What Are You Laughing At

Yuyu quickly nodded, flicking her tail to hide behind a massive reef, only peeking out with half her head as she nervously watched the scene unfold.

"It's... it's gonna be a fight."

The serpentine shadow finally revealed its full form—a colossal snake over five hundred zhang long, its scales etched with ancient patterns. A pair of small fleshy protrusions crowned its head, a clear sign it was on the verge of transforming into a flood dragon.

Its crimson eyes locked onto Ye Chuan, and its maw gaped open, revealing rows of needle-like fangs. "Brat, you dare kill in my domain? Today, you’ll learn what it feels like to be devoured by ten thousand serpents!"

With that, the giant snake lunged, its body churning the surrounding seawater into a swirling vortex spanning thousands of zhang. Countless toxic water arrows shot toward Ye Chuan from the whirlpool.

"Is this all a Dao Comprehension cultivator can do?" Ye Chuan scoffed, teleporting away from the vortex. With a swing of his spirit sword, countless sword energies surged forth, forming a torrent of spiritual power that slashed toward the serpent.

The snake’s eyes flashed with disdain as it whipped its tail, summoning a watery barrier to block the attack. "Fool!"

Chanting under its breath, the serpent caused the surrounding waters to boil. Dozens of spectral green snake phantoms emerged, swarming Ye Chuan from all directions.

Unfazed, Ye Chuan continued weaving his sword, slicing through the phantoms with precise strikes. Simultaneously, he teleported above the serpent’s head, channeling spiritual power into his blade before delivering a devastating slash toward the fleshy protrusions—its weak point.

"You seek death!" The serpent, caught off guard by Ye Chuan’s speed, barely raised its horns to block.

A deafening clash erupted, sparks flying as the serpent was forced back several zhang. A gash split open on its protrusions, oozing black blood.

"A mere Spirit Manifestation human cultivator... actually wounded me?!" The serpent seethed, its killing intent intensifying.

It abruptly spat a beam of destructive green light, lancing toward Ye Chuan.

Ye Chuan stood motionless, allowing the beam to strike him—only for the attack to be completely absorbed by his Indestructible Chaos Body, vanishing without a trace.

"What?!" The serpent recoiled in shock. Even Dao Comprehension cultivators wouldn’t dare take that attack head-on, yet this Spirit Manifestation human had nullified it effortlessly.

Impossible!

This had to be a joke!

Ye Chuan teleported behind the serpent in an instant, his sword aiming for its vital spot once more.

The serpent writhed in agony, thrashing violently to shake him off.

The battle between man and serpent turned the seabed into a turbid battlefield, reefs shattering under the force of their clashes.

From a distance, Yuyu watched with bated breath, her tiny fists clenched in worry for Ye Chuan.

Ye Chuan only grew fiercer, realizing that while the serpent’s cultivation surpassed his, its speed and agility fell short. Exploiting his teleportation, he relentlessly ambushed the beast, his sword leaving countless wounds across its body.

"Foolish human, do you even have enough spiritual power to last in the Demon Sea?" The serpent’s eyes gleamed with cunning.

Most cultivators expended energy resisting the demonic miasma here, while sea-dwelling demons like itself thrived in their home terrain. Many powerful humans had been worn down and slaughtered in these very waters by weaker demons.

"Enough spiritual power?" Ye Chuan raised an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting you can outlast me?"

"Hah! Whatever freakish physique lets you fight me toe-to-toe won’t save you. In half an hour, you’ll be drained dry!" The serpent sneered, confident in its assessment.

Ye Chuan burst out laughing.

The serpent’s massive eyes narrowed. "What’s so funny?"

"You ask me that?" Ye Chuan sheathed his sword, his aura skyrocketing.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I haven’t even used a tenth of my strength yet. Hell, I haven’t even bothered with techniques."

The serpent stiffened. "You—you’re lying! A Spirit Manifestation cultivator, holding back against a higher realm?!"

"I just needed a Dao Comprehension punching bag." Ye Chuan crooked a finger.

"Killing you? One move is enough."

"Arrogant worm! I’ll make you regret those words!" Enraged, the serpent unleashed its full Dao Comprehension aura, shaking the abyssal depths.

"Die!"

It spat another beam—this one magnitudes more devastating than before.

Yet Ye Chuan merely lifted a hand.

"Primordial Surge—"

A pale gray beam erupted, colliding with the green light. But instead of an explosion, the gray energy disintegrated the attack entirely before engulfing the serpent.

"N-no! This can’t—!"

The serpent shrieked as its body began dissolving under the beam’s power, movements slowing to a crawl.

Seizing the moment, Ye Chuan teleported before it, sword flashing. A single slash—and the serpent’s head tumbled free.

Its fleeing soul was promptly captured by Ye Chuan’s Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

[Dao Comprehension soul absorbed. Banner’s attributes +100%.]

The banner’s crimson glow intensified, its power surging once more.

Ye Chuan stowed it away, musing to himself.

Am I... too strong?

Wait, no—it’s Lilith’s buffs that are broken. Infinite mana plus percentage-based true damage?

Terrifying.

Shaking off the thought, he waved at Yuyu behind the reef. "Oi, let’s go."

Yuyu darted out, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "You’re amazing, Savior! You even beat a Dao Comprehension serpent! That was one of the Serpentfolk’s elders!"

So cool!

Ye Chuan shrugged. "It was alright. Are there stronger Serpentfolk?"

"Um... I dunno, but I think they have beings way beyond Dao Comprehension?" Yuyu tapped her chin, tail swishing thoughtfully.

"Way beyond?" Ye Chuan pondered briefly. "Whatever. Onward."

"Okay!"

The two continued toward the Merfolk territory, with Yuyu playing tour guide, pointing out bizarre sea flora and glowing jellyfish drifting past.

"Savior, look! Those are glow-weeds. They shine brighter at night—we Merfolk use them to light our way!"

Her tail flicked as she twirled around a translucent seaweed, her scales scattering flecks of light in the dark waters.