The First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 481: Chapter 481: Dramatic Changes in Heaven and Earth (Two)_1

A magic ship, not belonging to any faction in the Red Flame Zone and flying the banner of the Heaven Patrolling Temple, materialized out of thin air near the coast of the Immortal Burial Sea. It was incredibly odd, no matter how one thought about it!

Even though the barrier between realms had disappeared, commanding a magic ship from the Heaven Patrolling Zone would require crossing a boundless, barren sea filled with unknown dangers. It would be nearly impossible without spending a year or two...

However, this magic ship, apart from its flag, also greatly resembled the Boat House used by the Heaven Patrolling Temple to pursue Shen Mo in its shape and style, which was vastly different from the style of magic ships in the Red Flame Zone!

This matter obviously needed someone to investigate. However, this location was too close to the Near Sea Demon Cave, making it inconvenient for Patriarch Zhou to go himself; otherwise, it would likely draw out all the Class IV Big Heavenly Demons.

As for the other Sect Disciples, their cultivation and strength were insufficient, and they would likely never return if sent.

Therefore, only those at the level of Peak Masters or Hall Masters were considered reliable enough for the task.

Moreover, since Shen Mo had been to the Heaven Patrolling Zone and had ”dealt with” the Heaven Patrolling Temple, this important task naturally fell to him.

As for Tang Lv and others, they too were dispatched to various locations to handle similar emergencies.

Upon arriving at the coordinates provided by the Supreme Elder, Shen Mo quickly discovered the Boat House Magic Ship mentioned by their Marine Race allies with a sweep of his sense.

With just a quick glance, he was almost certain that this ship was from the Heaven Patrolling Temple.

Apart from the blood-red eye pattern on the flag and its distinct form, many other details supported this conclusion: the spiritual materials used to build the ship and the differences in Forging techniques!

Don’t forget, Shen Mo is also a Grade IV Forgemaster, and this Boat House Magic Ship is also a large-scale magic treasure!

Many details that ordinary people would overlook could not escape Shen Mo’s Dharma Eye.

For instance, the ship’s keel was crafted from an entire precious spirit wood known as ’Golden Marrow Sky Reaching Cypress’—a treasured tree not found in the cultivation world of the Red Flame Country.

There were many similar points. Many raw materials used for various components of this magic ship were simply nonexistent in the Red Flame Zone!

Different regional environments and Forging materials naturally lead to the development of distinct Forging techniques. The techniques used to forge the hull also differed from those in the Red Flame Country, exuding an exotic, foreign charm at every turn.

His sense swept over the vessel, and after a thorough investigation, Shen Mo found no signs of living beings on board, nor any indication of active Formations or Prohibitions.

Previously, when pursued by the Golden Core Realm experts from the Heaven Patrolling Temple, he hadn’t had the opportunity to closely study their attendant magic ship.

Now that he had a chance, he was itching to board and investigate!

At this moment, his expression shifted slightly, and his gaze landed on the sea surface not far away.

”Stop! Who goes there?”

With a surge of waves, a robust figure, leading a group of heavily armed shrimp soldiers and crab generals, emerged with the surging tide.

This great Marine Race demon, standing atop a wave, brandished his fish spear and roared imposingly, ”I am Yuan TunJing, the Sea Patrol General under Demon Lord Ming Cang...”

”Fellow Daoist Yuan, have you forgotten me after just two or three years?” Shen Mo said with a half-smile, directly interrupting the Sea Patrol General.

This demon looked bizarre, generally resembling a mountain ape, but his body was devoid of hair and covered in densely packed scales. He even had a pair of gills beneath his ears!

It was indeed the same Sea Monkey Demon Shen Mo had encountered when he was invited by Demon Lord Ming Cang to a banquet at the Demon King Palace beneath the sea. Demon Lord Ming Cang, to gauge if Shen Mo was worthy of being the sworn brother to his beloved daughter, Princess Ming Yu, had set up three successive trials. The Sea Monkey Demon, Yuan TunJing, was dispatched as the first. After Shen Mo defeated him, he also received thirty-six pearls in total from him, which Shen Mo then refined into a bracelet magic artifact!

”Er...” The great demon Yuan TunJing was momentarily at a loss for words. After observing Shen Mo carefully, he came to a realization. ”So, you are Princess Ming Yu’s sworn brother... Master Shen, it is an honor! Please forgive my earlier disrespect.”

Immediately, after both cultivator and demon inspected each other using a Bone Viewing Mirror, they lowered their guard and quickly exchanged information.

This sea region was originally the territory of Demon Lord Lin Gu. However, it suffered the most grievous losses during the recent demonic calamity. Not only did it lose vast swathes of territory, but its subordinates also suffered heavy casualties. Ultimately, Demon Lord Lin Gu had to seek help from other Demon Kings and forge an alliance with the cultivators of the Red Flame Country to jointly resist the Heavenly Demons!

Shen Mo had been involved in the earlier battles in the coastal waters of the Immortal Burial Sea and was well aware of the details.

When the demon lords entrenched in the coastal waters attacked Sea State, the pressure on the Immortal Burial Sea’s Marine Race lessened considerably. However, they steadfastly maintained their original plan: to drive out all sea creatures, denying the Heavenly Demons any opportunity to strengthen themselves.

The Sea Monkey Demon was the Sea Patrol General responsible for this stretch of sea, tasked with driving away marine life. It was also he who first discovered the Heaven Patrolling Temple’s magic ship and reported this news to Demon Lord Ming Cang. Given the connection through Ming Yu, Demon Lord Ming Cang naturally favored the Riverside Sect. Consequently, she informed Patriarch Zhou, which led to Shen Mo’s current investigation.

”Fellow Daoist Yuan, would you like to board the ship with me for an investigation?” Shen Mo asked.

The Sea Monkey Demon shook his head. ”I’ve already led my men and searched it top to bottom. We didn’t find so much as a seabird’s feather. Master Shen, please go ahead yourself!”

”Oh, right. The Demon King mentioned that this ship’s appearance is very strange.”

”Once you’ve had a good look, leave at once. It’s best not to get any ideas about it; just let it rot here!”

With that, he led his shrimp soldiers and crab generals back into the deep sea to continue his patrol mission of driving away marine life.

Demon Lord Ming Cang was a Class IV expert, and her warning was something Shen Mo could hardly ignore.

Immediately, Shen Mo activated [Danger Perception], retrieved the newly repaired Green Cloud Umbrella, and held it open above his head. With the umbrella in one hand and his sword in the other, he cautiously stepped onto the Boat House Magic Ship.

Shen Mo spent about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn to thoroughly inspect the Boat House, both inside and out.

Just as Fellow Daoist Yuan said, the ship is empty; there are no cultivators or other living creatures.

However, when I passed by the Alchemy area, I clearly smelled the scent of a freshly refined Elixir. Yet, I saw no one performing Alchemy, and there wasn’t even any residue from spiritual medicine; it was as clean as if it had been washed with water!

Besides, there isn’t a single Spirit Stone providing Spiritual Qi at the magic ship’s core hub... For it to still be able to float in mid-air like this is truly somewhat incredible.

This Boat House was full of oddities. Many details indicated that cultivators had been living and practicing cultivation on board until very recently, yet it seemed as if they had all vanished in an instant, leaving only this treasured ship behind, still anchored here.

Under such circumstances, Shen Mo didn’t dare to linger, let alone consider towing it back to the sect. There’s no telling if he might bring back a calamity!

He observed it carefully for a while longer, advancing the progress bar of his Forgemaster secondary profession somewhat, then activated his escaping light and flew away from the Boat House Magic Ship.

He hadn’t flown far when Shen Mo’s heart suddenly leaped.

Turning to look back, he discovered that, at some unknown point, the deck of the Boat House had become crowded with figures. Shadows flickered about; it was bustling with an eerie liveliness!