Xu Qing shook his head and expressionlessly looked at Senior Sister Ding.
"Senior Sister Ding, we've left the vine area. Please get off the boat."
Hearing Xu Qing's words, Zhao Zhongheng was instantly excited. He thought to himself that this kid was still tactful, and looked at Senior Sister Ding expectantly.
"Junior Brother, which direction are you going in? Maybe it's on the way," Senior Sister Ding said with a sweet smile.
Zhao Zhongheng's expression turned ugly.
Seeing Xu Qing frown, Senior Sister Ding's bright eyes moved slightly. After some thought, she spoke.
"Junior Brother, the place I'm going to is the Western Reef Archipelago. It's only a five-day sea journey from here. If it's not on the way, I'll leave now. If it's on the way, I'm willing to pay another 200 spirit stones as a fee. Junior Brother, what do you think?"
As Senior Sister Ding spoke, she took out two spirit tickets and stared at Xu Qing with her beautiful eyes.
Xu Qing looked at the spirit tickets and was extremely tempted.
He didn't expect that it would be so easy to earn spirit stones after going out to sea.
The Sea Lizard Island he was going to was located in the depths of the Western Reef Archipelago, so it naturally was on the way. If the other party wanted to ride for free, he would definitely not agree. However, if she were to give 200 spirit stones…
After Xu Qing thought about it, he felt that it was very reasonable.
200 spirit stones might seem astonishing, but after all, she had boarded his boat. According to the sect's tradition, he had the responsibility of protecting her. It could be considered a temporary mission.
Moreover, the sea was so dangerous and the mission was a little urgent. Hence, it was normal for her to give more spirit stones. At the thought of this, Xu Qing nodded.
The smile on Senior Sister Ding's face became even sweeter as she placed the spirit tickets in Xu Qing's hand. As for Zhao Zhongheng, his expression turned from ugly to bitter. When he looked at Xu Qing, even though he knew that the other party wasn't ordinary, he still couldn't control the anger in his eyes.
Xu Qing directly ignored Zhao Zhongheng's gaze and controlled the magic boat to move forward rapidly.
He was in a good mood. He thought about how he could earn 200 spirit stones by just taking someone along with him. He felt that this was very worth it. The only thing that made him feel a little uncomfortable was that Senior Sister Ding had a lot to say. She seemed to have endless questions to ask, and most of them were related to him.
Also, her gaze was always fixed on his face. This made Xu Qing very annoyed and he just kept silent.
However, the more silent he was, the more enthusiastic Senior Sister Ding became. This caused Xu Qing to involuntarily speed up the magic boat, wanting to complete this journey as soon as possible.
As for Zhao Zhongheng, his mentality was about to explode on the way. The flames in his eyes fused with the fire in his heart and seemed to have materialized. This was especially so when he thought about how much effort he had put in this time. In fact, his grandfather had even stepped forward to communicate with the other party's elders before he obtained this chance to be alone with her and perform. He didn't expect… that his plan would actually be hijacked by a piedmont disciple.
He was going crazy and his entire body trembled. His countless grievances seemed like they could erupt out of his chest at any moment.
"This b*tch, she didn't even come to my boat for free and insisted on spending money to board that gigolo's boat. She clearly has her eyes on him. Is she blind? I, Zhao Zhongheng, am countless times stronger than that kid!"
"In terms of spirit stones, my net worth is countless. In terms of status, I'm a core disciple. In terms of background, my grandfather is an elder of the Seventh Peak. How can this kid compare to me? He can't even compare to a single strand of hair on me!!"
"What does he have? Other than the Forbidden Sea Dragonwhale, he's useless in everything else. He's just a pauper at the foot of the mountain. Isn't he just handsome? Can beauty be eaten!!"
As Zhao Zhongheng's jealousy rose and fell intensely, the sun set and dusk passed.
The sea in the evening was even more mysterious. The setting sun was still burning, illuminating the undulating waves and dyeing them red. It was as though flames were spreading, flickering and rolling, each wave higher than the last.
This lasted until the fire in the sky slowly extinguished and the flames of the sea gradually dimmed. The world then turned pitch-black.
From afar, the dim surface of the sea was covered in layers of scales, and the sea breeze was also a little lighter. It was as though the entire world was gradually calming down.
It was not possible to sail at night. The degree of danger was much greater than during the day. Hence, Xu Qing chose to anchor the boat. Senior Sister Ding, who was at the side, sat beside Xu Qing and took out food. Her smile was still sweet as she passed it to Xu Qing.
Xu Qing didn't eat. After thanking her, he returned to the cabin and activated the inner protective barrier to enter seclusion.
"Junior Brother, are you going to cultivate? I'll guard you." Senior Sister Ding didn't mind Xu Qing's coldness at all. After she smiled and spoke, she really sat cross-legged outside the cabin.
This scene caused Zhao Zhongheng, who was on the Phoenix, to go crazy again. However, looking at Senior Sister Ding's beautiful face, he still endured it and said from the Phoenix.
"Senior Sister, I have some sea fish here. We…"
"Not interested," Senior Sister Ding said calmly.
"Please be quiet. Don't disturb Junior Brother's cultivation." Senior Sister Ding lifted her head and glanced at Zhao Zhongheng impatiently.
Zhao Zhongheng's face darkened. He gritted his teeth and stared fixedly at the cabin where Xu Qing was cultivating. He was going crazy to the extreme in his heart but he was helpless. He could only meditate to calm his anger.
Just like that, time slowly passed and very soon, it was late at night.
While Xu Qing and the other two were meditating, under the night sky, an abnormal change slowly occurred in the deep seawater that no one noticed.
In the sea, specks of starlight gathered and gradually transformed into wisps of shadows that slowly floated to the surface of the sea… These shadows seemed to be the mysterious and deep dreams that the black Forbidden Sea weaved for the travelers.
However, as the shadows rose into the air, they continuously transformed into all kinds of sinister appearances, transforming into malicious ghosts, drowned humans, and rotting beasts. At the next instant, their original silence turned mournful. Waves of sharp cries that shook the soul tore through the air and spread in all directions.
These sounds were abnormally tragic and frightening.
Immediately, the dream… became a nightmare!
Xu Qing and the other two instantly opened their eyes. Zhao Zhongheng's pupils contracted, and Senior Sister Ding's expression was solemn. Her right hand was placed on her storage bag.
Xu Qing walked out of the cabin and his gaze froze.
As far as the eye could see, countless evil ghosts rose into the air and flew crazily toward the end of the pitch-black sky as though they had been summoned.
They formed a group, then a crowd.
It was sinister and paranormal.
This was… the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts.
Xu Qing lifted his head and stared at everything. He watched as the malicious ghosts rose into the air while emitting sharp cries. In his mind, the description of the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts appeared.
"There are wonders in the Endless Sea that mortals haven't heard of. With the Golden Crow Chi Yang as a companion, a hundred sounds form a tune - Heavenly Voice Welcomes the Moon."
"God was delighted. When He closed his eyes and looked, the Endless Sea became Forbidden. The hundred sounds became Yin."
"If my sect's disciples encounter them, don't move, don't touch, don't disturb…"
The words on the sea record mentioned a story.
The story told all the Seven Blood Eyes disciples who were going out to sea that this sea that surrounded the Nanhuang Continent was originally called the Endless Sea.
In the past, before the fragmented face of the god appeared in the sky, there would occasionally be strange music echoing in the Endless Sea. This music was extraordinary. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to hear it even if they went out to sea.
Only cultivators could hear a thing or two amidst the drifting music on the sea.
The story also introduced the origins of this piece of music.
The sun in the sky wasn't a star but a huge Golden Crow Divine Bird. Its name was Chi Yang. Every morning, it would fly out of its bedroom in the depths of the Endless Sea and return at night. This cycle repeated endlessly as though it had a mission.
Every time it returned to its bedroom at night, musicians would play a tune for it. This tune contained a hundred notes, forming a dreamy meaning. As for the name of the musical piece, it was called Heavenly Voice Welcomes the Moon.
Every time the tune rang out, the bright moon would rise into the air and patrol the world on behalf of Chi Yang.
Until one day when the god's fragmented face arrived. He, who was floating outside the sky of the world, was very happy when he heard this tune. He narrowed his eyes and looked over.
The instant his gaze landed, the Endless Sea boiled. The density of anomalous substances exceeded imagination, causing the Endless Sea to become a Forbidden Sea filled with dense anomalous substances.
As for the hundred notes that formed the tune, they were also invaded. The sounds turned into yin, and as if they had died, they turned into ghosts.
The Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts.