On the fifth day after departing from the Godwind Academy, Shui Yue'er and her team finally arrived at the seaside.
When the carriage came to a stop in the small town outside the port, it was already close to dusk. The sea breeze, carrying a salty and damp scent, swept over us, and in the distance came the cries of seagulls and the low echo of the tide crashing against the rocks.
Shui Yue'er was the first to jump out of the car. She stood there and took a deep breath. The moment the sea breeze entered her chest, her Jade Dolphin Martial Soul, which had been dormant for several days, suddenly trembled slightly, as if it had been awakened from its slumber by something.
She glanced down at the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud hanging at her waist. The deep blue crystal shimmered with a faint blue halo as the sea breeze swept by—not activated by Soul Power, but glowing on its own.
"We've arrived." Shui Yue'er turned to the people in the carriage and said, "Everyone, get off. The air here is very fresh and comfortable."
Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, Zhong Yue, Ji Ning, Lu Qing, Cheng Luo, Lu Hanxiao, Ye Lingling, Oscar, Ning Rongrong got off the bus one after another.
The group stood at the edge of the harbor, gazing at the distant gray-blue sea, where the horizon blurred into a chaotic expanse of color.
"This is the sea?" Ning Rongrong stood next to Oscar, her eyes lighting up as she saw the sea for the first time.
Ye Lingling stood beside her, gazing at the boundless blue expanse, and remained silent for a moment before speaking, "... It's bigger than I imagined."
Huo Wu stood on the rocks by the shore, hands on her hips, the wind blowing her hair back. She didn't speak, but beneath the "not bad" expression on her face, there was a faint trace of shock.
Shui Yue'er took out a folded piece of parchment from her bosom, unfolded it, and glanced at it.
That was a sea chart drawn by Feng Lingtian based on the clan's ancient records and his own memories, marking the coastline, the direction of the ocean currents, and the approximate location of Sea God Island.
She looked up at the horizon, then down at the map. "What we're seeing now is just the nearshore waters; Sea God Island is much further away, so we need to find a boat first."
She led the group along the harbor, looking for a boat that could take them out to sea. The harbor was small, with about a dozen fishing boats moored there, most of which looked only suitable for inshore fishing and could not withstand the wind and waves of the open ocean.
Shui Yue'er was looking around, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud suddenly lit up—this time it was more obvious than before, a dark blue light shining through the crystal, clearly visible in the twilight.
On the outermost edge of the harbor, a sailboat much larger than the other ships was quietly moored. Its hull was painted dark brown, a faded flag hung on its mast, and several people sat lazily on the gunwale, tending to their fishing nets.
When one of them looked up, his gaze happened to sweep over the blue light around Shui Yue'er's waist, and his previously relaxed expression instantly froze.
He put down the fishing net, stood up, stared at the crystal for several breaths, then quickly turned and crawled into the cabin.
A moment later, a woman with a sturdy build emerged from the cabin.
She was in her early thirties, her skin tanned bronze by the sea breeze and sun, her eyes sharp, and her shoulders slightly forward as she walked, as if she were always ready to sway with the waves.
She stood at the bow of the boat, her gaze landing precisely on the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud Shui Yue'er's waist. After a moment of silence, she spoke, "Little girl, that thing on your waist... can I take a look?"
Shui Yue'er didn't move. She gripped the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, took a half-step back, creating a distance she felt safe before speaking, "First, tell me who you are."
The woman did not hesitate. "The people in this port call me Zi Zhenzhu. I am Sea Soul Master, and our lineage has worshipped the Sea God for generations."
The oral traditions passed down among the Sea Soul Master mention that the Sea God possesses a token that emits a blue light when it encounters the right person on the beach. I just saw a flash around your waist...
She paused, her gaze falling on the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud Shui Yue'er's palm, her tone becoming more serious. "I want to confirm this."
Shui Yue'er glanced at her for a couple of breaths, then raised her hand and held the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud in front of her. She didn't hand it over, but stopped it at a distance where Zi Zhenzhu could see it—keeping her distance so that the other wouldn't touch it.
Zi Zhenzhu's gaze fell on the crystal. She examined it carefully for a few moments, then her expression changed slightly. "It's it... exactly as described in the legends."
She looked up at Shui Yue'er and the others behind her. "You're going to Sea God Island, aren't you?"
The group behind Shui Yue'er fell silent for a moment. Huo Wu's brow twitched, and Ning Rongrong opened her mouth slightly, but no one spoke.
Shui Yue'er's voice was a little lower than before. "... How did you know?"
Zi Zhenzhu glanced at her, her tone as calm as if stating a matter of course. "You appeared at the beach with the token of the Sea God. If not for Sea God Island, what else could it be for?"
Don't worry, since you are chosen by the Sea God, no matter who you are, I will ensure your safe arrival on the island.
After she finished speaking, she stepped aside and said, "Let's get on board."
Shui Yue'er didn't ask any further questions, turned around and waved to the group, signaling everyone to follow. Huo Wu asked in a low voice, "Is this person reliable?"
"She recognizes the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud," Shui Yue'er said. " Sea Soul Master have worshipped the Sea God for generations, and tokens of faith are more effective to them than anything else."
One by one, everyone boarded the ship. Without saying anything more, Zi Zhenzhu instructed her men to untie the mooring ropes, raise the sails, and the ship turned around and sailed away from the harbor towards the open sea.
About half an hour after the ship left the harbor, it became completely dark. There were no lights on the sea, only two oil lamps hanging at the bow swaying in the wind.
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was held in Shui Yue'er's hand. The blue light on the surface of the crystal reflected a thin streak of light on the sea, like a silent road sign.
Zi Zhenzhu stood at the stern, steering the ship. Every now and then, she couldn't help but glance down at the blue light in Shui Yue'er's palm, a slight smile playing on her lips, as if confirming that something extraordinary truly existed.
She didn't ask any more questions, only occasionally glancing at the blue light before subtly adjusting her course, but inside she was overjoyed.
I've spent decades sailing the seas and seen many strange things, but this is the first time I've ever seen a token of the Sea God. When I get back, this is something I can brag about to my grandchildren for the rest of my life.
As dawn broke, a blurry outline appeared on the horizon.
Shui Yue'er stood at the bow of the boat, shielding her eyes from the morning light with her hand, and squinted for a long time.
The outline grew clearer and clearer—it was an island, an island entirely covered in green, surrounded by seawater that was a deeper blue than the open sea, like a natural barrier encircling the entire island.
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud trembled slightly in her palm, then fell silent. It was like a key being inserted into a lock and turned in the right direction.
Zi Zhenzhu's ship stopped about a mile from the island and did not approach.
"I can only take you this far," Zi Zhenzhu said. "The waters ahead are guarded by a group of Demon Soul Great White Shark, led by a 100,000-year-old shark."
Outsiders who approach without permission will be driven away or even attacked. You have the Sea God's token, so you should be safe.
Shui Yue'er turned and looked at her, then said earnestly, "Thank you."
Zi Zhenzhu waved her hand, said nothing more, and directed her men to lower a small boat, indicating that they should row over themselves.
Shui Yue'er led the group onto the small boat, where eleven people squeezed onto the not-so-large deck.
Shui Yue'er sat at the bow of the boat, her palms touching the water, the Soul Power of the Jade Dolphin dispersing into the sea through her palms. But there were eleven people on the boat, and the small boat was drafty, so it was obviously difficult for her to push it alone.
Ning Rongrong sat down behind her, and with a flash of light, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared in her palm. " The Nine Treasures Have Names, First: Strength, Second: Speed." The two beams of light landed precisely on Shui Yue'er, and her Soul Power flowed much more smoothly in an instant.
Oscar conjured a Recovery Big Sausage and handed it to Shui Yue'er: "Have this for now, replenish it when you feel the effects."
Huo Wu sat at the stern, her palms pressed against the seawater. A slight warmth emanated from beneath her hands, softening the current around the boat and visibly reducing the resistance to its movement. Huo Wushuang sat beside her, occasionally helping her adjust her Soul Power output.
Zhong Yue stood on one side of the small boat, his gaze sweeping across the sea, his arms slightly outstretched, ready to unleash his defensive Soul Skill to ward off any unexpected events.
And so, with everyone working together, the small boat seemed to be supported by an invisible force, cutting through the sea and gliding steadily toward the island.
As the sea drew closer, the vegetation on the island became increasingly clear. When the small boat approached the shore, Shui Yue'er was the first to jump off, her feet stepping onto the sandy beach of Sea God Island.
The group behind them followed in turn, with Zhong Yue, Ji Ning, Lu Qing, Cheng Luo, Lu Hanxiao, Ye Lingling, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang landing one after another.
The wind blew in from the sea, carrying a salty, damp smell and a certain ancient echo.
Shui Yue'er stood on the beach and looked up at the center of the island, where the trees were taller and denser than those on the shore, as if something was waiting for them in the deepest part.
She looked away and said to the people behind her, "Let's go."
The group of eleven crossed the beach and headed towards the island.