Volume Two: First Signs of Brilliance Chapter 0064: Escape

Endless seawater engulfed the ancient ruins—more precisely, the shattered remnants of those ruins—which slowly sank into the depths of the ocean. The oppressive pressure was terrifying; the giant python, Chen Tian, and the Three-Eyed Evil King had long since vanished without a trace.

Only Qin Yang, Leng Qianyou, and the Enlightenment Tree remained.

The Enlightenment Tree spread its branches like an umbrella, shielding the two from the encroaching seawater, preventing them from suffocating.

Qin Yang had a dream—a long, long dream. It was a vision of the five elements, an intricate scroll of cosmic forces. He barely had time to contemplate its mysteries before a chill woke him from his slumber.

He opened his eyes, bewildered by his unfamiliar surroundings. What the hell was going on? He was only taking a short rest—was this some kind of cruel joke? To throw him into the ocean, trying to drown him?

He glanced at the dazed and disheveled Leng Qianyou beside him and was momentarily speechless. Damn it, why was there a burden tagging along? Should he save her or not?

With no other choice, he rescued her, watching as the Enlightenment Tree rapidly turned to dust. His heart was filled with gratitude; without the tree, he likely wouldn’t have survived.

He swam desperately through the water. Night had fallen, and he felt like a solitary castaway, with no idea whatsoever where he was.

The cold seawater and fierce gales made it clear they were still far, far from shore.

If he were alone, he might have stood a chance of escape. Now, with this burden on his back, his headache only worsened.

At night, tossed by the waves, he swayed with every surge. The wind howled with a dreadful ferocity, roaring over the sea with wild arrogance. It seemed as if this stretch of ocean was the very heart of the storm.

As the hurricane raged, he could feel the frenzy, the sharpness, the violence within it.

It was pure torment. His body was exhausted; the extra weight on his back made things even worse. As impressive as her curves were, he was barely clinging to life—he had no interest in such distractions now.

For those adrift at sea, loneliness and the company of fish were their only companions.

And, of course, that creeping sense of despair. Sometimes, a ship would pass by in the distance; he would shout himself hoarse, but the wild wind drowned his cries, and the vessel would disappear without a trace.

Disappointment piled upon disappointment, until it hardened into despair.

The seawater was icy, and all of it was salt—not a drop to drink, for the more you drank, the thirstier you grew, until death was certain.

When dawn broke, the rising sun painted the sea crimson—a breathtaking sight.

He had never before watched the sun rise so leisurely. As it climbed higher, the frigid water gradually warmed.

Night fell once more. He kept his breathing shallow, moving as little as possible to conserve his strength.

Meanwhile, he secretly nursed his internal injuries, trying to restore his inner energy.

Only by restoring his inner energy did he stand a chance of escaping this accursed place. But so far, the spiritual energy he absorbed from the world was far from sufficient.

Compared to the sunlit days, the nights at sea were restless and dark as pitch. He could not see his own hand in front of his face; only the sound of water slapping against his body kept him company.

He looked at Leng Qianyou, her face pale and lips dry, and could only sigh. Her delicate features, sensual lips, and alluring curves drew his gaze despite his exhaustion. As she slept, she looked endearingly innocent, even pouting in her dreams.

Suddenly—a deafening thunderclap split the sky. Ominous black clouds unleashed a torrential downpour.

Seriously? As if things weren’t bad enough, now it was raining—was the world determined to see them dead?

Lightning flashed like silver serpents across the heavens. The hurricane spun anew, whipping the sea into a frenzy.

In that moment, the storm seemed to dance, lightning like a strobe, thunder like applause.

And it seemed there was only a single audience member—Qin Yang.

The wind grew ever fiercer, intoxicating as Mongolian fire wine: the more you drank, the stronger it burned.

He listened to the pounding rain and was utterly entranced. The unfolding spectacle before him seemed to be the very embryonic form of a Dao.

Especially now—the once scattered spiritual energy in the air suddenly converged, and he absorbed it greedily, as if swallowing the sea itself.

His face was alight with excitement. He had never expected, in this desperate escape, to once again feel the stirrings of the Hurricane Dao.

Though his understanding was still shallow, his comprehension of the Thunder Dao leapt to a new level, instantly reaching the second tier.

As for the Hurricane Dao, he fumbled for understanding, attempting to sense its path, its life, its temperament.

Wind was like a young girl—fiery-tempered, wild and playful, racing everywhere without restraint.

As spiritual energy flowed into her body, the unconscious Leng Qianyou awoke. The scent of a man filled her nostrils, and she was instantly alarmed—especially when she realized she was lying atop a man. As the daughter of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s master, she was skilled and ruthless; few men dared approach her.

Recognizing the familiar back, she realized it was Qin Yang—the very man she had planned to kill.

She struggled and cried out bashfully, “Let me go!”

“Huh? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure!”

Hearing her insistence, he released his arm, and she immediately slipped with a splash into the sea.

“I’ve been carrying you for two days—I’m exhausted! Now it’s your turn to carry me,” he grumbled, suddenly struck by the thought of riding on her back—a thought that sent a flush of heat through him.

“Ah! Help!” she cried, floundering in the water. Qin Yang, stunned, realized—damn it, she couldn’t swim! Why did she want him to let go?

Her long dress floated on the waves, her fair skin exposed to his gaze.

He reached out, quickly grabbing her cold arm and hoisted her onto his back again.

She clung to him like an octopus, refusing to let go, her heart filled with shy embarrassment.

Hmph! No one has ever seen my body before—once we escape, I’ll just kill him, she thought. Yet the more she considered it, the less she resisted.

The rain poured down, thunder and lightning flashing as the two shadows pressed forward through the night.

Just then, they saw lights in the distance—a surge of hope flooded their hearts. The sound of a ship’s horn, the roar of cars—all proclaimed that they had found their way home.

In that moment, the inner energy he had gathered surged through his body, his icy arms warming. He paddled with renewed vigor toward the lights.

Leng Qianyou looked around curiously. She was unfamiliar with these surroundings; the only place she had ever visited before was West Mountain County, once accompanying a senior elder there.

She had spent most of her life in the ancient martial world, training diligently, yearning for everything in the mundane world.

But her father forbade her from entering the mortal world, fearing she would be entangled in its karmic ties.

Damn it, I finally made it back alive! I’m going to eat for three days and nights, then sleep for another three!