Chapter 402 - 370: Night Talk
Chapter 402: Chapter 370: Night Talk
There were fifteen cultivators in the camp, all at the Qi Refining Eighth or Ninth Layer. Only one was at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.
The sole cultivator at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer had reached the Mastery level in the Water Manipulation Skill.
From their conversation, Zhao Lin learned that the older cultivator who had greeted him was named Fu Dong, and the plain-looking woman was Liu Lian.
No one in the camp looked down on Zhao Lin. For one, he was a Martial Cultivator, whose combat strength was unpredictable.
For another, combat in the water was more about one’s mastery of Magic than their cultivation level, which was of secondary importance.
They were unaware that Zhao Lin was still a student at the Spirit Dao Institute, and Zhao Lin made no effort to mention it.
After chatting for a while, the group dispersed to their rooms. Zhao Lin chose a wooden cabin and hung the plaque bearing his name beside the door.
The camp was free of charge, but everyone was responsible for their own food and drink.
Zhao Lin settled into the camp, spending his days meditating, cultivating, and studying the mission details. In his spare time, he would chat with the other cultivators.
Red Tail Island was a critical military zone, and wandering was forbidden. The cultivators could only remain in the camp, with the exception of a daily two-hour "recreation period" every afternoon.
This "recreation period" consisted of the guards escorting everyone to one side of the island to enter the sea and practice their Magic.
The same Magic could have completely different effects when cast in different environments.
Although Zhao Lin had already mastered his Water Manipulation Skill, he had only ever practiced in a lake. This was his first time using it in the vast ocean.
Practice was absolutely necessary. The ocean was tumultuous, with waves forming even without wind. Casting Magic beneath the surface was subject to immense interference.
Take the Ice Blade Skill, for example. With his Divine Sense hindered by the water, its range was cut by more than half, and its accuracy plummeted. Once fired, the ice blade would wobble and drift with the currents.
Without practice, he was sure to miss his target in a real fight.
Upon reaching the shore, the guard cultivator announced, "Do as you please. Gather back here in two hours."
"Understood."
The cultivators all activated their Water Manipulation Skill and leaped into the sea, each finding their own spot to practice.
Not wanting to attract attention, Zhao Lin initially only used his Water Manipulation Skill at the Proficient level.
Once he was in a deserted area, the Spell in his hands shifted, and he switched to the Mastery level of the Water Manipulation Skill.
At the Mastery level, the swirling water of the Water Manipulation Skill actually shrank, its shape transforming from a circle to a streamlined shuttle. This allowed for incredibly fast forward dashes and much more agile ascents and descents.
Zhao Lin zipped through the water, practicing his Water Manipulation Skill while also testing his other Magic.
Of his three offensive Magic skills, the Fire Element Sinking Arrow was completely unusable. Fortunately, aside from its reduced range, the Ice Blade Skill was only marginally weaker.
As for the Thunder Blade Skill, Zhao Lin was initially worried that casting it in water would shock him. However, after some careful experimentation, he discovered it only caused a slight numbness in his palm at the moment of casting and inflicted no actual harm.
For defense, the Earth Element Rock Armor Skill was the least affected. It was fast to cast and provided solid protection, making it a reliable tool.
The Void Trapping Skill, on the other hand, was far worse. It could only conjure a few dozen fist-sized whirlpools, its power reduced to less than twenty percent of normal.
’Looks like my main offense will be the Ice Blade Skill, with the Thunder Blade Skill reserved for tougher opponents. For defense, I’ll have to rely on the Rock Armor Skill.’
Over the next two days, three more cultivators arrived, expanding the mission team to eighteen people.
On the evening before their departure, the group gathered to chat.
Having spent a few days together, the cultivators had grown familiar with one another. It was unclear who started the tradition, but every evening they now gathered in the open space in the center of the camp.
Anyone who dared to accept this mission didn’t lack courage, but the thought of heading out to sea tomorrow made everyone at least a little tense.
With the exception of Fu Dong, this was the first time any of them had undertaken this mission.
"Senior Brother Fu, I heard you were here last year. Are the Spirit Pearls difficult to harvest?"
asked a cultivator who had arrived a day after Zhao Lin, a hint of worry in his voice.
"It’s not so bad."
Fu Dong chuckled. "The mission itself isn’t difficult. As long as you’re careful, you’ll find the Clam Demons hidden in the seabed crevices. Just be careful not to get hit by their breath attack, or you’ll be in for a world of hurt."
"Also, remember this: stick to the waters on our side. If you venture deep into their territory, that’s when things get dangerous!"
"Senior Brother, could you please elaborate?"
The same man asked, "Have you ever encountered anyone from the Earth Dark Sect?"
All eyes turned to Fu Dong. Everyone knew that harvesting Spirit Pearls wasn’t the real danger.
The seabed had its whirlpools and malevolent earth qi; getting caught in either would surely damage one’s cultivation.
The Clam Demons and other shellfish-type demons had Mana of their own, and a careless cultivator could get injured.
But whether it was the whirlpools or the Clam Demons, none of it was likely to be fatal if you were careful.
The real danger came from the cultivators of the Earth Dark Sect, who were said to be utterly ruthless.
"I was lucky; I didn’t run into any Earth Dark Sect cultivators."
Fu Dong gave a faint smile. "However, the fellow cultivators traveling with me weren’t so fortunate. Twenty of us went out to sea, but only twelve returned."
"What? That many losses!"
The cultivator who had asked the question turned pale. Eight deaths out of twenty people—that was nearly half the team.
"A mission that dangerous should be classified as a purple-level task."
Fu Dong shook his head. "The number of losses varies each time. Sometimes it’s only one or two, other times it’s more than half."
"I’m not entirely sure, but I’ve heard that the Merit Hall only designates a mission as purple-level if the survival rate is consistently below fifty percent."
Zhao Lin suddenly asked, "Senior Brother Fu, we lost eight people. What about them?"
Fu Dong paused for a moment before sighing. "On the return trip, I made a point to count. They only lost three people..."
A heavy silence fell over the group. Though they had all known the mission wouldn’t be easy, hearing this outcome still brought immense pressure.
Just then, a middle-aged cultivator walked into the camp. He wore armor, and his robes were embroidered with a cloud pattern.
The moment they saw his attire, they knew he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. They immediately ceased their conversation, rose, and bowed. "Greetings, Senior."
"My surname is Gan, my given name is Xingquan. I am the Captain of this island,"
the middle-aged cultivator said bluntly. After speaking, he scanned the group and asked, "Is everyone here?"
Fu Dong stepped forward to answer. "All present. Eighteen of us in total."
The mission allowed for a maximum of twenty participants, and the roster would not be filled if they were short.
Gan Xingquan nodded. "Gather here tomorrow morning at the *chen* hour. I will take you out to sea."
"Yes, sir!" the group responded in unison.
"Very well."
Gan Xingquan’s gaze fell on Zhao Lin. "You are Zhao Lin?"
"I am," Zhao Lin quickly replied.
"Come with me. Someone asked me to pass a message to you."
With that, Gan Xingquan turned and walked out of the camp.
"Nie Kui asked me to ensure your safety. But honestly, once you’re out at sea, no one can guarantee your safety."
Once they were outside the camp, Gan Xingquan stopped and said with a grave expression, "The only thing I can do for you is allow you to withdraw now. Do you want to?"
Without a moment’s hesitation, Zhao Lin replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but I do not intend to withdraw."
Gan Xingquan was blunt. "Fine," he said. "Then you’ll just have to look out for yourself."