Princess Lanqiu thought to herself that Li Qiang seemed different from before, and she felt a strange sense of identification with him. In fact, this was because Li Qiang had entered the Leaving the Body Realm and had begun his spiritual cultivation, which was why Princess Lanqiu had this feeling.
This zipline has nine large, interconnected oval-shaped cabins, stabilized by long fins extending below the waterline. Each oval cabin is over ten meters long and seven or eight meters wide, divided into three levels: the bottom level is the cargo hold, the second level is the rest cabin, and the third level serves as the deck and activity space. The hull is protected by a white, mesh-like defensive wall. Princess Lanqiu explained that the entire zipline has double-layer protection, making it the best and safest means of crossing the sea to date.
Li Qiang said with a grin, "Let's take a look. I don't know anything about this. Can someone point it out to me? This is completely different from the boats back home." Zhao Hao, Nashan, and the others who came from Heavenly Court Star were also very curious and followed closely behind Li Qiang. Although Paben knew about the Flying Hook Chain, he didn't know much about it. He was most familiar with the Arrow Boat.
Princess Lanqiu smiled and said, "Let me show you around."
Hong Qian asked, "Uncle-Master, should we leave now...?"
Li Qiang waved his hand and said happily, "Let's go take a look ahead, everyone go together." He suddenly felt very happy, finally about to leave this gloomy Tanbang Continent, and he didn't care about the dangers ahead.
The so-called bow is actually a large oval called the chain head, which is surprisingly complex. It has eight operators and two commanders, who are responsible for navigating the grappling hook chain and providing escort, respectively. Because the Sea of Wronged Souls Spirits is infested with various sea monsters and many raiders, it is impossible to cross the Sea of Wronged Souls without escorts.
A group of people entered the large cabin at the bow of the ship. The spacious cabin suddenly became much more crowded. The two commanders of the Flying Hook Chain hurriedly came to greet them. Judging from their appearance, both of them were Green Tribe. Princess Lanqiu introduced them, saying that the tall and steady Lukali Lucari, and he was in charge of navigation. The other one, of medium height and strong build, who looked fierce, was named Labadu, and he was in charge of escorting the entire Flying Hook Chain.
Lukali, being in charge and essentially the captain, gave a Green Tribe greeting and sincerely said, "I am willing to serve the great god's friend. Lukali is at your service."
Li Qiang smiled and said modestly, "Brother Lukali, Brother Labadu, thank you for your help. We're not familiar with the Sea of Wronged Souls, so we'll have to rely on you two." He still had his old habit of calling everyone "brother," which made Princess Lanqiu quite puzzled. Was this really what the eldest brother was saying?
Only Zhao Hao understood what kind of temperament his master had.
Captain Lukali quickly said, "Just call me Lukali, it's more casual that way."
Labadu also came up to greet them, but he didn't take Li Qiang and his group seriously. He had been venturing into the Sea of Wronged Souls for a long time and was quite experienced. He knew that Li Qiang and his group were crossing the Sea of Wronged Souls for the first time, and he secretly found it amusing. He had seen plenty of blunders from first-timers at sea.
Lukali laughed and said, "Can we go now?"
Princess Lanqiu looked at Li Qiang and asked, "Boss, shall we go?"
Li Qiang served as both bodyguard and leader for the group. He said, "Alright, let's go!" In an instant, almost everyone turned their gaze toward the direction of the Tanbang Continent. Whether they liked it or not, they had all spent so much time on this land and felt a bit emotional about it.
The grappling hook slowly lifted off the water. Labadu commanded in a low voice, "Raise the double shield! All archers, take your positions and await my orders!"
Alternating rings of white and red light rose up, and each oval cabin had two layers of protection. Two operators stood at the front, with two long, sharp spikes protruding from either side of the bow.
Hong Qian whispered, "This is a hook cannon. It's quite powerful; it can drive away most sea monsters."
The grappling hook chain is powered by crystals. Lukali said, "Pressure on the left... okay, right... compress, align with the exit, start!" As he spoke, the grappling hook chain swayed gently and slowly moved outward.
A crew member reported that everyone in the aft compartment was secured and the cargo was properly stored.
Labadu nodded and smiled at Li Qiang and the others, saying, "There will be fluctuations in a while, especially at the chain head. Please return to your cabins and take your seats."
He meant well, but Li Qiang wouldn't have it. He'd finally gotten a chance to see something new, so why would he leave?
He waved his hand dismissively and said, "It's nothing, I just want to take a look." Paben, however, showed a hint of fear. Seeing his master say this, he was too embarrassed to leave and could only grit his teeth and stand there.
No one went back; everyone stood still. Labadu nodded and said, "Well, since you don't want to leave, everyone stand back a little. There are grappling hooks on the ground; put your feet in them, we're about to go out to sea."
The grappling hook, flashing red and white protective lights, drove out of the natural archway of the Desperation Cape.
Paben took a deep breath. His posture was strange; his legs were slightly bent, his center of gravity was low, and his hands hung naturally at his sides, forming hand seals. Nashan noticed this immediately and exclaimed in surprise, " Old Pa, what are you doing? Hmm, that's the Thousand-Jin Plummet Cultivation Method!"
Paben whispered, "Just do it, no more nonsense!" Tange had heard a lot about the legend of the Sea of Wronged Souls, so he also struck the same pose, which startled Nashan, who immediately followed suit. The three of them stood in a row, their movements identical. It didn't look like much when Paben did it alone, but it was quite a sight to see the three of them doing it at the same time.
Li Qiang had just asked, "What are you doing..." when the grappling hook suddenly jerked high into the air. Lukali yelled, "Hook the leash tight, we're going into the sea!" Li Qiang hadn't hooked the leash, and his body was immediately thrown up. As the grappling hook plunged down, he was pinned to the roof of the cabin. Everyone else had their feet secured, but Li Qiang hadn't. Now the boss had completely lost face.
Everyone knew that their leader had been too careless. The three who stood the most firmly were Paben and his companions, who were firmly rooted to the ground. Li Qiang leaped up and caught up with the deck, stopping abruptly after taking a deep breath. Princess Lanqiu was supported by the masked man in blue behind her, but her complexion was not good, and she remained silent with her eyes closed.
All that could be heard was the terrifying roar of the waves outside. The Flying Hook Chain finally plunged into the Sea of Wronged Souls and sped away with the rise and fall of the waves.
Li Qiang could hardly believe that this was the Sea of Wronged Souls after the Wind of Fear had subsided; on Earth, this would be considered a tsunami of level ten or higher. Thanks to the double-layered protection, the outside waves couldn't penetrate the grappling hook chain, but the outside scenery was still clearly visible.
The Sea of Wronged Souls was like a raging storm, with howling winds and towering waves crashing against the sky. Both the sea and sky were a deep leaden gray, with white foam rising up as if reaching the heavens, only to suddenly fall as if plunging into hell. The flying hook chain was like a sea serpent, drifting with the current, rising and falling.
Except for a few people at the top of the chain, everyone else was dizzy and disoriented. Li Qiang was one of the few who were still standing. He asked doubtfully, "With such constant fluctuations, who can stand it?"
Labadu was surprised that Li Qiang could speak so calmly. He replied, "This section is the most dangerous. Things will be calmer once we get past it. There are several difficult sections on this sea route... Watch out, left-hand grappling hook, look carefully, it's that black line..."
The grappling hook rode the crest of a massive wave, and the operator yelled, "I can't see it!"
Labadu shouted wildly, "It's coming out soon, get ready to fire... three shots in quick succession, maximum power... It's Taimeng Beast!"
Lukali's expression changed, and he shouted, "Boards on both sides, increase defense! Take off!"
The crest of the wave suddenly sank, but this time the hook chain did not sink with it; instead, the chain head jerked upwards. A giant wave surged up on the opposite side, revealing the massive back of the Taimeng Beast.
Li Qiang and the others on the chain stared in astonishment. This sea monster was enormous; they couldn't even tell where its head ended or its tail began. Its back alone took up half of the entire Langshan Mountain, a dark, imposing mass. Li Qiang muttered under his breath, "Damn... what the hell is that?"
Labadu's face suddenly showed a hint of fear, and he roared, "Fire!" The hook cannons on both sides shook at the same time, and three blue energy orbs flew out.
Lukali took matters into his own hands, flipping the hook chain and darting to the left like a swiftly swimming sea serpent, disappearing into the waves. Instantly, the cabin was plunged into darkness. A muffled explosion could be faintly heard. Paben's face turned ashen as he recalled his first crossing of the Sea of Wronged Souls.
The sound of dripping water could be heard; water was beginning to accumulate on the deck of the cabin. The double-layered protective gear couldn't completely stop the seawater. Labadu, his face covered in sweat, suddenly shouted, "We can go out now! The seawater is about to crush the protective gear..."
Lukali's hands were trembling uncontrollably, but he still struggled to hold on. "Just... just a little longer..."
The atmosphere in the cabin was extremely tense. The grappling hook had already submerged into the sea, and the walls were creaking and groaning. The sound of dripping water had long since turned into the sound of flowing water. Li Qiang was confused about the situation and didn't know how to help them, so he could only remain silent and observe how things would develop. However, he also felt that the Sea of Wronged Souls was indeed terrifying.
The sound of the water grew louder and louder. Lukali finally couldn't hold on any longer. He shouted with all his might, "Fly out! Quickly!"
With a loud crash, the grappling hook burst out of the sea, and everyone's eyes lit up.
Suddenly, Paben shouted, "It's behind us... the Taimeng Beast is behind us!" Everyone hurriedly turned around.
Tange cried out, "Heavens... look... that's an Arrow Boat escaping ahead! Quick, save them!"
Paben closed his eyes in terror and cried out, "Who can save him...?"
A Arrow Boat emerged from the crest of a wave. This Arrow Boat was only protected by a layer of red light. The fifty-meter-long Arrow Boat looked as tiny as a matchstick next to the Taimeng Beast.
Lukali shouted, "Focus! Ignore that Arrow Boat! Prepare a circular defense! Controller, notify the tail ship to dock immediately! Quickly!"
Hong Qian, who knew a little about the Flying Hook Chain, whispered, "The Ring Defense allows for rapid movement and is one of the Flying Hook Chain's signature techniques; it can save your life in crucial moments."
A pilot pulled down a handle, and the grappling hook chains began to connect end to end. With a bang, the grappling hook chains formed a ring. Lukali roared, "Spin Flight!" In an instant, blue light shot out from the outside of each elliptical cabin, and the grappling hook chains soared into the air like a giant flying ring.
The Arrow Boat was still desperately rushing forward, its speed already at its limit. Everyone could imagine the despair on the faces of the passengers inside. The grappling hook was only a few hundred meters away when it spun and cut into the giant wave, disappearing into the distance in an instant, vanishing from Arrow Boat.
Fortunately, Nashan reminded Paben to stand firm, but he was a landlubber and had never seen such big waves before. The chain head was shaking so violently that he finally couldn't help but gag a few times and began to vomit profusely.
The pungent, sour smell was unbearable for anyone unaccustomed to the water's surface.
Tange only managed to say, " Old Na... you..." before he couldn't stop himself from vomiting. "Wow!" He spat out a mouthful of vomit, which landed squarely on Na Shan's Baldy because he was speaking to Nashan.
Nashan turned and grabbed Tange: "What... are you doing... uh..."
Now they're even, he sprayed Tange's face and body with it.
Paben puffed out his cheeks and tried his best to endure it; he was wise enough not to utter a sound.
Princess Lanqiu was the weakest in terms of physical strength, but her willpower was extraordinary, and she managed to hold on.
Li Qiang said, " Zhao Hao, you lead everyone in practicing. Hong Qian, you escort Princess Lanqiu back to her cabin."
Labadu hurriedly stopped him. "Don't move... Hold on a little longer, you can't move."
Li Qiang quickly took out two motion sickness pills and handed them to Princess Lanqiu. A water bottle appeared in his hand as he whispered, "Take these and see." He wasn't sure if they would work; motion sickness pills are usually taken in advance, but something is better than nothing.
Princess Lanqiu took it without a second thought and ate it. Her very soft "thank you" was lost in the roar of the giant waves, and if Li Qiang hadn't had such amazing hearing, he really wouldn't have been able to hear it.
Nashan, with his sharp eyes, tugged at Li Qiang from behind. "Boss... I want some too... uh..."
Li Qiang slightly shifted his body to avoid the vomit that Nashan was spraying at him. He wondered how much this guy had eaten. Others would only vomit a few times before running out of vomit, but this guy was different; every time he opened his mouth, it was always the real deal.
Li Qiang said, "Practicing with Zhao Hao will make you recover quickly; this will have a slower effect."
The grappling hook chain moved with incredible speed, its beam of azure light cleaving through the giant waves and hurtling forward. Kubo shook his head, saying, "The crystal consumption is too high; we can't keep this up for long."
Sure enough, before he finished speaking, Lukali had already given the order, "Separate the chain and stop flying." With a loud crash, the grappling hook chain fell into the water, and everyone's bodies sank.
Zhao Hao loudly directed everyone to practice a simple calming Cultivation Method that could help people settle down.
Hong Qian pointed into the distance and said, "That Arrow Boat is destroyed..."
On the surging sea, fragments of the Arrow Boat and floating cargo were scattered, and many Little Hei were struggling—these were merchants and crew members who had fallen into the water. The Taimeng Beast had disappeared without a trace.
Li Qiang shouted, "Save them! Let me out!"
Lukali's face changed drastically, and he roared at Li Qiang, "Impossible! To get out, we have to remove the protection. Once the protection is removed, we're all doomed! Damn it, this is the Sea of Wronged Souls!"
Kubo glared and snapped, "Watch your mouth! I think you've lost your mind, daring to speak like that." As an elder of the Grand Alliance, he naturally exuded an air of authority.
Labadu's face darkened, and he suddenly said, "Even if we let him out, it's so dangerous outside. Forget rescuing people, he probably won't even make it back himself. Hmph, if he really wants to go out, there's a hatch on top of the chain head; that's the only exit. I've been navigating the Sea of Wronged Souls Spirits for so long, and this is the first time I've heard of anyone wanting to rescue people Sea of Wronged Souls."
Li Qiang looked over coldly. He always remembered what Kabaji and Old Man Tu-Shu had said: it was not his nature to stand by and watch someone die. Labadu and Lukali felt a chill run down their spines from Li Qiang's gaze and suddenly felt a sense of fear towards him.
Li Qiang said, " Kubo and his men are waiting here. Once they're in, you're in charge of getting them into the hatch. Zhao Hao, you coordinate. Hong Qian, the two of us will go out together. Put on your armor and be careful! Okay, Labadu... open the hatch!"
Lukali was scolded by Kubo and trembled with anger, nodding repeatedly. "Fine, since you want to die, I have no choice. Open the hatch!" According to the rules, he could not do this. People who make a living on the Sea of Wronged Souls Spirits are struggling on the edge of life and death, and their tempers are relatively volatile. If it weren't for the fact that Li Qiang and the others were friends of the Great God, he would have been impolite long ago.
Li Qiang raised his hand and put on his armor, even putting on the Radiant Sun Ring. Hong Qian followed suit and donned his armor as well. Labadu had just opened the hatch on top when he turned around and saw Li Qiang in his Billowing Essence Battle Armor. He was startled. "What is that thing? It's so shiny!" Actually, Li Qiang had wronged them. In the Sea of Wronged Souls, it was impossible to save people unless one had the strength of a cultivator. Otherwise, it would be suicide, and they had never seen a cultivator before.
With the towering waves, those who had fallen into the water were gradually drifting away. It was dark outside, and the white foam rising from the dark seawater made the sky look even more terrifying. The rumbling of the waves was awe-inspiring.
Li Qiang let out a long laugh, "Haha... See you later! Hong Qian, let's go! Let's have a competition to see who can save more people!" He flashed out of the top hatch like a golden light.
Hong Qian, brimming with heroic spirit, exclaimed, "Alright! Uncle-Master, let's see who saves the most!" and then flew off.
Labadu hurriedly closed the hatch. Lukali was quite frightened, only then realizing that the great man's friend was indeed powerful. He said, "The chain head is pointing towards the person who fell into the water... Everyone be ready." He personally turned the chain head, and the hook chain turned to the right.
As soon as Li Qiang stepped out of the hatch, a slightly salty sea breeze hit him. Only after leaving the Flying Hook Chain did he realize just how violent the Sea of Wronged Souls was. Looking around, the deafening roar, the raging winds, and the strange shrieks mixed in were truly terrifying. Hong Qian drew his Gold-Shattering Sword and Dust and Firmament Sword simultaneously, tightly protecting his body, and flew towards the group of people who had fallen into the water as soon as he stepped out of the hatch. Li Qiang didn't draw his Star-Absorbing Sword, relying on the water-repelling function of his Radiant Sun Ring, and chased after them with a long howl.
Everyone in the chain was staring intently at the two of them, tense with fear. Lukali glanced at Labadu, both of them looking on in shock. Labadu's arrogance vanished; in the Sea of Wronged Souls, the most respectable thing was strength. Seeing how powerful Li Qiang and Hong Qian were, they realized they were just frogs in a well.
Hong Qian is a style of flight where he nimbly traverses peaks and valleys, his Gold-Shattering Sword swirling around him, its golden light flashing like a god descending to earth. Li Qiang, on the other hand, has just entered the Leaving the Body Realm, his power increasing dramatically. He is eager to test his abilities, so he flies straight ahead, regardless of what he encounters. The feeling of direct confrontation is truly astonishing, and everyone watching from inside the cabin is terrified.
A gigantic wave surged up, suddenly blocking Li Qiang's path. The crest of the wave was as high as a fifty-story building rising before Li Qiang. Li Qiang had no intention of dodging and plunged headfirst into it. His strength surged forth, and before the wave reached its peak, a deafening roar erupted, blasting the entire wave crest apart. Towering white foam scattered everywhere, and even the grappling hook chain not far away was affected, shaking violently.
The crowd stared in complete silence. After a long while, Lukali finally uttered a single sentence. "Is... this a human being?"
In fact, Li Qiang already regretted it; it would have been foolish to fight against the forces of nature head-on. He stopped trying and, like Hong Qian, avoided the surging waves. Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea: surfing here would be so much fun! He spotted a floating board, leaped onto it, steadied himself, and yelled, "Aha..." before hurtling off like an arrow.
Hong Qian had already grabbed a merchant who had fallen into the water and was flying back. As he passed Li Qiang, he laughed loudly, "Uncle-Master, your disciple has gotten there first, hahaha..." and was gone in an instant.
There were dozens of people densely packed on the water, desperately calling for help. They saw Li Qiang as if they had seen a relative. It was truly unbelievable that someone would come to rescue them from the Sea of Wronged Souls.
Li Qiang knew that if he were like Hong Qian, he could only grab two at most; a third hand wouldn't be as useful. He circled the group on the water's surface, then had a good idea. He tossed a long rope and shouted, "Grab the rope and wrap it around your arm!"
Everyone struggled and lunged for the lifeline rope. Li Qiang shouted, "Those who are weaker go first... No fighting!"
Suddenly, the surrounding scenery shrank, and Li Qiang found himself standing on the crest of a high wave. Then, his body plummeted rapidly. The people in the water screamed and cried in terror. Li Qiang shouted again, "Don't panic... hold on tight!" As he spoke, he was already sinking to the bottom of the wave.
Knowing there was no time to lose, Li Qiang, dragging the rope, shouted, "Hold on tight!" and slid back as fast as he could. About twenty people managed to grab the rope, while those who couldn't cried out in despair in the water.
When Hong Qian crossed paths with Li Qiang again, he exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle-Master, what a brilliant idea!"
Li Qiang tossed him a loop of rope and shouted, "Here you go! Hurry!"
Approaching the grappling hook, Li Qiang was overjoyed. He saw that Kubo had already flown out. Zhao Hao skill was slightly inferior, dared not leave the grappling hook, but he leaned out of the hatch at the end of the hook and shouted, "Master, you go! Leave this to me and Kubo!"
Li Qiang laughed heartily and praised, "Good! That's true manly spirit. I'll leave it to you." He then turned and left.
Suddenly, a long cry for help came from afar. Hong Qian Li Qiang was shocked and flew into the air. Looking into the distance, he realized something was wrong and immediately flew out of the Star-Absorbing Sword.