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Hanhai City, the largest port city in the western part of the Tiandou Empire, is a place where the salty sea breeze and the noisy voices intertwine, and the air is filled with the scent of the ocean and trade.
With the full support of Bibi Dong, the Queen of the Wuhun Empire, the preparations for going to the Sea God Island were completed with astonishing efficiency.
A sturdy and magnificent large soul-powered ship flying the flag of the Wuhun Empire has docked at the dock, ready to go.
The people on this trip are quite eye-catching, led by Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena, and including Hu Liena, A Rou, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan.
Although Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu didn't quite understand the underlying reasons, they knew that this trip concerned their own and their family's safety, so they followed the team silently.
Such a group of women with different temperaments but all extraordinary gathered together undoubtedly formed a beautiful landscape, attracting the attention of passers-by on the dock.
At the moment of departure, Ning Fengzhi, who was in charge of coordinating the supplies and ships for this long journey, found Xuan Ming standing alone on the railing at the dock, gazing at the sea.
The sea breeze blew Xuan Ming's black robe, making a rustling sound.
The leader of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect no longer had the calmness and elegance he once had on his face, and his brows were filled with fatigue and worry that were difficult to conceal.
Ning Fengzhi walked over to him, gazing at the distant scene of the sea and sky merging into one. With an indescribably complex tone, he asked softly, "Xuan Ming, have you ever imagined that there would be a day like this?"
Xuan Ming remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the deep blue.
He couldn't answer this question.
Because he had long foreseen the inevitability of disputes and changes, but he had never expected that all this would unfold in such a fierce way and come so quickly.
The rise of the Wuhun Empire, the subversion of the continental structure, and the people gathered around him... the trajectory of fate was both within his expectations and full of unexpected variables.
Seeing Xuan Ming remain silent, Ning Fengzhi revealed a helpless bitter smile on his elegant face.
He pushed his glasses up, his voice tinged with fatigue. "The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has been completely tied to the Spirit Empire's chariot. There's no turning back. Back then... when we assisted the Spirit Hall in liquidating the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family, our sect's reputation in the spirit master world was completely shattered. There's no chance of recovery."
He paused, his gaze turning to his daughter, Ning Rongrong, who was whispering with Zhu Zhuqing not far away. Deep concern and a hint of pleading flashed in his eyes. "I've done my best to ensure the prosperity and decline of the sect. Now, I only hope you can take good care of Rongrong. The empire may be powerful, but within it... there are numerous contradictions, aggressive expansionism, and numerous hidden dangers. I have a nagging feeling of unease."
His concerns are not unfounded.
The Wuhun Empire expanded too quickly, its foundation was unstable, there were many internal factions, and the contradictions between the old and new forces were acute. It was all thanks to Bibi Dong's iron fist and powerful force that the empire was forcibly suppressed and integrated.
Once there is a problem with the core, this behemoth is likely to collapse rapidly from the inside.
Xuan Ming finally withdrew his gaze and looked at the thoughtful Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's leader. He slowly said, "She is indeed too radical at times. If necessary, please be there to offer some advice. If that doesn't work..."
Xuan Ming pondered for a moment, "Just tell her what I meant. Maybe she'll listen to me."
When Ning Fengzhi heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then turned into deeper complexity.
He didn't expect Xuan Ming to say such a thing, and he didn't expect that his influence on the Pope seemed to be deeper than he imagined.
He nodded solemnly: "I understand. I will do my best."
He knew that this might be the greatest promise and arrangement Xuan Ming could make.
Soon, the last batch of supplies were loaded onto the ship, and it was time to set off.
"Do you think this empire can succeed?" Ning Fengzhi suddenly asked.
The Wuhun Empire, to be honest, is too powerful.
Before Bibi Dong announced the founding of the country, he had never imagined that the Spirit Hall would develop and expand to this extent in just twenty years.
In the past twenty years, the power of the Spirit Hall has developed to a level under Bibi Dong's leadership that is enough to shock the two empires.
Although the Spirit Hall was powerful in the past, it was only powerful in the spirit master world, and the management of the Spirit Hall was loose, and neither power nor information was concentrated, which was somewhat similar to the situation in the Tiandou Empire.
But the concentration of power in the Spirit Hall today is even stronger than that of the Xingluo Empire.
Nearly 70% of the soul master power in the entire continent is firmly controlled by the Spirit Hall. Relying on the powerful soul master army, Her Majesty the Queen of the Spirit Empire has established great confidence for the people below.
Especially those soul masters who participated in the war, they were all thinking about how to become marquises and prime ministers in the future, as if the victory of the Wuhun Empire was inevitable.
Everyone is eager for war, eager to fight, eager to establish merit, and eager to plunder.
He couldn't judge right from wrong. From the moment the Wuhun Empire was founded, this matter had nothing to do with right or wrong.
The winner takes all!
"Success?" Xuan Ming's gaze fell on the sea.
"The success of an empire has never been determined by the size of its territory or the strength of its army."
He paused, his gaze once again fixed on the giant ship that was about to carry them on a long voyage, and on the girls on the deck who were either confused, uneasy, or looking forward to the future.
"It depends on whether it can bring true order and peace to the people of this land."
"Bibi Dong... she was too impatient. She tried to forge everything with iron and fire, but she ignored the cracks and undercurrents deep within the human heart. The foundation of an empire isn't built on sheer force, but on... hope."
"When plunder and conquest become the only melody, when ambition devours reason, collapse... perhaps only a matter of days."
Ning Fengzhi stared at Xuan Ming in a daze. These words, spoken by a man who had walked out of the City of Slaughter and whose hands were stained with blood, carried a heart-pounding sense of incongruity and...insight.
He seemed to have long seen through the fragile foundation beneath the empire's prosperous appearance.
"Then why are you..." Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but ask, why are you still pushing all this?
Xuan Ming did not answer, but simply said: "Take care of yourself. The future of the empire may not be as hopeless as you think."
After saying that, he turned around, his black robe fluttering in a neat arc in the sea breeze, and strode towards the gangway to board the ship.
Ning Fengzhi stood there, looking at Xuan Ming's departing back, savoring those meaningful words, and the uneasy premonition in his heart became stronger.
Soon, the last batch of supplies were loaded onto the ship, and it was time to set off.
Everyone boarded the ship one after another.
The huge anchor was pulled up with the creaking sound of the capstan, the sails were filled, and the soul-guided engine emitted a low hum, pushing the giant ship slowly away from the bustling port and heading towards the boundless blue deep sea.
The coastline behind me gradually blurred, shrank, and finally disappeared.
All that was left around was the vast sky and the unfathomable sea.
Seagulls circled and cried at the stern of the ship, and the fresh sea breeze blew across the deck with a sense of freedom, temporarily blowing away the tension and gloom that had shrouded everyone's hearts for days.
Most of the girls gathered on the deck, looking at the magnificent ocean scene with curiosity. Even the cold Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling had a bit of novelty in their eyes.
Little Ayin ran around excitedly, and his silver bell-like laughter filled the deck.
Xuan Ming stood at the bow of the ship, while Gu Yuena stood quietly beside him, her silver hair and purple eyes glowing faintly in the sunlight as she gazed calmly ahead.
Hu Liena stood a little further back, looking at the backs of Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena standing side by side. There were complicated emotions in her eyes, but she soon became firm.
Arou gently held Xiaowu's hand and whispered something.
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing and others also leaned on the railing and looked into the distance, their thoughts drifting towards the unknown distance with the waves.
Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu leaned against each other, looking at this unfamiliar territory. They felt both uneasy about the unknown and temporarily relaxed at being away from the conflicts on the continent.
However, this initial novelty and relaxation did not last long.
As the ship sailed completely into the open sea, the waves became noticeably rougher.
The huge ship began to rise and fall and sway with the waves, no longer having the stable feeling of the inner harbor.
At first it was just a slight bump, which was still within an acceptable range.
But as time went on, the waves grew bigger and bigger, and the shaking of the ship became more and more violent.
"Hmm"
The first person to feel unwell was Ning Rongrong.
Her pretty face, which had been leaning on the railing and gazing into the distance, paled slightly. Her slender fingers subconsciously gripped the railing, her knuckles turning white from the force. She frowned slightly, as if trying to suppress the nausea that was welling up in her stomach.
Next came Ye Lingling. She was naturally cold and quiet, and now she pursed her lips even more tightly. Her face was pale, almost transparent, and a fine layer of cold sweat oozed from her forehead. Her body trembled slightly, as if she was trying her best to endure immense pain.
Dugu Yan's condition was not much better. She held onto the side of the boat, her breathing became rapid, and her eyes began to blur.
Even Zhu Zhuqing, who had a good physique, frowned slightly at this moment. Although she could still stand steadily, her face was obviously not as rosy as before, and she was obviously suffering from discomfort.
They were all spirit masters who had grown up inland. How could they have ever experienced such a long period of tossing and turning at sea? Their body's balance system was challenged like never before.
"vomit--!"
Finally, Ning Rongrong couldn't bear it any longer. She suddenly bent down and started to dry heave over the side of the boat. However, because she hadn't eaten anything, she couldn't vomit anything out. She just felt dizzy and the world was spinning. She was so uncomfortable that tears welled up in her eyes.
The situation of the others was not much better. For a moment, the relaxed atmosphere on the deck disappeared, replaced by suppressed groans and painful gasps.
Only Xuan Ming, Gu Yuena, and little Ayin were completely unaffected.
Fortunately, before going to the City of Slaughter, Xuan Ming had already talked about this matter with A Yin and found a lot of navigation knowledge for her.
After everyone who had originally been doing their own job began to stir up trouble, the vines of the Blue Silver Emperor quickly extended to various parts of the ship, controlling the navigation of the ship.