Void Cultivation-Chapter 235- Fishing for Foundation Establishment (9)

Chapter 235: Chapter 235- Fishing for Foundation Establishment (9)

Right now, Grey stood at the bow of the magic ship, a solemn expression etched deeply onto his face. The fierce, freezing wind howled as it swept across the deck, lifting his ash-grey hair and tugging violently at his robes. Yet no matter how savage the gale became, it could not disturb the heaviness in his eyes, nor could it dispel the deep sense of foreboding pressing down on his heart like a suffocating weight.

Grey had deliberately chosen to steer the magic ship through the night.

According to the nautical charts and ancient sea records, they would soon be passing through several dangerous territories along the outer fringes of the western archipelago. Although this route was not a major shipping path, it was infamous among seasoned sailors. Beneath these waters lurked powerful sea creatures, ancient beings that had survived countless eras. Most of the time, they remained dormant and unseen, but once disturbed, they were said to display strength so terrifying that even veteran cultivators avoided them at all costs.

A translucent protective barrier enveloped the magic ship, sealing it off completely from the outside world. No sound escaped from within, not the wind, not the creaking of wood, not even the splashing of seawater against the hull. The ship cut silently through the ocean like a ghost drifting through the void.

Grey remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the dark horizon ahead. The captain, standing not far behind him, was equally silent.

Neither of them spoke.

They had reached a tacit agreement, to remain absolutely still and alert until they passed through this perilous region. Any unnecessary movement or sound could draw attention they could not afford.

Gradually, dark clouds began to gather overhead, swallowing what little moonlight remained in the sky. The already dim world was soon completely enveloped in darkness, as if night itself had thickened into a tangible substance that pressed down on the sea.

Then, something felt wrong.

The distant roars of sea creatures that occasionally echoed through the night suddenly vanished. The ocean, once faintly alive with subtle movement and sound, became unnervingly quiet. The silence was so absolute that it felt unnatural, as though some unknown and terrifying existence was approaching.

A chill crept up Grey’s spine.

His instincts screamed in alarm, and without thinking, he subconsciously widened his senses.

As a cultivator, darkness posed little obstacle to him. His divine sense and heightened perception stretched outward, probing the surrounding waters. Even without light, he could still see, or at least perceive, the world around him with eerie clarity.

It did not take long for him to notice something strange.

The ocean current that had been steadily pushing the ship forward began to weaken. At first, the change was subtle, barely noticeable. Then, within moments, the current slowed to a crawl before reversing entirely, pressing against the ship and forcing it backward.

At the same time, the sea beneath them began to bubble violently.

It was as though an intense heat was rising from the depths. The water churned and hissed, releasing waves of steam as faint tremors traveled up through the hull and into Grey’s feet. A powerful sense of dread bloomed in his chest, tightening his heart.

Without hesitation, Grey poured spiritual energy into the magic ship.

Runes along the hull flared faintly as the ship responded, surging forward at several times its normal speed. The stern sliced violently through the water as they attempted to flee.

Yet even as the ship accelerated, Grey sensed movement behind them.

The sea suddenly split open.

Four enormous spikes burst forth from the water, rising slowly yet inexorably toward the sky. Each spike was incomprehensibly massive, over ten thousand feet long, and they radiated a thick, bloody aura that dyed the surrounding sea a dark, ominous red.

In the pitch-black night, Grey could not see their full length.

The spikes appeared blurry and hazy, as if they both existed and did not exist at the same time. This distorted presence gave him the disturbing illusion that he was looking directly at them, yet not truly seeing them at all.

Their tops vanished into the clouds above, while their bases remained submerged in the unfathomable depths below. Even so, Grey could tell that something utterly colossal was emerging from beneath the ocean.

Just the sight alone was enough to terrify him.

Overwhelming fluctuations poured out from the four spikes. Grey felt as though invisible hands were crushing his body from all directions. His breathing grew labored, his chest tightening painfully as a suffocating pressure descended upon both him and the magic ship.

Cracking sounds echoed within his body.

They were the sounds of his bones straining under unbearable force.

The magic ship itself began to creak and groan. Fine cracks spread across its structure as the protective barrier trembled violently, threatening to shatter at any moment.

’What kind of existence is this?!’ Grey screamed inwardly.

Thin cracks spread across his skin like spiderwebs, rapidly multiplying. Blood seeped out from the fissures, staining his robes a deep crimson. It flowed from his seven orifices, trailing down his face as his vision blurred. A sharp pain pierced his skull, and just as his eyes felt on the verge of exploding...

The captain moved.

She appeared beside him in an instant and produced an umbrella.

At first glance, it looked utterly ordinary, plain fabric, a simple handle, nothing that suggested power or mystery. Yet the moment it opened, an invisible force descended, releasing a power utterly different from that of cultivators.

It was a magic artifact.

Grey and the captain stood beneath the umbrella as a gentle yet absolute force enveloped them. The crushing pressure instantly weakened, giving their battered bodies room to breathe.

Grey staggered slightly, gasping for air as he turned toward the captain. She was panting heavily, her face pale and marked with lingering fear. Cracks were visible across her body as well, with blood seeping from the wounds.

Yet something about her condition was deeply strange.

The blood that emerged from her skin did not drip or fall. Instead, it hovered in midair, suspended as though restrained by an unseen force. Moments later, the blood slowly flowed back into her body, merging seamlessly with her flesh.

The sight was eerie and unnatural.

Because of this strange phenomenon, the captain’s injuries healed at a frightening speed, the cracks on her skin sealing almost instantly, leaving no trace behind.

The moment the umbrella shielded them, Grey felt a familiar warmth surge within his chest. The purple crystal embedded in his heart activated, emitting a soft glow as it rapidly healed his shattered body.

However, Grey quickly restrained the crystal’s power, preventing it from fully restoring him.

He could not afford to let such an abnormality draw attention.

As Grey steadied his breathing, the captain’s voice echoed directly within his mind.

’Don’t panic, Grey. This is merely the claws of an ancient existence that was sealed here several thousand years ago.’

’An ancient existence?’ Grey was startled, not only by her words, but by the method of communication itself. Still, he replied mentally.

’Yes. Several thousand years ago, creatures from the abyss appeared in the Dead Sea. Their might was overwhelming, and they were extremely difficult to kill. Only with the combined efforts of several powerful experts were we able to defeat the few that slipped through the crack of the abyss.’

’However, not all of them could be killed or sent back. In the end, an expert of the Great Realm sealed this mackerel pike within a small, isolated realm. The entrance to that realm lies at the bottom of this sea.’

’Those four spikes you saw are merely its claws. It is likely rolling about within its seal...’

Grey fell silent.

Such an existence had been sealed for thousands of years, yet even so, the mere movement of its claws was enough to nearly crush him to death.

I shouldn’t be thinking about this, Grey said inwardly, forcefully suppressing the lingering fear in his heart.

When he looked at the captain, her eyes were glistening as she stared at the four massive spikes that were slowly sinking back into the sea.

As they descended, enormous inscriptions and runes, so vast their size defied comprehension, appeared in the void, shining with brilliant golden light. One by one, the runes activated, and in the end, the four colossal spikes vanished without leaving a trace.

Yet the strange glint in the captain’s eyes did not fade.

She gazed at the disappearing spikes with a mixture of desire and disappointment.

Grey did not bother questioning her reaction. Instead, he focused on steering the magic ship forward. His hands trembled slightly as the image of what he had witnessed replayed itself in his mind. The shock it left behind was deep, etched into his very soul.

The captain slowly closed her umbrella and stared gloomily at the sea behind them.

Grey ignored her.

He knew well that the woman before him enjoyed flirting with death. But he had no intention of remaining by her side the day she provoked an existence that should never be disturbed.

"I have to do something big very soon!" The captain said and rushed into her cabin. Her breath was erratic.