believe all of it was coincidence.

But he still lacked enough information to determine what the two sides were fighting over.

One thing, however, was obvious.

The sea beast was concentrating on the area connected to those chains.

At least for now, its original target was not the Cosmic Ark.

The moment Hao Nhien reached that conclusion, the sea beast slowly turned its head.

Its enormous eyes looked toward them for the first time.

A heavy sensation immediately settled over the bow.

There was no clear killing intent.

Only an indifferent gaze.

As if the colossal creature had finally noticed several insignificant things floating near the edge of its territory.

Lanh Hoa immediately stepped forward and stopped at the bow.

One hand rested on his sword.

He said nothing.

Nor did he attempt to provoke the beast.

But True Qi was already circulating quietly through his body.

Hao Nhien understood his intent.

He also knew that before an existence capable of forcing multiple Golden Core cultivators to defend together, such preparation would make little difference.

Perhaps sensing the fluctuation of spiritual energy around Lanh Hoa, the sea beast’s enormous gaze paused.

Its submerged tail shifted slightly.

A pillar of water immediately rose in front of the Cosmic Ark.

Then crashed sideways into a concentrated mass of Water force.

BOOM!

Unlike its previous attack, this one did not cover the entire battlefield.

It was aimed directly at Lanh Hoa.

He drew his sword instantly.

Sword energy carrying Fire force erupted before him.

Hao Nhien only needed one glance to know it would not be enough.

The difference was too large.

If Lanh Hoa received the attack directly, he could die.

Hao Nhien did not hesitate.

Wind force around him shifted.

Spirit Wings erupted behind his back for an instant.

His figure vanished.

He appeared beside Lanh Hoa.

One hand seized the man’s shoulder.

“Back!”

The two shot backward.

BOOM!

The heavy wave crashed directly onto the bow.

Not a single crack appeared on the Cosmic Ark.

But the surrounding sea erupted into violent columns of water.

The force of the impact caused repeated distortions in the air before the hull.

Hao Nhien had already escaped the strongest point of impact.

Even so, the shockwave reached him before he could move Lanh Hoa farther inside.

His chest shook violently.

Blood rose into his throat.

Spirit Wings trembled.

Their path shifted several chi.

Hao Nhien had to circulate more True Qi before finally stabilizing them and bringing Lanh Hoa down onto the rear deck.

The moment Lanh Hoa regained his footing, he turned.

“Clan Chief!”

“I’m fine.”

Hao Nhien wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

His face had already paled slightly.

The meridians damaged by Fury had not completely stabilized.

The abrupt burst of force had caused several injured areas to ache again.

The shockwave had also thrown his blood and Qi into disorder.

Lanh Hoa looked at him.

His hand tightened around his sword.

He understood very clearly that without Hao Nhien’s intervention, he would not have been able to stop that attack.

“This subordinate—”

“No need.”

Hao Nhien cut him off.

His eyes remained forward.

“Not now.”

Lang Tuyet had already arrived.

She caught Hao Nhien’s wrist and sent a thin strand of spiritual energy into him.

Her brows drew together.

“Your injuries are not as light as you think.”

“I can still fight.”

“I did not ask whether you could still fight.”

Her voice turned slightly cold.

Hao Nhien looked at her.

In the end, he did not argue.

Lang Tuyet took out a pill.

Before she could hand it over, Little Spirit appeared beside them.

The child stared at the blood at Hao Nhien’s mouth.

Its small face immediately tightened.

“I don’t like that thing.”

Hao Nhien smiled faintly.

“Neither do I.”

Little Spirit turned toward the sea beast.

Its enormous eyes had now shifted from Lanh Hoa to Hao Nhien.

Apparently, the fact that he had escaped one of its attacks had made it recognize that one of these tiny creatures was different from the others.

The Cosmic Ark trembled faintly.

Under Little Spirit’s control, the vessel began turning.

Its bow slowly shifted away from the beast.

Almost at the same moment, broad rings of waves formed ahead.

The pressure around the sea beast changed again.

It was still looking at Hao Nhien.

Lang Tuyet stepped beside him.

“It isn’t letting this go.”

Hao Nhien did not answer.

He had seen multiple Golden Core cultivators and warship formations struggle against one attack.

If the beast attacked again, the current strength of their group would not be enough.

At that moment, an image surfaced in Hao Nhien’s mind.

The ancient painting from the ruins.

A man standing beneath vast emptiness.

Bow drawn.

Arrow pointed toward some impossibly distant target.

Ever since obtaining the Ancient Bow, Hao Nhien had repeatedly tried sending True Qi into it.

He had never truly tested its power.

Perhaps this was the opportunity.

He did not need to defeat the sea beast.

He only needed one attack strong enough to make it understand that attacking the Cosmic Ark carried a cost.

Whether the bow could accomplish that, he did not know.

But among the options available, it was the one most worth trying.

Hao Nhien slowly lifted his left hand.

An old, dark bow appeared.

Its body carried no striking patterns.

No brilliant spiritual light.

No overwhelming aura.

At a glance, it looked almost like an ordinary weapon worn down by countless years.

Yet the instant it appeared, several people aboard one of the Earth Spirit Merchant Association warships changed expression.

A middle-aged man standing beside a defensive formation unconsciously stepped forward.

His gaze locked onto the bow.

A man beside him noticed as well.

His lips moved as though he wanted to speak.

The middle-aged man raised one hand and stopped him.

He said nothing.

He simply continued staring toward Hao Nhien, his expression becoming unusually serious.

Hao Nhien noticed none of this.

His entire attention was on the bow.

His intention moved.

The glossy black arrow appeared in his right hand.

It responded naturally to his summons.

The familiar sensation from the ruins returned.

Yet even now, Hao Nhien still did not understand what connection existed between the bow and arrow.

Lang Tuyet saw what he was doing.

Her expression changed immediately.

“Hao Nhien.”

“I know.”

He did not turn.

“I only want to try once.”

Lang Tuyet fell silent.

She had witnessed the sea beast’s strength.

She knew there were few safe options left.

What concerned her most was that Hao Nhien himself did not know how much power the bow would take from its user.

Hao Nhien placed the arrow against the string.

Then slowly pulled.

His expression changed instantly.

True Qi surged toward the bow at a speed far beyond ordinary control.

The Golden Core trembled repeatedly, transforming spiritual energy in an attempt to replenish the loss.

It could not keep up.

The farther the string was drawn, the greater the pressure became.

The meridians that had not fully healed began to burn.

His blood and Qi gradually destabilized.

Hao Nhien clenched his teeth and continued pulling.

Very quickly, he realized the artifact demanded far more power than expected.

At the same time, a strange sensation appeared within his awareness.

When the arrow pointed toward the sea beast, Hao Nhien did not feel the ordinary sensation of locking onto a target as he did with a flying sword or technique.

Instead, the bow seemed to be searching for something deeper within the creature.

Not scales.

Not flesh.

Not any weakness his spiritual sense could identify.

He did not know what it was.

But he had the distinct impression that the arrow had found it.

His True Qi continued falling.

From seventy percent to fifty.

Then rapidly toward thirty.

By the time less than ten percent remained, Hao Nhien was forced to stop drawing.

The bow still had not reached its full draw.

But his soul had begun to tremble abnormally.

Cold seeped deep into his consciousness.

His thoughts slowed for a fraction of a breath.

He immediately understood.

If he continued forcing it, the bow might take something that could not easily be restored through meditation or pills.

This was his limit.

Hao Nhien looked at the sea beast.

The Water-force fluctuations around it were becoming increasingly obvious.

He had no more time.

Whether the current draw was enough or not, he could only try.

He released the string.

The arrow left the bow.

There was no heaven-shaking explosion.

No blinding spiritual light.

No enormous wave of power sweeping across the sea.

Only an extremely thin black line crossed the air.

Then vanished.

It moved so quickly that most people watching the battlefield did not even realize Hao Nhien had fired.

On the Earth Spirit warship, the middle-aged man who had been watching the bow tightened his hand around the railing the instant the string snapped back.

His gaze shifted immediately toward the sea beast.

Far away, the enormous creature that had been slowly raising more of its body suddenly froze.

A tiny hole appeared in one dark scale.

Compared with the beast’s size, the injury was almost meaningless.

But the instant the arrow struck, the fluctuations radiating from its body became disordered.

The surrounding waters, previously held in tight control, began moving unevenly.

Several newly forming whirlpools collapsed.

The waves that had been pressed flat suddenly rose again.

The sea beast’s enormous eyes widened.

The indifference disappeared completely.

It did not roar.

It did not retaliate.

It simply looked at Hao Nhien.

For a very long time.

Hao Nhien still held the bow.

Almost all the True Qi in his dantian was gone.

His right arm trembled slightly.

Cold pulses continued spreading through his soul.

He knew he could not fire a second arrow.

At that moment, a violent metallic impact rang out from the Earth Spirit fleet.

The enormous chains that had been pulled taut beneath the water suddenly went slack.

Several links tore free from the securing mechanism on deck.

One heavy chain end surfaced among broken timber.

Then sank again, leaving chaotic rings of waves behind.

The sea beast slowly shifted its gaze toward the chains.

It watched them for several breaths.

Then looked back toward Hao Nhien.

Caution had not disappeared from its eyes.

But the Water force around it gradually calmed.

No further attack came.

After a moment of silence, the colossal body began descending.

Seawater poured from its black scales in white waterfalls.

It sank slowly.

There was no panic.

No indication of flight.

It looked more like the beast had considered everything before it and decided that remaining here was no longer necessary.

Before long, the vast back disappeared beneath the waves.

The remaining whirlpools spread outward.

Then gradually faded.

The two fleets remained motionless on the sea.

Hao Nhien looked at the place where the creature had vanished.

Questions remained.

The arrow had left only a tiny wound.

Yet the beast’s reaction had been far greater than expected.

Even more notably, the enormous chains belonging to the Earth Spirit Merchant Association had suddenly lost tension just before the beast withdrew.

He did not know whether those events were related.

Nor could he determine what exactly the arrow had affected.

But at least the attack had ended.

Hao Nhien slowly lowered the bow.

The instant the tension left him, his legs weakened.

With his True Qi almost completely exhausted, his body no longer had enough strength to remain fully stable.

The cold pulses in his soul continued.

His awareness felt slightly sluggish.

Lang Tuyet stepped forward and caught him immediately.

“Hao Nhien!”

“I’m fine…”

His throat felt dry the moment he spoke.

Lang Tuyet looked at his face.

She did not ask another question.

Instead, she placed the pill she had prepared earlier into his palm.

“Swallow it.”

This time, Hao Nhien did not argue.