Supporting the massive Silver Dragon as it slowly rose into the sky, the pressure on Philina was enormous. By the time they had ascended to roughly six thousand meters, her usually rosy face had begun to pale, as if dusted with a thin layer of frost. Every onlooker couldn't help but tense up at the sight. Falling from such a height would be catastrophic, far from a trivial matter.
"Philina, maybe you should rest for a bit?" Chiyo asked, concern etched across her face. She held a clean handkerchief in her hands, gently dabbing the sweat forming on Philina's brow.
Philina gritted her teeth and shook her head resolutely. "I'm fine. I can hold on a bit longer."
Giving up easily had never been her way.
Lin Yi, standing nearby, allowed a faint smile to curve his lips. He felt little worry. After all, if Philina truly couldn't continue, she had him as a solid backup. More than that, he was curious to see just how far she could push herself, to witness the limits of her potential.
Time ticked by as the Silver Dragon steadily climbed. Six thousand one hundred meters, six thousand three hundred, six thousand five hundred… With each passing meter, Philina's face grew paler, beads of sweat falling like strings of pearls, soaking her clothing. Everyone watching felt their hearts leap into their throats, holding their breath in tense anticipation. Especially Fiona, who clenched her fists so tightly her palms were slick with sweat. She had never expected her usually delicate younger sister to display such strength and stubbornness.
Finally, just as Philina felt she was about to reach her physical limit, the Silver Dragon surged through the thick white clouds like a silver bolt, emerging into a vast, endless expanse of a sea made entirely of clouds.
Exhausted, Philina collapsed weakly to the deck. Chiyo and Reiko rushed over, carefully supporting her.
"Philina, are you alright?" Lin Yi asked, his concern evident.
"Hehe… I'm fine, just a little drained," she said, forcing a faint smile that looked fragile and worn.
"That's good, but you can't push yourself like this next time," Fiona said, patting her sister gently on the shoulder, speaking with both concern and authority.
Philina, hearing the slight reproach, clung to Fiona's arm like a child, pouting playfully. "Hehe, I know, I promise it won't happen again."
Seeing Philina unharmed, the group finally relaxed slightly and began to examine the surrounding environment with curiosity.
"Could this be the legendary Sky Island?" Kuri asked, glancing around in wonder.
"Well… technically, this isn't exactly a Sky Island. This is what the Sky Islanders call the 'White Sea,' a vast ocean above the clouds. And it's inhabited by many strange creatures. If you watch closely, you might see ripples and movements caused by them rolling or swimming in the cloud sea," Lin Yi explained.
"Amazing! Clouds behaving like water, and these creatures live in it too?" Simon pointed at a shark leaping from the White Sea, eyes wide with amazement.
"I wonder if they're edible," Big Pan said, his voice tinged with the enthusiasm of a true foodie.
"Why not catch one and see?" Robin replied, her smile teasing.
Lin Yi silently glanced at the seemingly gentle but cunning woman. Just a moment ago, he had glimpsed a dark shadow flash across the clouds. If he wasn't mistaken, it was a massive squid. Despite his thoughts, he said nothing Big Pan's experience and strength would keep him relatively safe, even against unexpected trouble.
Sure enough, Big Pan soon returned triumphantly from the White Sea, holding a giant blue fish. But as he prepared to show off his prize, chaos erupted.
The cloud sea roiled violently as a colossal black squid surged upward, jaws brimming with sharp teeth, spraying a jet of black ink at him.
Quick as ever, Big Pan dodged most of it, but a portion splattered across his face, leaving him blackened and disheveled.
Furious, he hurled his fish aside and dove back into the cloud sea, determined to exact revenge.
Lin Yi muttered under his breath, "Well, at least the space here prevents fatal falls… I just hope he doesn't cause too much trouble…"
Soon, Big Pan emerged like a cannonball, clutching a thick squid tentacle. Ink covered him head to toe, making him look as if he'd been pulled from a giant inkwell. Laughter erupted from everyone on deck, with Robin nearly doubled over in amusement.
"Why just one tentacle?" Lin Yi asked, curiosity overtaking his restraint.
Big Pan pouted. "That squid is slippery! I finally hit it, but it sacrificed its leg to escape! Faster than me, I couldn't hold on."
Chiyo stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry! One tentacle is still enough for a great meal. How about I cook it grilled for lunch?"
Big Pan's face lit up instantly. "Really? Chiyo! Could you also make squid balls? I've been craving them for so long!"
Lunchtime arrived. Chiyo's skillful hands transformed the squid into a sumptuous feast, filling the air with irresistible aromas. Everyone dug in eagerly, savoring each bite.
Refueled, Philina wiped her mouth and looked to Lin Yi. "Which way should we head next?"
The compass had become useless in the White Sea, and they had no map. Endless clouds stretched in all directions, a dreamlike world of white, leaving even the clever Philina at a loss.
Lin Yi thought carefully. "To reach the 'White White Sea' above this White Sea and find the legendary Sky Island, we must first locate the 'Gate of Heaven.' Otherwise, ascending blindly will get us nowhere."
He focused his powerful Observation Haki, sending his awareness in all directions. Soon, he "saw" the hidden gate clearly in his mind.
"Follow this direction. The Gate of Heaven lies ahead, and above it is the Sky Island," he instructed, pointing.
Dotay immediately strode toward the helm, with Simon close behind.
Inside the ship's control room, Dotay expertly handled the Silver Dragon's levers and controls. The ship roared to life, surging forward with tremendous speed.
Soon, a massive golden gate appeared in the distance, its six-sided fan-shaped top gleaming brilliantly. A plaque in the center read: "Heavens Gate."
A hoarse voice suddenly spoke: "Visitors from Qinghai, please pay the entry fee to access Heaven."
Dotay slowed the ship, scanning the area. A modest, weathered shack stood nearby. In front of it, a tiny elderly woman clutched an old camera, white wings sprouting from her frail back.
Lin Yi instructed quietly, "Bring the ship closer."
Despite the woman's mischievous appearance, entry required her special creature a 'swift shrimp.' Using his spatial abilities would be faster, but it would spoil the adventure.
As the ship stopped, Philina smiled politely. "Grandma, how much do we need to pay?"
"1 billion," the old woman said, surprising everyone.
Philina gasped. "That expensive?"
Others shared her shock.
"Not expensive, really. We provide special services to help you enter Heaven," the old woman added smugly.
"What service costs that much?" Philina asked, wincing.
"You'll see once you pay," the woman replied slyly.
Lin Yi didn't bother with her tricks. He tossed ten thousand Beli from storage. "We're in a hurry. Call out the swift shrimp, or I won't be polite."
The woman flinched at his stern glare and obeyed. A massive crimson shrimp appeared below the Silver Dragon. Big Pan nearly grabbed it for dinner, but Lin Yi restrained him.
The shrimp clamped its giant claws on either side of the ship and shot forward like lightning toward the White White Sea.