Chapter 263 - 260: Oceanic Beast Tide

Flying Demon Beasts blotted out the sun like a dark cloud. Eagles, vultures, rocs, hawks, and every other kind of winged beast descended upon them.

Although they were all just Tier One Demon Beasts and lacked overwhelming power, their sheer numbers were like a tidal wave crashing down upon them. A glint of greed and savagery shone in every eye as they launched a ferocious assault on the Dharma Ship.

At the same time, the sea's surface churned as Water Demonic Beasts broke through the waves—sea eels with razor-sharp teeth, hard-shelled turtles and terrapins, and agile, fish-like Demon Beasts.

They leaped across the surface, some even launching themselves into the air, moving like a well-trained army as they systematically began their siege on the Dharma Ship.

Though none were individually powerful, their sheer numbers and uncanny coordination were enough to create a suffocating crisis.

The arrival of these Demon Beasts instantly transformed the calm ocean, making it fraught with murderous intent.

The Cultivators who had been out on deck getting some fresh air all scrambled back into the ship's cabins at top speed.

This was the first time Jiang Xu had ever seen so many Demon Beasts.

'Aren't there enough Demon Beasts here to be considered a beast tide?'

Just as Jiang Xu was growing anxious, he saw Master Fatty from the next cabin actually open his window, casually stick his head out, and watch the thousands-strong swarm of Demon Beasts with keen interest.

Jiang Xu was utterly dumbfounded. He couldn't believe his eyes.

'Isn't this guy supposed to be a total coward?'

'How can he see a spectacle like this and still have the nerve to stick his head out?'

The man who had seemed so timid before was now casually critiquing the dense, sky-blotting swarm of Demon Beasts outside. His seasoned and composed demeanor completely upended Jiang Xu's impression of him.

Master Fatty's gaze swept over the various Demon Beasts circling in the air. He looked at a powerfully built and exceptionally ferocious eagle, then quipped:

"That eagle must not have caught a decent fish in ages. Look at those scrawny limbs! Why, the fat chickens in my backyard have more fight in them."

He paused, then pointed to a long-whiskered fish that leaped from the sea, smacking his lips.

"Look at that one—so skinny it's nothing but skin and bones. Back home, any kid could reel that in for dinner."

Then, his gaze fell upon the crab-like Demon Beasts skittering across the waves.

"That crab may be a Water Demonic Beast, but look how shriveled it is. I bet it would have trouble cracking a seashell, let alone fighting anyone."

Master Fatty's running commentary was surprisingly playful, as if he were appraising goods at a market stall.

His words revealed a deep familiarity with the creatures before them. He seemed utterly accustomed to such scenes, showing none of the panic and anxiety one would expect from someone facing a massive swarm of Demon Beasts.

It made Jiang Xu all the more curious. What kind of stories and experiences did this seemingly ordinary man have?

Master Fatty, spotting Jiang Xu watching him, just grinned without a care.

"First time sailing, my friend? Never seen this before, eh? Relax. This is just a small appetizer, nothing to write home about. Every voyage has a little 'welcome party' like this. I've seen it so many times over the years I'm bored of it."

'Just a small appetizer?'

Jiang Xu opened his mouth but said nothing.

'It seems my initial impression of Master Fatty was far too shallow.'

'And I've been underestimating the dangers of this voyage.'

'For Master Fatty to travel such a dangerous route year after year... he must be more than he seems.'

"Then what's a real crisis like?" Jiang Xu asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"A real crisis?"

The easygoing expression on Master Fatty's face vanished, slowly replaced by a grave one.

"The Youxian Sea is full of crises. Let's just stick to the topic of Demon Beasts, and I'll lay it all out for you."

"No matter how many Tier One Demon Beasts there are, you can't call it a crisis. At best, they're just snacks to tide you over."

"But then you have Tier Two Demon Beasts. A few, a dozen, even a few dozen of them attacking at once is still manageable. But a large-scale assault? Of the hundreds of people on this Dharma Ship, only some of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators would survive. Everyone else would be slaughtered."

"If Tier One and Tier Two beasts are just a drizzle, then a Tier Three Demon Beast is a full-blown hailstorm."

"Without a Golden Core Cultivator for protection, a single Tier Three Demon Beast can annihilate an entire Tier Three Dharma Ship like this one, leaving no survivors."

"Just in my time, I've heard of at least four Dharma Ships that were attacked by Tier Three Demon Beasts and sent to the bottom of the ocean, never to see the light of day again."

A chill ran down Jiang Xu's spine.

"Are Tier Three Demon Beasts really that powerful? Have you ever encountered one?"

Hearing Jiang Xu's question, Master Fatty seemed to drift off, lost in a distant memory.

"Of course I have. More than once, even. I've spotted them from a distance more than ten times, and as for facing one head-on... that'd be three times."

"You've faced them head-on?!" Jiang Xu exclaimed in shock. 'This guy is that strong?'

"But of course! Who do you think you're talking to?"

Master Fatty gave a smug grin, conveniently forgetting to mention that it was actually a Golden Core Cultivator fighting the Tier Three Demon Beast outside, while he was huddled in his cabin, trembling in fear.

"It was a heart-stopping battle, as clear in my mind as if it happened yesterday." Master Fatty patted his round belly, his face taking on a solemn, haunted expression.

"Let me tell you, about ten years ago, a Tier Three Octopus Demon Beast attacked our Dharma Ship."

"That Tier Three Octopus Demon Beast... it was colossal. Its body was like a mountain lying on the sea, and its eight tentacles were as nimble and powerful as giant pythons. Each strike could raise towering waves that threatened to swallow the world. Its eyes... they glinted with a cold, cunning light that made your blood run cold."

And so, Master Fatty began to recount his tale.

That day, the sky was dark and overcast.

A Tier Three, octopus-like Demon Beast leaped from the depths of the sea, instantly churning the surrounding waters into a black, chaotic frenzy.

The Octopus Demon Beast swung its enormous tentacles, smashing them directly against the Dharma Ship's Protective Array. A series of thunderous explosions rang out, and the array trembled violently, its light flickering as if it would shatter at any moment.

Its massive, iron-hard body then slammed into the Dharma Ship. The hull buckled instantly, and the Protective Array wavered on the brink of collapse.

The Dharma Ship lurched violently under the assault, sending the Cultivators on board tumbling to the deck in terror.

And at that critical juncture, Master Fatty heroically stepped forward.

Master Fatty was like a sliver of bright moonlight suddenly illuminating the dark night sky. He was wreathed in a pale blue mist, as deep and vast as the ocean itself.

His gaze was calm and resolute, utterly fearless in the face of the vicious beast.

Master Fatty formed a hand seal and let out a low shout. An immense surge of Water Attribute Spiritual Power erupted from him, coalescing into a Water Dragon that shot straight toward the attacking Tier Three Octopus Demon Beast.

The moment the Water Dragon collided with the beast's tentacles, the impact created a shockwave that sent waves dozens of meters high crashing across the sea.

In the next instant, Master Fatty flashed through the air, appearing directly above the Demon Beast's head. With a change of his Spell, he instantly activated the Dharma Ship's Defensive Array, pushing its power to the absolute limit and managing to block the beast's relentless attacks.

But he didn't stop there. Hovering in the air, he waved his hand, and countless Water Arrows shot toward the Octopus Demon Beast like a torrential downpour, forcing it to shift its attention from the Dharma Ship to him.

Each volley of Water Arrows drew a pained roar from the beast, gouging deep wounds in its tentacles and staining the azure waves with its blood.

The Octopus Demon Beast roared again and again, its tentacles sweeping through the air in an attempt to swat him down, but he deftly dodged every strike.

The two engaged in a fierce battle in mid-air, a contest so intense it seemed to blot out the sun and moon.

In the end, Master Fatty successfully lured the Demon Beast away, ensuring the safety of the entire Dharma Ship and all the Cultivators on board.

"Sigh... that octopus was truly terrifying. If it hadn't been for that Gol—I mean, for my heroic intervention as Master Fatty, I'm afraid everyone on that ship would have been wiped out."

Jiang Xu hid a smile. It was obvious that the ship's Golden Core Cultivator had been the one to repel the octopus, yet this braggart was taking all the credit.