Chapter 233: Are You Here to Cause Trouble?

On the deck, Chen Xun set up a grill, using spiritual herbs as seasoning. Their appetites were enormous, and today's catch was just enough to satisfy them.

Brother Ox and Xiao Chi sat together, chatting casually. Xiao Chi’s eyes showed a flicker of deep fear as he muttered occasionally, “Great Master of Heaven.” He still couldn’t believe that Brother Xun and Brother Ox had once been suppressed by such an overpowering figure—someone they hadn’t dared to resist. In his heart, Xiao Chi swore that if he ever encountered such a figure, he would drop to his knees immediately, never risking offense.

As Chen Xun grilled the seafood, he occasionally glanced at the floating sea map. They were now at the very edge of the Western Sea, where heavenly treasures and spiritual herbs were as abundant as the stars.

Buzz.

The giant ship sailed forward, gliding gently over the vast and mysterious sea. Amid the rolling waves, it appeared like a lone ant in an endless ocean. Before long, the ship was swallowed by the waves, vanishing into the horizon.

For half a month, they continued fishing in the open sea. Xiao Chi had grown more cheerful, even trying his hand at grilling like Chen Xun, though he often ended up with soot all over his face.

They hadn’t encountered any merchant ships on their route, as they had taken a path far removed from the usual routes used by ordinary cultivators.

Today, an uninhabited island slowly came into view. The island, brimming with spiritual energy, wasn’t marked on any map they had.

Standing at the bow of the ship, Chen Xun smiled. “This island is unclaimed, not on any map. By my calculations, we shall declare ourselves the lords of this land!”

“Mo?!”

“Brother Xun, are we just going to take it like that?”

“What else?” Chen Xun crossed his arms, letting out a cold chuckle. “If there’s a spirit stone vein here and anyone dares challenge us, I’ll use the Ascension Three Techniques and put them into an eternal slumber.”

“Mo mo mo~” Brother Ox laughed heartily. Brother Xun was indeed formidable.

“Brother Xun, you’re amazing!” Xiao Chi cheered, leaping excitedly. The vastness of the sea and the speed of the ship were beyond anything they had imagined—they had no idea where they had ended up.

The ship slowly docked at the shore, and the three of them flew onto the island. The island was covered in dense forests and teeming with strange spiritual beasts.

Chen Xun and Brother Ox expanded their divine sense, scanning the island thoroughly. Though vast, the island was beyond the complete reach of their Nascent Soul-level senses. However, they detected no sign of any Nascent Soul-level spirit beasts.

Roar!

Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from the forest. The ground shook as a massive white ape at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm burst out, smashing through a large swath of Crane Spirit Trees. It leapt into the sky, baring its fangs at the intruders.

Its chest was covered in white fur, its eyes gleamed red, and it showed no fear, glaring ferociously at the three of them.

“What the... it doesn’t even want to talk?” Chen Xun raised an eyebrow, stepping back slightly. “We just set foot on the island, and it’s already coming for us?”

“Mo~” Brother Ox stood calmly, eyeing the towering beast in the distance without concern.

Xiao Chi’s pupils shrank, and he instinctively retreated a few steps, hiding behind Brother Ox. His claws ignited in flame as he prepared to ambush the ape!

Roar!

The white ape bellowed, gathering energy into its fist. It hurled a massive punch toward them, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air. The force behind the punch was immense, aiming to kill.

Boom!

Brother Ox’s eyes flashed with a sharp light as he stepped in front of Chen Xun, his massive palm meeting the ape's fist. A deafening explosion echoed as their strikes collided.

The white ape’s eyes widened in horror. Despite the power of its punch, the big black ox’s palm lost no momentum, barreling toward it.

Crack! Crack!

The ape tried to block, but it couldn’t react in time. Its ribs shattered under the impact, and it spat out blood as it was flung backward. Eyes filled with terror, it realized it had picked the wrong opponent and quickly turned to flee.

Roar!

Suddenly, a surge of red light appeared behind the ape, casting a massive shadow nearly eight feet long over the ground, enveloping the ape entirely.

The white ape froze, drenched in cold sweat. The red dog it had seen earlier had somehow transformed into a massive lion—a Nascent Soul-level beast!

“How dare you, a mere spirit beast, attack Brother Xun!” Xiao Chi’s usual mischievous expression turned cold as violent energy surged from his body. His claw moved with terrifying speed, igniting in flames. The power of a Nascent Soul-level cultivator was not something a Golden Core beast could withstand!

Roar!

The white ape howled in agony, its body covered in blood as deep claw marks seared across its flesh. Even its Golden Core was scorched, withering under the flames.

Xiao Chi’s flames expanded, scanning the area with his divine sense for any hidden threats. It was a habit of his—never leave any traces behind.

He grabbed the ape, now barely clinging to life, and dragged it back to the shore. As he walked, his form shrank, and the cold gleam in his eyes faded.

“Brother Xun, Brother Ox!”

“Xiao Chi, come here. Check out the chair I made.”

“Mo mo!”

By the time Xiao Chi returned, Chen Xun and Brother Ox were already lounging on the beach chairs they had made, basking in the sun and enjoying the sea breeze. The ape had become nothing more than a minor inconvenience to them.

Xiao Chi’s attention quickly shifted. “Brother Xun, what should we do with this ape?”

“Just leave it there. We’ll cook it for dinner.”

Chen Xun turned with a smile. “Nice work, Xiao Chi. Come relax with us.”

“Mo mo~” Brother Ox waved him over with a hoof. Brother Xun always had his reasons.

With a cheeky grin, Xiao Chi tossed the ape’s corpse onto the sand and quickly joined his two brothers for some sunbathing.

Chen Xun lay back, arms behind his head, smiling contentedly.

Xiao Chi and Brother Ox continued their chatter, always finding something to talk about. Chen Xun didn’t join in, choosing to listen quietly instead.

But there was a sharp gleam in Chen Xun’s eyes. The white ape’s appearance had been too sudden, almost as if it hadn’t originated on the island but had instead appeared there, like they had, through some kind of teleportation array.

Chen Xun watched the clouds drift across the sky, the ape’s body lying behind them—a silent warning to any who might seek trouble.

As the sun rose over the roaring ocean, they lit a bonfire and sat by the shore, with their ship anchored nearby. The silvery moonlight bathed them as they listened to the ebb and flow of the tides.

But the peaceful scene didn’t last long. Suddenly, the sky darkened, and powerful winds swept across the sea. The weather over the West Sea was notoriously unpredictable, and they had already grown accustomed to such drastic shifts in the past few weeks.

Boom boom, boom boom!

The sea churned violently, waves crashing in every direction. Thunder boomed, and lightning flashed across the sky.

“Hahaha, what a sight!”

“Mo~”

“Brother Xun, Brother Ox, this is incredible! We never saw anything like this back on the Heaven’s End Plains.”

Despite the chaos, the three remained unfazed, sipping their herbal tea and enjoying the ferocious display of nature’s wrath, more relaxed than anyone could imagine.

Flashes of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the downpour that followed.

Then, amid the churning waves, five eerie lanterns appeared, glowing a ghostly green. Five small boats slowly made their way toward the shore and their ship.

Figures in black robes stood on the boats, their heads lowered, faces hidden.

“Fellow Daoists, may we borrow your ship?”

A cold, ancient voice pierced through the crashing waves. One of the black-robed figures, an old woman with a face like withered wood, slowly raised her head, revealing a twisted smile.

Brother Ox’s expression grew serious as he stood. The power emanating from these figures didn’t feel like that of mere Golden Core cultivators.

Xiao Chi’s body shuddered, his earlier bravado vanishing. Staring at the ghostly lanterns on the horizon, every hair on his body stood on end. The sea was far more dangerous than he had imagined.

“Oh?”

Chen Xun remained lounging with his arms behind his head, barely lifting his eyelids. “Are you here... to cause trouble?”

Boom!

A bolt of purple lightning split the sky, illuminating the sea and shore. The small boats continued to drift closer, the black-robed figures’ smiles twisted into eerie grins.

But as the lightning struck, the black-robed figures’ eyes widened in shock. Why was that man smiling back at them... with an even more sinister grin?