The vast, boundless shadow in the depths of the sea slowly writhed in the view of the Karma Eye, churning the waters for miles. It wasn't a mountain range, but a creature of unimaginable size! Though its outline was blurry, the occasional glimpse of gigantic fin-like limbs and the terrifying maw that could swallow the sun and moon, all pointed to its extraordinary nature.
"Xuanming Giant Turtle..." Chen Changqing murmured to himself. The Primal Calculation Rods in his mind flashed rapidly, corroborating the faint information transmitted by the Sea Stabilizing Pearl. This was the legendary Xuanming Giant Turtle, whose lifespan was so long that it could bear the weight of a small world! At this moment, on its island-sized shell, there was a vague outline of land, visible and indistinct.
Each breath of the giant turtle was extremely long, yet it triggered a terrifying ocean current that was difficult to resist. The water within a hundred miles surged with its exhalations, forming massive tides and whirlpools. The surrounding spiritual energy field was also in utter chaos; ordinary ships would be torn to shreds if they approached. The Canghai (Vast Sea) Ship was currently on the path of the giant turtle's next exhalation! A powerful suction force pulled from the front, and the ship began to slide uncontrollably towards the unknown, dark area.
"Not good! Steady the ship!" Zhang Tao's face was ashen, and he roared with all his might. He endured his injuries, attempting to mobilize his true essence, but found that the water-based spiritual energy here was abnormally violent and difficult to control. The sailors were terrified and desperately turned the rudder, but against such immense power, everything was futile. Lin Wanqing's face was also pale, and she gripped the Azure Frost Sword tightly. Her sword intent emanated from her body, but it could only protect her within a few feet.
"Hold your essence, gather your spirit!" Chen Changqing's voice was not loud, but it entered their ears like a stabilizing force. He kept a calm face, his feet firmly planted on the deck like nails. The Sea Stabilizing Pearl in his dantian spun wildly at an unprecedented speed. A water element force, far more abundant and pure than when he controlled the water before, surged from his body, silently merging into the ship through his feet, and then spreading to the surrounding seawater.
Boom——! In front, a tsunami-like terrifying airflow mixed with endless water vapor erupted. It was the Xuanming Giant Turtle, completing a breath and exhaling! The waves were overwhelming, determined to overturn the entire world. Just as the destructive airflow was about to engulf the Canghai Ship, Chen Changqing's eyes flashed with brilliance. The power of the pearl, which he had been holding back, erupted at this moment!
The water around the ship was given life, forming a flexible and sturdy water shield, cleverly guiding and diverting the terrifying impact to both sides. At the same time, an upward lifting force allowed the Canghai Ship to be held up by an invisible giant hand, narrowly passing through the edge of the terrifying airflow with a hair's breadth. Those on the ship only felt the world spinning, being thrown into the clouds in the stormy waves, and then slammed down heavily.
When the ship finally managed to stabilize, Zhang Tao and Lin Wanqing were shocked to find that they had passed through the death zone. Behind them was the turbulent sea left behind by the giant turtle's exhalation, and in front, a relatively calm, but also completely unfamiliar water surface. Zhang Tao's gaze towards Chen Changqing was no longer simple surprise, but deep reverence. This kind of water control ability, how could it be done by someone in the Qi Refining stage? Even an ordinary Golden Core expert would be hard-pressed to handle it with such ease.
"We… have drifted too far off course." Chen Changqing retracted the power of the Sea Stabilizing Pearl, his breathing slightly unsteady, but his expression remained calm. The previous maneuver had taken a great toll on him. The Canghai (Vast Sea) Ship had also suffered significant damage in the perilous crossing, especially the rudder, which was almost completely wrecked. They were now being carried by a strange current, drifting towards an unknown destination.
Several hours later, a hint of land finally appeared on the horizon. It was a small island, unmarked on any known nautical chart. The island was shrouded in mist, veiled in an air of mystery. The vegetation on the island was also peculiar, with many plants emitting a faint, colorful glow, adorning the entire island in a dreamlike spectacle.
"The ship is severely damaged, and Deacon Zhang's injuries also need to be stabilized quickly." Chen Changqing used the Primal Calculation Rods for a simple divination. The divination showed that the island was temporarily without great danger, so he suggested, "Let's land on the island to rest and repair the ship." Zhang Tao was now completely obedient to Chen Changqing and naturally had no objections.
The ship struggled to reach the shore. Under Chen Changqing's command, the remaining few sailors and guards began to inspect and repair the hull. Lin Wanqing helped Zhang Tao to a sheltered cave, allowing him to meditate and heal his injuries. After setting up a few simple warning arrays around the island's perimeter, Chen Changqing, with a touch of curiosity, began to explore the island's interior. Lin Wanqing, having settled Zhang Tao, followed him.
The paths on the island were rugged, with ancient trees reaching towards the sky. The luminous plants caused the light in the mist to shift unpredictably. After walking for about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the path opened up, revealing an ancient ruin filled with the vicissitudes of time. The architecture was unique, unlike any human civilization ruins Chen Changqing had ever seen. They were primarily constructed from enormous coral, strange shells, and the skeletons of unknown sea beasts, exuding a raw, untamed beauty yet also a sense of otherworldly eeriness.
"Senior Brother, this place…" Lin Wanqing frowned slightly as she entered the ruins, a hint of discomfort on her face, "I feel… there are many sad, unwilling thoughts… very dense." Her Azure Frost Sword Vein was extremely sensitive to such lingering mental imprints. Chen Changqing nodded; the Karma Eye had long since perceived that the area was filled with dense regrets and resentment, but unlike malevolent spirits, they were not aggressive, more like a sedimentation of history.
The two cautiously traversed the ruins. On a relatively intact coral wall, they discovered some blurred murals. The paint had faded, but the content could still be discerned. The paintings depicted a group of strange humanoid creatures with snail-shell ears and fin-like limbs, devoutly worshiping a giant Xuanming Giant Turtle.
They coexisted harmoniously with various sea beasts; some gathered luminous plants on the seabed, while others rode giant seahorses, creating a scene of peace. Chen Changqing tentatively called this race the "Snail Speakers." However, the tone of the murals became increasingly dark and oppressive. The paintings showed hideous shadows, flames, and destruction. The Snail Speakers' faces were filled with fear and despair, as their once peaceful home turned into a wasteland. A distorted spiral-shaped mark repeatedly appeared in the corners of several murals depicting scenes of destruction.
"This marking…" Chen Changqing's pupils contracted. This spiral marking was actually seven or eight parts similar to some of the patterns on the "Dragon Scale Key" that Zhang Tao had given him! A clue, unexpectedly, had connected again. Night quietly descended, and the fog on the island became even thicker, almost impossible to see one's fingers. Those glowing plants emitted a hazy halo in the thick fog, making the entire ruins even more eerie.
"Ooo… Hee hee… Come…" At this moment, a faint sound, like countless people whispering together, came softly from the deepest part of the ruins. The sound was sometimes like children laughing, sometimes like lovers murmuring, sometimes like resentful spirits crying, filled with indescribable temptation, arousing the deepest desires and the most profound fears in people's hearts. "What sound?" Lin Wanqing gripped her sword vigilantly.
Chen Changqing gestured for her to be quiet. He sensed that the sound contained some kind of mental bewitching power. Right behind the coral wall where they were hiding, a guard who had been slightly injured in the previous battle and whose spirit was already somewhat weak, now had blank eyes and a foolish smile on his face. As if sleepwalking, he swayed and walked towards the depths of the ruins, following the eerie whispers.
"Not good!" Chen Changqing shouted in a low voice, glanced at Lin Wanqing, and immediately followed silently. The two of them tracked the guard, passing through several dark passages, and arrived at a small square in the center of the ruins. In the center of the square, a sacrificial altar made of giant white conch shells stood prominently. The guard, who had lost his soul, was now kneeling piously before the altar, muttering words, his expression frantic.
And at the top of the altar, a strange conch shell, about the size of a human head, was enshrined. The conch shell was a deep blue, with mysterious natural patterns covering its surface, emitting a faint blue halo. The unsettling, eerie whispers were continuously coming from this conch shell magic artifact! "It's doing this!" Lin Wanqing was about to draw her sword. Chen Changqing pressed her hand down and shook his head slightly. At this moment— Buzz! The conch shell magic artifact on the altar suddenly flashed with blue light, the light intensifying!
"Roar—!" The guard kneeling before the altar suddenly let out a beastly roar that didn't sound human. His eyes instantly turned blood red, the veins on his face bulging, and his body swelled visibly, filled with explosive power. He suddenly turned around, his blood-red pupils, filled with violence and madness, locked onto Chen Changqing and Lin Wanqing who had just appeared! "Kill… Kill you…" He made a garbled roar from his throat, got down on all fours, like a ferocious beast choosing to devour people, and rushed towards Chen Changqing with a gust of wind!
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