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Chapter 245 - Coryl and Cora
🕑 Added 2025-02-18 07:00:13 +0000 UTCSoutheast of Warheaven City, better known as Mercenary City.
Reefworld Lagoon.
About a year before Leyvi and the group began their journey to the Central Region, an unusual event stirred the region around Reefworld Lagoon. A surge of unknown high-level energy was detected emanating from the Reefworld Lagoon, drawing the attention of countless cultivators eager to investigate.
The Reefworld Lagoon was a vast and treacherous area, sprawling as large as a cultivator city. Its landscape was dominated by countless coral and reef structures, ranging from small, jagged formations to towering spires that reached skyward. These structures were incredibly dense and durable, making exploration—whether on foot or from above—a daunting task. The closer one ventured toward the center of the lagoon, the denser and taller the coral formations became, creating a labyrinthine environment that even seasoned cultivators found challenging to navigate.
Initially, many speculated that the energy surge signaled the birth of a rare natural treasure. Cultivators from all over flocked to the lagoon, hoping to be the first to claim the prize. However, after months of exhaustive searching, no one found anything of significance. Frustration grew, and rumors began to spread that someone might have already secretly obtained the treasure and left without a trace.
As hope dwindled, the crowd of cultivators gradually dispersed. The once-bustling Reefworld Lagoon returned to its usual state of quiet normalcy as if the mysterious energy surge had never occurred. Yet, the memory of that event lingered in the minds of those who had been there, a tantalizing mystery that remained unsolved.
A man clad in a ragged shirt, shorts, and a belt weighed down with multiple space bags strode through the dense coral structures, navigating a labyrinthine network of towering reefs. Without sufficient experience, one could easily become lost in this maze, and with the coral formations being incredibly tough, brute force was not an option for escape.
Yet, the man moved with ease, a clear sign that he was no stranger to this treacherous terrain.
He was none other than Cora—the same man who had once exchanged a few words with Leyvi on the outskirts of Reefworld Lagoon. Back then, he had warned Leyvi to stay cautious, especially given the number of women in his group.
Cora was a seasoned coral harvester, one of the few who dared to venture deep into the lagoon's most perilous areas. He supplied high-quality corals to the Forge Quarter in Mercenary City, where they were highly sought after for their durability and unique properties. Years of experience had made him one of the most skilled navigators of the lagoon's labyrinthine depths, a fact that was evident in the way he moved through the reefs without hesitation.
After navigating for a while, Cora entered a hidden area where the coral structures were distinctly different from the rest. The coral formations here felt more deliberate as if they had been shaped to suit someone's taste. The space was furnished like a home, complete with tables, chairs, and other household items. It was as if someone lived here—a strange sight in the middle of the treacherous Reefworld Lagoon.
"Supreme Sage Coryl, I'm here," Cora announced, his voice echoing softly through the coral chamber.
A few moments later, an attractive woman emerged from one of the rooms. Her outfit was unlike anything seen in the human world—a stunning, coral-like design with vibrant colors that shifted like the ocean's surface under sunlight. She moved with an air of elegance, her presence commanding yet serene.
"So, my faithful follower has returned. How is it, Cora? Did you find out any information about Leyvi?" she asked, settling onto a comfortable couch with the grace of someone who had all the time in the world.
The woman was none other than the Demonic Coral Polyp who had once gifted Leyvi the blue gemstone containing one of her abilities. Seven years ago, she had taken an interest in Leyvi's group and secretly spent a few days with them, observing their interactions. She believed her presence had gone unnoticed—though, in reality, Leyvi's Universal Language ability allowed him to hear her mystical voice chiming in on their conversations. Without revealing his awareness, he subtly adjusted his actions and words to make her feel included, a gesture she never realized.
Coryl was not a malevolent being. In fact, she had never killed anyone unprovoked. Over the centuries, she had allowed the Reefworld Lagoon to grow into its own thriving ecosystem, teeming with marine demonic beasts. When cultivators came to hunt and perished in the lagoon—whether from the dangers of the environment or clashes with its inhabitants—she would devour their bodies, claiming their energy for herself to become stronger.
Her approach proved highly effective. Not once had cultivators attempted to band together and hunt her down. Apart from the occasional efforts of beast tamers seeking to subdue her, she was, for the most part, left undisturbed.
After Leyvi and his group left, Coryl returned to her solitary existence, slowly growing stronger within the safety of her coral fortress. While she had grown somewhat attached to the group, it wasn't enough to compel her to leave the sanctuary she had spent thousands of years building. Leaving meant risking capture by cultivators who might seek to make her their spirit beast. Despite her strength, she knew she couldn't stand against the combined might of countless cultivators.
However, everything changed a year ago when she successfully evolved from a Commander-Level Demonic Beast to a General-Level Demonic Beast. The surge of energy that had drawn so many cultivators to the lagoon? That had been her. Her evolution not only increased her power but also elevated her bloodline, granting her new magical abilities. One of these was the ability to transform into any creature she had devoured. The human form she now wore was modeled after a female mercenary who had perished in the lagoon. She had even given herself a name: Coryl.
Now, with a human body and strength far beyond what she had possessed before, Coryl felt ready to explore the outside world. After millennia of hiding, the time had come to step beyond the confines of her coral fortress and see what lay beyond.
What Coryl desired to see most was Leyvi and his group. Over her long life, she had encountered countless humans, but none had sparked her interest the way Leyvi's group had. Their unique dynamics had left an impression she couldn't shake.
Now, her first objective was to find Leyvi and see if she still felt the same connection with them. After that, she would figure out her next steps.
To aid her in this endeavor, she had chosen Cora as her assistant. Not only had he interacted with Leyvi before, but she had also sensed that he possessed a good character—a rarity among humans, in her experience. What surprised her, however, was how quickly Cora had recognized her true identity when she first guided him to her hidden sanctuary.
When she asked him how he knew, Cora's response was nothing short of enthusiastic. He revealed that he possessed a unique ability called the Heavenly See-Through Ocular Body, ranked 92 among the known Unique Heavenly Bodies. This power allowed him to see through illusions, detect hidden dangers, identify weaknesses, and even perceive the true nature of beings and objects. It was this ability that had enabled him to navigate the treacherous Reefworld Lagoon with such ease.
The moment Cora laid eyes on Coryl, he saw through her human disguise. Her true form—a magnificent coral polyp. But instead of freaking out, Cora's reaction was one of pure excitement and joy, as if he had stumbled upon a lifelong dream.
It turned out that Cora had been a devoted lover of coral reefs ever since he first laid eyes on their intricate beauty. His passion for corals was so profound that he had made harvesting them his career, ensuring he always had a reason to return to the lagoon. However, he was no reckless harvester; he only collected corals that didn't meet his aesthetic standards, leaving the ones he admired untouched.
So, when Cora met the creator of all the beautiful corals he adored, he didn't hesitate. He immediately dropped to his knees and begged to become her loyal follower, leaving Coryl utterly speechless.
Returning to Coryl's question, Cora excitedly replied, "Yes, Supreme Sage Coryl. Information about Leyvi Leyan was easily available from the city's Information Broker. Although his name isn't very well-known among ordinary people, he's actually a figure that many high-profile individuals and organizations in the South Region pay attention to."
Coryl's eyes brightened with interest. "Oh? Is that so? I'm pretty sure he was just a Foundation Building cultivator back then. Could he be the heir of someone important? Oh, wait. Maybe he became someone important after Fairy Maiden June discovered his whatever overlord body that time," she speculated, her tone tinged with curiosity.
"No, no. It's nothing like that," Cora said, shaking his head. "He was just an orphan who entered a small sect with his now-wife, Alchemist Panda. Fast forward, they went to Bara City and were given a free mansion by the Bureau of Investigation. Later, they journeyed to Holy Cat City for the Alchemy Competition, where Alchemist Panda became the champion. After that, disaster struck the city, but they managed to escape the danger and returned to Bara City. There, Leyvi was granted a Deed of Sovereignty for some unknown reason. That's what caused him to gain the attention of so many powerful figures."
"I see... Although I don't know what a Deed of Sovereignty is, it must be something incredible. No worries, I'll investigate everything myself! It's more fun this way. I only want to know where he lives anyway. Cora, let's go to Bara City! You will bring me there!" Coryl declared, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yes, Supreme Sage Coryl! I'll do my best!" Cora replied eagerly, his enthusiasm matching hers.
And so, Coryl and Cora began their journey to Bara City. For Coryl, it was the first step into a world she had only observed from afar. For Cora, it was an opportunity to serve the creator of the corals he so admired.
Comments
Kasper Lynderup Jensen
I didn't get the impression that he had any romantic interests in her. More like some form of worship, and that can be dangerous to start any relationship, where there is supposed to be some form of peer support in, on.
Adoltin
I find myself conflicted. On one hand, Coryl seems interested in Leyvi and we all all know where that leads, and I am more than okay with that. On the other hand Cora is a good person and has such an infatuation with Coral and as such Coryl that I can't help but root for them. I am having a shipping war with myself.
