Translator: CinderTL
Crack!
Boom!
Beneath the surface of the ocean, surrounding a dozen multi-masted sailing ships, countless marine creatures emerged. Ignoring pain and death, they attacked the fleet with savage fury.
Whales rammed the ships, causing them to capsize and sink, their wooden planks splintering.
A massive white shark, its teeth razor-sharp, dove upward, aiming directly for the red-haired young boy on the deck.
"Ah!!"
The aristocratic young boy screamed, his face pale as he stumbled backward, his eyes wide with terror.
"Young Master Wei!"
Everyone was horrified. The Elder Mage immediately cast a spell to rescue him.
Long Tai, who was in mid-air, also glanced down, worried about the boy's safety.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Just then, the sea erupted. A dozen high-pressure water columns, like dragons breaking the surface, shot toward the fleet.
His expression shifting, Long Tai hastily ordered his Griffin mount to evade the attack.
The powerful blasts narrowly missed him, and a shield of wind formed to deflect the impact.
But then, the rope in his hand went slack. He looked down.
The fishing net on the surface had shattered, and the massive Giant Octopus had vanished.
For a moment, everything seemed to quiet. Then—
Buzz!
Giant whirlpools appeared beneath the fleet, accompanied by a dense web of high-pressure water lines that sliced through the water!
"Damn it!"
His expression changing again, Long Tai immediately rode his Griffin to the rescue.
But he was unskilled in underwater combat and could only fend off a few of the surface creatures.
For a time, ship after ship capsized and exploded.
Some fell into the sea and were torn apart by white sharks. Others were bound by tentacles and dragged underwater.
Blood spilled into the sea, mixing and dissolving.
Shattered planks floated on the surface, with only a handful of survivors scrambling onto the backs of the giant Griffins.
After an unknown amount of time, Chen Feng looked down.
Most of the dozen or so multi-masted sailing ships had been reduced to splinters, and the Giant Octopus had vanished without a trace.
"Damn it!"
"Are you injured?"
In the Martial Hall, the shared memory footage was slowly being received.
Chen Feng fell into a brief silence, knowing this had happened several days ago.
Hurricane Island was home to many powerful individuals. Gata had been living in the surrounding area for a long time, so it was only natural that he would eventually be discovered.
But...
"Why did they have to hurt it?"
His gaze calm and profound, Chen Feng returned to his Meditation Chamber and gazed at the azure sky outside.
Perhaps he had been too merciful?
Plop!
Under the crimson moonlit night, a splash echoed as a figure in a black trench coat silently sank beneath the waves.
Gray sand stretched across the seabed, occasionally disturbed by fleeting schools of fish.
Shrimp and crabs hid among the crevices of the sea mud and rocks, while seaweed and coral flourished in a vibrant competition for space.
Silent and unmoving, the black-clad figure simply settled his weight on the seabed and began to walk forward.
Soon, his Perception activated.
He saw it—a colossal, ethereal blue creature lurking silently near a dark reef.
Buzz!
In an instant, as if sensing his presence, the giant creature opened its eyes beneath the waves.
Its large, blue-green eyes, bigger than an adult human, moved in unison with a dozen thick tentacles.
A gurgling sound of water filled the air as the massive tentacles stirred up sprays of water.
The figure in black approached and gently stroked the smooth surface of its skull-like head.
"Does it still hurt?"
The deep voice asked, even though the wound had completely healed, restored by the Ocean Spiral and its own formidable vitality.
"Sha!"
The creature's voice, filled with a hint of grievance, echoed.
Its round, blue eyes widened in confusion, unable to understand what it had done wrong.
It hadn't attacked any passing ships, only hunted sea beasts on the seabed.
Yet it had fallen into a trap and barely escaped with its life.
For a moment, it couldn't help but long for the days it had lived on Eaglefall Island, where it had been left undisturbed.
"It will end," the deep voice spoke again. The figure in black stood before its massive, blue eyes. "Let's go."
Whoosh!
A violent wind whipped across the sea's surface, as if a colossal creature had just flown overhead.
Sensing the disturbance, Gata looked up at the surface.
A flash of white-gray vanished, and he recognized the familiar aura of that savage behemoth.
"Sha?"
"I'll take you to get your revenge."
Chen Feng stroked its tentacles, sensing a hint of resistance.
He didn't press, simply waiting patiently.
Even though the Soul Flame could force it to obey, he didn't want to be so cold and ruthless.
For a moment, the deep blue eyes locked with his.
One second, five seconds, half a minute...
Finally, with a splash, the water churned.
Gata suppressed the lingering shadow of its injuries from days ago and rose with him toward the surface.
Moonlight spilled across the sea, a few beams piercing the depths, adding a touch of profound, ethereal glow to the dark seabed.
As tentacles stirred, Chen Feng reached out and caught the special item wrapped within one of them.
It was about a dozen centimeters long, entirely yellowish-white with a few golden threads spiraling around it.
It was none other than the Ocean Spiral he had obtained from the Merfolk ancestral grounds.
"It seems giving this to you was indeed the right decision."
His gaze flickered as he looked at the Ocean Spiral in his hand.
Chen Feng knew that without its aid, Gata might have perished at the hands of those two Peak Fifth-Tier Sequencers and the Ironwood Fleet.
The Ocean Spiral enhances recovery and defense in marine environments and allows its user to control lower-tier marine creatures through the Merfolk's song.
These effects were truly impressive.
But that wasn't all.
Using his Perception, Chen Feng detected a subtle change in Gata. Though faint, he was certain that the creature's aura had grown slightly stronger.
Prolonged use of the Ocean Spiral offered a chance to accelerate bloodline growth, which was its true purpose.
The thought crossed his mind, and he returned the Ocean Spiral to Gata.
With a soft plop, the water parted, revealing the surface.
The Crimson Moon of the World of the Dead hung in the sky, appearing unusually round, as if on the verge of a full moon night.
Glancing at it, Chen Feng wondered if this Crimson Moon was connected to the Dream Realm of Qinggang City.
His thoughts drifted, and a fierce wind swept through the air.
The Holy Shield Colossus, clad in golden armor, stood suspended in the sky, its condition nearly restored to its peak.
Gata cast an envious glance at it, but the Colossus remained silent as ever. It merely vibrated its stone wings, stirring the water into a soothing current that flowed over its tentacles.
The atmosphere fell into a sudden, oppressive silence. When they looked up, they could see the flickering lights of Hurricane Island, a thousand meters ahead.
"Lord Lei Long, is the news true?"
The carriage rumbled along the gray brick street, the crisp sound of hooves echoing in their ears.
Tulin, bundled in a thick cotton-padded coat and a furry round hat, drove the horses and asked in a low voice.
"The Hurricane Lord's fleet and the Red Dragon Family's ships were attacked by sea beasts. They suffered heavy losses."
"This matter..."
Before he could finish, Lei Long, seated in the open-top carriage and wearing a brown jacket, knew what he meant.
"That's precisely why we must investigate."
His voice was firm and confident.
He owed his Fourth-Tier advancement not only to Master Feng Chen but also to Lord Gata, who had aided him in the White Mist of Merman Bay.
The Hurricane Lord was no match for the Charles Family. Lei Long feared that if the Lord suffered a devastating blow, something unforeseen might happen.
Tock-tock-tock.
The sound of hooves continued, the light from the ornate streetlamps flickering along the roadside.
Well-dressed figures in suits hurried past. The carriage arrived at a grand estate and stopped nearby.
"Lord Lei Long, shall we go in and investigate?"
"Yes."
Nodding, Lei Long stepped out of the carriage and surveyed the luxurious estate through the iron fence.
"I've already made inquiries. Some other members of the fleet that day returned safely," Lei Long said. "Tonight is the Hurricane Lord's birthday banquet. They'll likely all be there. If we can sneak in, we'll have a chance to meet them and learn what happened at sea."
Tulin nodded in agreement with Lei Long's plan.
The two men straightened their collars and adjusted their hems. Lei Long produced the invitation he had obtained earlier and led Tulin to the main gate, where they passed inspection by two male servants.
Looking inside, the estate was incredibly luxurious. Green lawns, fountains, and swimming pools adorned the grounds. Gray stone brick roads and walls gave the impression of a miniature castle.
Noble carriages lined one corner, and the guests were mostly Hurricane Island aristocrats and high-ranking officials. Some wore suits and overcoats, accompanied by armed bodyguards. Others, in silk gowns, were surrounded by admirers.
"The Ironwood Fleet members are here too."
"And the Security Group, Earl Itte..."
"Truly worthy of the Hurricane Lord," murmured voices around them. Tulin, unaccustomed to such gatherings, felt somewhat constrained. These were figures he rarely encountered, yet they had come to the estate simply to celebrate the Hurricane Lord's birthday. It made him reflect on the vast disparities between people.
Lei Long gestured for him to relax and then melted into the crowd.
"Tonight's a full moon night. Do you think we'll have a chance to see the Blood Moon Flower?"
"Oh yeah, you're right! I almost forgot."
"Even though it's a birthday banquet today, it's also a full moon night. Maybe we'll witness the legend."
Suddenly, hushed whispers arose from the crowd. Tulin paused, a confused frown creasing his brow.
He turned to Lei Long for an explanation, but the man only pondered for a moment before pointing towards a patch of withered gray behind the manor, a forest that looked as if carved from steel.
"This manor has an Ironwood Tree forest. Legend says that on full moon nights, the Blood Moon Flower blooms there."
"The Blood Moon Flower?" Tulin's eyes widened in astonishment.
After all, the Ironwood Tree was an extraordinary species, never known to flower, its wood as hard as iron. The renowned Ironwood Fleet even used it as their emblem.
"I'm not sure," Lei Long admitted. "It's just an old rumor that's been circulating on Hurricane Island. Few have ever witnessed it firsthand."
Tulin nodded, choosing not to press further.
The two men continued towards the banquet hall, passing others who were hurrying towards a room on the manor's second floor.
"Viscount!"
"How's Vito doing?"
The man with brown-yellow hair and several braids didn't turn around. He merely gazed silently at the night outside the carved window and the many guests milling about.
"He's still unconscious. The shock of the sea voyage was severe, but with Mage Simon here, he should wake up."
"Mm."
Viscount Mo De nodded calmly, then added with a hint of regret, "A sea overlord... If we could have captured it as a birthday gift for Father, he would have been delighted."
"Too bad."
His voice was flat, and the person behind him dared not respond.
As if sensing his thoughts, Viscount Mo De shook his head dismissively.
He didn't dwell on the matter further, instead turning to the real issue at hand.
"Did you obtain Suoya's Extraordinary Artifact?"
"We managed to borrow it, thanks to Young Master Wei's plea before his sea voyage."
"And the results?"
"We've already investigated."
The subordinate nodded quickly and produced a sheet of paper.
Viscount Mo De turned around and took it.
He soon saw a portrait among the images.
A tall figure in full golden armor.
(End of the Chapter)
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