Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Entering the planet’s atmosphere, Yan Zaizen was once again amazed. There was literally no land. All the cities were underwater. Even though he searched the pirate captain’s soul, experiencing it first-hand left one breathless.

The realmship penetrated the water, but when it did, they felt an immense pressure suddenly. The barrier around the realmship held but the water was let in. It seems the shielding was semi-permeable and allowed water without essence in. This was likely a special feature the Gunyu race enjoyed.

As for the water, the moment it filled the shield, it felt like a mysterious force was pressing against their bodies. It felt heavy and crushing.

"Gravity?" Yan Zaizen curiously asked.

"Hydrostatic Pressure." Tao corrected, "The dense water places force on other objects. It’s noted that just ten inches of water here is like a li of distance in normal water." After describing that, he had to circulate his qi-essence to deal with the pressure. Bai Lufeng followed. Soon, they dived down.

Yan Zaizen felt a little pinch, but it wasn’t incredible. However, he was shocked to discover that this distance would flatten a mortal’s body into nothing.

"The Gunyu has a naturally adaptable body to the environment. They can swim in this pressure. Their physical bodies are unnaturally strong at birth as well. They could rival Essence Formation cultivators strength at birth." Tao added.

"Interesting!" Essence Formation was the third step in the Essence Path. To be born with a body of that strength was an extraordinary advantage. Not close to divine beasts but still an advantage if compared to Lycahs.

It wasn’t long before they reached the actual city. It was completely made of sapphire jade that seemed to contain flushing water. To those unfamiliar with it, it felt like the city was swirling in a toilet. It wasn’t long before they grew used to the circulation and saw the city for what it was.

It was grand, had tall buildings with odd spirals, wide areas littered certain locations, and streets as wide as a river. it was like a country underwater. It was also based in the water without a foundation. Despite that, it was completely stationary. "Rain Flow City, the capital city of the Deluge Realm." Yan Zaizen stated, then continued, "The Shangyang Auction held once a century, hosted by Yu Shi - The Realmlord of Deluge Realm - is located here."

Unlike the Xiantu Realm, the Deluge Realm was more developed and had a third-floor Heavenly Genesis expert at the helm. If it wasn’t for the Xiantu Emperor’s recent construction of his third-floor, they could never compare.

Yan Zaizen felt boundless respect for anyone who can control a realm. He was unsure of his current strength, but he knew that any individual that can claim a realm didn’t comprehend a Mortal Law, but a World Law. The difference in strength was easily understood. For example, Guan Yin comprehended the saber law, a Mortal Law, but she truly wasn’t much. The saber law wasn’t even a peak Mortal Law.

As they arrived at the barrier entrance to enter the city, they awaited reception from a guard. Yan Zaizen noted that the streets and open areas were empty. There didn’t seem to be anyone outside, not even kids.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

In a literal second, the realmship was surrounded by tens of thousands of Gunyu race warriors. They had sapphire armaments and held spears with emerald tips. The tips radiated a profound pressure that caused Tao and Bai Lufeng’s hearts to beat rapidly.

They encircled the realmship in a formation, activating various silver light talismans that seemed to constrict the surrounding space. With this, they prevented the realmship’s spatial shifting abilities.

Yan Zaizen could feel profound cultivation bases from each member and not a single one was less than mid-Origin Core Realm in either body or qi. There were several dozens at the True Essence Realm, there was even one at the late stage.

"Power down your formations!" The late-True Essence expert shouted fiercely. Yan Zaizen was shocked but then quickly understood. The realmship originally belonged to a first-floor Heavenly Genesis pirate. He had to be incredibly famous if he pirated nearby with that cultivation base.

The realmship must’ve been identified the moment they entered the realm. He wondered why, despite traveling so far and so deep, there was no Gunyu swimming around. Furthermore, there was no one outside the barrier. It was as if they cleared out all to prepare for a grand event.

His thoughts weren’t wrong.

They cleared out all the citizens and guests, readied the formation and laid in wait. The pirate captain was infamous for his devious schemes and brutal methods. He also owned a realmship thanks to a fortuitous encounter that left many with deep envy. Not even Shi Yu, the Realmlord of Deluge Realm, or the Xiantu Emperor owned a realmship.

"Young Lord, I think they..." Bai Lufeng cautiously looked at the group. For some odd reason, he felt fear in his heart as if he was being watched by an all-mighty existence. He felt insecure and moved closer to Yan Zaizen. Only then did the feeling lessen.

Yan Zaizen chuckled. He looked at the deep ocean sky, waved his hand to produce the water-attributed, first-floor heavenly shrine. Holding it up, he continued looking up at a specific location, "This realmship is now mine. I took it. I’m here for the auction. Will you let me enter?" Yan Zaizen words caused all the surrounding warriors’ hearts to tremble.

Yan Zaizen had a profound understanding in spatial laws. It wasn’t hard for him to isolate space and prevent the realmship from spatial shifting for a brief period of time. As for the captain, he may have constructed a World Law heavenly shrine, but he was nothing before Yan Zaizen’s fist.

It wasn’t even a battle. It was a kidnapping. He was grabbed like a child, suppressed like Dong Long in the Asura Phantom Realm, and mercilessly soul searched against his will.

Others may have trouble handling him, but Yan Zaizen didn’t even give the man time to speak, let alone escape or even beg.

A swirling force formed at the spot Yan Zaizen was looking. A grand whirlpool the size of a mountain was produced. Out of this whirlpool walked an elegantly dressed young man with blue-skin, greenish hair, and deep blue eyes that seemed to contain the entire ocean. If one looked too deeply, they’ll feel like they were spiraling. It was a similar feeling as looking at Rain Flow City.

The man carefully examined the heavenly shrine within Yan Zaizen’s palm. It was about the size of a tennis ball. When he felt its aura, his gaze flickered unfathomably. A warm smile surfaced on his face, "Greetings, my honored guest. Apologies for the theatrics." With a wave of his hand, the tens of thousands of guards retreated as quickly as they arrived.

"Apologies for not informing you earlier. I had my reservations about disturbing you." Yan Zaizen words were filled with lies. In truth, he had suspicions of who this young man was but not a certainty.

"I see. Next time, you don’t need to hold such reservations." He calmly waved his hand, opening a large hole in the city’s barrier formation and motioned for Yan Zaizen to enter.

Yan Zaizen didn’t stand on ceremony. He placed the heavenly shrine away and motioned Tao to pilot the ship. They entered the city quickly.

Bai Lufeng couldn’t help but sigh. "With strength, the world opens. If it refuses to, you can force it." He thought in melancholy. If he had such power, he would never have suffered, his family would still be alive, and he would have countless options available in life.

After entering, Yan Zaizen exited the realmship. With a slow speed, he flew towards the elegant young man who entered as well. When the young man saw Yan Zaizen approach, his eyes flickered but maintained his smile. He calmly awaited Yan Zaizen arrival.

"Yan Zaizen." The moment he arrived, he introduced himself.

"Yu Shi." Yu Shi calmly responded.

Now, Yan Zaizen knew this was the Deluge Realmlord, the third-floor Heavenly Genesis expert. He sent a transmission for Tao to wait.

After some discussion, further explaining the captain’s fate, they settled some matters. With a final nod, Yan Zaizen left. Yu Shi eyes narrowed looking at Yan Zaizen’s back then at the realmship. After a brief period, he took a step and the surrounding water swirled. He entered, disappearing as if he entered a spatial slit.

When he arrived back on the realmship, "Let’s go. The Auction starts in ten days. We’ll explore the city until then!" He had an excited gleam in his eyes. Bai Lufeng and Tao were curious as to what they discussed, but they stayed silent.

They knew that whatever just happened, their trip just got so much easier.