Vogue couldn’t help but make a disgusted expression at that bizarre display. That’s just... strange. Why would anyone lick a window?

But he had to admit the ocean view was genuinely impressive. The vast expanse of water, the way sunlight reflected off the surface creating dancing patterns of light, the sense of overwhelming scale—it was beautiful in a way that images could never properly capture.

The convoy began descending a long slope that led toward the coast. Vogue’s enhanced senses could detect the change in spiritual energy as they approached the water—it became denser, more volatile, carrying an edge of danger that made his instincts scream warnings.

We’re not actually going to cross the ocean, are we? Vogue wondered with growing concern. That would be insane. Even these heavily armored and defended buses wouldn’t survive long in those waters.

But apparently, that was exactly the plan!

The convoy reached the shoreline and, without slowing down at all, drove directly into the water.

Vogue’s eyes widened in genuine shock as the bus beneath him suddenly began... floating? No, not floating—hovering. The vehicles had activated some kind of propulsion system that allowed them to skim across the ocean’s surface without actually touching the water itself.

They were essentially flying a few meters above the waves, supported by what looked like concentrated spiritual energy fields generated beneath each bus.

That’s incredible engineering, Vogue thought with reluctant admiration. They found a way to cross ocean territory without directly exposing the vehicles or passengers to the lethal radiation in the water itself. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The ocean stretched endlessly in all directions now, the shore behind them rapidly disappearing into the distance as the convoy maintained its speed across the waves.

For several minutes, everything seemed calm. The passengers had grown quiet again, many of them simply staring in awe at the vast blue expanse surrounding them.

Then the atmosphere suddenly changed.

The ocean began rumbling. The previously gentle waves started growing violent, stirring up massive swells that crashed against each other with tremendous force.

Waves of terrifying spiritual pressure surged from somewhere beneath the surface, spreading in all directions and filling the entire sky with oppressive weight.

Vogue’s expression became grim as he recognized what was happening. Sea beasts. Powerful ones. They’ve detected our presence and they’re coming to investigate.

In the distance, multiple enormous vortexes appeared on the ocean surface, spinning with increasing violence as something massive began emerging from the depths.

The first creature to fully surface made several passengers gasp in shock and fear.

It was a serpentine beast easily five hundred meters in length, its body covered in purple-black scales that looked like treasure-quality armor. The creature possessed two massive wings folded against its back, and its eyes glowed with clear intelligence as it regarded the convoy of buses.

A Luminous Realm sea serpent, Vogue identified with cold certainty. And based on the spiritual pressure it’s releasing, it’s at the peak of Luminous Realm—maybe even half-step into Eternal Star Realm.

We’re in serious trouble.

The sea serpent didn’t attack immediately. Instead, it simply hovered there, its massive form blocking the convoy’s path, studying the strange vehicles with what appeared to be contemptuous curiosity.

Then a second vortex began forming, even larger than the first. The spiritual pressure intensified dramatically as something even more massive began rising from the ocean depths.

When the second sea serpent emerged, it was easily a thousand meters in length—twice the size of the first one. Its scales were darker, almost black, and covered in strange glowing patterns that pulsed with power.

The spiritual pressure emanating from this creature was so intense that Vogue actually felt physical pain, as though invisible weight was crushing down on his body. Blood began trickling from his nose and the corners of his mouth from the sheer force of the beast’s aura alone.

Eternal Star Realm, Vogue realized with dawning horror. That second serpent is a genuine Eternal Star Realm beast. Nothing on these buses could possibly fight something at that level.

He wasn’t the only one affected. Around him, nearly every passenger was bleeding from their nose, ears, or eyes—their bodies unable to withstand the oppressive spiritual pressure from such a powerful entity.

Even Tryston Bane, for all his cold composure and hidden strength, had blood running down his face as he stared at the massive sea serpent with barely concealed terror.

The two sea serpents floated there, apparently communicating with each other through some method invisible to human senses. Then they both turned their attention fully toward the convoy of vulnerable buses.

The second, larger serpent opened its jaws, and golden light began gathering in its throat—some kind of devastating energy attack that would almost certainly obliterate the entire convoy if released.

Vogue’s mind raced desperately. Can I survive if this bus is destroyed? Could I use Clone Jump to escape before the attack hits? Where would I even jump to—we’re surrounded by ocean in all directions!

But just as the golden energy in the serpent’s throat reached critical mass, ready to fire...

"Impudent!"

A single word, spoken with absolute authority and backed by overwhelming power, struck the surroundings like a thunderclap.

An even more violent shockwave of spiritual pressure erupted—not from the sea serpents, but from somewhere above.

Space itself distorted approximately a thousand meters above the ocean surface. Reality warped with a humming sound, and in the next instant, an elderly man with violet-colored hair appeared in midair, standing on nothing as though the sky itself was solid ground beneath his feet.

The moment this person arrived, the violent ocean waves were instantly calmed. The water within a radius of several kilometers simply evaporated with a massive hissing sound, creating vast hollows of exposed seabed.

Vogue’s eyes went wide with shock. A Saint? No... probably just below that level. But whoever this is possesses power far beyond anything I’ve encountered before.

This must be an escort—someone assigned to protect the convoy during the ocean crossing.

The violet-haired old man looked at the two sea serpents with clear displeasure in his eyes. Then he opened his mouth and released a shocking roar that carried immense spiritual power:

"ROOOOAR!!!"

The sound alone was devastating. The sky suddenly turned crimson as bloody clouds gathered within a radius of ten thousand meters, blocking out even the sun’s rays. The entire ocean took on a red glow as though the heavens themselves were bleeding.

In the next second, the blood-red sky began crackling with terrifying amounts of energy. Nuclear-level power gathered and condensed, forming a massive vortex of pure destructive force that spun above the ocean like a crimson tornado.

The surrounding sea couldn’t withstand the energies being released. The surface of the water shattered like glass, revealing vast hollow voids of darkness beneath.

Vogue’s entire body trembled as he witnessed this display of overwhelming power. This is what true high-level cultivation looks like. This is the kind of strength that can reshape landscapes and destroy armies single-handedly.

This is what I need to achieve to survive in this world.

The two sea serpents, despite their own tremendous power, clearly recognized they were outmatched. The smaller one immediately dove back beneath the surface, retreating at maximum speed.

The larger serpent hesitated for a moment, as though considering whether to fight. But after assessing the violet-haired man’s aura more carefully, it too chose discretion over valor and submerged back into the ocean depths.

The violet-haired protector maintained his position for several more seconds, ensuring the threats had truly departed. Then, apparently satisfied, he nodded once and his figure blurred—disappearing from sight as quickly as he had appeared.

The bloody sky gradually cleared. The ocean began returning to its normal state, waves filling in the hollows that had been created.

And the convoy of buses continued forward across the water as though nothing had happened, though they had now accelerated to even higher speeds—clearly eager to cross the ocean territory as quickly as possible before attracting any more dangerous attention.

Inside Bus 7, the passengers sat in shocked silence. Several people were still trembling from the overwhelming display of power they had just witnessed. Others wore expressions of awe and inspiration, clearly dreaming of the day when they might possess even a fraction of such capabilities.

Vogue carefully wiped the blood from his face and took slow, steadying breaths. His heart was pounding from the adrenaline and terror and excitement of what he’d just experienced.

That protector probably saved all our lives just now, Vogue acknowledged silently. Without that intervention, those sea serpents would have destroyed this entire convoy without breaking a sweat.

This is the reality of the cultivation world. No matter how strong I become, there will always be even more powerful forces that could crush me casually if I’m not careful.

I need to grow stronger. Much, much stronger.

The ocean crossing continued for another several hours without further major incidents. A few smaller sea beasts approached but retreated quickly when they sensed the lingering aura of the violet-haired person.