The next day.
After finding a place to rest for the night in Vast Sea City, Chen Xiaoming paid no attention to Tang San and the others' whereabouts from the previous day. At dawn, he set out towards the west gate of Vast Sea City.
Tang San and Oscar had already booked a sea vessel the day before.
As the largest port in the Heaven Dou Empire, the Vast Sea City docks were impressively constructed. At least twenty piers, each stretching several hundred meters into the sea, hosted hundreds of ships of varying sizes.
The ship Tang San and Oscar had reserved was located on the eastern side of the dock. It was a brand-new vessel, appearing quite refined, with its entire hull painted an iron-gray color.
Measuring fifty meters in length and over twenty meters in width, the ship's exterior was coated in thick iron armor beneath the paint, offering solid protection.
However, as soon as Chen Xiaoming and the others boarded the ship, he frowned slightly and revealed a knowing yet enigmatic smile.
"Welcome aboard the Sea Devil."
A middle-aged man, appearing to be in his fifties, stepped forward with a hearty laugh, gesturing in welcome. However, as his gaze swept over Chen Xiaoming, an inexplicable sharp intent pierced his heart, triggering an intense sense of danger deep within.
The feeling was akin to being locked onto by a ferocious sea soul beast. The middle-aged man instinctively lowered his head, restraining his emotions.
"Heh, members of the Purple Pearl Pirates?"
Chen Xiaoming chuckled coldly, his sharp gaze immediately piercing through the hidden soul power of the man before him. Recalling how these very pirates had led Tang San and his group into the depths of the sea where the Deep Sea Demon Whale King resided, he shook his head.
"You must be joking, my lord. I have no idea what you are talking about."
The moment the words 'Purple Pearl Pirates' were uttered, the middle-aged man trembled unconsciously. The fact that his identity had been so easily exposed filled him with unease.
Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others were no naive rookies. Seeing the man's reaction, they immediately circulated their soul power, preparing for any potential danger.
"Teacher Chen, are these people from the Spirit Hall?"
Oscar whispered to Chen Xiaoming. Since it was their first time in Vast Sea City and they had never met these people before, he could only think of one force that might seek to harm them—Spirit Hall.
"No, let's go. We're on a tight schedule."
Glancing at the sky, Chen Xiaoming knew it was time to depart. He stepped onto the ship without hesitation, and after exchanging looks, Tang San and the others followed suit.
With Chen Xiaoming present, even if this were a ship belonging to Spirit Hall, they would have no fear in boarding it.
The middle-aged man was momentarily stunned as he watched Chen Xiaoming step aboard despite knowing their true identity. But before he could dwell on it, Chen Xiaoming was already standing beside him.
"Don't try anything foolish, or you die."
The words were spoken softly, yet they carried an undeniable weight. The middle-aged man suddenly felt the space around him constrict, as if an invisible hand had seized his throat.
His eyes widened in terror. A suffocating pressure and an overwhelming sense of impending death flooded his mind. Just as he believed his end was inevitable, the force abruptly vanished.
Gasping for air, he opened his eyes to find Chen Xiaoming already some distance away, leading Tang San and the others aboard. A deep, indescribable fear lingered in his gaze as he watched Chen Xiaoming's departing figure.
The warning echoed in his mind, and his expression shifted. Without hesitation, he moved towards his crew.
Meanwhile, Tang San and the others followed behind Chen Xiaoming, puzzled as to why he would knowingly board a ship with potential dangers.
Chen Xiaoming offered no explanation, and they chose not to ask.
Due to his warning, Haider and his men, who had originally planned to make a move against Tang San's group, instead became exceedingly accommodating during the voyage.
If not for their knowledge of the crew's true identity as pirates, Chen Xiaoming might have thought they were competing for the title of 'Model Sailors.'
Still, their discretion was preferable.
Otherwise, Chen Xiaoming wouldn't have minded feeding them to the sharks.
With that issue settled, he leisurely reclined on the deck, basking in the sunlight, enjoying the sea breeze, and admiring the vast ocean scenery.
The beauty of the open sea was unparalleled. Without experiencing it firsthand, one could never truly grasp its vast and boundless majesty.
As the sun slowly rose over the endless horizon, the sparkling waves stretched as far as the eye could see. The breathtaking view put Chen Xiaoming in high spirits, prompting him to engage in his own form of relaxation—fishing in soul beast-infested waters.
Haider and his crew initially sneered at this seemingly foolish activity, but their smirks quickly faded when Chen Xiaoming effortlessly reeled in one sea soul beast after another.
Even Tang San and the others were dumbfounded. How was this even possible?
Chen Xiaoming merely smiled faintly and offered no explanation. After catching a fifteen-meter-long behemoth, he casually flicked his hand, instantly killing it.
"Here, prepare this for a feast."
He issued the order lightly, and Haider's men hurried forward to handle the massive fish. Thankfully, they were all soul masters; otherwise, moving such a colossal catch would have been nearly impossible.
"Alright, that's enough training for today."
Taking a deep breath, Chen Xiaoming seemed to have been merely fishing, but in reality, he was honing his spatial abilities.
Thus, time passed swiftly as everyone remained busy with their own tasks. Before they knew it, ten days had gone by.
...
Morning of the eleventh day.
At dawn, Haider stood on the deck, gazing ahead.
In the distance, a small black dot appeared on the horizon. The moment he spotted it, Haider immediately ordered the crew to drop anchor.
"My lord, up ahead is Sea God Island. This is as far as I can take you."
Glancing at Chen Xiaoming, who had just stepped out onto the deck, Haider explained respectfully.
"The surrounding waters are teeming with soul beasts. If we get too close, we'll be attacked, and…"
"There's no need to say more. We'll take it from here."
Waving his hand dismissively, Chen Xiaoming gazed at their long-awaited destination with a trace of anticipation.
Sea God Island. The Sea God Trials. Would he have a part in this grand ordeal?
A smile tugged at his lips as he turned to face the gathered Shrek Seven Devils. A mysterious ripple of energy surged from his body.
"Let's go."
As his words fell, Tang San and the others suddenly found themselves floating uncontrollably. Within moments, they had ascended fifty meters above the sea.
The once-imposing ship now seemed insignificant beneath them.
Without further delay, Chen Xiaoming directed his gaze toward Sea God Island and, with a single movement, carried Tang San and the others across the waters.
Watching their retreating figures, Haider and his crew remained in stunned silence, unable to believe their eyes.
After a long while, Haidel exhaled sharply, his expression filled with relief.
Good thing he hadn't acted against them.
Otherwise, he really would have been shark food!
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