The farther people strayed from human society, the less human they became

On Earth, seas were divided into coastal waters and open seas based on whether they lay over a continental shelf.

On the Douluo Continent, however, the seas were divided into nearshore, middle, and outer waters.

The nearshore waters were where fishermen caught fish. Although Sea Soul Beasts occasionally intruded and went on killing sprees, people could generally still make a living there.

The middle waters were where Sea Soul Beasts appeared in groups. Not only was the weather strange and unpredictable, but the Sea Soul Beasts were also extremely aggressive.

Sea Soul Masters generally obtained their Soul Rings there.

The outer waters were also known as the ocean's forbidden zone, where sightings of ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts were commonplace.

Out at sea, even a Titled Douluo stood a very high chance of coming to grief against a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast. No one dared venture in at all.

While they were in the outer waters, there had been occasional wind and waves, but it had largely remained calm.

Yet barely two hours after they entered the middle waters, the weather changed abruptly.

Adrift on the vast sea with nothing to rely on, beneath densely packed dark clouds, the suffocating sensation bearing down on them was enough to drive anyone mad.

Not to mention that the ship could not remain steady, rising and falling with the waves and deepening that sense of danger.

Shui Bing'er lost her footing and was flung high into the air. Fortunately, Xiao Yao caught her in time, keeping her from falling into the water.

Qiu Wanxi said gravely, "Both of you, come over here and hold on to me."

"No need," Xiao Yao refused. "I have a way."

"Spirit of the ocean, dwell within me. The ocean is as I am, and I am as the ocean."

After reciting a thoroughly cringeworthy childhood memory, Xiao Yao cast the Sea Heart Flame into the sea.

Soon, the weather at sea returned to normal. The wind was gentle, the sun shone brightly, and the waves subsided.

Shui Bing'er praised him. "Junior sister, your Martial Soul really is useful out at sea. Calling him a fish in water would be an insult."

"No wonder you insisted that I come to sea to hunt a Sea Soul Beast for my Soul Ring. So you had this trick up your sleeve."

Xiao Yao looked bashful, but was actually showing off:

"I didn't expect it to work this well either."

His reward was a sharp rap on the head from Qiu Wanxi:

"Danger lurks on every side at sea. Every bit of Soul Power is precious. How could you waste it like that? You are not to use Soul Power without my permission. Understood?"

ε(┬┬﹏┬┬)3

"Understood."

Shui Bing'er suddenly asked, "Director Qiu, have you been out to sea before?"

"A long time ago, with the dean and a few friends."

Qiu Wanxi sank into her memories, but soon snapped out of it. She picked up the voice-transmission crystal ball:

"Activate the Soul Power barrier and include the deck within its protection."

A voice came from the other end:

"If you're afraid of the wind and waves, you can go into the cabin. There's no need to activate the Soul Power barrier. That's really too..."

"Do as I say."

Qiu Wanxi's tone brooked no argument. However reluctant the person on the other end was, they could only activate the barrier.

Soon, a spindle-shaped barrier enveloped the large ship, keeping the wind and waves outside.

If they encountered waves like those again, the three of them could stand steadily on the deck without doing anything at all.

The barrier was generated by sailors inside the ship pouring Soul Power into a special Soul Tool. It protected them not only from wind and waves, but also from Soul Beasts.

Unless equipped with the corresponding Soul Tool, any Soul Beast that wanted to attack the ship would first have to break through the barrier.

This was also the first layer of protection that allowed the fleet to enter the middle waters.

However, since the Soul Power barrier consumed the sailors' Soul Power, once it was activated, they had to enter a cycle of cultivating to replenish their Soul Power and then pouring it in. No wonder they were unwilling to activate it for nothing.

Qiu Wanxi said coldly, "Now, your first lesson in going to sea."

"Never trust anyone, because the farther people stray from human society, the less human they become."

"Anyone might abandon human order and act according to their desires."

"Especially a fleet like this. Their identities can change at any moment."

"One moment, they might be a hired fleet, and the next, pirates."

Both Xiao Yao and Shui Bing'er felt a chill in their hearts and lowered their heads in acknowledgment.

"Neither of you has any experience fighting Sea Soul Beasts, do you?"

Xiao Yao and Shui Bing'er, who had just finished cultivating, froze. Shui Bing'er asked in confusion:

"Are Sea Soul Beasts different from ordinary Soul Beasts?"

Xiao Yao did not know either. Across his previous life and this one, this was his first time seeing the sea.

"Sea Soul Beasts and land Soul Beasts essentially belong to two different systems. It's difficult to explain clearly in words. You would be better off hunting a Sea Soul Beast yourselves and bringing it back."

Qiu Wanxi pointed into the distance at a strange fish that was hunting.

The strange fish had attacked them before, but had left on its own after failing to break through the barrier. They had not expected it to still be prowling nearby.

Xiao Yao and Shui Bing'er exchanged a knowing look and both nodded.

The ship stopped moving and lowered its barrier. The two leaped into the water and swam toward the strange fish.

Xiao Yao was an average swimmer, but with the Sea Heart Flame's assistance, he was not bad, swimming better than the vast majority of ordinary Soul Masters.

Shui Bing'er was different. She already had a well-proportioned figure and had grown up somewhere like Skywater Academy.

Her swimming form was exceptionally beautiful, like a butterfly dancing gracefully through the sea.

The two quickly approached the strange fish. It was hunting, and Shui Bing'er was about to move in for a sneak attack.

Xiao Yao caught her fair wrist and shook his head:

"Our goal isn't to defeat it, but to gain experience with Sea Soul Beasts. Let's observe it first and see what Sea Soul Beasts can do."

The strange fish resembled a tuna. The spear-like part on its face was nearly two meters long, and it also had a shark-like dorsal fin on its back. The faint cold glint flashing across it was enough to show that its sharpness was not to be underestimated.

It also seemed proficient in swordsmanship. Using its longsword-like organ, it soon left its prey covered in wounds.

"There doesn't seem to be anything special about it, does there? Not many land Soul Beasts use weapons, but it's not unheard of."

Xiao Yao's expression was serious. "It's not that simple. Look at the Soul Beast it's attacking. Although it can only take a beating, its armored scales keep deflecting the strange fish's attacks, allowing it to cling to life."

Shui Bing'er took a closer look and found that this was indeed the case.

The prey being hunted by the Monstrous Tuna was also a fish-type Sea Soul Beast. Facing the Monstrous Tuna's attacks, it kept angling the armored scales on its sides a little farther to deflect the thrusting longsword.

Although it still could not avoid injury, it had indeed held out for a long time.

In a fight between land Soul Beasts, such a huge disparity in strength would have settled things long ago.

Yet the characteristics of Sea Soul Beasts had allowed their battle to continue until now.

"It seems Sea Soul Beasts generally have defenses a whole level higher. We can't rush for results and try to kill them in one strike. We need to use the tactic of slicing meat with a dull knife."

"That's all we can tell for now. To learn more, we'll have to try our own hands at it."

Xiao Yao and Shui Bing'er showed some martial honor. They waited until the battle ended and the Monstrous Tuna was about to enjoy its spoils before launching their attack.