Chaos Star Sea

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A wave of dizziness hit me, nausea rising, but I couldn't vomit.

Fortunately, it passed quickly, and my mind cleared.

Qi Yuan shook his head, lightly slapping his face to regain focus. Spreading his awareness, he stayed alert while keeping several talismans ready on his sleeves—there was no guarantee the destination would be safe.

Xin Ruyin and Yan Ruyan clung to him on either side, while Xiaomei gripped the back of his robes. Their unease was evident in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Qi Yuan took a careful look around. Though the place was shrouded in darkness, his vision remained clear.

They had arrived in an abandoned stone house, its thick layer of dust proving it had been deserted for a long time.

"It's all right," Qi Yuan reassured them. "We're alone here, and we've safely reached the Chaos Star Sea."

Through his spiritual sense, he confirmed the vast, endless blue ocean outside, verifying their location.

"A strong, rotten smell," Yan Ruyan muttered, covering her nose with a frown.

Xin Ruyin and Xiaomei mirrored her reaction, hands instinctively rising in distaste. The neglected stone house was overgrown with weeds, its stagnant air reeking of decay.

Qi Yuan retrieved a moonstone, its glow illuminating the dim interior. He examined the structure and spoke softly, "Let's go out."

Pushing open the stone door, they were met with a winding green staircase stretching endlessly upward.

Qi Yuan took the lead, guiding the group up the stairs. Before long, a massive boulder blocked their path. With a single strike of his palm, the rock shattered, allowing sunlight to pour in. A rush of fresh, salty air filled their lungs—the unmistakable scent of the sea.

They squinted against the brightness, their expressions shifting to surprise.

The State of Yue lay deep within the southern hinterlands, far from any coastline. For Xin Ruyin, Xiaomei, and Yan Ruyan, this was their first time witnessing the boundless ocean, its tranquil beauty starkly different from their homeland.

The vast blue expanse stretched before them, waves glistening under the sunlight. Seagulls soared against a backdrop of white clouds and a serene sky, stirring a longing for adventure.

"Ruyin, cover the teleportation array with a formation. We'll need it later," Qi Yuan instructed.

"Understood," Xin Ruyin responded immediately, taking out a formation plate and channeling her magic power into it.

With her advanced mastery of formations, she efficiently concealed the ancient teleportation array without needing the Inverted Five Elements Formation.

A short while later, she exhaled lightly, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She knew how important this was to Qi Yuan, so she had spared no effort in securing it.

Qi Yuan took her hand, channeling spiritual power into her palm to help her recover.

Now that their escape route was secured, the next issue was identity.

As outsiders who had arrived in secret, lacking proper documentation would restrict their movements.

The Chaos Star Sea spanned a vast area, its southwestern waters home to three major islands—Kuixing Island, Weixing Island, and Sangxing Island—surrounded by dozens of smaller ones.

On Xiaohuan Island, a rare and fearsome creature known as the Gold-Devouring Bug resided. Unlike the Blood Jade Spider, this violent, voracious insect ranked far higher on the list of exotic beasts.

Qi Yuan had to obtain it.

Summoning his Jiaolong Spirit Shuttle, he and his companions took to the skies, flying over the boundless ocean. Alongside searching for the Gu family merchant ship—which was crucial to their long-term plans—Qi Yuan also sought a local sponsor to legitimize their presence.

As they traveled, he briefed them on the three great natural disasters of the Chaos Star Sea:

1. Sea Beasts – The waters teemed with powerful monsters adept in aquatic magic. Even cultivators of the same level often struggled against them.

2. Sky Winds – These massive hurricanes swept across the sea twice a year, destroying ships, homes, and even killing cultivators caught in their path.

3. Ghost Fog – The most terrifying of all, an unpredictable mist that swallowed entire ships and islands. Any living thing engulfed by it never returned.

Even with their abilities, encountering any of these disasters would be life-threatening.

Yan Ruyan and the others listened in stunned silence, memorizing Qi Yuan's warnings.

After hours of searching with no sign of the Gu family merchant ship, Qi Yuan frowned. If they couldn't find a way to establish themselves soon, they would need another plan.

Without the Gold-Devouring Bug, things could become even more difficult.

Just as he was considering alternatives, they stumbled upon a Kuixing Island official fleeing for his life. The man called out Qi Yuan's name, and seeing an opportunity, Qi Yuan intervened—swiftly eliminating the pursuers.

Grateful, the official agreed to vouch for them. Their fabricated identity was simple: Qi Yuan had been living in seclusion on a remote island with his master, and now that he had progressed in his cultivation, his master had permitted him to explore the world.

Impressed by Qi Yuan's combat prowess, the official had no doubts.

With their new credentials, Qi Yuan secured a place at Dengxian Pavilion, choosing Xiaohuan Island as their base.

Though the island had spiritual veins, its energy was weak, which was why past cultivators had abandoned it.

That didn't concern Qi Yuan for now—his priority was acquiring the Gold-Devouring Bug and establishing a foothold.

The locals were strictly warned to stay away. Then, Qi Yuan and his group began shaping the island to their needs.

- Qi Yuan excavated a mountain cave, creating chambers for meditation, cultivation, and spirit beasts.

- Xin Ruyin led the formation setup, ensuring layers of defensive wards and barriers.

- Xiaomei and Yan Ruyan traveled to the main island to purchase furniture and daily necessities.

Meanwhile, Qi Yuan used his spiritual sense to locate the Gold-Devouring Bug's resting place deep underground.

Descending into a dark, damp cavern, he found an eerie sight—a massive silver cocoon hanging from a lifeless black tree. Closer inspection revealed it was composed of countless wriggling insects.

Gold-Devouring Bugs.

Qi Yuan's eyes gleamed with excitement. Raising his hand, he unleashed a powerful fireball, striking the cocoon dead center.

A sharp buzzing sound erupted.

Boom.

The cocoon exploded, unleashing a storm of silver-winged insects with razor-sharp mandibles.

Qi Yuan dodged their frenzied attacks, testing their speed before releasing his trump card.

Summoning two Blood Jade Spiders, he watched as they instinctively wove webs—an innate fear of their natural predators making the Gold-Devouring Bugs panic.

Within moments, the once-aggressive swarm was trapped in silk, unable to escape.

(End Of Chapter)