The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 456. Wyvern Nest (1/3)

A merman surfaced from the tranquil ocean, holding a pearl the size of a human head. Its sheen gleamed under the sun, reflecting rainbows across the rippling waves. He hoisted it above the waterline, showing it proudly to the people aboard a nearby merchant boat.

"Nice... I’ll take that pearl," a man on the deck called out, nodding in appreciation. He reached into his storage ring and pulled out a bundle of Lydia currency.

"Cashless transaction," the merman replied in a calm, gurgled voice, his accent distinctly aquatic.

"Alright, alright..." the man grumbled, stuffing the currency back and pulling out his bank card instead. With a practiced flick, the merman tapped a few buttons on the waterproof device strapped to his wrist, activating the payment mode. The man waved his card, completing the transaction with a soft beep.

"Thank you for your purchase," the merman said with a polite smile. "Please come again if you need more fresh pearls."

With that, he dove beneath the waves, leaving behind only a small splash and a trail of bubbles.

"Wait—hey! Do you know where the Dragon Boat is?" the man called out, leaning over the railing.

The merman’s head popped back up, his expression unreadable. He raised his wrist again and pointed at the screen—it clearly meant he wanted a payment for information.

The man sighed and transferred a small amount of Lydia.

"The nearest one just left Clover Garden," the merman said after receiving the funds. But then, his body suddenly stiffened. His gills flared, and his eyes darted toward the horizon.

"Something ominous is coming..." he muttered, almost as if to himself, before swiftly submerging without another word.

The man blinked in confusion and turned around. That’s when he saw it.

A massive ship loomed in the distance, casting an eerie shadow over the water. It was like darkness itself had taken form and sailed across the sea. Waves around it seemed to recede rather than rise, and the very air shimmered with tension.

"Pirates..." He muttered.

On the Shadow Pearl,

"We’re near the Wyvern Nest," Lily said, her voice was sultry whenever she changed into Temptress.

"Alright... Let’s look for them— the Dragon Princess or her lackeys..." Tyler replied, closing a small storybook that Lily had handed him earlier.

Without wasting another second, Tyler and Lily stepped off the deck and flew into the air, their robes fluttering behind them. As they reached a vast expanse of empty sea, they didn’t soar higher. Instead, they dove straight down into the deep blue.

The moment they submerged, the ocean welcomed them with a strange warmth. A gentle current pushed toward a certain direction, beckoning them forward. Without words, they exchanged a nod and followed its pull.

They weren’t alone.

From different directions, other Immortal Practitioners swam toward the same current, each one dressed in various robes and equipped with underwater breathing tools and protective spells. Some had fins, others used spirit beasts as mounts, but all shared one thing in common— their surprise upon seeing Tyler and Lily.

Wearing Phantom Masks, the duo exuded an aura that sent chills down spines. The black mist like illusion trailing behind them made it seem as though they had brought a piece of the Abyss with them. Nobody dared approach. Most chose to maintain their distance, quietly adjusting their course to avoid the Phantom Pirates.

Unbothered by the attention, Tyler and Lily continued, slipping deeper into the current. Before long, the waters around them began to churn as they were pulled into a massive underwater vortex.

The swirling tunnel of water dragged them downward, but neither panicked. Tyler was naturally immune to water pressure thanks to a passive artifact embedded in his body. Lily, on the other hand, had trained her physical body to withstand harsh aquatic environments. Together, they descended into the ocean’s depths like silent predators.

As they reached the bottom of the vortex, an awe-inspiring sight unfolded before them. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

A massive stone statue stood embedded into the ocean floor. It depicted a great wyvern, one wing shattered, the other raised high in defiance. Its face was half-crumbled, worn by time and current. The sheer size was astonishing—the statue easily reached the height of a ten-story pagoda.

Beneath it was a large, circular entrance carved into the seabed. The tunnel led into darkness, faintly illuminated by bioluminescent moss lining the walls. Several travelers and explorers had already entered, their flickering lights dancing like fireflies in the Nest.

It resembled a lost temple or a forgotten tourist attraction for Immortal Practitioners and adventurers who sought glory, danger, or both.

"We’ve reached the Wyvern Nest," Lily whispered through sound transmission.

"According to the information we gathered, the Dragon Princess must be inside," Tyler replied.

The only reason why Tyler was after the Dragon Princess is to confirm something.

Lily’s eyes gleamed. "Let’s be careful. If she’s here, her followers won’t be far behind."

They both nodded. As they entered the tunnel, their figures vanished into the dark—two phantoms slipping into the lair of ancient beasts.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Just as Tyler and Lily disappeared into the ocean’s depths, a streak of light shot across the sky.

A man riding a sleek flying sword descended near the Shadow Pearl ship. His robe fluttered in the wind, and his presence announced itself before his feet even touched the air beside the vessel.

Hovering in front of the ship, Su Fei slowly rose from the deck.

Dressed in her pirate mode black sexy bunny costume beneath a long dark coat, she carried a massive scythe in one hand, her cold gaze locked onto the newcomer. Her bunny ears twitched as Her hair swayed gently as she floated silently, giving off an ominous pressure.

The man felt uneasy as soon as he got close to the ship. The only other time he felt this kind of pressure was when he visited the Abyss Passage. It was cold and heavy, like something was watching him from the dark

Still, he steadied himself and forced a polite smile. "Greetings," he said, bowing slightly.

He handed over a small box.

"I am Ragetti from the Hunter Pirates. I come bearing a small gift from my captain, meant for the one known as Phantom Blackwood."

Without speaking a word, Su Fei raised her hand. With a flick of her fingers, the wooden box in Ragetti’s hand disintegrated into dust. Floating in place of the ashes was a small red gem that gleamed with an eerie glow.

She caught it mid-air and examined it briefly. Then, with a casual nod, she tucked the gem into her coat pocket.

Ragetti blinked, clearly startled by the complete lack of response. Most pirates would at least acknowledge the name "Hunter Pirates" with caution— if not fear. But this woman... didn’t even flinch.

He tried to scan the ship but he felt his mental consciousness is getting sucked. So he didn’t try to pry anymore.

Suppressing his unease, Ragetti quickly pulled out a small metallic device, shaped like a coin with engravings etched onto its surface. "Our captain wishes to propose a deal," he said. "The details are stored in this device. Should your Captain be interested, we ask that you meet us at Clover Garden."

He extended the device, and Su Fei took it without a word. The moment it left his hand, Ragetti stepped back, the pressure on his chest easing ever so slightly.

Not waiting for a reply, he bowed again and turned, shooting off into the sky on his flying sword. Only after he was far from the ship did he let out the breath he’d been holding.

"Seriously, are they even living beings?" He shuddered.

Su Fei lowered herself gently back onto the deck.