Life at Sea, Finally Reaching the Sun Moon Continent
The Explorer cut through the waves, leaving a white trail on the boundless blue sea, and sailed resolutely westward. Nearly half a year had passed since it bid farewell to Bo Saixi and left the Demon Whale Sea Domain.
For Yu Yuanchen and his group, the past six months at sea had been both a long journey and a rare period of tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. Of course, this tranquility was not always peaceful.
The sea has a temperament that is unpredictable. They had encountered Sky-Connecting Sea-Connecting Terrifying Storm, with dark clouds like ink, Electric Snakes flashing wildly, and giant waves crashing down like mountains, as if to tear the small sailboat to pieces.
However, for the passengers on board, it was more like a magnificent performance in the world.
Yu Yuanchen only needed to stand at the bow of the ship and activate a wisp of his Thunder Authority, and the raging thunderstorm would obediently shun the vessel;
Qian Daoliu unfolded the Angel Domain; wherever the Holy Light reached, the storm subsided.
When Tang Chen Shi Xing, he will charge directly into the eye of the storm and use the Clear Sky Hammer to confront the Heaven and Earth's Might, thereby tempering his physical body and combat skills.
What they called "Natural Disaster" were more like a unique "trial" and "scenery" in the face of their absolute power.
They also stumbled into unpredictable Ocean Current and Mist Zone, where their compasses malfunctioned and the Sun Moon were obscured, as if they were in Eternal Chaos.
But this confusion did not last long. Yu Yuanchen's near- God Level Spiritual Power was the most reliable beacon, always guiding him in the right direction. Qian Daoliu's Angel Holy Light also had the power to dispel the fog and Purification illusions.
Several brief moments of getting lost only instilled in them a sense of awe for the vastness and mystery of this boundless ocean.
More often than not, it's just day after day of sailing. The sky is clear and blue, the sea and sky blend into one, only seagulls accompany us, and schools of fish follow us. After looking at the monotonous blue for a long time, it's easy to feel tired. To relieve this boredom, everyone finds their own entertainment.
On Shi Xing, they took turns diving into the deep sea. Sunlight shone through the surface, casting hazy beams of light that illuminated a bizarre and colorful world.
The enormous Coral Forest resemble underwater forests, with fish of all shapes and sizes swimming among them, and the glowing deep-sea creatures like stars in the night sky.
Qian Daoliu and Avril were full of praise for this tranquil and peaceful Underwater Garden;
Tang Chen and Yang Xueqi, on the other hand, were more interested in finding powerful Sea Soul Beast to spar with, but of course, they always stopped short of defeat.
Ye Zhilan and Yu Yuanchen focused more on exploration. With their keen senses, they found several Gathering Place and collected some Rare Seaweed and Spiritual Clam containing Pure Water Elemental Power and Life Essence. These were excellent materials for refining pills and nourishing Blood Essence.
"I always thought the ocean was just Habitat of Soul Beasts and an obstacle to navigation. Today I realize that it holds such Magnificent World and rich treasures!" Tang Chen surfaced, wiping the seawater from his face, and exclaimed, "We know so little about this blue territory that covers seventy percent of the continent!"
Qian Daoliu shared the same sentiment. "Although land resources are not lacking, many forces are still constantly fighting over them. If the ocean can be properly developed, it might open up a new direction for the Soul Master World." He looked at Yu Yuanchen with a question in his eyes.
Yu Yuanchen smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying. His thoughts went further. While the development of the ocean was important, what attracted him even more was the Sun Moon Continent overseas, which possessed Soul Tool technology and its civilization, which was somewhat different from that of the Douluo Continent.
Although the voyage was long, the group was not isolated from the world. Yu Yuanchen's Spatial Divine Artifact, the "Hell Gate," obtained from the Demon Plane, played a crucial role. Every one or two months, he would open a Space Channel to connect with Dragon City, Spirit City, or the Clear Sky Sect. The group could then take turns returning to the mainland for a short stay to handle some necessary sect affairs, and more importantly—to go home and see their children.
Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan will naturally return to Dragon City to enjoy family time, check on their children's cultivation progress, and listen to their chatter about interesting things at the academy.
Tang Chen and Yang Xueqi also frequently returned to the Clear Sky Sect to see their son and, incidentally, to use the Deep Sea Whale Meat and other resources they brought back to give the sect's disciples a good workout.
Although Qian Daoliu and Avril have no children yet, they still return to the Spirit Hall to visit Qian Chongxiao and handle sect affairs. Avril also has a good relationship with the Purified Angels and will go back to visit them as well.
This "intermittent" return home actually lessened the sorrow of long journeys, making the trip seem less arduous. Each time they returned, the ship would be filled with new and interesting things from the mainland and words of advice from their families, creating a warm atmosphere.
Time slips away quietly in this rhythm of spiritual practice, sightseeing, exploration, and the occasional return home.
It was afternoon. The sea was calm as a mirror, and the sky was a clear, deep blue. Yu Yuanchen and Qian Daoliu were playing chess on the deck, while Tang Chen watched from the side, occasionally shouting and "giving advice," which earned him a series of eye rolls from Qian Daoliu. Ye Zhilan and the other two women were enjoying tea and chatting under the shade of the pavilion at the stern, savoring a rare moment of leisure.
Suddenly, Yu Yuanchen, who had been sensing something with his eyes closed, paused slightly in his chess game, a barely perceptible glint in his eyes. He raised his head, gazing at the distant horizon, his tone calm yet carrying a subtle undercurrent of emotion:
"We're almost there."
Those four simple words instantly changed the atmosphere on the deck!
Qian Daoliu his pieces, Tang Chen suddenly stood up, and even the three ladies at the stern stopped talking. Everyone's eyes turned to the direction Yu Yuanchen was looking.
"Have we arrived? The Sun Moon Continent?" Tang Chen asked impatiently, his voice filled with excitement.
Yu Yuanchen nodded slightly. "A thousand miles ahead, the unique, heavy aura of land can already be faintly discerned. Unlike any islands sensed before, it can only be a... vast continent."
Soon everyone knew about it, and they all came to the deck to look out into the distance. Although the naked eye could still only see the sea and sky blending into one, the color of the seawater was different from when they were in the deep sea, indicating that they had clearly entered the Coastal Waters.
Under Yu Yuanchen's control, the speed of the "Explorer" quietly increased, Hull Runes up, shooting westward like an arrow released from a bow.
Finally, at dawn, as the first rays of sunlight Pierce the Darkness and shone upon the sea, Yang Xueqi, on duty Mast Top, uttered a clear shout:
"Land! I can see land!"
Everyone rushed to the front of the deck! On the distant horizon, a long, blurry black line, like Sleeping Giant Beast, slowly revealed its outline!
As the distance closed, the black line gradually became clearer, transforming into the Undulating Mountains and the indistinct outline of a forest. A breeze, carrying the scents of earth, vegetation, and... a faint smell of smoke, blew towards them.
"It's the mainland! We've finally arrived!" Tang Chen excitedly waved his fist. After half a year of sailing, they had finally seen the Other Shore!
Qian Daoliu could not hide his excitement; he was also very curious about the customs and culture of the New Continent.
Yu Yuanchen remained silent, focusing his attention on sensing. His Divine Sense surged forward like a tide, sweeping across the coastline and extending inland, probing the situation of the Sun Moon Continent.
As evening fell, the ship finally docked. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sea a warm orange-red as the "Explorer" slowly approached a tranquil bay. The sight before them made the people on deck momentarily dazed—if they didn't know they had been sailing for half a year, they would almost have thought they had returned to some remote coast of the Douluo Continent.
The waves gently lapped against the golden sand, their rhythm soothing and familiar. A salty sea breeze caressed the face, just like the coastal air of the Douluo Continent. In the distance, rolling hills were draped in lush greenery, and at first glance, they bore a resemblance to the mountains and forests of the Douluo Continent.
However, upon closer inspection, the differences become apparent. Although the vegetation along the bank is lush, it contains many unfamiliar species.
A shrub with serrated leaves and edges that gleam with Strange Metallic Sheen grows high on the beach;
Other Dwarf Trees with twisted trunks, resembling coiled dragons, are rooted in the sand. Their fruits, like tiny, unlit lanterns, are faintly visible among the branches and leaves.
These plants add a touch of Exotic Sense of Unfamiliarity to this seemingly ordinary coastline.
Their attention was quickly drawn to a small village nestled against the hillside on one side of the bay. It was the first sign of human habitation they had seen on this New Continent.
The village is very small, with only a few dozen households. Most of the houses are built of rough stones and mud, low and simple, with thick thatch of varying shades covering the roofs, making them look quite old.
Several small, rustic wooden boats, even smaller than the fishing boats along the coast of the Douluo Continent, were towed onto the beach. The fishing nets drying there were tattered and patched in many places. The whole village exuded an air of poverty and backwardness, but it was not dead. In the distance, a few tiny figures could be seen moving about.
"This..." Tang Chen looked at the quiet village, stroked his chin, and said with obvious disappointment, "It looks... no different from some of our poor villages back home. I thought the Sun Moon Continent would be something special."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, his senses becoming even more acute, but he still said, "This continent seems... to have nothing special about it. The villagers' auras are weak; they are all ordinary people."
Just then, the village seemed to have spotted the suddenly appearing, strangely shaped, enormous ship. The tiny figures on the beach panicked, quickly dropping what they were doing and running back into the village like startled rabbits, disappearing among the low stone houses. The last vestiges of life were instantly replaced by vigilance and unease.
"Let's wait and see. There will always be backward places. There must be quite a few such places on the Douluo Continent. It might just be an isolated incident," Yu Yuanchen said slowly.
Yu Yuanchen watched all this quietly, understanding in his heart. This first impression was indeed hard to associate with "advanced Soul Tool Technology".
The barrenness and backwardness before our eyes seem to be silently telling the story of the past that this continent may have experienced, or the uneven development of its economy.
The exploration has only just begun. This small village may just be the starting point to an unknown world, while the true Sun Moon Continent must be hidden deeper within this land.
After hearing Yu Yuanchen's words, everyone thought of these things and nodded in agreement.
The Explorer slowly adjusted its course and headed towards the simple dock.