Chapter Twelve: Devour It Whole!

Shellfish in the ocean, even if they can absorb star power to cultivate, possess little offensive ability, for their mobility is exceedingly poor.

Yet, their defensive capabilities are formidable.

Take this enormous sea shell for instance: in times of safety, it opens its shell to feed on plankton drifting in the water. Once it senses danger, it snaps its shell shut in an instant. Even ferocious sharks of the same realm struggle to bite through its shell.

Because of their powerful defense and extraordinary fertility, shellfish are the most numerous star beasts in the ocean, though they are not aggressive.

Shellfish star beasts are favorites among human cultivators, for once one is discovered, it is almost certain to be caught.

Nowadays, large fishing vessels sailing across the sea are dedicated to harvesting these shellfish.

After decades of mass hunting by humans, any shellfish reaching the Starfall realm automatically migrate to depths of at least three thousand meters.

Before Yang Ye arrived, this sea shell had already sensed danger and sealed itself tight, appearing just like a massive green stone.

In this state, it can remain closed for a very long time, only opening its shell again once it determines the coast is clear.

This sea shell was as large as half a room, weighing several tons!

Upon arrival, Yang Ye took out the short blade gifted by his master, which cut through iron as if it were mud, and struck the shell with force.

A series of dull thuds rang out, but the spot he struck showed only faint marks.

"This creature's shell is far too thick and hard! To break it open would take at least five hours," Yang Ye muttered, frowning, speaking to Long Xiaoqing in his mind.

Long Xiaoqing replied, "Yes! This kind of shell is indeed very hard. Don’t be fooled by its sluggish movement—it barely moves in days—but even many fierce star beasts can do nothing against it."

"Xiaoqing, do you have a solution?" Yang Ye asked.

Long Xiaoqing answered with pride, "Of course! Xiaoqing can breathe fire and roast it; once cooked, its shell will open easily."

Yang Ye understood Long Xiaoqing's method: she would use her internal energy to push away the surrounding seawater and then unleash dragon flame!

Creatures dwelling in the ocean are almost universally afraid of fire—just as land-dwelling creatures fear water.

Long Xiaoqing currently resided within Yang Ye’s body and could not emerge to breathe fire; if she left his body, Yang Ye would be in danger.

Yang Ye had no choice but to say, "It seems I’ll have to move it to shallower waters."

He circled the sea shell, examining it, then placed his hands on the shell and pushed with all his strength.

A rumble echoed as the heavy shell slid across the seabed’s silt, slowly moving.

For Yang Ye, at the planetary realm, pushing a multi-ton object underwater posed little difficulty.

Initially, his pace was slow, but as Yang Ye unleashed the full power of his star force, his speed increased.

In less than half an hour, Yang Ye had pushed the shell to waters over a thousand meters deep.

Long Xiaoqing departed Yang Ye’s body. After Yang Ye used star force to clear the surrounding seawater, Long Xiaoqing opened her mouth and unleashed a crimson flame upon the shell.

Though small in appearance, the intense dragon flame could instantly melt steel; burning the shell was no problem.

With a sudden burst, the shell cracked open a seam, expelling a foul, steaming vapor.

By now, the sea shell was dead, the hot air inside released due to expanding gases.

After the dragon flame faded, a black hole the size of a blue ball appeared in the shell.

Yang Ye withdrew his star force, allowing seawater to rush back, hissing as it met the shell.

Long Xiaoqing quickly slipped back into Yang Ye’s body, restoring his ability to see underwater.

Yang Ye reached into the gap of the shell and lifted with force.

A harsh sound, like snapping steel wires, echoed.

He raised half the shell.

Lifting the shell, Yang Ye took out his short blade and, from the curled mass of soft flesh, picked out a blue bead the size of a fingertip.

This was the beast core of the sea shell.

The beast core was deep blue, a late planetary-grade core.

After obtaining the beast core, Yang Ye immediately swam toward the shore.

Soon, he returned to a rocky coastline.

Upon landing, Yang Ye breathed out a long sigh.

Long Xiaoqing emerged from his body.

"Xiaoqing, here you go," Yang Ye offered the beast core to her.

Long Xiaoqing shook her head. "Husband, Xiaoqing does not need it. You eat it."

Yang Ye smiled and shook his head. "How could I eat it? I can only slowly absorb its energy by circulating my cultivation method."

Human cultivators cannot directly swallow beast cores.

Firstly, the star power within beast cores is impure, and many cores contain lethal toxins.

Secondly, if swallowed, the sudden release of star power is so intense it can easily damage the internal meridians.

But Long Xiaoqing insisted, "Husband, you can!"

Her expression was very earnest.

Yang Ye was taken aback.

Suddenly, he recalled that his constitution was different from other cultivators.

Perhaps he could give it a try!

If he could directly swallow beast cores, his advancement would accelerate dramatically.

Excited by the thought, Yang Ye could not resist.

With a gulp, he placed the beast core in his mouth and swallowed it with saliva.

Immediately, he began to circulate star force within, channeling it through his meridians to create a unique energy field.

The surrounding star force rapidly converged upon Yang Ye’s body.

Moments later, Yang Ye felt a powerful surge erupt in his chest.

The beast core was being digested, releasing vast amounts of star power.

In an instant, his meridians were flooded, star power gushing madly into his star sea.

As the star power grew stronger, Yang Ye’s meridians swelled and expanded.

The pain was intense.

Yang Ye’s master had trained him in endurance; he had explored the limits of pain countless times.

This agony remained within Yang Ye’s tolerance.

His star force fused with dragon energy, granting him remarkable regenerative abilities.

Thus, the violent star power caused little harm to his body.

Most of the star force poured into the star sea, while some spread through his cells and was absorbed.

After the surge from the beast core peaked, it gradually weakened, and Yang Ye’s pain faded.

At last, he had leisure to observe his star sea.

Within, the luminous sphere, after absorbing a flood of star power, grew dimmer yet more solid.

Mid planetary realm!

Seeing the transformation of the sphere, Yang Ye was elated.

By absorbing a late planetary-grade beast core, his realm advanced directly to the mid planetary stage!