Chapter 641: Chapter 368: Re-entering the Fallen, the Reward of the Blue Heart Stone
Beep beep beep!
[Biological experiment data has begun testing!]
[Blood purification in progress...1%...5%...]
In an underground laboratory, precise instruments keep running continuously.
Floating virtual screens display a myriad of textual information, including the latest data, corresponding experiment progress, and warning notices.
Bottles of extracted Martial Artist blood are being transported, entering the lab where technicians in white lab coats are busily engaged.
If you glance in, you’ll see a massive transparent glass container connected by various black wires.
Inside lies a large mass of peculiarly scarlet material, seeming like blood but extraordinarily viscous, more resembling chunks of flesh.
Occasionally it trembles on the surface, as if a living pulsation.
"The progress seems smooth?"
A scholarly man in gold-rimmed glasses, surrounded by security, walks into the laboratory, eyes locked onto the huge transparent container, curiously inquiring.
"Not enough yet."
However, a graceful woman stands aside, shaking her head calmly.
The scholarly man in gold-rimmed glasses hesitates slightly, then notices the warning from the floating experiment screen.
[Warning: Insufficient blood energy, purification interrupted!]
[Warning: Signs of disturbance in Super Ancient Creature Essence Blood!]
[Warning: ...]
Warnings continuously pop up, causing the scholarly man in gold-rimmed glasses to furrow his brow.
"How could this happen?"
"Miss Feng, didn’t you say the serum made from these martial artists’ blood could counteract the disturbed genes?"
He asks solemnly, well aware of the significance and importance of this research.
But in response.
"Secretary Liu, this is Legendary Level biological essence blood."
"I need enough quantities, not your little bits, tinkering around."
The elegant woman in a white coat retorted calmly, causing Secretary Liu to frown, lightly adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses.
Seeing his desire to argue further, the white-coated woman turns her head to lock eyes with him, speaking calmly.
"This experiment has no fallback."
"Secretary Liu, hurry up."
....
Crash!!
Seawater churns, firelight faintly flickers.
The distant island is engulfed in constant warfare, no longer showing its past bustling scenes.
"Is it still in war?"
Gazing from afar, Chen Feng stands atop the shoulders of the Holy Shield Giant, high within the cloud layer.
He once again entered the Realm of the Dead.
And the distant island is Hurricane Island.
Yet, there are no seagulls to be seen, and few merchant ships are anchored.
Only the well-prepared kingdom’s warships and sporadic blasts of cannon fire reaching skyward remain.
Faintly, Chen Feng perceived the aura of several unfamiliar Saints.
He suspects them to be High Order Sequencers involved in the war from the two kingdoms.
Shaking his head, he decides not to intervene.
Soon, he and the Holy Shield Giant shift direction, heading straight towards Fishman Bay.
Lei Long and others have already arrived there, and the blue heart stone he needs can finally serve as nourishment to aid Steel Bones’ breakthrough upgrading.
....
....
Crash!!
Ripples spread, white mist envelops.
Multi-masted sailboats moored near a crescent-shaped small island, swaying with the ocean waves.
Figures move along the beach or green fields of the island, appearing lively.
"Your food tastes really good."
"Absolutely, especially this malt beer, it’s delicious."
"Can I have a bit more, and some roast meat, may I have another piece?"
Drunken voices rise, visible along the island coast, with many mermaids surfacing.
Holding fruit baskets, bringing colorful fruits as part of the exchange for this gathering, or holding seashells, filled with malt beer, drinking contentedly.
"Of course."
"We brought plenty, enjoy as you like."
Trin responds with a smile, alongside other sailors setting up charcoal to grill meat.
Faint smoke wafts upwards, attracting more mermaids who can’t resist the tempting aroma to come and try.
"So delicious, hic... "
"Fannie, why is your face so red."
"I, hic, don’t know, hic..."
Some mermaids are utterly drunk, with sailors cheerfully raising their glasses.
Humans in cotton jackets and mermaids with tails are getting along harmoniously, and afar, a huge sea turtle slowly swims, carrying malt beer and roasted meat, reaching a deep blue reef.
"Lord Jia Ta..."
A sailor speaks reverently.
But before he can finish.
Crash.
Seawater ripples, the enormous reef suddenly shifts, large tentacles emerge from underwater, coming closer.
Swiftly maneuvering, the tentacles quickly whisk away the delicacies from the sea turtle’s back, taking them to the sea depths.
"Saa!!"
Within seconds, satisfied cheers burst from underwater, and mermaids on the beach and sailors toast once again.
Witnessing this scene, a mermaid dressed in a yellow floral skirt smiles gently, ribbons on her shoulders fluttering in the wind.
"The nearby seas are in constant conflict. Mister Lei, if you are willing to live here, our Mermaid Clan naturally has no objections."
"And we must thank you for escorting our three clansmen back safely. If there’s anything you need, just ask."
Elder Della said with a smile. Opposite her, Lei Long let out a sigh of relief and nodded gently.
Hurricane Island is in continual turmoil, causing some chaotic order in the surrounding seas of the Steel Kingdom and the Tulip Kingdom.
More and more pirate groups take the opportunity to appear everywhere, plundering at will.
In contrast, Fishman Bay is indeed a rare sanctuary to temporarily avoid trouble.
Moreover, if the Mermaid Clan can help provide essential resources for living, they can put aside many worries and live here for a long time.
"By the way, this is a token of appreciation for Mr. Feng Chen and everyone."
Della spoke again as a mermaid warrior appeared beside her, holding two coral boxes.
Within the gap of one box’s lid, a blue light flickered—it was naturally the thirty blue heart stones as the trade reward.
As for the other box.
Click!
The lid opened, revealing gold and silver gleaming, reflecting on Lei Long’s face.
Surprisingly, it was some gold coins and silverware, amounting to a considerable fortune.
"This..." Lei Long was a bit surprised.
"With the constant wars on Hurricane Island, if not for Mr. Lei and others voluntarily escorting them, those three juniors of our clan might have had a hard time returning safely."
"It’s a mere token, please accept it."
Della said with a smile. Lei Long was silent for a moment, ultimately not refusing.
His fleet was not just him; there were also reliable crew members and their families.
Whether for their daily needs or ship maintenance, sufficient money was required.
"Thank you."
Nodding in gratitude, Lei Long raised a wooden bowl of ale.
The two of them clinked their cups, during which Della waved her hand as a signal.
The mermaid warriors behind her couldn’t resist the aroma of the barbecue any longer and all left, leaving only the two of them around this cluster of reefs.
"Do you know when Mr. Feng Chen will arrive?"
Della asked curiously, to which Lei Long shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.
Seeing that the other party wanted to say something but stopped, he thought of the gift just given and followed up with a question.
"Elder Della, is there something you need help with?"
"Ah, to be honest, Mister Lei, we do have some troubles."
Without tact or concealment, Della sighed, "A couple of days ago, the Half-Shark Clan sent an envoy, departing from the Sea Split Canyon, specifically to deliver a message."
"They want to unify the major tribes in the nearby seas, demanding that our Mermaid Clan submit to their command, collectively honoring the Black Shark Saint as the supreme."
"Negotiations on this matter have not been smooth, and I have been feeling uneasy lately..."
After a round of explanation, Lei Long roughly understood the situation.
The seas near Fishman Bay have always been dominated by the Fishman Tribes, hence the name.
Dozens of Fishman Tribes, varying in strength, constantly conflict and occupy the larger northern part of the bay, expanding around the Sea Split Canyon.
In past years, due to the conflicts and turmoil within the Fishman Tribes, the Mermaid Clan took advantage of it to mediate, barely holding their ground in the southern part of the bay.
But in the recent months, with several elders and the clan leader going missing, their power has significantly diminished.
Furthermore, with the Half-Shark Clan producing a new saint and showing trends of unifying the northern Fishman Tribes, the Mermaid Clan has found themselves in an awkward situation.
"Elder Della is worried they might launch an invasion?"
Lei Long’s expression turned somewhat serious.
He had not expected that after painstakingly avoiding the wars on Hurricane Island, thinking he had found a safe haven here.
Now, he might get embroiled in new chaos?
"I am indeed worried about this."
Della nodded with a sigh; this is why she decided to provide living resources to everyone in the fleet.
She hoped to request Mr. Feng Chen’s intervention to mediate the issue for their clan and prevent chaos.
"Lord Feng Chen’s whereabouts are uncertain; I can only try my best to report this matter to him."
Lei Long said solemnly, also sensing the urgency of the situation.
After all, it was a Fishman Tribe with a saint in command; even Lord Feng Chen had to handle it cautiously.
Della needed him to help convey the message, feeling immensely grateful, and promised to command the surrounding marine life to quickly bring them what they needed.
While they spoke, the cooking smoke continued near the beach.
New ale was poured into the wooden bowl as Trin and the other mermaid warriors became more familiar.
A burping giant sea turtle swam outward from the beach again, intending to provide new food to the giant blue reef that guarded the perimeter several hundred meters away.
Whoosh!!
Just then, the seawater suddenly rippled as if the sound of waves came from afar.
Trin and the others slightly froze, while those of the Mermaid Clan, who were proficient in ocean powers, were the first to react, all looking further out.
There was an area shrouded in white mist that served as a natural barrier transforming Fishman Bay into an isolated paradise.
There should have been nothing there, but.
The whooshing sound continued, vaguely visible was some huge object breaking the sea surface within the white mist.
"It’s a fleet."
Lei Long spoke seriously, sensing something amiss.
The sea breeze brought him a hint of perception, vaguely aware.
Beside him, Della also detected the anomaly using her ocean powers, immediately putting down her things, instructing all mermaid warriors to remain vigilant and on guard.
In an instant, spears were picked up, and even the drunken mermaids forced the alcohol out of their systems, swiftly regaining sobriety.
Whoosh!!
Finally, a towering giant emerged from within the white mist.
It was a fleet of seven large multi-masted sailing ships, each over a dozen meters long.
Black cannons lined the sides, with pirates holding sabers or rifles standing on the deck.
On the foremost multi-masted ship stood several powerful-looking figures, one of whom donned an old dark brown commander’s coat and a wide-brimmed pirate hat.
The sails unfurled behind them, the scarlet flag representing the Blood Sea fluttering in the wind.
In an instant, Lei Long’s face subtly changed, and a temporary commotion arose among Trin and the other crew members.
"It’s the Blood Sea Admiral!"
How is this infamous pirate showing up in Fishman Bay again?