Chapter 334: Deep Sea Giant Whale, Chu Sheng and Gu Yuexi Were Eaten?

After a brief rest, the group’s next course of action once again became a focal point of conflict.

"We can’t wait any longer! It’s impossible to get our bearings here. Who knows when rescue will arrive? We have to find a way out ourselves!"

A student from Modu Martial Arts University was the first to propose this.

"Find a way how? This sea is like a labyrinth. If we go the wrong way, we’ll run out of energy and be dead for sure! I think waiting right here is the safest bet!"

Another person immediately retorted.

The arguments rose and fell, with no one able to convince anyone else.

"All of you, shut up!"

Luo Qingyu, unable to bear it any longer, cut them off. Her icy gaze swept over the crowd as she said angrily,

"Is this really the time to discuss how to leave? We still have someone who’s missing! Are you all just going to give up on her like that?"

Zhao Cheng, who was currently standing guard by Xiao Tian’s side, furrowed his brows in annoyance upon hearing this.

"Search? How? It’s been so long already. She’s probably been torn to shreds by a Demon Beast in the sea, not even a bone fragment left!"

"Is there any point in wasting all our time and energy on a dead person?"

"What makes you so sure she’s dead? Xiao Tian fell in too, and he’s fine, isn’t he?"

Luo Qingyu argued back forcefully.

Her words seemed to have stepped on Zhao Cheng’s tail. He instantly exploded like a lit firecracker.

"Hah, you’re comparing her to Xiao Tian? Is she even worthy?"

Zhao Cheng pointed at the unconscious Xiao Tian, then at the Protective Treasure Armor that, despite having lost its luster, still emanated an extraordinary aura. He sneered.

"Do you see what our Xiao Tian is wearing? It’s a Celestial Tier Protective Treasure Artifact! It can save his life at a critical moment!"

"What does that Gu Yuexi have? She’s a freshman from a commoner background. She might not even have a single decent Earth-tier Spiritual Artifact!"

"You want the nine of us to risk our lives for someone who’s almost certainly dead? Luo Qingyu, are you naive, or just selfish?"

"You!"

Luo Qingyu was trembling with rage, her long whip already in her hand.

"Enough!"

A deep shout boomed like a clap of thunder.

Shen Yixuan, who had been silently regulating his breathing, suddenly opened his eyes.

He slowly rose to his feet. His once-gentle gaze was now filled with an unquestionable authority and dominance as he stared fixedly at Zhao Cheng.

"I am the captain."

"Now, you will listen to me."

He took a deep breath. His voice wasn’t loud, but it reached everyone’s ears clearly.

"I will search for another three hours. During these three hours, you will all rest to recover your strength and wait for rescue."

"After three hours, if I haven’t returned, or if I still haven’t found Sister Gu, and rescue still hasn’t arrived..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone as he spoke, word by word,

"...then you’ll find a way to leave on your own. Don’t worry about me."

This decision both offered a final sliver of hope for finding their companion and set a clear limit for their losses, all while shouldering the greatest risk himself.

The responsibility and decisiveness Shen Yixuan displayed made everyone who had been arguing instinctively fall silent.

Even Zhao Cheng just snorted coldly and said nothing more.

It was, indeed, the best possible decision under the circumstances.

"Captain, I’ll go with you!"

Qin Feng stepped forward without hesitation.

Luo Qingyu went a step further, walking directly to Shen Yixuan’s side, making her stance clear through her actions.

And just like that, a three-person search and rescue team was formed once again.

So.

Where on earth were Gu Yuexi and Chu Sheng?

In truth, it wasn’t that they didn’t want to regroup with the others this time.

It was just... they had some seriously rotten luck!

They’d run into a little... accident.

...

In life, it’s impossible for everything to go smoothly according to plan.

This was true even for a Reborn Empress.

「Half an hour ago.」

Gu Yuexi was standing on the "Insect Bird" beneath her feet, steadily descending through the clouds and just approaching the dark surface of the sea below.

Suddenly—

BOOM!!!

The water below exploded without warning, and a colossal creature burst out of the sea with unimaginable Speed!

The thing was enormous!

How enormous? Its head alone was like a small mountain emerging from the water! Its gaping maw was like an abyssal black hole, capable of swallowing heaven and earth!

The most terrifying part was that the instant the massive beast appeared, an invisible aura enveloped them.

Gu Yuexi and Chu Sheng felt the air around them instantly become as thick as a swamp, making it incredibly difficult for the Insect Bird to fly or for them to move at all!

There was no time to react!

Not even enough time to let out a cry of alarm!

The giant mouth had already snapped shut, swallowing the human, the mosquito, and the "Insect Bird" whole.

And now.

Inside the world of the massive beast’s mouth.

It was dark, viscous, and filled with a nauseating, fishy stench.

Gu Yuexi reacted with extreme speed. The moment she was swallowed, she leaped upward, grabbing onto a pillar-sized tooth on the upper jaw with one hand, narrowly avoiding being sucked directly into its stomach by the powerful suction.

On her shoulder, Chu Sheng was also completely dumbfounded.

"BUZZ! (’What the hell? What’s going on? We’re inside?’)"

’Did I, Lord Mosquito, just get eaten?’

He shook his head and immediately issued a new command to the swarm behind him.

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ—

The two thousand Spirit-Devouring Insect Beasts that had formed the giant bird instantly broke apart and then reassembled.

The next second, a huge sphere emitting a soft white light appeared in the pitch-black space, brightly illuminating the surroundings.

This was the special "fluorescent" tail function Chu Sheng had modified them with.

As the light flared, the scene before them left both the human and the mosquito speechless.

They found themselves inside a massive oral cavity.

Beneath their feet was a slippery, foul-smelling tongue, while above and around them were sharp teeth resembling stalactites.

Further ahead, at the back of the mouth, was a bottomless, constantly writhing, pitch-black gullet, like an entrance to hell.

"BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ! (’Holy crap, what kind of Demon Beast is this? It’s huge! Hiss!’)"

Chu Sheng flew a circle around a tooth that was thicker than Gu Yuexi herself, his eyes shining.

’Getting swallowed whole... this feeling... isn’t half bad... aside from the stench!’

Danger?

’Doesn’t exist!’

In Chu Sheng’s eyes, this wasn’t a Demon Beast at all. It was a walking XP pack! A mobile blood bank!

’A Demon Beast this big, how much Qi Blood must it have?’

’Who cares what it is! I’ll take a sip first and ask questions later!’

Chu Sheng excitedly rubbed his front legs together. Without another word, he dove straight for the gumline next to the giant tooth.

Facing the "mountain of flesh" that looked so pink and thick, he unhesitatingly plunged his proboscis deep into it!

[Ding! Detected Eighth-Grade giant Demon Beast: Nether Sea Ancient Whale. Commencing Qi Blood absorption...]

[Qi Blood +30,000! Estimated digestion time...]

「Meanwhile.」

The colossal deep-sea behemoth was completely unaware of the faint "pain" on its gums.

At this moment, it was swinging its enormous tail fin, churning the endless ocean currents as it swam toward the depths of the Spiritless Sea Region.