James woke up to find himself laying on a hard surface. He couldn't see much around him as the water was covered in mist. 

He was lying on a rock, there was a cliff behind him and a water body ahead. 

He came to the conclusion that he fell into the water which then washed him over this rock as if he had fallen on the rock, he would have woken up inside the hall. 

He looked at this current situation trying to get his bearings. He lost a hand, still had his sword beside his waist and it seemed that he had found the water body. 

What he didn't know was how much time had passed as he didn't know how much time he had laid unconscious. But he felt that he didn't have much left. 

James got up and looked towards the water. With a firm resolve he decided that he wouldn't waste this second chance that he fate has bestowed him with. 

He wrapped his torn shirt around his left shoulder tightly to stop further bleeding. He felt a bit weak from the loss of blood but as a cultivator he was able to handle himself. 

After a short moment, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes and dived into the water. As he opened his eyes he saw that the water level was deep and there rocks all around him covered in moss and aquatic plant life. 

He couldn't see an end in any direction apart from behind him where the cliff stood. Due to the mist above, he couldn't see the size, but looking from below he guessed that this must be an ocean. 

What was peculiar was that there weren't many aquatic animal life in here. He could see some small school of fish here and there near water sprites or swimming past him but that was about it. 

He continued to swim and found himself to be more and more covered in darkness as the depth of the water grew and the fog above didn't let light penetrate. 

It was difficult for him swimming with just one hand and against the current. The dark ocean gave off an eerie and mysterious feeling. James readied himself as he didn't know what dangers lay here. 

After every few moments he went up to breathe some air before continuing his exploration. As he swam he suddenly heard a loud and deep sound of a creature. 

(like the sound of the whale in finding nemo) 

James clutched his sword as he advanced. Not far away he saw a huge ship in the bottom at the ocean bed. The ship was one of those he had read about in his history classes back in school. 

It looked to be made of wood while it's framework seemed to be consisted of bones of spirit beasts. A mast rose from the main deck with tattered sails attached to it. 

On the forward end of the ship, which had a deep hole inside, a word could be seen which had its letters missing which read as 'Kin r' probably the name of the ship thought James. 

 The ship most likely sailed through wind force and speed arrays instead of the engine run ones, which made James think that the ship was probably over 10000 years old. 

But the most important detail was that a horrifying existence wrapped itself around the ship. Its huge tentacles covered the ship from the mast to the hull. The suckers on each tentacle seemed to have a diameter of a meter itself. 

The creature's skin was reddish brown, a huge head lay on the quarter deck. It's red eyes gleamed in the dark ocean. It was the sea devil, the Kraken! 

It was a mid Emerald realm beast, an existence which was impossible to overcome by James or anybody amongst his class for that matter. 

James suddenly had a strange feeling and looked around him. He found that he was not alone and there were many of from his class floating around the ship, looking towards it. 

A figure approached him which James recognized was his friend Gus. 

"You made it! I've been waiting for you. You sure take your time though, I neatly thought you got eaten by a Violet striped Anaconda! " said Gus. 

" Violet striped Anaconda? Where did you find that? "

" Ah don't ask, I don't want to remember it again. Hey what happened to your left hand " asked Gus as he suddenly realised his friend's condition. 

They used qi as a transmission wave to convey their thoughts. It was taught to them in one of their qi manipulation classes where they learnt how to converse secretly or under water. 

James and Gus discussed their experiences to learn whatever they could from each other. Gus turned out to be lucky as after the anaconda incident. He was able to reach the shore without facing any further trouble. 

There were about 37 of them here counting James. A group of four had tried to sneak inside the ship but the kraken had caught them and crushed them ruthlessly. 

After seeing that sight, the others had decided to wait it out for a concrete plan instead. James met up with the others to discuss how to approach the situation. 

For now the group had decided to team up and face the kraken. There was no point in watching as the time would be soon over and none of them will be able to pass the test. 

However facing the Kraken as a group might result in at least some people getting through it and inside the ship. They decided to head for the ship together by spreading out and entering from different directions. 

They knew that even if they all combined their strength they wouldn't win, however, this way some had the chance to get inside as the kraken wouldn't be able to handle everyone at the same time. 

That lucky person or group could be anyone, but it was better than them all failing it. The group nodded at the idea and they went to the surface to breathe some air readying themselves to face the kraken. 

The group approached the ship and with a confirmation from everyone they dashed towards it. As they neared it, the kraken launched his tentacles at them at an astonishing speed. 

In the water the Kraken could move at his maximum speed while their's were limited. Adding to this was that they were early Azure realm cultivators against a mid Emerald realm beast. 

It's speed was frightening as it grabbed them. Some had their bodies pierced in between as the tentacle moved at a breath taking speed through them towards the next target. 

There were even some who had stayed and not launched like the others, trying to find an opening in the massacre. 

Many died around James as he and Gus swam through towards the ship. They were able to dodge a tentacle as it stabbed a person beside them instead. 

As they were about to reach the ship, the thin end of a tentacle appeared and grabbed Gus's right leg squeezing it breaking his bones. He was unable to break free of the hold as the suckers attached to it tightly. 

Seeing the precarious situation, Gus motioned for James to leave quickly. But James couldn't leave his only friend in such a situation, his conscience refused such an action.

 James quickly made a decision and took out his sword swinging it at Guy's right leg cutting it apart from his body. Since Gus would fail the test if he was left in this state, James decided to take this risk. 

Gus's body separated from the tentacle. James sheathed his sword back and caught his shirt with his right hand pulling it towards him. 

There was an opening in the hull just about a few meters away from where they stood. James wrapped his arm around Gus, who had a flabbergasted expression on his face, and applied qi force from his legs. 

He thought that since water was just a form where particles were closer to each other than air, and were not tightly packed, so his Wind Enforcer should work. 

James let out a huge qi force and with a boost in his speed he

covered the few meters reaching the opening in a second.

Inside James quickly ventured further as he did not know if the kraken would break apart the ship to attack him. 

It was a race against time. He didn't have much of his breath left and Gus, who just got his leg amputated was in even more predicament. 

He needed to search the treasure and fast to get out of this world, otherwise they will fail and all this sacrifice would go wasted. He refused to give up and quickly started searching the ship. 

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Any mistakes found or any suggestions please do comment and tell. Enjoy!