Out at sea, the boat kept moving forward. But as it passed through the sea mist, a dark shadow slipped soundlessly into the water and finally vanished.
At that moment, the tall man came onto the deck and surveyed his surroundings.
Only after confirming that nothing was amiss did he remove his black robe.
He was a powerfully built middle-aged man.
Numerous runes covered his body.
His qi and blood resonated with the runes, making them shine brilliantly.
His gaze blazed like that of a general hardened by countless battles.
A powerful aura began spreading, sending the weaker demon beasts nearby fleeing in panic.
He circulated his spiritual qi, making the boat move swiftly.
After circling the surrounding area, the boat returned to the central island.
Someone came to greet him as he entered the harbor.
"Manager Chen, was there anything unusual?" a man in his early thirties asked respectfully.
The instant the boat reached shore, Manager Chen stepped onto the pier and shook his head slightly. "No problems for now. The demon beasts beneath the sea haven't made any moves, but fog has begun forming in Area One. Be especially careful when investigating.
"The demon beasts there could use the heavy fog to make a move at any moment.
"Those evil fiends and followers of crooked paths could also use the fog to approach the islands.
"But this isn't the most dangerous place.
"The competition area is where people can most easily fish in troubled waters. Remind them to stay vigilant, and we mustn't let our guard down here either."
The man immediately committed this to memory.
After giving many more instructions, Manager Chen headed toward the central marketplace.
Chen Yu was one of the three managers of the Lonely Smoke Archipelago.
Born into poverty, he possessed outstanding talent,