In the deepest reaches of the East Sea, the water here presented an eerie ink-black color. When the Dragon Clan's warships sailed into the outer regions of the Gui Xu Sea Eye, everyone was shocked by the scene before them—a massive vortex over a thousand li in diameter slowly rotated on the sea surface, its center fathomless, as if leading to another world. More terrifyingly, the space around the vortex was covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and strange light and shadow constantly leaked through the fissures.
"The spatial structure here has weakened another thirty percent compared to our last survey." Ao Qin held a Dragon Clan specially-crafted spatial compass, expression grave. "At this rate, in less than a month, the Sea Eye will completely collapse."
Xiao Qi stood at the bow, the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl radiating soft blue light in his palm. Under the treasure's protection, the warship's surrounding space was temporarily stable, but the scene further away was alarming—countless spatial fissures spread like wounds around the Sea Eye, some fissures even revealing glimpses of other worlds: burning starry skies, frozen lands, even cities entirely made of machinery...
"The demonic energy erosion is far exceeding expectations." Mu Xue sensed the energy fluctuations in the air. "The Sea Eye is being transformed into a massive spatial passage."
Suddenly, the warship shook violently. On the sea ahead, a spatial fissure hundreds of zhang wide slowly opened, from which viscous black demonic energy poured out. This demonic energy mixed with the seawater, transforming into countless twisted demon creatures, emitting piercing screeches.
"It's a demonified spatial fissure!" Ao Qin exclaimed. "They're multiplying using the Sea Eye as nourishment!"
Xiao Qi made an instant decision. The Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword left its sheath. But this time, the blade no longer flowed with its usual crimson-gold light, but merged with the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's power into azure sword radiance.
"Hold!"
Where the sword radiance swept past, that massive spatial fissure actually began slowly closing! The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's space-stabilizing property played a key role at this moment.
But just as the fissure was about to close completely, a massive claw covered in black scales suddenly stretched out from within, forcibly propping the fissure open!
"Pathetic ants, how dare you obstruct my return?" A low voice came from the fissure's depths, carrying terrifying majesty that made one tremble.
The demonic entity's aura! Though still very faint, it truly came from the other side of the fissure!
Xiao Qi's expression grew solemn as he pushed the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's power to its maximum. The treasure erupted with unprecedented radiance, and the entire sea's space was forcibly stabilized. That massive claw began collapsing under the pressure of spatial power, finally retreating reluctantly into the fissure.
When the fissure completely closed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But Xiao Qi could feel this was only the beginning.
"We must quickly find the Sea Eye's core." His voice was deep. "The demonic entity is trying to build a passage directly connecting here."
Under the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's protection, the warship slowly sailed toward the vortex's center. The closer they got to the Sea Eye, the more severe the spatial distortion became. Sometimes the warship was clearly sailing forward yet would inexplicably retreat; sometimes time would suddenly accelerate or decelerate, leaving people dizzy.
The most dangerous moment—when a temporal fault suddenly appeared ahead of the warship. Had Xiao Qi not promptly used the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl to stabilize the local time flow, the entire warship might have been trapped in that temporal loop forever.
"Time and space here have both gone chaotic." Mu Xue sensed the law fluctuations around them. "Demonic energy is destroying the Sea Eye's original balance."
When the warship finally reached the vortex's edge, an even more astonishing scene appeared before everyone: the Sea Eye's center was no longer pitch black, but revealed a massive demon formation! This formation used the Sea Eye as its base, absorbing spatial power from all directions, constructing a stable spatial passage.
And at the center of the demon formation, a familiar figure floated—the very Shadow Snake Pavilion Master previously killed by Xiao Qi! Except now he had been completely demonified, becoming the demonic entity's emissary in this world.
"Welcome to my domain." The demonified Shadow Snake Pavilion Master spread his arms wide, demonic energy and spatial power interweaving around him. "Soon, this shall become the holy temple for the Demon Lord's descent!"
Xiao Qi could sense that the Shadow Snake Pavilion Master's aura was several times stronger than before, clearly having gained power amplification through the demon formation.
"We cannot let him continue!" Ao Qin urged anxiously. "With every moment the formation runs, the Sea Eye grows closer to collapse!"
Xiao Qi nodded, raising the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl high. The treasure transformed into a blue moon in the air, its gentle radiance covering the entire Sea Eye. Under the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's power, the demon formation's operation visibly slowed, and those spatial fissures began healing.
"Useless!" The Shadow Snake Pavilion Master laughed maniacally. "The Demon Lord has already locked onto these coordinates—even without the formation, it can find its way back!"
He formed seals with both hands. The demon formation suddenly reversed! The formation that had been absorbing spatial power began frantically releasing demonic energy. This demonic energy spread through the Sea Eye like a plague, and wherever it passed, space collapsed!
"He's accelerating the Sea Eye's collapse!" Mu Xue exclaimed.
Xiao Qi's expression changed. If the Sea Eye completely collapsed, not only would the demonic entity return early, but the slumbering Lord of Gui Xu might be awakened! By then, it would truly be the end of the world!
"We must stop him!"
He leaped toward the demon formation's center, the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword pointing directly at the Shadow Snake Pavilion Master. But just as the blade was about to pierce him, the Shadow Snake Pavilion Master's form suddenly became illusory, as if merging into the surrounding space.
"Here, I am space!" His voice came from all directions.
Xiao Qi immediately realized the Shadow Snake Pavilion Master had fused with part of the Sea Eye's spatial laws. In this distorted realm, he was nearly indestructible!
The battle became extraordinarily difficult. The Shadow Snake Pavilion Master leveraged the Sea Eye's spatial properties, shifting between solid and illusory states, attacks coming from the most unexpected angles. Several times, Xiao Qi even had to simultaneously defend against attacks from both past and future!
"This isn't working!" Ao Qin anxiously watched from the warship.
But Mu Xue noticed something: "Look! The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's radiance is altering the spatial structure!"
Indeed, under the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's continuous illumination, the space around the Sea Eye was gradually recovering stability. Those regions corrupted by demonic energy were beginning to follow normal spatial laws again.
Xiao Qi's mind moved. He guided the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's power into the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword. The sword's azure radiance blazed brilliantly, each swing leaving stable trajectories in space.
"Found you!"
When the Shadow Snake Pavilion Master manifested from the void once more, Xiao Qi precisely predicted his position. The sword blade fused with the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's power directly broke through the spatial barrier, piercing through the Shadow Snake Pavilion Master's chest!
"Impossible..." The Shadow Snake Pavilion Master stared at the sword wound in his chest in disbelief. With the Sea Eye's amplification, he should have been immortal!
"Before absolute spatial law, nothing is impossible." Xiao Qi sheathed his sword.
The Shadow Snake Pavilion Master's body began collapsing, ultimately dissolving into wisps of black smoke. But with his death, the demon formation also completely lost control, beginning to frantically drain the Sea Eye's primordial power!
"This is bad!" Xiao Qi's expression drastically changed. "The formation is about to self-detonate!"
If the formation self-detonated, the entire Sea Eye would collapse! By then, not only would the demonic entity return early, even the Lord of Gui Xu might be awakened!
At the critical moment, Xiao Qi made a bold decision. He fully propelled the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, sealing the entire demon formation along with the surrounding space!
"Hurry! Leave!" he shouted to everyone on the warship. "I'm going to banish this piece of space into the void's depths!"
Under everyone's shocked gaze, Xiao Qi used the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl as the core, forcibly stripping the space containing the demon formation from the Sea Eye. With a blinding blue light, that piece of space, along with the demon formation within, disappeared into the void.
When everything calmed, the Sea Eye returned to its former tranquility. But Xiao Qi knew this was only temporary. The demonic entity had already locked onto these coordinates and would sooner or later find another way to return.
And after this battle, the Sea Eye's spatial structure had become even more fragile. The time remaining for them was truly running out.