Just as Xiao Qi condensed his sword intent, preparing to launch a thunderous strike against the Deep Sea Giant Octopus, the pressure in heaven and earth suddenly intensified dramatically. The sky, already dark as ink, now completely darkened as if night had arrived prematurely. The violent wind no longer howled but let out ghost-like wails and god-like screams, rolling up waves dozens of zhang high, like moving mountains crushing down from all directions toward the insignificant Wave-Breaking Number!
Among the lead-gray clouds, dazzling electric snakes madly darted about, and dull thunder rumbled continuously, making peoples eardrums ache. Bean-sized, icy seawater mixed with rain, like dense bullets, slammed onto the deck and sails, producing loud cracking sounds.
The real sea storm had arrived! And its intensity far exceeded the ordinary!
Before the might of heaven and earth, even the massive bodies of the Sea-Swallowing Magic Whale and the Deep Sea Giant Octopus seemed insignificant. The two giant beasts also seemed to sense the deadly threat, letting out unwilling roars as they quickly abandoned their encirclement of the Wave-Breaking Number, their massive figures churning the seawater as they dove toward the deep sea, vanishing instantly.
The threat from the sea beasts was temporarily resolved, but an even greater crisis had arrived!
Hold on tight! It is a Dragon-Sucking Water Spout! Damn it! How did we encounter this thing! Uncle Hais voice in the violent wind sounded hoarse and desperate.
In the distance where the sea met the sky, several massive gray-black water spouts connecting the sea surface with the dark clouds, like writhing giant pythons, were moving at an alarming speed toward them! Wherever they passed, seawater was frantically sucked into the sky, forming terrifying water walls and whirlpools!
The Wave-Breaking Number in this violent storm and waves was like a helpless leaf, tossed up to high wave crests, then harshly slammed down into deep wave troughs. The hull made teeth-grinding groans, as if the next moment it would be torn to pieces by this endless power. The accumulated water on the deck instantly rose above the knees, ropes securing cargo snapped one after another, and debris rolled madly across the deck.
Lower the sails! Quick, lower all the sails! Uncle Hai gripped the ships wheel with all his might, veins bulging on his arms, trying to stabilize direction in the terrifying waves, but human strength before the might of heaven and earth seemed so insignificant that the wheel spun madly, almost slipping from his hands!
Old Fish Eagle and Scarface Liu and others fought with all their strength, braving the violent wind and rain, trying to pull the ropes to lower the sails, but the storms power was too strong, the sails swelling like balloons about to explode, completely unable to be lowered!
Once the sails were torn or the hull capsized in the giant waves, everyone aboard would perish!
Let me do it!
Xiao Qi shouted sternly, his figure steady as a rock on the violently shaking deck. He quickly formed seals with both hands, and the pure spiritual power in his body flowed out like a tide, not for attack, but transforming into countless soft, cyan light cords that rapidly spread to every corner of the hull, especially those sails that were swelling and about to burst!
Stabilize!
He murmured low, and those cyan light cords instantly tightened, emitting powerful binding force, forcibly stabilizing the violently shaking sails so they no longer wildly flapped, also adding an invisible framework to the entire hull like a skeleton, greatly enhancing the structural strength of the hull to resist the impact and tearing of the giant waves!
The spine-chilling creaking sound of the hull immediately reduced considerably.
Lower the sails! Xiao Qi shouted again.
This time, with Old Fish Eagle and others desperately pulling, the sails were finally lowered layer by layer with great difficulty. Losing the power of the wind sails, the Wave-Breaking Number no longer tried to fight against the storm, but floated like a heavy object, rising and falling with the waves. Although still dangerous, the risk of capsizing was greatly reduced.
However, the crisis was not over. Those several terrifying Dragon-Sucking Water Spouts were approaching at a visible speed! Once caught in them, even Xiao Qi would have absolutely no chance of survival!
Uncle Hai! Navigate! Find a way out! Xiao Qi continuously output spiritual power to stabilize the hull while shouting toward Uncle Hai behind the ships wheel. Before this might of heaven and earth, individual power was limited, and they had to rely on Uncle Hai, this old navigators experience!
Uncle Hais head and face were covered with seawater and sweat. He stared intently at that scene of world-ending destruction ahead, his eyes filled with bloodshot, but more importantly, there was a kind of madness and calm belonging to an old sailor.
He did not look at the compass, because under such extreme magnetic storm conditions, the compass had long failed. He completely relied on the near-instinctive intuition and experience accumulated over decades of fighting for his life at sea, observing the direction of waves, the flow of clouds, and even the subtle air pressure changes!
Full left rudder! No! Right! Turn right! Pass through along that gap in the waves! Uncle Hais voice was hoarse but carried an unquestionable decisiveness. Watch the undercurrent on the starboard side! Old Fish Eagle, stare fixedly at the gap in that water wall ahead!
Old Fish Eagle tied himself firmly to the mast, regardless of wind and rain, eyes wide like copper bells, screaming to report the situation ahead.
Xiao Qi fully cooperated, adjusting the direction and intensity of spiritual power output according to Uncle Hais commands, sometimes reinforcing the port side to resist lateral giant waves, sometimes pushing the stern to accelerate through wave gaps, and sometimes condensing a spiritual power barrier to resist the cannonball-like wave crests and hail striking over.
Liu Yun also stood guard at the ships side, sword qi sweeping horizontally and vertically, shattering in advance some giant ice blocks or floating objects that the storm had lifted and might collide with the hull.
At this moment, individual cultivation levels temporarily took a back seat, as experience, courage, trust, and cooperation became the key to survival.
The Wave-Breaking Number, under the cooperation of this experienced captain and two cultivators of considerable strength, was like a sprite dancing on the edge of a blade, dangerously weaving through the violent waves and water spout gaps. Several times, massive water walls barely grazed past the ship sides, that terrifying suction making everyones soul tremble.
After an unknown time, as if a whole century had passed, the violent wind and rain around seemed to gradually weaken, and that suffocating pressure of heaven and earth also began to recede.
When the first weak streak of sunlight tearing through the dark clouds shone on the wet deck, everyone collapsed to the ground as if exhausted, gasping for air, unable to tell whether it was rainwater, sweat, or tears of surviving a disaster on their faces.
The storm had finally passed.
Although the sea was still choppy, it was no longer that world-destroying scene. The dark clouds in the sky were clearing, revealing the clear blue sky behind them.
We - survived? Scarface Liu looked at the surrounding scenery, murmuring to himself as if not daring to believe it.
Uncle Hai released his almost numb hands, looked at the Wave-Breaking Number which, although seriously damaged, still had its main structure intact, then looked at Xiao Qi and Liu Yun who had pale faces and obviously huge consumption. His eyes were filled with complex emotions: gratitude, admiration, and more importantly, a heartfelt recognition.
He walked to Xiao Qi, vigorously patted his shoulder, voice hoarse but sincere: Kid - no, Daoist Friend Qingmu! This time, thanks to you! I, Hai San, am convinced!
The other crew members, including Old Fish Eagle, looked at Xiao Qi and Liu Yun completely differently. No longer the initial scrutiny and distance, but full of trust and respect.
Through this battle, they truly recognized these two young employers, not just for their strength, but for the courage and responsibility to fight side by side and turn the tide in times of danger.
Xiao Qi wiped the water stains from his face, showing a weary smile: It is everyones merit. Without Uncle Hais navigation, without all the brothers desperate efforts, relying on just us two, we could not have survived.
His gaze looked toward the east, which was the direction the storm came from, and also the direction of their destination.
Although the storm had temporarily passed and the hull needed repairs, the road ahead remained long. The threat of Shadow Snake Pavilion, like hidden reefs under a calm sea surface, could cause this scarred ship to shatter into pieces at any moment.
But at least, for now, they were more united and more determined.