Breakthrough to Level Twenty

"At last, we got it."

Xia Shi and his wife exchanged a glance, both seeing the relief in each other's eyes.

As everyone busied themselves carrying the spoils back onto the ship, Zhang Feng suddenly shouted, "Captain, there's an unusual disturbance on the distant sea surface."

Huo Yang frowned as she analyzed the situation. "It must be uninvited guests drawn by the blood aroma."

Xia Shi made a swift decision and shouted, "Everyone, back to the ship! Withdraw immediately!"

The Mystic Tortoise quickly set sail, leaving this sea area.

Not long afterward, everyone looked back to see dozens of Deep Sea Soul Beasts of varying forms gathered in the area where they had fought, frantically fighting over the Giant Whale's remaining flesh and blood.

The brutal fight to the death turned the sea surface frothy crimson.

Yet the danger had not passed.

"Captain, Soul Beasts are catching up!"

Sun Chuanjun cried out, pointing toward the stern.

Three silver-gray dorsal fins sliced through the water, rapidly closing in at an astonishing speed.

"I'll handle this."

Xia Shi strode to the stern, and a pitch-black Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring rose beneath his feet.

"Fifth Soul Skill: Profound Ice Prison."

A blue-white beam shot into the sea, instantly freezing the seawater wherever it passed.

The three Soul Beasts in closest pursuit were caught off guard and slammed heavily into the suddenly formed wall of ice.

Though cracks appeared in the ice, the pursuing Soul Beasts were also brought to a halt for a moment.

That brief delay was enough for the Mystic Tortoise to pull away to a safe distance.

By nightfall, the Mystic Tortoise had already left that place of right and wrong far behind.

Inside the cabin, Xia Yang stared at the hard-won piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber before him.

Under the glow of the Soul Guide Lamp, streams of light seemed to endlessly swirl within the amber-colored lump.

He took a deep breath and swallowed the Whale Rubber in several mouthfuls.

Almost instantly, a scorching current erupted from his abdomen and swiftly spread through his limbs and body.

Xia Yang's skin turned red, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.

"Fourth Soul Skill: Northern Darkness Spirit Spring."

Well prepared, Xia Shi immediately unleashed his Soul Skill. A water sphere radiating cold air completely enveloped Xia Yang.

Extreme cold and extreme heat clashed violently across Xia Yang's body.

The intertwined energies of ice and fire continuously tempered his muscles, bones, and flesh.

The sea breeze brushed gently by as the Mystic Tortoise swayed beneath the starlit sky.

And Xia Yang, like the Mystic Tortoise, continued moving forward.

A month had passed since they had successfully hunted the thirty-thousand-year Split Sea Mysterious Dragon Whale Soul Beast.

Over that month, the Mystic Tortoise had continuously cruised through the nearby sea areas, hoping to encounter Whale Soul Beasts again.

However, the Heavens did not cooperate. For thirty full days and nights, they had not even caught sight of a Whale Group.

Still, it was not as though they had gained nothing at all.

During that time, they had indeed encountered other Sea Soul Beasts, such as Ten-Thousand-Year Purple Extreme Octopuses with bodies gleaming violet, and gigantic Oarfish flashing with silver light.

But none of those Soul Beasts were the targets of their voyage. Whenever they encountered one, the Mystic Tortoise would turn away early and steer far around it.

"This is far too inefficient."

One morning, Huo Yang stood side by side with her husband on the deck, worry gathered between her eyebrows. "I only have twenty days of leave left."

"If we still can't find a suitable Soul Beast, I'll have to return to the Martial Soul Branch Hall."

"Once I leave, it'll be much harder for you to hunt Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Herds."

As the Bishop of the Xiling Harbor Martial Soul Branch Hall, it had not been easy for Huo Yang to come to sea this time.

Now that more than half her leave had passed and they had caught only one Soul Beast, how could she not worry?

Xia Shi irritably scratched at his hair, which had been tousled by the sea breeze. "If we can't find them, we can't find them. There's no forcing it."

"If it really comes to it, you should head back first."

"But if I leave, then you..."

Huo Yang trailed off.

"Don't worry."

Xia Shi reassured her, "We've worked together for years. As long as we're careful, nothing will go wrong."

"At worst, we'll change our strategy and focus on lone Whale Soul Beasts."

"Lone Soul Beasts may be safer, but they take even longer to find."

Huo Yang sighed softly.

"When weighing two harms, choose the lesser one."

Xia Shi looked out at the endless sea surface. "It may be slower, but it's safer than taking risks."

Huo Yang was silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Fine. Let's return to port first. I truly don't have much time left."

With their discussion settled, the Mystic Tortoise immediately turned around and began its return voyage.

After returning to port, Huo Yang hurried back to Spirit Hall to resume her duties.

Xia Shi, meanwhile, led the others in selling off all the Soul Beast materials they had obtained. After a brief rest, they set sail once more.

On the vast sea, violent storms were frequent visitors, and ferocious Soul Beasts were everywhere.

Xia Yang honed himself day after day in such an environment.

One month,

Two months,

Six months

Nine months passed like flowing water.

During those nine months, the crew of the Mystic Tortoise successfully hunted several more Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Soul Beasts.

Xia Yang consumed Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber several times, and his Physical Quality steadily improved.

Now, in terms of physical strength alone, he felt that he was no weaker than Head Chef Li Zhishu, whose Soul Power was in the thirties.

One day, after another successful hunt, the enormous corpse of a Ten-Thousand-Year Whale floated on the sea surface, rising and falling gently with the waves.

Xia Yang gripped a long blade and brought it down with all his strength.

"Psh—"

Scalding blood burst forth, splashing all over him.

After processing the Giant Whale and returning to the ship, Xia Yang walked straight over to his father. "Dad, it's time to return."

"Why do you suddenly want to go back?"

Xia Shi asked in surprise.

"I can feel the Soul Power within me stirring. I'm afraid I'll break through to Level Twenty within a few days."

Xia Yang explained.

"Really?"

Delighted light burst from Xia Shi's eyes.

"Absolutely."

Xia Yang nodded solemnly.

"Good boy."

Xia Shi gave his son's shoulder a heavy pat, his face full of pride. "Level Twenty at fifteen. That's quite a good pace."

Having made the decision, Xia Shi immediately turned and shouted, "All hands, listen up! Our destination is Xiling Harbor!"

Turning its bow, the Mystic Tortoise headed toward the harbor.

As night fell, a sudden storm swept across the sea surface.

Fierce winds drove the torrential rain, battering the Mystic Tortoise without mercy.

The entire ship rocked violently amid the raging waves, as though it could be swallowed by Huge Waves at any moment.

Xia Yang had been meditating in his cabin, but the violent rocking left him too unsettled to continue, forcing him to stop cultivating.

"Bang, bang, bang."

Urgent knocking sounded at the door.

When he opened it, Zhang Feng stood outside, drenched from head to toe. His face was full of anxiety as he said, "The storm is too strong! The ship could capsize at any moment!"

"Everyone's gone up to the deck to help. Hurry!"

With that, Zhang Feng hurried off to the next cabin.

After quickly composing himself, Xia Yang immediately rushed toward the deck.

At that moment, only a few Soul Guide Lamps stubbornly flickered through the wind and rain on the deck, while everything around them was pitch black.

Raindrops the size of beans struck his face painfully. Xia Yang wiped his face and shouted toward his father, who was directing everyone from the center of the deck, "Dad, what can I do?"

"Tighten the sails! Hurry!"

Xia Shi's voice sounded somewhat muffled amid the wind and rain.