The Explorer cleaved through the waves, carving a white trail across the boundless azure as it sailed firmly toward the west. Nearly half a year had passed since they bid farewell to Bo Saixi and departed the Demon Whale Sea Domain.
For Yu Yuanchen and his party, these six months of life at sea were both a long journey and a rare, tranquil period far removed from the turmoil of the continent. Of course, beneath this tranquility, it was not always smooth sailing.
The temper of the ocean was unpredictable. They had encountered a terrifying storm that connected the sky and the sea, with dark clouds like ink, electric snakes dancing wildly, and giant waves like mountains pressing down layer upon layer, as if to tear this small sailboat into pieces.
However, to the passengers on board, it felt more like a magnificent performance by heaven and earth.
Yu Yuanchen only needed to stand at the bow and channel a trace of his Thunder Authority, and the raging thunderstorm would docilely steer clear of the ship.
Qian Daoliu would unfold his Angel Domain, and wherever the holy light reached, the wind and waves would subside.
When Tang Chen felt the urge, he would charge directly into the center of the storm, using his Clear Sky Hammer to shake the might of heaven and earth, thereby tempering his body and combat skills.
In the face of their absolute strength, these so-called natural disasters were more like a unique form of training and scenery.
They had also accidentally entered mysterious ocean currents and mist zones where the compass failed, the sun and moon lost their light, and it felt as if they were placed in eternal chaos.
But this disorientation did not last long; Yu Yuanchen's spiritual power, which approached the divine level, served as the most reliable lighthouse, always able to point out the correct direction. Qian Daoliu's Angel Holy Light also possessed the ability to disperse the mist and purify falsehood.
These few brief moments of being lost instead gave them a sense of awe for the vastness and mystery of this immense ocean.
Most of the time, it was day after day of sailing. The azure sky was washed clean, the sea and sky were one color, accompanied only by seagulls and followed by schools of fish. After looking at the monotonous blue for too long, it was inevitable to feel weary. To dispel this boredom, everyone found their own joy.
On a whim, they took turns diving into the deep seabed. Sunlight penetrated the surface, casting hazy light pillars that illuminated a bizarre, fantastic, and colorful world.
Huge coral forests resembled underwater forests, fish of various shapes darted between them, and deep-sea creatures emitting a glow were like stars in the night sky.
Qian Daoliu and Avril marveled at this peaceful and harmonious underwater garden.
Tang Chen and Yang Xueqi were more keen on finding powerful sea soul beasts to spar with, though they always stopped at the point.
Ye Zhilan and Yu Yuanchen focused more on exploration; relying on their keen perception, they found several places where underwater spiritual veins gathered and collected rare seaweed and spiritual clams containing pure water elemental power and life essence—all excellent materials for refining pills and nourishing qi and blood.
"I always thought the ocean was merely a habitat for soul beasts and an obstacle to navigation routes. Only today do I realize that such a magnificent world and abundant treasures are hidden beneath it!" Tang Chen surfaced, wiped the seawater from his face, and sighed, "We know far too little about this blue territory that covers seventy percent of the continent!"
Qian Daoliu deeply agreed: "Although there is no lack of resources on land, many factions are in constant dispute because of them. If the ocean can be well developed, perhaps it can open up a new direction for the soul master world." He looked at Yu Yuanchen, his eyes filled with inquiry.
Yu Yuanchen smiled slightly, noncommittal. His thoughts went further; while the development of the ocean was important, what attracted him more was the Sun Moon Continent overseas, which possessed soul tool technology and a civilization somewhat different from the Douluo Continent.
Although the voyage was long, they were not isolated from the world. The Hell Gate, a spatial divine artifact Yu Yuanchen obtained from the Demon Plane, played a huge role. Every month or two, he would open a space channel to connect with Dragon City, Martial Soul City, or the Clear Sky Sect. The group could take turns returning to the continent for a few days to handle necessary sect affairs, and more importantly—to go home to see the children.
Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan would naturally return to Dragon City to enjoy family joy, check on their children's cultivation progress, and listen to them chirping about interesting school stories.
Tang Chen and Yang Xueqi also often returned to the Clear Sky Sect to see their son, and by the way, use the deep sea whale meat and other resources they brought back to drill the sect disciples hard.
Although Qian Daoliu and Avril had no offspring yet, they would also return to Martial Soul Hall to visit Qian Chongxiao and handle teaching affairs; Avril had a harmonious relationship with the purified angels and would also go back to see them.
This "intermittent" return home instead diluted the sorrow of parting from long-term travel, making the journey seem less long and hard to endure. Every time they returned, the ship would be filled with new things from the continent and the family's entrustment, creating a warm atmosphere.
Time passed silently in this rhythm of cultivation, sightseeing, mystery exploration, and occasional returns home.
On this day, it was afternoon. The sea was as calm as a mirror, and the sky was deep blue and high. Yu Yuanchen was playing chess with Qian Daoliu on the deck, while Tang Chen watched from the side, occasionally shouting loudly to "direct the country," which earned him frequent white eyes from Qian Daoliu. The three ladies, including Ye Zhilan, were drinking tea and chatting under the pergola at the stern, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
Suddenly, Yu Yuanchen, who had been closing his eyes to sense something, paused his hand holding a piece, a gleam of light flashing in his eyes that was difficult to perceive. He looked up toward the distant horizon, his tone calm but carrying an imperceptible ripple:
"We are almost there."
These four short words caused the atmosphere on the deck to change instantly!
Qian Daoliu stopped his move, Tang Chen stood up abruptly, and even the three ladies at the stern stopped their conversation. Everyone's gaze was cast in the direction Yu Yuanchen was looking.
"There? The Sun Moon Continent?" Tang Chen asked impatiently, his voice full of excitement.
Yu Yuanchen nodded slightly: "A thousand miles ahead, the unique thick scent of land is already vaguely discernible. Unlike any island sensed before, it can only be a... vast continent."
Soon everyone knew about this, and everyone came to the deck, gazing into the distance. Although the naked eye could still only see the sea and sky as one color, the color of the seawater was different from when they were in the deep sea; clearly, they had entered the coastal waters.
The speed of the Explorer quietly increased under Yu Yuanchen's control, the hull runes lighting up completely, shooting toward the west like an arrow leaving the bow.
Finally, at dawn, when the first ray of sunlight pierced the darkness and shone on the sea surface, Yang Xueqi, who was on duty in the crow's nest at the top of the mast, let out a clear shout:
"Land! I see land!"
Everyone rushed to the front of the deck instantly! They saw that on the distant horizon, a long, vague black line, like a sleeping giant beast, was slowly manifesting its outline!
As the distance approached, the black line gradually became clear, turning into undulating mountains and vague forest outlines. A breeze mixed with soil, vegetation, and... a faint smell of smoke and fire blew towards them.
"It's a continent! We finally arrived." Tang Chen waved his fists excitedly. After half a year of sailing, they had finally seen the other shore!
Qian Daoliu could not hide his excitement either; he was also very curious about the local customs and traditions of the new continent.
Yu Yuanchen did not speak, only concentrating and sensing. His divine sense spread forward like a tide, sweeping across the coastline and extending inland to investigate the situation of the Sun Moon Continent.
In the evening, the ship finally docked. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sea a warm orange-red, and the Explorer slowly approached a tranquil bay. The scene before them left everyone on the deck in a trance for a moment—if they hadn't known they had been sailing for half a year, they would have almost thought they had returned to some remote coast of the Douluo Continent.
The waves gently lapped against the golden sand beach, the rhythm slow and familiar. The salty sea breeze blew on their faces, no different from the atmosphere along the coast of the Douluo Continent. In the distance, the rolling hills were covered in lush green attire, which at first glance looked somewhat similar to the mountains and forests of the Douluo Continent.
However, upon closer inspection, the differences appeared. Although the vegetation on the shore was dense, it was mixed with many unfamiliar species.
A type of shrub with serrated leaves and edges with a strange metallic sheen grew abundantly on the high beach;
Other dwarf trees with twisted trunks, shaped like coiled dragons, were rooted in the sandy soil, their fruits like small, unlit lanterns, vaguely visible among the branches and leaves.
These plants added a sense of exotic unfamiliarity to this seemingly ordinary coast.
The group's attention was soon drawn to a small village built against the mountain on one side of the bay. That was the first sign of human habitation they had seen on this new continent.
The village was very small, with only dozens of households. Most of the houses were built with rough stones and soil, low and simple, with roofs covered in thick thatch of varying colors, looking quite old.
A few wooden boats, appearing narrower and more archaic in style than the coastal fishing vessels of Douluo Continent, were dragged onto the beach, their drying fishing nets tattered and covered in numerous patches. The entire village exuded an air of isolated poverty and backwardness, yet it was not deathly silent; in the distance, a few tiny figures could faintly be seen moving about.
"This..." Tang Chen looked at the quiet village and rubbed his chin, his tone carrying obvious disappointment. "It looks... no different from the poor villages back home. I really thought this Sun Moon Continent would be something extraordinary."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly. His perception was keener, but he also remarked, "This continent seems... to have nothing special about it. The villagers' auras are faint; they are all ordinary people."
Just then, the village seemed to have discovered this suddenly appearing, strangely shaped, massive ship. The few tiny figures on the beach clearly panicked; they quickly dropped their work and, like startled rabbits, scurried back into the village, disappearing among the low stone houses. The faint trace of life that had been there was instantly replaced by a sense of vigilance and unease.
"Let's keep looking. Backward places will always exist; there shouldn't be a shortage of such places on Douluo Continent either. This might just be an isolated incident," Yu Yuanchen said slowly.
Yu Yuanchen watched everything quietly, understanding in his heart. This first impression was indeed difficult to reconcile with the idea of "advanced Soul Tool Technology."
The barrenness and backwardness before them seemed to silently recount the years this continent might have endured, or perhaps the uneven nature of its development.
The exploration had only just begun. This small village was perhaps merely the starting point to an unknown world, and the True Sun Moon Continent must surely be hidden deep within this land.
Having heard Yu Yuanchen's words, the others also considered these points and nodded in agreement.
The Explorer slowly adjusted its course, heading toward that simple pier.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan