Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

Ryu hadn't even used any strength against that giant. He had found the battle to be nothing more than a joke. But it also awakened another thought in him.

Sometimes, the environment was just as important to a battle as the power and skills of the individuals. In the battle just now, it was more important than any other single factor.

This was something that he had always vaguely known, but it hadn't truly set in until just now.

He had used no abilities but his close combat against the giant. He had somewhat refined it to be in tune with this environment, but he wasn't satisfied yet. The fact that the giant was overwhelmed could only mean that he was too pathetic.

However, it was because the giant couldn't move with as much fluidity as it was used to that Ryu had been able to flicker around it like that even without his Spacetime Soul Nature.

Then Ryu used the fact waves traveled further in the water to amplify the resonance of his attacks.

The first few punches he had thrown were just probes, trying to understand the density of the giant's skin and how far the protections went inside of his body. After grasping that, he locked onto the frequency, controlling the strength and cadence of his fists to resonate with it.

Soon, not only did the giant's body become a cage, but so too did the surrounding water, echoing and amplifying the resonance.

In the outside world, it wouldn't have worked nearly so well because the waves would dissipate too well through the air. He would have to make an extra effort to attack even faster or else it would have fallen flat.

'Environment, environment...' It felt like another piece of his Dao was missing, but he was well aware of that as well.

His Dao was very good at targeting people and individuals, but for external matters, it was more difficult and more hit or miss.

He slotted this thought into the back of his mind and moved forward with an even greater speed as he began to understand more and more of the surrounding environment.

If he could perfectly align himself with the Rotten Sea, especially as they moved downward, and the pressure increased, he might not miss his suppressed talents at all. In fact, he might be the one with an immense advantage.

Ryu came across two more beasts that blocked his path, but he could kill them with even greater ease than the second layer beast. They might as well have not been there at all.

Finally, he felt Selheira was within range and he felt he was no more than a few seconds from her location. Though, a few seconds to him was still hundreds of kilometers.

He shot forward, and the sounds of battle billowed toward him in waves. It was the kind of commotion that made one feel as though there were certainly tsunami-like waves traveling to the surface.

Ryu's eyes went red as he urged himself forward.

Soon, he could vaguely sense what was happening, but he wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

It was a battle royale and there seemed to be at least five people and a beast involved.

The people seemed to both be fighting amongst themselves and also working together to fight against the beast. It was hard to tell if this was because the beast was truly so powerful, or if it was because there was something valuable on the beast.

Until now, Ryu had only run into one of these Bloodline Crystals, but since then, he realized how rare they were. Not a single other beast he had come across had them.

Ryu oriented himself toward Selheira and rushed up. When her circumstances became clear to him, he wasn't sure if he should sigh a breath of relief or be enraged.

She was already injured, but it wasn't to the point of it being fatal or near-fatal. Though, for a Dragon like her, it would take quite a bit to put her in that state.

Even so, who dared to harm his wife?

He was infuriated.

With a step, he appeared by Selheira's side and suddenly punched out, a cyclone of force drilling a vacuum of air through the dense waters.

Ryu didn't like the result. It still wasn't as perfect as what he wanted, but that didn't mean that it wasn't effective.

The tentacle flying toward Selheira shattered into pieces as Ryu suddenly grabbed downward.

A large amount of Primordial Water Chaotic Qi took shape and formed a palm that squeezed.

'Not that either,' Ryu frowned. This Rotten Sea didn't seem to have any Water Qi in it and his Primordial Water Chaos Qi was useless against it.

Even so, once again, that didn't mean it wasn't effective.

BANG!

The head of the beast shattered and the shimmering image of a blood-red crystal shard radiated out in the waters, illuminating the surroundings and allowing them a rare chance to see the environment clearly.

Selheira had already known that it was Ryu. She could sense him just the same as he could. Though, her senses weren't nearly as sharp whether by virtue of Ryu's talents or the fact it was her Primordial Yin that had been taken away and not the other way around.

There seemed to be a hint of guilt on her when she saw Ryu. He must have been rushing after her this entire time.

However, when the light illuminated the surroundings, all she saw was a caring expression without a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Are you okay?" Ryu asked, checking her body.

Selheira looked as though she was going to cry. Why was her mind like this? Why did she have to go even when she knew it was stupid? It was like she would rather die than lie down and take this loss.... Even though this "loss" was just a victory her husband had handed her.