High-level martial arts: Long spear with black flames to suppress demons.

The blockade that had been pressing down on Yuanmen was torn open.

The thick seawater paused for a moment, then poured back into the doorway in a frenzy.

The shattered array base, the boulders on the seabed, and the demons that had been crowding the edge of the seal were all dragged into the darkness by the torrent. Kunpeng was also swept forward and sank, its broken head crashing into the edge of the abyss gate, large chunks of flesh falling off again.

However, the backflow only lasted for a short while.

The darkness behind the door slowly rose.

An even greater force surged from the depths, pushing the seawater outwards and gradually pushing back the raging torrent.

Then, the demonic energy surged out of the Abyss Gate.

A dark wave swept across the shattered light barrier, quickly filling the gaps between the sea-suppressing pillars. The dragon patterns that were still in operation lit up one after another, attempting to intercept the overflowing demonic energy, but they were quickly submerged within it.

On a leaning stone pillar, the dark blue dragon pattern still moves.

It rose along the pillar, and just as it extended toward the nearby gap, a giant claw emerged from the darkness and pinned it down.

The light struggled a few times before suddenly shattering.

Kunpeng slowly retreated to the side.

Its head was mangled beyond recognition, its body riddled with old and new wounds, and blood flowed continuously into the sea along its fins. Yet, the dark purple patterns were clearer than before, running along the exposed bones and flesh, extending deep into the giant eye.

The eye turned towards the doorway.

Dense demonic energy surged from its sides, and one massive silhouette after another emerged in the darkness.

.......

Zhenhai's main city is situated on a high platform overlooking the sea.

The Xuan Yuan Zhen Hai Seal hovered above Du Yue's palm, the dragon patterns on its surface slowly moving, gathering the surrounding water vapor into a thin layer of dark blue mist.

Cang Gu stood to the side, a rare smile appearing on his face.

News has just arrived from various cities that after the Sea-Suppressing Pillar resumed operation, several array nodes that had been eroded by demonic energy for many years have recovered. The outer restrictions, which previously required constant replenishment of spirit stones to maintain, can now draw power from the seawater on their own.

Once the damaged parts are repaired one by one, the pressure on the Beiming garrison will be greatly reduced.

"Your Majesty should familiarize yourself with the Zhenhai Seal first; there's no need to rush to activate it."

Cang Gu looked at the ancient seal, his tone more relaxed than before.

"Once all the key points of the formation are stabilized, we'll find a suitable waterway and try to explore deeper. Having it now is much better than before..."

Du Yue's palm suddenly sank downwards.

The Xuan Yuan Zhen Hai Seal trembled violently, the surrounding mist suddenly dispersed, and a deep dragon roar came from the seal.

Cang Gu stopped speaking, and almost simultaneously, a muffled thud came from beneath everyone's feet.

Shen Chang'an immediately turned his head and looked into the depths of the Northern Sea.

There were no visible abnormalities on the sea surface yet, but a sea-suppressing pillar in the distance had already tilted slightly. The eerie blue light band connecting the pillar suddenly tightened, then broke off without warning.

Large shards of light sank into the sea, and the light bands gradually went out.

Heavy tremors traveled along the seabed, the array patterns on the city wall lit up one after another, and the teacup on the edge of the high platform bounced twice before falling to the ground.

The sea outside the city began to recede, revealing large reefs, and the chains that had been submerged in the sea gradually straightened. Further away, the previously undulating sea surface dipped downwards, and the water flowed rapidly in the same direction.

Cang Gu stepped off the high platform, his divine sense probing deeper along the chains.

The moment he touched the broken array, a chaotic force crashed into him, abruptly severing his senses.

His expression changed completely.

"Everyone back to your positions! The twelve cities are in formation! All warships at sea, retreat immediately! No one is allowed to submerge without authorization!"

The sound spread throughout the city along with the formation.

Several towers lit up simultaneously, and the demon soldiers who were carrying supplies put down their crates and quickly rushed to their respective posts. Order-bearing demons took to the air one after another to deliver commands to the coast and outer islands.

Du Yue has already flown over the city wall.

Her Nine Heavens Phoenix Robe billowed in the wind as she held up the ancient seal with both hands, the phoenix's aura flowing into it from her palms.

The Xuan Yuan Zhen Hai Seal rose into the air, with layers of dragon patterns hanging down from its base, disappearing into the receding seawater.

Shen Chang'an followed closely behind, the Great Sun Phoenix Wheel appearing behind him. Phoenix True Fire ignited along the wheel's body, connecting with the golden-red light on the Phoenix Robe, and together they extended into the water.

The resonance that had been flowing smoothly just moments before was now interrupted one after another.

Shen Chang'an could sense that the Zhenhai Seal was still trying to activate the restrictions deep within, but the power it transmitted was becoming increasingly fragmented. Some dragon patterns, just as they were being reconnected, were torn apart by another force.

Du Yue's face gradually turned pale.

"The seals in many places below have malfunctioned."

She struggled to steady her hands, her eyes fixed on the sea.

"The Zhenhai Seal can't hold it down anymore... something is gushing out."

......

Deep in the Northern Sea.

Before the Abyss Gate, the shattered restrictions still flickered.

Several chains lay across the cracked seabed, their surface adorned with flickering dragon patterns. Seawater and demonic energy clashed and surged before the gate, whipping up rubble and broken array bases, creating chaotic currents.

The figure behind the door slowly withdrew his hand.

The remaining patterns on the seal dimmed, and a few wisps of black light that had not yet dissipated passed through the turbulent currents and disappeared back into his fingertips.

He took a step forward, and the surging demonic energy around him suddenly stopped.

At the edge of the abyss, the ancient runes that had faded lit up again. Deeper still, several heavy chains emerged from the darkness, crisscrossing before him and suppressing the aura that had just begun to extend outward.

The figure stopped in his tracks, and after a moment, he sighed.

"I'm still lacking something; even the will of heaven and earth is rejecting me."

Upon hearing his voice, the restless demons nearby all lowered their bodies and even stopped pushing towards the Abyss Gate.

He didn't try again, but simply turned his head to look behind him.

"Mi Hai, Lu Heng, Que Shi".

Three figures emerged from the darkness and bowed their heads before him.

"Your subordinate is here."

"You all go out first."

The man raised his hand and pointed to the seawater above, where a faint light was shining through.

"The outer seal has been broken, but it is still repelling me. You all go and deal with those who activated the Sea-Suppressing Seal, and prevent them from resealing the door."

The woman at the head bowed her head and replied softly, "Yes, sir."

The two men beside her also obeyed the order. One of them looked at the woman's forehead and flicked his finger.

A beam of black light entered the stone crown, and Mi Hai's body trembled slightly before he lowered his head even further.

"I'm temporarily entrusting that Kunpeng to you. You can borrow it, but don't assume it's completely obedient."

"Your subordinate will keep this in mind."

"Go."

The three bowed again before turning and walking toward the Abyss Gate.

Even after they passed through the remaining light barrier, the figure behind the door remained in place. Darkness slowly closed in, once again concealing his face and form.

A pale hand pressed against the edge of the abyss gate.

The backs of his fingers were covered with fine, dark blue scales, and his fingers were slender. With a gentle push from that hand, Mi Hai stepped barefoot into the waters of the Northern Sea.

She looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with thick black hair and a languid air about her. Her eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, and even without smiling, they seemed to be gazing at something with affection.

Two short horns on the forehead bend backward, with a gray-black stone crown embedded between them, resembling intertwined bone branches.

A dark blue leather skirt armor, seemingly derived from flesh and blood, tightly wrapped her entire body, fitting her body perfectly without any excess fabric, outlining her astonishingly full chest and breathtakingly undulating waist and hips.

Leather edges slung diagonally over the shoulders, exposing large swathes of pale, almost eerie skin and deep cleavage to the icy seawater. Dark blue scales extended downwards from the sides of the neck, tightly gripping the taut leather armor, with faint purple-dark patterns floating within.

The ocean current brushed against her long, shapely legs. She casually raised her hand to smooth her long hair and slowly stretched her shoulders and back.

The respect he had shown when facing the person behind the door had not completely faded, but a smile had returned to his lips.

The stone crown on his forehead flickered lightly.

That was no ordinary ornament; it was the stone slab that had nurtured her, which she had reshaped into a crown, connecting it to her own consciousness. The black light that the person had just sent into it was now resting in the center of the crown, like a drop of ink that had never spread.

Just as we left the abyss, the surrounding seawater suddenly tightened.

An immense pressure came from all directions, causing the scales on the sides of her neck to vibrate and the stone crown to make a soft, creaking sound.

Mi Hai raised his head, the smile on his lips fading slightly.

Far above, a new, ethereal blue light is extending downwards.

"Just came out, and they're already so unwelcoming."

Another tall figure then emerged from behind her.

Lu Heng's shoulders and back were covered with dark armor plates, and he carried a long spear in his hand. A gray-white stone ridge was embedded in the center of the spear blade, and ancient patterns ran along the spear shaft and extended deep into the handle.

The moment he stepped into the sea, the armor plates on his body tightened inward.

He looked down at the back of his hand. Several scales were changing shape, trying to adapt to the surrounding pressure, but before the change was complete, they were pushed back by the heavier seawater.

"That treasure is still in operation; we can't linger here."

The last one to emerge from the abyss was Que Shi.

His long, gray hair clung to his thin face, and his gray robe barely fluttered in the turbulent current. A belt made of stone slabs was tied around his waist; there were no threads between the slabs, yet they maintained a constant interval.

That was also the stone slab that had nurtured him. He raised his hand, and one of the slabs gently turned.

The oncoming turbulence veered away, brushing past the three of them. However, the immense pressure enveloping the entire body of water remained, and was not lessened as a result.