Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 717 - 700: Wishing Everyone a Peaceful Dragon Boat Festival! (2)

The unexpected acquisition of a Mermaid's Kiss allowed him to move in the water without any hindrance, and he could swim at an extremely fast speed without even using Sword Control.

[In Zeyang's cave dwelling of the Purple Sky Catfish Demon: This cave was crafted with relics from the Celestial Realm sunk beneath the Endless Sea—the Starlight Clam, which was refined into an array and remains hidden.

Because the Starlight Clam used to construct the cave is a possession of an Immortal, though its spiritual power has gradually dissipated after sinking to the seabed for a long time, it remains beyond ordinary reach.

Zeyang has not yet refined this Supreme Treasure, and it is extremely difficult to relocate. The cave is currently ownerless, will you consume 500 years of lifespan to take it for your own use?]

[Current lifespan balance: 9,422 years 10 months 19 days]

The system thoughtfully displays the lifespan balance, enabling him to consider making the best choice.

Is there any need to think about it? Since lifespan has become a hard currency, consuming five hundred years to acquire an Immortal's abandoned ready-made cave dwelling is just a matter of devouring more evil cultivators, of course, I have to do it!

Clicking "Yes," the lifespan balance instantly drops, and a gray progress bar pops up in his view.

[Successfully taken for personal use, please click to open the "Cave Dwelling" interface for details]

[Achievement: Obtained the first mobile cave dwelling outside of a small courtyard. Reward: New Cave Dwelling Decor Set Card +1]

A new interface appears, and with a thought, Jiang Yuan expands it. A deep blue-purple shell illustration dotted with starlight and shining with a dreamy glow is displayed on the interface.

[Starlight Clam Cave Dwelling: The outer shell left by a fallen Immortal, once submerged, protected many living beings to survive Thunder Tribulations. Coincidentally obtained by Zeyang, it was crafted over a millennium into a mobile underwater cave dwelling, with a current space of five hundred square meters, and materials can be collected for upgrading in the Treasure Forging Workshop]

"Hey! This house is mine now!" He clicked to view the internal thumbnail, liking it more and more the longer he looked.

Zeyang had mastered the art of decoration; in the five hundred square meters there's not only a delicately designed conch shell house but also a small garden, filled with underwater plants—large ones like trees, small ones like flowers and grasses, all beautifully coordinated, ready for immediate occupancy.

Of course, most importantly, this mobile cave dwelling can be stored when not in use; when needed, just select a suitable location to release it and safely move in.

It means that anywhere, anytime, as long as there's water, it can be used!

In other words, with this treasure, finally, finding the Sea Moon Tomb can be prioritized.

Previously, although bolstered by a Mermaid's Kiss, allowing months of swimming in the sea without issue, Jiang Yuan, after all, is human. Without companions, wandering the vast ocean aimlessly is hardly sustainable.

The Starlight Clam Cave Dwelling is truly marvelous!

When exhausted, just place the dwelling at the seabed to rest, and it can even serve as a marker, enabling teleportation to various places.

Once done, teleport back to the cave dwelling, pack it up, and continue traveling, greatly enhancing safety and convenience.

The use of the mobile cave dwelling is simple; currently released, it only takes a thought to enter.

Therefore, as Zeyang was striving to fully refine the cave dwelling, suddenly an overpowering and irreversible resistance surged in!

"Poof!"

Suffering backlash, his mind in turmoil, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, with his health bar dropping, and was shocked to find his connection to the cave dwelling completely severed!

"What… what happened?" Zeyang was bewildered, not even bothering to wipe the blood from his lips, he activated his cultivation technique in an attempt to sense and continue refining the cave dwelling.

However, in his sensing, the cave dwelling he had meticulously crafted over years was utterly stationary, seeming to have an invisible barrier around it, one his divine sense could not approach.

How could this be? Impossible!

Zeyang stood up, stomped on the pebble floor, surveyed the surroundings to ensure everything was fine, "Could it be… when I obtained this great treasure years ago, someone mentioned it might be remnants of an Immortal. Could I indeed lack such fortune?

After all these years, nine hundred and ninety-nine prayers, just one last step away, what does it count for?!

"Consider it trespassing; get out of my cave dwelling." Jiang Yuan entered hearing him mumble to himself. Upon reaffirming the system details, anger flared within him.

[Zeyang: Purple Sky Catfish Demon at the Soul Condensation Realm Fourth Layer, an advanced monster. Addicted to gambling, sought refuge in the human world's East Lake to evade gambling debts, collecting substantial tributes and incense from the mortal populace of East Lake Port under the name "Water Virtue Star Monarch."

Incurring the casino owner Zhao Yan's ire over gambling debts led to conflict.

In an attempt to eliminate Zhao Yan, Zeyang forcefully activated the Celestial Water Mirror, causing the artifact, long in disrepair, to go out of control. Floods ensued; Zeyang hid the artifact, letting the waters rage, awaiting the Celestial Water Mirror's spiritual power to dissipate before reclaiming it.]

"Who are you?! How did you get in here?" Zeyang, even more bewildered upon hearing a reply, had clearly activated the array, so how could an unfamiliar face enter so freely?

But he claims this as his cave dwelling and arrived so stealthily; could he be the true owner of the Starlight Clam, hence why he completely lost control over the cave dwelling just now?

"Mr. Jiang?" A little bird, hearing the disturbance, flew over excitedly. "Mr. Jiang! You've indeed come, that's wonderful!

Mind the ugly fish demon; he possesses a treasure mirror that can unleash floods and a poisonous Fish Bone Sword. If overmatched, he hides inside a tortoise shell magical treasure acting as a coward.

His weakness is three inches below the back of his neck, the ugly fish demon himself mentioned when drunk, that to escape gambling debts back then, a bone was broken, never fully healed, and still poses a threat…"

Seeing the long-awaited Mr. Jiang, the clever little bird chirped away all the secret insights it had eavesdropped on.

Zeyang was livid, his face turning green with anger, "You… you collaborated all along…"

"Annoying!" Jiang Yuan, realizing the flooding originated here, couldn't be bothered with idle chatter, instantly moving the opponent out of the cave dwelling as he turned to the little bird, "Stay here and wait; I'll deal with him and return to settle you."

"Dammit! Who… what is he, how can he…" Abruptly tossed out, Zeyang's head buzzed with confusion.

Cave dwelling beyond refinement, the little bird was already acquainted with him long ago—what on earth happened? Could the little bird have secretly done something?

"Dare to betray your master? Die!" He steeled his heart, planning to use the absolute power of the life-and-death contract to kill the betraying little bird.

Yet it was futile, as the once-his cave dwelling and its layers of costly personally crafted restrictions now shielded the little bird, acting as its protective barrier!

"Revenge is a dish best served cold!" Fuming, smoke seemed to emanate from Zeyang's orifices, but he retained his wits.

Quick as a flash, failing to kill the bird and getting thrown out, he turned to flee, preserving his life as the priority!

"Devouring Mountains and Rivers!"

Having reminded the bird with one final word, after stepping out of the cave dwelling slightly delayed, Jiang Yuan witnessed Zeyang trying to escape. He promptly selected and launched a newly achieved level 1 skill.

Usually, when used on land, the effects do not appear so spectacular, but now executed at the lakebed, a massive whale materialized, opening its enormous dark maw to engulf the selected target.

[Critical Strike: -80000!]

"Ah!" Zeyang only managed a single cry of agony.

Mid-escape, a chill suddenly crept over his back; instinctively turning to look, his pupils constricted—a substantial and tangible behemoth loomed, its immense dark mouth, daunting to behold.

At the moment of engulfment, he felt a draining of all power, leaving him weak and defenseless.

"You're not much for an advanced monster, are you?" Jiang Yuan, hands clasped behind his back, leisurely approached, looking down at the nearly defeated catfish demon sprawling at his feet, blood bar barely existent; he taunted, "Such low health and frail endurance, yet you wreak havoc, instigating floods causing countless casualties. Truly courting death."

'Advanced monster' and 'health bar' were first-time newfangled notions for Zeyang, yet he vaguely grasped the meaning, infuriated to the point of spitting blood again.

All because the treacherous bird disclosed his every method to the adversary.

He envisioned retreating into the tortoise shell magical treasure, believing his aquatic prowess would outpace a mere human cultivator, prioritizing escape.

The outcome… had he known to summon the tortoise shell, perhaps stalemate could have been prolonged!

"Hmm? Not even a storage bag, are you that poor?" Jiang Yuan, hoping for a massive loot haul, found the opponent devoid of belongings, perplexedly mused.

Zeyang's frustration bubbled over, "Hmph! Had Zhao Yan not pursued debts, forcibly taking my storage bag, do you think you'd capture me?"