Chapter Fifteen: Second Brother, Where Are You Going?

Normally, the giant octopuses that hide in the depths of the sea would never venture into shallow waters. Yet now, one was charging straight toward the Sea Mountain. To understand why, we must go back to last night.

In the abyss, with Long Xiaoqing’s abilities, it was all too easy to find a starbeast at the stellar realm capable of destroying the Sea Mountain—be it a colossal octopus, giant shark, immense whale, or sea serpent. Late at night, Long Xiaoqing dove more than eight thousand meters deep and quickly found this enormous octopus. Without hesitation, she clawed at one of its eyes.

Wounded and enraged, the giant octopus pursued Long Xiaoqing, hoping not only to exact revenge but also to devour her, absorb her blood and flesh, and hasten its own transformation. Though it had reached the stellar realm, its intelligence was still lacking; it never considered how it could possibly catch a dragon, especially since it was bound to the water while a dragon could soar through the skies.

Thus, the octopus chased Long Xiaoqing relentlessly, lured all the way into the shallows. By now, Long Xiaoqing had already slipped into the Sea Mountain’s interior. The human cultivators sensed nothing, but the octopus could clearly detect the dragon’s presence emanating from within the ship.

The Sea Mountain had never provoked the octopus—but with the dragon hiding inside, it had become a target. Though the ship pushed its engines to the limit, it was still no match for the octopus’s speed.

“Quick! Open fire!” Yang Xiao ordered urgently as the giant octopus drew closer and escape became impossible.

Arrows whistled through the air; twelve massive bolts launched from the ship’s ballistae struck the octopus. Yet to a creature whose body dwarfed mountains, these arrows were mere strands of hair, inflicting no pain or injury. Even as the bolts embedded themselves in its flesh, the octopus remained indifferent.

Missiles and torpedoes, however, were a different matter. Within a minute, the Sea Mountain unleashed hundreds of missiles and over a hundred torpedoes at the creature. Explosions thundered continuously as the warheads detonated against the octopus’s body.

A light breeze ruffled the sea’s surface, but the Sea Mountain was shrouded in smoke from its relentless barrage. Seizing the moment, Long Xiaoqing concealed her aura and slipped out of the ship, swiftly returning to Yang Ye’s side.

Yang Ye floated several kilometers away, watching the bombardment through his binoculars. A smile crept across his face. “Perfect. The Sea Mountain has enraged the octopus now—it’s doomed.”

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Yang Ye then picked up Long Xiaoqing and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

“Husband~” Long Xiaoqing called out, her expression tinged with shyness.

Yang Ye chuckled, setting Long Xiaoqing on his shoulder. Together, man and dragon watched the distant battle, eyes fixed on the unfolding chaos.

Under the relentless barrage of missiles and torpedoes, the giant octopus’s body was riddled with gaping wounds—far more agonizing than the pain Long Xiaoqing had inflicted. Driven to fury, it thrust a massive tentacle out of the water and brought it crashing down upon the Sea Mountain.

The tentacle, studded with enormous suckers, was tens of meters in diameter and hundreds of meters long. It descended from the sky and struck the ship with tremendous force.

A deafening crash echoed across the water. The Sea Mountain was driven deep beneath the waves.

Several sailors on deck were sucked into the tentacle’s massive suckers, which concealed spiral blades like meat grinders. As the suckers writhed, the blades spun, instantly shredding any unfortunate soul caught within to pulp.

Everything movable on deck—men and equipment alike—was dragged in by the powerful suction. The force was so overwhelming that even cultivators at the Starfall realm, not just ordinary sailors, were swept in and killed on the spot.

This giant octopus clearly possessed far more deadly techniques than any ordinary member of its kind.

“Second Young Master, run!” On the deck, a middle-aged man at the planetary level shouted, grabbing Yang Xiao and leaping into the sea with him.

Other cultivators aboard the ship quickly abandoned ship, plunging into the water to escape.

As Yang Xiao was dragged swiftly through the water, he heard a grating, metallic screech behind him—the sound of the Sea Mountain being crushed by the octopus’s tentacle.

“It’s over! All over…” Yang Xiao’s face was ashen.

The destruction of the Sea Mountain meant the Yang family’s assets were more than halved. Returning home, he would face his father’s wrath. Now, he deeply regretted ignoring Steward Liao’s advice. If only they had turned back yesterday, none of this would have happened.

The middle-aged man who saved Yang Xiao was Liao Kai, a steward hired by the Yang family.

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They escaped faster than anyone else—otherwise, their lives would have been forfeit.

After demolishing the Sea Mountain, the octopus was still not satisfied. It raised another tentacle skyward, snaring two planetary cultivators who had leaped into the air. After shredding them, it continued to lash out, sweeping up every human in the surrounding waters with its suckers, devouring them all before finally stopping.

Only then did it remember the young dragon that had lured it here. Yet the dragon’s aura had vanished.

The wounded giant octopus circled the sea, then retreated back to the depths.

Other hunting vessels, watching the Sea Mountain’s fate through their drones, immediately turned and fled at full speed. For a long time afterward, no hunting ship dared approach this region.

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“Second Young Master, I must take my leave,” Liao Kai said after bringing Yang Xiao safely ashore.

“Steward Liao, aren’t you coming back with me?” Yang Xiao asked in surprise.

Liao Kai shook his head. “With the Sea Mountain destroyed, I have no face to see your father.”

With that, Liao Kai turned and walked away. Even without this disaster, he had planned to leave. Serving under Yang Xiao, an entitled heir, was truly suffocating.

After Liao Kai departed, Yang Xiao stared blankly at the place where the Sea Mountain had sunk. Though far away, he seemed still able to see the murky waters where his family’s ship had disappeared.

He sighed and turned to leave. When he first jumped from the ship, he had briefly contemplated ending his own life. But that was just a moment of panic—now, he was grateful to be alive.

“Second Brother, where are you headed?” came a mocking voice from behind.

Startled, Yang Xiao spun around.

Before him stood a young man in black combat attire, hands thrust into his pockets.

“Who are you? Why do you call me Second Brother?” Yang Xiao asked warily, taken aback by the sight of Yang Ye.