Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World

Chapter 505: Chapter 273: The Grudge Between Man and Beast (Part 2)

His attention shifted back to the massive Octopus Sea Beast.

Five years ago, he had been stranded on this island because of the Tuoba Race. The very first time he built a raft to return to the mainland, he ran into this very Sea Beast.

At that time, he was still quite well-supplied and had a weapon on him.

He ended up fighting the Sea Beast after it capsized his raft.

Back then, his True Qi was abundant and he was armed. During the battle at sea, he managed to sever one of the Sea Beast’s tentacles before it fled. However, with his True Qi severely depleted and his raft destroyed, he had no choice but to return to the island. His only weapon had also fallen into the sea during the fight.

He ended up being stranded here for five years!

Over those five years, every time he built a raft and tried to set sail, this beast would discover him. It would use its Water Ability to ambush him from the depths and destroy the raft, while also deterring any other passing ships from approaching the island.

Just like that, he was trapped here for five whole years!

Now, his encounter with that strange ship was a long story in itself, but he had once again come face-to-face with the very creature that made him grind his teeth in hatred!

"You were the one who attacked first! Cutting off one of your tentacles was just teaching you a lesson, yet you still act like it was my fault!"

Li Cungang tried to stall for time, hoping to both recover his True Qi and wait for that ship to circle back.

But the Sea Beast clearly had no intention of wasting words with him, not that they could communicate anyway.

Its eight tentacles immediately rose up, and water orbs began to form once more. Seeing this, Li Cungang could only resume his evasive maneuvers...

Back in the cave, Cheng Zongyang skillfully finished setting up a Protective Array in just a quarter of an hour.

Confirming that there were no issues with the Protective Array, he nodded slightly.

’This whole process requires quite a few Spirit Stones. Thankfully, I exchanged my Points for a lot of Middle Grade ones, enough for a Teleportation Array to be used a dozen times or so. Still, this is going to be a major expense in the future,’ Cheng Zongyang muttered to himself.

He then had the Mole Beast flatten a patch of uneven ground he had just found, so he could set up two Teleportation Arrays later.

While he waited, Cheng Zongyang walked to the mouth of the cave and looked out at the sea.

He took out his binoculars and scanned for the Dragon Bone Ship, but his expression flickered with surprise when he saw that man darting and skipping across the water’s surface.

’Is that guy trying to use a Body Technique to get back here?’

Cheng Zongyang immediately guessed the man’s plan. He then scanned the sea for his Dragon Bone Ship.

The Dragon Bone Ship was still sailing outward, putting more distance between them.

But the next moment, Cheng Zongyang saw two enormous tentacles suddenly erupt from the water right in the man’s path.

His eyes were instantly riveted to the scene.

Soon, as their battle unfolded, the Sea Beast’s true form was revealed. When Cheng Zongyang saw what the creature looked like, he was utterly stunned.

’A true deep-sea leviathan.’

Cheng Zongyang continued to watch the spectacle. He also wanted to see who was stronger: the Innate Expert or the Sea Beast.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK."

Just then, the Mole Beast, having finished its work, came to Cheng Zongyang’s side and squeaked twice.

Cheng Zongyang lowered his binoculars and quickly inspected its work. Seeing that the once uneven and rugged area, which had been unsuitable for setting up an Array, was now level, he rewarded the Mole Beast with a Red Blood Pill before recalling it into the Wilderness World.

Then he went back to the cave entrance to continue watching the show.

The intense clash between the man and the beast revealed the advantages of an Innate Expert to Cheng Zongyang!

It was Gang Qi!

Gang Qi for defense, Gang Qi to amplify one’s combat power, and so on!

With Gang Qi, the man was able to neutralize and block nearly all of the Sea Beast’s Water Ability and attacks!

But the Sea Beast’s physical durability was also extremely high. Punches and kicks had little effect on it. What’s more, the beast also knew how to use its Water Ability to protect its body and neutralize the man’s Gang Qi-infused attacks!

’The man has lost.’

After watching for a while longer, Cheng Zongyang came to this conclusion.

At sea, the man was far too restricted. It was the Sea Beast’s home turf—it had every possible advantage!

’An Innate Expert... and a Sea Beast,’ Cheng Zongyang mused, stroking his chin.

He suddenly realized he might be able to make use of these two powerful entities.

Although he was still a Third Grade Martial Artist, he was confident that with another two days, he could reach Second Grade. He was also certain he could become an Innate Expert by the time he set foot in Xiangyang Prefecture—or at the very least, reach the Peak of Grade One!

But if he had a Sea Beast and a man guarding the East Sea Abyss and protecting Reef Island, his most important Transmission Channel, then its security would be greatly increased.

But this was just a fleeting thought; he wasn’t yet sure how he would accomplish it.

’Just don’t die yet,’ Cheng Zongyang muttered. With a single thought, the Dragon Bone Ship ceased its course, spun around, and began sailing back swiftly. He then turned around to finish setting up the Teleportation Array.

The Dragon Bone Ship, returning at full speed, was only a nautical mile or two away from the battlefield within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

At that exact moment, Li Cungang was struck in the back by a surprise water orb from the Sea Beast. With his True Qi depleted and no Gang Qi to protect him, he was hit full-force, spitting out a mouthful of blood as his body was sent flying.

As it happened, the direction he was sent flying was right toward the Dragon Bone Ship.

And thus, a dramatic scene unfolded.

When Li Cungang saw that the ship had somehow returned, he was as ecstatic as if he were seeing a long-lost relative. He paid no mind to crashing into the water; instead, he slapped the surface to propel himself up, mustering his last ounce of strength to rush toward the vessel.

Meanwhile, the Sea Beast saw the ship it so deeply dreaded appear. Seeing the enemy it had nearly killed about to escape, it grew furious and gathered a water orb, launching it toward the vessel.

Li Cungang, who was rushing toward the Dragon Bone Ship with all his might, felt the disturbance behind him and, without a second thought, aborted his momentum and dropped into the water.

But what happened next nearly made his eyes pop out of their sockets!

The water orbs, each powerful enough to kill an Upper Three Grades Martial Artist, were suddenly blocked by an invisible barrier of light just as they were about to hit the ship’s hull.

The water orbs slammed into the barrier, creating nothing more than concentric ripples. The ship’s course and speed were completely unaffected!

"My heavens, this... this is... this is! This is!!"

Gradually, something dawned on Li Cungang. As the realization hit him, his mouth fell open, so overcome with excitement that he was nearly speechless!

His mouth flapped open and closed, but he was too overwhelmed to form any words.

As for the Sea Beast, it was utterly shocked to see all its attacks blocked so easily. It seemed to recall the entity that resided at the bottom of the East Sea Abyss, and with a jolt of fear, it turned, dived, and fled with all haste!

"The Cultivators... from hundreds of years ago!!!" Li Cungang finally managed to suppress his excitement enough to blurt out the thought that had seized his mind!

The next moment, he didn’t hesitate. He slapped the surface of the sea with both hands, launching his body out of the water. After a few more leaps, he landed on the deck of the approaching ship.

"I am Li Cungang! Thank you, Senior, for putting aside our previous conflict and saving my life!"

As his feet touched the deck, Li Cungang immediately dropped to one knee, lowered his head, and shouted with a cupped fist.

However, the entire ship remained silent. Li Cungang waited for a moment, noticing that the vessel was simply moving slowly toward the island, but there was no other response.

But the next moment, he remembered the person who had gone ashore. His expression changed instantly, and he cupped his fist again. "I have offended the Immortal Master’s vessel! I beg the Immortal Master’s forgiveness!"

Again, there was only silence.

Finally, he could only stand stiffly on the deck and wait.

Waiting for the ship to reach the shore.

But even now, his heart refused to be still!

He never imagined that a legendary Immortal would appear before him just like that.

’I should have realized it sooner,’ he thought. ’A ship that sails without sails or oars, that can intimidate a Sea Beast, and that travels in broad daylight... how could it possibly be some unheard-of "eerie object"!’

His mind raced as he began to plan how he should act when he finally met this Immortal Master.

For hundreds of years, countless people had sought the path to break through the Innate realm. The only known way, according to the few remaining records, was through the Cultivators who had all vanished centuries ago!

But over these past centuries, who knows how many Innate Great Perfection experts had died on their quest to find these Immortals. They had traveled the Seven Kingdoms and explored the outer seas countless times, yet never found a single trace.

Countless brilliant and talented experts could only die, filled with unwillingness and regret, when their lifespans reached their natural end!

He, Li Cungang, was also a genius Martial Artist. He had reached the Innate realm at thirty-nine and achieved Innate Late Stage Cultivation by fifty-one. He had gone to sea to prepare for his own quest to find an Immortal and the method to break past the Innate realm.

Ever since reaching the Innate realm, he had been scouring the seas, only to find nothing. Ultimately, he ended up trapped on this island for five years.

He never thought that this misfortune would turn into a blessing in disguise, leading him to unexpectedly encounter someone who was likely a legendary Cultivator!

Anyone in his position would be ecstatic!

However, as the ship drew closer to the island, Li Cungang noticed that it didn’t approach the shore. Instead, it began to circle the island again.

This confused him, but given the circumstances, he could only sit down on the deck and begin Breath Regulation to recover from his injuries and restore his True Qi.

Whatever the outcome, all he could do was wait quietly.