Cultivation Online

“Folktale or not, it doesn’t change the fact that something weird is happening within the Bloody Expanse,” Yuan said. “Let’s keep moving. If we encounter the source, we’ll deal with it then.”

“Deal with it…?” Lev’s jaw dropped. “If the Bloody Devil Emperor is real, I’d rather we just run from it.”

“What are you so afraid of? You’re traveling with the strongest Supreme Ruler and Demon Sealer in the world. If I were you, I’d even dare provoke the Demon God,” Yuan laughed.

Lev glanced at Supreme Ruler Dena with a wry smile. Though she was undoubtedly the strongest among the Supreme Rulers, she had yet to recover her full strength. As for Yuan—despite his overwhelming prowess—he was still only at the First Level False God.

They continued their journey shortly after.

However, even after traveling for another week, they have yet to encounter a single Sea Devil, almost as if their existence had been completely wiped from this world.

It wasn’t just Lev who found the situation unsettling. Even Supreme Ruler Dena felt a faint sense of unease at the unusual stillness.

Suddenly, Supreme Ruler Dena stopped moving and shouted, “Something is coming!”

Supreme Ruler Dena was the first to spot this presence due to her superior cultivation, but Yuan wasn’t too far behind and also sensed it a few moments later. As for Lev, he remained oblivious. “What a terrifying presence…” Yuan swallowed, a rare hint of unease surfacing in his voice.

Whatever was emitting this aura surpassed even the Ancient Chaos. In fact, he had only encountered something remotely similar a handful of times. If he had to draw a comparison, the closest would be Long Wu Qing, the eldest daughter of the Dragon God.

“W-What is it?! What’s coming?!” Lev cried out, panic rising as he caught sight of their tense expressions.

Several agonizing minutes passed in silence. Just as Lev was about to speak again, the surface of the crimson sea began to swell—bulging outward as though a colossal air bubble were forming beneath it.

First, a massive crimson horn broke through the surface, followed by the rest of its form—a bloated, balloon-like figure rising from the blood sea.

When Yuan saw the creature, his brows lifted, disbelief flickering across his face.

“This is… a goldfish?!” Yuan exclaimed, startled by how the creature’s plump, rounded form resembled that of a goldfish—albeit an absurdly massive one.

Sure enough, the Sea Devil bore a striking resemblance to a goldfish, its body cloaked in crimson and silver scales. Six majestic fins fanned out from its sides, while a regal dorsal fin rose from its back, shaped like a crown.

The crimson goldfish rose fully from the Bloody Expanse, ascending into the sky until it hovered above Yuan’s group like a blazing sun.

Then, its round, golden eyes settled upon them—or more precisely… upon Yuan.

Suddenly, a voice resounded, its origin impossible to discern, echoing from all directions at once.

“I came here because I sensed a familiar presence, but you are not who I first believed you to be. More surprising still… you are merely a human,” the goldfish spoke, its voice still echoing from all directions at once.

“Are you the Bloody Devil Emperor?” Yuan asked.

“Bloody Devil Emperor? What a dreadful name,” the goldfish replied, its voice laced with disdain. “Do I truly resemble a being that would bear something so distasteful?”

It continued, “I am the splendid, dignified, majestic, Primal Sovereign of the Seas!” The goldfish introduced itself as the Primal Sovereign of the Seas.

“Primal?” Yuan raised an eyebrow at this familiar word.

“Are you a being from the Primal Expanse? If so, how did you come to be here?” Yuan asked.

“Oh? So you have set foot in the Primal Expanse as well,” the Primal Sovereign of the Seas replied, a hint of intrigue in its voice. “I am the Sovereign of the Seas—there is no body of water in this universe beyond my reach. Wherever water exists, I may travel as I please.”

Yuan glanced at the Bloody Expanse before continuing, “Are you responsible for the absence of Sea Devils?”

“Indeed,” the Primal Sovereign of the Seas replied without hesitation.

“These waters had grown far too crowded, so I purged half of their population. And this is hardly the first time I’ve done so,” it added, its tone laced with pride.

“Why would you do something like that?” Yuan asked, his brows knitting in confusion.

“It is my hobby—duty as the Sovereign of the Seas to maintain balance and prevent these waters from descending into unchecked chaos, no matter the world they belong to,” it replied calmly.

Then, with a hint of satisfaction in its tone, it added, “Besides… the creatures here are far more succulent—fresh and full of vitality, unlike the tasteless refuse of the Primal Expanse.”

“Now, it is my turn to ask you some questions.”

The Primal Sovereign of the Seas narrowed its eyes at Yuan and asked in a serious voice, “You… why do you smell like the Primal Monarch? Because of your scent, I came here. However, now that I think about it, there’s no reason that old man would be here.”

“The Primal Monarch, huh? I had a feeling you knew him.” Yuan said with a smile. “He’s my father.”

“WHAT!”

The Primal Sovereign exclaimed in disbelief, its eyes widening until they bulged like overinflated orbs on the verge of bursting.

Then, its massive body plunged back into the crimson sea, sending a towering tidal wave surging outward.

“What the hell?!” Lev shouted in alarm.

With a casual flick of her sleeve, Supreme Ruler Dena split the oncoming wave in two, parting it cleanly so it flowed past them without harm.

“…”

After a few minutes of silence, the Primal Sovereign of the Seas emerged from the Bloody Expanse once again and asked in an awkward voice, “The Primal Monarch… giving birth to a human? Is that even possible?”

“Oh, I should clarify,” Yuan said suddenly. “He’s not my real father—more of an adoptive one.”

“You should have stated that earlier! Nearly gave me a heart attack!” The Primal Sovereign of the Seas roared.