Three days passed silently through my fingers.
On the appointed day, everyone gathered again in the front hall of the Kong Clan's residence.
The sky outside the window was a bluish-gray, and a fine drizzle, like silk threads, wove a hazy curtain around the eaves.
The hall was filled with warmth, laughter mingled with excitement for the unknown journey ahead.
Everyone assumed this would be a shared journey, until Kong Xuan's calm voice fell silent.
" Yuhao won't be traveling with us this time."
After a brief silence, Kong Xuan continued, "He has obtained the Godhood Inheritance and must go to Thunder Valley alone to undergo the Divine Examination."
Surprise, realization, envy... a variety of emotions flickered in the eyes of the onlookers.
Xu Wei was the first to clap his hands and exclaim, " Yuhao, you've achieved such good fortune without making a sound!"
His tone was full of amazement, but not a trace of jealousy.
Qiangu Fuliu raised an eyebrow and smiled, asking with great interest, "Which deity's legacy is this?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze turned to Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao truthfully replied, "It is the inheritance of the God of Thunder God, but the Divine Examination is extremely difficult, and I don't know if I can complete the final nine tests."
Having heard what the God of Destruction said yesterday, Kong Ling knew that Thunder God Inheritance's legacy was fraught with danger.
She smiled and said, " Yuhao, we've seen your talent and hard work. You'll definitely be fine."
Everyone then joined in, cheering Huo Yuhao on, and the hall became lively again with a cacophony of voices.
At the same time, everyone was even more excited about the upcoming "journey to find the gods".
After all, their friends had successively gained the approval of the gods, which made them, who originally did not have much hope, start to be eager to try.
After parting ways with Huo Yuhao, the group flew south.
The sky was clear, a long wind swept past my clothes, and the mountains and rivers below gradually faded into a blurry, verdant outline.
In less than half a day, the port South New City, which is located at the southernmost tip of Mingdu, came into view.
The port was bustling and steamy, with the salty sea breeze carrying the smells of cargo holds, the fishy odor of catch, and the deep hum of soul-guided machinery.
Countless ships were moored on the winding dock, but the most eye-catching among them was the giant ship painted in deep blue with sharp, streamlined lines—the " Voyager ".
With a length of 150 meters, it is not the largest soul-guided ship in the Imperial Fleet, but it can still be called a sea fortress.
The metal hull gleamed with a cold, hard gray-blue luster under the midday Yangguang. Several rows of neatly arranged Soul Cannon were visible on the side of the ship, all now covered with waterproof shields, silent as the eyes of a lurking behemoth.
This giant ship is the one that Kong Xuan and his companions will be using on their voyage!
The group climbed the gangway. The deck was wide and flat, paved with a special soul-guided alloy, making it stable and silent to step on.
A tall, thin, middle-aged man with a chiseled face was already waiting at the ship's side. He wore a crisp dark blue uniform with nine silver stars shining brightly on his epaulets.
"Welcome aboard." His voice was hoarse yet clear, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like a hawk's. "I am Luo Yuan, captain of the Voyager, Level 9 Soul Engineer. I am in full charge of this voyage."
The ocean is never a docile territory; unknown Soul Beast and unpredictable celestial phenomena lurk in its depths. Without sufficient strength and preparation, embarking on a long voyage is tantamount to courting death.
"Captain Laurel is on this voyage."
Kong Xuan nodded slightly, without exchanging many pleasantries.
Luo Yuan didn't elaborate, but stepped aside and introduced, "Your rooms have been prepared and are located in the upper-level cabins."
"The ship is staffed with 500 Soul Master on rotation for maintenance, covering defense, propulsion, detection, and medical systems."
"If you need anything during the voyage, you can inform us at any time through the in-cabin Soul Tool."
For many, this was their first time at sea, and they were filled with curiosity about the ocean. Naturally, they couldn't stay in their cabins and gathered on the deck, excitedly discussing the vastness of the sea and their anticipation for the upcoming voyage.
The Voyager steadily departed the port, cutting through the emerald-green nearshore waters, and sailed towards the boundless deep blue of the south.
The wind on the deck grew stronger, carrying a pure, salty smell that made everyone's robes flutter loudly.
Kong Xuan at the bow of the ship, holding in his hand the lustrous pearl from the God of Love.
At this moment, the golden and silver light inside the pearl blended like water and milk, flowing slowly and finally condensing into an arrow, pointing in the direction of the south.
The subsequent course of the voyage must be adjusted as needed, following the guidance of the God of Love Pearl.
The crowd gathered around, their eyes fixed on the bead that carried the will of the deity.
Just how far away is this place where the God of Fire God's legacy is hidden?
Xu Wei gazed at the horizon where the sea met the sky, and all he could see was a clear blue sky.
The azure of the sky and the turquoise of the sea merge into a vast, boundless expanse in the distance, leaving one feeling empty and adrift.
"Now I truly realize... how vast the ocean is."
His words resonated with many, and the crowd fell silent, their gazes turning to Kong Xuan. Faced with such a vast unknown, it was inevitable to feel a sense of uncertainty.
Looking at everyone's expressions, Kong Xuan said, "Based on the information left by the God of Love, the place where the Fire God fell should not be too far from Mingdu."
Even measured by the scale of how gods traverse space, that distance wouldn't be too far from our understanding.
These words were not empty words of comfort, but rather a conclusion he reached after careful consideration.
After discussion, the group decided to take turns guarding the God of Love Pearl each day, observing the markers on the bead, and promptly relaying any changes in course to Captain Luo Yuan.
Five days passed by amidst Moonfall and the monotonous sound of the waves.
Despite encountering some dangers, the Sea Soul Beast posed no real trouble for them thanks to the fleet's powerful firepower.
On this day, the sea and sky were as clear as carefully polished glass, without a cloud in the sky. The Yangguang gently spread across the calm sea, making it shimmer with tiny, lazy golden scales.
The afternoon temperature was just right, neither too hot nor too cold, making it a rare treat for the sea.
Xu Tianyi, who had just finished lunch, took over the guard duty, his gaze fixed on the God of Love Pearl on the pedestal.
Inside the bead, the thin arrow, woven from gold and silver, was now pointing southwest.
Time flowed slowly in the stillness, with only the rhythmic, deep sound of the ship breaking the surface of the water, like the breathing of a sleeping beast.
Suddenly, Xu Tianyi's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
That arrow... seems a little different.
It doesn't point to change, but rather seems to have solidified a bit.
He held his breath, leaning forward slightly, almost touching the God of Love Pearl.
Am I seeing things? Or is it just an illusion caused by the angle of the light?
He forced himself to look away for a moment, gazing at the calm, almost frozen blue sea outside the window, before refocusing his gaze on the pearl.
It's not an illusion!
After some time, the change became more and more obvious, and the outline of the arrow became clearer and sharper.
Xu Tianyi's heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, he grabbed the communication Soul Tool next to him. His fingertips turned slightly white from the force, but his voice remained as clear and calm as possible.
"A discovery! The God of Love Pearl has changed!"
In a short while, Kong Xuan and the others had quickly gathered around, their eyes all fixed on the radiant God of Love Pearl.
Without Xu Tianyi needing to say anything, Kong Xuan noticed the change when his gaze fell on the God of Love Pearl.
"Let's go outside and take a look."
Kong Xuan said in a deep voice, then turned around and strode towards the deck, with the others following closely behind.
The afternoon Yangguang remained gentle, and the calm sea was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the boundless blue sky. The world was a vast expanse of tranquil blue.
Kong Xuan gazed into the distance, following the direction indicated by the arrow on the God of Love Pearl.
At the edge of the horizon, the sea and sky meet, and to the average person, there is only pure, pristine blue.
However, Kong Xuan's pupils suddenly contracted, and he could see a "scenery" that the others could not see at this moment.
He turned around, meeting the expectant gazes of the crowd, and said with some excitement, "If my judgment is correct, we will soon reach our destination!"