Chapter 195 | The Otherworld Journey That Starts From a Slime

The twelve layers of magic barriers instantly shattered until only one remained. Zhang Ye's expression turned grim.

One had to know that with his mana bolstering them, the twelve layers of magic barriers could even withstand a Tier Ten spell. Yet now, they were on the verge of collapsing, which showed just how powerful the attacker was.

“Humans all deserve to die”? In other words, the attacker wasn't human! This was going to be troublesome!

Water arrows continued to shoot out from the mist in all directions, growing more powerful and dense by the second!

Out of options, Zhang Ye channeled his mana to its limits, continuously casting instant magic barriers while simultaneously analyzing the 【Water Illusion Mist】.

Once the analysis was complete, he would be able to dispel this eyesore of a mist! He only needed three minutes! However, could they hold out for three minutes under the onslaught of this hostile intruder?

“【Thunder Region】!” Nan bellowed. Arcs of lightning formed a massive cage, enveloping everyone.

This was actually a binding spell used to imprison targets. However, thanks to Zhang Ye's teachings on 【reverse thinking】, Nan had cleverly applied it for defense.

The effect was incredibly good! If the water arrows wanted to strike anyone, they had to pass through the Thunder Region, but the moment they entered, the purple lightning blasted them into steam.

Zhang Ye praised, “Nicely done, A-Nan!”

Nan let out a tsundere snort and continued to watch the surroundings warily, the purple-gold long blade in his hand ready to unleash lightning blade energy.

But Zhang Ye hurriedly stopped him, then shouted into the surrounding mist, “We really mean no offense! If we have disturbed you, we are deeply sorry. We will leave right away.”

Combat was a last resort. The intruder was powerful, and unless there was absolutely no other choice, Zhang Ye would not prioritize fighting.

“Why don't we just fight our way out?” Nan sent a secret voice transmission.

Zhang Ye shook his head and replied via secret voice transmission, “No, we still don't know the enemy's numbers or strength. Furthermore, this mist makes it impossible for us to move. They are in the dark while we are in the light. Unless it's a matter of life and death, we absolutely cannot act rashly. We'll defend first while I try to negotiate. If that fails... we'll break through!”

Seeing Zhang Ye's expression, Nan suppressed the wild impulse in his heart and nodded.

He also knew that Zhang Ye was right. After all, Lina and Xi Ya weren't as strong as they were. Especially Xi Ya—a single random water arrow could end her life. Therefore, Zhang Ye had to consider all factors and choose the safest option.

But if it were up to him, he would have absolutely chosen to force his way out. This was the difference between them.

“Please stop attacking! We bear no ill intent!” Zhang Ye shouted while maintaining the defense.

Since the other party could speak, communication was possible. If a life-and-death battle could be avoided, it should be.

What he needed to do now was pacify that entity first. At this rate, his mana reserves and recovery speed would easily last three minutes. Once those three minutes passed, the mist would be instantly dispelled by him, giving them much more initiative to either fight or retreat!

No one should assume he was always mild-tempered.

When those water arrows had shot toward them, Zhang Ye had also been filled with irritation. He just knew that he had to stay calm and make the most correct decision.

“Ill intent? Have humans ever shown us anything but ill intent?” the voice echoed again, laced with endless sarcasm. “Let you leave, only for you to return and hunt me down, making me lose my sanctuary once again?”

Her voice was cool and crisp like a flowing spring, gentle and clear, yet it carried a distinct chill and killing intent.

Clearly, she truly wanted to kill everyone present.

Zhang Ye immediately said, “I can swear on my soul that it will not be as you say! We had no intention of offending you. Let us leave safely, and we will never bring anyone back to hunt you!”

“Please believe me!”

As soon as those words left his mouth, the surrounding water arrows stopped shooting. Zhang Ye felt a surge of joy.

Did he persuade her?

However, in the next instant, the cool voice echoed once more.

“Believe you? On what grounds should I believe you?!”

“Swearing on your soul? What value does a human's tiny, filthy soul even possess?!”

“The harm you humans have brought upon me has made it impossible for me to ever trust or forgive you again!”

“Only by drowning you in pure water and cleansing your souls can I find peace!”

Her voice grew increasingly fierce, and the surrounding mana fluctuations became more violent. Zhang Ye's pupils contracted as he realized things were going south.

Judging by these mana fluctuations, the next attack would probably be world-ending!

Fortunately, the analysis was complete!

“Water Illusion Mist, disperse!” Zhang Ye immediately cast the spell, instantly draining a third of the mana in his body.

The Water Illusion Mist covering the vast area vanished without a trace in an instant.

Everyone finally saw the entity.

She was... an incredibly beautiful existence.

Her upper body was like a human's, with skin as white as mutton-fat jade, a waist so slender it could be encircled by a single hand, and a full chest. Azure water surged across her body, forming a hazy, sheer garment that covered her private areas and created a dreamlike beauty.

Her face was even more like that of a deity, radiating a beauty that did not seem to belong to the mortal realm.

Her long, aqua-blue hair was actually composed of flowing water, and her aqua-blue eyes were like sapphires encased in water—pure and flawless.

Her lower body, on the other hand, was a blue fish tail. Her broad blue caudal fin swayed gently in midair, and her pelvic fins on both sides rippled like a skirt, outlining the perfect curves of her body.

She looked like a celestial mermaid, yet far more flawless.

She was simply too beautiful.

However, her face, which should have been as gentle as water, was currently covered in frost, bone-chillingly cold!

As the mist dispersed, astonishment and confusion surfaced in her eyes.

“How could you possibly...”

Before she could finish, Zhang Ye had already moved.

Iron chains shot out from his body, wrapping around the waists of the other three. At the same time, he went all out. The Bursting Flame beneath his feet erupted with intense blue fire that quickly turned white, propelling them away at maximum speed.

Escape! Escape! Escape!

Without stopping for even a single second!

This was the first time Nan had seen Zhang Ye so panicked. Although that creature—which looked like a mermaid but wasn't one—was powerful, they all had protective power inside them. Logically speaking, even if they couldn't win, their lives shouldn't be in danger. Why was Zhang Ye so terrified that he immediately chose to retreat with everything he had... No, it was more like fleeing.

Zhang Ye was practically losing his mind right now.

The moment the mist had cleared and he saw that entity, his first reaction was: Holy crap, she's gorgeous!

His second reaction was: Analyze.

And once the analysis finished... he was completely dumbfounded.

【Hainowei Siren: World Water Spirit avatar. Her true body is one of the world's Ten Great Elemental Spirits and possesses the power of a deity. This avatar's original cultivation level was Nine-star Saint-tier, but she has suffered heavy damage and her old wounds have yet to heal. Her current cultivation level is only pseudo-Saint-tier, but she can pay a massive price to communicate with her true body and temporarily gain the power of a Nine-star Saint-tier. Therefore, Host, please stop dreaming.】

Zhang Ye: “...”

What the actual hell!

One of the world's Ten Great Elemental Spirits?!

Even though she was just an avatar, her original cultivation was at the Nine-star Saint-tier. Just how terrifying was her true body?!

Furthermore, this woman could actually communicate with her true body to erupt with the power of a Nine-star Saint-tier. Against that, the protective power inside their bodies was practically as flimsy as paper!

It was safe to say that if they pushed her too far and she unleashed her ultimate move, probably no one among them would survive except for Lina.

Why could Lina survive?

Because given how pampered she was, her protective power was likely set by a Demigod, which could probably withstand Hainowei's ultimate. But the others didn't have that kind of luxury.

This was exactly why Zhang Ye had turned tail and run.

Fight? Fight my ass!

If she were really just an ordinary pseudo-Saint-tier, they could have put up a fight. But she had an ultimate move up her sleeve.

Didn't he see that even the system had told him to stop dreaming!

Gotta run, gotta run...

However, before they could get very far, Zhang Ye suddenly felt his speed dropping. The resistance in front of him grew stronger and stronger until they finally ground to a halt, as if they were stuck deep in a mire.