The East Sea after the storm showed its gentle and mysterious side. The seawater presented a deep, near-ink blue color, and sunlight falling on it scattered tiny specks of gold. The air was fresh, carrying the tranquility of surviving a disaster.
The Wave-Breaking Number was not lightly damaged, with multiple cracks in the hull, damage to the mast, and the formation array was dim and lifeless. Uncle Hai led the crew in emergency repairs, using spare planks and materials to temporarily reinforce the hull, but the speed was no longer what it was before.
Xiao Qi and Liu Yun had also consumed much, especially Xiao Qi, who had almost depleted his spiritual power to stabilize the hull. Both took pills and seized time to recover.
According to Uncle Hais estimation and the information revealed by Quick Ghost beforehand, they were not far from the sea area called the Lost Dragon Palace. And Shadow Snake Pavilions Black Horned Python Ship was faster and had probably already arrived, even possibly entered the ruins.
Time was becoming increasingly urgent.
Two days later, when faint, perpetually present white mist began appearing on the sea surface, everyone knew they were close to their target.
This mist was not ordinary water vapor; it contained a strange energy that interfered with spiritual sense detection, confusing peoples sense of direction. Uncle Hai had to slow the ship, relying on Old Fish Eagles sharp eyesight and his own vague memory, carefully navigating through the fog.
The deeper they went, the thicker the fog became, visibility less than a hundred zhang. The seawater also became abnormally calm, like a huge, deep-blue glass, not a single ripple, eerily still and unsettling. Occasionally, some peculiar luminous plankton could be seen swimming in the water, adding to the strangeness.
This is that damned place. Uncle Hai stood at the bow, expression grave. Further ahead is the Soul-Confusing Fog Sea that old sailors talk about. They say nine out of ten ships that enter never come out. That Lost Dragon Palace is at the deepest part of this fog sea.
Xiao Qi could feel the jade pendant at his chest sending weak pulses, carrying both longing and wariness. The direction was correct!
Uncle Hai, you all wait outside the fog sea. Xiao Qi made the decision. Autumn Water and I will go in. The situation inside is unclear, and more people would only be more dangerous.
Uncle Hai opened his mouth to say something, but seeing Xiao Qis firm eyes, he finally nodded: Alright! Be careful! We will wait here for you for ten days! If you have not come out after ten days - He did not finish, but the meaning was clear.
Xiao Qi and Liu Yun bid farewell to the crew, adjusted their conditions to the best, then controlled flying talismans since the ship could go no further, diving headfirst into the impenetrable white fog.
The moment they entered the deep fog area, the surrounding scenery instantly changed dramatically. No longer monotonous white fog, but various bizarre illusions appeared before their eyes!
Sometimes it was an immortal realm with floating immortals, fairy maidens dancing in the air, ethereal music enticing people to approach. Then it transformed into a gloomy, terrifying hell, with countless ghosts stretching out bony arms, trying to drag people into the abyss. Sometimes it returned to Qingxu Temple, with masters, senior brothers and sisters smiling and waving at them. It even showed the prosperous scene of Xu Lan Mountain Manor before its destruction, with parents standing at the manor gate, looking at him with love.
These illusions were extremely realistic, directly affecting the mind, evoking the deepest desires, fears, and obsessions. Even with Liu Yuns firm Dao heart, her face turned pale at this moment, sweat appeared on her forehead, her gaze flickering between confusion and struggle, and her flight trajectory became crooked and uneven.
Guard your minds! These are all false! Xiao Qi shouted sternly, while fully activating the jade pendant at his chest.
A warm and peaceful cool breeze spread from the jade pendant like water ripples, enveloping him and Liu Yun. This aura seemed to carry the power to see through falsehoods and protect the true self. Those realistic illusions, upon touching this cool aura, instantly began to twist and fade like ice and snow under the sun.
Golden light flashed in Xiao Qis eyes. With the help of the jade pendant power, he seemed to have opened Eyes of Truth. The immortal realm ahead collapsed, revealing the twisted energy turbulence behind. The hellish scene dissolved into cold fog. The phantoms of Qingxu Temple and Xu Lan Mountain Manor shattered like flowers and mirrors.
He saw that beneath the endless fog and illusions was hidden an extremely hidden pathway composed of some stable energy. This pathway wound and twisted, avoiding deadly energy whirlpools and spatial cracks one after another, leading to the deepest part of the fog.
Follow me! Xiao Qi grabbed Liu Yun whose mind was almost overwhelmed, and flew carefully along that energy pathway that only he could see.
Within the pathway, residual illusions still occasionally impacted, but protected by the jade pendant, they could no longer shake the hearts of the two. Liu Yun gradually stabilized, following closely behind Xiao Qi. She was deeply frightened in her heart. The illusion formation at the ruins entrance was truly terrifying. If not for Xiao Qis special treasure, they would probably have been lost in this endless illusion until spiritual power was exhausted and fallen into the deep sea.
After flying for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the fog ahead seemed to become slightly thinner. Faintly, at the end of the fog, a massive, mountain-like black silhouette could be seen.
As the distance closed, the outline became clearer.
That was not a mountain, but an incomparably magnificent yet dilapidated ancient architectural complex! The huge palaces constructed from some white jade and coral had collapsed and fallen, broken corridors like giants ribs scattered across the seabed. Countless deep-sea plants and coral emitting various colored lights covered the ruins, adding to the desolation and mystery.
And at the front of that ruins complex, where the fog was thinnest, the seawater depressed downward, forming a massive, bottomless whirlpool. At the edge of the whirlpool, a huge, energy-composed, semi-transparent light gate could be vaguely seen, with dragon patterns coiling on it, emitting ancient and dignified aura, but also covered with cracks, appearing very unstable.
The entrance to the Dragon Palace Ruins!
However, moored near the entrance on the sea surface, a pitch-black, viciously shaped narrow speedboat with a single-horned black python carved on its bow was moored. The hull inscribed with complex formation runes, emitting a cold spiritual energy fluctuation. It was precisely Shadow Snake Pavilions Black Horned Python Ship!
They had indeed arrived first!
Xiao Qi and Liu Yuns hearts tightened. They immediately concealed all auras, and using the cover of the fog and residual illusions, silently approached, hiding behind a massive, half-buried broken stone tablet on the seabed.
The Black Horned Python Ship was silent, no figures visible, only that huge energy light gate slowly rotating, emitting tempting yet dangerous aura.
The people of Shadow Snake Pavilion had probably already entered!