The Sea Demon!

Lin Xia had sharp eyes and quickly Lock-On onto his target among the many ships—the seagoing vessel he had rented in advance.

It was moored in the middle of a pier, looking exceptionally new in the morning light.

The ship's hull was painted a deep iron gray, with only the parts above the deck decorated with striking red and white paint, giving it a sturdy yet vibrant Hustle.

It is said that this iron-gray color can reduce the attention of Sea Soul Beast and increase the safety factor.

The ship is about fifty meters long and more than twenty meters wide. Although it is not a huge ship among many seagoing vessels, it still looks quite solid and reliable.

Lin Xia led the group closer, and upon closer inspection, they discovered that beneath the iron-gray paint was not a wooden hull, but a thick layer of iron armor that gleamed with a cold, hard luster!

This layer of iron armor, like a sturdy suit of armor, tightly wrapped the key parts of the ship's hull, clearly reinforced to withstand the wind and waves at sea and possible attacks from Soul Beast.

This is precisely the key reason why Lin Xia chose the "Sea Demon" – it possesses defensive capabilities far exceeding those of ordinary merchant ships. Although chartering the entire ship is quite expensive, as long as it can safely deliver them to the outskirts of Sea God Island, the money will be well spent.

Of course, Lin Xia also harbored a sliver of wariness. He wanted to see if this captain, whom he was meeting for the first time, was trustworthy, or rather, if he would try anything funny.

As for the return journey... they'll have to rely on themselves and their newly acquired Dragon Abyss Boat.

Welcome to the Sea Demon!

As soon as everyone stepped onto the spacious deck via the Sturdy gangway, a loud and enthusiastic voice rang out.

A middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties strode up to greet him.

He was of medium height and strong build, with skin a deep bronze hue from years of sea breeze and sun exposure. His face bore the marks of time, but his eyes were bright and piercing, revealing the shrewdness and worldliness of an old sea dog.

He was wearing a dark blue captain's uniform and a matching captain's hat, his face beaming with smiles, and he opened his arms in a welcoming gesture.

Lin Xia turned slightly to the side and introduced to her companions behind her:

"This is Captain Haider of the Sea Demon."

Haider's gaze swept quickly over Lin Xia and her group, his smile remaining unchanged, displaying great poise.

"Welcome, welcome, distinguished guests! Welcome, beautiful ladies, and of course, handsome gentlemen."

His voice carried a distinctively cheerful quality characteristic of sailors.

"It seems our journey is going to be very memorable. It's a pleasure to serve you."

His gaze swept over the three stunningly beautiful women, Hu Liena, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling, with undisguised admiration. However, this admiration was fleeting, almost like a dragonfly skimming the water, unlike the infatuation or greed shown by the passersby or soldiers in Vast Sea City.

This deliberate, even overly "professional," restraint caused Lin Xia, who had been secretly observing, to slightly contract her pupils, almost Frisk.

A slight tautness of vigilance tightened in his heart, but he remained outwardly calm, simply nodding without saying a word.

Haider seemed Frisk Lin Xia's momentary unease and continued his enthusiastic introduction.

"There are eight crew members on the Sea Demon, including me. I am the captain, and this is my first mate Jack."

He pointed to a tall, taciturn man next to him, who was also dark-skinned and had sharp eyes.

"There are also six great young men, all experienced sailors, who will ensure you get to your destination safely and comfortably!"

He patted his chest.

"The Sea Demon has three decks."

Haider led the group, introducing the group as they walked.

"Below deck is the lower deck, mainly for cargo and crew quarters. These two decks are reserved for our distinguished guests. The top deck offers the best view; from there, you can take in the vastness of the sea – a truly unique experience. The lower deck..."

He pointed to the cabin corresponding to the deck beneath his feet.

"These are the passenger cabins, a total of six spacious and comfortable bedrooms, enough for everyone to rest. Please feel free to choose any of them."

As everyone stepped onto the deck, the unique, rich, almost tangible scent of the sea instantly enveloped them.

Salty, humid, and carrying the unknown scent of the deep sea, it completely replaced the air on land.

The sea breeze was particularly strong and biting on this late autumn morning, howling across the deck, whipping up the hems of everyone's clothes and hair, and bringing a chill to the bone.

However, for Soul Master like Lin Xia and Hu Liena, who possess profound Soul Power, this chill was merely a gentle breeze, and their physical resistance was more than enough to withstand it.

The crew members were already in position, moving swiftly and skillfully. First Mate Jack gave commands in a deep, powerful voice.

"Pull anchor! Retract the gangway!"

Haider stood at the bow, issuing commands in a loud, authoritative voice.

Accompanied by the heavy scraping of iron chains and the creaking of the winch, the massive anchor was slowly lifted from the seabed.

The gangways connecting to the pier were quickly retracted. Sailors nimbly climbed the masts, and the huge sails rose little by little to the sound of shouts, fully catching the strong sea wind.

"Hard to port! Release the back line! Set sail!"

Haider's final command was thunderous.

The massive hull of the Sea Demon emitted a slight vibration and a deep hum, as if a sleeping beast had been awakened.

Propelled by the stern propeller and aided by the sails, the bow slowly and steadily cut through the calm harbor waters, creating ripples in circles.

The ship began to move, gradually increasing its speed, and smoothly sailed away from the bustling dock.

The buildings on the shore and other moored ships began to slowly recede into the distance, and the view became increasingly open.

Ahead lies the boundless, unfathomable blue sea.

Sunlight spills onto the sea, scattering countless golden sparkles.

Seagulls circled at the stern, emitting loud cries.

Lin Xia stood on the bow deck, her clothes fluttering in the sea breeze, her gaze fixed on the blurred horizon where the sea and sky met in the distance.

The majestic outline of Vast Sea City, built against the mountain, gradually Minimize and blurred in the field of vision.

Lin Xia specially copied a nautical chart and gave it to him, instructing him to proceed according to the designated directions.

The weather was fine today, the sea was calm, and the Sea Demon was quite large. After weighing anchor, with the help of the sailors, it easily sailed away from the port and into the open sea.

Once the Sea Demon had completely sailed out to sea and left the harbor, Captain Haider gave the order to raise the mainsail, adjust the course, and accelerate toward their destination.

The scenery of the sea is irreplaceable by any other sight; without ever having been to the sea, one can never truly experience its grandeur and magnificence.

The sea stretches as far as the eye can see, with the horizon where the water meets the sky in the distance.

At this moment, the sun had risen slowly from the east, illuminating the shimmering sea.