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City had no towering city walls. The spot where Ning Tianchen and his group entered the city was marked only by a simple archway.
This place had long been unaffected by war, so building walls held little significance.
The coastal cities of the Star Luo Empire were mostly cliffs and rocky areas, and the nation's maritime industry had stagnated.
Although Hanhai City belonged to the Tiandou Empire, the Tiandou imperial family's control over it was weak. Aside from paying annual taxes to the imperial family, the city was almost entirely self-governed.
For a country like the Star Luo Empire, which lacked a maritime industry, launching an attack to seize Hanhai City made no sense.
Because of this, the city felt like a secluded haven, untouched by conflict.
Upon entering the city, the sea breeze greeted them.
The spot where they entered wasn't far from the beach.
Oscar chuckled and prepared flying mushroom sausages for everyone.
"Let's fly to the beach and take a look," Oscar suggested.
High-altitude flight was prohibited in large cities, but as long as they stayed low to the ground, there would be no trouble.
After consuming the flying mushroom sausages, a pair of wings materialized behind each of them, and they flew toward the beach.
In the evening, the gentle sea breeze carried a faint salty scent and moist air.
The golden sunset hung on the horizon, its afterglow scattering across the ocean, like countless fragments of gold dancing on the waves.
On the sandy beach, the tide slowly rose, washing fish and shrimp ashore.
When the group arrived, many people were already there, gathering seafood from the shore.
Chen Huayu spotted a crab with an unusual appearance and reached out to grab the largest one he could find.
"Look, everyone—the crabs here are huge!"
Holding up a crab the size of a face with both hands, he proudly displayed it to the group.
"Be careful—it might pinch you," Feng Xiaotian warned.
Chen Huayu confidently smiled, transforming his hands into his martial soul's bear paws. The crab's claws couldn't possibly pinch him.
Unexpectedly, another crab snuck up to his feet and clamped down on his toe with its large claw. Chen Huayu yelped in pain.
Meanwhile, Ning Tianchen retrieved the wave-riding soul tool purchased at the auction from his soul tool tool. He took Ning Rongrong along and went surfing on the sea.
As night fell, the group reined in their playful spirits and checked into a hotel in the city.
Late at night, Ning Tianchen sensed a familiar presence outside the window and opened it.
The visitor was none other than Bai He.
Upon learning that Ning Tianchen and his group were preparing for a long sea voyage, Bai He, who had been gathering intelligence in the western part of the empire, rushed to Hanhai City immediately.
His purpose, naturally, was to dissuade Ning Tianchen from venturing into dangerous waters.
"Sect Leader, you are the pillar of our sect. If anything happens to you, the sect will be in grave danger."
Ning Tianchen responded earnestly, "We have reasons we must set sail. Elder Bai He, please rest assured about this matter."
With that, Ning Tianchen handed the soul tool bracelet to Bai He.
Bai He was a loyal elder of the sect, and Ning Tianchen had no reason to distrust him, so he removed the spiritual imprint from the soul tool.
"Elder Bai He, these are treasures I've recently collected for the sect. Please take them back with you."
"Rest assured, we won't act recklessly. This sea voyage will last at most two years, and upon our return, our strength will undergo a transformation."
After much explanation, Bai He finally relaxed.
However, he still needed to return and convince the other elders.
Once everything was settled, Bai He departed with the soul tool.
---
Early the next morning, Ning Tianchen instructed the group to search the city for ships willing to undertake a long sea voyage, while he and Ning Rongrong headed to the auction house in Hanhai City.
Though there was no auction currently taking place, the auction house also had a trading area where many valuable items could be purchased.
"There are countless dangers at sea. We need to prepare some lifeboats," Ning Tianchen explained to Ning Rongrong when she looked puzzled.
The wave-riding soul tool could be used for reconnaissance on the sea but was unsuitable as a lifeboat.
In the deep sea, ordinary lifeboats could easily be capsized by waves, which would be fatal for a group of landlubbers like them.
Upon arriving at the trading area, someone immediately approached them.
"You two seem to be outsiders. Is there anything you need?"
Almost all large trading areas on the Douluo Continent had intermediaries.
On one hand, these intermediaries relied on their familiarity with the market to make a living.
On the other hand, for buyers unfamiliar with the area, having a guide saved a lot of trouble.
"We're looking to purchase submarines and lifeboats, preferably soul tools. Do you have any available?" Ning Tianchen stated his requirements.
A slender man thought for a moment and said, "Yes, but the prices are a bit high. Honored guests?"
Ning Tianchen paid him a tip.
The man quickly said, "Just call me Xiao Tao. The items you need are on the second floor."
Xiao Tao introduced a lot at once.
The quality of these two types of soul tools met the standards of an auction, so they were rarely put up for sale under normal circumstances.
However, due to multiple failed auctions and the sellers' urgent need for money, they were brought to the trading area.
Of course, for skilled sea soul masters and sailors, lifeboats and submarine soul tools were useless and even a waste of money.
Upon reaching the second-floor trading area, Xiao Tao introduced the sellers to the two.
The seller led them to the warehouse area and explained, "Here, this Dragon Abyss Boat is the submarine you need. And this is the Water Spider, an escape boat."
"The standard capacity of these soul tools is ten people, but in extreme cases, they can fit twenty—though it'll be a bit cramped."
"If you're genuinely interested, you can take both for 200,000 gold soul coins."
The Dragon Abyss Boat was originally a soul tool purchased by Tang San and his group at an auction in the original timeline. Now it seemed that either Tang San's group hadn't come to Hanhai City yet, or they hadn't set off.
The price for these two soul tools was indeed not expensive.
In their inactive state, the two devices were only about the height of a person, so storing them in a soul tool tool wouldn't take up much space.
By infusing soul power into them, they would instantly expand to their original size.
After paying, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong browsed around the trading area some more.
Suddenly, Ning Tianchen sensed a familiar presence. Though far away, he immediately recognized it—Tang San.
From his perception, Tang San showed no trace of divine power fluctuations. Clearly, Tang San's arrival here was solely to head to the Sea God Island.
Without the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, Tang San might not even obtain the Sea God's Nine Trials now, so Ning Tianchen wasn't worried.
Their relationship wasn't friendly, and Ning Tianchen had no intention of acknowledging Tang San, so he simply pretended not to see him.
---
Today, Tang San hadn't gone out with Tang Xiao but instead accompanied Yu Tianheng to purchase supplies for their journey.
"Tang San, I asked Tianxin. So far, there's no news of any ship willing to head to Sea God Island."
Tang San furrowed his brows. Spending ten days or half a month searching for a ship here would indeed be a waste of time.
While pondering, his sharp eyes suddenly noticed a familiar figure in the distance.
Without hesitation, he immediately pulled Yu Tianheng and ducked behind a nearby structural column.
"What's wrong?" Yu Tianheng asked, puzzled.
Tang San said gravely, "It's Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong—they're here too!"
Yu Tianheng cautiously peeked out and indeed spotted their figures.
However, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong seemed absorbed in shopping and hadn't noticed their presence.
"Could it be that they're also heading to Sea God Island?" Yu Tianheng wondered.
As the leader of the Sky Sword Sect, Ning Tianchen had many sect affairs to handle, so it was unlikely he was here for tourism.
In their understanding, coming to Hanhai City meant preparing to undergo training on the Sea God Island.
Tang San frowned and said, "Let's go back first and discuss this with Uncle."
Ning Tianchen's arrival here was no coincidence. Whether he was tracking their movements or heading to the Sea God Island, his presence was highly disadvantageous for them.
Before returning to the hotel, Tang San left a prearranged signal on the street to recall Dai Mubai and the others.
---
Inside the hotel, Dai Mubai and the other three arrived, panting heavily.
"Xiao San, what happened?"
Tang San said gravely, "Ning Tianchen is here."
Yu Tianheng then explained the details to everyone.
Tang Xiao found it hard to believe. "As you all think, Ning Tianchen, as the sect leader, has countless affairs to handle. How could he possibly leave his sect to come to Hanhai City, thousands of miles away?"
"Moreover, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect knows very little about the Sea God Island. How could they risk going to an unknown place? Xiao San, are you sure you didn't mistake him for someone else?"
Tang San was certain. "He also possesses the Killing God Domain. This subtle sensation—I couldn't be wrong."
"In that case, he must have sensed your presence too." Tang Xiao's expression turned wary.
He scanned the surroundings of the hotel with his perception and, upon finding no suspicious individuals, finally relaxed.
Tang San thought for a moment and said, "He probably didn't notice me. At the time, he and Ning Rongrong were chatting and laughing. Such a brief sensation likely wouldn't draw his attention."
Tang Xiao furrowed his brows.
Ning Tianchen had displayed terrifying strength during the Great Seven Sects Re-selection Conference. How could his perception be lacking?
Although Tang San believed Ning Tianchen hadn't discovered them, the actual situation remained uncertain.
Now, they had to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
Dai Mubai growled, "Uncle Xiao, since Ning Tianchen and his group have delivered themselves right into our hands, we have no reason to let them go!"
Tang Xiao didn't respond but instead said, "If they're heading to the Sea God Island, such a significant matter would surely prompt the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Sky Sword Sect to send powerful protectors with them. Sword Douluo and Poison Douluo might very well be lurking nearby."
Tang Xiao only possessed strength at the 96th rank, while Sword Douluo had publicly broken through to the 98th rank during the Great Seven Sects Re-selection Conference.
Currently, Tang Xiao was the sole surviving powerhouse of the Hao Tian Sect and its sect leader.
If he were to perish at the hands of Sword Dao Chenxin, it would undoubtedly confirm the status of the Seven Kill Sword as the continent's number one weapon-type martial soul.
Moreover, without his presence, how could the Hao Tian Sect ever be rebuilt in the future?
Thus, Tang Xiao was unwilling to take risks against Ning Tianchen and even planned to avoid confronting him.
Upon hearing this, Dai Mubai clenched his teeth and said no more.
Tai Long expressed a pessimistic view: "With Ning Tianchen's talent, if he goes to the Sea God Island, wouldn't he just claim the Sea God's inheritance outright?"
Though they were enemies, they couldn't deny that Ning Tianchen's current strength far surpassed theirs.
Tang San sneered, his gaze sharpening. "So what? The Great Elder of the Sea God Island has a close relationship with my great-grandfather. Ning Tianchen doesn't have that kind of backing."
"Once we reach the Sea God Island, we might as well borrow a knife to kill him."
Though Tang San preferred to personally deal with Ning Tianchen, if Ning Tianchen were to seize the opportunity meant for him, Tang San wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him prematurely.
Yu Tianheng raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Tang San is right. So what if Ning Tianchen goes to the Sea God Island? So what if he's reached the Soul Douluo level? Against peak-level Douluos, his strength is still insignificant."
---
Ning Tianchen had no idea what Tang San and his group were fantasizing about. After purchasing the supplies they needed, he and Ning Rongrong returned to the hotel.
Compared to Tang San's group, who relied on stealth and caution, Ning Tianchen's group, using money as their method, quickly received responses from several ship captains.
Feng Xiaotian and the others returned with a list and handed it over to Ning Tianchen for selection.
Ning Tianchen shrugged. "I'm not a local. Letting me choose won't help."
After a pause, he suddenly thought of something. "There should be a Spirit Hall branch in Hanhai City. Let's go ask there."
The Spirit Hall in Hanhai City was just a low-level branch, and its staff were all locals.
Similarly, this Spirit Hall wasn't directly overseen by the Pope's Hall, so Ning Tianchen wasn't sure if the Elder Token would hold any authority here.
After all, the Spirit Hall had once sent troops to invade Sea God Island, offending the sea soul master community.
This indirectly placed the Hanhai City Spirit Hall in an awkward position. It was possible that the staff here were simply idling their days away.
The location of the Spirit Hall wasn't hard to find. After some inquiries, Ning Tianchen and his group arrived.
To their surprise, the staff didn't stop them at all and allowed them to enter freely.
Inside the main hall, there were only a few tables, and the staff appeared relaxed, chatting casually with each other.
Upon seeing Ning Tianchen and his group, one of the staff members casually asked, "If you want to awaken a martial soul, bring the child over. If you're applying for a soul master's booklet, the fee is two gold soul coins."
The lazy attitude of the staff matched Ning Tianchen's expectations.
He lightly swiped his finger over his soul tool tool, and the Elder Token appeared in his hand. He casually tossed it to the staff member.
"Where's your hall master? I want to see him!"
To his surprise, the staff here didn't recognize the Elder Token and carelessly set it aside. "The hall master isn't someone you can see just because you want to."
As he spoke, the other staff members cast mocking glances.
"This bunch of people—they're probably just here to collect a salary," Oscar couldn't help but complain.
Across the entire continent, even if the Spirit Hall's staff had poor attitudes, they were still diligent and responsible in their work.
Here, however, it seemed no one was willing to do their job.
Since gentle persuasion didn't work, it was time to resort to force.
A powerful surge of soul power emanated from Ning Tianchen's body, sending all the tables and staff flying across the hall.
"If I don't see your hall master within one minute, don't force me to destroy this place."
Though Ning Tianchen's voice wasn't loud, it rang sharply in the ears of the staff.
They finally realized their fear, kneeling on the ground and frantically explaining, "Great Master, please calm your anger! The hall master has gone to inspect work at the docks and won't return until later."
"Well, why aren't you hurrying to call him?" Ning Tianchen glared at them.
What they called "inspecting work" was nothing more than an excuse for slacking off.
Still, these people were snakes lying low. Ning Tianchen needed their recommendation for a reliable captain and didn't want to completely offend them.
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