Chapter 154 - Sea Beast

Victor’s internal conflict was instantly resolved.

’What reputation would remain if our own customers started selling the VIP cards?’ he thought with dawning horror. ’If word spread that Soaring Crane Sect members were liquidating their premium accounts to competitors, other high-tier clients would lose confidence in our organization’s stability.’

He sighed in defeat.

"Alright, please wait for a few hours. I will get them from the nearby branches."

"Hmm," Cale nodded, already moving on.

After acquiring the four million spiritual stones, they left the merchant organization. Cale immediately gave 80,000 to Sesrir as per their agreement.

"Haha, you sure know your stuff, kid," Sesrir laughed, shaking his head in amazement.

As they walked back toward their lodgings, a man named Flinn suddenly appeared and intercepted Sesrir.

’By the looks of it, these two must know each other,’ Cale thought.

Flinn smiled, patting Sesrir’s shoulder.

"I haven’t seen you in this place for quite a long time. How have you been?"

Sesrir scoffed back.

"Hah, I just roam around here and there. Why should I be staying at one place? And you... you still deal those shady powders and stuff?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Sesrir and Flinn decided on their own to form a team for the hunt, along with Cale and several others. Although Sesrir had to convince him a bit.

Cale leaned close to Sesrir.

"How strong are you compared to their group?" he asked quietly.

"Don’t worry, only two low-stage Emperors are there. The others are either Experts or Apex Stage."

"Hmm, good then. Let’s go," Cale agreed.

A few hours later, they departed.

The ship was enormous — easily capable of accommodating hundreds of people, yet only fifteen were aboard.

Cale had initially wondered why they didn’t simply fly directly over the water, but Sesrir had explained the reality to him. Hundreds of sea beasts released their auras through the water, creating pressure so intense that flying vessels could be destroyed within half an hour.

By floating on the water’s surface, however, the beasts perceived them as fellow sea creatures until they came into direct visual contact.

Inside the upper deck’s main chamber, everyone gathered around a large round table with chairs positioned. Food had been prepared too; not that Cale particularly cared, but he noted it was of surprisingly good quality for provisions on a ship.

Observing everyone chatting casually, Cale thought, ’Maybe they’re all good acquaintances.’

Sesrir began introducing them formally.

"Xin from the Blazing Sword Sect, Tian from the Saber Company, Ruche — a girl from the Lotus Green Flower Pavilion, Mark from a martial arts dojo. And the rest are crewmates."

Cale nodded respectfully and cupped his fist in a traditional bow.

"Greetings, I’m Vash Stampede. I’m Lord Sesrir’s disciple."

Sesrir’s head snapped toward him.

’Who the hell is he calling disciple?’ Sesrir thought incredulously. ’Given the way Cale operates, if not for his apparent cultivation level, it should be me who becomes his disciple.’

A map was put then — this time displaying the entire continent.

Cale examined it carefully, committing every detail to memory.

One never knew when such information might prove valuable in the future~

When Sesrir saw the marked location, his eyes lit up with unmistakable excitement.

Cale smiled internally.

’Heh, truly a treasure hunting fanatic.’

But then Cale’s own eyes widened slightly as he studied the map more carefully, and realized why Sesrir had that expression.

’That’s the same fucking map where the Nine Nether Frostflame is supposed to be!’

But Cale quickly composed himself, maintaining a perfect poker face.

Sesrir, however, couldn’t maintain the same composure. His excitement was visible to everyone at the table.

Seeing Cale maintain better control than him, Sesrir couldn’t help but laugh at himself — though the others noticed his reaction immediately.

Xin narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Oh, you seem to know about this location."

Sesrir was caught off guard, his tongue momentarily frozen as he struggled to find an explanation.

But Cale spoke smoothly.

"Ah, this is the place where Sir Sesrir found the roaming sea python. It was quite the battle."

Sesrir looked at Cale, letting out a sigh of relief.

Cale smirked at him. ’Isn’t he at Emperor Stage? Can’t he even make up a decent lie? Sigh, these people. Is he too righteous or something?’

The others erupted in shocked exclamations.

"Oh, to think he fought such a rare beast!"

"I heard its meat is so potent it can even help with cultivation!"

"Sigh, to think Sesrir gets all these treasures every time. I’m envious."

"Haha, let’s not discuss this further and embarrass ourselves. Let’s continue the strategy meeting," Xin said, moving the conversation forward.

This entire expedition was merely a cover, anyway. The beast these people were hunting was of no real interest to Cale, being merely a convenient coincidence. His true goal lay elsewhere.

While the Emperor Stage cultivators dedicated their time to constructing complex arrays designed to trap the sea beast, Cale simply cultivated in his private quarters.

Eight days later, they reached their destination.

Flinn, Xin, and Tian flew upward and positioned themselves at strategic distances around the area, establishing perimeter positions.

Sesrir explained to Cale, "These kinds of beasts are so strong that they occupy an entire location to settle down, ruling it like a king. So it’s highly unlikely that we won’t encounter our target."

Cale nodded, appreciating the information. He had never traveled extensively through sea regions and had limited knowledge of ocean-based ecosystems.

’Hmm, the group is the same as planned, only with me here. I doubt there would be significant backlash. This is the location where I’ll get the inheritance. Sesrir and I have already planned to leave these idiots once we get the chance. I hope they don’t have tracking artifacts.’

As soon as the containment array was activated, the waters began to ripple.

Slowly at first, then with increasing violence.

The waves began crashing against the ship, making it hover and pitch violently.

"Get ready! It will come out anytime now!" someone shouted.

Cale extended his senses downward into the depths.

His eyes widened involuntarily.

’Such a strong sea turtle... and it has dragon-like fins. What an abomination.’

The very next second, a hurricane of water erupted from below, creating a spiraling tornado that twisted upward.

More and more vortexes began appearing from all sides simultaneously, creating massive pillars of water that surrounded the vicinity, effectively trapping them.

The water turned blood red.

With a roar that seemed to shake the very foundations of the ocean itself, a massive black turtle erupted from the depths. Its shell was covered in massive spikes, and its head - easily the size of a small building, crashed directly into the ship with devastating force.

The impact sent everyone sprawling.

"Brace yourselves!" Xin’s voice cut through the chaos as he launched into the air, his sword manifesting in his hands.

The battle had begun.