Chapter 230: Fight
Within the sea of knowledge, the Vortex underwent a miraculous transformation after absorbing the divine light released by True Man Shen Jue. However, Luis didn't have time to examine this change.
"Luis?"
Fairy Chi Yao frowned as she noticed him distracted and called out softly.
"Um?"
Luis snapped back to his senses. "Don't blame me, Fairy. I think I've come up with a way to completely eliminate the old demon Shen Jue!"
"What is the solution?"
Fairy Chi Yao's eyes suddenly lit up, disregarding his earlier distraction. "My method is very simple."
As Luis outlined his plan, her eyes grew even brighter. "But will the old demon Shen Jue be fooled?" she asked.
"Maybe, maybe not—I can only take a gamble," Luis replied solemnly. "This time, the old demon Shen Jue has lost his immortal clone and the ability to mass-produce Foundation Building corpse servants.
For him, these Foundation Building corpse servants are significant; he's bound to take the risk!"
"Good!"Fairy Chi Yao nodded. "Then let's give it a try!"
Guang'an Prefecture.
Twin Lake Island.
The fourth-level defense formation covering the entire island had already been activated. Outside the transparent light curtain of the fourth-level defense formation, Sun Mang, accompanied by five Half Step Golden Core corpse servants, shouted, "Are all the Hartmann family cultivators a bunch of cowards? If you have the guts, don't hide—come out and fight me!"
"Boom!!"
As he spoke, Sun Mang punched against the light curtain of the third-level defense formation. But his blow posed no threat to the barrier.
This infuriated him even more; he hadn't expected that a small, little-known family in Guang'an Prefecture could actually set up a third-level defensive formation.
After all, to establish a third-level formation, there must be at least one third-order spiritual vein or higher on the small island ahead to support it.
Inside the third-level defense formation, Arthur and a group of monks observed the furious Sun Mang outside with impassive expressions.
Alongside the Hartmann family cultivators, a sturdy mermaid and a petite female mermaid hovered in the air, standing with everyone.
Luo Xiuyuan, the mermaid patriarch, was in his human form. "Let me solve this," he declared, then vanished from his spot.
As if sensing something, Sun Mang turned around and suddenly saw a ray of light strike his body.
The impact smashed him against the light curtain of the third-level defensive formation, and he was violently bounced off.
Under such a fierce attack, his body was shattered; his flesh disintegrated and fell into the sea, dyeing its surface red.
"That was a close call!"
Despite the fury on Sun Mang's face, he was suddenly struck with shock. Had he not dodged in time, the attack would have pierced his dantian and shattered his corpse pill.
For zombies, the corpse pill is even more vital than the head. At the Half Step Golden Core level, destroying a zombie's head doesn't hinder its recovery much, but if its corpse pill is damaged, it loses the ability to restore its body—and therefore, its power.
This is precisely why Sun Fu had fought so hard to protect his own dantian when battling Luis.
For most monks who cannot break through their defenses, the location of the dantian isn't a weakness. But for someone like Luo Xiuyuan, who can penetrate such defenses, the dantian becomes the enemy's biggest vulnerability.
Consequently, every one of his attacks was aimed at Sun Mang's dantian.
Amid Sun Mang's furious clamor, Luo Xiuyuan paid him no heed. Being a member of the mermaid clan, he possessed the strength to survive in the deep sea—where there's no room for idle talk or compromise.
After his battle with Zhou Mubai, he had gained a clearer sense of his own power. With his ability to control water, he was likely more intimidating than a Golden Core cultivator in group attacks against low-level opponents.
In one-on-one combat, his strength might be only slightly higher, but the mutation bestowed by the vortex made him exceptionally formidable.
He wasted no time. Channeling the power of the waves, he instantly annihilated the less intelligent zombies. Being a vassal of the Hartmann Family was his greatest stroke of luck.
After all, the Sea of Ten Thousand Stars is the sea of the human race—if you want to survive in it, whether you are mermaids or any other alien race, you must learn to rely on the support of humanity.
"The Mermaids?"While watching the battle, a gentle voice reached Luo Xiuyuan's ears—it was Chi Yao.
He turned sharply toward the sound and saw Luis and several female cultivators aboard a flying warship. Luis nodded at him.
"Impossible! Impossible! How could you become so strong? I don't believe it, I don't believe it!!" the voice exclaimed.
Meanwhile, Sun Mang looked like a madman, his fangs bared and the air reeking of corpses.
Without wasting another moment, Luo Xiuyuan summoned his water skill and forced Sun Mang's body downward into the sea. In the deep water, his strength would only continue to grow.
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The next day, in Sea View City, the bustling streets and the endless stream of people filled the fairy city. Fairy Chi Yao turned to Luis and said, "Fellow Daoist Luis, I'm sorry for bothering you these past few days."
"You're too polite, Fairy. I haven't even had a chance to thank you for your help, so why would I trouble you?" Luis replied with a smile as he bowed.
Soon, a vast spiritual palace appeared before the three of them.
"This spiritual palace is where I practice in this fairy city. I apologize to both of you for resting here for a few days," Luis explained.
"I can't believe how beautiful the environment is here!" Yue'e exclaimed, sweeping her spiritual sense over the surroundings. Luis smiled slightly.
To build this spiritual palace, the Hartmann family had spent nearly one million spirit stones.
It not only houses several main spiritual eyes from third-order spiritual veins but also contains various alchemy rooms, weapon refining rooms, talisman-making rooms, and special retreat chambers. In addition, ornamental gardens, spiritual lakes, and artificial forests have been constructed, and various rare ornamental spiritual animals and fish are raised here, providing a serene place to relax after practice.
Although this spiritual palace may not compare to the fairy cave palace of Fairy Chi Yao, it is still considered one of the top cultivation sites among the major clans in Guang'an Prefecture.
Luis built this spiritual palace not for his own practice, but to provide a place for Hartmann Family members to build their foundation and even break through to the Foundation Building stage.
In the next year, many foundation-building cultivators are expected to emerge from the Hartmann family.
The three of them stepped into the spiritual palace.
After a brief introduction, Luis handed a jade token that controlled the palace's formation to Fairy Chi Yao, then bowed to both of them and said, "In that case, I won't disturb your practice any further. Goodbye!"
Fairy Chi Yao smiled and nodded, "Fellow Daoist Luis, take care."
Yue'e added with a smile, "We won't send you off."
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Luis smiled, then disappeared with a flash of light.
Watching him leave, Yue'e looked teasingly at Fairy Chi Yao and said, "Senior Sister, you seem too polite with Taoist Luis. Could it be..."
"He is handsome, talented, and well-mannered. Isn't it normal for me to have a crush on him?" Fairy Chi Yao replied, looking at Yue'e with a hint of amusement.
"Senior Sister, you really aren't interested in him, are you? You have a crush on someone—you like him and want to be his Taoist partner, right?"
Chi Yao tapped Yue'e's smooth white forehead with her jade finger, smiled, and shook her head, "You!"
"Hey, stop nodding my head—I'm not a child anymore!" Yue'e protested.
Yue'e spoke angrily.
Outside the spiritual palace, Luis flew straight toward Hartmann Island and, in less than the time it takes to burn half a cup of tea, rushed back to Twin Lake Island Port.
"Patriarch Luo, your kindness in helping me this time will be remembered forever by our Hartmann family," Luis said.
"Thank you, Boss. I am not worthy of your kindness," replied Luo Xiuyuan humbly.
"My mermaid race is originally a subsidiary branch of the Hartmann family. When foreign enemies attack our family, they are also attacking my mermaids. How can my people simply sit and watch?" Luo Xiuyuan said.
"Okay, I won't say more," Luis replied after a moment's thought. Then he continued, "Since you mermaids remain loyal to our Hartmann family, we will not be ungrateful. I know that many of your kind are imprisoned by the Zhou family on Lingbei Island, right?"
"That is true!" Luo Xiuyuan answered, his voice trembling with excitement as he understood Luis's meaning.
"I can help you get them back," Luis offered.
"My Lord, are you serious about this?" Luo Xiuyuan flew forward excitedly, grabbing Luis's arm, his eyes slightly red.
"Of course I take it seriously," Luis replied, nodding.
"Well!" Luo Xiuyuan was so excited that he became nearly incoherent. He pretended to kneel and kowtow to Luis, but Luis stopped him with a shake of his head.