No

The white rainbow gradually subsided, and the sea level surged.

Half of Xu Linglong's avatar was completely annihilated by this sword strike. The remaining half began to twist bizarrely, subsequently transforming into a complete, albeit significantly smaller, version of Xu Linglong.

"The Body Integration Realm... That is indeed somewhat inadequate to look at."

As Xu Linglong spoke, her figure rapidly retreated backward, and then she chuckled softly,

"Fortunately, I have made other preparations. Since I have come today, I cannot let you leave unsatisfied."

As her voice fell, a monstrous wave surged beneath Xu Linglong's feet. Then, several bizarre crimson tentacles extended from the surface of the sea, shielding her.

As the tentacles emerged from the seabed, their owner also revealed its form.

If described in Chu Xingchen's words, it would roughly be a super-giant octopus with red tribal tattoos and a grotesque appearance.

Xie Lingyu's expression remained unchanged; her spiritual sense had long captured this behemoth beneath the sea.

Its aura was extremely strange, and its cultivation system seemed to have been altered. If judged by human cultivator realms, it would be around the Soul Formation Realm.

Sometimes, the disparity in realms cannot be bridged merely by a massive physical size.

The octopus had also taken the brunt of the sword strike just now, having one of its tentacles severed and sunk into the seabed.

As Bai Xuanling's sole true disciple, Xie Lingyu's foundational standards were cultivated according to those of a core disciple.

She was only ever the one to kill enemies above her realm; how could she possibly be injured by such a wild beast?

Xie Lingyu's eyes were calm. If Xu Linglong's so-called preparation was just this octopus, then let alone making her feel satisfied, it probably wouldn't even force her to fight seriously.

"Regret—Endless."

Xie Lingyu softly chanted, and the hand holding her spirit sword moved slightly.

Before the white light even appeared, the sword intent had already arrived.

Xie Lingyu's figure dissipated from her original spot. The spirit sword in her hand seemed not to have even been raised, yet the tentacles of the octopus protecting Xu Linglong were entirely erased out of thin air.

Xu Linglong's eyes widened. She had seen this move before—Bai Xuanling had once severed her hand with this very sword strike in the past.

She never expected to see this technique displayed by Xie Lingyu today.

It was immature... but it truly possessed Bai Xuanling's elegance.

If given time, this Xie Lingyu might very well become the next Bai Xuanling.

Indeed, when the Heavenly Dao changed again, geniuses rained down, and time waited for no one.

Before the octopus could unleash any of its abilities, it almost instinctively smashed its head toward Xie Lingyu.

Xie Lingyu did not even cast a glance, nor did the spirit sword in her hand change, yet the octopus's head was directly sent flying by an invisible sword intent.

Blue blood splattered in all directions, falling down like a heavy rain.

Formless sword intent surged around Xie Lingyu, completely blocking all the filthy blood. She stared at Xu Linglong, but in the next moment, her gaze shifted slightly to look beside Xu Linglong, and the spirit sword in her hand finally underwent a change.

Boom!

Xie Lingyu's longsword shifted and slashed down.

One sword strike pierced through the vast sea.

The white light descended, and the sword intent pushed back the ocean.

Within the white light and sword intent, the figure of a sea demon was revealed. It wore heavy crimson armor specially forged for it and held a trident-like spirit treasure weapon, while the blood origin power of the Heavenly Demons emanated from its body.

As the sword pressure struck down, before this sea demon could even make a move, Xie Lingyu's sword shattered its armor and snapped the trident in its hands.

Xie Lingyu leaned forward slightly, standing in the distance, and slowly delivered another sword strike.

In the next moment, the sea demon that was still trying to hold on was decapitated by a single strike.

Sometimes, the methods of profound sword cultivators were so bizarre that they defied comprehension.

Taking advantage of this brief moment, Xu Linglong's figure shifted much further away. A look of astonishment reappeared on her face:

"I have underestimated you. A Body Integration Realm sea demon actually couldn't last even a few rounds in your hands."

Xie Lingyu raised her eyes slightly but did not reply, directing her sword intent straight at Xu Linglong.

Her master had taught her about the moments between life and death.

No one would speak nonsense, nor could they afford the time to speak nonsense and distract themselves.

Those who spoke were either a realm higher in cultivation and wanted to disgust their opponent before killing them.

Or they were stalling for time, seeking variables and preparing to use some dirty tricks.

If one hadn't prepared any extra tricks, remaining silent and directly using all one's strength to kill the opponent was the only choice.

Xu Linglong was obviously not the first type, so it had to be the second.

Xie Lingyu also had nothing to say to Xu Linglong, though the sword in her hand did have a few strands of sincere sword intent to express.

Xu Linglong's eyes remained calm, and then four more Body Integration Realm sea demons revealed their figures.

Xie Lingyu's standard far exceeded expectations, and she had absolutely no interest in exchanging words. Continuing to use piecemeal tactics would probably fail to even stall for time.

It wasn't that there were no Mahayana Realm sea demons in the Eastern Sea, but because the human race had swept through them in the past, the extremely scarce numbers left them with nothing but fear toward humans.

This was especially true for the higher-level sea demons. The humans who had killed demons until their eyes turned red back then were truly pure butchers.

To control a Mahayana Realm sea demon, apart from Xu Linglong having to capture it personally, she also had to use additional methods to manipulate its mind, which placed an extremely heavy burden on Xu Linglong's sea of consciousness.

Moreover, they were exceedingly rare, highly scattered, and possessed excellent concealment methods. In comparison, it was much more convenient to cultivate them herself.

This was also the reason why Boluo had said there was no power worth regretting in the Eastern Sea.

Based on Xie Lingyu's current performance, unless Xu Linglong caught a Mahayana sea demon on the spot, or her true body came personally, she really wouldn't be able to let Xie Lingyu enjoy herself this time.

However...

The real trump card was not these sea demons.

It was Donggua, whom Chu Xingchen had brought onto the ship. If Chu Xingchen could incite the pitiful little Donggua to defect, why couldn't she, Xu Linglong, win the pitiful little Donggua back?

In order to protect that ship, Xie Lingyu had suppressed the battle to a very distant location with her sword.

At this moment, only Donggua and Chu Xingchen were left on the ship.

So what if he had the Innate Primordial Qi-Fixing Dual Pearls? Xu Linglong had left a strand of power in Donggua's sea of consciousness.

As long as Donggua was willing, and as long as Chu Xingchen's cultivation had truly not recovered, a single strike might actually take Chu Xingchen's life. Even if it couldn't kill him, as long as Chu Xingchen was severely injured by this strike...

Then...

Xu Linglong would naturally be willing to come in her true body and end Chu Xingchen's life on the spot. Trading one for one would not be considered a loss for her.

As long as the title of the Child of Heaven, which Chu Xingchen used to justify his authority, was gone, the situation of the eighteen immortal sects completely going their separate ways could be foreseen.

The corners of Xu Linglong's mouth curled into a smile.

The seeds planted casually in the past always managed to play a role at inconspicuous yet critical moments.

It was not in vain that she had maintained this habit over the years.

On the great wave-riding ship.

The aftermath of the battle between the Body Integration cultivators ahead was fierce, triggering the protective formation mechanisms of the entire ship.

Furthermore, this mechanism was rendered extremely bright by the shockwaves, as if it would overload at any moment.

Donggua was still responsible for steering this giant vessel, firstly to keep it steady, and secondly to adjust the state of this array mechanism.

The battle ahead had only just begun, and after witnessing Xie Lingyu's elegance, Donggua felt a profound sense of envy.

However, in the next moment.

Donggua, who was still observing, suddenly stiffened, and the large ship immediately began to violently pitch and roll.

Donggua's utterly terrified mind had yet to recover.

Chu Xingchen's puzzled voice came over:

"Donggua, is something wrong?"

Donggua froze for a moment, but subconsciously replied:

"N-nothing."

Only after the words were spoken did Donggua snap back to its senses and realize what it had just said.

It had said... nothing.