Chapter 405 - 198: Immortal Ascension Ceremony: Boundary Sea, Boat Ticket (Part 4)
Chapter 405: Chapter 198: Immortal Ascension Ceremony: Boundary Sea, Boat Ticket (Part 4)
The setting sun shone upon the shimmering sea, its golden light glinting off the deep blue water.
He had traveled less than a hundred miles when he spotted the massive Spiritual Boat moored in Dongdu Bay.
The Spiritual Boat was a full thousand feet long, nearly filling all of Dongdu Bay. It looked like a small island floating on the water.
A faint layer of Spiritual Light coated the hull, and even from far away, he could tell that every single plank was crafted from high-quality Tier Two Spirit Wood.
Various buildings were artfully arranged across the deck.
There were towers that seemed to pierce the clouds and humble cabins, with two exquisite pavilions situated in the center.
Between the pavilions stood a three-hundred-foot mast, shimmering with an ethereal blue light.
An enormous Array Flag was draped across the mast. On its surface, layers upon layers of runes flickered in a unique rhythm, as if the flag itself were breathing.
This was the legendary giant Spiritual Boat—the Fu Hai—said to be able to carry over a thousand people across the Boundary Sea at once.
It was said the name was chosen to express the intent to tame the Boundary Sea.
The name, however, was just a comfort. What truly made a difference was the Tier Three composite Grand Array installed on the Spiritual Boat.
It consisted of three Defensive Arrays, one Trapping Array, and one Killing Array.
In theory, if any reckless Golden Core Demon Beast were to attack the Spiritual Boat, the composite Grand Array alone could kill it.
In reality, however, it was best to avoid encountering Demon Beasts altogether.
For one, the sea teemed with Demon Beasts, and sometimes even entire packs of Tier Three Demon Beasts would appear.
For another, it cost extra.
Tier Three Arrays consumed a substantial amount of Spirit Stones. The Fu Hai Sect certainly wouldn’t absorb that cost themselves; it would be split evenly among all the passengers.
Of course, there was no charge for the first time the array was activated; only subsequent activations cost extra Spirit Stones.
This wasn’t because the first activation was free, but because the ticket price already included a non-refundable fee for one use of the array, regardless of whether they encountered Demon Beasts.
"Fellow Daoist, are you looking to cross the Boundary Sea?"
Seeing Xiao Chen fly in along the coast, a Fu Hai Sect Cultivator immediately approached to greet him. "How many in your party, fellow Daoist?"
"We don’t have many spots left on the ship, fellow Daoist..."
He was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly realized something was wrong.
Initially, they had been hundreds of yards apart, but as he called out and drew closer, the distance had shrunk to less than a hundred yards.
Yet, he couldn’t perceive Xiao Chen’s level of cultivation.
Fan Hongyu’s eyes narrowed, and he immediately changed his tune. "My apologies, Senior. I was blind and failed to recognize a master. Please forgive my rudeness."
"I do not know what brings you here, Senior, but whatever it is, please just give the word. I will do my utmost to assist."
Xiao Chen glanced at him. ’Heh, quick on the uptake.’
"You’re a Fu Hai Sect cultivator? How many Spirit Stones for one ticket?"
"I am a manager for the Fu Hai Sect. A single ticket is currently four thousand two hundred Spirit Stones."
’Yikes, that’s not cheap.’
That price was enough to buy two ordinary Upper Grade Magical Artifacts. The average Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s entire net worth was about that much.
An Early Stage Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator probably couldn’t afford it even if they sold everything they owned.
And that was just for a one-way ticket. The return trip would cost the same.
Of course, some cultivators probably had no intention of coming back.
Cultivators who planned on making the round trip usually chose to trade Spiritual Objects along the way to earn back the Spirit Stones.
Xiao Chen pressed, "How many people have tickets so far? And how long until you depart?"
Fan Hongyu answered obediently, "We’ve sold two hundred and eighty-four tickets so far."
"The ship will depart once we reach three hundred people before the end of the year, or on the sixteenth day of the first month after the New Year."
Xiao Chen was a bit curious. "Oh? You’ll set sail even if you’re not full when the time comes?"
’That generous?’
Fan Hongyu explained, "To be frank, Senior, in addition to carrying passengers, we also transport Spiritual Objects for the Golden Dawn Sect on the other side. That’s why we depart on schedule."
Xiao Chen nodded. "I’ll take sixteen tickets. What’s the soonest we can leave?"
Fan Hongyu gasped, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks. That was sixty thousand Spirit Stones.
’This wasn’t just some senior... this was a Golden Core True Man!’
’Even someone at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment couldn’t possibly treat sixty thousand Spirit Stones like pocket change.’
’No wonder he looks so young. That explains it.’
Fan Hongyu’s back bent even lower. "Greetings, Daoist! Our Sect Leader has decreed that fellow Golden Core cultivators can board without a ticket. Please, Daoist, allow me to show you to the Sea Suppressing Pavilion to rest."
"I will go inform our Sect Leader at once."