Chapter 406 - 199: Crossing the Boundary Sea Eastward
Chapter 406: Chapter 199: Crossing the Boundary Sea Eastward
The Fu Hai had two pavilions: the Fu Hai Pavilion and the Sea Suppressin Pavilion.
These two pavilions had always been accessible only to Golden Core True Men.
Aside from the Celestial Deaf and Earthly Mute who entered to clean at 7:00 AM each day, no other Fu Hai Sect cultivators or passengers were permitted inside.
Fan Hongyu led Xiao Chen to the entrance, then hurried off to the Fu Hai Pavilion to report the situation.
"Hahaha, I wonder which Fellow Daoist has graced us with their presence?"
Xiao Chen had just entered the Sea Suppressin Pavilion and was surveying the hall’s furnishings when he heard a hearty laugh from outside.
Immediately after, a burly figure strode in.
He had prominent cheekbones, thick brows, and large eyes, and stood over eight feet tall. On his head, he wore a Hair-Binding Golden Crown with a ruby set in the front. The tight, brown martial attire he wore revealed the bulging contours of his muscles.
Based on the information Xiao Chen had gathered before setting out, this newcomer had to be Master Yu Cha.
There was a saying that the Fu Hai Sect’s "Master Yu Cha" wasn’t a specific person, but rather the title for whichever Golden Core cultivator was piloting the Fu Hai.
The title originated from a famous Spiritual Artifact—the Three-pronged Sea-piercing Jade Fork.
Legend said it was crafted by a Tier Four Artifact Refiner from the Eastern Domain. It was a treasure passed down through generations of the Fu Hai Sect, effective in combating Golden Core-level Demon Beasts in the sea.
"Eh!"
Master Yu Cha’s large eyes looked Xiao Chen up and down, and he asked in surprise, "Forgive my poor eyesight, but this Fellow Daoist seems rather unfamiliar. May I ask which state you hail from?"
The Southern Domain was only so big; basically, all the Golden Core True Men had heard of one another.
Excluding any newly advanced Golden Cores, he should have recognized any of the few remaining Middle Stage Golden Core cultivators who might be preparing to cross the sea.
Xiao Chen cupped his hands and replied, "Before me stands Yu Cha, I presume? I am from Li State. My Dharma Name is Flame Dragon."
It was the custom in the Southern Domain to introduce oneself by their Dharma Name rather than their given name.
"Oh, so you are Fellow Daoist Yan Long from Li State! I’ve heard much about you."
Master Yu Cha seemed to come to a sudden realization.
Although he had never actually heard the name before, that didn’t stop him from being polite. "I knew there was a reason the sea magpies were chirping this morning. It’s because an honored guest has arrived."
Xiao Chen waved his hand. "You flatter me. It is you, Yu Cha, whose fame is far-reaching."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before taking seats on either side of the tea table.
Through his roundabout words, Master Yu Cha probed for details about Xiao Chen’s background.
Only then did they begin to discuss serious matters.
"Since Fellow Daoist Yan Long wishes to travel east, you naturally won’t need to pay for a ticket."
A smile spread across Master Yu Cha’s face. "So long as you, Fellow Daoist, are willing to lend a hand should we encounter danger, not only will you not have to spend any Spirit Stones, but I will also offer an additional reward."
"I guarantee you won’t be getting the short end of the deal, Fellow Daoist."
"Of course, if you are unwilling to help, that’s perfectly fine as well."
"It’s just that in that case, we may need to wait a couple of days. First, to prevent any juniors from missing the ship and having to wait another three years, and second, to avoid the recent fish tide."
In truth, if a Foundation Establishment Cultivator had come instead, one of the conditions for boarding would have been to obey commands and provide Magical Power for the arrays in an emergency.
After all, once at sea, with no land in sight ahead or behind, they naturally needed to utilize every bit of strength they had.
Xiao Chen wasn’t opposed to this; after all, he would be on the ship too. He couldn’t just stand by and watch it sink.
Therefore, helping in a time of danger was not only saving others, but also saving himself.
"If we encounter danger, it is naturally my undeniable duty to act."
His main concern was not wanting to waste time. "I just don’t know what this fish tide situation is. What’s the soonest we can depart?"
Hearing Xiao Chen agree, Master Yu Cha beamed with delight. "You’re straightforward, Fellow Daoist!"
"In that case, I won’t dally either. I’ll have my men start preparations at once. We’ll depart in three days at the latest."
"As for the fish tide, with a promise like that from you, Fellow Daoist, it is no longer a concern."
The fish tide had just been an excuse all along.
The Fu Hai Sect had survived in the Boundary Sea for so many years; they had long since figured out the patterns of the fish schools and naturally had other ways to avoid them.
With the time settled, the Fu Hai Sect immediately mobilized.
Crate after crate of Spiritual Objects were carried into the ship’s hold, and many Artifact Refiners and Array Masters began their routine pre-departure inspections.
Following that, a grand ceremony to worship the heavens was held, pleading for the sky’s protection and a smooth journey.
Finally, the hundreds of mooring lines tethered to the shore were drawn in one by one.
Although there were only a little over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators on board, the crowd of friends and family seeing them off numbered in the thousands.
Amid the reluctant waves and tears of the many cultivators on the shore, the Fu Hai slowly sailed out of Dongdu Bay.
Xiao Chen’s Divine Sense swept over the crowd, taking in all walks of life.
Some stood on the deck, waving reluctantly, appearing just as unwilling to part.
One appeared to be the eldest son of a local Haozhou family, learning to follow in his ancestors’ footsteps by trading goods back and forth with the Eastern Domain while simultaneously inheriting the family’s connections.
Others sat alone in their cabins, their vacant gazes holding a trace of bewilderment.
There were quite a few people like this; they were heading to the Eastern Domain in search of opportunity, yet they felt apprehensive about the unknown.
Still others finally dropped their pretenses. "Fucking hell, I’m finally out of this goddamn place!"
Most of these were Evil Cultivators or Tribulation Cultivators wanted by some sect or another, who could no longer make a living in the Southern Domain.
However, he didn’t see Ye Fei among them.
Given that there were only a few ordinary female cultivators on the entire ship, he could basically rule out the possibility of a disguise.
"Yu Cha, shouldn’t we do something about those wanted Evil Cultivators?"
Xiao Chen asked curiously, believing the other man must have noticed them as well.
"Hah, there’s something you don’t know, Fellow Daoist Yan Long."