Chapter 107: Chapter 42 Exploring the Secrets of the East Sea, Revisiting the Old Ground
Luo Yan, in his quest to find an island to refine the Five Elements True Veins, had flown eastward on the Flying Sword for a long time.

Shi Liuli, however, had never ventured so deeply into the East Sea. Hearing her father mention that the deeper parts of the East Sea were filled with increasingly formidable water Demons, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation and curiosity.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the two had encountered another attack.

The attacker this time was a giant squid, about nine yards wide with a white body and purple stripes. It raised its tentacles and with a rustling sound, water Arrows were swiftly shot out, attacking the Sword Light that streaked across the sky.

Shi Liuli, spotting the attack from below, was just about to bring out the Jade Emperor Bell to defend herself when Luo Yan suddenly grabbed her and quickly rolled to the side.

This was because the shape of the water Arrows was eerily similar to the “Rain After a Mountain’s Silence,” the second layer of Sword Dao Techniques of the Green Duckweed Sword, likely with the ability to breach defenses.

As expected, the water Arrows treated the protective shield of the Jade Emperor Bell as if it were nothing, piercing through it without any impediment.

Fortunately, Luo Yan had urgently pulled Miss Shi, preventing the water Arrows from penetrating her skull—instead, they shattered her hairpin, releasing her long, waterfall-like black hair.

Realizing her favorite hairpin had been destroyed, Shi Liuli was almost beside herself with anger. She let out a cry and brought out the Divine Striking Whip, slamming down with all her might!

The giant squid, sensing danger, tried to sink and escape by undulating its body.

But the Divine Striking Whip was even faster. It severed two of its tentacles and smashed onto its head, creating a huge bloody hole.

The giant squid first sank vertically, then floated up horizontally, clearly having met its demise.

Shi Liuli then descended with the Sword Light and said to Luo Yan,

“Junior Brother, help me check if it has an inner core.”

“Senior Sister,” Luo Yan replied helplessly, “only Demonic Beasts of the Transformation Rank have inner cores.”

The so-called Transformation Rank referred to Demonic Beasts transforming from beast form to human form, equivalent to the Golden Core Rank of human Cultivators.

If the two encountered a Transformation Rank Demonic Beast in the territory of the East Sea, their first instinct would surely be to flee—there were no other options.

“Is that so?” Shi Liuli was still doubtful, “But this squid was so powerful that it could even break through the defenses of my Jade Emperor Bell; it seems like its Cultivation Realm can’t be far off.”

“That’s true,” Luo Yan patiently explained. The innate Divine Ability of this squid must have had the effect of breaking defenses. That’s how it was able to ignore the protection of the Jade Emperor Bell and shatter the hairpin on Miss Shi’s head.

In terms of strength, it would be considered as mid to lower level within the Refining Mansion Rank, and even more fragile than a Cultivator of the same Rank.

“Really?” Shi Liuli was still somewhat skeptical but then had a sudden inspiration. She asked Luo Yan to help her dissect the giant squid, catch more fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish, and then find a nearby island to have a barbecue.

After hearing Miss Shi’s request, Luo Yan couldn’t help but admire her wildly imaginative thought process.

It took a special kind of whimsy for someone who was planning on exploring an uninhabited relic one moment to then suddenly decide to kill seafood for a feast the next.

Since this Miss had always been spoiled, if you tried to remonstrate with her and went against her wishes, she would definitely throw a little tantrum.

“Alright, then I’ll look for a small island first,” Luo Yan placated her.

He took out the Flying Sword and cut the giant squid into pieces, storing them in the Storage Bag.

Then, he led Miss Shi along their previous route; eventually, they reached the island they had used before for Cultivating the Five Elements Divine Light.

As soon as Shi Liuli arrived above the island, she immediately took an interest.

Probably because the island had both beautiful mountains and seas, lush forests, and fine sandy beaches, fitting the criteria for a seaside holiday destination in every respect.

Mainly, it was because someone had restored the island after achieving great success in the Divine Light and had also balanced the Five Element Spiritual Energy, making the place teem with life.

She descended, kicked off her shoes and socks, and started playing with the water on the beach. Meanwhile, Luo Yan, controlling the Sword, quietly went to the nearby sea surface and using the Sword Dao Techniques of Qing Ping, caught many fish and shrimp.

He then chopped some trees to set up a grill on the beach and started getting busy.

Miss Shi, hailing from the East Sea, was naturally accustomed to the oceans and the beaches. It was just her first time venturing deep into an uninhabited island in the East Sea, and the unfamiliar environment was a novelty to her for a moment.

It wasn’t long before she tired of playing and came back to watch over the grill. Using Flying Sword, she poked at the fish and shellfish cooking on it. As each piece finished, she ate it, her mouth dripping with oil, her brows dancing with delight, and she was extremely happy.

Luo Yan saw her display such a gourmet’s expression and decided to try some of the grilled fish as well.

Indeed, the quality of the sea fish here was even more succulent and tender, rich and juicy.

It probably had something to do with the higher ranks of the deep-sea Demonic Beasts here, though the fundamental reason remained unknown.

After finishing their seafood barbecue, both of them felt satisfied and content.

Though those who pursue Cultivating Immortality have taken up Fasting and have no need for food, occasionally indulging in the desires of the palate was not a loss of the joys of the Mortal World.

Having refined away the impurities within his stomach, Luo Yan then gracefully stood up, thinking that now they should surely be able to return, right?

Then, he heard Miss Shi declare,

“This little island will be mine from now on. Junior brother, how about we build a hut here and reside to cultivate quietly for a few days?”

Luo Yan almost spat out blood upon hearing this.

To leave without saying goodbye was one thing, but to stay outside for a few more days—Elder Shi Ding would surely flay my skin!

“Senior sister, this doesn’t seem appropriate, does it? If our master finds out…”

“You don’t understand.” Shi Liuli patiently and persuasively said, “If we were to return right now, father would definitely fly into a rage and hold us accountable for leaving the Sect without cause and for destroying Sect property.”

“If we return after a day, father will start to worry. He’ll think that as long as the two of us can safely return, all previous mistakes will be wiped clean.”

“If we return after two days, father will start all manner of praying, swearing to give us more Magical Treasures and Spirit Weapons, just hoping that we can come back alive.”

Luo Yan was stunned speechless.

What a strategy! Is this what they call “being spoiled into filial piety”?

However, this also showed that Miss Shi was not lacking in intelligence. At the very least, she had the emotional intelligence to understand people’s nature.

The reason she usually seemed foolish was only due to her limited interactions and lack of worldly wisdom.

The two of them then cleaned up the barbecue setup. Miss Shi put on her shoes and socks, planning to take a walk in the forest, with Luo Yan naturally accompanying her.

As they strolled along the forest paths, they eventually came upon the entrance that led to the cave where Luo Yan had previously cultivated.

“Junior brother, look! There’s a crevice!” Miss Shi exclaimed with great excitement, “Could there be a secret realm inside?”

If there truly was a secret realm, I’d hail Miss Shi as a Creator God!

Luo Yan inwardly scoffed, but replied aloud:

“Indeed… looking at the outline of this crevice, it doesn’t seem natural. There might actually be another world underneath, it’s possible.”

“You think so too?” Shi Liuli, intrigued, lifted her Divine Striking Whip and struck directly at the crevice.

The passage, which had originally been blocked due to the collapse caused by Luo Yan’s Divine Light, was quickly cleared.

“There really are ruins!” Miss Shi finally spotted the man-made stone steps at the bottom of the passage, and immediately became excited, clapping her hands and laughing, “If I’m not mistaken, there must be immortals living here!”

Luo Yan: …

There were no immortals, but there was indeed one dead powerful being.

Just as he was thinking of an excuse not to go, Shi Liuli had already grabbed his hand, not taking no for an answer, and dragged him into the crevice.