Early the next morning, before dawn had fully broken, four Spirit Boats sailed out of Tianxing City's harbor one after another.
Chen Ming stood at the bow, gazing at the widening sea ahead as the morning breeze brushed his face with its salty dampness. Divine Wind Island's Spirit Boat was third in line. Ahead lay Tianxing City's flagship, a larger vessel with three decks of cabins, its hull adorned with star patterns that glimmered faintly in the dawn light. Jade Wave Island's Spirit Boat followed close behind Tianxing City's, while Black Wind Island's brought up the rear.
The four Spirit Boats maintained roughly a third of a mile between them, sailing ahead in single file. According to Jiang Yue's plan, they would first sail for five days to reach Mist Island, where they would replenish their supplies and rest one last time before entering the dangerous waters shrouded in dense fog.
The first two days passed without incident. The sea lay calm, with only the occasional low-tier seabird sweeping past the bows with a clear cry. Most of the cultivators spent their time on deck, some sparring and others resting with their eyes closed. The mood was fairly relaxed.
Chen Ming, however, did not lower his guard. Each day, he made several rounds of the deck, watching the surrounding sea and changes in the sky. Years of experience had instilled a habit in him-the calmer things appeared on the surface, the more likely danger lurked beneath.
On the afternoon of the third day, the sky began to darken.
A vast bank of gray clouds pressed slowly down from the north, blocking the sunlight and rapidly dimming the sea. The wind steadily strengthened, and the waves grew rougher, making the Spirit Boats rock much more heavily.
Chen Ming frowned and said