Chapter 937: Navigation |
"Poseidon is very clever, not as easily fooled as Prometheus, and the Golden Dragon God also didn't specify that he must bestow his Divine Position to the chosen child, so this time you can just participate in the Divine Trial normally."
Hades looked at Chen Huaian and then at Li Qingran, momentarily unsure who he should explain these precautions to.
"Also, I have to tell you, Poseidon is suspicious by nature. It's best not to reveal the five Million-Year World Rings you already have.
Other than that, there's nothing else.
The Sea God's Divine Trial is difficult, but it shouldn't be much for you."
"Understood, Senior Death God." Li Qingran nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
Hades gave a slight nod. With a wave of his hand, profound Underworld Power condensed before him, forming a stable spatial teleportation gate.
The edges of the gate churned with fine, fragmented black and gold streams of light, yet there was not the slightest hint of leaking deathly aura.
He had clearly controlled his divine power with precision, afraid of revealing any flaws that might attract attention.
"Go when you're ready." He glanced at the two of them. "Time waits for no one."
…
The dizziness from spatial teleportation lasted only a moment.
The scene before the trio changed to a narrow alleyway carrying the salty, damp sea breeze.
Outside the alley entrance was a bustling market.
Hawking cries, haggling voices, mixed with the sound of waves crashing against the shore, washed over them.
Sunlight spilled onto the bluestone-paved road. Battle Masters carrying weapons, their auras condensed, were everywhere, as were ordinary fishermen with dark skin carrying baskets of fish. It was just as lively as a major inland city.
Li Qingran clung to the stone wall at the alley entrance, peeking her head out, her almond-shaped eyes wide open:
"Senior Death God, is this the place to take the Sea God's trial?
Why are there so many people, and so many ordinary people too?"
She could clearly sense that within the market, there were at least nearly a hundred Battle Masters with not-weak auras, and even a few existences with indistinct auras. Yet they were all crowded in front of stalls picking and choosing, showing not a hint of the airs of a powerful expert.
Hades crossed his arms, his black robe slightly lifted by the sea breeze, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness toward his old rival: "This is just the outer harbor of Sea God City, not the trial site.
That guy Poseidon has a rigid rule: anyone who wants to participate in the Sea God's Divine Trial must depart from this port by ship. Flying is prohibited for the entire journey, spatial teleportation is forbidden. You can only rely on a vessel to cross the Endless Sea and reach the Sea God Temple."
He paused, his gaze sweeping toward the white-capped sea surface in the distance. "The chaotic currents at sea, storms that occur once in a hundred years, and those temperamental and violent Sea World Beasts in the deep ocean... that's the first threshold of the Divine Trial.
If you can't even cross this sea, you're not qualified to talk about inheriting a Divine Position."
Li Qingran looked up at the cloudless, clear sky, then at the calm waves on the sea surface, and couldn't help but wonder inwardly:
With such clear weather, what kind of wind and waves could there be?
Just as she was thinking this, Chen Huaian beside her suddenly leaned down and whispered in her ear: "Disciple, your Master needs to enter the Battle Soul Space for a bit. There's something I need to handle."
Without waiting for Li Qingran's response, Chen Huaian transformed into a stream of pale golden light and silently merged into her glabella, entering the Battle Soul Space.
Within the Battle Soul Space.
Chen Huaian sat cross-legged, performing internal vision on his dantian.
The divine souls of the Vermilion Bird and the Phoenix, which had become somewhat restless after absorbing the Fire God's divinity, were now vibrating intensely. Crimson-gold flames churned incessantly, emitting clear, melodious cries.
At the same time, the Qilin's divine soul was also emitting waves of fluctuations.
Chen Huaian tried his best to soothe the agitated holy beast divine souls, a slight frown appearing between his brows.
He could clearly sense that the source of the Qilin's unusual activity was hidden in the deepest part of this Endless Sea.
And the reason he entered Li Qingran's Battle Soul Space was also because he sensed the Vermilion Bird and Phoenix were on the verge of awakening—he didn't want Hades outside to detect this anomaly.
After all, it concerned a secret. Less trouble was better than more.
Outside in the alleyway, Hades tilted his chin toward Li Qingran. "Let's go, buy the ship tickets first. The last ship heading to the Sea God Temple departs in half an hour. If we miss it, we'll have to wait another month."
As he spoke, he took the lead, stepping forward with the air of someone very familiar with this place.
The port's ticket office was set up in a stone house by the dock. Behind the window sat a middle-aged man with a face full of tough-looking flesh. His exposed arms were tattooed with patterns of a demonic whale, and his aura was unmistakably at the Peak Battle Master level. He was impatiently tapping the table.
"One ticket to Sea God Island."
Hades walked up to the window, his voice flat.
The man glanced up at him, saw his worn, faded black robe, and couldn't detect anything of value on him at all. The corner of his mouth immediately turned down in a dismissive sneer, his tone perfunctory: "One ticket, 1000 gold coins, three jin of Deep Sea Sunken Silver Mother, or two Sea World Beast inner cores above fifty-thousand-year level."
The composure on Hades's face instantly froze.
He, a Chief God of the Underworld, master of life and death, carried either divine artifacts or Underworld treasures. When would he ever carry such mundane, worldly garbage materials on his person?
Sea World Beast inner cores were simple; he could go kill a couple right away.
Gold coins could be found too.
A few trips to the casino to cheat at gambling would get them.
But what in the world was that 'Silver Mother' thing?
Never even heard of it...
He subconsciously felt around his Storage Pouch, rummaging through it. Aside from a few divine artifacts used to suppress the River Styx, he couldn't find half a piece of any other material.
Seeing him unable to produce anything after a long while, the impatience on the man's face directly turned into contempt. He scoffed with a sneer: "Tsk tsk, I think you're a beggar from who-knows-where, right?
Dare to come buy a ticket to the Sea God Temple without money?
Get lost, quick! Don't block the people behind you!"
When had Hades ever been mocked like this by a mortal?
His face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. His Underworld Power almost couldn't help but overflow.
But the problem was, he genuinely couldn't produce the ticket fare.
He could only hold it in, turning back to exchange wide-eyed stares with Li Qingran, his eyes full of awkwardness.
Li Qingran was also stunned. She hurriedly stepped forward and asked softly, "Boss, are there any other payment methods? I... I don't have those things either."
Her Storage Pouch had more valuable materials.
But she hadn't specifically prepared specialties from the deep sea.
"None?" The man acted as if he had heard some huge joke, looking Li Qingran up and down. Seeing she was young, delicate, and lovely-looking, he didn't even try to hide his mockery. "You can't even produce this little bit of stuff, yet you dare to come challenge the Sea God's trial?
I advise you to go home early and find your parents!
Don't end up feeding the Sea World Beasts in the sea, not even your bones left!"
Li Qingran's mouth twitched.
She was already preparing to draw her sword and smash this ticket-selling place.
A gentle yet somewhat cool female voice suddenly came from the side: "The things needed for this young lady's ship ticket, I'll provide them."
Li Qingran turned her head and saw a golden-haired, blue-eyed woman walking over unhurriedly.
She wore a moon-white long dress with delicate, fragmented flowers embroidered on the hem. A pair of long, pointed ears peeked out from her soft golden hair, like the legendary elves. Her appearance was stunningly beautiful, her demeanor elegant, and her every movement carried a composed grace that made one dare not profane her.
She casually raised a hand.
*Thump—!*
A brocade box landed on the table by the window.
Opening it revealed ten jin of Deep Sea Sunken Silver Mother neatly arranged inside, along with several fifty-thousand-year Sea World Beast inner cores emitting dense waves of power, far exceeding the price of a single ticket.
The middle-aged man's expression changed instantly. He quickly piled on an obsequious smile, nodding and bowing as he handed out two ship tickets, not daring to utter half a word more.
"Thank you, sister!" Li Qingran hurriedly took the tickets, bending at the waist toward the woman, her face full of gratitude.
But after she finished thanking her, when she turned her head to look for Hades, she found the space behind her empty.
The black-robed Death God who had been standing there just moments ago had long since vanished without a trace.
Although it was indeed embarrassing that the mighty Death God couldn't pay for a ship ticket...
Shouldn't he at least say something before running off...
Li Qingran was speechless.
The woman beside her, however, curved her eyes, her voice gentle: "No need to be so polite, it was just a trivial effort.
Judging by your appearance, are you also going to Sea God Island to take the Divine Trial?"
Li Qingran nodded.
She could clearly sense that this woman before her harbored not a shred of hostility. Her aura was gentle yet unfathomably deep, even more powerful than many Peak Battle Masters she had seen. So she didn't hide it: "Yes, I came with my husband."
Hearing this, the woman subconsciously looked around.
The dock was bustling with Battle Masters coming and going, but there wasn't a single person who seemed to be accompanying Li Qingran. Beautiful eyes filled with confusion.
Only then did Li Qingran remember Chen Huaian was still in the Battle Soul Space. She hurriedly called out several times in her heart: "Husband? Master? Can you hear me?"
But the Battle Soul Space seemed to be isolated, with not a hint of response—at this moment, Chen Huaian was fully focused on soothing the agitated holy beast divine souls, his Divine Soul completely immersed. As for that woman, he had already checked; she posed no threat. If there really was a problem, he could disengage his Divine Soul and act quickly.
She called for a long time with no response.
Li Qingran pouted, showing an awkward smile, and scratched her head: "That... my husband seems to have some matters to attend to. He's temporarily hiding."
The woman looked at Li Qingran's innocent appearance, then at her empty side. A trace of barely noticeable heartache flashed in the depths of her eyes.
She had seen too many people who lost their lives for the Divine Trial. She guessed this young girl's husband must have met with an accident during previous training, leaving her alone.
Now, her attachment was too deep, so she always felt her husband was still by her side.
She didn't expose it, just smiled gently: "It's alright. When it's convenient later, you can introduce your husband to me. The ship is about to depart, shall we board together?"
"Yes!" Li Qingran smiled and nodded, quickly following her onto the sea vessel.
…
The Sea King was a giant ship specifically running the Sea God Island route.
The hull was built from the hardest deep-sea iron birch wood. The gunwales were carved full of defensive formations, sufficient to withstand the impact of ten-thousand-year Sea World Beasts.
The cabin was already seated with quite a few people. Each had a condensed aura and sharp eyes, all Battle Masters standing at the peak of the mortal world. The auras of many had already touched the Barrier of the Demigod Level. Clearly, they were all aiming for the Sea God's Divine Position.
They gathered in twos and threes, either conversing in low voices or resting with closed eyes.
The entire cabin was permeated with a tense atmosphere.
Li Qingran didn't like this oppressive ambiance and found a seat by the window to sit down.
To her surprise, that woman actually followed her and sat down, right beside her.
Li Qingran couldn't help her curiosity, tilting her head to ask:
"Sister, are you also here to challenge the Sea God's trial?"
Hearing this, the woman couldn't help but cover her mouth with a light laugh, shaking her head: "No, I'm just here to meet an old friend. Speaking of which, I haven't seen him for many years."
"An old friend?" Li Qingran blinked.
An old friend in the Sea God Temple?
Then this pretty big sister must be a big shot.
Just as she was about to ask more, the ship's hull suddenly transmitted a slight tremor.
*Woo—!*
Accompanied by a long, drawn-out steam whistle,
the giant ship slowly departed from the port, sailing toward the boundless depths of the Endless Sea.
The initial part of the voyage was exceptionally calm, the ship's speed steady, the sea breeze gentle.
Li Qingran was still in the mood to lean by the window, watching the seabirds skimming past outside and the colorful fish schools leaping out of the sea from time to time. Occasionally, she exchanged a few words with the woman beside her. Time passed quite pleasantly.
But after sailing for a day, their surroundings were left with nothing but the boundless deep blue ocean. No villages ahead, no shops behind, even seabirds were rarely seen. Aside from the sound of waves, there was only the noise of the ship's hull rocking, so monotonous it made one drowsy.
Li Qingran yawned, leaning against the window. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and she unknowingly fell asleep.
She didn't know how much time passed.
A piercingly cold, yin wind suddenly poured in from the window, carrying a frigid dampness. It instantly made her shiver, jolting her awake.
She raised her head to look out the window and froze instantly.
The previously clear, bright sky was now completely shrouded by thick, heavy dark clouds.
The pitch-black cloud layer hung so low it seemed about to press down onto the sea surface.
Electric serpents madly darted between the clouds, emitting deafening thunderclaps.
*Crash—!*
The originally calm sea surface had already churned up waves several zhang high.
The black wave crests were like the fangs of giant beasts, fiercely slamming against the ship's hull. The entire giant ship was rocking violently, as if it could be torn apart by the giant waves at any moment.
…