Crash...

Amid terrifying lightning and thunder, a storm vast enough to engulf the entire ocean rampaged across the sky like an endless, fierce demon.

The inky black seawater turned into continuous mountain peaks, making those aboard the Sea Soul feel like they were not sailing on the sea, but had mistakenly entered a revival of the mountains.

But the greatest danger here was far from just the weather.

Roar! Whimper! Howl!

One by one, Sea Monsters with chaotic, bestial eyes surged toward them.

Sea God’s Gill, Nether River Jellyfish, Ammonite, Skull Moray Eel, Iron Armor Sea Horse, Giant Hammer Mantis Shrimp, Water Cannon Humpback Whale, Ghost Shrimp, Screaming Serpent...

Even the smallest among them was 100 meters long, while those over a kilometer long, known as "Sea God’s Son", were not unusual.

"Sea Soul, activate Bomb Cyclone, fight back!"

Faced with this swarm of Sea Monsters, Aiven stood directly on the deck at the prow of the ship.

The Octopus Head at the bow gurgled with bubbling sounds.

On the lower gun deck, the side ports opened one by one, and ten cannons, with surfaces as uneven as coral, poked their heads out, white light flickering from the muzzles.

Hoo——!

In the next moment, a low, mournful whirlwind sound started up one after another, and white globes of light were ejected.

The temperature in this sea area dropped sharply, and the storm turned into sleet, making it seem like winter had arrived in an instant.

[Ability: Bomb Cyclone]

Ten globes of light, perfectly parallel to the direction of the battleship, with icy white trails, skillfully made right-angle turns.

They changed directions multiple times in the air, continuously striking the endless variety of Sea Monsters.

With a guidance system-like precision, they hit their targets unfailingly, turning them into lumps of ice.

Around Aiven, the crew displayed their abilities.

To them now, a mere pile of mindless mortals, no matter how strong, was not a daunting enemy.

Angie, in a pristine white dress, holding the Golden Holy Spear: Longinus, sang softly:

"I am the light of the world! He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life!"

Whoosh——!

A gentle breeze blew, unaffected by the storm, and many mighty Sea Monsters below Tier 4 lost their lives without warning.

Even the "Sea God’s Son" thrashed wildly as a mysterious force drew a golden chain from within, instantly weakening its aura.

Then they were suddenly absorbed into the Witchcraft Garden.

[Forbidden Curse: World Executor]

If explained with the knowledge system of the Life Tree School.

The primordial "Tree of Life", also that "first one", "original gene", "ancestor of all life", after its birth.

Over time, it gradually merged into all living beings in the world, eventually evolving into the myriad creatures of the world.

In the primordial Tree of Life, the material is represented by "genes", and the spirit is represented by "world consciousness".

The Golden Chain is the supreme ladder of creatures to this "Supreme Consciousness".

Upon learning that Angie’s Forbidden Curse was called World Executor, Aiven was ecstatic, pounding his chest a few times before calming down.

If not for the knowledge from his past life, allowing him to achieve this quickly.

Angie would undoubtedly be the dear daughter of the World Consciousness, and he would be the grandfather arranged by the World Consciousness for Angie...

However, although this ability is called World Executor, it focuses more on the commanding power over extraordinary creatures, forming a perfect contrast with Aiven’s Forbidden Curse: King’s Declaration.

Meanwhile.

Olivia had entered the Gem River, transforming into a squid maiden.

Moonlight-like ripples spread, causing the Sea Monsters’ souls and bodies to instantly disjoin.

Whiz! Whiz! Whiz!...

Under the control of the majestic Life Magnetic Field, scorching lines of fire shot out, blowing up the frozen "Sea Monsters" one by one!

Mother-in-law Nymph launched the Forbidden Curse: Dream Weaver, dragging the Sea Monsters into a dream from which they could not wake.

Sister Anita’s Titled Sacred Artifact: Thunderous Dragon Roar, and Liweina’s Titled Sacred Artifact: Heartbroken Red Rose: Astraea, together unleashed their might, clearing the monsters at a speed no slower than magic.

Among the remaining three Great Wizards, the two gentlemen were overshadowed by Miss Kongyu.

The young girl suddenly raised her hand, and a huge golden dial appeared behind her, with three needles spinning continuously.

The surrounding sea surface was dyed bright silver by Magic Spiritual Light, then quickly twisted like rippling water into another world—the desolate mountaintop surrounded by deserts.

Every giant species was thrown onto this dry land without a drop of water, becoming defeated and powerless due to the terrain.

And in this deep battle within the Storm Belt.

Even though the [Sea Soul] was hit and damaged by the Sea Monster’s long-range attacks, with the injection of [Extraordinary Spiritual Light] from the "King of Sea Monsters" Kraken, this Legendary Battleship rapidly restored itself as good as new.

Their advancing speed remained unaffected.

Because the various limits of [Sea Soul] are the limits of the Black Sea, the maximum speed of its [Vortex Maneuver] matching the Great Vortex in the northern Black Sea.

The maximum flow rate could only reach forty kilometers per hour, which is 22 knots.

At this moment, the [Sea Soul] had been navigating non-stop along the Stormy Sea Route for two days, penetrating 2000 kilometers deep into the Storm Belt!

The [Ocean Treasure: Ancient Scroll] had become just a decoration after entering here.

What Aiven and his party could rely on in this chaotic and "hazy" world was only the new compass, which combined thirteen [Golden Compasses].

Although besides the pattern on the back having changed to a complete [Golden Kingdom], Aiven couldn’t discern what was different.

In the past when his power was weak, many things required Aiven to guess and discover, but now he could directly ask for answers.

It was clearly established.

The first "God of Wisdom" and "God of the Ocean" in this era, the giant Mimir Trayus, is indeed the biological father of the "Ocean Goddess" Thetis.

Guarding this world’s ultimate secret was the mission bestowed upon Him by the "God of Wisdom".

The cryptic proverb "Set sail on the Stormy Sea Route and follow the compass’s guidance, and you shall see the truth" also came from the mouth of that True God.

All origins trace back to this True God, who obtained a [Purple Lacquer Inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl Fish and Algae Pattern Golden Treasure Box] that drifted from the Storm Belt in distant ages!

Thus, it was clear that there are now three Golden Treasure Boxes in the present world.

The Maurya Dynasty’s Chandragupta obtained primitive technologies such as ceramics, silk, tea making, papermaking, gunpowder, compass, and so on;

Aiven received a complete set of oceanic exploration knowledge centered on [Big Loach Treasure Ship], including construction techniques, cannon casting techniques, sailing skills, navigation positioning technology, personnel training, etc.

And the treasure box obtained by Mimir Trayus.

Mainly comprises metallurgy that transcends the era, mineral exploration, mining, especially oceanic exploration, several applications of ancient technology on gold, and small parts of knowledge from Behind the Door.

Most importantly, it hides a secret unknown to the gods of this era.

Although the place they were to go to was called "Behind the Door" in the [Era Relic] of the Second Era, it was actually the collective term for the whole world beyond the Storm Belt.

Except.

The "Storm Belt" phenomenon that surpassed True God’s strength in its form almost made it impossible for mortals to pass through, even a [Legendary Battleship] was only the baseline to withstand harsh weather phenomena.

For instance, what Jelos once barely explored on its periphery could not foresee that the deeper the penetration into the [Storm Belt].

The number of High-tier Sea Monsters and all kinds of Demonized Creatures didn’t grow linearly, but rather almost exponentially exploded.

And the biggest challenge was the thoroughly disrupted magnetic field, ocean currents, sea winds, creature directional sense...etc., even Demigods found it hard to exempt; entering it might mean being utterly lost amidst chaotic space rules.

Only through that seemingly simple yet technologically surpassing "Gate" could they safely reach the destination—Shelter against Era Catastrophes for Demigods.

Since Thetis began guarding this gate, no mortal below Demigod has ever safely entered it, nor has any ancient Demigod come out from it.

The most important knowledge obtained by the "God of Wisdom" from the Golden Treasure Box was:

Firstly, "Behind the Door" is both a shelter and a prison.

But if a Demigod enters without invoking rule power and activating the strongest Demigod Level authority [Mythical Form], it wouldn’t trigger the "shelter" procedure nor be locked by the guarding might.

Secondly, a technology for Compass making.

In past eras, the simplest brute method for Demigods to enter the "Gate" was [Blood Sacrifice], generally regarded as a rite to have "someone" replace their suffering.

The Compass, however, served as a reusable "pass".

The prerequisite is that the Compass holder, along with the Compass, has traveled to every corner of the Material World.

The materials and technology imparted to Thetis for making the thirteen Golden Compasses come from "Behind the Door"; even the gold plenty in the [Golden Kingdom] mostly derives from depths of the sea since this era began.

With these two pieces of knowledge, it substantiates Aiven’s confidence to venture inside.

Suddenly, Milan shouted:

"Look! We’re about to leave the Storm Belt!"

In the distant sky, a line of bright light swiftly approached.

...

Unaware of how much time had passed.

When Aiven brushed aside a strand of gently sliding gold-red hair on his cheek in a semi-dream state and slowly opened his eyes.

He felt a sweet kiss on his lips and heard an extremely familiar voice in his ear:

"My Prince, have you awakened? Did you sleep well in St. James’s bedroom? Hehehe..."

Instantly, Aiven shivered, almost jumping up.