The Wave-Cleaving Number had been sailing across the vast East Sea for more than ten days. The first few days were calm and peaceful, with a clear sky like a wash of blue, and the sea surface resembled a massive blue silk fabric. Only the sound of the hull cutting through waves and the howling sea wind accompanied them. The crew members gradually got used to these two employers who did not talk much but seemed to possess considerable strength.
Xiao Qi and Liu Yun spent most of their time cultivating in the cabin. Occasionally, they would go to the deck to ask Uncle Hai about common knowledge regarding the ocean, weather, and sea beasts, or observe the crew members' operations, quietly learning maritime survival skills. The Rabbit Spirit became the ship's mascot. It seemed full of curiosity about the sea, often crouching at the bow, its pink nose twitching. Occasionally, it would squeak toward a certain direction, as if warning of something, which even made Old Sea Eagle click his tongue in amazement.
That Sharp Eye continued to appear diligent and low-key, but Xiao Qi could sense that his covert observations of both himself and Liu Yun were becoming increasingly frequent.
That day, the sky was no longer clear. Lead-gray clouds hung low, as if about to press down onto the sea surface. The sea wind became damp and fierce, carrying a sense of oppression that seemed to herald an approaching storm.
"It looks like the weather is about to change." Uncle Hai stood at the bow, gazing at the gloomy sky, his brow tightly furrowed. "These clouds came in a strange way. They do not look like ordinary storm clouds. Old Sea Eagle, any discoveries?"
Old Sea Eagle on the mast narrowed his eyes, peering into the distance, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity. "Boss, the water ahead does not look right. It is deep and dark, and it seems like there is a huge shadow moving underwater, moving very fast."
The moment his words fell, the entire ship shuddered violently, as if it had collided with an underwater reef, producing a grating creak. The ship's speed dropped sharply, and the hull swayed violently.
"What is going on? Did we hit a reef?" Scarred Liu grabbed a rope to steady himself, puzzled and suspicious.
"It is not a reef!" Old Sea Eagle's voice carried panic. "It is alive! A really big one!"
Everyone rushed to the ship's side to look down. They saw the water below the port side churning like boiling water. A gigantic, dark cyan-scaled dorsal fin broke through the water surface like a small hill, then quickly sank again, bringing up massive vortices that dragged the Wave-Cleaving Number sideways involuntarily.
"It is the Sea-Overturning Magic Whale! An adult Sea-Overturning Magic Whale!" Uncle Hai's face changed drastically, his voice shifting in pitch. "Should not this creature be in the deep sea region? Why would it come here! Quick! Hard to starboard! Activate all Wind-Riding Talismans to maximum! Get out of this area!"
The Sea-Overturning Magic Whale was a Fifth Rank deep-sea demon beast, equivalent to an early Golden Core human cultivator. However, due to its enormous size and power in the sea, it was far more difficult to deal with than a human cultivator of the same rank. It was the nightmare of countless sea vessels.
The crew members were thrown into chaos, desperately operating the ship's helm and sails, trying to free the vessel from the suction of the massive vortices. The glow of several Wind-Riding Talismans lit up at the stern, pushing the hull to turn with great difficulty.
However, it was already too late.
BOOM.
With a deafening roar, the right side of the hull was violently lifted, tilting at nearly forty-five degrees. A pale white tentacle, as thick as a giant battering ram and covered with suckers, like a creature from the abyss, slammed violently onto the hull.
Wood splinters flew everywhere. The hull inscribed with a defensive formation groaned under the unbearable strain. The struck area was clearly dented, with cracks appearing. Cold air spread along the tentacle, and a layer of frost instantly formed on the deck.
This was not a Sea-Overturning Magic Whale at all. It was another equally terrifying existence.
"It is the Abyssal Giant Octopus! Damn it! What kind of day is this!" Uncle Hai's eyes were wide with anguish as he watched that terrifying tentacle, as thick as several zhang in diameter, slowly retract into the water. The Abyssal Giant Octopus was also a Fifth Rank sea beast, cunning and ferocious, fond of dragging ships into the deep sea.
Under the agitation of these two massive creatures, the hull was like a leaf in a storm,,. Despair shrouded all the crew members.
"We cannot let it drag the ship down!" Xiao Qi shouted sharply. He exchanged a glance with Liu Yun, and both moved simultaneously.
Xiao Qi's figure flashed, appearing at the port side. Faced with the Magic Whale that had surfaced again, opening its mouth like a mountain cave filled with layers upon layers of sharp teeth, he took a deep breath. The Crimson Flame Sword was unsheathed ruthlessly. The blazing sword energy condensed in the air above the sea surface, violently clashing with the surrounding water vapor, producing sizzling sounds.
"Heaven-Purging Sword Strike!"
The crimson sword energy was like divine punishment, carrying the dignity of purifying evil, slashing fiercely toward the head of the Sea-Overturning Magic Whale. The Magic Whale seemed to sense the threat, letting out a thunderous roar, and sprayed a thick water column containing terrifying power toward the sword energy.
BOOM.
The sword energy and water column collided violently, exploding into scattered water mist. The powerful shockwave depressed a huge hollow in the surrounding sea surface. Xiao Qi's body swayed, and his face turned slightly pale. The power of this Magic Whale was indeed terrifying. But this strike of his successfully halted the whale's attack, even leaving a scorched sword mark on its head, causing it to let out a pained cry.
At the same time, Liu Yun appeared at the starboard side. Faced with the cold tentacle that was lashing toward her like a giant python, she did not confront it head-on. Instead, she executed her body movement technique to the extreme, like a butterfly weaving through flowers, narrowly and precariously dodging the tentacle's frontal strike. The Autumn Water Sword drew countless cold arcs, precisely cutting toward the suction cups and nerve nodes on the tentacle's surface.
"Ice Lotus Bloom!"
The azure sword light was like an instantly blooming ice lotus, with cold air pervading everywhere. Where the tentacle was swept by the sword light, its movements immediately became stiff and sluggish, covered with a thick layer of frost. Although it could not sever this extremely tough tentacle, it greatly interfered with its actions.
The two of them, one with fire and one with ice, one firm and one yielding, displayed on this turbulent sea surface a fighting style that land cultivators rarely possessed, adapted to the maritime environment. Xiao Qi's flame sword energy was indeed constrained by the seawater environment, but the purification power it contained dealt additional damage to demon beasts. Liu Yun's ice sword method, on the contrary, was like a fish in water on the sea, with her cold aura complementing the seawater perfectly.
Their courageous actions temporarily stabilized the tottering ship, stunning the crew members on board. They had never expected these two young employers to have such strength, daring to directly confront Fifth Rank sea beasts.
"What are you all standing there for!" Uncle Hai was the first to react, bellowing. "Now is the time! Old Sea Eagle, aim the Armor-Piercing Crossbow at that octopus's eye! Scarred Liu, lead people to reinforce the hull! Sharp Eye, go check the hold for any water leakage!"
Under the captain's command, the crew members found their backbone again and sprang into action.
Old Sea Eagle operated the huge crossbow at the bow that required several people to operate. A specially made bolt inscribed with armor-piercing talismans, as thick as a child's arm, screeched through the air with a mournful wail, accurately shooting toward one of the compound eyes of the Abyssal Giant Octopus that had just thrust its giant head out of the water searching for its tentacle.
SPLAT.
Although the giant octopus closed its resilient eyelid in time, preventing the bolt from fully penetrating, it was still hurt and let out a sharp spiritual shock that made the crew members with lower cultivation levels dizzy.
Xiao Qi and Liu Yun continued to engage with the two giant beasts, buying precious time for the ship repairs and escape.
The fierce battle at sea had just begun. And this sudden crisis completely broke the tranquility of the voyage, foreshadowing that the road ahead would be filled with more unknowns and dangers.